Fire ‘Em All

So diplomats (ie: government employees) are upset and angry that the State Department is going to force foreign service officers to man the Baghdad embassy. Boo hoo!! I’m sure I was supposed to cry or feel bad at some point for these government employees (did I already mention they were government employees?).

Normally, I probably wouldn’t care. At a State Department whine-fest recently, a “46-year Foreign Service veteran” complained that an assignment to Iraq was “a potential death sentence” even though only three State Department employees (none of whom were FSOs) have been killed out of the 1500 that have been assigned to the embassy. The guy that complained, Jack Croddy, obviously didn’t read his job description when he chose to become an FSO:

When making assignments, however, the needs of the Service remain paramount. Some officers may not serve in positions related to their career track during the first two assignments. Officers who come in with critical language skills should expect to serve in positions using their language skills in their first or second assignment. Later, as mid-career officers, they may be required to serve again in a country which uses that language skill. All officers are considered worldwide available and must be prepared to go where needed.

As a Soldier, I think it would be very easy to be offended by the comments of these diplomats (government employees). I just CHOOSE not to be offended. The military is a voluntary organization. We get sent to Iraq whether we want to go or not. We’re government employees. People volunteered to be FSOs. They get sent to Iraq whether they want to go or not. They are government employees.

What gets me is Croddy’s question “who will take care of our children” if they are killed. Mr. Croddy has insurance just like Soldiers have insurance. Maybe we should institute a military-style “family care plan” in the State Department if he is so worried about the unlikely chance that he will get killed. These people volunteered to work for the very department that is tasked with foreign service. It should be no surprise that they are being forced to do their jobs. Much like in the military when a Soldier refuses to go where he is legally told to go, I hope these FSOs face harsh punishment and/or get fired.

Another thing about this whole story that bothers me are the arguments these people are using about “if they’re so adamant that we have to serve in iraq, why doesn’t Bush send his children there?” This is a non-argument. I think it is absolutely hypocritical of these people who are so anti-military and enlistment and yet bring up the “make the Bush twins serve” argument. That’s an oxymoron. The military, like the State Department, is voluntary. I don’t know of ONE job within the government that people haven’t volunteered to serve in. The Bush twins aren’t over there because there is no draft. They are not over there because they did not VOLUNTEER to join the military or State Department where they can get sent. These arguments only make the originator of it seem petty, confused, and idiotic. The fact is that there are family members of Congressmen and Senators that are in or have been to Iraq. Granted, there aren’t very many, but that is their choice.

Stop whining State Department employees and do what I am paying you to do. I don’t care what your personal view of this war is. You have a job to do. You aren’t paid to have an opinion – you’re paid to do the work of the State Department. Man the embassy or find a job at Taco Bell!! No, not Taco Bell. I like it there. Go to McDonald’s!!