Video of the Week: Tshirt Throwdown

Kathy Shaidle Exclusive: PM on Human Rights commisions

This is really great to hear! Stop over at five feet of fury to listen to the audio clip and read the transcript.

Time to get after it and push for denormalization!

I have just emailed PM Stephen Harper. This is probably the fourth or fifth time letting him know of my concern with the CHRC and freedom in Canada.
Several months ago I mailed letters to the PM and many, many MPs. I received just three replies: Jason Kenny actually signed his, Stockwell Day had his office send boilerplate, as did the PMO.

My own MP Jim Abbott has refused my multiple requests for him to state a position on HRCs. It is my feeling he does not speak without permission from the PMO - just another back bencher with no personal opinion on serious issues.

I will be writing to the government MPs again, all of them, outlining the HRC situation, highlighting corruption, fake law, and the general anti-democratic, fascistic behavior of government appointed, unaccountable, ideology driven bureaucrats. Particular attention will be paid to new MPs - they need to be brought up to speed on 'human rights' in Canada.

Send an email to your MP or the whole lot of them, then print it out and mail the hard copy. Remember you do not need a stamp to write to an MP.
Here's the address:

House of Commons
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6

Insider Quote: Fossil Friendship

Our need for foreign partners has never been greater. Fortunately, the world's desire for partnership with America has not really gone away. Beneath the layers of resentment and animosity laid down by our recent behavior, there is still much goodwill toward the United States. This "fossil friendship" will not last forever. For now, however, it is a resource that American diplomacy can mine to rebuild the respect of allies and friends for our leadership and to unite them behind an American vision of a better world. A return to diplomacy, not threats and the use of force, is the surest path to the reassertion of American leadership. It is time to rediscover and explore that path.

Ambassador Chas Freeman, Jr. (Ret)
Former Ambassador to Saudi Arabia
during operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm
Why Not Try Diplomacy │ American Diplomacy, May 6, 2008

Previewing Barack Obama and the Foreign Service

At “A New Beginning” Remarks in Chicago, IL | October 02, 2007, Senator Obama says:

"It's time to make diplomacy a top priority. Instead of shuttering consulates, we need to open them in the tough and hopeless corners of the world. Instead of having more Americans serving in military bands than the diplomatic corps, we need to grow our foreign service. Instead of retreating from the world, I will personally lead a new chapter of American engagement.”

Frankly, after several years of cowboy talk that has relegated diplomacy to the wood kitchen, it is nice to hear somebody’s plug to make diplomacy a top priority again. Indeed talk of diplomacy has came back with a vengeance in the last several weeks of this election campaign, with both candidates talking about engagement, intervention, aid, and dealing with other world powers (when they’re not talking about Joe, fill-in-the-blank, that is).

Iran, Dangling a Grand Bargain - Check

David Sanger writing recently for NYT: “More than any previous presidential candidate, Mr. Obama has emphasized the idea of soft power — the ability to lead by moral example and nonmilitary action — and his challenge if elected, his advisers acknowledge, is to convince the world that an untested young senator also has a steely edge.” And also this, “Mr. Obama does seem more willing to dangle in front of the Iranians a “grand bargain” that would spell out benefits — diplomatic recognition, an end to sanctions — as a reward for halting its enrichment of uranium and allowing full inspections of the country. Richard J. Danzig, considered a candidate to be secretary of defense in an Obama administration, said Mr. Obama was willing to “put out a more positive side to the agenda to lead the Iranians toward making the right choices here.”

The idea of talking to our enemies (specifically Iran) has been one of the many subplots in this election season. Yet, as Warren Strobel also reports for the McClatchy Newspapers, President Bush, himself has authorized a more direct approach to Iran, sending Undersecretary of State William Burns to participate in six-nation nuclear talks with Iranian representatives in Geneva in July. Strobel further writes: “The Bush administration will announce in mid-November, after the presidential election, that it intends to establish the first U.S. diplomatic presence in Iran since the 1979-81 hostage crisis, according to senior Bush administration officials.[…] The proposal for an "interests section," which falls short of a full U.S. Embassy, has been conveyed in private diplomatic messages to Iran, and a search is under way to choose the American diplomat who would head the post, the officials said.”

If you’re not up to speed with Persian yet, don’t worry. Even if they find a diplomat to head the interest section in Tehran in two weeks, they’ll need more, eventually. So don’t give up on Jalāl ad-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmī’s poetry yet. You will have some used for it. Iran is an old civilization with a long cultural history that does not include Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. And like the rest of the region, a long history on the art of the bargain, so get up to speed on conducting bargains, small or otherwise.

Renewing America's Diplomatic Muscle - Check

Obama’s foreign policy platform includes Renewing American Diplomacy - by talking to friends and foes, seeking to make progress on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a key diplomatic priority, expanding our diplomatic presence, embracing the Millennium Development Goal of cutting extreme poverty around the world in half by 2015, strengthening NATO, and seeking new partnerships in Asia.

That’s an awful lot to tackle for what is currently a very anemic Foreign Service. But I imagine that an Obama administration would seek new Congressional authority to expand the diplomatic service, including USAID. How big an expansion remains to be seen; I guess, we’ll all be watching.

Without being too jaded about political promises, I’d have to say that Obama’s platform sounds good for diplomats in terms of possibly fixing State. I mean we still need hammers, admittedly, this is a dangerous world. But at least, he’s not looking out as if the world at large is made up of nothing but nail heads. I suspect that money will be found, despite these hard times, to equip us with other tools besides hammers.

A Real Seat at the Table - Check

I am presuming (bad, presumptuous me!) that under a President Obama, our diplomats would no longer be relegated to the wood kitchen, at least not for the next four years. And that they will have real seats at the table instead of folding chairs. Whoo-hoo-hoo! Wouldn't that please everyone who hates the wood kitchen and these folding chairs that are too frail for tushies?

Below are some more of my unscientific take for the Foreign Service under an Obama Administration.

On Nuclear Weapons: Obama’s priorities are to secure loose nuclear materials from terrorists, to strengthen the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, and work toward a nuclear free world. At his “Remarks to the Chicago Council on Global Affairs,” Obama says: We know that Russia is neither our enemy nor close ally right now, and we shouldn't shy away from pushing for more democracy, transparency, and accountability in that country. But we also know that we can and must work with Russia to make sure every one of its nuclear weapons and every cache of nuclear material is secured. And we should fully implement the law I passed with Senator Dick Lugar that would help the United States and our allies detect and stop the smuggling of weapons of mass destruction throughout the world.”

Look - if your functional expertise has anything that says “nuclear,” you won’t be looking for another exciting job soon. It sounds like you will be kept busier than a bee; the same for FSOs with regional expertise on the Korean Peninsula, Iran and Russia. Engagement in multiple fronts means - more work. But it also means that the organization will not be super glued to one or two grand issues. Perhaps the rest of the diplomatic missions would finally get an Iraq tax cut. And maybe we could afford working cell phones again, and paper clips, and oh, I don’t know – lighting our hallways again?

A Harder, Rougher, Tougher Road for Diplomats - Check

On Africa: to stop the genocide in Darfur, and end the conflict in the Congo. On China an even ambitious agenda: conduct candid dialogue, rebalance our economic relationship, make China a constructive partner on international energy and environmental issues, end Chinese support for genocidal and repressive regimes and press China to live up to Human Rights standards. And then there’s more: Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and those are not even icing to the Foreign Service pie. Somebody actually called these countries booby traps for the next president, can you believe that?

Whatever. The way I see it, there are big ponds and small ponds; think of all the hardship assignments from Afghanistan to Timor-Liste. I think that if your skills and strengths are in the areas of persuasion, influence and strategic negotiations, the next four years would be ubber exciting. And if you also have the language skills in any of our many hotspots around the world, I imagine that you can give your career a real rocket type lift off.

[An aside here - of course, I don’t know how much it would matter. You’d get promoted and then, you’ll just go back to another Timor-Liste-like post or other H-holes in other regions. Oh yeah, I heard that some guy went to Iraq, then got offered to decamp to Monrovia. Monrovia! Some gal went to HR (in DC not Mosul!) and got offered the Pacific Coast! Sweet! It just shows that all is fair in love and in the Foreign Service].

In many ways, an Obama Presidency, which puts a premium on talk and engagement, would be a harder, rougher, tougher road for our diplomats. Talk is cheap but requires sweat, energy, imagination, creativity, and all things that do not include the firing of bullets. Things like hardship and unaccompanied assignments will most likely not get any better. Why? Simply because the state of our world has become more complex and our relationship to it, particularly in the last several years, has become more fragmented. And also because the “tough, hopeless corners” where America needs to re-engage are probably not the friendliest places for our diplomats and their families to be.

Essential Skills – Public Diplomacy, Globalized Communication Technology, Continuous Learning

Obama’s Public Diplomacy Effort: “He will open “America Houses” in cities across the Arab world. Modeled on the successful program the United States launched in Germany following World War II, America Houses would offer state-of-the-art English-language training programs, discussions, and a wide selection of current periodicals, newspapers, and literature. They would offer free Internet access and moderated programs that promote direct exchange with Americans through the use of modern information technology. Obama also would launch a new “America’s Voice Corps” to rapidly recruit and train fluent speakers of local languages (Arabic, Bahasa Melayu, Bahasa, Farsi, Urdu, and Turkish) with public diplomacy skills, who can ensure our voice is heard in the mass media and in our efforts on the ground.”

Sounds like for public diplomacy folks (shoutout to Digger), the ride will just kept on getting interesting; unless we stick to our old argument that they’re evil and we’re not, which doesn’t seem to be the guiding view of Senator Obama. I personally think that the public diplomacy cone is bound to dislodge the political cone as the tippity top cone in the foreseeable future. Media and advocacy skills as well as skills in globalized communication including the technology that powers it would be essential for the diplomats of the 21^st century. In this new universe, I can’t see a future for a political counselor who grunts at his computer, screams for his OMS to get his web browser working, or wonders if a wiki is a local delicacy. Web 2.0 is here. The faster we make friends with it, the sooner it can help us get our message out.

If an Obama Administration is serious about re-engaging the world, and I have no doubt that it is, our people would have to keep pace with fast moving changes in the world, including communication. This means that we need to convert the passive mindset about training into an active mindset about learning. I hope to come back to this topic later, because I think that this journey of continuous learning is a journey with no end. I don’t want to get too far way ahead here, but I think this is an essential component in renewing the Service.

The Future of the Foreign Service?

The thing to remember is quite simple - where there are intractable problems, there are great opportunities. If Senator Obama is elected into office, he will be handed a lengthy list of problems at home and abroad. And the road “abroad” goes through the corridors of Foggy Bottom and all 268 embassies and consulates overseas. But that’ll be the easy part.

I do wonder if the next decade would be the end of the diplomatic family as representative of our country overseas. Is this the decade when the lone, expeditionary diplomat makes his/her mark? A romantic thought, certainly, one which I’m sure, would send DS into hyper shock mode.

You can read Previewing John McCain and the Foreign Service here.

* * *

PSA: A Special Grit for This Kind of Job

Upon entering the Foreign Service, employees have to swear to support the policies of the U.S. Government. And as public servants, they must publicly defend U.S. Government policy, despite personal reservations. There is an internal channel (Dissent Channel) through which an employee may present dissenting views on specific foreign policy issues. If an officer cannot publicly defend official U.S. policy (if you really want to bomb, bomb, bomb, Iran, for example and POTUS is for engagement), he or she has the option to resign. In simple terms, you can go on Fox News or CNN to defend US policy on country XYZ (with proper permission), but you cannot go on air, on TV, Youtube, etc. or write an Op-ed for NYT, WSJ, WaPo, etc. and say something bad about what the USG is doing in country XYZ. Even if such policies make you want to - you know, puke. There are other requirements to becoming a diplomat, but in my view, this is the most challenging. To put aside one’s personal views while getting the job done is only easy when seen from the outside. You need a special kind of grit for this kind of job. Please see the FS career homepage if you are interested.

Gotta run - Happy Halloween!

Jim Pankiw and The CHRC and 'feelings'

Canadian Human Rights Commission Ignores Parliamentary Immunity

Jim Pankiw, a former Saskatchewan MP, is being prosecuted by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal for criticizing programs and privileges available to Saskatchewan aboriginals and not to non-aboriginals.

In 2002, 2003, and 2004, Jim Pankiw, then a member of Parliament, distributed a series of three brochures to his constituents. The brochures criticized special fishing and hunting privileges, hiring quotas, sentencing circles, and tax exemptions for aboriginals.

read the article here:
The Redwing Report - Essays

Democratic Attack Machine & War on Terror

Free speech under Obama?

The FCC has sent letters to some of the nation's most prominent military analysts -- some of them pro-President Bush and pro-war -- suggesting they may have broken the law when they appeared on television stations to comment on and explain the war on terrorism.

FCC Probe Signals Democratic Attack Machine - HUMAN EVENTS

What's the Canadian Islamic Congress doing for Halloween?

Ezra has posted about Islamic History Month Canada Presentation on the Canadian Muslim Community at Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs.

More silly Dhimmi's running our government departments. Dhimmi risking the security of Canada in the name of Political Correctness!

an excerpt from Ezra's blog:

Here's a copy of the memo sent out to all staff at DFAIT headquarters earlier this week.

Administrative Notices

Islamic History Month Canada: Presentation on the Canadian Muslim Community

From: Stewart Beck, Assistant Deputy Minister, International Business Development, Investment and Innovation (BFM) and DFAIT Visible Minorities Champion and Jim Nickel,Director, Muslim Communities Working Group (FMCG)

To: All Employees at Headquarters
Date: 2008-10-27

Summary: On October 31, 2008, the Muslim Communities Working Group and the Visible Minorities Committee at Foreign Affairs and International Trade will host a presentation on the Canadian Muslim Community in celebration of Islamic History Month Canada in the Cadieux Auditorium from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

In celebration of Islamic History Month Canada, the Muslim Communities Working Group (FMCG) and the Visible Minorities Committee at Foreign Affairs ...

click over to Ezra Levant

Canada’s HRC’s. The good news is, not as bad as Belgium

Blazing Cat Fur: Canada’s HRC’s. The good news is, not as bad as Belgium

“Funny enough, one does get used to the news.”
That’s what Bart Debie told me on confirming that, yes, he has been ordered to report to a Belgian prison on Wednesday—tomorrow–to begin serving a one-year term for “racism.”
Let me explain the ghastly surrealism of this sentence as meted out to this former police officer and former Antwerp City Council Member by the Belgian state: Debie neither made the racist remarks at issue, nor was he even present during the incident. This only adds horrific dashes of Kafka and Koestler to a politically correct prosecution of a member of the political opposition by what may be best described as fascistic little Belgium. Of course, expressing incredulity over Debie’s utter innocence of “racism” is not to admit to the legitimacy of such “racism” prosecutions. Any such prosecutorial curb on speech is a gross violation of freedom of speech; but there is a doubly unjust and even absurd aspect to this case given Debie’s non-involvement. Hence the Kafka- and Koestler-esque touches.

http://www.dianawest.net/Home/tabid/36/EntryID/536/Default.aspx

Note to Canada's HRC Industry

AUSTRALIA will join China in implementing mandatory censoring of the internet under plans put forward by the Federal Government.

The revelations emerge as US tech giants Google, Microsoft and Yahoo, and a coalition of human rights and other groups unveiled a code of conduct aimed at safeguarding online freedom of speech and privacy.

Australia to implement mandatory internet censorship | Herald Sun

The People Factor and the C Street Bailout

I would define the objective of transformational diplomacy this way: to work with our many partners around the world to build and sustain democratic, well-governed states that will respond to the needs of their people and conduct themselves responsibly in the international system… We must transform old diplomatic institutions to serve new diplomatic purposes, and we must empower our people to practice transformational diplomacy.- January 18, 2006

If this was a speed-dating scene, my elevator pitch would only be two words: people-person, period. Not only are we interested in responding to the needs of others, but also in “empowering our people.” And - we can do this and more with less.

Take this report slightly over a year after this silent earthquake came: CRS says that “Except for needed appropriations, Congressional involvement in the implementation of the transformational diplomacy proposal appears to some observers to have been minimal. Changes were made under existing authorities, and no legislation or new authority was requested from Congress.”

Doing more with less has been State’s mantra for over decades now, so - no one blinked; yup, not even I with my fake Revlon eyelashes. Perhaps there were other reasons why no new money or authority were needed in preparation to launching this pretty ship. But considering that State has had budget issues forever, I would be more inclined to believe that this was launched before all the wings were fully thought out and super glued in place.

State‘s FY 2008 budget finally asked for 254 new positions to “meet new realities in the international arena.” The FY 2009 budget request included funding for a Development Leadership Initiative (DLI) to significantly increase USAID’s permanent Foreign Service Officer (FSO) corps by 300, “strengthening the Agency’s capacity to effectively deliver U.S. foreign assistance on the ground.” But the guys over there at the Hill have a twisted sense of humor. They gave us a continuing resolution that runs through March 6, 2009 so we’re stuck in the FY2008 universe until then.

In the last couple of years we have seen quite a few advocates, besides Secretary Gates, who called attention to the smoldering fire burning the redheaded stepchild's hair. They all are perturbed at the sight and smell of smoke, and flame, and all that call for help which has also been called "whining" at times. I tell you, when your hair is burning, you may actually do more than whine. Anyhow, below are some of the folks with their silly ideas about hiring more people for our Foreign Service.

More People.

The next president should increase the number of Foreign Service Personnel serving in the Department of State by more than 1,000 and consider further expansions in other relevant civilian agencies.

CSIS: Implementing Smart Power: Setting an Agenda for National Security Reform

(2008)

Major Increase.

A major increase is needed in U.S. resources for non-military activities — where the ratio between military and non-military national security spending is now 17 to 1. This should include adding at least 6,600 Foreign Service officers for the State Department, 2000 for USAID, and recreating a separate "United States Information Agency-like" agency.

RAND: Integrating Instruments of Power and Influence: Lessons Learned and Best Practices

October 2008

46% Growth.

U.S. direct-hire staffing in the four categories above be increased over FY 2008 levels by 4,735 over the timeframe of 2010-2014, a growth of 46% above current levels in these categories (20% of total State/USAID staffing), to be accompanied by significant increases in training and in the number of locally employed staff overseas; the additional staff and related costs will rise to $2 billion annually by FY 2014.

AOD: Foreign Affairs Budget of the Future: Fixing a Hollow Service

(2008)

New Positions.

The Foreign Affairs Council estimates that the State Department needs an additional 900 positions beyond its current training complement. […] staffing became stretched when Congress did not provide the Administration-requested appropriations to fund additional generalist staffing positions in Fiscal Years 2006 and 2007. Some also believe increased staffing levels called for by the global repositioning of the Foreign Service and transferring personnel slots to an increasing number of hardship assignments will only aggravate the staffing situation further.

Congressional Research Service

(2007)

Invest in people.

The security of the United States depends on the capacity of its diplomats to carry out the nation’s business. The State Department must hire more than 1,000 additional diplomats—a 9.3 percent increase—so that it can fill positions at home and abroad while providing the education and development programs that twentyfirst-century representatives of the United States need to reach their potential. Professional education and development programs must be enhanced across the board. The State Department must also, where possible, make greater use of the foreign national component of its workforce at posts overseas.

CSIS: Embassy of the Future

(2007)

Imagine that. All have come out with the need for an expanded Foreign Service. Looking at these suggested numbers - a thousand here, six thousand there - against State’s “people requests” makes me feel like, you know -- State is not as great at being “people-persons” as people think.

My question is - are we going to see in 2009 that knight in shining armor who believe in the cause (call it smart power, not soft, good grief!) once more and who will come to the rescue with our very much needed C Street bailout? Or are we going to see somehoney who will make you take your folding chairs to the wood kitchen again? Stay tuned.

P.S. Who's not tired of the wood kitchen - that's where you got your hair burned in the first place, hmmm?

Free Speech, Margaret Wente, History

History? What History?

What Dick Pound said was really dumb - and also true

October 25, 2008

Was Canada once a land of savages? And is saying so tantamount to racism? Many people would answer no, and yes. That's why Dick Pound, the high-profile Olympics figure, is in a heap of trouble for describing the Canada of four centuries ago as "un pays de sauvages." He was talking to a reporter from La Presse about the Beijing Olympics and the issue of human rights. "We must not forget that 400 years ago, Canada was a land of savages, with scarcely 10,000 inhabitants of European descent, while in China, we're talking about a 5,000-year-old civilization," he said.

globeandmail.com: What Dick Pound said was really dumb - and also true

Then you have these boneheads! http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=45016000567

Hannity: Barack Obama & Friends: History of Radicalism « The Real Barack Obama

On his October 5, 2008, special edition of Hannity’s America, Sean Hannity used the full-hour program with a video presentation on Obama’s questionable relationships in “Obama & Friends: History of Radicalism” (see below).

Uppity Woman wisely comments:

As Obama fluffs off these associations, ask others how many terrorists and radicals THEY have just “happened” to encounter in their lifetimes and then ask them how it could possibly be a coincidence that Barack Obama is a magnet for them [all].

Hannity: Barack Obama & Friends: History of Radicalism « The Real Barack Obama

Momin Khawaja & Canada's Anti-Terrorism Act

So now we wait for the sentence to passed November 18.

Khawaja guilty on some but not all terror charges

Updated Wed. Oct. 29 2008 10:40 AM ET

CTV.ca News Staff

An Ottawa software developer whom prosecutors accused of promoting a unique brand of ideological hatred has been found guilty of some terror-related charges against him, but not all.

Momin Khawaja, the first person charged under Canada's Anti-Terrorism Act, faced seven charges in connection with a foiled U.K. bomb plot.

Links between Obama and Extremist Islam - Daniel Pipes Blog

Daniel Pipes as another good article on Obama.

More on the Links between Obama and Extremist Islam - Daniel Pipes Blog

Prevent Extremists from entering UK

Is there any chance for the UK to survive?


A "presumption in favour of exclusion" is being introduced to make it easier to prevent extremists entering the UK, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has said.
BBC NEWS | UK | Extremists face tougher UK entry

Pakistani rewarded for honor killing: Gets 3 girls as wives, 20 water buffalo

The advantages of Islamic justice....

Three minor girls given in marriage to murderer

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a man who killed his second wife for allegedly having an illicit relationship with another received impunity on the pretext of an honour killing by the 'Jirga', the illegal tribal justice system on October 20, 2008. The Jirga has also ordered the other party who allegedly had the relationship with the deceased wife to hand over three girls together with 20 buffaloes as compensation to the husband. Police arrested the killer but soon released him and have respected the decision of the Jirga.

Middle East Analysis: Pakistani rewarded for honor killing: Gets 3 girls as wives, 20 water buffalo

The War of Ideas - Ooops!

James K. Glassman, Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs gave a briefing yesterday (10/28) on “U.S. Public Diplomacy and the War of Ideas.” I just saw the video of that briefing – here’s a shoutout to our PD guys out there. Next time, would you please synchronize the video with the audio? Even my son, a young YouTube aficionado thought it funny that Mr. Glassman’s mouth movement does not match the audio.

I saw the title of this briefing and thought somebody will surely do a gotcha dance here. And sure enough during the Q&A ….

QUESTION: Don’t you think it’s, you know, more of an exchange of – an exchange of ideas? Because I really feel as if, the more that you talk – I understand the war on terrorism, but ideas shouldn’t be about a war. Isn’t it, you’re supposed to be listening to the other side and they’re supposed to be listening to you and it’s supposed to be a free flow of ideas?

UNDER SECRETARY GLASSMAN: (Excerpt of response) No, no, let me just address the last point first. I agree with you the war of ideas is not the best phrase here, and I have – and previously, I have entertained substitutes and I continue to. We sometimes use the term “global ideological engagement.”

QUESTION: […] And that is, in this war of ideas, as you’re out there on the frontlines of it, do you not find that what bothers people – foreigners – about the United States is not the idea of the U.S. or the idea of democracy, but it’s your specific policy? Every single time that there’s been a study or a report commissioned about how the U.S. can improve its image abroad, that always comes out to be the number one thing that people have – take issue with. And that is that it’s not the message or how you deliver it, it’s the actual policy that the rest of the government – that the government is actually going and – is carrying out. Do you not find that until you address the policy differences and unhappiness with the policy that this war is unwinnable?

UNDER SECRETARY GLASSMAN: (Excerpt of response) I think it’s a little more complicated than that. I am – I have read deeply into the literature on this subject, and let me tell you what my conclusions are (italics mine). […] And I think there are three reasons. One – and it’s not just I think, this is the research that I’ve seen. Number one, people understand that we’re kind of the big guy on the block and that ultimately we, like every other country, you know, like Portugal, like Finland, like Indonesia, will follow our own national interests. I mean, that’s – they understand that. But what they don’t like is their perception that we don’t listen to them and don’t respect their views before we formulate what are our own policies. And whether that’s a valid criticism or not, it’s out there and we need to address it, and we have been addressing it. The second problem is, I think, that we haven’t done a great job of explaining some of our policies and principles. And for example, I think that the single most pernicious misperception that’s out there, an extremely dangerous misperception, is that the United States and the West, for that matter, are out to destroy Islam and replace it with Christianity. And when you look at the surveys in Muslim countries, you see 80, 90 percent of the people agreeing with that statement. Now, that’s a statement that we need to do a better job of refuting. Finally, there are policies, and absolutely there are people around the world who disagree with our policies. And in the end, we are not going to take a global vote about particular policies. But there’s no doubt that there are consequences when people oppose your policies. And one of those consequences is you are reduced, let’s say, in their respect and in their trust.

QUESTION: […] both candidates running for president have pledged that as soon as they get into office, one of the first acts they’ll do is shut down Guantanamo Bay prison and remove those detainees to U.S. prisons. And that’s – and they both argue that they want to do that in order to improve the image of the United States. Are you saying that such an act such as – Guantanamo has become a symbol of anti-Americanism around the world – are you saying that that’s irrelevant, that that’s not really going to impact the image of the United States as much as these, you know, things you’re doing such as amplifying –

UNDER SECRETARY GLASSMAN: Shutting down Guantanamo?

QUESTION: Yeah.

UNDER SECRETARY GLASSMAN: Will that impact the image of the United States?

QUESTION: Yeah. Well, in some cases –

UNDER SECRETARY GLASSMAN: (Excerpt of response) In my personal view, no, it will not. I don’t think it’s going to affect the image of the United States.

View Video │ Read Briefing Text

I don’t mean to be snarky here, but I think two questions need to be asked. One, isn’t this the same old paradigm that dictated the public diplomacy strategy of Charlotte Beers, then Karen Hughes? And two, besides reading “deeply into the literature on this subject” has anyone bothered to ask our career diplomats - who have their ears on the ground in 268 missions worldwide, by the way - what they think about this war of ideas, er, global ideological engagement?

I'm not a Madison PR executive so this one is on me, free - ditch the word "war," it brings too many bad memories to the target audience and please find something else besides GIE to hang your hat on. The term "global ideological engagement" sound both painful and infectious. I'd ditch that to, if I were boss. But. I'm. Not.

Reforming the State Department: A Look Back

Eight years ago as the new Bush administration came into office, an independent Task Force cosponsored by the Council on Foreign Relations and the Center for Strategic and International Studies came out with a report on State Department Reform. The bipartisan group was led by Frank C. Carlucci, who was a former Foreign Service Officer, U.S. Secretary of Defense (1987-1989) and National Security Advisor (1987).

It is striking that some of the key issues addressed in this report have not really gone away. If I did not know that this was written in 2001, I’d think that this was written for the new president who will come into office in 75 days.

In its Memo to the President, the Task Force listed six problematic areas at the State Department - from long-term mismanagement to antiquated equipment, and dilapidated and insecure facilities. (Note: Thanks to Secretary Powell, State has gotten out of the Wang wilderness. On facilities, from 1999 to the end of calendar year 2005, State completed construction of 18 embassies and consulates at a cost of approximately $1.3 billion). But in 2008, one cannot help but marvel at this prescient perspective:

“These deficits are not only a disservice to the high-caliber men and women of the Foreign Service and the Civil Service who serve their country under the Department of State. They also handicap the ability of the United States to shape and respond to the opportunities and growing challenges of the 21st century. If this deterioration continues, our ability to use statecraft to avoid, manage, and resolve crises and to deter aggression will decline, increasing the likelihood that America will have to use military force to protect our interests abroad. In short, renewal of America’s foreign policy making and implementing machinery is an urgent national security
priority.”

In its Memo to the Secretary of State, the Task Force did not pull any punches. It called the Department’s HR practices dysfunctional, antiquated, inflexible, and lacking. It described how the department’s professional culture impaired not just the agency’s focus but also its effectiveness in dealing with Congress and other agencies. It pointed to the serious decline in morale at the Department of State. And it described a more complex world that we have now lived through in the last several years.

“Finally, not only has America’s foreign policy agenda become heavier, more interdisciplinary, and more complex, but it has to be exercised in an environment of growing threats. As societies abroad continue to experience radical social and economic change, they will become more unstable and at times less hospitable to Americans. And the danger posed by international terrorism is increasing. The last decade’s bombings against U.S. military and diplomatic facilities demonstrate that terrorist networks will become more global in reach, will wield greater destructive capacities, and will be more difficult to track and counter.”

“The Department of State’s human resource practices and administrative policies are dysfunctional.The department’s “up-and-out” promotion system is having the unintended effect of forcing qualified personnel out of the service. Its antiquated recruitment process is unable to meet the department’s workforce needs in both number and skills. The department’s lack of professional training opportunities for its personnel, its inattention to the family needs of its overseas personnel, and its inflexible grievance system have become major incentives
for employees to seek work elsewhere.”

“The Department of State is impaired by a professional culture that emphasizes confidentiality over public diplomacy and public affairs. The department’s professional culture remains predisposed to “information policing” rather than “information providing.” The former was perhaps essential during the Cold War—and recent security lapses at the department necessitate greater vigilance over its classified materials— but in the information age public diplomacy has become an ever more central dimension of statecraft. Likewise, on the home front, the State Department’s professional culture impairs its effectiveness at public affairs and its coordination not only with Congress, but also with other U.S. government agencies.”

Appendix to this report included a bibliography on Reports on State Department Reform (see page 36) and a summary of previous Reports on State Department Reform (see page 39). Which makes one wonder how many task forces must be convened to make these suggested reforms stick. The correct response, of course, is not more task forces, but the political will to make things right once more; the will to undertake needed changes not just from the Executive Branch, the Secretary of State, from Congress but also from the people who make this organization go.

While it is true that the dilapidated state of America’s foreign policy apparatus is a national security crisis that warrants the personal attention of the new president, I am also of the mind that if the State Department cannot negotiate itself out of this current crater, then perhaps we need to rewrite our playbook on winning friends and influencing people.

We need to stop acting like victims and stop re-running the common refrains: We “don’t have a constituency,” “Congress doesn’t like us,” “the Seventh Floor doesn’t care,” and “nothing’s changed and nothing will.” We are the redheaded stepchild, with hair burning wildly; if we can’t get the folks responsible for us to fetch a bucket of water to put out the fire, why then, of course, we need to fetch our own bucket ourselves.

We need our smartest and our brightest to come forward now (not later, after retirement) and say here are the things that needs fixing and here’s how we’re going to fix them; here’s why we need your help and here’s what you will get in return, and here are the consequences for our inaction. But this is Colonel Boyd’s to be or to do moment, the proverbial fork on the road. So...who will come forward? Anybody there?

The sad part is, I can very well imagine us in 2020, looking back at this point and adding a few more dozen reports to the bibliography of reforming the State Department.

SLAPP: strategic litigation against public participation

This stems, in large part, from the rotten behavior of Canada's infamous 'human rights' Commissions and their attempts to shut down free speech.

What a silly wanker.

Click over to http://ezralevant.com/ and read the latest attempt to silence a freespeecher. While you're there click the PayPal button and donate to his defense fund.

Quickie: Small Change for Public Diplomacy

Reports indicate that the Department of Defense will pay private contractors $300 million over three years to produce news and entertainment programs for the Iraqi public. Kristin M. Lord, a fellow at the Brookings Institution's Project on US Relations with the Islamic World and Foreign Policy Studies program asks why the Department of Defense getting so much money and personnel to carry out the mission. She argues that the State Department, not the Pentagon, should lead America's public diplomacy efforts.

Lord points out that “the $100 million annual price tag of the initiative described above is just one element of the Pentagon's communication efforts in one country. Yet, it is equivalent to roughly one-eighth of the State Department's entire public diplomacy budget for the entire world.”

“Whereas $100 million per year is big money for public diplomats, it is small change for the military, which spends $434 million per day in Iraq. The State Department, meanwhile, must meet a host of pressing concerns ranging from short-term communication needs to long-term educational exchanges with about $800 million per year.”

Let me screw my head tighter here - we're underfunding State then complains that things are not getting done, then we're giving all that money to private contractors to help grow our ailing capitalism (sweet jeez, not KBR, Halliburton, and all that, again?), then contractors put together telenovelas and Iraqi Idol for our Iraqi friends and neighbors? Holy crap!

I think I'll have some milk with melamine now, please. You can read the entire text here.

Preparing for Transition at State

Sean McCormack, Spokesman at State indicates in his DPB on October 21 that the preparation for the presidential transition has started. The Secretary has appointed three individuals to head up the Department-wide transition effort. They are Under Secretary Bill Burns, who is Under Secretary for Political Affairs; Under Secretary Pat Kennedy, who is Under Secretary for Management; and the Executive Secretary, Dan Smith. All are career Foreign Service Officers.

“So these three individuals sit atop the Department-wide structure that’s going to be responsible for making sure that there is a professional, efficient, smooth transition from this team to the next team as they come in. At some point along the way, we’ll take you all – for anybody who is interested – a tour for the transition spaces that are already being set up on the first floor of the Department. I think you all know where they are, down in the southwest corner.

These things are designed to help people out with everything from administrative to security to policy support. The Department is already starting the process of generating all the papers that are required for a transition if – for any of you out there who don’t know the State Department, this is a Department that still runs on paper. So it’s – we do a lot of things well and one of them is produce paper. So we’re producing a lot of transition papers for the incoming team. And I would expect that on November 5^th, we will have our first set of books ready to hand over to whomever the incoming transition team leads will be.

All of that said, we still have a lot of work left to do between now and January 20^th, and the Secretary is certainly concentrating on that, but I also wanted to let you know that we are also concentrating on the fact that we are going to be turning over responsibility for the Department as well as U.S. foreign policy to a new team coming here in a few months.

[…] And the President also recently signed, I think, within the past two weeks, a new executive order that sped – that was designed to speed the process of security – granting security clearances and having individuals in transition teams, both transition teams, be able to access sensitive information so that, you know, on November 5^th, you know, there is a president-elect – well, not – well, there will be somebody the American people have chosen as the next president, and a transition team, and so they can start their work immediately. And the idea is to make sure that it is as seamless and is efficient and as professional as possible.

Wai Young lost the judicial recount to Vancouver South incumbent Liberal

What is this crap! ' Justice Patrick Dohm opted to recount votes from 28 out of 184 ballot boxes…' odd, I was still under the impression Canada is a democracy. Maybe the judge believes otherwise.

VANCOUVER, B.C. - A Vancouver Conservative candidate who lost a federal election recount last week is appealing the result in court.

Wai Young lost the judicial recount to Vancouver South incumbent Liberal Ujjal Dosanjh by just 22 votes on Friday but Conservative party official Ray Leitch says she’s unhappy that not all the ballot boxes

were rechecked in the process.

Have a look at Blue Like You

Speaking out against the HRC's

Check out the video posted on Big Blue Wave

BIG BLUE WAVE: VIDEO: Family Coalition Party Tour of Freedom...Speaking out against the HRC's

On Keeping Friends Close, and Enemies Closer

Over the weekend, two old hands from the State Department made a case why we should talk to our enemies. Ambassador R. Nicholas Burns was the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (“P”), the Department of State’s third ranking official and the highest-ranking American career diplomat, until his retirement this past April. He is now a professor at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. In Newsweek, he writes:

“In each of the three presidential debates, McCain belittled Obama as naive for arguing that America should be willing to negotiate with such adversaries. In the vice presidential debate, Sarah Palin went even further, accusing Obama of "bad judgment … that is dangerous," an ironic charge given her own very modest foreign-policy credentials.

I lived this issue for 27 years as a career diplomat, serving both Republican and Democratic administrations. Maybe that's why I've been struggling to find the real wisdom and logic in this Republican assault against Obama. I'll bet that a poll of senior diplomats who have served presidents from Carter to Bush would reveal an overwhelming majority who agree with the following position: of course we should talk to difficult adversaries—when it is in our interest and at a time of our choosing.”

He points out to Israel's Yitzhak Rabin, who defended his discussions with PLO’s Yasir Arafat by declaring, "You don't make peace with friends, you make peace with very unsavory enemies."

Why should the United States approach the world any differently now? Especially now? As Americans learned all too dramatically on 9/11 and again during the financial crisis this autumn, we inhabit a rapidly integrating planet where dangers can strike at any time and from great distances. And when others—China, India, Brazil—are rising to share power in the world with us, America needs to spend more time, not less, talking and listening to friends and foes alike.

Simply put, we need all the friends we can get. And we need to think more creatively about how to blunt the power of opponents through smart diplomacy, not just the force of arms.

You can read the entire text here.

Meanwhile, the president of the Council on Foreign Relations, Ambassador Richard N. Haass, who had served previously as director of policy planning for the Department of State, and where he was a principal adviser to Secretary of State Colin Powell also penned a thoughtful and pragmatic piece for the incoming president. In “The World That Awaits,” Ambassador Haass warns that “An Iran with nuclear weapons or the capacity to produce them quickly would place the Middle East on a hair trigger and lead several Arab states to embark on nuclear programs of their own.”

He proposes a realistic way forward based on collaboration:

“I would suggest that we work with the Europeans, Russia and China to cobble together a new diplomatic package to present to the Iranians. Ideally, Iran would be persuaded to give up its independent enrichment capability or, if it refused, to consider accepting clear limits on enrichment and intrusive inspections so that the threat is clearly bounded. We should be prepared to have face-to-face talks with the Iranians, without preconditions. In general, it is wiser to see negotiations not as a reward but as a tool of national security.”

I am heartened to see his counsel on the current efforts involving democracy and world transformation:

One area, however, where you would be wise to put some distance between yourself and "43" involves democracy. America does not have the ability to transform the world. Nor do we have the luxury. We need to focus more on what countries do than on what they are. This is not an argument for ignoring human rights or setting aside our interest in promoting democracy. But we should go slow and focus on building its prerequisites—the checks and balances of civil society and constitutionalism—and not rush elections or impose political change through force."

You can read the whole piece here.

All this talk about talking to our enemies made me think of Sun Tzu (孫子 or 孫武), the famous 6th century BC Chinese military strategist and author of Sun Tzu, The Art of War: “It is said that if you know your enemies and know yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles; if you do not know your enemies but do know yourself, you will win one and lose one; if you do not know your enemies nor yourself, you will be imperiled in every single battle.”

Is this great knowing possible if we don't conduct an open, and healthy discussion about our collective vision of a new, revitalized America? Is it possible if we engage with our enemies only at a point of a gun?

Brief as Photos - 12: Gorgeous Princess Goin' Fishing

I usually go fishing early morning because that’s when the fish are awake in the other side of the world. I’d logged into my computer and check my messages in the dating website. BTW, when you go fishing, you do need bait. So last week, I posted mine. Looks great, huh?

photo from travel.state.gov

I scroll down my messages; I have several but started reading through the multiple messages from American Joe of Ohio. This one sounds needy and ready.

American Joe: I’ve missed you, please talk to me.

Gorgeous Princess: Hello my prince and only comforter, how are you today my love?

American Joe: I tried calling your cell yesterday but no one was answering.

Gorgeous Princess: Sorry, dearest, something bad happened yesterday. Mr. Khafayat who was helping me with my papers was in an accident. i had to see him at the hospital. but don’t worry. he made contacts with them at the embassy but was reassured that i would be paid back$1050 when i get to the usa after they verify with you that i came for a visit and not to work.

American Joe: Whew! That’s good to know.

Gorgeous Princess: I know there is nothing too hard for our God to do

American Joe: Yeah! Hope he gets well soon. Anyway, I'm wondering - have you ever rode in a big truck around America?

Gorgeous Princess: No

American Joe: You wanna?

Gorgeous Princess: If you want me.

American Joe: Ok cool! Then we can do all sorts of things then!! If you have an open mind it can be a ton of fun on the road!

Gorgeous Princess: Like what?

American Joe: You’ll get to see things that you’ve never seen before. It’s like having a tour of the United States. And I’ll be your personal tour guide!

Gorgeous Princess: Ok, but I think you should have let me come and see your lovely face before ending of this month. Why March?

American Joe: I have to get settled in Nashville first so I have a place for you to come to.

Gorgeous Princess: See, when I love you I love you for real.

American Joe: Plus that’s when I know I’ll have the money to pay for your ticket over here.

Gorgeous Princess: i will be sleeping in where you sleep….

American Joe: You’re so sweet!

Gorgeous Princess: And if you don’t mind we will go to Ohio to my dad’s house.

American Joe: We could do that.

Gorgeous Princess: Thanks. So if you wish I come, send the money trough Western Union so I will pay for the ticket.

American Joe: Can’t I pay for the ticket form over here?

Gorgeous Princess: Yes, I do agree and that could have been the best, but government says it does not improve their economy system so they have banned any imported ticked buying in other countries.

American Joe: F**k those f**kers! Ok, I’ll find out how much that’ll cost me.

Gorgeous Princess: Can you imagine this Nigeria? that’s is why I hate them. the ticket is $1200. you will send it trough Western Union. then I will go and collect and pay the ticket.

American Joe: I’m sending the $1200 to a bank?

Gorgeous Princess: Yes. let me ask you a question. because I need true love. if you know that you really love me and you want to marry me then send the money. i will come and see you, but if you don’t love me and you never want to marry me please, i don’t want to see your money and don’t send any. Please, I need true love.

American Joe: I printed your pictures off of the dating site and I look at them every day. I hope you don’t mind.

Gorgeous Princess: Let me tell you, if you will see me from morning 'til night when I come you will. and if you will talk for hundreds hours I will with you, Honey. I love you because I have a strong believe that you are a trustworthy man and man that will be a father of my children.

American Joe: The men are going to see this drop dead gorgeous blonde haired, blue eyed girl walking through the airport and they are going to just fall out at the sight of you!!

Gorgeous Princess: And nothing they could do because I belong to you honey.

American Joe: I can’t believe my luck!! Is these pictures really you?? My God I would be the happiest man walking!!!!!!

Gorgeous Princess: I LOVE YOU honey and I will always love you since you continue treating me well

American Joe: Is the girl in these pictures really you?! I just can’t get over your beauty!!!! I can’t believe my luck!!!!!!!

Gorgeous Princess: That’s really me. would you send the money this week so I may buy ticket

American Joe: Aww babe, I don’t have the money yet. I will send it in two weeks. Don’t you worry your pretty lil head, hun.

Well, ok, he was not quite ready as I thought he'd be, so we said a sweet, sticky goodbye … Damn! Two weeks! More massaging work needed, I guess. Maybe more eye candy would also help, I thought as I looked through my photo files. I did an auto search for something demure but sexy. While waiting, I poured more coffee. I know I'd be there for a while. I scrolled down on the rest of my messages. Charlie, the electrician from West Virginia had just sent two messages in the last hour. I opened his first message and started typing:

Gorgeous Princess: hello my prince and only comforter, how are you today my love?

* * *

NOTE: According to the State Department, its Consular Affairs Bureau receives daily calls about international scams involving Internet Dating, Inheritance, Work Permits, Overpayment, and Money-Laundering. Many scams are initiated through the Internet; victims range in age from 18 to 81 and come from all socio-economic backgrounds. Read more here. Part of the story above was excerpted and tweaked from here (PDF file).

Video of the Week: Battle Bureaucracy with Fake "Crises" and Caffeine

This week we bring back leading satirist, Dr. E.L. Kersten of Despair, Inc. who says that if your organization is at all established and successful, it's probably already become a bloated, uninspiring workplace (Ooops!) Dr. Kersten, author of "The Art of Demotivation" has some suggestions on how to take back your organization by overcaffeinating your workers, limiting their contact with the outside world, and teaching them that the need for "fairness" is petty and weak.

Create a start-up culture

• Hire recent graduates (or folks with no/little experience) because they are less like to complain about work, overtime, etc.
• Hire people for whom work is life (who would not mind 16-hour workdays)
  

Create "crises"

• Suspend rules
• Overtime on weekends (pay with comptime that never gets used)

Reward sacrifice and commitment

• Emphasize that desire for fairness is the impulse for the petty and weak
• Children whine, adults work
• Reward sacrifice and commitment to management over competence and achievement

Building blocks

Provide high caffeine drinks (not tree-bark coffee)
Limit social interaction (all roads to promotion must go through your desk)

What can I say - it's always great to hear some good, down to earth wisdom.

Western Standard has Steve Pinker on CHRC's

Came across this via the great five feet of fury.com

Dr. Sanity: MALIGNANT NARCISSISM - Sociopathic Selfishness and Sociopathic Selflessness

Dr. Sanity: MALIGNANT NARCISSISM - Sociopathic Selfishness and Sociopathic Selflessness

Fighting for America before it officially was their country

At a military naturalization ceremony at Fort Bragg yesterday, 41 men and women who came from 26 different countries on five continents became American citizens. As Secretary Gates pointed out they all have served and sacrificed for this country even before it officially was their country.

Secretary Gates speaking at the ceremony says:

It is one of the true glories of our country that, when it comes to Americanness, you don’t have to be a descendant of the Founders or the colonists who came over on the Mayflower. What counts is whether you believe in America’s ideals, follow her laws, and pitch in for the common good. Abraham Lincoln said that immigrants to the United States can read the phrase “all men are created equal” in the Declaration of Independence and “feel that . . . they have a right to claim it as though they were blood of the blood, and flesh of the flesh,” of the men who [signed] that Declaration.

But it is not just that you are as American as anyone, from this moment forward. It is not just that you’ve passed an exam on the United States government and its laws. Not just your knowledge and your beliefs but it is your actions – your willingness to put yourself in harm’s way for the rest of us – earn you the approval, and the sincere admiration, of all Americans, your fellow citizens.

Throughout U.S. history, new citizens in every walk of life have made America a better place. As soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines, you give what is invaluable: your skills, your talent, and your courage. Since September 11, 2001, nearly 43,000 men and women have become citizens while wearing the uniform of the United States military. More than a hundred have fallen in defense of their new country.

This nation that welcomes you with warmth and with pride is very much in your debt, because you have shown your love for this country in the most honorable way possible. So on behalf of the Department of Defense, I thank you for defending the people of the United States – your people – and the “self-evident truths” which they hold so dear.

I would have invited this very nice woman to the swearing in ceremony. This would have been a great teachable moment. Read the whole speech here.

Google Vote Mapplet - Live!

A quick update on the Google mapplet that provides voting location. We wrote previously about this here. It went fully functional in the last day or so. Check it out here: http://maps.google.com/vote. Please verify your voting location with your voting officials, especially if there is no early voting in your place.

Insider Quote: Loyalty and the Yes-Men

“This [George W. Bush] administration poses every question in terms of loyalty,” said a political officer with twenty years of service. “In the past, professionals were chosen for senior positions so that policymakers could draw on their knowledge and experience. Now they’re yes-men. You don’t have people who will stand up and say, ‘Madam Secretary, what you propose won’t work in my region of the world, which I know intimately.’ There is no discussion of policy or policy implementation, at least none that involves the foreign service.”

Career Diplomacy
Life and Work in the U.S. Foreign Service
Harry W. Kopp, Charles A. Gillespie
ISBN: 9781589012196
August 2008

Help! I Need a Wardrobe Bailout

All you guys salivating over the $150,000 wardrobe expense, please pipe down. Wall Street already got its bailout and Main Street will soon get its very own. Why are you all bitey about Ms. Palin’s Fifth Avenue bailout? You, GO, girl! There’s nothing more satisfying than spending other people’s money, while helping them, also.

While we’re on this subject, I have a confession to make. I am running for Secretary of State (no, not of Idaho, dummy!) of the United States! Yup, I want to be the 67^th, Secretary of State of this great nation of ours. It’s a VERY important job as you may already know. But if I were to have a chance to swing this job my way (they’re now floating John Kerry and Christopher Dodd as possible candidates, what's with that?), I need some new duds immediately. Just some straight talk here - I need your help. Below are the top ten reasons why I need my own wardrobe bailout:

Wardrobe Bailout – Diplopundit’s Top Ten

1. I need a second U.S. passport

Well, I have to look my best when I try to convince the Passport Office why I need a second passport in another name. My two-prong strategy works whether a Democrat or a Republican lands in the White House. A blue passport with my first name (and blings) will be used if Obama wins and the red passport with my second name (and blings) will be used if McCain wins. In any case, I need a sober Tahiri Bow-Jacket Skirtsuit ($498) to portray the image of a legitimate traveler at the Passport Office.

2. I need a traveling pantsuit

In the lead up to the selection, I will travel to friendly (blue) countries, as well as countries (red) that want to like, bomb us (if State is not making red passports yet, it will soon). Keeping it slick is the name of the game but I need to show some results – a demonstration of my track record as coalition builder even among our worst enemies (especially when they start dropping Bill Richardson or Joe Lieberman’s name).

I simply cannot do all this important traveling around in some old velour threads. I need a Tahari Three-Piece Pantsuit (Sale $349), with pink jacket and khaki pants in stretch canvas, suited with a khaki knit tank. I promise a jaw-dropping fabulousness with this duds, despite jet lag and being stuck in tiny economy seats (I will adhere with Fly-America, to show my future employees at the State Department that if you can do it, I can do it, too).

3. Now about Russia (aka: Putin)

The problem with State is it has never deployed its charm offensive. When I become SecState 67, I will bring that mavericky strategy to Moscow. But what I really need right now is something that would serve me well at dinner, dance and judo or jujutsu. Oh, and I don’t need a $2,500 silk shantung Valentino jacket, silly.

I think this Heidi Weisel Cupcake Dress with Cashmere Fox-Cuff Cardigan ($4,800) would be perfect for my Putin meeting. The Cardigan (black, jewel neckline; open front, three-quarter sleeves; dyed fox (Finland) fur-trim cuffs; pure cashmere) would be appropriate since it’s really cold in Moscow (and just in case we go hunting instead of dinner, also). And the Cupcake Dress (black bodice; black/white plaid skirt; ballerina neckline; short sleeves; tie waist; gored skirt; cashmere/silk) would be great for dinner or dance with the skirt allowing freedom of leg movement. After dinner and dance, I’d look deeply into Putin’s eyes and tell him “Lay off, Georgia, and nobody gets hurt.” And if he doesn’t - I can assure you there’ll be some good combat sport and perhaps, even blood.

4. Pyongyang’s Dear Leader Needs a Break

He might be a vain, paranoid, cognac-guzzling wingnut who favors a trademarked bouffant hairstyle (need to appear taller than 5ft 3in) but after I’ve worked on him, he’ll be our own wingnut. What Ambassador Christopher Hill doesn’t get is that Kim Jong Il is a deeply misunderstood screwball: 1) Dear Leader needs luv; the last few years have not been kind to him – he lost his wife and his three (four?) mistresses; 2) Dear Leader is in the wrong profession; he is a misunderstood artist who writes operas and musicals; 3) Dear Leader is crazy about Hollywood; he owns a collection of more than 20,000 video tapes, loves Friday the 13th, Rambo, James Bond, the Godzilla series, and anything that has Elizabeth Taylor in it, and finally, 4) Dear Leader like any normal 67 year old is worried about growing bald.

I have a simple remedy for our Korean Peninsula problem but first, I need this Valentino Red Oragami Front Dress ($3,750) for my important meeting with the Great Leader. The entire package (V-neckline, front ruffle and bow detail, sleeveless, pure silk) in red, plus a cute Manolo Blahnik Red Braided Patent Sandal ($685) would signal that I’m in charge and on top of my game.

5. Strategic rapprochement with Iran

We need a grand bargain; they need something from us, and we need something from them, period. Not talking to the enemy is childish, people. Plus, the favorite writer of the Neocons has just penned a dire scenario of what a war with Iran in the Gulf would look like (very messy not high-tech, airborne surgical attack as some would claim). My negotiations would be based on mutual interests and respect (not with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, good grief!) with the Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei who has command of the armed forces and the power to declare war and peace (also the power to duct-taped Ahmadinejad's runaway mouth). He has issued a fatwa against nuclear weapons so this is not a hopeless engagement.

For my meeting with the Supreme Leader, I picked this Andy The-Anh Cowl-Back Gown ($1,085). It’s polyester/spandex but does have a bateau neckline and long sleeves which covers most of me. The cowl back is a problem 'cuz it shows lots of back skin but this is such a gorgeous amethyst velvet, I just can’t help myself. Iranian law requires women to wear loose-fitting coats or cloaks in public, as well as a head-scarf that covers the hair, so chances are, I’d be wearing something else over this, anyway.

6. What to do with Hugo Chavez

The problem with this administration’s approach with Hugo the Gladiator is our failure to invite him to polite and elite company. Hugo was born to working folks in a mud hut. He was in military school at 17 and has never left. Imagine that. We have not helped him get over these resentments. He is a great brawler, and not even our best diplomats could outshout or outbrawl him (FSI has yet to write a training module for that). We need a softer approach.

Despite talks of radically altering the economic and cultural landscape of Venezuela, I just know that what he really wants is to be president for life. We can go back to 1) appeasement of dictators, 2) using bright orange carrots, or 3) have a grand fiesta. For this engagement, I need this Oscar de la Renta Lace Dress ($4,990). It is caribbean teal with red lace overlay, strapless sweetheart neckline and a pleated skirt, which screams, “let’s party like we’re teenagers again.” Oh, yes, I’d shamelessly dangle an invitation to the Lincoln bedroom, too; he’d pretend he’s not interested but trust me, he is.

7. One last dance with Old Fidel

It’s time for a new strategy in Cuba. Look, the guy is 82 and waiting to exhale. He once wrote and expressed admiration for President Roosevelt. Also, he reportedly has an estimated net worth of $550 million. Now, I say we tap into that 12 year old boy’s old feelings again and help him spend his money. I think a Valentino Red Optic Print Dress ($695) would be great for my meeting with the octogenarian leader. The dress is purple with multicolor optic print, bateau neckline, sheer long sleeves, cuffed in viscose. Unless there’s a hurricane, this would be appropriate for Cuba’s hot and sunny weather. Oh, he’ll come around to my strategy, most of his old buddies are now dead. Besides, every old bastard comes around when death is a season away (no offense intended).

8. The Axis of Evil Plus

Good old John Bolton. As if the Axis of Evil was not enough, he had to propose an expanded Axis of Evil with Cuba, Libya and Syria as players. So, at a distant chance that he might become McCain’s Chief of Something, I probably should mention Libya (sorry, I’m not up for discussion about Syria today).

Colonel Muammar al-Gaddafi is the longest serving head of government (since 1969 when I was like, 2 years old). He was born into a peasant family, but went to a university and graduated with high grades (what did I say about wanting to be leader for life, huh?). He is not immune to the charm strategy. He was once wrapped around a little finger by the Iron Butterfly, when she negotiated to stop Libya's backing of the separatist Moro National Liberation Front in the Philippines. You should know that he also gave her oil at a low, friendship price. Gee, very nice of him, huh? He’s now 66, and he needs a lot of attention after having been an international pariah for decades (skin, eyebrows, you know, the works). Like Kim Jong Il, he is presumably also worried about that hair stuff. No problemo. My guiding principle is that every problem is an opportunity.

To demonstrate that I am not a big spender, I am ready to reuse the Andy The-Anh Cowl-Back Gown ($1,085) in Tripoli after I used it in Iran. But hey, you never know with these old dictators. So as fail-safe strategy, I still would like to buy this Heidi Weisel Strapless Dress ($1,995) (red, sweetheart neckline, pleated trumpet skirt, silk faille). This would show that I’m not only dead serious but also fun.

9. Afghnistan, Pakistan and all the –stans

What to wear, oh, what to wear there? Should I go ethnic here? I really am not looking forward to wearing a burqa. There’s a Ralph Lauren Black Label Cashmere Beaded-Neck Gown ($1,798) that's to die for; I could use it to shock and awe my hosts. Never mind whether I can use this there or not, ok? Bottom line - I need one black gown for after hour-fun. Now for photo-ops and actual work, I would like this Dolce & Gabbana Double Breasted-Skirtsuit ($3,895). Since I intend to use this for my working trips in all the –stans in South Central Asia, this should be a bargain.

10. Iraq, oh, Iraq of Dreams!

Joe Klein wrote today about a meeting between General Petraeus and Senator Obama in Baghdad last July, “the Senator from Illinois had laid down his marker: if elected President, he would be in charge.” May I remind you that if I am so blessed to be appointed the 67^th Secretary of State who is four heartbeats away from the presidency, I will be in charge of the largest embassy in the world, also (plus some 250+ embassies and consulates). I absolutely dig that Neiman Marcus Exclusive Taffeta Skirtsuit ($398) because it screams “I have arrived, baby.” Gotta get that.

I also need shoes, bags, shiny accessories, hair and make-up, and sparkles also, and perhaps even one big item - like a Gulfstream G650. I mean really, do I have to fly on a reconfigured 757 when I become Secretary of State? I'll explain all the details later and my next wish list right after I get the keys to the 7th Floor.

In closing, I just want to tell you that in some elite parts of the world, the ruling leaders and dictators would not even give me a minute, much less time to negotiate about this or that if they thought I bought my clothes off the rack at Walmart (can you image how Hu Jintao would react if he sees that my clothes were made in Guangzhou?). As I confront our many challenges in various hot spots around the world, it is extremely important to look like the champion of the less than blessed countries around the globe, to appear strong and competent, and most especially, to not look like we're, you know, broke. "Spend, baby, spend!" is my new mantra in this disastrous new world. But first, I need your help to get me to the 7th Floor.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT:

To all the smart FS02s-FS04s in the Foreign Service out there, here’s a deal for you. If you help me become 67^th, I will take care of you, guys. Lots of positions up for grabs right now. You never know when you might get picked to be Undersecretary of Blahs, Official Spokesman, or Ambassadors to Nowhere. Leap-frog your careers! Skip the promotion boards! Support the right candidate! Support my wardrobe bailout!

And don’t forget - VOTE, er, lobby for Diplopundit to be the 67^th Secretary of State! Campaign (appointment) pledge will follow, I think.

Contact Senator McCain here and Senator Obama here.