Does Anyone Else Think The State Department Is Composed Of Clowns?

2015-11-07T21:25:29-05:00

1. The DoS said the Kurds fighting ISIS at Kobani was strategically insignificant.
2. 30,000 deleted emails.
3. ISIS needs jobs to change their ideology.

Response by SSgt David Tedrow made Nov 7 at 2015 9:49 PM

2015-11-07T21:49:07-05:00

I hope not. I'm sure there are some that should not be in their present jobs but overall I feel the DoS is a very professional department.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 7 at 2015 10:05 PM

2015-11-07T22:05:00-05:00

No, circus performers.. maybe? LOL!

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Nov 7 at 2015 10:18 PM

2015-11-07T22:18:57-05:00

MAJ Ken Landgren, I've not been impressed with the actions of the State Department in a long while. Most disappointing.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 8 at 2015 12:23 AM

2015-11-08T00:23:36-05:00

ISIS needs jobs to change their ideology? I submit this as "People's Exhibit A"

Response by MAJ Matthew Arnold made Nov 8 at 2015 12:46 AM

2015-11-08T00:46:04-05:00

At the embassies in several counties, I met career Dept. of State professionals, and I was impressed that they are good people, willing to help us military types accomplish the mission in what ever way possible. It is the political appointees that are the problem.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 8 at 2015 12:48 AM

2015-11-08T00:48:35-05:00

There are plenty of good, professional people working in the State Department. I have had the pleasure to work with several. The folks they sent to Iraq though... I didn't meet one that I would consider even average.
The keystone cops routine going on now is being directed from the tower.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Nov 8 at 2015 2:45 AM

2015-11-08T02:45:56-05:00

Anti-American Clowns.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 8 at 2015 11:57 AM

2015-11-08T11:57:56-05:00

That gives clowns an undeserved bad name. Conniving, conspiring, condescending, fraudulent, deceitful, F#€king, lying bastards seems far more befitting.

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Nov 8 at 2015 3:53 PM

2015-11-08T15:53:46-05:00

Kerry and his entourage are just carrying out the wishes of the President. That and a desire to be more than a footnote in the Obama administration legacy is the perfect storm. As noted, it's not the rank and file State Dept. employee, but the incompetent appointees being advised by incompetent Presidential advisors. Redundant, but the only people that really matter to Obama is Jarrett and Rice.

Response by CWO3 Luis Cruz made Nov 17 at 2015 10:13 AM

2015-11-17T10:13:28-05:00

I work for the State Department as a civil service employee and hopefully you are referring to foreign service personel, that being said, I can't wait for the first opportunity to move on.

Response by MSgt Michael Smith made Nov 25 at 2015 8:08 AM

2015-11-25T08:08:37-05:00

You know that is pretty offensive. Many State Department employees could say the same thing about the DOD: Failed wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, 58 million dollar gas stations in Afghanistan, and don't even get me started on the f-35 debacle. The simple fact is that the State Department is an extension of National diplomatic policy, and like every other government branch there are miscalculations. I could argue your 3rd point there, as there heaps of proof that a lack of productivity and employment in the region has in fact contributed largely to the rise of terrorism.

Response by MSgt Michael Smith made Nov 25 at 2015 8:10 AM

2015-11-25T08:10:27-05:00

And another thing. Do you realize how much the State department values Vets? They have about the best program to recruit and employ veterans that I have seen from any government branch --way better than DOD.

Response by Maj Mike Sciales made Nov 26 at 2015 11:36 PM

2015-11-26T23:36:41-05:00

I've worked with State. They have a lot of very smart people. Very capable people, but they have a culture that does not encourage independence of thought and is just rulebound with too much reliance on an indecisive DC bureaucracy. A good State employee learns there is no harm in saying "No." IF we say we simply cannot do that, then it saves any kind of liability for taking action. That is how Bengazi happened and now, since the action Ambo got killed, we won't see any of that foolishness again for some time -- it reinforces what they've always known and believed. That's 180 from the military which is "lead, follow or get the hell out of my way." We see guys dying as the price of admission to the job. They work to peaceful solutions, if that fails, they call us. Opposite jobs, opposite approaches. Look at what they did to Colin Powell. Just played "rope a dope" until he left. Condi Rice created Iraq and she got prizes. Just different.