Changes in the Foreign Service

Changes in the Foreign Service Since February 8, President Clinton has appointed nine foreign ambassadors. The countries included in these appointments are Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname, Australia, Bangladesh, Poland, Kyrgz Republic, Mongolia, and Laos. These individuals have degrees from Yale, Harvard, the University of Alaska, Emory, George Washington University and several others (U.S. Newswire). In some cases, these individuals can speak as many as five different languages. There seems to be a very real public perception …

…the Foreign Service and increased appointments from within may represent a trend in policy. No longer is diplomacy a gift for the wealthy political contributors, but a job for those with the experience and education to get the job done. Animosity towards America's interventionist policy will lead to increased staff and representation abroad or will eventually cause the United States to isolate itself from those problems that have no direct effect on our own system.