tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post5194271359550386113..comments2024-03-29T05:29:57.536-04:00Comments on The DiploMad 2.0: Big Fraud in the Far Abroad, Part V: It's Still Mostly About MeDiploMadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02316439950882822419noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-9434510965581310712014-07-31T15:06:43.010-04:002014-07-31T15:06:43.010-04:00A little Internet sleuthing has revealed the ident...A little Internet sleuthing has revealed the identity of the photo's subject. However, since it's The Dip's secret to reveal or not, I remain mum.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-43857551070734591462014-06-13T15:36:52.241-04:002014-06-13T15:36:52.241-04:00Mr. Amselem, this is extremely good work. Thank yo...Mr. Amselem, this is extremely good work. Thank you, sir, for your service. I am deeply sorry that we don't have a good man like you at the head of the State Department.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-21517566232504241312014-06-12T14:57:31.829-04:002014-06-12T14:57:31.829-04:00I wrote a wonderful response. I saved it. You'...I wrote a wonderful response. I saved it. You'd hate it.<br /><br />regards,HMS Defianthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10024721130102173694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-36150809824448763102014-06-12T14:34:05.340-04:002014-06-12T14:34:05.340-04:00Yes, I've seen how State runs on whispers and ...Yes, I've seen how State runs on whispers and inneundo ("corridor reputation"). I'm glad I had the opportunity to serve my country in diplomatic capacity, even if only as a lowly consular scut, but when I saw I was on the way out, a more senior colleague took me aside and said, "Now you know what a chickens--t organization this can be".<br /><br />Still, I've reached the conclusion that you can't make anything out of cookie dough except cookies. I've also come to the realization that all governments, whether they try to be or don't, are representative of their people. If we had a people who were moral, religious, and respecters of integrity, we'd be in great shape. If we had a people who were religious and immoral, we'd have a sanctimonious froeign policy. If we have a people who are so many self-servers, we'll see the same in our government institutions. If we have a people in whose hearts liberty has died, no set of laws or policies will revive it (Learned Hand was right). State is made up of elite Americans, and nobody else. If it is, as my senior colleague said, "chickens--t", then you can bet that our American elite is, at this unhappy juncture, "chickens--t".<br /><br />Yet, Mr. Amselem, maybe you should keep up being a voice in the wilderness that might call us back to what we might be. It's why I always look forward to your posts. Kephahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00999385775493831638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-18785663998610227282014-06-12T01:19:58.736-04:002014-06-12T01:19:58.736-04:00Or rhymes with "arbitrage"?Or rhymes with "arbitrage"?TheOldMannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-52590230927736944952014-06-11T15:46:05.560-04:002014-06-11T15:46:05.560-04:00Wow. I couldn't wait for your next post so I t...Wow. I couldn't wait for your next post so I tried googling it. This story didn't get much press in the U.S. I'll add to the growing chorus for a book!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-49719428390290986372014-06-11T11:45:44.866-04:002014-06-11T11:45:44.866-04:00im reading this tale with great interest, as i do ...im reading this tale with great interest, as i do all of diplomad's blogs. i was treated in a manner similar to diplomad in my first and last tours. in the first, my consul general thankfully stepped up to defend me, and forthrightly told the rso and washington to shove it. in the last, my ambo and dcm were happy to take credit for my work (praised in secstate and potus speeches in-country during their visits) and just as content to let the whispers, absent any investigation, continue. reading diplomad's blogs brings back lots of memories, increasingly poor to the taste, of state's leadership (sic). thank you diplomad, i know your hurt and anger. we never met but all your blogs speak for me as well. jthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06813674789003385660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-71868569062355386102014-06-11T09:06:26.872-04:002014-06-11T09:06:26.872-04:00Ah, my little grasshopper, a magician must keep so...Ah, my little grasshopper, a magician must keep some of his secrets . . .DiploMadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02316439950882822419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-88630629674973700372014-06-11T00:12:43.694-04:002014-06-11T00:12:43.694-04:00We are discussing your newest blog posts in here. ...We are discussing your newest blog posts in here. We all love your posts.<br /><br />http://bar.baen.com/index.php?t=msg&goto=1038476&#msg_1038476<br /><br />leapermanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-10623387375035040542014-06-10T22:51:39.903-04:002014-06-10T22:51:39.903-04:00So the whole "I didn't know that was a se...So the whole "I didn't know that was a secret" was a line of cockamamie?<br /><br />- reader #1482Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-23775394505518426592014-06-10T22:08:12.778-04:002014-06-10T22:08:12.778-04:00"Next episode will be more interesting"...."Next episode will be more interesting". Wow.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-90345630918957735732014-06-10T18:53:56.892-04:002014-06-10T18:53:56.892-04:00Well, they were thick as thieves at State beyond t...Well, they were thick as thieves at State beyond the point of insubordination. One word from Powell would have cut the issue off at the knees, but he screwed over his boss with silence and watched from the sidelines. <br /><br />I wonder if that's why Rice took over there.Jeff Weimerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802456524746485019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-87728160759361487972014-06-10T18:50:51.056-04:002014-06-10T18:50:51.056-04:00Of course it was his style - as you had it beat ov...Of <i>course</i> it was his style - as you had it beat over your head already.Jeff Weimerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802456524746485019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-19497472253122836502014-06-10T18:30:56.249-04:002014-06-10T18:30:56.249-04:00"""BS went on to achieve infamy for..."""BS went on to achieve infamy for leaking certain classified information to a journalist, and allowing another person to take the blame. You can probably guess who this is, but that's all I will say about him. Lawyers, you understand. """<br /><br />That right there was worth the price of admission.!!!! Wait.!! OK. I'll make it up when you write that book.!! O , bye the way I must be reader #7... Sweet :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-65802911934994342472014-06-10T13:48:14.098-04:002014-06-10T13:48:14.098-04:00My opinion underwent a similar evolution - from re...My opinion underwent a similar evolution - from respect to outright disdain for such a weasel.Keith Sloanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07319879076978887933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-6957365042632009042014-06-10T13:21:03.991-04:002014-06-10T13:21:03.991-04:00The first time BS (or RA) came to my attention was...The first time BS (or RA) came to my attention was seeing him on C-Span testifying to Congress. I forget the context but he seemed refreshingly blunt and hard-nosed on the topic.<br /><br />Later, in CP's State Department, my opinion changed for the worst when other tidbits came our. When it was revealed that he let Scooter twist in the wind, I came to despise the man.WhiteHallnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-65691235621426538432014-06-10T12:09:14.598-04:002014-06-10T12:09:14.598-04:00DM - awesome stuff, I am on the edge of my seat wa...DM - awesome stuff, I am on the edge of my seat waiting to see how this plays out.<br /><br />Way better than many books I've read. (Hint, hint...)OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-37060831225930005662014-06-10T12:03:31.308-04:002014-06-10T12:03:31.308-04:00I'm so glad you're back. I missed the Dipl...I'm so glad you're back. I missed the Diplomad when you had to close up shop. I still have the old blog archived on an old hard drive.<br /><br />Welcome Home!<br /><br />Dennis<br />Babylon, Long IslandAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-72402625234629456222014-06-10T10:30:02.695-04:002014-06-10T10:30:02.695-04:00I always thought that BS was a pompous gasbag who ...I always thought that BS was a pompous gasbag who was all about playing the game. He found a perfect companion in CP, who road his "story" to the top in a startling demonstration of the Peter principle. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-76145877784598422702014-06-10T10:09:49.076-04:002014-06-10T10:09:49.076-04:00A willingness to resign over damage to your reputa...A willingness to resign over damage to your reputation is something out of the 19th Century. The modern man cares nothing for his name; didn't you get the memo? <br /><br />In all seriousness, it is refreshing to hear that some people still put a premium on their honor. <br /><br />On a different note, who is that picture in your profile? It has been bugging me for a while. Initially, I thought it was Mo from the Three Stooges. Then I thought it was Fu Manchu. Please don't let me wonder any longer. Matt, the Seventh Readernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-19150070394944040912014-06-10T08:50:05.056-04:002014-06-10T08:50:05.056-04:00Some time ago I read that BS was also tied to Powe...Some time ago I read that BS was also tied to Powell in the army. I wonder what he and Powell were like in the army.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-44057056849182175222014-06-10T07:06:30.331-04:002014-06-10T07:06:30.331-04:00I never did think much of "BS." Much th...I never did think much of "BS." Much that has occurred since has confirmed my opinion of him.Merkwürdigliebehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08633547688991082358noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-75036201151593734312014-06-10T06:58:43.387-04:002014-06-10T06:58:43.387-04:00Funny you mention that. I "knew" from th...Funny you mention that. I "knew" from the beginning of that scandal that he was the one. It was his style. I told several people that my money was on BS as the leaker.DiploMadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02316439950882822419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-76942007557933251742014-06-10T06:50:43.383-04:002014-06-10T06:50:43.383-04:00I'll bet when the witch hunt was gong on for t...I'll bet when the witch hunt was gong on for that leaker later on, you're money was on BS from the beginning.Jeff Weimerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802456524746485019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400985529434569506.post-79493043780383887192014-06-10T06:20:23.132-04:002014-06-10T06:20:23.132-04:00Damn, if it's who (BS) I think it is, then it ...Damn, if it's who (BS) I think it is, then it did go deep. I realize all big orgs have problems, but the rot here is bad, very bad.<br />James the LesserJameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13642228725661059539noreply@blogger.com