Typical American 'Diplomacy' by Fremdfirma

REAL WORLD EVENT DISCUSSIONS

Typical American 'Diplomacy'

POSTED BY: FREMDFIRMA
UPDATED: Monday, August 20, 2007 12:01
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VIEWED: 931
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Saturday, August 18, 2007 8:01 PM

Not hard to wonder why our diplomatic efforts are failing so horribly, when we're hiring obnoxious jackasses like this, is it not ?
We need some damned good snake oil salesmen, stat!

Original URL -
http://www.gulf-news.com/world/U.S.A/10147627.html

Story Text
-------------------
Diplomat retires amid furore over racist remarks
Gulf News Report
Published: August 19, 2007, 00:22

Dubai: A US diplomat has retired from the government amid accusations he said "the only good Arab is a dead Arab" in a voice and electronic mail left with an Arab-American group, the State Department has said.

Patrick Syring - who will be arraigned in the Federal District Court on August 30 - was accused of having made abusive, intimidating and racist comments to employees of the Arab American Institute.

James Zogby, president of the institute, said: "We are pleased with word that the grand jury has returned two indictments. This has been a matter of concern to me and my entire office.

The Civil Rights Division of the US Department of Justice has been responsive, and we feel protected. The threats were both intimidating and frightening - and the fact Mr Syring was a 20-year career officer at the Department of State made it of even greater concern."

Indictment

The State Department refused to comment on the legal case against Syring, which was outlined in an indictment filed at a US federal court on Wednesday, but said the diplomat had decided to retire.

Syring is alleged to have made the comments to officials at the Arab American Institute, including James Zogby, when Israel was at war with Hezbollah in July 2006.

"The only good Lebanese is a dead Lebanese. The only good Arab is a dead Arab. Long live the IDF. Death to Lebanon and death to the Arabs," Syring said in a voice mail recorded at the institute on July 17, 2006. IDF stands for Israel Defence Forces - the Israeli military.

He stands accused of violating US law on federally protected rights and of making threatening communications. The voice mails and e-mails were quoted in the indictment.

Syring served as a US diplomat in the Middle East and most recently worked in Human Resources at the State Department.

Sean McCormack, spokesman for the State Department, declined to address the Syring case specifically other than to say he had retired.

Speaking generally, McCormack said such comments were unacceptable to US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

"Let me just underline for you the seriousness with which the secretary approaches the idea that the State Department should be a workplace that in no way, shape or form tolerates discrimination or hateful language. It's just not condoned or acceptable in this department," he said.

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Sunday, August 19, 2007 5:14 AM

CHRISISALL

People hire the like-minded.
I must assume he speaks for more than himself.

Chrisisall

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Sunday, August 19, 2007 6:14 AM

GEEZER

Keep the Shiny side up

Let's see.
-The guy who made the racist statements has been forced to retire and is being prosecuted by the Justice Department.
-The president of the Arab-American Institute - to which the comments were addressed - is pleased with the indictments, and praises the Civil Rights Division of the DOJ.
-The Secretary of State strongly condemns discrimination or hateful language by State Department employees.

Damn bigoted US Government! - Not.

"Keep the Shiny side up"

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Sunday, August 19, 2007 8:21 AM

FREMDFIRMA

Given the pattern of these bible-thumping, arab-hatin assholes they've hired in the past couple years, I tend to disagree with you, Geeze.

What bothers me the worst is that we're using the WRONG people for this job - what kind of diplomat manages to, like some junior high gym teacher, offend EVERYONE IN RANGE the very instant he opens his mouth ? (I'm bashing Bolton here, in case that wasn't amazingly clear..)

Why would you hire such a person for such a job ?!
That'd be like hiring Ted Bundy as your lawyer at a child abuse hearing, wouldn't it ?

We need SHYSTERS, dammit, snake oil salesmen - the whole POINT of "imperial" diplomacy is to get what we want without having to engage the military to take it, good heavens if we just wanna spout threats and demands we got plenty of obnoxious generals who can do that, shit, have Boykin do it, he's racist, intolerant and obnoxious enough to do the job....

When you're hiring diplomats to back up an imperial agenda, it makes good sense to hire guys so slick they could sell ice machines to innut tribesman on a high interest installment plan and still have the poor sodders so happy they build states in their honor - there's a place for sleazy fast talking crooks who can get inside someone elses head and pull the strings, and there's no better one than to do it in the service of the country, Clinton woulda been a shoe-in for this if his talents hadn't be wasted on the presidency, a job you could train a chimpanzee to do... oh wait, we just did that, didn't we ?

Seriously tho, the absolute *incompetence* of these asswipes when they play conquer the world is every bit as offensive to me as them deciding to play it in the first place....

We either need to start practicing actual diplomacy and holding to treaties and agreements - or we need to get some top end con artists and start shmoozing people, or just give that end of the agenda up completely - cause this halfassing it is just not workin.

-Frem

It cannot be said enough, those who do not learn from history, are doomed to endlessly repeat it

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Sunday, August 19, 2007 10:36 AM

GEEZER

Keep the Shiny side up

Quote:
Originally posted by Fremdfirma:
Given the pattern of these bible-thumping, arab-hatin assholes they've hired in the past couple years, I tend to disagree with you, Geeze.

Syring was a career diplomat with 26 years service. This would have put his hiring (right out of college with a newly-minted Masters) at either the end of the Carter or beginning of the Reagan Administration. Even if we had "bible-thumping, arab-hatin assholes" back then, would he have survived two foreign embassy tours during the Clinton Administration if he made a habit of such remarks?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Syring

"Keep the Shiny side up"

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Sunday, August 19, 2007 12:23 PM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!

Sure, it does suck. No question there. Should never have said it, and never been in a position to say it from that office. But it's funny how all sorts of folks in and around the Mid East can make THE most racist and vulgar comments, and yet no one bats an eye.

I wonder why that is.

People love a happy ending. So every episode, I will explain once again that I don't like people. And then Mal will shoot someone. Someone we like. And their puppy. - Joss

" They don't like it when you shoot at 'em. I worked that out myself. "

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Sunday, August 19, 2007 2:14 PM

FREMDFIRMA

We can't control what they say, we can control what our diplomats say - and yes, we've been hiring the wrong people for this job since 1951 at least...

We either need real diplomats, or snake oil salesmen, it's just that simple - hell, even bribery is cheaper than war.

-Frem

It cannot be said enough, those who do not learn from history, are doomed to endlessly repeat it

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Monday, August 20, 2007 5:41 AM

CHRISISALL

Quote:
Originally posted by Fremdfirma:
hell, even bribery is cheaper than war.

"There comes a time, thief, when the gems cease to sparkle, when the gold loses it's lustre..."

KingChrisisall

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Monday, August 20, 2007 5:55 AM

HERO

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
People hire the like-minded.
I must assume he speaks for more than himself.

Hmmm...

By your theory, since Patrick Syring was a 20 year veteran diplomat, he must have been speaking for former Secretary of State George Schultz.

I would suggest that your comment is probably on the mark. President Bush hited Condi Rice who is the driving force behind the rapid indictment of Mr. Syring on two federal charges relating to his thoughtless comments. Condi, like Bush, does not tolerate folk speaking ill of the dead or blatant racism.

H

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Monday, August 20, 2007 6:05 AM

CHRISISALL

Quote:
Originally posted by Hero:

By your theory, since Patrick Syring was a 20 year veteran diplomat, he must have been speaking for former Secretary of State George Schultz.

AND those who would wait for an incident to can him.
Oh, maybe this was just an 'attack' of racism, eh?

Intermittantly racist Chrisisall

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Monday, August 20, 2007 6:07 AM

HERO

Quote:
Originally posted by Fremdfirma:
We need SHYSTERS, dammit, snake oil salesmen -

As a lawyer I can honostly say that your right and snake oil is good for you and good for the enviroment. It serves many useful functions from lubrication to heating and it holds up very well in extreme cold temperatures (unlike so many carbon-based alternatives) provided it is stored properly in a controled temperature which is why we offer special deals on snake oil refridgeration units to the most discriminating eskimos. After all the only good eskimo is a warm and lubricated eskimo.

As for the viability snake oil production I can offer the aspiring "oil" tycoon of the 21st Century a large piece of land located in Central Florida that is teeming with snake oil reserves, not to mention other viable reptile based industries.

I understand that while the snake oil reserves as worth a great deal, they are somewhat difficult the reach, therefore, for a limited time and in conjuction with the New York State Department of Highways, I can offer you this surplus piece of connection technology guarrantteed to get you from here to there and all for an amazing low price: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brooklyn_Bridge
Shipping not included.

H

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Monday, August 20, 2007 6:13 AM

HERO

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
Oh, maybe this was just an 'attack' of racism, eh?

The man was a twenty year veteran diplomat. Either there is a twenty year pattern or this is something new.

If there is a pattern, then he deserves to be fired now and we need to know why nothing was done up till this latest incident.

If this is something new, he still deserves to be fired and prosecuted, but then we need to know "why now". Is it alchohol, was there a traumatic breakdown, what happened?

We don't have the facts to know what really happened here. I'd suggest, given his twenty years of government service, we give him the curtosy of presuming him innocent until proven guilty. Lets face it, ten years ago this would not even have been a story. Nobody would even think to try and paint Clinton with this guys stupidity. Republicans are held to a different standard.

H

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Monday, August 20, 2007 6:28 AM

CHRISISALL

Quote:
Originally posted by Hero:
Republicans are held to a different standard.

Not by me, Hero.

Prosecutin' Chrisisall

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Monday, August 20, 2007 7:12 AM

HERO

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
Not by me, Hero.

So you blame Clinton for this guy, after all he served longer under Clinton then any single other President and longer under Clinton's Secretary of State then any other Secretary of State to hold the office in the last 20 years.

I hate Bill Clinton, but not even my irrational mind can justify blaming him for this. Although the Hillary Clinton connection to this is probably dead on...

H

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Monday, August 20, 2007 7:38 AM

CHRISISALL

Quote:
Originally posted by Hero:

I hate Bill Clinton, but not even my irrational mind can justify blaming him for this.

Okay, let's be real here for a second. Dealing with the public can make you a little nuts. And diplomats deal with a segment of peeps that probably see themselves as above the common man, while in reality posessing the same brainpower (or lack thereof), so they're probably especially vexing. He was probably just burnt out on those f***ing towel-heads is all, and decided to vent.
So maybe he was a little racist all along, but he didn't let it affect his work.
Then his volcano just

ed.

Ya think? Chrisisall

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Monday, August 20, 2007 10:14 AM

SERGEANTX

Quote:
Originally posted by AURaptor:
...it's funny how all sorts of folks in and around the Mid East can make THE most racist and vulgar comments, and yet no one bats an eye.

I wonder why that is.

Because we hold our own people to a higher standard. Way it should be.

SergeantX

"Dream a little dream or you can live a little dream. I'd rather live it, cause dreamers always chase but never get it." Aesop Rock

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Monday, August 20, 2007 10:46 AM

FREMDFIRMA

I blame em all, all the way back to Gerald Ford, which is as far back as I can trace this stupidity - cause Nixon, creep that he was *did* know something about shystering, and applied it quite well upon the Chinese at one time.

Clinton also hired his share of jackasses, and in case no one noticed, I hate him and his "smiling liars" clan as bad as the current cabal, although he himself was slick enough (one might almost say.. oily..) to work foreign policy a bit better than what we have now.

Nice advert there Hero, ever consider workin for the state dept ? it's a helluva lot cheaper to win a battle with a briefcase and a bribe than commit troops to it, especially when we don't have em to spare - and it's not like we have any diplomatic credibility left to lose, anyhow.

I reccommend local Lawyer Geoff Figer for the job, myself, he's pretty good at this kinda thing.

-Frem
It cannot be said enough, those who do not learn from history, are doomed to endlessly repeat it

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Monday, August 20, 2007 12:01 PM

GINOBIFFARONI

I wonder if this is how Anthony Zinni felt...

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