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Third, it makes a difference who makes and who executes our policies in Central Europe. In the 1990s, a very important change was made with respect to ambassadors being assigned there. It became desirable for non-career types to seek ambassadorships in the region. A few of them have turned out to be effective. Most of them have not. They do not know exactly where they are, they don’t have the qualifications of career diplomats. The only reason why they were appointed is because they contributed to campaigns. To make my point, let me ask you a question: When you choose a dentist, do you take into account how much money he or she contributed to your favorite political party, or do you rather rely on his or her professional qualifications? Why are we setting different standards for ambassadors? The Obama Administration said during the campaign of 2008 that it would not do what its predecessor did. Famous last words. Guess what? In the Bush Administration the proportion of non-career ambassadors was about 33 percent. It is now about 33 percent under the Obama Administration. Campaign contributors seem to like the Residence in Prague. The Residence in Bucharest has a beautiful indoor swimming pool, making both desirable postings for political appointees. This is not only embarrassing; it is harmful to U.S. interests. We send people there to represent the United States who usually don’t know the country’s language, its culture, and who are not professional diplomats.
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Kolmandaks on oluline, kes korraldab ja viib ellu meie poliitikat Kesk-Euroopas. 1990. aastatel muudeti oluliselt seda, kuidas saadetakse siia suursaadikuid. Piirkond muutus ihaldusväärseks nende silmis, kes ei tahagi teha karjääri välisteenistuses. Mõned neist on tulnud oma tööga hästi toime. Enamik aga mitte. Nad ei tea täpselt, kus nad viibivad, neil ei ole karjääridiplomaadi ettevalmistust. Ainuke põhjus, miks neid ametisse määrati, oli nende panus valimiskampaaniasse. Et muuta mõte selgemaks, lubage esitada küsimus: kui te valite endale hambaarsti, siis kui palju te võtate arvesse seda, millise summa ta annetas teie lemmikerakonnale? Või hindate ikkagi eelkõige tema ametialast pädevust? Miks siis suhtuda suursaadikutesse teisiti? Obama meeskond ütles 2008. aasta kampaania ajal, et nad talitavad teisiti kui nende eelkäijad. Kuldsed sõnad. Ja tegelikkus? Bushi administratsiooni ajal oli mittekarjääridiplomaatidest suursaadikute osakaal 33 protsenti. Praegu on see Obama administratsiooni ajal umbes 33 protsenti. Kampaaniaannetajatele paistab meeldivat Praha residents. Bukaresti residentsis on kena sisebassein. Seetõttu on mõlemad kohad poliitilistele suursaadikutele maiuspalaks. See ei ole ainult piinlik – see kahjustab USA huve. Me saadame Ühendriike esindama inimesed, kes ei ole kutselised diplomaadid ega tunne tavaliselt sihtmaa keelt ja kultuuri.
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