• BertramDitore@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      6
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      1 year ago

      True, it’s one of the most powerful positions in American government, but I guess I’m still a naive idealist when it comes to global diplomacy. I just really wish there was an expert on Japan in the job. East Asia is only getting more complicated for the US, and Rahm Emanuel is famous for his extreme temper and lack of poise in high pressure situations.

      • DonnieDarkmode@lemm.ee
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        12
        ·
        1 year ago

        It’s been my observation that ambassadorships are often given out as rewards or for other domestic political purposes. The career foreign service people whose job it is to do the real work of diplomacy aren’t political appointees

      • hddsx@lemmy.ca
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        3
        ·
        1 year ago

        Yikes. Being famous for not being able to operate under pressure doesn’t seem good for a job under which you have to deal with high pressure…

        • FlowVoid@midwest.social
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          14
          ·
          1 year ago

          He’s not ambassador to China. An ambassadorship to Japan is relatively low pressure, mostly revolving around organizing and attending social events.

          American embassies are usually underfunded and ambassadors often have to pay for social events out-of-pocket, which is one reason why the job often goes to wealthy people.