A former lurker chimes in

[Hanarchy Montanarchy]

It seems like much of the world is holding it's breath while trying to figure out how Trump's America is going to operate, so State can run on rails for a while.

I suppose that "deconstruction of the administrative state" is a pretty thought, especially to anyone who likes the principles of limited government and swamp draining, but it turns out that being the global hegemon acrues a whole assload of admin.

It is unclear if the consequences of pulling back from hegemony, or the process by which this could possibly be achieved without sewing chaos around the world, have been thought out with any granular detail.

Much as the POTUS finally figured out that health care reform is very very complicated once actually being tasked with the job, deconstructing 70 odd years or more of empire is a real head scratcher.

And

[Montegriffo]

Hey all -

I've been lurking here since the switch over. I finally decided to join to participate in the Trump discussions. My permissions are screwy, though, so I can't see all the forums I see while logged out, so I stay logged out most of the time so I can read the current events thread.

I popped in to see if one of you would start a thread in current events about what's going on at State Dept? I'd appreciate hearing your take on it.

I find it very odd that the president has left our diplomats alone throughout the world without any guidance whatsoever. Tillerson has been very quiet and hasn't given much at all to staffers in DC.

One of the Arabic translators at State is fielding a lot of questions from the Arabic language press, esp about the two-state solution, and he doesn't know what to tell them.

The world is quickly discovering that we don't have a clue what's going on anymore. Seems dangerous. The state dept is pretty important. I'd agree that all the departments in our government are way too bloated, but I'm not convinced that just ignoring the dept completely is a good course of action.

https://www.theatlantic.com/internation ... mp/517965/

Anyway, hopefully the admins will get my permissions fixed up, soon. In the meantime, I'd love to hear all your thoughts on this issue.

Welcome Persephone, you should gain full access once it has been determined that you are not a bot.
Don't be afraid to join the discussion as you should be afforded some leeway up until your 100th post. This is only a gentleman's agreement but it is honoured by most here.
You can start your own State dept thread soon enough.
I look forward to listening to a new voice.

[Hwen Hoshino]

Hey all -

I've been lurking here since the switch over. I finally decided to join to participate in the Trump discussions. My permissions are screwy, though, so I can't see all the forums I see while logged out, so I stay logged out most of the time so I can read the current events thread.

I popped in to see if one of you would start a thread in current events about what's going on at State Dept? I'd appreciate hearing your take on it.

I find it very odd that the president has left our diplomats alone throughout the world without any guidance whatsoever. Tillerson has been very quiet and hasn't given much at all to staffers in DC.

One of the Arabic translators at State is fielding a lot of questions from the Arabic language press, esp about the two-state solution, and he doesn't know what to tell them.

The world is quickly discovering that we don't have a clue what's going on anymore. Seems dangerous. The state dept is pretty important. I'd agree that all the departments in our government are way too bloated, but I'm not convinced that just ignoring the dept completely is a good course of action.

https://www.theatlantic.com/internation ... mp/517965/

Anyway, hopefully the admins will get my permissions fixed up, soon. In the meantime, I'd love to hear all your thoughts on this issue.

When jihadis were empowered under Obama they really knew what they were doing with all those coups and proxy wars.

[SuburbanFarmer]

Hey all -

I've been lurking here since the switch over. I finally decided to join to participate in the Trump discussions. My permissions are screwy, though, so I can't see all the forums I see while logged out, so I stay logged out most of the time so I can read the current events thread.

I popped in to see if one of you would start a thread in current events about what's going on at State Dept? I'd appreciate hearing your take on it.

I find it very odd that the president has left our diplomats alone throughout the world without any guidance whatsoever. Tillerson has been very quiet and hasn't given much at all to staffers in DC.

One of the Arabic translators at State is fielding a lot of questions from the Arabic language press, esp about the two-state solution, and he doesn't know what to tell them.

The world is quickly discovering that we don't have a clue what's going on anymore. Seems dangerous. The state dept is pretty important. I'd agree that all the departments in our government are way too bloated, but I'm not convinced that just ignoring the dept completely is a good course of action.

https://www.theatlantic.com/internation ... mp/517965/

Anyway, hopefully the admins will get my permissions fixed up, soon. In the meantime, I'd love to hear all your thoughts on this issue.

What exactly makes you think that the State Dept. has no direction from Trump or Tillerson? Just based on the general confusion that we appear to be spreading right now, or something more substantial?

[Okeefenokee]

Hey all -

I've been lurking here since the switch over. I finally decided to join to participate in the Trump discussions. My permissions are screwy, though, so I can't see all the forums I see while logged out, so I stay logged out most of the time so I can read the current events thread.

I popped in to see if one of you would start a thread in current events about what's going on at State Dept? I'd appreciate hearing your take on it.

I find it very odd that the president has left our diplomats alone throughout the world without any guidance whatsoever. Tillerson has been very quiet and hasn't given much at all to staffers in DC.

One of the Arabic translators at State is fielding a lot of questions from the Arabic language press, esp about the two-state solution, and he doesn't know what to tell them.

The world is quickly discovering that we don't have a clue what's going on anymore. Seems dangerous. The state dept is pretty important. I'd agree that all the departments in our government are way too bloated, but I'm not convinced that just ignoring the dept completely is a good course of action.

https://www.theatlantic.com/internation ... mp/517965/

Anyway, hopefully the admins will get my permissions fixed up, soon. In the meantime, I'd love to hear all your thoughts on this issue.

Unless you are a member of the state department, you don't know what is going on inside. That you think you do says that you are a devotee to the MSM.

Penner, milspecs, kath, and ooky are over there. Introduce yourselves.

[Hanarchy Montanarchy]

And people in the State Dept. are saying they don't have anything to do.

I know clicking on an Atlantic article is basically detonating a gay bomb inside your computer, so I am happy to sum it up for you Okee to save you the trouble.

[SuburbanFarmer]

What exactly makes you think that the State Dept. has no direction from Trump or Tillerson? Just based on the general confusion that we appear to be spreading right now, or something more substantial?

If you have information that the article I used as my source material is factually incorrect, please cite your source.

First of all, I like that tone. Don't take any shit from us.

Second, I don't have any specific information about it, but anonymous sources and 'feely' reporting don't go very far around here. The lack of activity around State may mean something completely different than just a lack of direction, or it could be the normal process of transition every 8 years.

[C-Mag]

Welcome Persephone to th DCF Ex-Pat Internment Camp

[Calculus Man]

anonymous sources and 'feely' reporting don't go very far around here.

Holy crap, Grumpy said something smart?

The lack of activity around State may mean something completely different than just a lack of direction, or it could be the normal process of transition every 8 years.

Holy shit, when it rains it pours.

Welcome to the newbie.

[Okeefenokee]

anonymous sources and 'feely' reporting don't go very far around here.

Holy crap, Grumpy said something smart?

The lack of activity around State may mean something completely different than just a lack of direction, or it could be the normal process of transition every 8 years.

Holy shit, when it rains it pours.

Welcome to the newbie.

GCF,

Hey, Persephone, can you hold this real quick while I arrange my cloak?

/GCF runs like the dickens.

I see what just happened. GCF has passed the torch.