US Ambassador to the Court of St James's

[Donut]

The incredible invisible man, William S Farish, is ending his tenure as the American Ambassador in London after three years. He has amazed London's diplomatic community by his abilty to do so little at a time of such heightened tension in the world. A very poor ambassador by all accounts.

Many of you may be unaware that the post of US Ambassador in the UK is the most sought after posting by US diplomats, and the post is usually given to a close associate of the US President, Farish is a Bush man of course.

The reason for this post is about speculation of who will be the next US Ambassador to London. Particularly who would be appointed if Kerry were to win the Presidency.

The name being brandied about would be the most popular US Ambassador in London (amongst Britons) since Kennedy held the position. Can you guess who it is?

Could we be so lucky? He was a Rhodes Scholar after all!

Exactly what is it you think he should have done during his tenure? What exactly do you think the role of Ambasador is?

My thoughts on the matter are that the Ambasador is SUPPOSED to facilitate communications between National Leaders...to that end...I don't see Tony Blair and President Bush having any communication problems....

Well now....you imply that former President Clinton would be a good Ambasador because he is popular with the british citizens....who care? Why is it important for the ambasdor be popular with the people?? 99.999999999999999% of an Ambasadors real job has nothing to do with the common people...thats the job of his staff. HIS job is much higher level, involving diplomacy with Leaders not joe blow in the Pub.

Edit: and if as you say the Ambasadors are "The PResidents Men" Why would Bush appoint CLinton?

[ 06-26-2004, 12:44 PM: Message edited by: MagiK ]

[Dreamer128]

Originally posted by MagiK: and if as you say the Ambasadors are "The PResidents Men" Why would Bush appoint CLinton?

To get him as far away as possible?

[promethius9594]

i refuse to speculate on who will be chosen if kerry wins, because i havent given in to that dire vision of the future yet.

on the other hand, i hope it isnt clinton. the world sees him as untrustworthy and what would he do with his wife here and poor him all alone with all the english women? it'd be another global embarassment for the US.

[Lanesra]

Originally posted by MagiK: Exactly what is it you think he should have done during his tenure? What exactly do you think the role of Ambasador is? My thoughts on the matter are that the Ambasador is SUPPOSED to facilitate communications between National Leaders...to that end...I don't see Tony Blair and President Bush having any communication problems.... Well now....you imply that former President Clinton would be a good Ambasador because he is popular with the british citizens....who care? Why is it important for the ambasdor be popular with the people?? 99.999999999999999% of an Ambasadors real job has nothing to do with the common people...thats the job of his staff. HIS job is much higher level, involving diplomacy with Leaders not joe blow in the Pub. Edit: and if as you say the Ambasadors are "The PResidents Men" Why would Bush appoint CLinton?

Now read the part where it say's " If Kerry were to win the Presidency "

[Donut]

Originally posted by MagiK: Exactly what is it you think he should have done during his tenure? What exactly do you think the role of Ambasador is?

You obviously don't understand what an ambassador's role is!

I'm not the only person who thinks this man to be a buffoon.

Perhaps this might enlighten you:

William Farish may not be immortal, but he is certainly invisible

ALL ambassadors to the Court of St James are officially designated extraordinary, but William S. Farish, the ambassador of the United States of America, may be the most extraordinary of the lot: he is invisible. So, in large measure, are the 120 or so diplomats in his embassy.

Being invisible does not mean you are not doing your job, if you consider, as the embassy does, that the projection of America's foreign policy to the British people is not part of it. But the British media naturally look to the embassy when they want an official American spokesman to appear on their programmes, and never more than when America's foreign policy is as controversial as it is today and senior members of the administration seem reluctant to leave Washington. How often has the ambassador appeared on the two most influential current-affairs programmes, BBC Radio's early-morning “Today” programme or BBC Television's “Newsnight”? Once, on September 12th 2001, he gave a short statement on “Today”, but he has not risked a “Newsnight” appearance. He has, however, entertained over 1,600 guests at his residence in Regent's Park since he arrived three years ago.

American ambassadors to Britain are usually chosen more for their generosity to the president's campaign coffers than for their political acumen or ability to project policy. The real work in the embassy is often done by the deputy chief of mission, a career diplomat. One such, Raymond Seitz, performed so well in that role in the mid-1980s that he came back to London as ambassador in the 1990s, setting high standards in both jobs. So how does the present incumbent, David Johnson, compare?

Mr Johnson, an expert on Afghanistan perhaps chosen for the British job because of his knowledge of tribal politics, is certainly more active than his boss. With plenty of opportunities to stand in for Mr Farish, he sometimes entertains in the ambassador's residence, rather than his own. But he does not often appear on radio or television, or indeed in other public forums. Like many others in the embassy, he is a quiet American.

American residents in Britain who believe their government's policies in Iraq are not being adequately presented bemoan the “thunderous silence” emanating from the embassy. The topic took up a large part of the conversation recently at a private lunch in London for a senior White House aide. One neo-conservative believes it reflects partly a belief that shutting up makes life easier for Tony Blair, partly some diplomats' hostility to the administration's policies, partly orders from officials in Washington, including those in the National Security Council, to keep quiet. The NSC's “communications counsellor” reportedly passed through Britain a couple of weeks ago without publicly communicating anything to anyone.

As is usual at this time of year, nobs and snobs gathered this week at Ascot, for the smartest fixture in the horse-racing calendar. It is the sort of occasion at which Mr Farish, whose keen interest in bloodstock is said to have made him a friend of the queen's, is usually to be found. But no, he was in the United States.

[Donut]

Originally posted by promethius9594: i refuse to speculate on who will be chosen if kerry wins, because i havent given in to that dire vision of the future yet. on the other hand, i hope it isnt clinton. the world sees him as untrustworthy and what would he do with his wife here and poor him all alone with all the english women? it'd be another global embarassment for the US.

No promethius - many Americans think him untrustworthy. He is well thought of in the rest of the world.

[promethius9594]

well, im glad the world sees a man who takes an oath before a God he purports to believe in, and then lies through his teeth while under said oath as trustworthy... man, thats my icon of integrity right there. he would be a shame to america. what could otherwise have gone down in history as a pretty good president, instead goes down with a big black streak painted on his back.

Originally posted by promethius9594: well, im glad the world sees a man who takes an oath before a God he purports to believe in, and then lies through his teeth while under said oath as trustworthy... man, thats my icon of integrity right there. he would be a shame to america. what could otherwise have gone down in history as a pretty good president, instead goes down with a big black streak painted on his back.

Your preaching to a congregation that does not care as long as the lie was about sex...or well anything at all to do with the proper agenda.

Don't forget...that lie and his impeachment are considered "A Badge of Honor".


[ 06-27-2004, 01:39 AM: Message edited by: MagiK ]

[promethius9594]

it doesnt matter what the lie was about, magik. are you aware of the penalties of purgery? are you aware that clinton didnt suffer ANY penalties for flaunting our justice system? i could care less about the sex scandal, its the fact that he showed our system of justice towards politicians is a joke. its not a badge of honor, its a smear on his image.