09-11-2016, 01:07 PM
David Guyatt Wrote:Cliff Varnell Wrote:David Guyatt Wrote:Carsten Wiethoff Wrote:I readily admit that I was unaware of this practice. I still find it corrupt, even if it may not be against US law. I may well be that Trump will engage in the same practice, which I still will find corrupt. We have to see, and it will not be easy, for all.
For we Europeans Carsten, it is corrupt and would lead to public outrage and resignations, if not criminal charges.
For America it is simply business as usual.
Which is another way of saying that corruption in American is the way of life.
Just curious -- how are British diplomats chosen?
They're usually recruited by the Foreign & Commonwealth office from university and rise on the greasy pole of that institution as civil servants.
Political appointees are far less common here in the UK, but not unknown. One that comes to mind was the "Prince of Darkness", Peter Mandelson who was appointed by the awful Neil Kinnock, one time Labour Party leader as his "spin doctor". Tony Blair later appointed him Minister Without Portfolio and then a State Secretary and finally nominated him for Enoblement. He is today Peter Benjamin Mandelson, Baron Mandelson, Lord Prince of Darkness.
Lots of rumours and speculation that he was very, very close to Britain's intelligence establishment, who ensured Blair's victory in 1997.
Frequently abbreviated, by the envious unwashed, to "breeding & buggery."
Or have I confused the FO with the Charlatans (MI6)?
"There are three sorts of conspiracy: by the people who complain, by the people who write, by the people who take action. There is nothing to fear from the first group, the two others are more dangerous; but the police have to be part of all three,"
Joseph Fouche
Joseph Fouche