From the Washington Post:

Uneasy U.S. diplomats yesterday challenged senior State Department officials in unusually blunt terms over a decision to order some of them to serve at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad or risk losing their jobs.

Well — they should lose their jobs. Foreign Service officers swear an oath to serve wherever the secretary of state sends them. But some of these guys (and gals) apparently didn’t think that meant Iraq. They’d prefer it if they could get an assignment down at the U.S. Embassy in Barbados.

Don’t get me wrong — I have a lot of respect for these civil servants. Most of them are brave and patriotic people. But if you’re having a hard time getting people to step up for this assignment, then some of the people you’re recruiting and hiring are the wrong people.

Send me. I’ll go.

When do you need me there, and how long do you need me there? I can be packed and ready to roll tomorrow.

Training? Give me what you got, and I’ll learn the rest OTJ. Looking at the job description, there’s nothing there I couldn’t handle or that I don’t already understand.

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UPDATE

Juan Cole — in typical retreat and defeat Liberal fashion — thinks that the Dems should shut down the US Embassy in Iraq. His argument is that it’s “too dangerous”:

The guerrillas in Iraq constantly target the Green Zone and US diplomatic personnel there with mortar and rocket fire. State Department personnel sleep in trailers that are completely unprotected from such incoming fire. At several points in the past year, they have been forbidden to go outside without protective gear (as if outside were more dangerous). The Bush administration has consistently lied about the danger they are in and tried to cover up these severe security precautions.

The US embassy in Iraq should be closed. It is not safe for the personnel there.

Since the start of the War in Iraq, 3 foreign service officers have been killed in Iraq. While these deaths are tragic, they do not necessitate the call for “closing the embassy” because it’s “too dangerous”.

These men and women joined the foreign services knowing that they would serve in dangerous and remote locations around the world.

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UPDATE II — “Those who are ordered to Baghdad as part of the new call-up will receive incentives, known as the Iraq Service Package, already offered to volunteers. It includes additional pay of about 70 percent for most mid-level officers, plus another 20 percent of basic salary to compensate for long hours. ”

I know it’s dangerous work and all — but they’re getting a 90% salary increase during their deployment. Plus, the first $82000 is tax free if they work overseas for 330 days in a calendar year.

For Soldiers who are sent to Iraq, their pay is tax free (income tax only), and they receive a whopping $225 in combat pay for that month. Plus they receive the Family Separation Allowance (FSA) of $250.00 per month (if they’re married or the legal guardian of children).

So, an extra $425/month. Consider that an average soldier (let’s say an E-4 who has served 3 years) makes $1935.90 per month. That additional $425 represents a 22% salary increase.