Geoff Coupe's Blog

Reflections on life at “De Witte Wand”…

“Diplomacy”

My dictionary defines the word "diplomacy" thus:
The art of conductiong negotiations between nations; the art of negotiating with foreign nations; skill in conducting negotiations of any kind; adroitness, tact.
Funny, that’s what I thought it was; particularly the skill, adroitness and tact bits.
 
No matter, here comes Colleen Graffy, apparently the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy, to disabuse me of that quaint notion. She has described the suicide of three detainees at Guantanamo Bay as "a good PR move to draw attention".
 
One wonders what she might say were she being undiplomatic…

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3 responses to ““Diplomacy””

  1. Brian Avatar
    Brian

    I was at a ceremony the other day where Collen’s boss, Karen Hughes, talked about the rest of in the field for the State Department being the ones who are the front line of public diplomacy.  After Graffy’s comment, I ain’t sticking my head above the parapet. 

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  2. Geoff Avatar
    Geoff

    Yep, probably a wise move to keep your head down. But really, what on earth was she thinking of? I hope it was simply a case of failing to engage brain before opening mouth; but then again, that is probably not a good trait for a professional diplomat to have. Meanwhile, Garry Smith over at A Big Stick and a Small Carrot sums up my feelings on Camp Delta.

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  3. Gelert Avatar
    Gelert

    failing to engage brain before opening mouth is not the problem. It’s the brain coming up with that first of all, then no one else catching it. Even worse.

    Reply

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