0.1 Percent Of Commerce Department Answers Bush’s Plea To Move To Iraq
0.1 Percent Of Commerce Department Answers Bush’s Plea To Move To Iraq
In a January address announcing his escalation plan, President Bush unveiled a broad new plan to recruit U.S. government officials to move to Iraq to aid in reconstruction efforts:
We will double the number of provincial reconstruction teams. These teams bring together military and civilian experts to help local Iraqi communities pursue reconciliation, strengthen the moderates, and speed the transition to Iraqi self-reliance.
In an effort to carry out Bush’s call, Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez sent an email to employees last week:
I am asking all Commerce employees to consider supporting this important effort. The Department of State is seeking highly motivated, action-oriented, resilient people with a strong desire to assist in the Iraqi rebuilding effort. Volunteers must demonstrate willingness and ability to work in a difficult foreign environment under challenging circumstances with access to few amenities.
Gutierrez received a dismal response. Of the 39,000 Commerce employees who received the email five days ago, just 40 people responded, and the department refused to note how many of those were “yes” answers.
The Washington Post noted in February that the administration’s recruitment efforts have been met with “outright refusal to fill certain vital posts” by several other departments. For example, so many State Department employees refused Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s call to serve in Iraq that she was forced to request an already overstretched U.S. military to fill their positions.
As the New York Times notes, “The reluctance highlights a problem with the administration’s new strategy for Iraq…when the lack of security on the ground [in Iraq] makes it one of the last places people, particularly those with families, want to go.”
Read Gutierrez’s full email below:
MEMORANDUM FOR ALL COMMERCE EMPLOYEES
From: Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez
Subject: Search for Commerce Employees to Staff Provincial Reconstruction Teams in Iraq
President Bush’s new strategy for Iraq includes the expansion of our civilian presence throughout the country by doubling the number of Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRT). Ten new PRTs, supported by U.S. military units, will bring together outstanding civilian experts to complement our military presence, with dynamic programs that promote business development, assist local governments, and help accelerate the transition to Iraqi self-reliance.
I am asking all Commerce employees to consider supporting this important effort. The Department of State is seeking highly motivated, action-oriented, resilient people with a strong desire to assist in the Iraqi rebuilding effort. Volunteers must demonstrate willingness and ability to work in a difficult foreign environment under challenging circumstances with access to few amenities. Prior military or Peace Corps service, or extensive experience living in a developing country is strongly preferred. Volunteers may be eligible for additional pay such as up to 35 percent hardship pay and up to 35 percent danger pay differentials. Postings are for 12-month assignments.
This is truly a unique opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of ordinary Iraqis. Bringing the expertise of Commerce employees to a nation in need, such as Iraq, will promote job creation and growth, thereby helping to keep our troops and our Nation safer. It will also hasten the day when we can stand down, as Iraq stands up.
A list of positions that the Department of State is looking to fill in Iraq is available at http://home.commerce.gov/osec/iraq_job_list.xls. Positions of particular applicability to Commerce employees may include: Business Development Specialists, Banking Advisors, Economists, Microfinance Specialists, Budget and Fiscal Specialists, and Public Administrators. However, this list may not be exhaustive and interested Commerce employees of any background should consider applying.
If you have any questions, please contact Adam Choppin in Commerce’s Iraq Investment and Reconstruction Task Force at [redacted] or [redacted] . Interested Commerce employees should first gain supervisory approval before sending their expressions of interest and resumes. Additional information on this opportunity may be found online at: http://www.careers.state.gov/opportunities/iraq/reconstruction.html.
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Why do Commerce Dept. employees and State Dept employees hate America?
May 9th, 2007 at 6:09 pmId rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal labotomy – think Ill stay at home
May 9th, 2007 at 6:12 pmjust another example of how what these criminal politicians promise and claim never turn out the way they tell us it will…..
most of the time, it seems that whatever he tells us comes out exactly the opposite.
It’s the nature of politics, and politicians, I guess. The reality though, is that no matter what we do, America can’t force “peace” or “democracy” on Iraq or any other country.
Some reading on this issue:
“Can America Bring Peace to the World?”
May 9th, 2007 at 6:12 pmhttp://www.populistamerica.com/can_america_bring_peace_to_the_world
If you have any questions, please contact Adam Choppin in Commerce’s Iraq Investment and Reconstruction Task Force at [redacted] or [redacted] . Interested Commerce employees should first gain supervisory approval before sending their expressions of interest and resumes. Additional information on this opportunity may be found online at: http://www.careers.state.gov/ opportunities/ iraq/ reconstruction.html.
LMAO. This administration is like the Keystone Cops!
I can think of a few questions. One being, Do You Think I am a F*^King Idiot?
And, imagine, interested employees have to gain supervisory approval first! LOL
May 9th, 2007 at 6:15 pmI guess we’ll actually have to fight them here before we fight them over there.
May 9th, 2007 at 6:19 pmThings like this really has to make one wonder what exactly Bush has invested in this war. When it is not supported by the American people and his ratings have fallen to below 40% there must be something hidden beneath. If the original principle of why we are fighting this war –ending terror and extremism– is as important as Bush claims, the $340 billion already spent and the further $100+ billion to be spent should be redirected toward plans to fight poverty and develop the country to prevent another Afghanistan. According to the Borgen Project, just $19 billion annually can end starvation and $15 billion provides water and sanitation all over the world. If ending terror is the goal, the Millennium Development Goals to end poverty is the way to to go for our leaders.
May 9th, 2007 at 6:20 pmcan you imagine how stupid you have to be to be in the 40 that replied?
May 9th, 2007 at 6:21 pmThe smell of desperation in BushCo is turning into the stench of death.
May 9th, 2007 at 6:21 pmThe step in between is insanity. Thrashing and flailing about as awareness of death gets stronger. And that is what this request represents.
Insanity=Out of touch with reality.
stopthecons – nice read there ta – I see it as though the world biggest arms dealers cant have a peaceful world – that dont keep people in jobs and money
I think when the democrats get in we will see some progress towards true world peace –
It somtimes takes a cold blooded killer like Bush to make people realise a better alternative
May 9th, 2007 at 6:22 pmPatrick1, I see an opportunity to get out from your moms basement. Go for it. Too coward? We already knew that.
May 9th, 2007 at 6:23 pmAre the twins going?
May 9th, 2007 at 6:24 pmBush you can send these Christian-azi’s!
DUHRyll, Pattycacke, Jake, JMH, Vallykunt Venus, Sexion, Capt Kirk….
May 9th, 2007 at 6:24 pmjust 40 people responded – and they didnt really respond it was there emails bouncing back from unknown servers
May 9th, 2007 at 6:25 pm#7 The 40 that responded were auto-email responses stating that they are sorry but they are on Vacation and attend to the matter upon their return.
May 9th, 2007 at 6:25 pmyes patrick1 your attension seeking disorder will work wonder in the middle of Baghdad, ha ha ha
May 9th, 2007 at 6:27 pm“…resilient people…”
As in, bullet holes don’t matter, able to withstand terrorist bombs etc.
May 9th, 2007 at 6:30 pmThis is what you get you idiot Bush administration for arrogantly ignoring the knowledge of experts and the will of the American people.
Resign now Bush and Cheney. Go slither back under your rocks.
- Tom
May 9th, 2007 at 6:31 pm#7 Comment by oldtree — May 9, 2007 @ 6:21 pm
You imagined:
can you imagine how stupid you have to be to be in the 40 that replied?
Well, how many said yes? They refused to note that! It would not suprise me if some of the 40 had the balls to say, in writing, “F**k you.” You have to surmise that it very few of those submissions who people actually said yes. Now I know I would have said F**k you and screw the job. And I would have been proud of myself as I waited in the unemployment line. It happened to me on 3 different occasions in my younger days.
“… just 40 people responded, and the department refused to note how many of those were “yes†answers.“
May 9th, 2007 at 6:31 pmIf you are a Soldier in Iraq you recieve a host of benefits for putting your life on the line including tax free status for enlisted Soldiers and tax free status for officers up to a certain percentage of their pay. If you are a contractor, it doen’t matter if you’re a mercenary or the manager of the dinning facility all of ypur pay is tax free. If you’re a civilian employee of a government agency serving in Iraq you get your pay taxed.
As one guy who is a regional network manager for the Army Reserve told me when I (jockingly) asked if he was signing up: “Sh*t you think I’m going back over there put my life on the line for what they pay me?”
May 9th, 2007 at 6:32 pm“However, this list may not be exhaustive and interested Commerce employees of any background should consider applying.”
Here you go, trolls, any experience in commerce will do,
May 9th, 2007 at 6:33 pmBagger, bumper scrubber, selling your old video games on E-bay.
Anyone who would go there is a fool, just might as well paint a big red target on your face. You’d be dead in a week.
Hey, Patti 1″, pervert, Valiant Douche Bag, Exlax…here’s your chance to serve…come on you can do it.
Hating the Repukian Mafia daily
May 9th, 2007 at 6:41 pmOf the 40 responses, I wonder how many were “Out of Office” replies!
May 9th, 2007 at 6:45 pmTHis reminds me of an old talking point I once shared with my co-workers on constructions sites where you ask, “For how little money would you put the toliet mint [the little white disk of deoderant in the urinal] in your mouth for 10 seconds?” Most people would settle on around $50k -100k, some holding out for $500k.
Only here, they probably aren’t offering any extra pay (like uber-hazard pay, 2 days life expectancy insurance, and kidnapping hazard pay), nor any kevlar products and armored vehicles..and 100 blackwater soldier escorts everywhere.
May 9th, 2007 at 6:46 pmThe Department of State is seeking highly motivated, action-oriented, resilient, people targets with a strong desire to assist in the Iraqi rebuilding effort make orphans of their children. Volunteers must demonstrate willingness and ability to work in a difficult foreign environment exploit Iraqis under challenging circumstances with access to few amenities but loads of federal funds..
May 9th, 2007 at 6:48 pmWhere are all those political appointees when their needed????
May 9th, 2007 at 6:50 pmWell, we should all head over to the various Freeper sites (NRO, Washington Times, FR) and suggest new careers for all the right-wing bloggers.
Let’s give those chumps a chance to serve the nation. Let’s see if those colors run or not.
May 9th, 2007 at 7:00 pmToby Tall; forget the bottle, give me some joints.
May 9th, 2007 at 7:08 pmWhy would a bunch of coddled U.S. federal government employees give up their cushy no over time jobs to go to Iraq?
May 9th, 2007 at 7:13 pmInteresting story I found:
http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/51624/
OK, they want us to leave now, so lets go.
May 9th, 2007 at 7:15 pmNo trolls – they must have all signed up…. god bless the Fighting Keyboards – George W Bush’s Own
May 9th, 2007 at 7:18 pm“The ferment in the region is driven partly by the perception that U.S. troops are on the way out, no matter what the Bush administration says. To dampen such speculation, Bush is said to have told the Saudis that America will not withdraw from Iraq during his presidency. “That gives us 18 months to plan,” said one Saudi source.”
http://www.warandpiece.com/blogdirs/006085.html
May 9th, 2007 at 7:18 pmAnyone who would volunteer to go to Iraq today either has a death wish or an IQ of 12. Sorry Bush, you can’t sell this war to anyone. Your time has run out.
May 9th, 2007 at 7:22 pmDamn! Those Commerce Dept. staffers are just a bunch of bed wetting, democrat cut and runners, eh?!
May 9th, 2007 at 7:25 pmLet’s be clear on what this means. We already know the hiring practices of this administration. You can’t get any job anywhere unless you’re a “true believer.” Job interviews have been conducted with questions pertaining to where the job seeker stood on political issues….
And so, even with a pool of their own, hand-picked political clones and cronies, they can’t find enough people to get their own job done! Pathetic. Worst. Administration. Ever!
May 9th, 2007 at 7:25 pmNo trolls – they must have all signed up…. god bless the Fighting Keyboards – George W Bush’s Own
Comment by TerrytheTurtle
Naw, they are peeing their pants at the thought.
May 9th, 2007 at 7:25 pmThey won’t touch this thread.
We need the Swift Boat Veterans for Lies to come out and strongly condemn these panty-waist commerce employees who obviously put their own personal safety ahead of the Chimps policy.
What is wrong with these people? Arent’ there at least a few loyal Bushies who watch Faux Noise at the Commerce Department?
I’ll bet if Bill O’Lielly threatened a boycot of the Commerce Department all those slackers would Cheney in their pants and sign up immediately.
May 9th, 2007 at 7:29 pmYou first, Condi.
May 9th, 2007 at 7:40 pmNow, really. If I rec’d an email like this, I’d think it was a joke.
May 9th, 2007 at 7:46 pmOf the 39,000, the forty have got to be young six year democratic survivors. It’s a dismal %age. They must be a good bunch.
May 9th, 2007 at 7:55 pmThis is why we need a draft.
May 9th, 2007 at 9:51 pmOf Commerce dept weenies.
Id rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy – think Ill stay at home
Comment by Tobey Tall — May 9, 2007 @ 6:12 pm
I know This guy he is a great magician-he can walk down the street and -turn in to a bar.
May 9th, 2007 at 9:56 pmKind of like asking a chicken to take up residence at a Tyson feed lot…
May 9th, 2007 at 10:17 pmWTF? How did I miss this the first time around. Stupid policy, even if it weren’t tantamount to committing suicide!
May 9th, 2007 at 10:56 pmForget about rounding up immigrants. Let’s round up these Bush employees, all his loyalists, and ship them to Iraq. They’ll have new assignments for the Fatherland….err.. the homeland, I mean.
May 9th, 2007 at 11:30 pmSolai, why would you think it was a joke? And even so, if you supported the war why wouldn’t you join up?
May 9th, 2007 at 11:33 pmWhat the 40 actually wrote back:
“Please take me off your list!”
May 9th, 2007 at 11:49 pmSam–thank you! You have struck upon the answer. Since things are so much better there, W, Cheney et al should volunteer for this cause! And Halliburton’s HQ could be redirected from Dubai to Iraq–it’s too perfect.
May 10th, 2007 at 7:02 amJake–you can go too, we can stay here and manage the mainland spin.
Can we PLEEEEEEEASE send this article and all the comments to fat Ass Rush, the opinionated, arrogant jerk who honestly still thinks there are people who believe him instead of laughing at his ridiculous opinions.
May 10th, 2007 at 3:44 pmMaybe they should e-mail the Falwell and Dobson nazis.Just think of all the fun they could have recruiting a bunch of pissed off muslims to their cause.Jeez,where in the hell are all their supporters when they really need them?
May 10th, 2007 at 4:36 pmTo post #47,was listening to NPR and switching back and forth to the windbag and he was talking to some meteorologist about the tornadoes that hit Kansas last weekend.Just goes to show you that the windbag is losing air.
May 10th, 2007 at 4:42 pmWhat I want to know is this: Will Commerce Sec’y Gutierrez be moving HIS office to Baghdad?
May 10th, 2007 at 6:09 pm#10, #12, let’s not be too hard on Patrick, VV, Jake, and the others. They’re needed to fight the liberal bias in the commerce and state departments. :rofl: How else can you explain that only 0.1% answered Bush’s plea and most likely the overwhelming majority said no? It has to be those damn liberals, I tell you!
May 11th, 2007 at 12:03 pm