Academic

WELL, THEY SAID ?SMART DIPLOMACY,? NOT ?SMART DIPLOMATS.? BUT STILL. Ex-Ambassador Left Luxembourg?

By Glenn Reynolds

WELL, THEY SAID “SMART DIPLOMACY,” NOT “SMART DIPLOMATS.” BUT STILL. Ex-Ambassador Left Luxembourg Embassy in ‘State of Dysfunction,’ Watchdog Finds.

Described as “aggressive, bullying, hostile, and intimidating,” President Obama’s ambassador to Luxembourg left the U.S. embassy there “in a state of dysfunction” and unable to carry out its duties after her recent exit, according to report released this week by the State Department Inspector General.

Cynthia Stroum, one of President Obama?s top 25 fundraisers — a bundler who raised more than $500,000 for the his campaign — was chosen for ambassador in 2009. Since then, auditors say her autocratic, bossy and demanding style led to complete failure of the embassy in Luxembourg’s ability to function as an arm of the U.S. government in one of the world’s smallest and wealthiest nations. . . . Stroum, who had no apparent qualifications for the job, quit last week, citing business and family obligations.

The country’s in the very best of hands.

Full post as published by Instapundit.com on February 05, 2011 (boomark / email).