Diplomats lacking under Trump
Both sides point fingers over low numbers OK’D
WASHINGTON — What if they had negotiations to prevent a war and nobody came?
That’s the prospect staring down at President Donald Trump who says he wants to remake U.S. foreign policy, but doesn’t have a fully staffed army of diplomats and national security figures to lead the charge.
Trump fired Secretary of State Rex Tillerson two weeks ago and nominated CIA Director Mike Pompeo to replace him. Even if a speedy confirmation puts Pompeo in charge in short order, he’ll be the boss of a lot of empty seats.
The American Foreign Service Association lists 188 ambassadorial positions, but fewer than 75 have been filled.
The White House points the finger at the antics of Senate Democrats for slow-walking the confirmation of able administration picks.
“A stunning 43 percent of the president’s highly qualified nominees are still waiting for confirmation in the Senate,” press secretary Sarah Sanders said of the overall pool of unconfirmed nominees during a recent briefing.
Observe the Democrats’ treatment of Richard Grenell, whom Trump’s nominated to be ambassador to Germany in September. Grenell is clearly qualified. A frequent Fox News contributor, he ably served as spokesman to four U.S. ambassadors to the United Nations from 2001 to 2008.
In 2012, Grenell served as national security spokesman for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney – which made him the first openly gay spokesman for a GOP presidential hopeful – before he resigned amid objections from social conservatives.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee advanced Grenell in October. Then nothing happened.
Confirmation blocked
Republicans complained that the Democrats’ use of secret “holds” prevented them from knowing which Senate Democrat stood in Grenell’s way.
It wasn’t until March 22, when Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-KY., asked the Senate to approve a floor vote on Grenell, that a name presented itself. Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-ore., effectively blocked the vote. Under Senate “cloture” rules, one objection can delay a confirmation vote until after 30 hours of debate. Those 30 hours of debate mean real work doesn’t get done.
Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., has faulted the Trump administration for slamming Democrats’ delay tactics while the president neglected to nominate individuals for a large tranche of posts.
Trump has yet to nominate an ambassador to South Korea, even as he prepares for negotiations with North Korean strongman Kim Jong Unhanks to an invitation transmitted by Seoul diplomats.
Obstruction or resistance?
The bottom line, noted Mcconnell spokesman Don Stewart, is, “The Democrats have gone out of their way to block even the most highly qualified nominees that the president has put forward and it has caused necessary delay for our foreign service and national security around the world.”
Trump is taking the slow route because he’s a non-politician trying to put other novices in the government. Senate Democrats are dragging confirmations precisely because they are political animals.
When President Barack Obama owned the Oval Office, Democrats complained about Republican obstructionism. Now they extol obstructionism as resistance.
ankford wants the Senate to pass another such measure to stop the monkey wrenches through 2018, and let nominees rise with 51 votes or fall without them.
Contact Debra J. Saunders at dsaunders@reviewjournal or 202662-7391. Follow @Debrajsaunders on Twitter.