Kerry Golds
Recently by Kerry Golds
Sep 25 2009, 9:25AM
The State Dept.'s Growing Language Barrier
GAO recently released a report (.pdf) on "persistent foreign language shortfalls" in the Foreign Service, the diplomatic arm of the State department. 31% of overseas officers stationed at language-designated positions fall short of the speaking and reading proficiency requirements for their jobs. This number rises to roughly 40% when focused on officers serving in locations of strategic significance, like East Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. The report states, for example:
43 percent of officers in Arabic language-designated positions do not meet the requirements of their positions (107 officers in 248 filled positions), nor do 66 percent of officers in Dari positions (21 officers in 32 positions), 38 percent in Farsi (5 officers in 13 positions), or 50 percent in Urdu (5 officers in 10 positions).
Aug 7 2009, 4:26PM
An Iraqi Smoking Ban: Where Can GIs Light Up?
Iraq's cabinet approved new anti-smoking legislation. The law bans smoking in public spaces, marketing of tobacco, and Iraqis under age 18 from buying and smoking cigarettes. It's a bold yet laudatory act, given the prevalence of tobacco in the country:
Smoking is widespread in Iraq, with a packet of cigarettes costing only around 500 dinars and cafes providing "sheesha", as water pipes with flavoured tobacco are known, popular in cities and towns.
More than 41 percent of Iraqi men and nearly seven percent of women are smokers, according to the World Health Organisation.
Jul 29 2009, 10:29AM
Palin To Hit The Airwaves?
Inside Radio reported yesterday that Sarah Palin's camp is exploring the syndication potential of the ex-Governor of Alaska. While it is difficult to imagine Palin succeeding across airwaves given that her speaking style--some call it incoherence--draws much criticism, a national radio show could serve as a potent platform for spreading her views and realizing her resignation-speech mission of effecting "positive change outside government."
The article notes that it will be "an ironic twist" if Palin takes to the mic because of her negative opinion of media. But this "irony" is typical Palin operation. Indeed, the same woman who fought a public battle with Letterman and told the media to "quit makin' things up" in her farewell speech once said in a 2008 interview that Hillary Clinton should avoid anything that could be a "perceived whine" when discussing her media coverage.
The article notes that it will be "an ironic twist" if Palin takes to the mic because of her negative opinion of media. But this "irony" is typical Palin operation. Indeed, the same woman who fought a public battle with Letterman and told the media to "quit makin' things up" in her farewell speech once said in a 2008 interview that Hillary Clinton should avoid anything that could be a "perceived whine" when discussing her media coverage.
Jul 23 2009, 4:02PM
Could Obama Become The Lindsay Lohan Of Presidents?
Recently Politico discussed how Americans are "getting a big dose of President Obama." In exploring Obama's constant interfaces with the press and the public--whether through prime-time news conferences, YouTube videos, or town-halls--the article notes that Obama thus far has given more of his time to the public than any recent president by this point in the term.
And for a nation with a 140-character attention span, this might be a bad thing. Though Obama's accessibility in our instant-news, social media age is perhaps a necessity, it comes with a price: potential for Obama-fatigue.
And for a nation with a 140-character attention span, this might be a bad thing. Though Obama's accessibility in our instant-news, social media age is perhaps a necessity, it comes with a price: potential for Obama-fatigue.
Copyright © 2009 by The Atlantic Monthly Group. All rights reserved.