The hallowed rule among America’s professional diplomats is to avoid involvement in domestic politics, especially during an election year.
They regard partisanship as poisonous to the trust that an elected President must repose in them to execute U.S. policy abroad, and to their own careers as well. They hope to maintain influence and status no matter which party holds power. Their habit of speaking carefully and quietly tends to continue even into retirement.
Diplomats rarely act like dissidents.
(snip)
Ms. Bohlen fears that the Bush administration is forfeiting that leadership. "We are now extremely unpopular throughout the world," she said, as several recent polls have proved. "Unpopularity is normal for a nation as powerful as ours, but this goes far beyond the expected level. If it continues for a second term—well, people still make a distinction between President Bush and America—but after eight years, the change could be very long-lasting."
The President’s decision to invade Iraq did not, by itself, provoke the diplomats to protest. "None of us would argue that there wasn’t a case to be made for the war," Ms. Bohlen said. "But even if you supported the war, the reconstruction has been conducted with such incompetence and such arrogance, such lack of planning …. "
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