new posts, diplomatically speaking
An almighty thanks to ileum for upholding the fort and holding the ozpolitik torch while I have traipsed through Beijing, Italy, London, and Paris.
All of these posts are getting too heavy for a pseudo-economist like myself (I only dare to even call myself that as I know my friends at the IMF are not reading this blog!) so I will have to drag up the boring topic of diplomatic appointments.
As now is well known, Rudd has posted both mates and former foes across party lines in a move that will leave most people shrugging (hey, they appointment of retired politicians to juicy diplomatic posts seems to be becoming the norm) and given his appointments of the good Dr (Nelson) to the EC in Brussels and Tim Fischer to a hmmm…challenging post in the Holy See (seriously, is there really a need for such an appointment? Really? Surely the Ambassador in Rome just 5 blocks away could handle it…), Rudd is more likely to be greeted with applause (albeit muted) than cynicism by the public.
Beazley’s appointment to the US at least appears to be taking competencies into account, a far cry from Howard’s “how the hell can we get Alston out of Communications-crap let’s give him the UK” posting decision. And I don’t mean to beat on Howard here. After all, it indicated a certain pragmatism in getting a guy who believed the internet was only for pornography out of a post that was supposed to facilitate Australian’s with broadband access.
For more on the diplomatic posts, see the ABC, SMH, and the Straits Times.
OzPolitik 
That Rudd is promoting the “enemy” to some of these diplomatic positions beggars belief.What is this man thinking?
Yes we would all like to think the best man/women should get the job, however, putting opposition members who in most cases would like to see Rudd walk under a bus, is the stuff of Greek tragedy’s.
I can’t think of a better way to put a gun to your own head so to speak.These shysters can do more harm to the Australian government from overseas postings, than any position in government.
Of course being the rampant lefty that I am this does not include the bomber, and I wish him well.
I am beginning to think the government notwithstanding the poll numbers is about to implode.
Well Rudd had promised bipartisanship if I am not mistaken, and while there is bound to be opposition for the sake of opposition on the floor of parliament, these appointments indicate a commitment to this principle.
And as the ABC article suggests, there is no promise that Nelson would be any more cooperative with a Turnbull-led coalition government than with the current government.
There may be more cronyism than meritocracy to these appointments, but at least they are across party lines, which sounds like a fairer game of cricket to me.
you mean the internet is not for porn?