Clinton convenes mass meeting of US ambassadors

[nmap]

Interesting new development. What does it mean? Not a clue. Maybe it's a publicity stunt. Maybe something big is coming. Perhaps no one trusts electronic communications. Probably it's something I cannot even imagine.

LINK

WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is convening an unprecedented mass meeting of U.S. ambassadors.

The top envoys from nearly all of America's 260 embassies, consulates and other posts in more than 180 countries will be gathering at the State Department beginning on Monday. Officials say it's the first such global conference.

The gathering comes at a time of crisis in Egypt that could reshape dynamics in the Middle East, fallout from leaked diplomatic documents and congressional calls for sweeping cuts in foreign aid.

Although the meeting has been called to discuss U.S. foreign policy priorities for 2011, officials say Clinton plans to meet personally with ambassadors from front-line states to hear about developments on the ground. Officials also expect that specific concerns about the WikiLeaks revelations will be raised.

[Dusty]

That's like the Classroom Monitor at an elementary school calling in all the principals of the district for a meeting.

[Sigaba]

Originally Posted by nmap

Interesting new development. What does it mean?

I don't think this development is new given Secretary Clinton's ongoing efforts to re-establish the State Department's primacy in matters of national security policy.

What it means is:

• A lot of diplomats and their staff freezing their asses off.
• The same running up room service tabs and later telling DoS auditors "No, I didn't order pr0n."
• Some massive Super Bowl pools.
• A lot of back channel/water cooler conversations in which diplomats pool their collective experience in tactful communication to find a way to tell their boss that she needs to lay off the french fries.

[nmap]

Originally Posted by Sigaba

What it means is:

Hmm. Is this where you mention that you're not bitter?

[Richard]

Gotta be held outdoors - Cowboys Stadium is booked for the week and there aren't any conference halls out there big enough to accomodate so many inflated egos at one sitting.

Maybe they'll meet in geographically aligned shifts so they can better determine whether or not Tunisia is still in Africa or should be declared to be a Middle Eastern country now.

Richard

The cost of all 260 participants and their staff(s), would be equal to Michelle and her family shopping around the world with Air Force One.

Am I close?

[tonyz]

Well, it may not be "new" but this meeting is reported to be unprecedented.

Just wish I had the Kool-Aide concession.

[afchic]

I would love to be a fly on the wall when she meets with the ambassador from china now that it appears he is going to make a run for potus in 2012. "good luck, wish it could have been me"