Foreign Service Professionals Demand Better Diplomats

Not happy with the growing trend of diplomatic assignments as political rewards

After a string of rocky confirmation hearings for President Obama's diplomatic nominees, the group representing America's Foreign Service professionals signaled Friday that it's had enough. 

The organization, in a major rebuke, is now urging that the White House set minimum qualification standards for its ambassadorial nominees. 

"The topic of the qualifications of ambassadorial nominees is of great interest to AFSA's membership," The American Foreign Service Association said in a statement. "All Americans have a vested interest in ensuring that we have the most effective leaders and managers of U.S. embassies and missions advancing U.S. interests around the globe."