U.S. hopes to add more than 1000 diplomats. by Zuzana Krskova

U.S. president George W. Bush outlined on Monday, that more than 1000 diplomats would be added to the U.S. foreign service under a plan to improve language skills , training and security. George W. Bush's budget calls for hiring an additional 1076 people for the foreign service, including 300 slots for diplomats to study challenging languages like Chinese, Arabic and Urdu. 50 slots would be to provide additional political advisers to senior U.S. military commanders around the globe. About 150 slots would be for diplomats to get mid- career training. 200 places would be set aside for diplomatic security, reflecting increasing dangers to American officials overseas. 20 places for public diplomacy would be also set aside. Another 250 slots are assigned for an "Active Response Corps" of people with special skills who could be deployed within 24 hours. Other 100 people would help to manage their activities. The budget proposal, which covers the fiscal year that begins October 1, 2008, seeks funding for 300 additional officials at the U.S. Agency For International Development aid agency. Bush's record 3,1 trillion USD budget plan is likely to be ignored by Congress, which is controlled by Democrats and already looking ahead to November elections. His long- term projections are mostly academic since he's leaving office next January. Also it would produce federal deficits, despite Bush's attempts to impose politically wrenching curbs on Medicare and eliminate scores of popular domestic programs.

by Zuzana Krskova for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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