Will Mike Pompeo Complete Destruction of the State Department or Save It?
Will Mike Pompeo complete destruction of the State Department or save it? Certainly, his initial remarks before State employees were encouraging, making them feel like maybe they'll finally have a boss who will value their skills and dedication and restore the department's relevance in policymaking. He's also no dope, having graduated top in his West Point class and earned a JD from Harvard; was a career Army officer, CIA director and member of Congress. And Trump trusts him - for now.
Then again, Pompeo was one of the Benghazi inquisitors, and has held policy positions on Iran, N. Korea and other issues that are marked by extreme bellicosity. A big question is how he'll interact with John Bolton. Also, does he possess the courage to challenge a president who is out of his depth on foreign affairs and dismisses the USG's expertise. His first priority should be to re-staff the upper ranks of the State Department.
I'm working on an article on Pompeo for Washington Monthly. Insights from active duty State employees (not for attribution) would be most welcome. I can be contacted at angkor456000 at yahoo dot com.