US:The US foreign service, stretched by wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, suffers from morale problems and has about 200 unfilled posts due to staff shortages, a study released yesterday said.
The report by the Foreign Affairs Council, an umbrella group consisting largely of ex-diplomats, took aim at US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice's management skills.
Former ambassador Tom Boyatt said Dr Rice's priority should be to fill about 200 posts abroad as well as 900 training slots needed to provide key language and other skills.