“They (many, not all fortunately) have a tendency not to listen to the people overseas deeply imbedded in the the front lines and go against reality and common sense when dealing with foreign cultures and situations, even though they pride themselves on being so globally “tuned in””
There is also the opposite who “go native” so to speak and become not representatives of the U.S. and its interests but rather of the country they are posted to. Back in the Clinton days we had an Ambassador out in Laos named Wendy Chamberlain. She went native, right down to eating with her hands when lunching with visiting “firemen” from the States. I specifically remember her dirty fingernails. Anyway, if any American sought to legally vindicate American interests out there that in any way called into question the reliability of Pathet Lao regime for honest business dealings, she was right there, along with the local World ank rep. to make sure no one “hurt” the Lao commie genocidal government. Her job was to protect the Lao regime from Americans so far as I could see. Anyway, she went on to make a fool of herself in Pakistan. In fact she was recently bloviating in the NYT about Musharraf.
As you say, however, there are some very good people at Foggy Bottom, but they are, sadly, few and far between. In my travels I have had occasion to deal with personnel in a number of foreign ministries across the globe. Only at our State Dept. have I met bureaucrats not committed to the policies of the government in power but rather to some personal ideology.
Which brings to mind that wise quote once I heard. "What State needs the MOST is an "American" Desk!