Ho hum, and (reasonably) fresh from a short but interesting career in my country's foreign service, I can provide the rationale for the term "career diplomat". Ta-daaaaa!

Most countries regard some diplomatic posts as more important than others. F'rinstance, New Zealand sees London and Washington DC as top posts which can have an effect on New Zealand's well-being (rightly or wrongly). These posts tend to go to either (a) politicians retiring from parliament who both need a reward and are capable of dealing with the leaders of other countries without tripping over their own tongues, or (b) politicians that the government would much rather weren't underfoot, usually because (i) they are potential contenders for the top job and may develop power bases if they are allowed to remain around or (ii) they are capable people but apt to develop viewpoints at odds with the current government's positions.

Career diplomats, on the other hand, are permanent foreign service employees who work, plot and backstab their way to the top of the pile within the department in the (usually forlorn) hope that they will be made ambassadors, chefs de mission or high commissioners in the less important posts. Which, in Zild's case, is most of 'em.

My last boss at Foreign Affairs was a career diplomat, but she was a little different in that she had proven her worth in a number of fairly sticky situations both as a diplomat and as a general staff member (them being two different career streams within the diplomatic service). She's currently head of IT at Foreign Affairs, but will be eligible to be an ambassador for her next posting. If she wants it. Which she doesn't, I believe!

- Pfranz