one of the most difficult things about that position is how much it has been vacant, and matt armstrong has written about it about how the position has been vacated 1/3 of its existence. that hurts public policy. we would like to have public best people in there and emphasizing what we can do and putting resources and giving some direction to what we do. >> why do you think it has been at the so long? >> an interesting question. a lot of people who want to do it, i would think, and when i have spoken to that, they enjoyed it. something like james glassman and he had a great time wished he could do more. it is harder -- they have looked out generally at -- they do not use career people there, so to find the right person who is out there who they think can do the job -- meaning the state department -- it takes a little more time perhaps then something else. but probably every case is separate, individual-swise. judith came in quickly when obama came in. they moved quickly to bring her in as fast as the confirmation process would allow. i am not sure why on an individual basis the others t

matt armstrong has written about it in his book about the position has been vacant about a third of history and the turnover has been pretty fast. that hurts public diplomacy. we like to have people in there and emphasizing what we can do and putting resources and giving some direction to what we do here spent why do you think it has been empty so long? >> it's an interesting question that i would think a lot of people who want to do it, and usually when i have spoken to them they enjoyed. he had a great time and wished he could do more. and my sense is that in its harder -- they're generally worked out -- they don't use career people there, so to find the right person is out there who they think can do a good job, seven for the state department, takes a little more time perhaps then something else. probably every case is separate. i do, judith mcgill came in quite quickly when the obama administration came in. so clearly, you know, they move very clear way to bring in as fast as the confirmation process would allow. i'm not sure why an individual basis why the others took so long. and i wi