Some positions attract more political appointments – like those in Western Europe.
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The United States is the only developed, democratic country that has a political culture of selling ambassadorships.
Incoming US ambassador to Australia Harry Harris has been reassigned to South Korea, meaning Australia is still without a US ambassador.
Issei Kato/Pool/AAP
The US Ambassador to Australia post remains vacant after Admiral Harry Harris was reassigned to South Korea. But the diminished role of ambassadors means this is not cause for alarm.
The relationship with Indonesia is more important than the protest over two dead drug traffickers and Australians need their ambassador in Jakarta.
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Australians are the ones who suffer when consular support is weakened overseas.