This thesis will be obvious to many, but I think it's still worth reading for the concise argument and compelling evidence Hanania brings together.
At least since Nixon, it’s been a major theme that political talk in the U.S. is driven by the need to bolster our self-esteem.
I was career Foreign Service. This observation is rather wide of the mark.
State's foreign language school is the best of its kind as it certainly needs to be - State requires all diplomats to achieve fluency in one foreign language or face termination. A two year, or more, intensive language assignment at State's Foreign Service Institute is mandatory for nearly all diplomats. As I mentioned, ALL diplomats are required to achieve fluency or they are terminated.
In fact, if you want to be paid while learning and achieving a language fluency, I can unreservedly recommend State.
edit: This "learn a language or get fired" applies only to career Foreign Service diplomats. Executive branch appointments via the spoils system (plum book) avoid such requirements.
Certainly, the ratio of career diplomats to appointments with respect to ambassadorial appointments is a lively topic among FS personnel.