Bungling Baroness Ashton is considered 'a joke' by foreign governments, say worried senior diplomats

Telegraph
"Her chief weakness as a diplomat is the same quality which has helped her become the second best paid female politician on earth despite never winning an election. Ashton is naturally conciliatory. In a bureaucracy, this has proved a great advantage, allowing her to rise without trace. In a diplomatic role it has proved deeply unhelpful. She has been unable to bully concessions out of foreign governments or major European nations who jealously guard their national interests abroad. .....One foreign policy analyst based in Qatar delivered an ever more withering assessment last week: She is considered to be a joke out here. The whole department is. They do not take the EU seriously as a diplomatic entity and would rather speak with the national governments."