Despite his promises, President Obama is making political appointments to Ambassadorships. These individuals are frequently unqualified.
From Politico: "The United States is the only industrialized country to award diplomatic posts as political spoils, often to wealthy campaign contributors in an outmoded system that rivals the patronage practices of banana republics, dictatorships and two-bit monarchies."
We need qualified individuals in these important posts. It shows respect both to those nations and to our own citizens.