Greetings From

By Kathleen Adams, Melissa August, Randy Hartwell, Ellin Martens, Jodie Morse, Joseph Pierro, Alex Smith and Sora Song

This year there were 1,600 applications for the 162 ambassadorships worldwide. Presidents traditionally use at least a third of those as political and personal rewards. George W. Bush is no different. Though most of the following are still awaiting final clearance, these W. FAMILY FRIENDS and BASEBALL CHUMS will probably end up in desirable locations. Those who RAISED or DONATED the most MONEY should get the best spots of all.

BAHAMAS RICHARD BLANKENSHIP [MONEY][W. FAMILY FRIENDS]

Florida investment banker who lent his private jet to Bush family members for campaign hops

--POST Low-profile backwater with little work but lots of sun, sand and surf

IRELAND RICHARD EGAN [MONEY]

Founder of EMC, a data-storage-systems firm with a plant and offices in Ireland

--POST Was a low-profile backwater, now an economic miracle. Rains a lot, but great whiskey

BRITAIN WILLIAM FARISH [MONEY][W. FAMILY FRIENDS]

Chairman of Churchill Downs, a horse breeder whose family roots are in Texas oil

--POST Plum job. Great digs. No foreign tongues. Downside: must entertain lots of visiting U.S. VIPs

SWITZERLAND MERCER REYNOLDS [MONEY][W. FAMILY FRIENDS][BASEBALL CHUMS]

Investment banker and former partner in Texas Rangers helped bolster W.'s oil company and raised more than $3 mil for Bush campaign

--POST Not much at risk politically, leaving time for fondue and skiing

JAMAICA SUE COBB [MONEY][W. FAMILY FRIENDS]

Director of Florida investment firm and adviser in Jeb's 1998 race. Her husband was Bush Sr.'s ambassador to Iceland

--POST Great scuba diving, but too many U.S. college kids on vacation get wild and need bailing out

SPAIN GEORGE ARGYROS [MONEY][W. FAMILY FRIENDS][BASEBALL CHUMS]

Head of a West Coast investment company, the former owner of the Seattle Mariners raised millions for Bush

--POST Not as luxurious as other European spots, but embassy has great art collection

MOROCCO MARGARET TUTWILER [W. FAMILY FRIENDS]

Longtime loyalist and State Department spokeswoman for Bush Sr. helped out during Florida recount

--POST Not one of the big-power countries but great deals on rugs

FRANCE HOWARD LEACH [MONEY]

Billionaire investment banker and businessman is former finance chair of Republican National Committee

--POST La creme de la creme. Great food and enviable venue with embassy just off the Champs Elysees

THE VATICAN JIM NICHOLSON [MONEY]

As Republican National Committee chair last year, Denver real estate developer oversaw record-breaking efforts to raise campaign funds

--POST Job has the benefits of being in Rome without an unruly amount of work