There are so many better ways the U.S. could have handled the slaying of Jamal Khashoggi. Within hours of his disappearance, for instance, the American ambassadors to Turkey and Saudi Arabia — seasoned professionals backed by the full authority of the president — could have tapped their contacts for information and pressed both governments for answers.

But almost two years after taking office, President Donald Trump has yet to nominate ambassadors for Turkey and Saudi Arabia. The same is true for U.S. treaty allies Australia and Thailand; critical partners such as Mexico, Singapore, Jordan and South Africa; and about 20 other posts. More than 40 ambassadorships — about a quarter of the total — also sit empty with nominees awaiting confirmation.

This dangerous gap in U.S. diplomatic representation reflects the administration’s chaotic appointment process and, more troubling, its seeming contempt for the idea of nonpartisan career public servants. Of the 702 federal government positions requiring Senate confirmation, only 380 have been filled; 135 have no nominee at all.

While Democrats have held up some nominations, raw partisanship is not to blame for most of these empty seats. This administration has been slower than any of the last five to nominate officials.

The State Department has arguably suffered the most. The Trump administration has looked at its career officials in leadership positions as Obama holdovers, and fired or demoted almost all of them. Only 18 of the 28 assistant secretary-level positions have been filled, and none with an active career professional. (Historically, these experts have held about 40 percent of such jobs.) Under former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, budgets were slashed, promotions held back, loyalty lists compiled, and recruitment of new officers all but halted.

To his credit, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has lifted his department’s hiring freeze, and prodded the administration to put forward dozens of nominations. His effort to restore “swagger” to the State Department would be more effective, however, if he tapped career ranks for more senior positions, punished those who are still conducting political witch hunts, and invested in his workforce. A coming test will be next year’s international affairs budget. Congress wisely blunted the drastic cuts the White House proposed last year. It also demanded that more Foreign Service officers be hired. Enlightened State Department leadership should make such legislative micromanagement unnecessary.

Whether they’re working in foreign affairs or environmental protection, nonpartisan career public servants help keep government effective, transparent and free of corruption. Not recognizing this, Trump is decimating the government’s managerial capacity, aggravating turnover, and making it harder to recruit the best and brightest to public service.

—Bloomberg News

No matter our politics, we as a nation must not become Cesar Sayoc. We as a nation must not put political foes in crosshairs or tolerate rhetoric that pushes people like Sayoc to threaten us with bombs.

And we must demand that President Donald Trump, who started Friday tweeting that “this ‘bomb’ stuff” was interfering with Republican momentum heading into the midterms, rise above his partisanship. That afternoon, while in the White House, the president frighteningly joined his audience’s call to “Lock him up,” regarding billionaire philanthropist and Democratic donor George Soros, a target of one of the devices Sayoc allegedly sent from Florida.

Sandwiched between Trump’s disturbing statements was a moment of calm, when the president said the right things. Disappointingly, he soon returned to the fiery rhetoric that fans the flames of discontent. Such bombast can’t be divorced from the alleged actions of Sayoc, who officials say sent more than a dozen explosive devices to key Democrats.

A van used by Sayoc was covered with pro-Trump stickers and included a photo of a target superimposed on Clinton’s face. Sayoc’s social media was full of pro-Trump comments and attacks on some who were sent bombs.

This wasn’t fake or a plot from the left, despite previous claims to the contrary. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said Sayoc “appears to be a partisan.” FBI Director Christopher Wray confirmed the bombs were “not hoax devices.”

Thanks to the quick, skilled work of law enforcement, we feel some relief in the capture of a suspect. But there’s little relief in knowing that if the vile debasement of our discourse continues, others might turn talk into action.

“We must never allow political violence to take root in America,” Trump said Friday. But the roots are there, and Trump waters them regularly. On this, our president won’t lead. So, we as a nation must.

—Newsday