The Foreign Service Journal, July-August 2010

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AFSA DISSENT AWARDS INSIDE!

$4.50 / JULY-AUGUST 2010 OREIGN ERVICE FJ O U R N A L STHE MAGAZINE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS PROFESSIONALS

FOREIGN SERVICE MEMORIES A Selection of Reflections 1 C-C 4_FSJ_07_08_10_COV:proof 6/18/10 1:57 PM Page C2 01-15_FSJ_07_08_10_FRO:first 6/18/10 1:58 PM Page 1 01-15_FSJ_07_08_10_FRO:first 6/18/10 1:58 PM Page 2 01-15_FSJ_07_08_10_FRO:first 6/18/10 1:58 PM Page 3

OREIGN ERVICE FJ O U R N A L S CONTENTS July-August 2010 Volume 87, No. 7-8

F OCUS ON FS Reflections

TAI TAI: A DIPLOMAT’S WIFE IN THE MIDDLE KINGDOM / 16 The effort to keep one’s balance on foreign soil can be a complex and tricky business. By Donna Scaramastra Gorman

A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP: THE FSN-FSO BOND / 19 Being a Foreign Service National employee brings limitations and opportunities. The trick is to accept the former and explore the latter. By Galina Sabeva

RETURNING TO DACHAU, 65 YEARS LATER / 22 Cover illustration by A retired ambassador’s wartime experience was one of the Shannon DeJong. main factors that propelled him toward the Foreign Service. This batik print, “The Three,” By Alan W. Lukens was among her entries to AFSA’s 2010 Art Merit Award Competition. THE AMERICAN WITHOUT A COUNTRY / 26 Proving that where there’s a will, there’s a way, spirituality trumps consular procedures in 1970s India. By Ginny Young PRESIDENT’S VIEWS / 5 A Midterm Report Card FS FICTION By Susan R. Johnson THE INTERVIEW / 29 PEAKING UT S O / 13 Fate plays a role in a Ghanaian girl’s quest for passage to America. Latin America’s Latest Victim: By Amanda S. Jacobsen The Free Press By Christopher Teal WHOLE LADA LOVE / 34 and Silvio Gonzalez An improbable birthday gift makes all the difference for a teenage boy feeling stranded in Central Asia. EFLECTIONS R / 88 By John Maher I Am a Girl By Theresa Alison Smyth F EATURES

LETTERS / 7 A DETERMINED OPTIMIST: L. BRUCE LAINGEN / 38 In June AFSA recognized the retired ambassador’s many contributions YBERNOTES C / 9 to American diplomacy and his lifetime of public service. MARKETPLACE / 50 By Steven Alan Honley

BOOKS / 55 A YEAR AFTER IRAN: IN MEMORY / 77 THE ROLE OF INTERNATIONAL ELECTION STANDARDS / 45 Last summer’s Iranian elections have highlighted the fact that people INDEX TO want their votes honestly counted in a transparent process. ADVERTISERS / 86 By Elizabeth Spiro Clark

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OREIGN ERVICE CONTENTS FJ O U R N A L S

ERITAGE Editor FS H STEVEN ALAN HONLEY Senior Editor GARIBALDI IN BLUE? / 51 SUSAN B. MAITRA Several U.S. consuls serving in Europe during the 1860s were Associate Editor willing to bend the truth to recruit the Italian general. SHAWN DORMAN By Luciano Mangiafico AFSA News Editor FRANCESCA KELLY Ad & Circulation Manager AFSA NEWS ED MILTENBERGER Art Director MEMORIAL PLAQUE CEREMONY / 59 CARYN SUKO SMITH AFSA DISSENT AND PERFORMANCE AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED / 59 Editorial Intern LAURA CATON NEWS BRIEFS / AGGELER / 60 Advertising Intern VP STATE: EPERFORMANCE / 61 JOSERELDA BOON VP USAID: A PLACE FOR EVERYONE / 62 EDITORIAL BOARD VP FAS: BACK TO THE FUTURE (UP OR OUT, PART 3) / 63 TED WILKINSON Chairman AFSA AWARD WINNERS’ PROFILES / 64 MAY G. BAPTISTA ALEC ROSS DISCUSSES TECHNOLOGY AND DIPLOMACY / 69 JOSEPH BRUNS 2010 AFSA MERIT AWARD WINNERS / 70 STEPHEN W. B UCK JULIE GIANELLONI CONNOR MERIT ESSAY WINNER: JOYCE’S UMBRELLA / 72 JEFF GIAUQUE AFSA-PAC TREASURER’S REPORT / 72 MARY E. GLANTZ GEORGE JONES CLASSIFIEDS / 74 LYNN W. R OCHE RIMA J. VYDMANTAS

A time of service…a time of need THE MAGAZINE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS PROFESSIONALS Foreign Service Journal (ISSN 0146-3543), 2101 E Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037-2990 is Help for Seniors May published monthly with a combined July-August issue by the American Foreign Service Associa- tion (AFSA), a private, nonprofit organization. Be Just a Phone Call Away— Material appearing herein represents the opinions of the writers and does not necessarily represent the views of the Journal, the Editorial The Senior Living Foundation may be Board or AFSA. Writer queries and submissions are invited, preferably by e-mail. Journal sub- able to help you or someone you know. scription: AFSA members – $13 included in annual dues; others – $40. For foreign surface mail, Some examples of assistance are: add $18 per year; foreign airmail, $36 per year. Periodical postage paid at Washington, D.C., and N Home Health Care at additional mailing offices. Indexed by Public Affairs Information Services (PAIS). The Journal N Adult Day Care & Respite Care is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photos or illustrations. Advertising inquiries are N Prescription Drug Copayments invited. The appearance of advertisements herein does not imply the endorsement of the N Transportation to Medical Appointments services or goods offered. TELEPHONE: (202) 338-4045 N Durable Medical Equipment FAX: (202) 338-8244 or (202) 338-6820 E-MAIL: [email protected] WEB: www.afsa.org; www.fsjournal.org For more information, please contact the © American Foreign Service Association, 2010. SENIOR LIVING FOUNDATION Printed in the U.S.A. Send address changes to: OF THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE AFSA Attn: Address Change 1716 N Street, NW N Washington, DC 20036-2902 2101 E Street N.W. Phone: (202) 887-8170 N Fax: (202) 872-9320 Washington DC 20037-2990 E-Mail: [email protected] N Web Site: www.SLFoundation.org Printed on 50-percent recycled paper, of which 10 percent is post-consumer waste. SPONSORED BY THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION

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PRESIDENT’S VIEWS A Midterm Report Card BY SUSAN R. JOHNSON

July marks the halfway the Department of Labor to cation and training requirements for point for the 2009-2011 ensure that all candidates 21st-century diplomats, AFSA has pro- AFSA Governing Board. Our have equal access to voters vided a grant to the American Academy overarching goal, as described and to clarify the responsibil- of Diplomacy’s project on diplomatic in my first President’s Views ities and authorities of the professional education and training, column last September, con- AFSA Elections Committee. participates in the project’s advisory tinues to be making AFSA a Our goal is electronic voting, group and has formed its own focus “stronger, more effective and but we are not yet in a posi- group to gather active-duty input. more credible voice of the Foreign tion to adopt it. At a minimum, we We still have work to do to revitalize Service, better able to represent, pro- hope to gain approval for sending bal- dissent, gain a greater voice on policy tect and advance our professional in- lots to members electronically even if issues and review the current structure terests.” they have to be mailed back. of labor-management relations. We Toward that end, the board ap- The Governing Board has approved are also moving to revitalize our post proved four key objectives: securing a major investment in upgrading our representative system, strengthen our resources and protecting benefits, in- IT capabilities, starting with a more domestic retiree network and support creasing AFSA’s voice in policy devel- user-friendly, functional Web site that sister organizations such as AAFSW, opment, improving the image of the improves our access to the business ADST and DACOR, among others, as Foreign Service, and improving world and projects a more professional well as affinity groups within our mem- AFSA’s internal operations. In addi- image. The new AFSA Facebook page ber agencies. tion, as your president I remain com- already has nearly 2,000 fans and con- Above all, we are building a more mitted to ensuring that AFSA supports tinues to grow. open and sustained dialogue with our and represents all five of our member To enhance AFSA’s public profile, members on issues such as linked as- agencies. We are one team in word we have launched two new initiatives. signments, incentives, implementation and action. The AFSA Book Notes program spot- of up-or-out policies, support for fami- As our first year draws to a close, we lights authors who have recently pub- lies, unaccompanied tours, balancing have made measurable progress on lished books on topics related to diplo- security and the diplomatic mission, ex- several of these fronts. For instance, I macy. The AFSA-Lockheed Martin peditionary diplomacy, professional ed- am proud that we are implementing lecture series on promoting excellence ucation and training needs, mid-level overseas comparability pay in a very in diplomacy has already featured for- staffing gaps, and policies governing tough fiscal and economic environ- mer Deputy Secretary of State John post-retirement federal employment ment. Negroponte, State Department Senior for Foreign Service members. Election reform is a top priority and Adviser for Innovation Alec Ross and Please join us by contributing your must be in place before next year’s Representative Nita Lowey, D-N.Y. ideas on the issues that you think are process begins. We are working with All these programs are being recorded important for our diplomatic and de- by WETA and posted on its Web site. velopment services. I look forward to Susan R. Johnson is the president of the To ensure that AFSA has a voice in hearing from you at President@ American Foreign Service Association. ongoing discussion of professional edu- afsa.org. ■

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LETTERS

Seeing Both Sides ently audited. It therefore was not re- I was thrilled to read Chas Free- liable. man’s article on the Middle East (“The Later, I learned that the company Middle East: Forks in the Way For- had successfully lobbied the state legis- ward,” March FSJ). During 35 years lature a few years earlier to exempt in the Foreign Service, I served in five CCFs from having to produce inde- Arabic-speaking countries. When I re- pendently audited financial statements. Send Letters turned to the United States, I was ap- In October 2008 the company palled at the slanted reporting that is started to admit the truth to residents. to the Editor to done on that area. I realize that we In March 2009 it filed for Chapter 11 [email protected]. have a special relationship with Israel, bankruptcy. Five months later the fed- but that should not keep us from see- eral bankruptcy judge, citing malfea- ing both sides of the issue more clearly. sance, deception, incompetence and Judy Chidester dishonesty, ousted the management. FSO, retired Outside managers took over and are You Are Our Las Cruces, N.M. trying to sell the establishment. Eyes & We now know the CCF was the Check the equivalent of a Ponzi scheme. En- Ears! Balance Sheet trance fees largely vanished rather than In his February article on senior liv- being invested for the future. The ing (“Should We Move to a Senior Liv- owners had kept the place afloat with ing Facility?”), Ambassador Bill Har- monthly fees and borrowing. Dear Readers: rop suggests a useful list of factors to Many residents, in their 80s or 90s, In order to produce a high- check before selecting a retirement are in poor health. They wait, hoping quality product, the FSJ depends community. I’d like to add a vital one: for better news. My story is happier: I on the revenue it earns from financial stability of the care facility. got married and packed out, though I advertising. You can help with this. Falling ill and questioning my abil- did forfeit my investment. ity to cope alone, I reluctantly entered I strongly recommend that retirees Please let us know the names the only continuing care facility in my insist on recent, independently audited of companies that have provided small Southwestern town a few years financial statements from a CCF and good service to you — a hotel, insurance company, auto ago. After I regained my health 15 have a certified public accountant an- dealership, or other concern. months later, I began to doubt the alyze them. They should also contact A referral from our readers company’s finances. I asked for a fi- state agencies that monitor such facili- is the best entrée! nancial statement and got a “compila- ties to check for complaints, especially tion” the accountant had put together. on finances and health. ■ Ed Miltenberger Advertising & Circulation Manager However, this was based on partial in- George T. Eaton Tel: (202) 944-5507 formation selected by the manage- USAID FSO, retired E-mail: [email protected] ment, which had not been independ- Nanterre, France

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CYBERNOTES

State Gets SMARTer After contract delays and the in- e must build the sources of America’s strength and influence and evitable bugs in early versions, the State Wshape a world that’s more peaceful and more prosperous [through] Messaging and Archive Retrieval Tool- comprehensive engagement … building and integrating the capabilities set is beginning to live up to its promise. we need to succeed, capabilities that span the military, diplomatic, develop- SMART is now up and running at 155 ment, intelligence, law enforcement and homeland security fronts. posts and is also operational in several [This effort] includes strengthening multilateral institutions and norms department bureaus, reports retired so that shared challenges can be met through collective action. FSO Barry Fulton, a longtime consultant to the project. — John Brennan, assistant to the president for homeland security and counterterrorism, speaking about the administration’s new National Security Ever since Secretary of State Colin Strategy at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Washington, Powell launched the initiative to up- D.C., May 26, www.csis.org grade the department’s technology in 2001, SMART’s vision has remained unchanged: creation of a simple, secure need-to-know to a more collaborative players at every post — ranging from and user-driven system to support the culture of need-to-share. chiefs of mission to systems managers conduct of diplomacy through modern The core team of about a dozen and office management specialists — messaging, dynamic archiving and in- Civil Service and Foreign Service man- SMART is now available to more than formation sharing. agers grew tenfold as contractors were 20,000 State Department employees. The effort began with a survey of in- recruited and additional State Depart- While the system is not perfect, the dustry, other government agencies and ment specialists were assigned. If the great majority of overseas employees several foreign ministries. None had a mantra of SMART was “user-driven,” adapted quickly and have expressed system that would allow the efficient the requirement for success was to satisfaction with it. merger of existing State Department build, test and pilot — over and over — The pace of deployment in Wash- systems with a searchable archive, sat- as the program adopted a methodology ington has been more measured, as isfaction of records management re- know as agile development. most resources were initially directed quirements, and presentation of an Early users were patient but candid at overseas posts and regional bureaus. intuitive user interface. in their feedback, so developers went Attention is now being focused on the After a two-year effort by a major back to the drawing board. The second functional bureaus, with a scheduled defense contractor failed to meet pilot round was more successful, but completion date of February 2011. State’s requirements, the department still revealed some flaws. As user feed- What next? SMART 2.0, of course. took over management of SMART, back became more positive during the Technology will not stand still, and in- with somewhat skeptical agreement third phase, the program manager got coming employees expect robust tech- from the Office of Management and the green light to begin worldwide de- nology to support their work. Budget. The goal was not to upgrade ployment. For more information on the devel- State’s existing system, but to move the With 16 deployment teams in the opment of SMART, see Fulton’s article, department from a vertical culture of field and the cooperation of a host of “State Gets Smart,” online at the Amer-

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C YBERNOTES

ican Diplomacy e-zine (www.unc.edu/ depts/diplomat). 50 Years Ago... hen will the State Department recognize the new possibilities Honoring Public Diplomacy Wand start spending at least 1 percent of its impressive Practitioners budget for basic research in its own field? The department always seems to know all the answers and to have them instantly ready for the press. The Public Diplomacy Alumni As- Answers to the world’s problems come quickly to those who have prejudices, sociation (formerly known as the U.S. but we need answers that result from deep thinking. Information Agency Alumni Associa- tion) annually recognizes individuals or — Oskar Morgenstern, “Brass Hats and Striped Pants,” FSJ, July 1960. teams who conduct imaginative and successful outreach. This year, 20 conditions. Their contacts revealed an Shanghai Public Affairs Officer Tom nominations by senior State PD offi- incipient uprising within the Muslim Cooney drew praise for being the cers, both overseas and in the depart- community against moderates, which “main engine” of American participa- ment, produced four winners, who the Chadian government was able to tion in Shanghai Expo 2010, an unpar- were honored at a May 16 dinner in neutralize. During a May 2009 inva- alleled public diplomacy opportunity to Washington, D.C. sion by Sudanese rebels, American em- reach more Chinese citizens than the Seven locally engaged staff of the ployees were evacuated, but the Chad- entire U.S. China mission will see in 10 public diplomacy section in N’Djamena ian staff successfully put on a journal- years. Although a 1994 law prohibiting were collectively honored for pursuing ism workshop, processed International the use of U.S. government funds for the embassy’s outreach to the local Visitor Leadership Program applica- world expos has made the U.S. a no- Muslim/Arab community under dire tions, and advanced the Fulbright and show in past decades, Cooney success- other exchange programs. fully argued the case for U.S. parti- The PDAA recognized Alistair Bas- cipation, encouraging the department CHANGE OF ADDRESS key, assistant cultural affairs officer and to authorize a private-sector organiza- director of America House in East tion to manage it. Jerusalem, for significantly advancing After Secretary of State Hillary Moving? exchange programs in the diplomatic Rodham Clinton’s personal commit- minefield of Israel and the Palestine ment galvanized the private sector, Territories. Using fluent Arabic and Cooney guided the project through basic Hebrew, Baskey won the respect ground breaking to a successful launch. Take AFSA of the Israelis controlling the border More than 200,000 visitors a week are crossing at the Gaza Strip as he now enjoying the spirit of America por- arranged for, and escorted, exchange trayed in the U.S. pavilion. (For more With You! students to get their U.S. visas and then background, see the February edition Change your address cross the Allenby Bridge en route to of Cybernotes.) online at: the U.S. Aaron David Snipe, public diplo- www.afsa.org/comment.cfm Baskey interviews all candidates and macy officer for the Provincial Recon- initiates the difficult vetting proce- struction Team in Muthanna province, Or dures. Last year 200 Palestinians Iraq, was honored for reaching out to participated in U.S. government ex- the area’s most inaccessible audience: Send change of address to: changes, with more expected this year. women. Coordinating with a local non- AFSA Membership He has also pursued efforts to promote governmental organization, he organ- Department amity between Israeli and Palestinian ized an art exhibit by local female 2101 E Street NW institutions. His “A-Plus” program will artists, which he then arranged for U.S. Washington, DC 20037 enable dozens of Gazans, funded by Ambassador Ryan Crocker to attend, the U.S., to study at Palestinian univer- generating national media coverage. sities. “Colors of Warka” toured three

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C YBERNOTES

Site of the Month: http://globalspouses.blogspot.com How do Foreign Service spouses posted overseas find work when there’s no bilateral work agreement between the U.S. and the host country? Or if there are no jobs in the spouse’s field — or no jobs, period? To get around such obstacles, more and more family members are working for themselves, creating such portable careers as tutoring, freelance writing and editing, computer repair, photography and even dog grooming. And now there’s a new blogspot, Global Spouses: An Online Guide to “Trailing Spouse”–Owned Businesses, where you can advertise your spouse-based business free of charge. The blog’s founder, Amy Pratt, was already used to the nomadic life, having followed her husband, a former journalist, to Florida, Georgia, South Dakota and Penn- sylvania before he joined the Foreign Service. Her response to being regularly uprooted was to create a portable job in journalism and marketing, including her latest venture: Sweet Wee Bairn nursing covers. “My mission is to facilitate spouse-owned businesses within the Foreign Service by building a business network,” Pratt says. “This blog showcases spouses who have created their own job opportunities and gives Foreign Service members easy access to these businesses.” For more information, visit the blog or e-mail Amy at [email protected].

cities in the province, producing a Journalism Center, located at the Uni- highly favorable impact. Snipe then versity of Guadalajara. During the wrote articles to publicize the exhibit, workshop, participants considered ways resulting in the artists joining Women’s to reduce risks while covering stories on History Month in Washington, D.C. drug trafficking, corruption and organ- For more information about the ized crime. awards and the work of the PDAA, visit This led to creation of a Spanish-lan- the organization’s Web site (www.pub guage Wiki page, www.coberturase licdiplomacy.org). gura.wikispaces.com, as a means to promote further discussion and a re- Lowering Risks for Mexican source for other Mexican and Latin Journalists American journalists. The page con- The U.S. Mission in Mexico has tains information about the tools and been working with local reporters on protocols to reduce risk, including such improving their security and news cov- topics as ethics and professionalism, erage. Five Mexican reporters have safely cultivating sources, and risk-re- been killed this year alone, and Mexico duction strategy and security protocols. has been singled out by several non- For more details on the situation in governmental organizations as one of Mexico, see this month’s Speaking Out the most dangerous places to practice column, “Latin America’s Latest Vic- journalism. tim: The Free Press,” by Christopher In response, the State Department Teal and Silvio Gonzalez (p. 13). ■ recently funded an online training program for a group of 30 Mexican beat re- This edition of Cybernotes was com- porters,“Guidelines for Journalists in piled by Editor Steven Alan Honley and High-Risk Situations,” at the Digital Senior Editor Susan Brady Maitra.

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Help AFSA Go Green and Save Some Green

American Foreign Service Association www.afsa.org

V Please make sure we have your e-mail address!

As AFSA prepares to institute more environmentally friendly practices, reducing our consumption of paper significantly, we are asking our members to please ensure that we have their valid e-mail addresses on file. This will allow us to contact you by e-mail rather than cluttering up your home with paper mail, and it also leads to significant savings in postage.

We ask our active-duty members to give us their “.gov” e-mail addresses, as those are unlikely to change throughout your career. For all others, any valid e-mail address works!

Thanks for helping us go green — and save some green!

You can submit your e-mail address either by sending it to [email protected] or visiting www.afsa.org/addresschange.cfm. Art: iStockphoto.com 01-15_FSJ_07_08_10_FRO:first 6/18/10 1:59 PM Page 13

SPEAKING OUT Latin America’s Latest Victim: The Free Press

BY CHRISTOPHER TEAL AND SILVIO GONZALEZ

his year several Latin American journalists to leave the country in order countries are celebrating the Efforts to weaken to report what is occurring in their own Tbicentennial anniversary of media freedom communities. their independence from Spain. But across the A February report by the Organiza- the region as a whole is experiencing hemisphere pose tion of American States’ Inter-Ameri- growing signs of social strain, fueling can Commission on Human Rights restrictions on freedom of expression. a host of public states: “The commission believes that Pressure from government officials, di- diplomacy challenges conditions do not exist for human rights rect censorship and even threats by for the United States. defenders and journalists to be able to criminal organizations all pose a severe freely carry out their work. [It] also de- menace to citizens’ right to know — a tects the existence of a pattern of im- threat not obviated by the rise of Inter- punity in cases of violence, which par- net-based outlets. ticularly affects media workers, human This attack on a fundamental right Revolution.” In 2007, for instance, the rights defenders, trade unionists, par- across the hemisphere poses a host of government refused to renew the ticipants in public demonstrations, peo- public diplomacy challenges for the broadcasting license of Radio Caracas ple held in custody, campesinos (small- United States. In particular, a lack of Television, a cable network headquar- scale and subsistence farmers), indige- public knowledge about what is hap- tered in the capital, claiming RCTV nous people and women.” pening in their local communities, let had promoted the 2002 coup attempt This scathing report, which Caracas alone anywhere else, has left the region that briefly overthrew Chavez. attempted to head off by withholding less secure, with direct spillover across After the Venezuelan Supreme access to official sources, also makes our border. Court upheld that decision, the station eight recommendations ranging from This trend should be of as much continued to broadcast via satellite and depoliticizing broadcasting laws to hav- concern to the United States as to Latin cable as RCTV International. It re- ing government officials publicly con- America — not simply from a human jected the Venezuelan media regula- demn acts of violence against journal- rights perspective, vital as that is, but tor’s finding that it was a domestic ists. To date, there has been no posi- because an informed populace makes media provider, and refused to broad- tive action on any of these issues. for a stronger democracy and stronger cast speeches by Chavez. This January, As one Venezuelan journalist re- partners in the region. RCTV was “temporarily” closed for al- cently put it when referring to freedom legedly failing to respect Venezuelan of expression: “The exercise of a right “Justice Has Been media law. cannot be subject to any previous cen- Kidnapped in Venezuela” Many smaller media outlets in sorship. I believe that is the sensitive Perhaps the best known of these at- Venezuela have faced similar harass- issue in Venezuela. The rules are not tacks are the efforts by Venezuelan ment and outright closure for not hew- clear.” This exiled reporter, who has President Hugo Chavez’s administra- ing to a more “positive” editorial line. unfortunately been hampered in prac- tion to suppress views contrary to those This crackdown has not completely ticing his profession, has not given up he claims represent the “Bolivarian squelched dissent, but it has led some hope. But he does not see change

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S PEAKING O UT

coming anytime soon: “Justice in sage rings loud and clear — stop cov- Venezuela has been kidnapped by the ering narcotics trafficking. executive.” An informed populace Despite hopes of a reprieve, 2010 Remarkably, independent polls con- started off badly in Mexico. In January, ducted by the Pew Foundation and makes for a stronger local reporter Jose Luis Romera was other organizations confirm that kidnapped and shot to death; a few Venezuelans still hold positive views of democracy and stronger days later, the corpse of a second re- America. But unfortunately, attempts porter, Valentin Valdes Espinosa, was to restrict freedom of expression con- partners in the region. found with a “narco-message” warning tinue to grow. others not to probe drug trafficking. As of May, there have been five confirmed Mexico: A Bad Place deaths of journalists, and several others to Be a Journalist Unlike threats against police or are missing. Meanwhile, clashes over Similar threats are evident in Bo- politicians, there is little price to pay for jurisdiction between federal and state livia, Argentina and Nicaragua, among intimidating reporters. In a May pub- authorities have stonewalled some in- other places. But the Latin American lication, “Press Freedom in an Envi- vestigations. country currently facing the gravest ronment of Impunity,” the Woodrow In response, beat reporters have challenge to free expression is Mexico, Wilson Center presented research that begun using local journalism organiza- where a normally vibrant press must indicates the failure to prosecute has tions to verify information via phone walk on eggshells due to the drug car- resulted in an “89-percent level of im- before they travel to a location, carry- tels’ violent response to President Fe- punity in murder cases against re- ing extra cell phones and traveling in lipe Calderon’s ongoing crackdown porters.” pairs for added security. In some in- against them. The nongovernmental The Inter-American Press Associa- stances, foreign journalists are briefed organization Reporters Without Bor- tion agrees: “Impunity continues to be so they can report the stories for an in- ders recently labeled the country as the the common denominator in most of ternational audience, basing them on most dangerous in the hemisphere in these attacks.” It adds: “The climate of the contacts of local reporters who are which to practice journalism. violence has fostered a dangerous pat- afraid or unable to publish. The situa- In its 2009 report the group noted: tern of self-censorship in the media tion has deteriorated in so many news- “The National Human Rights Com- when it comes to investigating and re- rooms that papers will often not run mission has recorded 46 killings of jour- porting on issues related to organized bylines with their reports for fear of nalists since 2000, and a further eight crime.” reprisals. have disappeared since 2003, either be- This self-censorship plays out in dif- The fact that such attacks are not an cause of their work or, most often, for ferent ways throughout the country. In abstraction was made painfully clear to an unknown motive. The existence of the scarred state of Sinaloa, for exam- the United States on March 13, when the drug cartels goes a long way to ex- ple, grenades are increasingly being three members of the Consulate Ciu- plain this terrible toll.” used against newspapers, as happened dad Juarez community were murdered. Threats to reporters just for cover- in November 2008 to the leading daily Lesley Enriquez, Arthur Redelfs and ing a news story are growing at alarm- newspaper, El Debate. The midnight Jorge Salcido were gunned down in ing rates, particularly along the attack did not injure anyone but caused two separate incidents, victims of the U.S.-Mexican border. (In general, re- considerable damage to the building. violence affecting families along the gional and local media face much Similar grenade attacks occurred in border. greater risks than those in the capital or Monterrey in January 2009 against The White House, Secretary of other major metropolitan areas.) One Televisa; in September 2009, again in State Hillary Rodham Clinton and U.S. Mexican organization, the Center for Sinaloa, at the weekly newspaper Rio Ambassador to Mexico Carlos Pascual Journalism and Public Ethics, has doc- Doce; and, most recently, against Tele- all vowed that such lethal acts would umented 128 assaults on reporters and visa in Nayarit in May 2010. No one not stand, and asserted a shared re- editors. was hurt in these attacks, but the mes- sponsibility to stop such brutality. To

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date, numerous arrests have been Center at the University of Guadala- made, but the cases are still pending jara, to teach reporters better ways to and the investigation is ongoing. cover dangerous stories while remain- The horrific nature of the killings — ing safe. The center’s staff have also victims gunned down in the middle of worked to promote investigative jour- the day in front of their children — has nalism, conducting research to expose brought media attention to the larger cartel infiltration of local institutions crisis. But it will continue to fester with- and the role of narcotraffickers in the out sustained efforts by local media, and wave of murders and violence that is an outcry by the local population. plaguing countries like Mexico. They have even created an online resource Filling the Information Gap in Spanish that could be useful else- Though threats to expression differ where in the hemisphere: www.cober greatly from country to country, the turasegura.wikispaces.com. overall trends in our hemisphere are It is vital for groups like the DJC to not favorable. The erosion of that fun- thrive, particularly because many Mex- damental right — whether through di- ican news organizations are highly de- rect government coercion or via threats pendent on advertising revenue from by powerful and illegal groups in soci- state and municipal governments, and ety — will inevitably slow the move- so few local nongovernmental organi- ment toward justice, endangering zations can fill the financial gap. democracy itself. Through their virtual network of re- This puts the United States in a dif- porters, contacts and ongoing pro- ficult position, one reminiscent of the grams, the impact of such organi- Cold War. In those days, when Soviet- zations extends far beyond Mexico. bloc governments suppressed raw In remembering the 200th anniver- news, it was up to the U.S. Information sary of the region’s fight for independ- Agency to explain to local populations ence, let us recall a warning from one what was happening in their own com- of our own revolutionary figures, munities. James Madison: “A popular govern- Through massive media campaigns ment, without popular information, or providing alternative sources of infor- the means of acquiring it, is but a pro- mation, publications, libraries and bi- logue to a farce or a tragedy; or, perhaps national centers throughout the world, both.” Washington spent billions of dollars Though not a remedy in and of itself, over decades to inform and engage the power of the pen in Latin America local populations. The advent of new is irreplaceable. It must be reinforced, technologies has made it less necessary both locally and internationally. ■ for the U.S. to fill in these gaps. How- ever, we do still have a role to play in Christopher Teal, a Foreign Service of- giving local reporters more and better ficer since 1999 and a former member tools. of the Foreign Service Journal Editorial One such solution has been devel- Board, is currently public affairs officer oped right here in Mexico. The U.S. in Guadalajara. Silvio Gonzalez, an government and international founda- FSO since 2001, is PAO in Ciudad tions have partnered with local organi- Juarez. His previous postings include zations, like the Digital Journalism Islamabad, Ljubljana and Bogota.

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TAI TAI: A DIPLOMAT’S WIFE IN THE MIDDLE KINGDOM

THE EFFORT TO KEEP ONE’S BALANCE ON FOREIGN SOIL CAN BE A COMPLEX AND TRICKY BUSINESS.

BY DONNA SCARAMASTRA GORMAN

lead a double life here in China. overseas post. I pictured adventures aplenty. I imagined In one life, I’m a stay-at-home mom, wife of a govern- laughing at dinner parties with exotic friends, haggling in ment worker, payer of bills, packer of lunches, master of all foreign languages at vegetable markets, maybe even riding things Idomestic. But in my other life, I’m a tai tai. That a camel or hiking on the Great Wall of China. means “wife” in Chinese, but it implies much more — priv- I’ve done those things, and more. What I didn’t under- ilege, position and wealth. The term marks me as an im- stand, though, was the isolation I would sometimes face as portant person, well-to-do, even sophisticated. the wife of a diplomat in foreign, not-always-friendly cities. Imagine that. Me: well-to-do and sophisticated. I own a I thought I would learn to blend in on any continent. I never couple of pairs of jeans and a pile of T-shirts, most of which stopped to think that I might spend my life sticking out, are marked with baby spit-up. I’ve been known to take the marked as different in ways both good and bad. But that’s garbage out in my pajamas. And sometimes (ssshhh, don’t how it is. tell), I eat my kids’ leftover mac-n-cheese over the kitchen With each new assignment, I’ve found new ways that I sink. simply don’t fit in. In China, I’m a tai tai, a foreign woman, But none of that matters in China. Here, I’m no ordinary the privileged wife of a diplomat. Try as I might, I will never housewife. I’m not a soccer mom. When I walk out my blend in here in Beijing. front door, I’m not the middle-aged wife of a government bureaucrat. I’m a tai tai. A Gated Community I wasn’t prepared for this aspect of Foreign Service life I live in a gated, guarded community on the outskirts of back when we signed on the dotted line and left for our first the city, in a house that was assigned to me by the U.S. government. There are guards, young Chinese men from the Donna Scaramastra Gorman is a freelance writer whose countryside, stationed around the clock. The houses, occu- work has appeared in Newsweek, the Washington Post pied mostly by foreigners, have garages with automatic door and the Christian Science Monitor. She is moving to openers, balconies, guest bathrooms and American appli- Amman this summer with her RSO husband and four ances. Our own house is spacious, if somewhat shoddily kids. Previous posts have included Moscow, Yerevan, Al- constructed. You wouldn’t give it a second glance if I maty and Beijing. plunked it down in the middle of Fairfax, Va. But here,

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when compared with housing for the Even my four children on cultural cues. There’s no such local Chinese, it’s a veritable palace. thing as a casual conversation: every The guards live in a nearby bar- serve to set me apart: word out of my mouth has to be racks. Stroll past, peek through their planned in advance, plotted gram- gate, and you’ll see clotheslines they’re the ultimate status matically, finished in my head before strung between squat brick build- I can toss it off my tongue. ings, hung with T-shirts and blankets. symbol in a country with “Ni hao,” I say to the guards as I Bicycles are propped near dormitory pass, “ni hao ma?” Even now, after doors, where the guards sleep several a one-child policy. almost three years, many of them to a room. You might see one of the stare at the ground when I greet guards in his shirtsleeves, rocking them. Am I somehow insulting back on his heels and smoking, waiting for his shift to start. them by addressing them? Am I being overly friendly? Is Every four hours or so, the guards all line up, one behind the the fact that I even acknowledge them — many of my next in their crisp olive uniforms, and march across the neighbors don’t — simply too odd? I don’t know. Still, I street from their barracks to our villas. keep at it, greeting them daily, and some have finally begun On our side of the wall, the streets are tidy, swept as they to respond. are by an army of workers; hedges are clipped neatly and “Xie xie,” I say when someone holds a door for me, and trash cans are emptied. I can’t tell you where these work- I instruct my children to say thank you, too. “Chinese peo- ers live, exactly. Probably in the nearby hutong, a collection ple really don’t say ‘thank you’ as often as Americans,” my of ramshackle houses clustered together in cramped, dirty Chinese teacher tells me, but still I keep at it, a habit in- alleyways just down the road from our compound. That’s grained since childhood. Better to err on the side of cour- where many of the ayis live — the women who cycle onto tesy than to make a bad impression, after all. the grounds daily to help us clean our houses, iron our I’m polite; I’m friendly. I want people to like me, despite clothes and mind our children. the linguistic, economic and cultural barriers between us. And I wonder: What do they think of us? Their little hu- They see a tai tai, but I want to be a regular person, just as tong houses seldom have running water, so they have to pay I am back home in the States. I want to blend in. I’ve got- to use a communal shower. I’ve seen many of them cook- ten to know the manager at the little shop down the road, ing outdoors, stirring noodles in pots over Bunsen burner and we struggle to chat in Chinese. In talking with him, I contraptions just outside their front doors. How did I ever feel as though I’m carving out a place for myself within this imagine I was going to fit in here, with my microwave oven community as an ordinary shopper, there to buy milk and and my hot water heater? bread like everyone else. That’s the image I strive to proj- Back in the States, I’m solidly middle-class, an everyday ect — ordinariness. wife and mother of four. Back home, we struggle to make I don’t want to live and work in one unheated room like the payments on our tiny townhouse, to fill the car with gas, the old tailor down the road, but neither do I want to give to buy an occasional meal out. But here, because I have a the impression that my air-conditioning unit somehow house and a car, people assume I’m rich. I’m a foreigner, a makes me more important than that tailor. How, then, to laowai, driving my car past their columns of bicycles, spend- strike that balance, to make people understand that while I ing obnoxious sums of money on imported cereal, butcher- consider myself extraordinarily fortunate, I’m not in any way ing their language every time I open my mouth. Even my extraordinary? four children serve to set me apart: they’re the ultimate status symbol in a country with a one-child policy. A Tricky Balance The Foreign Service attracts adaptable people, but it The English-Language Bubble can’t create chameleons. I’ve learned to adapt in so many My world is almost entirely separate from that of my Chi- different ways, to laugh at the strange events unfolding nese neighbors; not just because my house has a heater and around me, to swallow my fear and leap feet-first into new a microwave oven, but because I live in an English-language situations. But I haven’t yet learned to blend in. Instead, bubble. I struggle to speak the local language and to pick up I’m struggling to stand out with grace: to smile for the pic-

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ture-taking locals; to converse with strangers about my fam- basket from me. She didn’t complain, and neither did I: I ily size; to admit, during nearly every conversation I start on didn’t have the words to explain that I did not need help, to any given day, that I simply don’t understand what I’m hear- point out that she might. ing. So I stood, silently, a tai tai once again, too delicate to I haggle at the local markets, and I do it in the local lan- hold my own loaf of bread. Wealthy, but weak. Is that what guage when I can. But I’ve come to expect that no matter I am here? I don’t know; I can’t know. I can’t make them what I do or say, I won’t be getting the local price. I’m a tai understand that I’m used to hauling my own groceries up tai, after all, which to them means I have money to spare the stairs, pumping my own gas, scrubbing my own toilets. and no real sense of how much something should cost. No How can I possibly tell someone without running water that matter how polite I am, no matter how insistent that I live I, too, know what it is to live a hand-to-mouth existence? here, I’m one of you — I’ll still be charged a markup. They wouldn’t believe me, anyway. I’m a tai tai. I’m differ- It’s a tricky balance, this tai tai business, and every time I ent. think I’ve figured it out, some new strangeness bumps up against me. The last time I was at the store, I stood in line Comfortable Being Uncomfortable behind three Chinese women. I had just a few things in my It’s taken years in the Foreign Service to finally under- basket, while the woman in front of me, an ayi, was loaded stand that I’m never going to fit in — that maybe I’m not down with two overflowing baskets. As I stood in line, try- supposed to fit in. ing to decipher the chatter around me, the manager ap- When we started down this path so many years ago, I proached. He greeted me as he reached past the ayi, who thought I would grow to be the kind of person who could was struggling with her heavy baskets, and took my small navigate through any city with ease, effortlessly reading the faces of passers-by in countries across the globe. Instead, my life as a diplomatic spouse has turned me into the kind of person who is comfortable being uncomfortable; who can accept the fact that in any given situation, I’ll miss something important and possibly come off looking like a snob, or even an idiot. Instead of becoming a global citizen, fitting in on any continent, I’m turning into someone who never quite fits in anywhere. Here I am, about to finish up a three-year tour in China; yet the idea of life here still frightens me sometimes. I’m still an outsider, and many of my everyday interactions are fraught with confusion. How to tell the taxi driver he’s made a wrong turn? How to ask the tailor to shorten a hem? How to understand what the ayi is telling me about how my daughters spent their morning while I was away at work? I’m learning to accept the fragments of comprehension that come my way. I’m learning to laugh at myself. I’m learning to accept the fact that others will misread me, just as I have trouble figuring them out. I have to hold on to what I know is true about myself, even if those around me seldom see me the way I see myself. Inside of my house, here in Beijing, I’m just your average American mom, helping my kids with their homework as I prepare dinner, and that’s how it should be. But out in the wide world, I’m a tai tai, floating above the crowd, somehow assumed to be worthy of respect. And I suppose that’s okay, too. ■

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A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP: THE FSN-FSO BOND

BEING A FOREIGN SERVICE NATIONAL EMPLOYEE BRINGS LIMITATIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES. THE TRICK IS TO ACCEPT THE FORMER AND EXPLORE THE LATTER.

BY GALINA SABEVA

hen I left my job as a be like. I’d probably have a hard time getting used to the correspondent for Reuters in 2003 to join the U.S. embassy protocol-conscious environment, he said, and I would have in Sofia as a political assistant, I had only a vague idea of neither the visibility nor the access of my previous job. what toW expect. A glossy job description in the local news- “These limitations aside, the job is rather exciting,” he paper, coupled with my own misperceptions about embassy added. His comments capture the essence of the FSN job. work, led me to believe that I had landed an important, if There are certain limitations, but also opportunities — it’s not glamorous, job at the heart of international diplomacy. up to each individual employee to accept the former and I knew very little then about the ups and downs of working explore the latter. as a Foreign Service National (also known as Locally Em- ployed Staff), a term used for the local employees working Why the U.S. Embassy? for U.S. missions abroad. Strange as it may sound, not all locally employed staff I was given a tiny desk in the embassy basement, with no join the embassy out of concern for competitive pay, work access to the classified area. A set of complex security in- benefits and job security. structions and a long list of acronyms added to my confu- Consecutive post–World War II American administra- sion. An FSN colleague, who had worked at the embassy tions have pursued policies aimed at spreading democracy, for more than 10 years, offered what was meant as sooth- and the U.S. diplomatic service has played a key role in ad- ing advice: “Once you get over the strange rules, it can ac- vancing these policies. As a locally hired employee in an tually be quite interesting.” American embassy, one has the unique chance to observe It was the deputy chief of mission, an energetic former the inner workings of the diplomatic machine of this global journalist for USA Today, who gave me a clear perspective superpower. FSNs get to observe how U.S. bilateral diplo- of what working as an FSN in an American embassy would macy is conducted on a day-to-day basis and, albeit largely in supporting functions, to be part of this system. Galina Sabeva, a former Reuters correspondent, is a polit- I joined the U.S. embassy at a time when working for ical specialist at Embassy Sofia. This article is adapted America wasn’t exactly prestigious. Washington was in- from one she wrote for the forthcoming new edition of In- volved in a highly unpopular war in Iraq, and anti-Ameri- side a U.S. Embassy. canism was peaking in Europe and around the world.

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Americans’ trust in their own admin- Interpersonal communication tact and patience on both sides. Be- istration stood at a record low. cause of the classified nature of My service allowed me to observe between the local staff and diplomatic assignments, FSNs often experienced career diplomats having work on projects with no correspond- to uphold policies with which they FSOs is also a challenge. ing access to the final product or did not necessarily agree, and doing feedback on their input. For the so with professionalism and loyalty to local employee, there is no full infor- their government. Despite the widespread perception that mation cycle. In most political sections, FSNs and FSOs the U.S. serves as the world’s policeman, I have seen very are physically separated due to concerns related to infor- little arrogance, if any, in my daily interaction with the men mation security. and women who actually conduct U.S. diplomacy. Yet in some cases, being an FSN is an advantage. Some- At the same time, I have often been surprised at how times FSOs prefer to stick to the safest approach to a sen- my otherwise amiable American colleagues have difficulty sitive political issue, telling mission leaders what they want taking “no” for an answer when pursuing foreign policy to hear. I have often seen ambassadors look to FSNs for an goals. I have also had the opportunity to directly observe unvarnished view. American idealism and pragmatism — two interwoven, but also often contradictory, strands in U.S. diplomacy. Trust and Loyalty As someone born and raised in Europe, where diplo- The formula for a successful relationship between FSN macy is primarily a behind-the-scenes occupation, I’ve also and FSO is, in a word, “trust.” Although the work stan- been repeatedly amazed by the U.S. Foreign Service’s dards and the nature of the FSN-FSO relationship may strong emphasis on public diplomacy. As a global super- vary from post to post depending on political and cultural power, America feels confident in speaking up, and it has issues, there should be a clear understanding of each other’s been fascinating — if not at times disconcerting to my Eu- functions. Some (in my experience, most) diplomats see ropean eyes — to see how our mission has so boldly used the local staff as an inseparable part of embassy operations, public diplomacy as a key policy tool. while others regard FSNs as second-class employees. It is vital, however, for diplomats arriving at a new post to ap- Not Just an Ordinary Job proach their local colleagues with open minds. It is also up I am often asked by former journalist colleagues how it to the FSNs to prove they are full-fledged members of the feels to be a foreigner at a U.S. embassy. Doesn’t the pro- embassy team, performing up to the highest American tocol-conscious, bureaucratic environment feel restrictive standards of excellence and professional ethics. compared to the more casual and relatively free media The relationship between FSNs and junior officers is world? The honest answer is that working at an American trickier. It is delicate to have to educate your supervisor, embassy is not always easy. All the challenges of an ordinary yet this is what many FSNs are required to do. “Managing job, such as communication with co-workers, career devel- up” requires tact on the part of the FSN and the right atti- opment, motivation and workplace safety, are amplified by tude on the part of the officer, who sometimes comes to intercultural differences, political sensitivities, security is- post with little idea about the local staff’s role. sues and the specifics of diplomatic work. Career advancement is another challenge. It is a key el- When passing through the embassy gate, local employ- ement of diplomatic service and a vital motivating factor ees give their loyalty, in effect, to a foreign government, and for FSOs. For FSNs, however, there is an “iron” ceiling this especially applies to political and public affairs FSNs beyond which they cannot advance. There must be strong with advisory functions. Some local employees pay a high motivation and a concerted effort on both sides to keep the price for working for America; at some high-threat posts, local staff challenged. they literally risk their lives. So it is important that loyalty I have had bosses who, aware of this, have gone out of work both ways, and that the local staff know their advice their way to assist the local staff’s professional development, and effort are valued by their American colleagues. at times resorting to innovation. For example, one of my Interpersonal communication between the local staff and political-economic chiefs permitted FSNs to accompany FSOs is also a challenge. This is a delicate area that requires high-level delegations to the United States on U.S. gov-

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ernment-funded Voluntary Visitor Programs. This not only relationship between the FSN and the FSO. raises the local staff’s profile but also achieves mission goals. Over the past several years, we FSNs have seen growing While FSOs come and go, local staff are at the embassy appreciation of our work, along with an increased focus on for the long term, serving as institutional memory, provid- local staff training and long-term development. Former ing valuable knowledge about the domestic scene and act- Secretary of State Colin Powell deserves special recogni- ing as liaison between the mission and host-country tion for acknowledging the locally employed staff’s contri- representatives. Every three to four years, the FSNs have bution to American overseas missions and encouraging to prove themselves anew and get accustomed to a differ- American employees to have positive attitudes toward us. ent leadership style. They never know what to expect of But while the institutional framework is important, it is ul- the new batch of officers, and vice versa; this poses another timately up to individual FSNs and FSOs to take up the major challenge for both groups. challenge and make their relationship work. A lot has changed since my first day in Embassy Sofia’s The Human Factor political-economic section. Over the past seven years, its Though it may sound like a cliché, working alongside local staff has doubled, and the Bulgarian employees like American colleagues and watching them in action have myself have taken on increasingly greater responsibilities. been among the greatest benefits of my job. It is amazing Being a foreigner working at an American embassy has not to me how many of them have actually joined the Foreign gotten easier, and the same limitations are still in place. But Service to work for their country, believing in an ideal. so are the growing opportunities. I have worked with very interesting people, such as a for- I haven’t for a minute regretted taking up the chal- mer financier for the New York office of Armani who left lenge. ■ the fashion house to serve at the State Department, and a brilliant economic officer who used to act in movies and probably could have been a star if he hadn’t chosen to pursue a diplomatic career. Watch for the November FSJ’s annual There was also the deputy chief of mission who would stop by the FSN area “for a quick question” and end up roundup of books by current and giving us an hourlong lecture on politics — which we former members of the Foreign Service dreaded at first, but now actually miss. I have had the and their families. chance to work for career and political ambassadors who had radically different styles, yet actively sought local employees’ opinions and were willing to listen. “There is 2010 ANNUAL hardly a better adviser on what is happening on local soil than the local staff,” one ambassador used to say. FS AUTHOR Local employees also become unwitting witnesses to FSOs’ ups and downs, their occasional frustrations with the ROUNDUP State Department bureaucracy and their career advancement. The American employees and local staff are united by high professional standards and common values, but there are also human bonds, which sometimes last long after the FSO has moved on. The numerous cases of such collegial solidarity are institutionalized in the FSN Relief Fund, supported by American colleagues.

A Special Relationship There are some 42,300 local employees working in more than 250 overseas U.S. missions. What makes embassy work unique, from the local staff perspective, is the special

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RETURNING TO DACHAU, 65 YEARS LATER

A RETIRED AMBASSADOR’S WARTIME EXPERIENCE WAS ONE OF THE MAIN FACTORS THAT PROPELLED HIM TOWARD THE FOREIGN SERVICE.

BY ALAN W. L UKENS

his past April, I traveled to heading full steam for Munich, when we suddenly arrived Dachau, Germany, as the representative of all the Amer- at a gigantic prison camp surrounded by a high barbed- ican troops who had liberated the prisoners from the con- wire fence. We broke through the fence with our tanks, centrationT camp there exactly 65 years before. As with the 42nd Infantry Division riding on them, ready to president of the 20th Armored Division, one of the three occupy the camp. Unfortunately, a few German snipers units that had entered the camp, I was privileged to de- killed several of our men, including our colonel, before liver a message from President Barack Obama to an au- we were able to take out their nest with an artillery bar- dience of about 1,000 survivors and their families. rage. When our unit approached Dachau on April 29, 1945, As soon as we arrived at the gates, we were surrounded very few of us, even our commanders, had any clue that by hundreds of deportees, all thrilled to see us. We we were about to enter a concentration camp. The facil- learned later that the French prisoners, under General ity just happened to be on our direct route to capture Mu- André Delpeche (later president of all the deportees), had nich. planned a mutiny and the killing of the guards. But by Intelligence in those days did not benefit from today’s the time we got there, most of the guards had fled. communication techniques. But the poor, starving in- What we found was shocking and horrifying beyond mates knew that we were nearby, because they listened words. We counted 37 carloads of bodies, shipped hastily clandestinely to the British Broadcasting Corporation’s from other concentration camps. The survivors were in a radio broadcasts. pitiful state, resembling skeletons; most only weighed 75 We were moving south quickly after taking Frankfurt, or 80 pounds. We wanted to feed them but were warned that a sudden intake of food might kill them. We saw the Alan W. Lukens, a Foreign Service officer from 1951 to crematorium, the dreadful barracks and the Schutzstaffel 1987, served in Istanbul, Ankara, Fort de France, Paris officers’ quarters before being pulled away and sent off (twice), Brazzaville, Bangui, Rabat, Dakar, Nairobi, toward Munich. Copenhagen, Cape Town and Washington, D.C. His final diplomatic assignment, from 1984 to 1987, was as ambas- Renewing Old Ties sador to the Republic of the Congo. After concluding my U.S. Army service, I joined the

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Foreign Service in 1951. Over the We counted 37 carloads hard labor along the way amid un- next 36 years, I had several diplo- believable conditions. He finally matic assignments in France and of bodies, shipped arrived in Dachau on the “death Francophone countries. (It was my train.” As defeat approached, the high school French that had en- hastily from other Nazis had two overarching goals in abled me to become my battery’s mind: to erase all traces of their interpreter in 1945 and speak with concentration camps. bestial treatment of prisoners in the prisoners at Dachau.) other camps in Germany, and to In 1995, I revisited the village of fight to the end defending Bavaria. Vieux-Manor near Rouen, where my division had been Many of Marcel’s friends had died along the way, and billeted 50 years earlier. The warmth of that reunion was their SS guards would not even bury their bodies. After remarkable. A 12-year-old girl to whom I had given candy arriving at the Dachau train station, the prisoners pro- in 1945 was now a 62-year-old matron, who took us all to ceeded on foot the five miles to the camp, chased there by a gala dinner. dogs who bit those who fell along the way. I then continued on to Dachau for the first time since Once there, Marcel was admitted to the infirmary, 1945, representing my unit (along with two other mem- which saved him from the death march in which the few bers) at a large memorial ceremony organized by the remaining ambulatory prisoners were forced to walk to- Bavarian government. We joined 100 veterans from the ward Munich and thence to the Alps. Fortunately, several 42nd Rainbow Division, as well as several thousand sur- American units caught up with the death march three vivors from all over Europe. days after Dachau’s liberation and took care of the poor, At the 2005 commemoration, I was one of only about wretched prisoners. a dozen U.S. veterans present, but we met two special A friend of Marcel’s whom I met during my 1995 trip French survivors. And in October 2009, my wife, Susie, had had a similar, but happier, experience. He was on one and I traveled to France as their guests. It was in this in- of the trains en route to Dachau when it came to a stop in formal, very personal setting that we were privileged to a gully between two tunnels. While Allied and German take the measure of their heroism. artillery units exchanged fire over the train, the French prisoners, all in the same cattle car, fashioned a tricolor Marcel’s Story flag out of old clothes and laid it on top of their freight car At the 1995 ceremony, I had met Marcel Fonfréde, an for American pilots to spot. extremely bright and active veteran of the French Resist- Later, the friend and a Polish prisoner walked back ance who now lives in St. Ismier, a suburb of Grenoble in along the tracks, evading enemy lines until they came to the French Alps. His story is remarkable. the American camp. They persuaded the Americans to During the Christmas holiday in 1943, he went home take a Sherman tank, hook it to the car holding the French from his school to see his family. His father was a well- prisoners and pull it back to their camp. There they all known Resistance leader sought by the SS. Unfortu- rested for a month or so, slowly returning to health be- nately, the Germans picked up Marcel instead; his father fore French authorities came to rescue them. escaped and later became an important cog in the under- ground, helping Allied pilots escape to Portugal. Two Massacres Marcel himself was a key link in that same chain, You can imagine what a wonderful reception we had though the Nazis never figured that out even after inter- from Marcel’s family after 14 years of correspondence. rogating him. Klaus Barbie, now imprisoned for life after They took us to a beautiful mountain restaurant above having been discovered and extradited from Argentina in Grenoble. the 1990s, presided over the torture. Marcel’s trick was to During the lunch, they told us about the activities of give up the names of Resistance fighters who had already the French Resistance in the Vercor, an isolated moun- been executed, so there could be no reprisals. tain about 3,000 feet high that can only be reached For the next two years Marcel was moved from prison through three narrow roads, complete with dangerous to prison (the worst was Buchenwald), forced to perform hairpin turns. The Germans tried many times to go up

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these passes and failed each time, As the only American 2002. Joachim lived in the village of fueling their fury and frustration. Habere-Poche, now a beautiful ski As the Allies advanced in south- veteran from the liberation resort an hour east of Geneva. ern France in July 1944, the plan In 1943, 40 youngsters, almost was for the 7th Army to join up with of Dachau my hosts all in their teens, were working in the Resistance at Vercor. On a cer- the Resistance. Figuring that the tain day British planes were to land, had ever met, I was Germans were 25 miles away in An- carrying arms to the French holed nemasse, the group decided to get up there. Fog in London pre- treated royally. together on Christmas Eve for a vented the planes from flying, but party in the village chateau. Tragi- somehow the Germans learned cally, a Vichy traitor had infiltrated about the plan and painted their own planes in British col- their ranks and tipped off the Germans, who murdered ors. When they arrived to French cheers, the Nazis 35 of the young men, then burned down the chateau. The jumped out of their planes and massacred everyone in remaining five feigned death and escaped, but were ar- sight, women and children included. We visited the site rested the next day. I was asked to lay a wreath on the and the village ruins, including the memorial museum and beautiful memorial built on the ruins of the house, where the graves of those killed, a grisly reminder of what hap- the victims’ names and ages were engraved. pened that tragic day. Joachim Cottet was one of the five survivors who was Another close friend I’d met at the 60th-anniversary captured the next day. He was sent to a series of concen- ceremony, Jean-Claude Cottet, had a similarly dramatic tration camps, performing hard labor under atrocious story to tell about his father, Joachim, who had died in conditions. All four of his comrades died there, leaving him the sole survivor of the Habere-Poche massacre to make it to Dachau. At a ceremony held in my honor at the mayor’s office, I met several other veterans with equally grim stories. Among them was Fernand Klein, who had been decorated for his role in the Resistance. He had escaped five times from the Nazis before ending up in Dachau. We also met Mme. Néplaz-Bouvet, an impressive lady who is president of a French foundation that preserves the memories of those who were deported. I spoke to the group about our liberation of Dachau, which was a very moving event. One of the former Dachau internees at the ceremony, Walter Bassen, gave me a book by another former de- tainee, Paul Bermond, describing the final death march toward the Tyrol region. The French prisoners huddled together as the remaining Nazis tried to hide the evidence of their atrocities by driving them past Munich into the Alps. As the Allies approached, the German guards began to discard their uniforms and put on civilian clothes, which the prisoners had been pushing in rude carts. As soon as most of the guards disappeared, the French prisoners all left the march and occupied local homes until the Amer- icans arrived the next day. Later, the Cottets arranged for me to speak to 50

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teenagers in Boége, a town about In 1995, I visited Dachau treated royally. While I pleaded 10 miles away. I spoke to them for that I was just a former private first an hour about Dachau alone, an- for the first time since 1945, class, I was deeply honored to have swering many questions. That was such a unique opportunity. followed by another speech and re- representing my unit at a The return visit to Dachau for ception in Poublier, a small town the 65th anniversary of its libera- on Lake Geneva. The young large memorial ceremony tion, where I saw old friends and mayor of that town had been so in- made new ones among the French terested in what had happened organized by the Bavarian survivors, was also an inspiring ex- during the war that he had visited perience. To hear these men re- seven concentration camps in Ger- government. count their stories and to see the many, collecting handfuls of dirt contrast between their situation in from each, which he buried in a 1945 and in 2010 — revealing what marble monument next to his city hall. Once again, I was that famous Liberation Day meant in their lives, and mine asked to lay a wreath and make brief remarks. — is something I will never forget. It also serves as a fresh reminder that my wartime ex- Never Again perience was one of the main factors that propelled me to- Our visits to Habere-Poche and St. Ismier were ex- ward the Foreign Service. In that capacity, I like to think tremely memorable. As the only American veteran from that I played my small part to prevent a scourge like the liberation of Dachau whom they had ever met, I was Nazism from ever appearing again. ■

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THE AMERICAN WITHOUT A COUNTRY

PROVING THAT WHERE THERE’S A WILL, THERE’SAWAY, SPIRITUALITY TRUMPS CONSULAR PROCEDURES IN 1970S INDIA.

BY GINNY YOUNG

ack in 2004, Tom Hanks starred heard him speak, I fell on the floor, moaning.” in “The Terminal,” a movie about a man forced by immi- I asked gently if perhaps he’d been chewing something. gration requirements to live, against his will, in the transit (Like, maybe, opium? It was a common practice in this loungeB of a major airport. part of the world, after all.) The following story is equally implausible, but real. “No, no,” he said. He’d tried that, back in Hollywood I was a consular officer in New Delhi. It was the 1970s, and, later, in Oregon. Drugs didn’t work. What he had when all sorts of people — Mia Farrow, the Beatles — were found in Rishikesh was different. “It was pure ecstasy,” he discovering Indian spirituality. recalled, describing emotion, not today’s narcotic. Eric Cameron Smith was older than the usual hippie — But Indian authorities determined that Smith had over- in his late 30s, maybe even 40 years old. He was a balding, stayed his visa and must leave immediately. He had come articulate former Hollywood studio executive who had, he to the embassy to investigate his options. I sighed. said, given up the rat race, searched for peace in an Oregon “You really don’t have a choice.” mountain cabin and finally found salvation with an unknown (to me, anyway) guru who lived in a cave in The American was given 10 days in which to prepare for Rishikesh, a holy city on the Ganges River. departure. He took no action, however, so Indian police “The man is a saint,” Smith told me. “The first time I went to the cave and took him away in handcuffs. The embassy was informed that Eric Cameron Smith was in de- Ginny Young accompanied her late husband, Jim Carson, tention and would be deported the following day. on several Foreign Service tours before his death in 1973. I went to Palam Airport the next morning and found the She then entered the Foreign Service herself. Ten years tall Californian being processed through Indian immigra- later, on assignment in Hong Kong, she met and married tion. He was alone, no police in evidence. Don Young, who accompanied her to further postings in The man nodded briefly in my direction and turned, Mexico and Romania. Young died in 2002. This reflection seemingly in resignation, toward the counter, where an of- is adapted from her memoir, Peregrina: Adventures of an ficer examined his papers. American Consul, which the Association for Diplomatic Suddenly, Smith lunged forward, a pleased smile on his Studies and Training will publish in 2011. face. He grabbed his passport from the Indian official and

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dramatically ripped it into four seg- With his last few rupees, caused travelers, noting the tall Ameri- ments. can in the transit lounge, to call out, “You can’t deport me,” he cried tri- the American bought “Right on, Eric!” They gave him umphantly. “I have no passport. I am money for food; a guard brought in a stateless! I have no place to go!” me a cup of tea. charcoal brazier so he could cook. Indian officials pressed pieces of the Finally, the Indians came up with a torn book into his hands and pushed court-approved deportation order that him toward a U.S.-bound plane waiting on the tarmac. authorized escorts to travel with Smith to New York, and to The Pan Am pilot, however, decided this man was subdue him by force if need be. clearly deranged and a danger to other passengers. In ad- The State Department advised that, under the circum- dition, he had an invalid travel document. He was denied stances, I could glue his old passport together. entry onto the plane. In the eyes of Indian authorities, Mr. Smith had officially After seven weeks, I was at the airport on Eric Cameron left the country. He could not be permitted to “return to Smith’s behalf for the last time. Authorities introduced me India,” but must instead remain in the transit lounge until to the pair of men selected by the Indian government to things were sorted out. travel with, as they said, “the mad American.” Pan Am agreed to provide sustenance while their erst- One was a frail, elderly doctor who carried a large hy- while passenger was detained. Every day, on the airline’s podermic needle and tranquilizers in his physician’s black round-the-world return schedule, a representative deliv- bag. ered vegetarian meals to the American who lived in the The other was a burly Indian immigration officer who New Delhi transit lounge. told me he had a sibling in New York. He was all but danc- Smith set up housekeeping, washing his Indian kurta ing around the room as he described the glad surprise with and pajama pants in the restroom, then sitting on the floor which his brother would greet him on arrival. in his underwear while they dried. (At night, the proce- I doubted that either of these two fellows — one fragile dure was reversed: underwear washed and drying as he and hesitant, the other enormously distracted — was going stretched out on the floor to sleep.) He prayed, in the to be of much help if Smith resisted, once again, being evening and at sunrise, in the curtained cubicle where In- forced onto a plane. dian security, lacking metal detectors, physically patted “Today’s the day, isn’t it?” he asked morosely when I was down departing passengers. admitted into the transit lounge. I told him that it was. “What are you going to do?” I asked. I visited my fellow citizen every week and found him in “Don’t know.” generally good spirits. Smith looked at the situation prag- He looked sideways at me, his expression mournful. matically: he was still nearer his guru than if he’d been “In the movie of my life, will I be played by Jack forced to return to Pasadena. Palance?” At one point, the Pan Am manager suggested the air- “No,” I rejoined. “Probably Fred MacMurray.” line might be able to transport this hotheaded and danger- We both smiled at the thought of gentle Fred cast as the ous fellow, if the embassy could provide them with a “American tiger resisting deportation” described in the straitjacket. (Did he know that we actually had several in press. various sizes, all issued by the U.S. government, in the con- With his last few rupees, the American bought me a cup sular closet?) I said I didn’t think it was possible. of tea. Then he left peaceably — no sedatives, no strait- One day, however, I found Smith in a foul mood, visibly jacket. I saw pictures of my former consular client in the upset. There had been a chicken bone in his lunch. He International Herald Tribune, waving to TV cameras on his was, he said, no longer able to trust Pan Am to follow his arrival in New York. vegetarian regimen. He was going on a hunger strike. This bizarre state of affairs caught the attention of New A year later, Eric Cameron Smith walked into my office Delhi’s American press corps; feature stories about Smith in New Delhi wearing a coat and tie. His hairline had re- appeared in several U.S. publications. His celebrity status ceded even further, but he was the same quiet, whimsical

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man. He told me he had circumvented a governmental once again to leave. blacklisting by dressing conservatively and crossing via the “I’ll send you a postcard,” he promised. “The Taj Mahal land border from Pakistan, rather than coming in at the air- if I stay here. The Statue of Liberty if I don’t.” port. He was headed back to Rishikesh. I shook my head, no. A few weeks later, I received a card (no date or message) They found him in the cave a couple of weeks later and from New York, and concluded that Smith had ultimately gave him another “Quit India” notice. For the second time, acceded to authority. His time in India was over. he had only 10 days left in the country. I was wrong. “Are we going through the whole thing again?” I asked In a very odd coincidence, I recently met his brother wearily. Paul in California. He told me that Eric did, in fact, return “Haven’t made up my mind,” he admitted. He was for a third time — it was after I had been transferred to my smarter now, he said. If he headed south and kept out of next post — and that he had died in India, presumably fol- the way of the immigration folks, he was sure he could stay lowing a severe bout of hepatitis. His ashes were placed in in his adopted country indefinitely. the Ganges River. I reminded him of the folly of crossing Indian officials a You know what? I was sorry to learn the man was gone. second time. He smiled enigmatically and headed toward But to end his days in India seemed so fitting. Eric the door, then paused, looking back. Cameron Smith was an obsessed but sweet man who loved “Pretty,” Smith said, referring to a small bouquet of wilt- this ancient land. ing wild flowers in a vase on my desk. I am sure his spirit is still hovering over that cave in “Let me know what happens,” I said, as my guest turned Rishikesh. ■

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THE INTERVIEW

FATE PLAYS A ROLE IN A GHANAIAN GIRL’S QUEST FOR PASSAGE TO AMERICA.

BY AMANDA S. JACOBSEN

oyce came home that evening at 1 a.m., they wanted to talk with us and learn more about the city. her hair smelling like someone else’s They spoke good French.” Joyce and I were both Ghana- perfume and her sandals dusty from walking in the beach ian but had lived in Togo with our mother since my birth. sand. IJ was up feeding the baby corn porridge when I felt I was intrigued. I had about as much direct experience her presence behind me. speaking with boys not from my school or neighborhood as “Did you eat?” I asked her. Joyce came home on week- I did with elephants. And there were no more elephants end nights usually starved. left in Togo. “No,” she told me quietly. “I was fed tonight.” Some- “What did you talk about?” thing in her expression warned me not to ask more, so I Joyce sighed. “Football. Lydia knows enough about busied myself putting our baby brother, Bana, back on the the local teams to keep them occupied. When it was time mattress and patting his stomach gently with my fingers so to leave, the boys insisted on accompanying us home. The he would sleep. Joyce sat down on the floor, and I could streets are not safe at night, they said.” Her face grew taut tell she was exhausted. again, and a pinch of worry skittered behind my ribs. “I was downtown with Lydia and Kafui when we met Knowing I would ask more, Joyce shot me an angry look some guys, university students from Ghana. They told us and then laid down next to the sleeping baby on the mattress. “Go away,” she said. She rolled away from me, put- Amanda S. Jacobsen joined the Foreign Service in 2006 ting her hands over her ears. I could tell then that there and is currently the cultural affairs officer in Kathmandu. was more to her story, and that it probably involved me. She previously served as a consular officer in Lomé, where Joyce was my older sister by three years. We both had she also oversaw the development office. She enjoys swim- the same irregular-shaped dimple, like a question mark, ming, visiting far-flung countries few have heard of, and below our left eye when we smiled. I smiled more than exploring esoteric Buddhist and Hindu temples. Prior to Joyce did. She had graduated from high school one year joining the Foreign Service she worked in nongovernmen- earlier and decided to work instead of going to the local tal organization management in Seattle and as a Model university because of the political strikes. “What? Pay United Nations coordinator in Latin America. Her story is money and not go to class?” Auntie, our father’s sister who a co-winner of the 2010 Foreign Service fiction contest. had no children of her own, promptly hired her to keep an

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eye on the 10 apprentices in her One of the problems she Joyce rarely asked me to accompany seamstress shop. her downtown with her friends, say- Auntie had started her shop, discovered early on was that ing I walked too slowly and giggled “God Knows Best,” more than a too loudly. decade ago. One side held 10 gig- we’d both been born in a “I told them you would come gling neighborhood girls no older with me tonight,” she said finally. than myself hunched over clacking now-defunct birthing center “That was part of the deal.” That’s Singer machines or sewing patches when I was able to get more details of cloth two centimeters in front of in central Ghana, and our about her meeting with the Ghana- their eyes, frowning and hissing at ian students, and how it related to the needle between their teeth in births were never registered. Joyce’s long quest to reach America. concentration. The other side of her We had two cousins who were store sold long bolts of pagne cloth granted asylum three years ago and that she bought in the port from large containers originat- now lived in Jamaica, N.Y. Joyce planned to live with them ing in Holland or China. “A one-stop shop for your cloth- until she could support herself independently. She just ing satisfaction,” read the handmade sign in Auntie’s neat, needed to figure out how to get there. slanted script over the front door. She talked with everyone, from the grandmothers at our Her best customers were Ghanaian and Nigerian busi- church to the boys who loaded the cargo ships at the port nesswomen who spoke English, so she never bothered to the gendarmes at the Ghanaian border. Regardless of translating her sign into French or Ewe, one of the main the route, she had to buy identity cards. One of the prob- dialects in southern Togo. Auntie spent her mornings lems she discovered early on was that we’d both been born teaching Joyce how to keep inventory records, track sales, in a now-defunct birthing center in central Ghana, and our and record salary payments in the green ledger. She’d then births were never registered. oversee the apprentices that she hired for three years, Joyce shared only the necessary bits with me as we teaching them all the ins and outs of the seamstress trade walked down the sandy road toward the sea. “Philip is the in exchange for free labor. “Your sister is a real business- oldest,” she informed me. “Stubborn, honest, but has a woman,” she told me more than once. temper. Kevin is his brother. I’ll tell you more later.” Joyce spent the next day sleeping. I swept the house, washed my school uniform and made rice from the ir- We spent the evening at one of the small cafés on Le regular, tooth-shaped pellets our mother had brought Boulevard, sipping Cokes and beers. I could tell that Kevin home from the market the day before. Mother came was watching me, which made me nervous. After an hour home and flopped on the mattress as soon as Joyce of idle chitchat, Joyce stood up and told the boys that we emerged in the kitchen in the late afternoon, sweaty and had to go home. Philip immediately stood up and said he’d restless from the heat and lack of sleep. The electricity accompany us. Joyce’s smile grew tense, but she grabbed was off again, so the one fan we kept in the back room re- his hand and started teasing him, motioning me with her mained silent. hand to walk ahead. “Come on,” I could hear Philip cajol- I sat at the table and watched my sister get ready to go ing at one point. “We’re legal now, right? I told you this was out with her friends. Joyce was beautiful, with short hair also part of the deal.” When we got home Joyce told me to and luminous eyes. She scoffed at the girls from Auntie’s sit out front. She disappeared inside with Philip, who store who would spend their money on shiny extensions or smiled at me as he followed my sister. wigs. Of the 25,000 CFA (approximately $50) she earned The next morning Joyce woke me up at 5 so we could be at Auntie’s store monthly, she kept roughly half for herself among the first at the port. A ship was unloading, and we and never told me where she hid it. could buy shoes wholesale for my mother from the bales “You don’t have plans tonight?” Joyce asked me finally, of used clothing. “Why doesn’t she go herself?” I grum- while I flipped through an outdated fashion magazine from bled unkindly as we fumbled in the dark for our sandals. the U.K. Joyce fastened Bana to her back with a bolt of pagne cloth, “What do you want me to do?” I asked interestedly. and we were off. It was a long walk, but we could be there

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in about an hour. And if we were Auntie arranged for the visa “How?” I asked breathlessly. lucky, we could take a taxi home with Joyce snorted. “As their wives, our purchases and still be at church fixer to come to our house stupid. How else?” by 10. She quickly gave me the details. Joyce hummed as we walked while our mother was at the She’d been concocting this plan for along the beach road, the sun’s early the past year but had only recently reflection taut over the water. “How market and coach us on the found someone willing to marry us. did you like Kevin?” she asked me, Auntie had paid a visa fixer to obtain carefully avoiding my eyes. upcoming interview. our passports and the marriage cer- “He’s okay. Why?” I asked. tificates. The interviews at the U.S. Joyce was a horrible liar, and I embassy would take place in one could see her eyes skittering somewhere above my fore- month. head trying to decide what genre of lie she was hoping I’d “But why me?” I asked finally. “You’re the one who swallow. wants to go to America, not me. I’m only 16.” “Tell me, or I’m going home,” I said. “You can get the Joyce eyed me critically. “Yes, but you could pass as 20 shoes yourself.” if we fix you up a bit. I don’t want to go to America alone, Joyce stopped and stared at me. “Kevin and Philip are and this way we could go together, save money, and start not brothers,” she told me. “I found them on the Internet. over. Trust me.” So I did. They won the green card lottery and are willing to take us The next few weeks passed in a blur. Auntie arranged with them to America.” for the visa fixer to come to our house while our mother

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was at the market to coach us for the Kevin tried to hold the night before. But I didn’t want upcoming interview. The man told to let my sister down. us to call him Jean-Luc. He was in the baby at one point, Kevin and I sat together limply in his mid-20s, overwhelmingly confi- plastic chairs lined up in front of the dent, and grew testy when Joyce and he screamed so loud interview windows. When his name asked him questions. was called, Kevin went up to the “Look, it’s easy,” he insisted. that the other women cashier window and paid in Ameri- “You’ll go to the embassy, get your can dollars. I knew that my aunt had fingerprints taken, and have one of waiting with us turned and given him the cash the day before the yovo” (a term, usually pejorative, and was overwhelmed almost to tears commonly used to refer to foreign- glared at me ferociously. by the amount that he counted careers in Togo) “consular officers ask fully, then handed over — more than you about your marriage. Both 1,500 American dollars. Philip and Kevin played the lottery as single guys, so you I bounced Bana on my knee miserably. Bringing the need to prove that your relationship is legitimate, and not baby along had been a last-minute decision. The visa fixer just contracted to get a green card.” had been so unimpressed with my performance respond- He seemed to find this predicament funny. After a mo- ing to questions about Kevin and his family that he sug- ment, he stood up and unfurled a long sheet of paper with gested we pass off Bana as our child. Horrified, I had handwritten questions scrawled on it. rejected the idea; but, ultimately, Joyce had convinced me “Joyce, where was Philip born? Where was his mater- that it would help. Jean-Luc was able to procure a fake nal grandmother buried? What items were exchanged for birth certificate and passport for Bana the night before the your dowry? Where did you get your wedding ring?” She interview. We decided not to tell Mother. stared at him, openmouthed. Bana howled and wept. The baby had not napped all Jean-Luc laughed again. “These are questions the yovos morning, and I certainly couldn’t nurse him. Kevin tried to are going to ask you, and you need to be prepared.” He hold the baby at one point, and he screamed so loud that turned and looked at me, where I was staring at the floor the other women waiting with us turned and glared at me nervously. He made me very uncomfortable, and I could ferociously. They knew he wasn’t mine. tell he didn’t really think much of me. “Your sister needs to I stared glumly at my passport. My picture smiled back look older,” he told Joyce, “or this isn’t going to work.” at me stiffly, and there was a new name and birth date. My He left after 20 minutes for his next “immigration con- birthplace was listed as Accra, not Kumasi. sultation.” Following Jean-Luc’s advice, we went to a local Joyce and Philip came in about 15 minutes later. They photographer who took informal pictures of us as couples paid, deposited their paperwork, and then sat one row in front of the Palm Beach Hotel. Next we went to a local ahead of us. I could see that Joyce was shaking. Catholic church, where we took turns posing in the same Philip was called first. He walked coolly up to the win- wedding gown, squinting into the sun. dow and started talking with the American officer behind I grew to like Kevin. I found out early on that he was the glass, a short woman with brown hair and glasses. We Auntie’s neighbor’s grandson, and from the same village could only hear his part of the conversation. “Awute, Philip. where we were born. He had studied psychology and 27 years old. Graduate student.” The woman listened at- worked as an intern at an international relief agency in Lomé tentively and then skimmed his paperwork, frowning in the previous summer. He had a cousin in Nebraska who concentration. She asked him something else, and Philip had promised to find him work at a local meat factory. He laughed lightly. started picking me up at school, which made my friends “Oh, that’s my wife. We were married two months ago. whisper. Our parents only agreed to our wedding recently, so that’s why I didn’t list her on the original petition.” He pushed On the day of the interview there were throngs of other their carefully choreographed wedding album under the hopefuls inside the waiting room of the U.S. embassy. My consular windowsill; however, the woman only opened it to stomach hurt because I’d been too nervous to eat anything the first page, frowned more deeply, and pushed it back.

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She held up his passport to the light, By the way Joyce’s shoulders heavily accented French. compared it with the other one in “You can speak English,” I told the file, presumably Joyce’s, and sagged, I could tell it was him. “I’m Ghanaian.” then left the window. Philip stood The man perused the paperwork there alone, tapping his foot loudly. all over. Kevin grabbed quickly. “Oh, oh yes. Well, Gloria, The woman returned about five where do you work?” minutes later and asked Philip my arm, knowing I wanted “I stay home with my baby,” I something. He shrugged, and then told him quietly. The man peered went to go sit down again. to run to her. over the window. “Your baby is very “She wants to speak with you,” he beautiful,” he told me. “Your first?” told Joyce. The woman smiled at my I nodded. sister quietly and then spoke with her for about five min- “What’s his name?” utes. She never asked Joyce a single question. At one “Bana,” I said quickly. I held the baby up to the window point, she gestured toward one of the passports and shook so the man could see his features better, and Bana started her head slowly. By the way Joyce’s shoulders sagged, I crying. The man held up his hands in surrender. “Tell him could tell it was all over. Kevin grabbed my arm, knowing not to worry!” I could tell he liked kids. I wanted to run to her. The woman finally gave Joyce the “How old is he?” two passports and turned away from the window. Joyce “Four months.” walked away, ignoring me fully. “How did you decide to name him Bana?” I hadn’t dis- Philip collected his and Joyce’s things and followed her cussed that with Kevin, and couldn’t be sure if the man out, his face impassive. “Whatever you do,” the visa fixer had asked him the same question. I decided to tell the had told us over and over again, “maintain your character truth, based on what my mother had told me. “My father until you’re a kilometer away from the U.S. embassy, re- left my mother when I was a small baby, and that was his gardless of the visa decision. Go home, and call me.” name. I grew up never knowing him, and I wanted to Before I had time to process what had just happened, maintain a small part of him in my life.” Kevin’s name was called. The man smiled. “Well, Gloria. Let me be the first to “Omaha. We’ll live with my uncle.” congratulate you, your husband and beautiful baby boy for “Twenty-six.” qualifying for the U.S. Diversity Visa program. You can “Psychology.” come and pick up your passports next Tuesday at 10 a.m. “I moved here when I was 20. My parents are To- Good luck to you in the United States of America.” golese.” I was stupefied. I had expected to leave the waiting “My wife was born in Accra. She has no formal educa- room sobbing or painfully stoic. I looked back at Kevin, tion beyond secondary school.” and he eyed me nervously, his foot tapping like Philip’s. “We got married when we found out she got pregnant. He stood up and guided me outside. By that time Bana Our baby is four months old. He has no brothers or sis- was exhausted after his experience with American bu- ters.” reaucracy. I stared at the floor. I pictured Joyce slowly walking “Well?” Kevin demanded. I pushed the wrinkled ticket away from the embassy, her feet making desolate prints in with the date and time when our visas would be ready into the fine red sand. I could see Auntie clutching her cell his hands. His eyes widened, and he kissed Bana and then phone in fierce anxiety, waiting for her to call. She wanted me. Joyce to make it to America almost as much as Joyce did The others in the waiting room who hadn’t interviewed herself. yet stared at the three of us. I couldn’t tell what they were Suddenly Kevin was back at my side, poking me. “Go thinking. up there! That man wants to speak with you!” I struggled We continued walking outside. Kevin jabbered away to my feet, adjusted Bana in my arms, and went forward. on his cell phone in a dialect I didn’t understand, and Bana The white man beyond the glass was tall and thin. I snored comfortably on my left shoulder. By the time we smiled at him nervously. “Don’t be nervous!” he said in reached the street, Joyce was nowhere to be seen. ■

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WHOLE LADA LOVE

AN IMPROBABLE BIRTHDAY GIFT MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE FOR A TEENAGE BOY FEELING STRANDED IN CENTRAL ASIA. “ BY JOHN MAHER

e seemed to Mike’s eyebrows shot up. “You think I should’ve gotten like the presents,” Paula said. Cake plates, torn wrapping him a girl?” paper and a greasy cardboard box from Pizzastan, the fa- Paula beaned him with a wad of gift wrap. Todd, sport- vorite expatH hangout, cluttered the dining table. ing his new jeans, appeared in the doorway just in time to “Yeah,” said Mike. “I thought he’d want to have some witness the violence. He glanced between the two of them other kids over, though.” with a puzzled grin. “What?” “Says he’s getting too old for birthday parties.” “Oh, nothing,” chirped Paula. “Just a little discussion. “See?” Mike said. “Our boy is growing up. He’ll be nuts So, are those the kind you like?” about this little surprise.” “Yeah, thanks. And they fit just right,” Todd said, kick- “Little surprise, huh?” Paula gave him her look. “Pretty ing his foot out to show how the cuff fell. extravagant for a 14-year-old, if you ask me.” “Well, for the next few months anyway,” said Paula, and “We’ll get some use out of it, too. And it’s very educa- kissed his cheek. “Happy birthday, honey.” tional. Plus he’ll love it, trust me.” “Hey Todd, come here,” Mike said, and opened the “Hmm, I don’t hear him listening to those downloads front door. “I want to show you something.” you gave him at Christmas.” In the driveway sat a beat-up old car, as square as a shoe- “That’s just a matter of time,” Mike said. “Any boy with box and not much bigger. It looked like a toy next to the my DNA in him will get into Led Zeppelin before long. family’s SUV. But this one’s on a whole different level. For a guy his age, “Whose car is that?” Todd asked. it ranks right next to girls.” “Yours,” Mike said. He dropped a key into his son’s “Still,” said Paula, “I’m not so sure this was the best hand. “Happy birthday.” choice.” Todd stared. “A car?” He stared some more. “Um, Dad? I can’t John Maher joined the Foreign Service in 1988 and is cur- drive.” rently posted to Yerevan. He learned to drive in a 1970s Fiat, “I’ll teach you. By the time we move back to the States, a close Italian cousin of the redoubtable Lada. His story is you’ll be way ahead of the other guys.” a co-winner of the 2010 Foreign Service fiction contest. “It’s mine?”

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Mike clapped him on the back. “It’s yours. Of course, stick shift puts you in charge; gives you real mastery over I had to register it in my name. And I might need to use it your vehicle.” once in a while, like if our car is in the shop.” “Okaaay,” said Paula. “I think we get the symbolism.” Paula leaned in and whispered, “Or if he feels too lazy “Wha... oh please, get your mind out of the raunchy ro- to walk five blocks to the embassy.” mance rack, would you? Our innocent son is sitting right “Will we take it to Washington when we move?” Todd here, in case you didn’t notice. Anyway, Todd, as I was say- asked. ing before your mother’s inappropriate comment: once you Mike shook his head. “No, the department will only can drive this car you’ll be a real driver, unlike some peo- ship one car for us, and anyway it would never pass inspec- ple I could name.” tion into the U.S. That’s too bad.” Todd lay back against the seat. “Wow! Thanks. I mean, “So … how is it mine?” I didn’t expect a car.” “Well, you get to take care of it, learn how to change the Mike ruffled his son’s hair. “We’ll take it out on Satur- oil and tires, maybe fix it up a little …” day for your first lesson.” Todd eyed his father. “That’s supposed to be fun?” “It’s actually pretty cool. But then comes the really good The Lada sat on a ribbon of dusty pavement a short part: you get to drive it.” drive outside the capital. Farm plots and scattered houses “Dad, I’ll get kicked out of the country. The driving age stretched toward the oil refineries on the horizon. The put- here is even higher than back home.” ter of the engine revved up to a whine; the car jumped for- “I know, but we’ll hit the farm roads outside the city ward a few meters and then lurched to a stop. The engine where you can practice. There’s no traffic out there. No coughed and died. one will care.” The starter screeched, and the motor chugged to life Todd circled the car warily. The body was a sickly beige, again. Once more the car began to move and just as quickly like old soap, spotted here and there with battleship gray jerked to a stop. The serene Central Asian sky arced im- and rust. “Is this thing gonna fall apart?” possibly high overhead. A third time the car started, stag- Mike shrugged. “Probably. After all, it’s about twice as gered and died. old as you. But the mechanics here work cheap, and the “Damn it!” Todd slammed his fist against the steering parts are easy to get.” wheel. “I can never do it right.” “What are these two holes on the back?” “No, you were getting the hang of it for a while there. “Huh? Oh, I guess that’s where the bumper used to be Take it easy and try to do it the way you did before.” attached. Go on; hop in.” “I get worse every time!” Todd slid into the driver’s seat and took hold of the “Don’t be so hard on yourself,” Mike said. “It just takes wheel, his arms locked in a Speed Racer grip. Mike got in a little practice. Remember when you learned to ride a on the passenger side. The boy looked over all the controls bike? It seemed impossible, right? And the next thing you and tested the pedals. The unfamiliar logo on the steering know, you’re zooming along without even thinking.” wheel caught his eye. “What kind is it?” “Well at least with the bike I got to have some fun after “It’s a Lada 1300, made in Russia. A real workhorse. It’s I learned to ride. What’s the point of me learning to drive amazing how they can load these little things up.” this car? Even if I ever do, I can’t use it.” Todd glanced over at the SUV. “I guess you didn’t want “Tell you what: Once you get good at driving, you can in- me trashing your car.” vite some of your friends along, and we’ll head up into the “That wasn’t really it. Out in the boonies, there’s not mountains for a hike or something. As soon as we get out- much to run into. But there’s another reason it’s better for side of town, you can drive the rest of the way.” you to learn on this one.” “Yeah, right,” muttered Todd. “Oh wait, I forgot. I don’t Paula leaned against the Lada and rolled her eyes. “This have any friends, not since we moved to this stupid hell- you’ve gotta hear.” hole. My whole class is three eurochicks who think they’re Mike went on. “The Toyota may look big, but it’s actu- so much more mature than any boy their age, one guy who’s ally kind of wussy because it’s an automatic. This car has a a total dork, and another one who can barely say hello in manual transmission. It’s much more demanding, but a English. My friends back home have forgotten I even exist.

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There’s nothing to do here and …” Back at the little crossroad at the bottom of the hill, Todd turned his face to the window. Todd said, “Which way now?” Mike sat silently, his fingertips poised on his knees, and “Up to you.” pretended not to hear the halting breaths. Finally he said, “How about over there?” Todd pointed down a road that “Todd, man, I know this move was tough on you, much wound into a residential area. more than on me and Mom. Two years is a long time at “I don’t know. That’s getting into traffic.” your age. That’s part of why I got the car. I … I thought it “Not much. I’ll be really careful. If it gets too crowded would be something fun for you, something we could do I’ll just come back this way.” together.” Mike smiled. He heard an eagerness in his son’s voice “Look, can we just go home now?” Todd said, his voice that hadn’t been there before. “Sure, why not?” still stretched thin. He slung the seatbelt off and pushed It wasn’t just any residential street. This was a new, ex- open the door. clusive suburb. High walls shielded the grand facades of houses for rich locals and foreign oil executives. A few weeks later, the Lada cruised down the same farm “Let’s not scratch any BMWs, shall we?” Mike sug- road, occasionally passing a truck or another rickety old car. gested. But Todd was right. There was little traffic, and Todd shifted smoothly and stayed in his lane, signaling his the residents rated the only unbroken pavement in the city. turns and checking his blind spot even when there were no Two drivers stood smoking next to their bosses’ gleam- other cars around. ing cars. Their faces panned in unison as Todd and Mike “You’re getting to be an old pro at this.” rolled by. A decrepit Lada was a common sight, but not “Yep, now I can drive around in circles in the middle of with diplomatic plates and a 14-year-old at the wheel. The nowhere,” Todd said, easing into fourth as the car built up car disappeared down the block, and without a word the speed on a straight stretch. two men went back to their cigarettes. Mike scanned the horizon from the refineries to the Todd cautiously dodged parked cars and the few pedes- high-rises to the hills. trians on the street: construction workers unloading bricks, “Let’s turn left up ahead.” a girl walking a German shepherd, an old woman sweeping “Dad, we tried that way last week, remember? The road litter to the curb. dead-ended at a farm just over the hill.” When they stopped at an intersection near the end of “I know, but I want to show you something.” the street, Mike said, “Good job. Now hang a right, and let’s “What?” head back toward the farms. You can practice some paral- “You’ll see.” lel parking with the cones, and then I’ll drive us home.” Todd turned onto the bumpy dirt road and started up Todd hesitated. “Is it okay if we go back the way we the hill. came?” “Stop here for a second.” “Back down this street? Yeah, if you want. You can As the car jounced to a halt, Todd asked, “What’s there practice a three-point turn.” Mike watched with approval as to see?” Todd made the turn in the middle of the quiet street. “Sorry, this isn’t it. Go on a little further.” Again they passed the construction guys and the woman Todd gripped the wheel. His heel pinned the brake to with the broom. The girl and the dog were walking toward the floor while his toe pivoted to press the gas. He stepped them. When they got close, Todd gave a little wave. off the brake and quickly released the clutch. The car The girl stopped in her tracks, straining against the pull sagged backwards, then reconsidered and strained up the of the leash as the car rolled to a halt next to her. The dog slope. Todd pressed the revs up before snapping into sec- reared up with its paws against the door and sniffed at Todd ond. through the open window. “That was it,” said Mike. Todd said, “Hi, Anna.” Todd looked around. “Where?” “Todd, what are you doing? Are you supposed to be “Not where; how. Starting off uphill. It’s the hardest driving zis?” thing to do with a stick shift, and you nailed it. That was Mike couldn’t quite place the accent. French? Ger- perfect. Um, not so fast on the turn.” man?

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“Well, my dad got the car for me to practice on, so I’m “Todd, did you finish Mr. McKnight’s assignment yet?” just kind of messing around.” “Yeah, it wasn’t as hard as it looked.” “But you can’t have a license. Don’t you get arrested?” “Maybe for you. I still have to do it.” Dutch, maybe. “Well, um, let me know if you have a question.” “Not yet.” “Okay, if I get stuck I might call you.” As Mike sat motionless, trying to blend with the uphol- “Yeah, sure.” The truck that delivered the bricks rum- stery, the girl looked in and asked, “Is he a good driver, or bled away. The dog went on sampling every vapor Todd should I stay off ze street?” and the Lada had to offer. “Oh, Todd?” Mike said with a flick of his hand. “Yeah, “Anyway, we gotta go,” Todd said. he can drive fine. No problem. I just have to ride along, “All right, see you Monday,” Anna said, dragging her dog you know, to talk our way out in case the police stop us.” away from the car. “So, Todd, do you start driving to school soon?” she Todd drove in silence, retreating from Millionaires’ Row teased. to the regular potholed roads. As they jolted along, he fid- “No, all the teachers would totally get jealous of my cool dled with the knobs on the car’s crappy little radio. Every car.” station seemed to be the same: Disco. In Russian. Todd Anna laughed. “Yeah, it’s really … incredible.” turned it off. He followed a lane winding along a river back “Hey, I think your dog wants to go for a ride. Right, toward the farms. puppy?” “Hey, Dad?” “Oh yes, she loves cars.” “Yeah?” Todd scratched the dog behind the ears. “You think we could hook my iPod up to this thing?” ■

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A DETERMINED OPTIMIST: L. BRUCE LAINGEN

IN JUNE AFSA RECOGNIZED THE RETIRED AMBASSADOR’S MANY CONTRIBUTIONS TO AMERICAN DIPLOMACY AND HIS LIFETIME OF PUBLIC SERVICE.

BY STEVEN ALAN HONLEY

n June 24, Ambassador Lowell Bruce Laingen received the State Department’s Award for Valor. He Laingen received the American Foreign has also received the Distinguished Public Service medal from Service Association’s Award for Lifetime the Department of Defense, the Distinguished Alumnus Contributions to American Diplomacy, Award from St. Olaf College, the Golden Plate Award from in recognition of a distinguished 38-year the American Academy of Achievement, a Presidential Mer- Foreign Service career and a lifetime of itorious Award and the Foreign Service Cup, among many public service. Past recipients of the other honors. award include U. Alexis Johnson, Frank Carlucci, George From 1981 to 1987, Amb. Laingen served as vice president OH.W. Bush, Lawrence Eagleburger, Cyrus Vance, David New- of the National Defense University, a post traditionally held som, Lee Hamilton, Thomas Pickering, George Shultz, by a senior diplomat. After retiring from the Foreign Service Richard Parker, Richard Lugar, Morton Abramowitz, Joan in 1987, he served as executive director of the National Com- Clark, Tom Boyatt and Sam Nunn. mission on the Public Service (the Volcker Commission) until Born on a farm near Odin, Minn., on Aug. 6, 1922, Bruce the commission completed its work in 1990. Laingen graduated from St. Olaf College with a B.A. in history Also in 1987, the ambassador was elected as a retiree mem- and economics, cum laude, in 1947, and was the recipient of ber of the AFSA Governing Board and was appointed chair- the college’s Harold Stassen Award. He went on to earn an man of the AFSA Awards Committee (which later became the M.A. in international relations from the University of Min- Awards and Plaques Committee), a post he held for two nesota in 1949, and later attended the National War College. decades. In gratitude for Amb. Laingen’s distinguished, ded- During World War II, Laingen served in the U.S. Navy icated service to AFSA, the association conferred a special from 1943 to 1946, joining the Foreign Service in 1949. His award of appreciation on him at the June 22, 2006, awards cer- overseas postings included Germany, Iran, Pakistan, Afghani- emony. stan and Malta, where he was U.S. ambassador from 1977 to As a Foreign Service Journal report on the ceremony noted, 1979. “During his tenure, he succeeded in greatly improving the Later that year, Ambassador Laingen returned to Tehran as standing of the AFSA awards and consistently provided wise chargé d’affaires for what was supposed to be just six to eight guidance in the important task of honoring members of the weeks. But when student protestors overran the U.S. embassy Foreign Service who have lost their lives overseas in the line on Nov. 4, 1979, he and two other American officials were at of duty. … In his modest and understated way, he also made the Iranian Foreign Ministry, where they were detained for a tremendous contribution to the awards program, helping the the next 14 months. association continue to honor dissent through the only such For his leadership and courage during that ordeal, Amb. program for U.S. government employees.” From 1991 to 2006, Amb. Laingen rendered similarly ex- Steven Alan Honley is the editor of the Journal. emplary service as president of the American Academy of

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Diplomacy, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated Patience and optimism were required over and over again to fostering the highest standards in the conduct of diplomacy. throughout my career, as well. During the fall semester of 1998, Amb. Laingen held the Like a lot of folks from Minnesota, my home state, I’ve al- Sol Linowitz Chair in International Relations at Hamilton Col- ways been an optimist. I like to quote Colin Powell, who says lege in New York, where he taught a seminar on the Iranian “Optimism is a force multiplier.” He speaks as a military man, Revolution. He has received honorary degrees from Colum- of course, but the same is true for diplomacy. In my view, op- bia College in Missouri, Hahneman University in Philadel- timism is an essential quality for tackling any issue, because it phia, the Western University of Health Sciences and the is indeed a force multiplier. It can be disastrous if you don’t University of Dubuque. And he serves on the boards of A have some realism with it, true, but I’ve done pretty well with Presidential Classroom for Young Americans, the Mercers- an optimistic spirit, a can-do attitude. burg Academy in Pennsylvania, No Greater Love and the Na- Patience is also critical. While I was being held hostage, tional Defense University Foundation. the Spanish ambassador to Iran managed to get a note to me Amb. Laingen is the author of three books: Yellow Rib- that said: “Patience is a bitter cup that only the strong can bon: The Secret Journal of Bruce Laingen (Brassey’s, 1992), drink.” That quality is essential for all of us dealing with un- Growing Up: Life on a Minnesota Farm, 1922-1940 (self- stable situations. published, 2000), and Life in the U.S. Finally, I have a personal faith that has Navy During World War II: The Philip- worked for me. I allude to that every time pines Campaign, 1943-1946 (self-pub- I talk about my time in Tehran, because lished, 2005). He also has written the old saying is true: “There are no athe- articles and commentaries for various “Like a lot of folks from ists in foxholes.” Eventually, you come publications, including the Foreign Serv- around to the possibility of a little help ice Journal. Minnesota, my home state, from a higher quarter. Or to put it an- Amb. Laingen and his wife, Penelope other way, “Faith is what you find when (Penne), reside in Bethesda, Md. They I’ve always been an you’re alone — and know you’re not.” are the parents of three sons: Bill, Chip and Jim. optimist.” FSJ: From your perspective, how has Foreign Service Journal Editor Steve diplomacy changed since you entered the Honley interviewed Amb. Laingen on — Amb. Bruce Laingen Foreign Service some 60 years ago? April 26. LBL: Certainly a lot has changed, as in any healthy institution. But there are FSJ: First of all, Ambassador Laingen, some fundamentals that remain valid. congratulations on your award for life- All of us in the Foreign Service are en- time contributions to American diplomacy. What would you gaged in “winning friends and influencing people,” to quote say were your chief strengths as a diplomat? Dale Carnegie. That’s as true today as it was when I joined LBL: It all adds up to one simple word: durability; that saw the Service. Diplomacy is all about conveying U.S. interests me through 38 years of proud service. My spouse, Penelope abroad, and pursuing our policy objectives, in a way that — the Yellow Ribbon Lady — was my partner during much looks like you’re enjoying it. of that. And I don’t underestimate her role in my career; she Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice began important played a big part in whatever success I can claim. changes with her emphasis on “transformational diplomacy.” By the way, have you ever seen the original Yellow Ribbon, Defense Secretary Robert Gates continues to warn of State’s the one Penne hung up while the Iranians held me and my inadequate budget allocations. And Secretary of State Hillary colleagues hostage? It’s at the Library of Congress, in the Rodham Clinton speaks of funding “Development” with a American Folklife Center, and you can go down there and see capital D, as a sometimes neglected but essential element in it anytime. When Penne presented it to them in July 1991 at the practice of diplomacy. She has also called for adopting a the end of the Persian Gulf War, in which two of our sons took “National Security Budget” approach encompassing all of its part, she told them, “Here it is. I present it to you, from my components, including military force, effective intelligence attic to yours.” By then, hanging a yellow ribbon had become and adequate resources. what it is today: a national symbol of caring for a fellow citizen And I’m encouraged that the State Department and U.S. in distress. Agency for International Development are currently engaged I would also say that I showed leadership as a diplomat by in the first-ever Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development caring for those under my responsibility — not just my fellow Review process — not unlike the way DOD has used that hostages in Tehran, but my colleagues wherever I’ve served. process to set strategy for a long time.

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Let me also take this opportunity to approach often cite those as an example express my great respect for our Civil of what the Foreign Service should be Service colleagues and for the intelli- “Diplomacy is all about doing. But it’s really not a new concept. gence arm in diplomatic practice. They When I joined the State Depart- do vital work. conveying U.S. interests ment in 1949, my first overseas assignment was as a Kreis Resident Officer in FSJ: Are you optimistic about the fu- abroad, and pursuing our Hamburg. I arrived in Hamburg in ture of the profession? And when you November 1950 along with others to talk to bright young people, do you rec- policy objectives, in a way facilitate the transfer of authority from ommend the Foreign Service as a ca- the U.S. Army in occupied areas of reer? that looks like you’re Germany and Eastern Europe back to LBL: Yes, I am. DACOR holds re- local governments. (“Kreis” is a local ceptions for each A-100 class of new enjoying it.” district.) Foreign Service officers, and as a mem- The idea was that when we finished ber of its Board of Governors I like to our training course, my KRO class- attend those when I can. I see what the mates and I would serve in those areas new classes look like and try to size provides: a sense of service and, not and participate in exercises intended to them up. least, a spirit of adventure. remind them of the kind of Nazi-dom- I was at one of those receptions last inated local councils they’d had, and re- night, and I asked several attendees to FSJ: There has been much talk mind them of the costs of continuing to name the main things they’ve learned lately of differences between tradi- follow that model. However, several of so far in their orientation. What do they tional and expeditionary diplomacy. us in that class were later transferred think will stick with them during their Do you see a real conflict between the because another need had developed: careers? They came up with three basic two concepts, or is that a false choice? for visa-issuing officers in displaced things: Foreign Service members rep- LBL: I’m not convinced there is any person camps. resent their government all the time, basic conflict between those two ap- Being a KRO is not an exact anal- not just during office hours; they nego- proaches. The Foreign Service has al- ogy for anything today, of course, but tiate with foreign governments on be- ways been a diplomatic instrument there are similarities. I envy FSOs half of it; and they report back home on representing U.S. interests abroad. serving on Provincial Reconstruction local developments. Take the deployment of Provincial Re- Teams today in Afghanistan and Iraq, I never miss an opportunity to rec- construction Teams, in which Ameri- because they have that opportunity to ommend the Foreign Service, remind- can diplomats are either participants or help local governance develop, working young people what an FS career leaders. Advocates of an expeditionary ing with our allies. One of my favorite examples is a Lithuanian-led PRT exercise in the Bamiyan area of Afghanistan. I can tell you that it never occurred to those of us posted in Kabul a good many years before that one day NATO would be promoting peace and effective local governments in distant and often-inse- cure Afghanistan, working through Provincial Reconstruction Teams. But there they are today.

FSJ: Let me ask you some questions about your life before joining the For- eign Service. You wrote a memoir ti- tled Growing Up: Life on a Minnesota

Photos courtesy of Bruce Laingen Farm, 1922-1940. How did that back- The Laingen family in front of their house on Amb. Laingen’s return from Iran, ground shape you? Jan. 28, 1981. Left to right: Chip, Penne, Bruce, Bill and Jim. LBL: I was born in 1922, on a small

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farm my family still owns and occupies, two miles west of Odin, Minn. We are the descendants of Norwegian farmers, and there is a Laingen Farm in Norway, too. Sometimes when I’m asked why I joined the Foreign Serv- ice, I joke: “Because we couldn’t all be farmers!” I attended a one-room school in Butterfield, Minn., with 20 other students. At the time, I didn’t have any specific ambitions other than to get through it and go on to college. But while I was a junior at St. Olaf College, the war came along, and I had to decide whether to enlist or what I would do. Bruce Laingen with Secretary of State John Foster Dulles, 1956. My home state is known as “the Land of 10,000 Lakes,” so we have lots Va. Then, in October 1944, I was the is a captain in the U.S. Navy today, and of water. Maybe that’s why I joined the Supply Corps officer for one of the the other two are retired commanders. U.S. Navy. In any event, when the squadrons of landing ships, medium, I even have a stepgreat-granddaughter Navy sent me to the University of in the invasion forces being sent to the whose name is Navy — we feel that Dubuque, in Iowa, that was the first Philippines the next month. I was sta- strongly about our experience and re- time I’d ever left Minnesota. I was tioned there through February 1946, spect for the United States Navy. there as part of the V-12 program, when I was promoted to lieutenant which took young men from colleges junior grade. I completed my military FSJ: At what point did you know and sent them to intensive training at service in Newport, R.I., and was dis- you wanted to join the Foreign Service? universities so we could be commis- charged in August 1946. I assume your time in the military was sioned as naval officers, while also While I didn’t stay in the Navy, I’m a factor. earning a bachelor’s degree from our very proud of being a former naval offi- LBL: Yes, I had joined the Navy to original college. One of my colleagues cer. All three of my sons, Bill, Chip and see the world. The more I saw, the in that program — not in Iowa, but at Jim, and one of my daughters-in-law more I wanted to see. the University of North Dakota — was became naval officers, as well. One son Long before that, however, I re- Warren Christopher, who, of course, later became Secretary of State. During my time in Dubuque, I was transferred to the U.S. Navy Supply Corps School at Wellesley College in Massachusetts for additional training. As a result, I’m one of the few men who can say, “I’m a graduate of Well- esley!”

FSJ: Where did you serve in the Navy during World War II? LBL: I was commissioned as an officer in the Navy Supply Corps, and served in the Pacific theater for more than two years. After receiving my commission as an ensign in June 1944, Ambassador Tom Pickering, chairman of the American Academy of Diplomacy, con- I was transferred in August to the am- fers the Excellence in Diplomacy Award on Amb. Laingen upon his retirement as phibious training base in Little Rock, AAD president in 1996.

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member walking home from school as FSJ: Did you pass? a boy and hearing on the radio that the LBL: Unfortunately, no. There was Japanese had just invaded Manchuria. “My wife urged me not to then a requirement to demonstrate I remember wondering why they proficiency in a foreign language in would do that, and feeling it was wrong. go [to Tehran], but as I order to become a member of the For- So I guess my interest in foreign affairs eign Service, and I failed the Spanish dates as far back as 1931. told her, I always wanted exam. If you failed any part of the process, you had to start all over. So FSJ: You were 9 years old then, to be where the action is.” that’s what I did when I got back to right? Minneapolis. I eventually passed — LBL: Right. Later, as a Norwegian- after being held over for yet another American, I got very interested in the year by the Board of Examiners — and fact that the Nazis had invaded Norway. joined the Foreign Service in 1949. As you can imagine, that was a very hot amble to the UNESCO Charter: “Since By the way, over the next 38 years, I topic in my heavily Norwegian-Ameri- wars begin in the minds of men, it is in was never assigned anywhere that re- can community. the minds of men that the defenses of quired me to use my Spanish. So After I earned a B.A. in history and peace must be constructed.” I still think much, you might say, for the personnel economics from St. Olaf College in that is a very good creed for any inter- policies of the Department of State! 1947, and was discharged from the nationally oriented organization. I did learn German during my train- Navy, I began my graduate studies in SPAN is Minnesota’s oldest study ing as a KRO officer, but that was my international relations at the University abroad program, and still exists today. only other language, apart from the of Minnesota. There I was a charter More than 2,500 SPANners, as partici- Norwegian I’d learned growing up and member of an organization known as pants are known, have visited 93 coun- a smattering of Farsi, Urdu and Pindi SPAN: “A Student Project for Amity tries on six continents since the pro- at posts along the way. among Nations.” gram began. Like many young Americans who In my case, I went to Sweden as part FSJ: After leaving Hamburg in had fought in World War II, I’d devel- of a group of nine students, carefully 1953, what was your next assignment? oped an intense idealism. We saw that chaperoned. While there, I crossed LBL: I was assigned to be a consular experience as wrong, painful, costly and over the Baltic Sea to Helsinki, where I officer in Kobe, Japan, but I never got corrosive to international peace. So we took the Foreign Service entrance there. After the 1953 coup in Iran, were eager to construct a foundation, a exam at the American legation in the which we and the Brits staged to over- basis, for cooperation among nations. summer of 1947. It was a two-and-a- throw Prime Minister Mohammad Our motto was taken from the pre- half-day affair in those days. Mosaddeq and put the shah back on the throne, our presence in Iran expanded dramatically. Loy Henderson, the U.S. ambassador at the time, ur- gently requested more staff to manage the changed situation. So half a dozen other young FSOs and I saw fate inter- vene: we were suddenly jerked out of our assignments and sent instead to Iran. I served in Tehran from 1953 to 1955, and also spent some time as act- ing principal officer in Mashhad, a small but sensitive listening post vis-à- vis the Soviet Union. At that time I was a youngster, still wet behind the ears, but I enjoyed that rare opportunity for young officers to demonstrate leader- Amb. Laingen at the White House with Vice President George H.W. Bush, First ship at a very early stage of their ca- Lady Nancy Reagan and President Ronald Reagan, Jan. 27, 1981. reers. That’s the ultimate in our line of

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work, after all; you want to be where human rights record, focusing espe- the action is and are eager to lead. cially on treatment of the Jewish mi- “While I was being held nority. In response, Tehran withdrew FSJ: Besides Iran, do any of your its agrément. other overseas postings stand out in hostage, the Spanish By this point I had completed my your memory? tour in Valletta, and was enjoying home LBL: For me, professionally, the ambassador to Iran leave on that family farm in Minnesota. Indo-Pakistani issues always made life I had been assigned to the Office of the interesting. Still, I did not care for managed to get a note to Inspector General and was getting Karachi when I was there in the 1960s. ready to lead an inspection team to Ar- It’s not an attractive place to live, and me that said: ‘Patience is gentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. But I even then it was violent. But my whole never made it. Once again, as had hap- family loved Afghanistan, where I was a bitter cup that only the pened in 1953, I was diverted from a deputy chief of mission from 1968 to totally different part of the world to 1971. The ambassador then was strong can drink.’” Tehran, this time as chargé d’affaires. Robert Neumann, whose oldest son, My wife urged me not to go, but as Ron, would later become the ambassa- I told her, I always wanted to be where dor there — setting a record unequaled the action is. And I assured her, as the to this day by having a father and son State Department had earlier assured serve as ambassadors in the same post. banned visits by ships of the Sixth me, that it would only be for six to eight At one point while I was in Kabul, Fleet. But I got along just fine with weeks, until a permanent ambassador Vice President Spiro Agnew was com- him; in fact, he used to invite me to his was assigned. And the rest is history. ing for a visit. The Peace Corps Volun- cottage by the sea for his special soup. teers in the country made it clear that Incidentally, my three sons are active FSJ: Over the years, you’ve been in- they wanted to stage a demonstration sailors, and while we lived in Malta they terviewed repeatedly about your expe- rather than meet with him. As DCM, had an 18-foot dinghy, painted with the rience as a hostage. Rather than ask I was assigned to meet with and calm colors of the Stars and Stripes, pre- you to go over that painful ground them down; they showed up for the tending to be the absent Sixth Fleet. again, perhaps you could comment on meeting. All in all, I enjoyed my time in what you learned from that experience. Malta; how could one not? I’ve been LBL: First, it gave me an enormous FSJ: You were ambassador to Malta back twice, once as part of a presiden- respect for the role of my staff, includ- from 1977 to 1979. What were some of tial delegation for the 25th anniversary ing a sizable Marine detachment, rep- the challenges you faced there as chief of the country’s independence. resenting the United States on the front of mission, and how did you handle lines in a very stressful situation. And I them? FSJ: How did you end up returning gained a new appreciation of the role LBL: While Valletta was a very to Iran in 1979? of the family in the Foreign Service, small post, at least in those days, my LBL: The February 1979 Iranian both in making possible the work that role there was pretty much what it Revolution had touched off a hot policy we do and in the lives that we lead. would have been anywhere else: to win debate in Washington. Some people I feel particularly strongly about my friends and influence people, and keep advocated pulling out of the country, wife, Penne, who did so much to lead the mission running smoothly. That but the consensus was that we had too back in the U.S. She organized a group wasn’t hard, fortunately, because the many vital national interests in that part called FLAG (Family Liaison Action Maltese are pro-American and proof the world not to maintain a high- Group) and stayed in touch with all the European. But we did have concerns level diplomatic presence in Tehran. family members of the U.S. hostages, about the Libyan presence there: So to replace William Sullivan, the U.S. keeping up their spirits — and ours. In Muammar Gaddafi had his eyes on government nominated Walter L. Cut- the process, she showed true leader- Malta, and the embassy later got a Ma- ler, our former ambassador to Zaire, to ship; her idea of hanging yellow ribbons rine security guard contingent when be chief of mission in Tehran. until we came home has been trans- things became a bit sensitive. The new Iranian government grant- formed into a concrete, universal sym- In addition, the Maltese prime min- ed agrément. But then the U.S. Senate bol of caring. ister, Dom Mintoff, didn’t like our hav- passed a resolution by Sen. Jacob Javits, On a political level, I would have to ing any naval presence and famously R-N.Y., denouncing Tehran for its say that the hostage experience symbol-

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ized an utter failure in our understand- civilian leaders at all military schools, ing of what was going on in Iran. (I’m which has proved to benefit both not sure we are doing any better in that “I have consistently DOD and us. regard now, three decades later, either.) The Iranians are tough-minded bar- advocated dialogue with FSJ: When you resigned from the gainers, obsessed with intrigue and gen- Foreign Service in 1987, upon reach- erally suspicious of the intent of others. Iran; 30 years later that ing age 65, what came next? Was the I’m often asked what policy lessons transition to retirement difficult? we learned in the hostage experience, has not yet happened, LBL: No, I’ve kept plenty busy! I and at the top of my list is that we spent the next three years as executive should have applied better a funda- but in time it must.” director of the National Commission mental lesson in diplomatic practice: al- on Public Service, also known as the ways challenge conventional wisdom. Volcker Commission. I also wrote Our policy during the shah’s reign in three books: Yellow Ribbon: The Secret Iran is a classic example of our failure Journal of Bruce Laingen; Growing to do that. while, in the final analysis, they will not Up: Life on a Minnesota Farm, 1922- become an open nuclear-weapons 1940; and Life in the U.S. Navy During FSJ: Shortly after your release from state, they will also not be denied the World War II: The Philippines Cam- captivity in Tehran, the Foreign Service right to continue nuclear enrichment, paign, 1943-1946. Journal interviewed you. In that arti- purportedly for peaceful purposes. So I have done some teaching and cle, which ran in the April 1981 issue, I don’t see how we can go on not talk- serve on several public service boards. you made the following prediction ing to the Iranians. And I’ve continued public speaking. about Iran’s future: “The hard-line cler- We also need to keep in mind that And in 1991, I became president of the ics are unrealistic and impractical. the Iranian Revolution happened just a American Academy of Diplomacy, Their system, as conceived by [Ayatol- little more than three decades ago. So serving in that capacity until 2006. lah Ruhollah] Khomeini, cannot last. their society is going to keep evolving, One more reminiscence: In 1983, I … There will be a growing influence of and our diplomacy needs to evolve, too. had the special honor of being asked pragmatism coming to bear on the rev- I am encouraged that one of my fellow to speak for the Foreign Service at the olutionary zeal of the clerics.” Nearly hostages, Ambassador John Limbert, is centennial celebration of the Pendle- three decades later, are you still san- now our deputy assistant secretary for ton Civil Service Reform Act. There I guine about prospects for change in Iranian affairs. He certainly has the saluted our Civil Service colleagues as Tehran? right perspective and the experience “partners in the noble profession of LBL: Well, not quite as much as I for the job. public life, unsung heroes in the busi- used to be, but I am still a determined ness of government.” I feel that sense optimist about the place. I have never FSJ: At the end of that same inter- of partnership even more strongly been back to Iran; nor have any of my view, you said, “I’m a Foreign Service today. fellow hostages. I came close on one officer on active duty and I expect to be occasion, accepting a speaking assign- assigned to some productive work.” FSJ: Any final thoughts, Ambassa- ment in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, so — That work turned out to be six years as dor Laingen? like Sarah Palin and her view of Rus- vice president of the National Defense LBL: It’s been a long journey since sia from her kitchen window — I can University. What were some of your growing up on that Minnesota farm. say I’ve seen Iran from my hotel bal- achievements in that capacity? But it’s been an adventure all the way, cony! LBL: I’ve always believed in the and I don’t regret a moment of it. And I have consistently advocated dia- value of the political-military function; that includes those long days and nights logue with that regime; 30 years later along with intelligence, it is an essential as a hostage in Tehran — a learning ex- that has not yet happened, but in time element in the practice of diplomacy. perience above all. it must. Our interests in that part of the So I did my best, both at NDU and I could not be more honored than I world are not served without it — not elsewhere, in active public speaking to am to be accepting this lifetime achieve- least in the area of nuclear energy and promote closer cooperation between ment award from my colleagues at the the long-term purposes of the regime Defense and State. American Foreign Service Association. there concerning nuclear weapons. Many people don’t know that For- My own judgment remains that eign Service officers serve as the chief FSJ: Thank you very much. ■

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A YEAR AFTER IRAN: THE ROLE OF INTERNATIONAL ELECTION STANDARDS

LAST SUMMER’S IRANIAN ELECTIONS HAVE HIGHLIGHTED THE FACT THAT PEOPLE WANT THEIR VOTES HONESTLY COUNTED IN A TRANSPARENT PROCESS.

BY ELIZABETH SPIRO CLARK

he value of international election stan- tions, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Eu- dards as signifiers of political legitimacy rope and the Organization of American States. on the world stage was strengthened by Its key section reads: “The will of the people of a country two recent challenges: Iran (June 2009) is the basis for the authority of governments, and that will and Afghanistan (August 2009). In the must be determined through genuine, periodic elections, former instance, a seven-month series of which guarantee the rights and opportunity to vote freely and massive demonstrations focused the to be elected fairly through universal and equal suffrage by se- world’s attention on how fatally flawed procedures had vio- cret balloting or equivalent free voting procedures, the re- Tlated basic rules. In the latter case, the global community has sults of which are accurately counted, announced and not backed off its insistence on evaluating provincial elections respected. A significant number of rights, freedoms, pro- to be held there this fall. cesses, laws and institutions are therefore involved in achiev- On the other side of the ledger, Lebanon’s June 2009 elec- ing genuine democratic elections.” tions marked genuine democratic progress in that country, while Iraq held credible parliamentary elections this past Turmoil in Tehran March (notwithstanding difficulties in forming a govern- The June 12, 2009, Iranian elections fell far short of those ment). And next year’s presidential elections in Egypt could standards. No independent body oversaw election adminis- see a significant democratic opening. tration; nor were there any independent observers. The re- This heightened focus on meaningful standards is an op- sults duly “returned” President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to portunity for election monitoring organizations to expand and power, which he has maintained through brutal suppression refine the core standards they apply. These guidelines are of the opposition and the rejection of well-documented alle- laid out in the 2005 “Declaration of Principles for Interna- gations of fraud. (By the government’s own count, 50 districts tional Election Observation” signed by 35 organizations, in- reported more ballots cast than voters.) While some mem- cluding the Carter Center, the International Republican bers of the opposition have mounted a broader challenge to Institute, the National Democratic Institute, the United Na- the nature of the regime, the main focus remains on abuses connected to the elections. Elizabeth Spiro Clark is a retired Foreign Service officer. A During Friday prayer services on July 17, 2009, former former fellow at the National Endowment for Democracy, she President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani accused governing has written extensively on global democratization. She was a authorities of breaking the trust of the Iranian people. Three member of the National Democratic Institute’s official dele- days later reformist clerics, led by former President Moham- gation to observe the June 2009 elections in Lebanon. mad Khatami, called for a referendum on the election, with

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independent monitors to verify the re- situation matches that of opposition sults. As Iranian democracy and hu- forces within Iran. Speaking to uni- man rights advocate Mariam Memar- When Iranian human versity students in Qatar in February, sadeghi told a Washington, D.C., audi- Secretary of State Hillary Rodham ence on July 29, 2009: “We want to rights activist Shirin Clinton warned that Iran’s Revolu- focus on the unfree election; that is tionary Guard wielded so much power what is galvanizing us.” The opposition Ebadi demanded an that it was effectively supplanting the clearly understood that its perform- government, “moving toward a mili- ance at the ballot box had undermined election rerun, she tary dictatorship.” The regime is in- the regime’s legitimacy. creasingly isolated. The Iranian authorities tried to stop stipulated that it be done Most dramatically, Beijing can no the erosion of their legitimacy early on longer be counted on to remain in by offering to set up a committee to under the supervision of Iran’s camp. On May 18 China joined conduct a limited review of the elec- Russia, the U.S. and Europe in calling tion. Mir Hossein Moussavi and the the United Nations. for sanctions against Iran. Beijing’s de- other opposition presidential candi- cision concerns Tehran’s nuclear pro- dates, along with the former speaker of gram, but that does not detract from its Parliament, Mehdi Karroubi, all re- significance for Iran’s overall interna- jected the offer on the grounds that the tional legitimacy. government was not trustworthy; no that was reported in the Jan. 26 Los one would believe its investigation of ir- Angeles Times, he added: “I say it Grounds for Hope regularities without independent mon- firmly that I’ll never compromise on Despite the success of the regime itoring. That is why, when Iranian the nation’s rights, notably the votes in silencing nighttime shouts of “death human rights activist and Nobel Peace they cast in the ballot boxes. I’ll stand to the dictator,” the Iranian elections Prize winner Shirin Ebadi demanded by the nation up to the end, and I’ll try have highlighted the fact that people an election rerun, she coupled it with a my best to remove the hurdles to a free want their votes honestly counted in a demand that it be done under the su- and fair election.” process that meets international stan- pervision of the United Nations. On March 20, in an Iranian New dards. Credible elections are a part of Though public discussion of the Year message, Mir Hossein Moussavi the universal striving for dignity Presi- election is no longer tolerated, Kha- praised those who had died in post- dent Barack Obama talks about; as menei has kept the focus on the process election unrest. “We lack free elec- such, they constitute the opposite of by accusing foreigners of trying to ma- tions, where candidates are not cherry- “imposing democracy.” nipulate the election’s outcome in order picked, and fair competition.” But he Supporting international standards, to mobilize support. The opposition also broadened his criticism to eco- it turns out, is a way to get around the has responded bravely to dire warnings nomic issues, promising that “the com- problem of dictators blaming foreign- from the regime, taking to the streets ing year will be known as the year of ers for threats to their power. It is not on Nov. 4, 2009, the 30th anniversary persistence.” imperialism if prominent Iranians like of the takeover of the U.S. embassy in It is already impossible to imagine Shirin Ebadi demand that any rerun of Tehran. (Instead of “Death to Amer- Khamenei and Ahmadinejad even at- the Iranian elections occur under ica” banners, the protesters held up tempting to portray a future election as United Nations supervision. anti-Russian placards because Moscow entitled to international recognition as Dodging the imperialist label will had recognized Ahmadinejad’s re-elec- an expression of Islamic virtue. In- still be difficult, to be sure, especially tion.) Tens of thousands of Iranians deed, it is hard to overestimate how far when the West seeks to reverse dem- also turned out for the funeral of dissi- downhill the Iranian regime has slid in ocratic backsliding in former colonies, dent cleric Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali terms of democratic expectations. Be- such as in Africa. But if cases of diffi- Montezeri on Dec. 21, and at least four fore the June elections, Tehran was cult elections where the international demonstrators were killed six days later, seen as attempting to incorporate community perseveres in pushing on the religious holiday of Ashura. democratic elements into the process; local governments to meet interna- In January, Mehdi Karroubi said, the campaign even saw an American- tional standards multiply — the trend “The more we go ahead, the more I’m style TV debate between candidates will accelerate. convinced the election was massively Ahmadinejad and Moussavi. In his 2007 book, Second Chance, rigged.” In a meeting with supporters Now Washington’s judgment on the former National Security Adviser Zbig-

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niew Brzezinski describes a new force tion parties that had refused to unite in international politics: a massive behind one candidate, thus lessening “global political awakening” with pub- The 2009 presidential their chances of winning, did hold lics who are no longer passive, but will- demonstrations, but there was no vio- ing to force governments to deal with elections in Afghanistan lence or challenge to the results. Ob- their passions. Although this “awaken- servers characterized the March elec- ing” carries a potential for violent ex- raised issues, including tions in deeply divided Ukraine as a tremism when fueled by anti-Western major improvement over the 2004 pro- and anti-American hatreds, it can also neutral monitoring and cess, even as Viktor Yanukovich won a lead to genuine reform. very narrow victory over Yulia Tymo- In Iran, the public’s fierce desire administration of the shenko. After a tense period, Tymo- was for elections where their vote was shenko dropped her legal challenge, fairly and honestly counted. Like it or entire process. enabling the results to be peacefully not, elections are a battleground for accepted. the global political awakening. This is Even though, as of this writing, an arena in which violent extremism Kyrgyzstan appears embroiled in tribal can lose, under the pressure for neu- violence, political events could yet have tral electoral administration and inter- community that the election would be a positive outcome in a resetting of the national monitoring. free and fair. It made it a priority to agenda of the coup leaders for a refer- Evidence that this is happening is avert the violence that marred the endum on a new constitution and sub- accumulating. Earlier this year in 2005 election. Toward that end, a mas- sequent elections, undertaken with Togo, the government took steps to in- sive contingent of foreign monitors ob- expert assistance from the Organiza- crease the credibility of the electoral served the elections. tion for Security and Cooperation in process and reassure the international Following the vote count, opposi- Europe.

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Afghanistan: in obtaining veto power for interna- Going Public with Problems tional members of the Electoral Com- The August 2009 presidential elec- Security was a key issue mission that will oversee this fall’s tions in Afghanistan dramatically raised provincial balloting. And that deter- some important issues for international in the elections Lebanon mination may well reflect a post-Iran monitoring, such as ensuring neutral spotlight effect. monitoring and administration of the held on June 7, 2009, The fraud in last year’s elections was entire process — particularly in terms an important element in the hardest of of security. just one week prior to hard power decisions: setting a strategy After all, for an election to be cred- to justify increasing U.S. troop deploy- ible, all voters must be able to partici- the Iranian vote. ment to Afghanistan. The corruption pate under universal and equal of the Karzai government has been a suffrage. It is impossible to meet this continuing issue, as Washington looks standard if there is no way to assess for competent partners not only in the whether a bad security situation kept capital but at the provincial and local voters away from the polls or, alterna- even if the polling station actually ex- levels, bypassing Kabul. tively, whether they were intimidated. isted and opened, the ability of voters Overall U.S. strategy in Afghanistan An independent commission ran to cast their vote freely was not some- explicitly connects the government’s the August 2009 presidential elections thing that outside monitors could as- ability to be a partner with its level of in Afghanistan. The United Nations sess. public support. That, in turn, is con- appointed a special representative, Kai Under heavy Western pressure, the nected to its degree of accountability Eide, to monitor the campaign and the Elections Complaints Commission car- to its own people through honest elec- voting, and it also appointed outside ried out a recount that brought Karzai tions. members of the Elections Complaint under the 50-percent mark — which, Commission. under the Afghan Constitution, neces- Lebanon: But a highly public dispute between sitated a runoff. Despite the great lo- Dealing with Hezbollah Eide and his deputy, Peter Galbraith, gistical difficulties in holding a rerun, Security was a key issue in the elec- resulted in the firing of the latter for U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham tions Lebanon held on June 7, 2009, his insistence that the commission rec- Clinton’s position remained the same: just one week prior to the Iranian vote. ognize that the vote count for Presi- the democratic process should pro- The Lebanese process unfolded under dent Hamid Karzai had been vastly ceed. a new electoral law that took giant inflated, with large numbers of his The withdrawal of Karzai’s oppo- steps toward meeting international “votes” coming from nonexistent poll- nent, Abdullah Abdullah, and the can- standards. The legislation set up a ing stations. Eide maintained that even cellation of the runoff changed neither commission to oversee new regulations discussing the subject would inflame Clinton’s position that sticking to the of the media and campaign finance tension in the country and that, in any process would increase the legitimacy and a constitutional court to hear elec- case, the U.N. had no mandate to “in- of the resulting government, nor the tion-related complaints, among other terfere” in the election. idea that clean elections are an inter- reforms. In Galbraith’s view, that position ig- national value. In marked contrast to what hap- nored the fact that the U.N. special Fixing a deal — at least publicly — pened in Iran, no significant doubts representative’s mission was to support that would have put Karzai in office have been cast on the accuracy of the Afghanistan’s own political institutions before these procedures had run their country’s vote count, which saw a sur- in holding a free, fair and transparent course was no longer the conventional prise victory by a pro-Western electoral election, according to international answer to the problem of stability, as it bloc and the acceptance of that result standards. So by refusing to acknowl- might well have been before the Iran- by the Iranian-allied Hezbollah Party. edge the extent of the fraud, the United ian elections. Once Abdullah with- This is true even though the elec- Nations would lose all credibility. drew from the runoff, Washington tions took place in the shadow of polit- Eide looked narrowly at Afghan could declare that Pres. Karzai had ical events of enormous consequence. electoral law and its implementation, been legitimately installed. Syrian troops had begun withdrawing ignoring the fact that the government But the story has not yet run its from Lebanon as a result of “Cedar could not provide security in large course. Against Karzai’s wishes, the in- Revolution” demonstrations in the areas of the country. In these districts, ternational community has succeeded wake of the 2005 assassination of

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Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. And in of the state gives rise to a fear that May 2008, Hezbollah forces battled achievements could be quickly over- Lebanese government troops to re- Any government’s ridden or reversed.” tain its right to keep an independent The omissions in the E.U. report militia. trustworthiness in are very significant, for they appear to Hezbollah has been called a “state represent the dominant trend in inter- within a state” in Lebanon. It wanted international negotiations national monitoring, which is to narrow a violence-free election and, for its own the focus to election administration. In tactical reasons, gave government offi- depends on the light of the increasing importance of cials and international monitors free universal standards, we need to ask access to the areas it controlled. But transparency of its what international observor reports are since the election, Hezbollah has ig- meant to do. Is their purpose to ana- nored calls by the international com- institutions. lyze the state of democracy in a given munity, including Washington, to abide country or praise how well election ad- by U.N. Resolution 1701 and disarm. ministration went? The 2005 Lebanese elections were On the technical side, the “Princi- observed by the European Union but ples and Code of Conduct for Interna- not by other international monitoring In contrast, the report of the Na- tional Observation” emphasizes the organizations. The E.U. report no- tional Democratic Institute (of which importance of verifiable and quantifi- where made reference to the existence I was a member) on last year’s process able data in reports by observer mis- of Hezbollah’s independent military acknowledges that “every step toward sions. Its excellent guidelines were force and its relevance to the climate better governance in Lebanon is ten- used successfully in Lebanon, as in of security in which the elections took tative, and the existence of weapons many other elections monitored by in- place. and armed groups outside the control ternational observers.

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standards, rather than best practices, strengthens international standards This renewed focus on just when they have never been more important. meaningful voting is an These standards are best expressed WWW.FSJOURNAL.ORG in the 1991 Copenhagen Document, Click on the Marketplace tab on the marquee opportunity for election signed by the 56 members of the Or- ganization for Security and Coopera- AFSA Legacy monitoring organizations tion in Europe (also summarized in the “Principles” referenced above). afsa.org/CFCFAD.cfm to expand and refine the These declarations focus on the core human rights to stand for election, AKA Hotel residences core standards they apply. form a party, speak and campaign free stay-aka.com of coercion, have equal access to the media, cast a ballot secretly and see Clements International one’s duly elected representatives take clements.com office. Such documents attest to the fact Cort Furniture However, the fear that such reports that the international community is in- cort1.com will be used to validate flawed elec- creasingly recognizing the manage- tions has pushed the evaluation ment of elections by an independent Diplomatic Auto. Sales process in an increasingly technical di- domestic election authority as a core diplosales.com rection. In a January presentation to standard, alongside the willingness of the National Endowment for Democ- governments to invite international racy, the secretary general of the Euro- observers and accredit domestic ob- Fox Hill pean Network of Monitoring Organi- servers. Such monitoring is one strate- foxhillseniorcondominium.com zations listed as a concern for the fu- gy for attacking the problem of secu- ture of monitoring organizations that rity, a requirement for meeting other Georgetown Suites they would be reduced to certifying election standards. georgetownsuites.com voting machines. Pres. Obama has rightly called on the Iranian government (and all oth- Hirshorn Company, The Focusing on Core Standards ers) to respect the universal rights of hirshorn.com Another trend encourages interna- freedom of assembly and speech, urg- tional monitoring organizations to ing it to “choose the path of interna- Lockheed Martin Corporation make common-sense assessments that tional norms and principles.” Those lockheedmartin.com take account of political realities and norms and principles increasingly en- the context in which elections take compass electoral standards, though SDFCU place, as NDI did in Lebanon. Recent they are not limited to them. sdfcu.org proposals to categorize elections as Any government’s trustworthiness “fails to meet most international stan- in international negotiations depends dards,” “meets most international on the transparency of its institutions, Tetra Tech standards” and “meets international as the history of the Iranian nuclear tetratech.com standards” constitute a useful way to issue makes clear. That transparency relieve pressure to define each coun- and trust are closely linked to the trust WJD try’s process as either “free and fair” or it enjoys with its own people, most wjdpm.com “not free and fair.” sharply revealed in elections whose re- This approach also recognizes that sults are generally accepted. elections that do not meet interna- A year after the Iranian elections, tional standards can still represent a there is enormous potential to turn step forward (however small) in the this internationally accepted value into When contacting an advertiser, kindly democratization process. In that an effective instrument to enhance mention the Foreign Service Journal. spirit, getting back to a focus on core global peace and stability. ■

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FS HERITAGE GARIBALDI IN BLUE?

SEVERAL U.S. CONSULS SERVING IN EUROPE IN THE 1860S WERE WILLING TO BEND THE TRUTH TO RECRUIT THE ITALIAN GENERAL.

BY LUCIANO MANGIAFICO

ext year marks the 150th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln began fighting to restore the Union. But the U.S. Civil War’s first shots. As the the First Battle of Bull Run, fought in July of that year, had United States prepares to commemo- ended in unmitigated disaster for the federal forces. rate that bloody conflict, it is worth re- So it is not surprising that both Pres. Lincoln and Secretary calling the fact that several U.S. diplo- of State William Henry Seward would look favorably upon (if mats attempted to shorten the war by not explicitly authorize) efforts already under way to recruit recruiting Italian independence hero a proven fighting general, one whose boldness and élan could Giuseppe Garibaldi (1807-1882) to lead the Union Army. provide the spark needed to spur the Union army to victory. NFor a variety of reasons, Garibaldi did Giuseppe Garibaldi was an obvious not accept two separate offers of a major- choice. The most effective and popular general commission. But it is neverthe- figure in the struggle for Italian inde- less interesting to speculate whether the Negotiating with pendence, he was known as the “Hero of course of the Civil War would have been the Two Worlds” because he had fought affected if he had taken a major com- Garibaldi was a difficult not only for Italy and for France, but also mand in the Union armies. for the independence of Uruguay from undertaking. Argentina. His common touch, cordial- Desperate Times ity and unselfish, seemingly unpreten- Call for Desperate Remedies tious ways, coupled with his savvy in tac- How had the Union arrived at the tics and timing and his air of command point where it felt that it had to recruit a foreign general to and authority, made him a natural leader. lead a sizable contingent of U.S. troops? In January 1861, the American writer Henry T. Tucker- Not long after taking office in March 1861, President man published an article in the North American Review praising Garibaldi. When news of the article reached the gen- Luciano Mangiafico, a Foreign Service officer from 1970 to eral in Italy, he asked a friend, Colonel Augusto Vecchi, to 1991, served in Milan, Palermo, Bucharest, Manila, Bridge- write a thank-you letter to the author. town and Washington, D.C. Since his retirement from the Vecchi did so and enclosed his own letter to Tuckerman, Service, he has continued to work as an inspector for the State broaching the idea that Garibaldi be invited to take up a com- Department. The author of two books, Contemporary Amer- mand in the Union armies. He then discussed the proposal ican Immigrants and Italy’s Most Wanted, he writes on foreign with the general, who did not reject it out of hand. policy, business and the arts for various publications. Shortly thereafter, James W. Quiggle (1820-1878), the

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U.S. consul in Antwerp, decided to Sanford would remain in Brussels until pursue the matter. Quiggle, who had 1869, when he moved to Florida and met Garibaldi during a tour of Italy, Both President Abraham founded the city of Sanford. had previously been a Pennsylvania Because Garibaldi lived in Italy, he lawyer, state deputy attorney general Lincoln and Secretary of came under the jurisdiction of Marsh. and a former state senator. A Demo- The Vermonter had been a congress- crat who had been appointed to the State William Seward man from 1842 to 1848 and was instru- consular post by President James mental in passage of the bill establish- Buchanan, Quiggle was then in the favored efforts to recruit a ing the Smithsonian Institution. Upon process of unwillingly vacating the po- his return from service as U.S. minister sition for a potential Lincoln ap- seasoned foreign leader. to the Ottoman Empire (1849-1854), pointee. he had pushed the U.S. Army to use camels in the deserts of the Southwest. The “Washington of Italy” Once Secretary of War Jefferson Davis Quiggle wrote to Garibaldi on June signed off on the idea, Congress ap- 8, 1861, saying that if the plan to join swered Quiggle, declaring that he propriated $30,000, and the U.S. Army the Union armies was true, his fame would accept an invitation to fight in in the West was soon riding 74 camels. would surpass that of the Marquis de the Union army from Pres. Lincoln — Sent to Rome as minister in 1861, Lafayette. He also assured him that if the president intended to abolish Marsh held his post for 21 years, longer many would join him to fight under the slavery. Quiggle answered that al- than anyone else there, before or since. leadership of the “Washington of Italy.” though the end of slavery was not an In addition to his remarkable political The idea of a foreigner being given American aim, it could be an outcome skills, Marsh was one of the first envi- a command in the Union army was not of the conflict. He followed this with ronmentalists (along with Henry David far-fetched. About a quarter of Union another letter, intimating falsely that Thoreau), as well as an acknowledged soldiers were foreigners, and Irish, Garibaldi would receive a formal invi- expert on Renaissance art and the French, German and Italian soldiers tation to go to the United States, where English and Old Icelandic languages. had already risen to the rank of general the president would offer him the Sanford was authorized to offer officer in the Union Army. “highest Army commission.” Garibaldi the rank of major general Furthermore, Garibaldi had lived in Quiggle, who had been operating (the highest Army rank until Ulysses S. Staten Island, New York, in 1850, re- without instructions from Washington, Grant received a third star in 1864). turning there from time to time until now deemed it wise to inform his su- Sec. Seward’s instructions were to “Tell 1853 from his job as a sea captain. He periors of his activities. He sent copies [Garibaldi] that he will receive a major- had made many important contacts, in- of the correspondence to Secretary of general’s commission in the Army of the cluding New York City Mayor Am- State Seward, who almost certainly dis- United States, with its appointments, brose Kingsland, who in 1851 was cussed the matter with President Lin- with the hearty welcome of the Ameri- instrumental, together with prominent coln. can people. Tell him that we have Masons, in having a U.S. passport is- abundant resources, and numbers un- sued to Garibaldi on the basis of his A Tale of Two Ministers limited at our command, and a nation “intent to become a citizen.” The pass- Convinced that the recruitment of resolved to remain united and free.” port has survived and is preserved in Garibaldi could not be left to a consul, Though Sanford’s instructions did the Museo del Risorgimento (Museum Seward entrusted the task to two sen- not name Pres. Lincoln, Seward sent a of the Unification) in Milan. ior diplomats: U.S. Minister to Bel- separate personal message to Sanford, Horace Greeley, the influential ed- gium Henry Shelton Sanford (1823- saying in part, “It has been a source of itor of the New York Tribune and a 1891) and U.S. Minister to Italy sincere satisfaction to the president founder of the Republican Party, was George Perkins Marsh (1801-1882). that circumstances have rendered him another American friend of Garibaldi’s. Sanford, a native of Connecticut, able to extend to him if desired an in- He wrote: “Garibaldi (is) known the had joined the Foreign Service in 1847, vitation which would enable him to world over … He will be received by serving in St. Petersburg, Frankfurt and add the glory of aiding in the preserva- all who know him in a befitting man- Paris (where he was chargé d’affaires in tion of the American Union to the ner as a man of character, and for his 1853). In March 1861 President Lin- many honors which the general of Italy service in behalf of liberty.” coln named him minister to Belgium, has already won in the cause of human On June 27, 1861, Garibaldi an- his first major diplomatic appointment. freedom.”

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Sent to Rome as minister in 1861, George Perkins Marsh held his post for 21 years, longer than anyone else there, before or since.

A Cautious Approach In August 1861 Sanford traveled to Turin, then the capital of the Kingdom of Italy, to confer with Marsh, who was not yet convinced that his diplomatic mission was appropriate. He had already politely dismissed several Italians who had volunteered to organize units to join the Union forces. Negotiating with Garibaldi, who was likely to set impossible conditions, was sure to be a difficult undertaking. Accordingly, the two decided to approach the matter cautiously and chose Marsh’s Italian-American secretary, Giuseppe Artomi, to sound out Gari- baldi before making any formal proposal. But once Garibaldi responded pos- itively to Artomi’s exploratory approach, Sanford chartered a ship in Genoa and went to Caprera. There he offered Garibaldi a major-general commission in the U.S. Army and the payment of travel expenses for the general and his staff. But just as Marsh had feared, Garibaldi upped the ante, demanding to be appointed commander-in-chief of all Union armies and given the authority to abolish slavery. These conditions obviously could not be met. For one thing, the slavery question was a political one, which Lincoln would decide on his own time and schedule. Moreover, appointing a foreigner with authority over all other U.S. generals

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would not have been smart politics or wrote Lincoln to assure him that “Pos- conducive to good morale. As a result, terity will call you the great emancipa- the negotiations ended. Even after the tor, a more enviable title than any Marsh was actually relieved by this crown could be, and greater than any turn of events and wrote Seward that, Emancipation merely mundane treasure.” although he had cooperated in the mission, he’d had serious reservations Proclamation, Garibaldi What Might Have Been… about the wisdom of enlisting Gari- Even if Garibaldi had accepted the baldi’s services. It is likely that such continued to press the U.S. consuls’ proposal, we can only reservations concerned the general’s speculate as to whether his highly per- single-mindedness and independence U.S. for the complete sonal generalship, quick adaptation to once he set himself an objective. changed conditions on the battlefield On Sept. 18, 1861, Sanford sent his abolition of slavery. and superior leadership skills could own report to Seward, noting that have shortened the Civil War. Garibaldi had said that the only way in He was a master campaigner who which he could render service “was as eschewed the doctrinal tactics of the commander-in-chief of its forces, that time (massing troops shoulder-to- he would only go as such, and with the at Varignano, near La Spezia, in a jail shoulder for direct frontal charges), additional contingent power — to be where the Italian government was de- preferring night attacks, swift move- governed by events — of declaring the taining him for organizing an expedi- ments and the disruption of the abolition of slavery.” tionary corps to liberate Rome. Just a enemy’s lines of communications and few days before, Italian army troops had supply. One More Try confronted and stopped Garibaldi’s At the same time, Garibaldi had no Almost exactly one year later, group at Aspromonte, Calabria. In the experience with planning and carrying Theodore Canisius (1826-1885), the skirmish, Garibaldi was wounded by a out campaigns involving hundreds of U.S. consul in Vienna, would make a shot to the foot. thousands of soldiers, and his strategic similar approach to Garibaldi — again Garibaldi answered Canisius, saying abilities were mostly unproven. In without the knowledge of Lincoln or that he was willing to go when he was fact, the largest army he ever com- Seward. well and was freed. Garibaldi also in- manded was the approximately 30,000 Canisius, who had been born in formed Minister Marsh of the new ap- men who, on Sept. 7, 1860, peacefully Germany, was a naturalized U.S. citi- proach. Marsh not only interceded for entered Naples after King Francesco zen and the publisher of a German- Garibaldi’s freedom (which occurred II had evacuated it. language newspaper, Illinois Staatz- on Oct. 5, 1862) but changed his mind Fortunately, Lincoln would soon Anzeiger, in Springfield, Ill. A secret about recruiting the general, adding find his own Garibaldi in Ulysses S. business partner of Lincoln, he had his own pitch to that of Canisius. Grant. ■ supported his presidential candidacy by It is possible that Garibaldi, had he printing campaign literature in Ger- been in better health, would have ac- man. cepted a subordinate U.S. command. Want to send a In September 1862, Canisius sent a But the sticking point was his demand Letter to letter to Garibaldi seeking to ascertain that the president declare that the the Editor? whether the general would move to principle animating the fight was the the U.S. to fight for the Union. When freedom of all slaves. In fact, Lincoln Have something news of this unauthorized move reach- was already moving to accomplish that to Speak Out ed Washington, Canisius was briefly objective by issuing the Emancipation about? fired, only to be reinstated at the re- Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863. Marsh, Have a contribution quest of the Italian government. The however, was not aware of Lincoln’s in- misstep did not hurt his career: after tentions and could not offer any assur- for In Memory? remaining in Vienna until 1866, he ances to Garibaldi. later served as consul in Gustemunde, Even after the Emancipation Send it to Germany; Bristol, England; and the Proclamation, Garibaldi continued to Samoan Islands. press the U.S. for the complete aboli- [email protected] Canisius’ letter reached the general tion of slavery. On Aug. 6, 1863, he

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Pyrrhic Victory it is fair to use the term “propaganda” to Cull depicts USIA describe USIA’s programs, he calls a spade a spade, describing the very rea- The Cold War and the as generally son for the agency’s existence as the U.S. Information Agency: successful in giving American Propaganda and perceived need for government propa- Public Diplomacy, 1945-1989 foreign governments ganda. Nicholas J. Cull, Cambridge and individuals One theme that pervades this ac- University Press, 2009, $36.99, highly effective count is how often history has repeated paperback, 533 pages. explanations of U.S. itself: most notably, through the debate about whether informational and cul- REVIEWED BY ALLEN C. HANSEN policies and culture. tural programs should be managed inside or outside of the State Depart- Nicholas J. Cull’s comprehensive, ment. He also usefully reminds those yet lively, history of the United States who complain about the establishment Information Agency was first published His sources, all scrupulously docu- of the “Broadcasting Board of Gover- in hardcover in 2008. This new paper- mented, include the National Arch- nors” — the entity that succeeded back edition of that tour de force, based ives, various presidential libraries and USIA as responsible for all U.S. inter- on 12 years of painstaking research, the Oral History Project of the Associ- national broadcasts — that it is not a should find an even wider audience, ation for Diplomatic Studies and Train- new term at all. one it richly deserves. ing. He also conducted more than 100 USIA employees will relish seeing Cull’s tenure as a professor of public interviews with veteran public diplo- the names of old friends and acquain- diplomacy at the Annenberg School of macy practitioners at USIA and State, tances in these pages. And those FSOs Communications at the University of and cites numerous books, articles and who spent most of their careers over- Southern California, where he directs other materials, including several seas may find especially interesting the the master’s degree program in public USIA-produced films. (I found some tensions and debates about the agency diplomacy, ably equips him to analyze of his footnotes as enlightening as the that swirled back in Washington. These the many different points of view about text.) arguments were fueled by numerous USIA’s mission that vied with each Taking the Cold War as a whole, commissions that regularly issued de- other within the agency throughout the Cull depicts USIA as generally suc- tailed recommendations about how to Cold War. He gives eloquent voice to cessful in giving foreign governments organize what we now call public diplo- the concerns and aspirations of field of- and individuals highly effective expla- macy. ficers, Voice of America staff and top nations of U.S. policies and culture. Cull usefully summarizes and as- USIA officials, as well as their col- Yet he doesn’t mince words where the sesses most of these efforts, including leagues at State and elsewhere in the agency fell short. And when it comes the 1975 report of the United States federal government. to the perennial debate about whether Advisory Commission on Information

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Only Connect! The author begins by describing Japan’s 1942 takeover of the Philip- USIA employees will Encounters: A Lifetime Spent pines, and tells us what happened Crossing Cultural Frontiers when — much later — her husband relish seeing the names Nancy Keeney Forster, Wind Shadow met the daughter of the Japanese gen- Press, 2009, $15.95, eral who had defeated Douglas of old friends and paperback, 380 pages. MacArthur, but failed to catch him. She paints a grim portrait of all that this acquaintances in REVIEWED BY DAVID I. HITCHCOCK young son of the American Red Cross representative in Manila endured these pages. A carefree child of expatriate par- alongside other interned civilians, and ents at age 10, a prisoner of the Japan- recounts how his painfully acquired ese at 17, and a valued source of knowledge of detention camps, the intelligence to the U.S. military at 19, Mindanao and Luzon coastlines, and (popularly known as the Stanton Re- Clifton Forster became a fervent ad- key local personalities earned him a port). That panel recommended the vocate of public diplomacy in his 34- personal commendation from Navy fate that would ultimately befall the year career in the Foreign Service Secretary James Forrestal. U.S. Information Agency nearly 25 (nearly half of it in Japan). Here are just a few of the many sto- years later: absorption into the State His wife, Nancy, shared Clifton’s ries Mrs. Forster cites from her hus- Department. adventures and absorbed his stories for band’s Foreign Service career: Picking up on that theme, Cull titles nearly six decades, while pursuing her Back in the Philippines for his first his penultimate chapter “Epilogue, Vic- own career as an educator who helped Foreign Service assignment in 1949, tory and the Strange Death of USIA, to launch the widely respected Inter- Forster brought American books and 1989-1999,” and comments: “U.S. pub- national Baccalaureate program. movies to Davao, achieving good will lic diplomacy had been an important In 2007, a year after her husband’s in a poor region of communist-led Huk tool for minimizing disasters like Wa- death at 82, she began to sort through rebels. Soon his mobile units were tergate, managing relationships with al- the papers Clifton had tucked away in showing slides to help farmers fight the lies, blocking the enemy’s ability to win, a Japanese tea chest. She also re-exam- disease that was infesting their hemp and holding the imagination of the de- ined her own memories and writings to crop. veloping and nonaligned world until compose this delightful memoir. It is Five years later, protests in Fukuoka the American system had decisively pleasantly written and well-organized against U.S.-Japan security coopera- passed the Soviet.” He then concludes (though a few more dates would have tion turned him from traditional cul- the book with a set of seven useful les- helped). tural programming to cultivating con- sons for those who practice public She eloquently expounds her hus- tacts with socialist professors and left- diplomacy today. band’s views of what United States In- leaning unionists, many of whom he in- Cull is now completing a sequel to formation Agency programs should vited to visit the “imperialist” United bring the story up to the present. accomplish; how policy-loaded they States. Readers of this account will surely look should be; and what the proper mix In 1957, while running a cultural forward to that volume. was between short-term public affairs center in Rangoon, Forster encour- and longer-range educational ex- aged neutral Burma to resist Soviet Allen C. Hansen, a 32-year Foreign changes. But this memoir is neither a blandishments — a task made easier Service veteran of the U.S. Information dry history of public diplomacy nor when his Russian counterpart defected Agency, is the author of USIA: Public merely a set of entertaining travel sto- in the center’s library! Diplomacy in the Computer Age ries from her husband’s postings. Growing American public criticism (Praeger, 1989) and Nine Lives: A For- Rather, she uses his activities and notes of Israeli actions toward the Palestini- eign Service Odyssey (New Academia, to illuminate these larger professional ans in 1971 led Tel Aviv journalists to 2007). debates. suspect that the U.S. commitment to

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The professional issues that concerned Clifton Forster are still not resolved.

Israel might be flagging. To deepen their understanding and reassure them, Forster invited a group to tour our country and hear those concerns for themselves. While posted to Japan in the late 1970s, Forster finally seemed to find the program balance he had been seeking throughout his career. He not only promoted Japanese trade liberal- ization but built a network of Japanese and American educational and cultural exchanges for the longer term. QUESTIONS? Not sure whom to contact? Using such examples, the author not only spins a yarn Foreign Service LETTERS TO MEMBERSHIP For changes of address and other families will enjoy, but helps the gen- THE EDITOR Printed letters may be edited for questions about AFSA membership, eral reader (and perhaps some career space. E-mail to [email protected] or e-mail [email protected]. diplomats) understand more fully the mail to FSJ, 2101 E Street NW,

workings of U.S. information and cul- FasTrax Washington DC 20037. ADVERTISING tural programs abroad. For details about placing either A final note: The professional issues E-CLASSIFIEDS a display or classifed ad, that concerned Clifton Forster are still, www.afsa.org/classifieds e-mail [email protected], in the view of some knowledgeable ob- [email protected]. FSJ servers, not resolved. For one thing, the overseas programs and personnel COPYRIGHTS & of the now-merged Public Diplomacy REPRINTS To obtain permission to reproduce Bureau could be more fully recognized FSJ material, e-mail and utilized by a not-always under- [email protected]. standing or sympathetic Department ■ of State. ONLINE www.afsa.org David I. Hitchcock is a retired Foreign www.fsjournal.org Service career minister and a former senior associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

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AFSAAmerican Foreign ServiceNEWS Association • July-August 2010

AFSA MEMORIAL PLAQUE CEREMONY HELD ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS DAY three newly engraved names. The Secretary read a message from Sec. Clinton Pays Tribute to President Barack Obama and spoke warm- ly about the three individuals being hon- Those Fallen in the Line of Duty ored: Terrence L. Barnich, Victoria J. De- BY FRANCESCA KELLY Long and Dale J. Gredler. Looking out at very year, the Foreign their relatives assembled in front Service community hopes of her, she said, “When someone Ethere will be no need to add goes overseas to serve, the family names to the AFSA Memorial serves as well.” Plaques. Unfortunately, every year the ceremony takes place. TERRENCE L. BARNICH This somber tradition, held on Terrence L. Barnich, 56, was on Foreign Affairs Day, honors a limited non-career Civil Service Foreign Service personnel who appointment as deputy director of

have lost their lives while serving MICHAEL LAIACONA the Iraq Transition Assistance their country abroad. AFSA President Susan Johnson speaks while Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Office in Baghdad, Iraq, when he On Fri., May 7, in the lobby Clinton looks on, AFSA Memorial Plaque Ceremony, State Department, May 7. was killed by an improvised explo- of the State Department, AFSA President ceedings over to Secretary of State Hillary sive device on Memorial Day, May 25, 2009. Susan R. Johnson opened the ceremony Rodham Clinton. Behind them, a black At the time, he was returning from a waste- with a brief welcome, then turned the pro- shroud covered the West Plaque and its Continued on page 73

CONSTRUCTIVE DISSENT AND OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE HONORED testors overran the U.S. embassy. He and two other American officials were at the AFSA Award Winners Announced Iranian Foreign Ministry at the time of the BY ASGEIR SIGFUSSON, DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND OUTREACH assault, and were detained there for the next 14 months. he American Foreign Service macy is Ambassador L. Bruce Amb. Laingen subsequent- Association is proud to announce the Laingen. (See p. 38 for an ly received the State Depart- Twinners of the 2010 AFSA Construc- interview with Amb. Lain- ment’s Award for Valor, along tive Dissent Awards and Outstanding gen.) with several other honors, in Performance Awards. The awards cere- After serving in the U.S. 1981. His next position was mony was held on June 24 in the Benjamin Navy during World War II, that of vice president of the Franklin Diplomatic Reception Room at the Amb. Laingen joined the National Defense University. Department of State. Each award winner Foreign Service in 1949. He He retired from the Foreign received a certificate of recognition and a was posted to Germany, Service in 1987 and later served prize of $2,500. Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan as president of the American and Washington, D.C., Academy of Diplomacy. Lifetime Contributions to before being appointed ambassador to American Diplomacy Award Malta in 1977. In 1979, Amb. Laingen Constructive Dissent Awards This year’s winner of the award for returned to Tehran as chargé d’affaires; but AFSA’s Constructive Dissent Awards are Lifetime Contributions to American Diplo- within months of his arrival, student pro- Continued on page 73

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A F S A N AFSANEWSBRIEFS E W S AFSA Expands Social Media Presence AFSA Signs Agreement with WETA In early May, AFSA established its own Twitter account AFSA is pleased to announce a new agreement with the (www.twitter.com/afsatweets), where we are now “tweeting” away on Washington, D.C.-based Public Broadcasting Service station, matters having to do with AFSA and the Foreign Service. In addition WETA. This agreement incorporates AFSA as a partner in WETA to our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/afsapage, at 1,700 fans Forum, a new aggregator Web site that collects recordings of inter- and counting), the Twitter account will help AFSA broadcast its mes- esting events in the Washington area. WETA Forum has been sage across a variety of new platforms to keep members abreast of made possible through grants from the Corporation for Public news, events, updates and other important issues. We will also Broadcasting, PBS, National Public Radio and the Boston-area PBS “retweet” important messages from other sources that are of rele- affiliate WGBH. Recordings of AFSA’s events, such as our Lockheed vance to the Foreign Service community. Martin-sponsored speaker series and our Book Notes programs, are now available for viewing to anyone. To visit WETA Forum, simply go to www.weta.org/video/forum. Life in the Foreign Service AFSA is listed as a partner on that page, and you can access our ■ BY BRIAN AGGELER videos from there. Ambassador J. Stapleton Roy to be Adair Lecturer J. Stapleton Roy, former ambassador to China, Singapore and Indonesia, and currently vice chairman of Kissinger Associates, is this year’s speaker for AFSA’s Adair Lecture at American University’s School of International Service. His topic will be “U.S.-China Relations: Opportunities and Challenges Ahead.” The program is tentatively scheduled for Sept. 1 at 4 p.m. in the Kaye Memorial Chapel on the main A.U. campus. Amb. Roy will be the fourth AFSA speaker in the Adair Family Memorial Series, generously funded by a grant from the Adair family to AFSA’s Fund for American Diplomacy. Prior speakers have been Ambassadors Wendy Chamberlin, Thomas Pickering and Marc Grossman. All AFSA members and friends are cordially invited to attend. Check with AFSA Communications Director Tom Switzer in late August for final program details via e-mail to [email protected].

AFSA HEADQUARTERS: Staff: Governing Board: Executive Director Ian Houston: [email protected] (202) 338-4045; Fax: (202) 338-6820 Business Department PRESIDENT: Susan R. Johnson STATE DEPARTMENT AFSA OFFICE: Director of Finance Femi Oshobukola: [email protected] STATE VP: Daniel Hirsch (202) 647-8160; Fax: (202) 647-0265 Controller Kalpna Srimal: [email protected] USAID VP: Francisco Zamora Assistant Controller Cory Nishi: [email protected] USAID AFSA OFFICE: FAS VP: Henry Schmick (202) 712-1941; Fax: (202) 216-3710 Labor Management General Counsel Sharon Papp: [email protected] FCS VP: Keith Curtis FCS AFSA OFFICE: Deputy General Counsel Zlatana Badrich: [email protected] RETIREE VP: Robert Houdek (202) 482-9088; Fax: (202) 482-9087 Labor Management Specialist James Yorke: [email protected] AFSA WEB SITE: www.afsa.org Senior Staff Attorney Neera Parikh: [email protected] SECRETARY: F.A. “Tex” Harris FSJ: [email protected] Staff Attorney Michael Willats: [email protected] TREASURER: Andrew Winter Office Manager Christine Warren: [email protected] PRESIDENT: [email protected] STATE REPS: Carleton Bulkin, Mary Glantz, STATE VP: [email protected] USAID Senior Labor Management Adviser Douglas Broome: [email protected] USAID Staff Assistant Patrick Bradley: [email protected] Les Hickman, Joyce Namde, Julia Stewart, Mike RETIREE VP: [email protected] Member Services Unglesbee, Sharon White USAID VP: [email protected] Member Services Director Janet Hedrick: [email protected] USAID REPS: Michael Henning, Glenn Rogers FAS VP: [email protected] Member Services Representative Michael Laiacona: [email protected] FCS VP: [email protected] Administrative Assistant and Office Manager Ana Lopez: [email protected] FCS REP: Rebecca Balogh Communications, Marketing and Outreach FAS REP: Melinda Sallyards Retiree Counseling & Legislation Coordinator Bonnie Brown: [email protected] Director of Communications Thomas Switzer: [email protected] IBB REP: Al Pessin AFSA News Legislative Director Casey Frary: [email protected] RETIREE REPS: Editor Francesca Kelly: [email protected] Executive Assistant to the President Austin Tracy: [email protected] Janice Bay, Robert (Bill) Farrand, Molly Williamson (202) 338-4045, ext. 516; Scholarship Director Lori Dec: [email protected] Fax: (202) 338-8244 Scholarship Program Assistant Jonathan Crawford: [email protected] How to Contact Us: to Contact How Road Scholar Administrator Bernard Alter: [email protected] On the Web: Marketing & Outreach Manager Asgeir Sigfusson: [email protected] www.afsa.org/fsj and www.fsjournal.org Special Awards & Outreach Coordinator Perri Green: [email protected]

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A F V.P. VOICE: STATE ■ BY DANIEL HIRSCH S A N E ePerformance: A Great Idea W S Whose Time Has Not Yet Come

ne of the hottest issues of the past several months has Additionally, in response to AFSA’s request to delay world- been ePerformance, a new application automating the wide implementation, the department compromised by Oprocesses of counseling and performance review, implementing the application only domestically this year. In which the department plans to make mandatory. AFSA’s Labor theory, that meant that the application was to be used by those Management Office has received more complaints about this with the easiest access to assistance. In practice, it meant that than about any other issue this year. domestic employees (as well as those who worked overseas but In theory, ePerformance is an excellent idea, one whose had a domestic rater) felt disadvantaged. appeal is evident to me as a management officer. Theoretically, To be fair, some of the bugs were related simply to the new- it makes writing Employee Evaluation Reports easier and more ness of the application. The department invested heavily in teach- standardized, by populating certain fields ing people to use the new application, pro- automatically. It eliminates delays in trans- Your chances for promotion are viding online training, short courses, help mitting EERs, makes it possible for posts desks and built-in tutorials; but the appli- and Washington offices to monitor com- better if you act as if your future cation was sufficiently different from pre- pliance with deadlines and, when a prob- were entirely in your hands. vious systems to make the transition dif- lem occurs, makes it easy to identify the ficult. person responsible. It also serves as a man- Through the entire phase-in, AFSA reg- agement control to ensure that employees receive the coun- ularly conveyed member complaints to the Bureau of Human seling to which they are entitled, which is essential to fair eval- Resources, and HR did take steps to address them, though not, uations of performance. Because it addresses a number of long- in most cases, during the past rating cycle. standing human resources concerns, Washington is under- AFSA therefore pushed the department to recognize, in the standably excited about implementing it as soon as possible. promotion precepts, the transitional nature of this rating sea- However, in practice, like many new applications, it was son. As a result, the precepts negotiated between AFSA and the released to the field riddled with bugs. Some were built into department admonish selection board members to take into the application: for instance, the absence of a mechanism alert- account both the flaws in the application and the effect of the ing the writer when a space restriction is reached, and a dis- new process on components such as position titles. We will crepancy between e-forms and ePerformance with regard to the continue to request the inclusion of similar phrasing for the next number of lines of characters that can be entered. three years, so that future boards will be aware that this issue Other glitches resulted from problems in the general human occurred in 2010 EERs. resources environment: for example, the auto-populated fields AFSA is aware that the department is currently making drew information from the Global Employee Management improvements to ePerformance, and we are collaborating with System, and many GEMS entries were not up to date. management to ensure that FS member concerns are addressed. Still other problems resulted from discrepancies between We will also continue to urge the department to delay mak- the real-world process of performance evaluation and HR’s need ing the new process mandatory until all deficiencies are cor- to standardize and manage an enormous work force. For exam- rected. ple, positions are listed in GEMS with the greatest standard- In a system as competitive as ours, even very small dis- ization possible, meaning that every political officer is a polit- crepancies can be the difference between a promotion and no ical officer, and every information management officer is an promotion, or even serve as the basis for selection out. With information management officer. In the real world, most posi- that in mind, it is absolutely essential that all employees are tions are assigned a working title, but a division chief, office rated on equal terms, in equal ways, and on a level playing field. director or section head is not referred to by the same title as While recognizing the many potential benefits of this new rat- his or her subordinates. While the department has expressed ing and management tool, AFSA will do everything it can to openness to enabling working titles to be used, that has not ensure that this good idea is not made mandatory before its yet happened. time. ❏

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A F ■ S V.P. VOICE: USAID BY FRANCISCO ZAMORA TRANSITION CENTER A SCHEDULE OF COURSES

N July 12 MQ250 Young Diplomats Day E July 12-13 MQ911 Security Overseas W Seminar July 13 MQ914 Youth Security S A Place for Everyone Overseas Seminar July 17 MQ116 Protocol July 19-20 MQ911 Security Overseas Seminar f it weren’t for the synergistic relationship between our Civil and Foreign Service July 22-23 MQ104 Regulations, staffs, the U.S. Agency for International Development just would not function. Allowances and Together, the Civil Service in Washington and the Foreign Service in more than Finances I July 26 MQ250 Young Diplomats Day 80 missions overseas deliver development assistance from the American people world- July 26-27 MQ911 Security Overseas wide. Like a body’s left and right hands, we create a product that would be impos- Seminar sible to do “one-handed.” July 27 MQ914 Youth Security Although FSOs experience first- Overseas Seminar hand the results of this labor, our GS July 31 MQ802 Communicating It is a disservice to our country to colleagues deserve to share the acco- Across Cultures send unprepared representatives lades, rewards and credit for our good work. Still, each of us is a specialist in Aug. 9 MQ250 Young Diplomats Day who must learn “on the job” his or her own field due to training, Aug. 9-10 MQ911 Security Overseas what requires a lifetime of training. education and, mostly, experience. It Seminar is important to remember that we are Aug. 10 MQ914 Youth Security Overseas Seminar not easily interchangeable. Aug. 14 MQ116 Protocol The Foreign Service is a structured career profession that was codified in the Foreign Aug. 16 MQ250 Young Diplomats Day Service Act of 1980 and goes back almost a century. The “up-or-out” component Aug. 16-17 MQ911 Security Overseas is modeled on the U.S. Navy practice started in 1916 and brought into the FS in the Seminar late 1940s. It involves a progression from the entry-level to the senior ranks, where Aug. 17 MQ914 Youth Security one is required to retire if benchmarks are not met. In order to climb the career lad- Overseas Seminar der, FSOs spend most of their careers competing with each other in a series of increas- Aug. 23-24 MQ911 Security Overseas ingly challenging assignments. In addition, they take their families along to share in Seminar the joys and sacrifices foreign assignments offer. Toward the end of their careers some Aug. 30-31 MQ911 Security Overseas may achieve positions as high as mission director. Seminar It is understandable, then, that FSOs are upset whenever a Civil Service employ- Aug. 31 MQ115 Explaining America ee with no substantial overseas experience is placed in a Foreign Service assignment. Sept. 9 MQ302 Transition to Regrettably, the current regulations allow the Secretary of State or her designee to do Washington for just that on an exceptional basis. However, lately there have been a string of these Foreign-Born assignments to high-level overseas positions. Windhoek and Manila both have non- Spouses/Partners FSOs as mission directors, and Rome has a senior adviser from outside the Service. Sept. 13-14 MQ911 Security Overseas This is not because qualified candidates were unavailable, but is instead due to polit- Seminar ical expediency and the preferences of the USAID Administrator. Sept. 16 MQ703 Post Options for Apart from the resulting morale problems, these actions do not bode well for the Employment and Foreign Service. Experience in our dealings with foreign counterparts is honed over Training the span of a career. It is a disservice to our country to send unprepared represen- Sept. 18 MQ116 Protocol tatives who must learn “on the job” what requires a lifetime of training. We were Sept. 20-21 MQ911 Security Overseas Seminar expecting our new Administrator to operate differently and strengthen the Foreign Sept. 24 MQ803 Realities of Foreign Service, but this is not what seems to be happening. If the trend continues, our career Service Life Foreign Service will be negatively affected. Again, our GS colleagues are the sine qua non for a successful Foreign Service. To register or for further information, e-mail But we all have a role, and there is a place for everyone to contribute. Favoritism in the FSI Transition Center at FSITCTraining@ overseas assignments is not the answer. ❏ state.gov.

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A F V.P. VOICE: FAS ■ BY HENRY SCHMICK S A Up or Out, Part III: Back to the Future N n Part I (see April AFSA News) we recalled that in the recov- ers and managers. Well, you get what E ery after World War II, as the five-star generals and admi- you pay for. W Irals imposed the Navy’s “up or out” system on all the armed Back in 1946, Congress realized the S forces, civilian leaders extended the up-or-out system to the importance of training. In the dis- Foreign Service, as well. In Part II, we discussed the “youth and cussion of the Foreign Service Act on July 20 of that year, vigor” argument for the up-or-out system, and noted that orga- Representative John Vorys, R-Ohio, summarized the bill: nizational theorists classify promotional systems into various It makes the Foreign Service hard to get in, and hard to stay types (up-or-out, merit-based, seniority-based and random). in. It provides salaries, allowances, and retirements that should Academics define the goals of a promotional system as (a) select- attract and hold good men ... It provides for the continuous training the most able employees for positions of greater responsi- ing of these officers during their service by a Foreign Service Institute. bility, and (b) motivating employees at one level to strive hard- In addition to FSI training, the 1946 Foreign Service Act er to reach the next one. Corporate leaders define the goals in encouraged FSOs to enroll in outside institutions. In Septem- more profit-oriented terms: does the system get me the employ- ber 1946, 10 FSOs were assigned to a yearlong course at the ees I need at the lowest possible cost? National War College; and by October 1947, State had detailed Inherent in an up-or-out system — one with a mandato- 18 FSOs to various universities. It is worth noting, however, ry churn of employees forced out by relative performance, pro- that pressure caused by limited personnel necessitated the with- motion and age — is a continuous training of employees. The drawal of most of the Foreign Service officers from the school military has made training an integral part of its up-or-out sys- after January 1947. So the sensible approach outlined in the tem. Former Secretary of State Colin Powell noted that he spent 1946 Foreign Service Act was discarded by the next year. Some 15-20 percent of his military service in training. Meanwhile, things never change in Washington. as former AFSA President John Naland stressed in his presi- To successfully implement an up-or-out system, sufficient dent’s column in the Jan. 2009 Foreign Service Journal, “chron- resources must be allocated to continuous training. We did ic underinvestment in training has long shortchanged Foreign not do it in 1946, and despite periodic attempts to fix the sys- Service members on careerlong professional education. Colin tem since, the Foreign Service is still trying to implement a dis- Powell is said to have remarked that Foreign Service officers torted, cracked-mirror image of the military’s up-or-out sys- start their careers better educated that U.S. Army officers, but tem. that Army officers end their careers better educated than FSOs.” To answer the question posed by P.J. O’Rourke (see Part It appears our foreign affairs agency administrators and II, May AFSA News): in the Foreign Service, youth, innocence, Congress have focused on the last part of the corporate prof- an untrained mind and a bad haircut do beat age, guile and it-oriented terms — employees at the lowest possible cost — (experience-related) hair loss. and not cared about securing the most able employees for posi- Note: The author would like to acknowledge AFSA Staff tions of greater responsibility. Various internal and external Assistant Patrick Bradley for researching the congressional his- reports have criticized the Foreign Service as lacking able lead- tory of the Foreign Service Act of 1946. ❏

Hail and Farewell to AFSA Interns AFSANEWSBRIEFS AFSA bids a fond farewell to Public Affairs Intern Jennifer Durina, a student at The George Washington University who departed AFSA in May; FSJ Femi Oshobukola Joins AFSA Advertising Intern (and Curacao native) Joserelda “Josie” Boon, who as Director of Finance returned to her studies in the Netherlands in early June; and FSJ Editorial Femi Oshobukola has joined AFSA as director of finance. Intern Jennifer Thompson, who is a senior at GW. Legislative Affairs Intern John Gargula was here with us for just a few weeks through Marquette Originally from Nigeria, Oshobukola attended London University’s Les Aspin Center. Guildhall University (now London Metropolitan We welcome Jeffrey Rauch, AFSA’s first marketing, outreach and Web University). He has served as director of finance for DeVry intern. From the Chicago area, Jeff is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with a degree in political science and communica- University and as senior director of finance for the Points of tion. Laura Caton, a senior at the University of Pittsburgh, has joined us for Light Foundation. Oshobukola lives in Bowie, Md., with the summer as editorial intern. And our new public affairs intern is Regine his wife, Tola, and their children, Samuel and Marian. Baus, a Tennessee native who attends GW, majoring in political science.

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A F 2010 AFSA CONSTRUCTIVE DISSENT AWARD WINNERS S Profiles of award winners written by Francesca Kelly A The W. Averell Harriman Award N FOR AN ENTRY-LEVEL FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICER E W Kathryn A. Kiser S hat happens when an American citizen needs to renew a passport overseas? The process might go Wsmoothly — or it might leave that American in a foreign country without a passport for days, even weeks. Kathryn Kiser, an FS-4 working in the American Citizen Services section in Amman, Jordan, decided that the current policy was not acceptable, and took action. In her daily consular work, Kiser adjudicated applications from U.S. citizens seeking to renew or add pages to their passports, or to document newborn U.S. citizens born in Jordan. Part of this process requires that applicants’ names be run through a database and compared against law enforcement information. If a match cannot be ruled out, the department guidance is to suspend consular services and confiscate the U.S. passport until the possible match is resolved by the Legal Hits U.S. office in the Bureau of Consular Affairs. This clearance process typically takes from one to four weeks. In nominating Kiser, Deanna Hanek Abdeen, chief of consular services in Amman, says, “The policy not only is an incon- JOHN WARD Kiser in Petra, Jordan, Apr. 23, 2009. Below: In Wadi Rum, Jordan, April 24, venience to those it affects, but also leaves them extremely vul- 2009. nerable by essentially making them undocumented aliens.” She goes on to with emergency cases, and a request to explain, “During this interim period, the streamline the system so that hits that are U.S. citizen is trapped in a foreign country not a match would not be reviewed again with no internationally recognizable iden- each time the U.S. citizen renews or tity documentation and no means of applies for a passport. returning to the United States.” Abdeen points out that Kiser “could Without a passport, an American citi- have easily done what the vast majority of zen faces potential disaster in an emer- officers do: follow department guidance

gency. If arrested or even just questioned JOHN WARD without question. But her overwhelming by foreign police for any reason, the indi- concern was for the welfare of U.S. citi- vidual would have no means of proving U.S. citizenship. zens placed at risk due to U.S. government actions, and she This process also affects those traveling overseas on business believed that our process could be improved without compro- or tourism, as well as school staff members expecting to travel mising law enforcement interests.” during a school vacation. Even checking into a hotel requires a State Department management has been open to change. passport in some countries. As a result of Kiser’s Dissent Channel message, management is Kiser began by speaking with consular management at post. reviewing policies with the idea of changing certain aspects of She then raised the issue with the Bureau of Consular Affairs to the passport renewal process for American citizens abroad, and ascertain that post procedure was in line with department poli- revising the Foreign Affairs Manual accordingly. cy. She briefed both the ambassador and the deputy chief of Kiser herself is simply glad that the department appears to be mission on her concerns. poised to take action. “While I appreciate the recognition, see- When department and post policy did not change, Kiser ing the department take the matter seriously is more gratifying made the decision to draft and submit a dissent cable. She not to me than any award. The thoroughness and earnestness of only detailed the problem, but outlined solutions and recom- State’s response — and the concrete follow-through on mendations for the name check process, a mechanism to deal promised action — were far beyond my expectations.” ❏

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A 2010 AFSA CONSTRUCTIVE DISSENT AWARD WINNERS F S A William R. Rivkin Award FOR A MID-LEVEL FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICER N E Dr. Diana Briton Putman W S ou could say that Dr. Diana violent sexual assault. Women or girls suffering this Briton Putman grew up in affliction are usually ostracized.) Another proposal Ythe African bush. The tasked military with providing psychosocial counseling daughter of a development work- for SGBV survivors. er specializing in livestock, Dr. Putman, the only USAID development profes- Putman spent her childhood with sional at AFRICOM at the time, was approached to see the Tuareg people in what is now if she could provide funding. Burkina Faso and Niger, and later “There was no capability anywhere within the U.S. with the Maasai in Tanzania. armed forces to do fistula repair,” Putman remembers. Her early curiosity about how “And several of us made the case that psychosocial LTC STEVE PARKER. societies live, and how they can General William “Kip” Ward, Commander U.S. Africa counseling across linguistic and cultural barriers, and be improved, has never left her. Command, and Diana B. Putman at the Kelley Club for one or two weeks at a time — by people who As director for humanitarian and in Stuttgart, May 6. understood nothing about Africa — was not sensible.” health activities for the U.S. When Putman moved higher up in the ranks to Africa Command in Stuttgart, Putman is able to put her consid- make her arguments, she continued to meet with resistance. She erable talents to good use toward a region she understands well. wondered how “to turn around a system that had understood It was for the people of that region, particularly for the many medical engagements to be what Amb. Carson requested.” women who have been the victims of violent sexual crimes, that She convinced the Defense Security Cooperation Agency to Putman challenged the entire hierarchy at the U.S. African Com- allocate additional funds to allow her to propose an alternative: mand last year over its proposed interventions in the area of sexu- humanitarian assistance to construct or rehabilitate infrastructure al and gender-based violence in the Democratic Republic of the used by the government of the DRC or nongovernmental organi- Congo. zations to provide health, legal, psychosocial counseling or voca- Putman had greeted the news of Hillary Rodham Clinton’s tional training to SGBV survivors. appointment as Secretary of State with elation. Long a proponent Although her superiors at post could see the merit of her ideas, of women’s rights, she knew that the new Secretary had global they still did not want to go against what they took to be a direc- women’s issues very much at heart. Indeed, at his initial meeting tive from the AFRICOM commander. with AFRICOM Commander General William “Kip” Ward in Putman saw only one course left: to go all the way up the hier- June 2009, State Department Assistant Secretary for Africa Jonnie archy to Gen. Ward himself. At the next senior staff meeting at Carson announced that Sec. Clinton was committed to finding which he was present, she stood up and explained her position. solutions to the problems of SGBV in the The general asked a lot of questions about her DRC. As a result of this meeting, Gen. Ward, proposal, but ultimately appeared satisfied before returning to Stuttgart, suggested that with the alternative plan. AFRICOM and Special Forces Africa come up Commander Bob “Major” Barbee lauds with some sort of arrangement that would Putman for her “unique perspective ... that provide medical treatment interventions. comes from her extensive field work of more As Ambassador Anthony Holmes, who than 20 years.” Richard “Carl” Paschall, for- nominated Putman for the Rivkin Award, eign policy adviser to the Commander, Special explains, “A request ‘to look into the matter’ Operations Command – Africa, points to

from a four-star general at a U.S. military joint LTC STEVE PARKER. Putman’s ability “to bridge the differences command translates as ‘do something’ in the Putman with her husband, Dr. Adam Messer, between the military and the Stuttgart, May 6. minds of his subordinates.” The result was a development/diplomatic cultures.” proposal to undertake several short medical engagements in the “Dr. Putman was willing to go public with her dissent and DRC to provide fistula repairs for SGBV survivors.” (A fistula is a offer a constructive alternative,” says Holmes. “The peer and cul- permanent abnormal passageway in the body. In the DRC, tural pressures in a military context against doing this are formi- reproductive fistulas occur due to complications in childbirth or dable, indeed.” ❏

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A F 2010 AFSA CONSTRUCTIVE DISSENT AWARD WINNERS S A The F. Allen “Tex” Harris Award N FOR A FOREIGN SERVICE SPECIALIST E W David Zwach S concept that all members of the Foreign Service are part of a team and share the same commitment and sacri- fice; and 3) provide a lasting record of the specialist’s achievement in gaining tenure.” In 2004, Zwach submitted a proposal to State’s Bureau of Human Resources to create an appointment certificate for FS specialists, but HR did not adopt it. Zwach then turned to AFSA, who also lobbied the department, sent several letters to the director general and even drafted a design for the certificate. It took several years — as well as correspondence and/or meetings with HR, the director general, the Secretary’s suggestion box, the Executive Secretariat staff, the Sounding Board, office directors and the Bureau of Zwach at Camp Stryker in Baghdad, Iraq, November 2008. As Officer in Charge of the Information Resources Management — before HR Engineering Service Center-Embassy Abu Dhabi, he managed technical security operations made a counterproposal in 2006. This counterpropos- in much of the Middle East. al was an abbreviated version of the generalist commis- avid Zwach, a Foreign Service security engineering officer sioning certificate. Zwach pressed for a specialist certificate that who is chief of the Information Assurance Branch at the was equal in inspirational value to the generalist version. DDiplomatic Security Training Center in Dunn Loring, When the administration approved what at first appeared to Va., does not give up easily. When management pushed back be a satisfactory specialist certificate in 2008, there was one catch: on his proposal to provide Foreign Service specialists tenuring the Secretary of State would not sign this certificate. Instead, the certificates signed by the Secretary of State (similar to the com- director general would. missioning certificates issued to generalists), he redoubled his “David recognized the value of the Secretary’s signature,” says efforts. Over six years, he lobbied the department at all levels Swart, “and understood this was a key factor for all specialists. until his proposal was approved. Accordingly, in 2009, he submitted a proposal to the Sounding In 2003, Zwach inherited an original Civil War commission- Board that garnered an unprecedented number of comments.” ing certificate signed by Abraham Lincoln and undersigned by It took until this year — six years after Zwach began his cam- Secretary of War Edwin Stanton. The design, wording and seal paign — to achieve success. In March, Secretary Clinton agreed were similar to those of current Foreign Service generalist com- that all specialists would receive a certificate with her signature. missioning certificates, with text pointing to the president’s “spe- “This initiative will help us more fully acknowledge the con- cial trust and confidence” in the recipient’s “patriotism, valor, tributions by Foreign Service specialists and offer them a mea- fidelity and abilities.” sure of recognition that has been long overdue,” says Jeffrey W. Zwach, who has served in the Foreign Service for 23 years, Culver, principal deputy assistant secretary and director of the including in the Middle East, was inspired. He researched the Diplomatic Security Service. history and significance of appointment certificates. He studied Swart lauds Zwach’s “remarkable perseverance,” adding: “He the wording of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, which states that has lobbied many senior officers in the department, exchanged FS specialists are all appointed by the Secretary of State. And he over 400 e-mails, reviewed dozens of designs and, ultimately, realized that recognizing specialist appointments with a certifi- gained agreement on an impressive final format.” cate would serve the public interest and raise morale. Zwach was able to renew his efforts with the change of Chief Information Officer Susan Swart, who works with administration, and, Swart says, “he grasped the opportunity Zwach and nominated him for the Harris Award, points out offered by the Sounding Board and orchestrated the specialist that Zwach “correctly understood the sentiment of the specialist campaign that persuaded department management that such a corps and appreciated that such a certificate would 1) recognize certificate, signed by the Secretary, was a proposal whose time the value of the specialist to the department; 2) reinforce the had come.” ❏

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2010 AFSA OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE AWARD WINNERS A F The Nelson B. Delavan Award The Avis Bohlen Award S FOR A FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICE MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST FOR A FOREIGN SERVICE FAMILY MEMBER A Allie Loraine Almero Anne Bridgman N bout a year ago, Ambassador E. Anthony Wayne estab- oreign Service spouses often face a difficult choice: play the E lished the Office of the Coordinating Director for role of “diplomat’s spouse,” or find their own identity out- W ADevelopment and Economic Affairs, bringing all U.S. Fside of the embassy. S government foreign assistance to Afghanistan under one sec- Anne Bridgman, the spouse of the chargé d’affaires in tion at Embassy Kabul. This new office had to be integrated Bratislava, doesn’t waste time with this paradox. Her purpose at into the embassy structure, with new clearance procedures post is simply to help others. developed. “I’ve always believed in giving back to the community in Enter Allie Almero. which I live,” she explains, “and being the spouse of a Foreign Almero came in two months Service officer doesn’t change that view.” after the office was established and In Bratislava, the volunteer work that Bridgman, who is took charge. Explains Amb. departing Slovakia this month, has carried out is multifaceted. Wayne, “Allie worked tirelessly, One of her main activities has been organizing donations and establishing an efficient tracking visits to the DePaul-Slovensko shelter for the homeless, including system and paper-flow process.” asking the Slovak military to donate surplus blankets. Her system was so effective that She also has fond memories of a Christmas Eve dinner there.

“the executive secretary recently AMBASSADOR TONY WAYNE “I got holiday CDs out of my car and the director put them on a asked for her input to create a new Allie Almero, right, with U.S. Army boombox, and the environment turned merry,” Bridgman task management system for the Major Ty Short, in Sayadebad, recalls. “Embassy and expatriate children stuffed clothing and embassy.” Afghanistan, April 6. sundries into individual bags for each resident, and then we Almero is never content to served a traditional Slovak dinner. The residents were very work just a 9-5 job. She volunteered to serve as the deputy con- touched.” trol officer for the visit of Deputy Secretary of State Jacob Lew, On several occasions, Bridgman organized groups to spend a revising schedules, keeping tabs on tasks from Washington and day doing physical work with the volunteer initiative “Our working shifts in the control room. She assisted Dep. Sec. Lew’s Bratislava.” One Saturday, embassy staff worked alongside chief of staff in editing and transmitting documents, and contin- Slovak citizens landscaping and painting a group home south of ued with follow-up after the visit. Says Amb. Wayne, “Allie did the city. all of this without missing a stitch in supporting me and my Bridgman and her daughter Laurel spent hours walking and office, and she won written kudos from the deputy secretary and playing with abandoned dogs at the city animal shelter. She a wide range of others working on the visit.” helped in the classroom at her daughter’s school, reading weekly Almero again volunteered to help when Secretary of State with non-English speaking children. She and a teacher orga- Hillary Rodham Clinton and Ambassador Richard Holbrooke nized volunteer outings and purchased gifts with fundraiser visited. She attended all countdown meetings, revised schedules, monies for children in orphanages. She also put together a gar- worked in the control room and served as site officer for Amb. den-planting afternoon at a homeless shelter. “The children Holbrooke’s meetings with embassy staff. She also facilitated the loved doing something very hands-on, while the shelter benefit- Secretary’s meeting with civilian and military officers from ed from having a supply of fresh vegetables for the summer,” around Afghanistan, preparing the meeting room and working she reports. with the management team to set up the equipment needed. Bridgman Not surprisingly, Almero is now the “go-to” person for all “treats everyone senior-level official visits. Colleague Robyn Davis says, “Allie is with respect, kind- someone who inspires us ness and genuine all to do the best job pos- warmth, exhibiting sible every minute of the best face of every hour of every day!” America overseas Deputy Coordinating without condescen- Director for Develop- sion,” says Consul ment and Economic Simon Hankinson.

Affairs Katherine Hadda DANIEL WILKINSON It’s not surpris- agrees. “Allie's ability to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton ing that this is the

organize us and keep our greets Almero and other staffers in Afghan- PETRA GAJDOSIKOVA second time that spirits up represents the istan, November 2009. Left to right: Almero, Anne Bridgman and her daughter Laurel Eddins Bridgman has won best of the Foreign Robyn Davis, Linda Landers, Ixta Gonzalez at Sloboda Zvierat animal shelter near Bratislava the Avis Bohlen Service, and makes award. The first and Karen Trimble. May 14. working in this hardest time was for volun- of posts a lot easier for everyone.” teer work that she carried out in Moscow in 1995. Says Wayne, “In making these and many other outstanding Adds Hankinson: “When you see someone like Anne, who contributions, Allie has worked 14-hour days, six-and-a-half days just stops worrying about why and pitches in where she sees a week, demonstrating great dedication and the highest commit- someone hurting, it makes you realize that you could really do ment to excellence.” ❏ just a little bit more.” ❏

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A 2010 AFSA OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE AWARD WINNERS F S A M. Juanita Guess Award AFSA Post Representative FOR A COMMUNITY LIAISON OFFICER of the Year N Sarah Genton E James A. Fox W xperts say multitasking is impossible. They apparently have oreign Service Information Technology Manager James Fox not met Sarah Genton. Not only has she begun and man- is on a mission at a mission — the U.S. Mission to NATO, S Eaged more innovative programs than most embassies see in Fto be precise. In just a short time, Fox, as AFSA post repre- a decade, but she has also gone above and beyond the usual role sentative there, has made a difference in employee morale and of a Community Liaison Officer to provide compassionate sup- conditions at post, and has even saved his American colleagues port to several families beset by crisis or tragedy during her some money. tenure in Madrid. Not content to sit by when community life can be improved, Her first task was to focus on welcoming new families. Fox has met regularly with post management, including the Genton explains, “If employees and family members arrive on a ambassador and deputy chief of mission, to address community positive note, and feel supported, they are likely to make a better concerns. He has managed at the same time to advance more transition to their new home.” She launched a sponsors pro- equal treatment of specialists and generalists: for example, he gram, trained sponsors at a brown-bag lunch session, and fol- questioned why the much-sought-after parking spaces at lowed through with support for incoming families, including a USNATO were given automatically to FS-1 generalists and weeklong orientation program and a touring schedule that took their deputies, but not immediately to FP-1 specialists and their groups to an olive farm, an archaeological dig and a winery. deputies. Thanks to Fox, the parking space assignment process Last October, she founded Embassy Madrid’s first Volunteers has been made more transparent. in Action group. This group has held a blood donation drive, a He also realized that by paying for very expensive, specially holiday food drive and charity fundraisers such as a burrito marked trash bags — the only ones that can be used for official breakfast and “Taco Tuesday.” waste pickup in the city of Brussels — U.S. employees were, in That and the usual holiday parties would be enough for any effect, paying for waste disposal service, from which they are usually exempt while overseas. He was able to get this policy adjusted so that employees receive a refund on trash bags. Says Information Management Specialist David Jesser, “Since Jim became the USNATO AFSA rep in 2009, he has been the go-to person on labor issues that [pertain to] not only AFSA members, but [to] our Department of Defense colleagues, as well.” Working with management on community concerns has been rewarding for Fox. Especially satisfying, he says, has been “to see how eager Ambassador Ivo Daalder and DCM John Heffern have been to address issues of fairness in the way generalists and specialists are treated by the host nation government.” Fox, who served in Libreville, Pretoria and Kabul before his

MONIQUE KOVACS NATHAN current assignment in Brussels, is particularly proud of what he Genton at the CLO sponsored Egg Hunt on April 11, sharing candy prizes accomplished in Kabul, where he implemented a secure video with Clara Nathan, as Jack Roll looks on. link between the presidents of the United States and Afghanistan. “This link is CLO, but Genton also organized evening patio events “to help still playing a people forge new friendships,” she explains. “We invited diplo- major role in matic colleagues from other missions, who joined in our the rebuilding embassy’s first Trivia Night, a yearly flamenco show, and themed of Afghanistan karaoke evenings, including ‘Madrid Idol.’” and the effort Yet in the midst of these popular community events, some to rid the embassy families have faced tough challenges in the past year. country of

When a family had to curtail unexpectedly due to illness while in dangerous CARL HALE the States, Genton managed their complete packout, including insurgents,” AFSA Post Rep James Fox in an AFSA and post man- selling their car and holding a yard sale to shed excess household he says. agement meeting. Left to right: Management Officer effects. To help offset the cost of shipping their pets back to the “I have sel- Robert Glacel, Deputy Chief of Mission John Heffern, United States, she raised funds through a “sangria mix-off.” Says dom seen an Fox, and Amb. Ivo Daalder (permanent representative the FSO whose tour was cut short, “Quite literally, we don’t AFSA repre- to the North Atlantic Council, U.S. mission to NATO), know what we would have done without her.” sentative May 10, at NATO headquarters. Genton also handled the heartbreaking arrangements and approach this support for an officer whose baby died suddenly. responsibility with as much zest and zeal as Jim,” says Jesser. “He Ambassador Alan Solomint describes Genton as “not only will not hesitate to engage the front office, the Joint knowledgeable, but approachable and discreet.” He praises the Administrative Services section or the management officer on many programs she has designed, particularly a popular re-entry labor issues. When he felt morale was sinking, he had no hesita- workshop for families returning to live and work in the U.S. tion in being frank with the front office.” ❏ adding, “She has fostered a great spirit of camaraderie.” ❏

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A F THE AFSA-LOCKHEED MARTIN SPEAKER SERIES S Alec Ross Discusses Technology and Diplomacy A BY JENNIFER THOMPSON, EDITORIAL INTERN N lec Ross, Secretary of that traditional methods of tech- E State Hillary Rodham nology can also be employed in W AClinton’s senior adviser social crises. S for innovation, was the featured Though enthusiastic about speaker at the second AFSA- the growing technological effi- Lockheed Martin Speaker Series ciency within the State Depart- event on May 12. Ruth White- ment, Ross acknowledged that side, director of the Foreign modernization of technology Service Institute, acted as mod- comes with significant security erator. issues, such as frequent hacks, Ross provided a thorough especially in a target as significant

picture of the increasingly vital MICHAEL LAIACONA as the State Department. He role technology holds in today’s Alec Ross, right, and Ruth Whiteside at AFSA HQ on May 12. stressed the difficulty of main- diplomatic and advocacy efforts. taining the tenuous balance He noted the borderless quality of global senior adviser for innovation, namely to between attending to security concerns communications and pointed to the bring technology to bear to solve foreign pol- while simultaneously providing 21st-cen- potential of technological innovation to icy problems and advance priorities. As an tury technology. improve diplomacy, augment international example, he cited the introduction of text Other areas Ross touched upon includ- security and advance U.S. interests abroad messaging to combat narco-fueled violence ed Secretary Clinton’s emphasis on Internet in a mutually beneficial relationship with in Mexico. This program, the product of freedom and the technological implications other countries. immersing prominent American innova- of President Barack Obama’s June 4, 2009, Contrary to what he’d heard prior to tors in the problems of Mexico, allows cit- speech in Cairo. Ross’s lecture was both signing on as Sec. Clinton’s adviser for inno- izens to use their mobile phones to alert informative and hopeful, as it emphasized vation, Ross found the State Departmemt police of criminal activity yet retain anony- another avenue through which diplomacy to be a tech-friendly place, with a lively mity, as personally identifiable information can develop both internally and abroad. demand for creative IT solutions and is wiped out. Ross finished by taking questions from dynamic centers of innovation. This restores a certain amount of trans- both audience members and online par- The Office of eDiplomacy, for instance, parency in the fight against Mexico’s drug ticipants. which was established in 2003, has pioneered cartels, Ross pointed out, and at the same This new speaker series continued on programs to improve internal communi- time raises the number of reported crimes June 15 with Rep. Nita Lowey, D-N.Y., cations and knowledge-sharing among State because citizens’ fears of the consequences and NBC Correspondent Andrea Mitchell Department employees overseas and at of reporting are reduced. as moderator. Please check the AFSA home. Ross also pointed to a new program Web site (www.afsa.org/events.cfm) for Ross saluted the developers of the new using radios to battle ethnic violence in the upcoming programs of interest to the for- State Messaging and Archive Retrieval Democratic Republic of the Congo, noting eign affairs community. ❏ Toolset (known by its nickname, SMART), begun in 2001 and now up and running at 155 overseas posts to provide a simple, AFSANEWSBRIEFS secure and user-driven system for modern messaging, dynamic archiving and infor- Coming in October: AAFSW Annual Art and Book Fair mation sharing. In 2010, the Associates of the American Foreign Service He also pointed to the program to tap Worldwide is celebrating its 50th anniversary. For a half-century, college students’ knowledge of technology AAFSW has worked to safeguard and improve the quality of life of through specially vetted State Department Foreign Service employees and families. Its annual Art and Book internships. As of last fall, students were Fair scholarship fundraiser has always been part of the AAFSW assisting 37 posts abroad with IT issues in effort. It will take place Oct. 15-24 in the Diplomatic Exhibit Hall on the first floor of Main State. the “virtual student Foreign Service.” The event will feature secondhand books, an extensive display of art and collectible objects from Ross emphasized his particular goal as all over the world, a Collectors’ Corner of rare books and an assortment of stamps and coins.

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A F S 2010 AFSA Merit Award Winners A BY LORI DEC, SCHOLARSHIP DIRECTOR

AFSA is proud to feature the 26 Foreign Service high school seniors select- winner for her poetry submissions, and she was also an Academic Merit N ed as the 2010 AFSA Merit Award winners, who collectively received a total Honorable Mention Award winner. Lorrayne Dever and Katrina Ternus were E of $35,700 in scholarships. On Foreign Affairs Day, May 7, those winners selected as the Art Merit Honorable Mention Award winners. Both students in the area took part in the annual merit awards ceremony. submitted drawings and/or paintings under the Visual Arts category. W AFSA congratulates all the winners and runners-up for their academic Eight Academic Merit named scholarships have been established to date, S and artistic achievements. Winners received $1,800 awards, and honorable and these awards were bestowed to the highest-scoring students. The recip- mention winners received $800 awards. The best-essay winner and the com- ients of these scholarships were: Stephen Kwong, receiving the Associates of munity-service winner each received $250. Judges were members of AFSA’s the American Foreign Service Worldwide Scholarship; Marlene Haggblade, Committee on Education and individuals from the Foreign Service community. receiving the John and Priscilla Becker Family Scholarship; Abraham Chaibi This year, 70 students competed for the 15 Academic Merit Awards. They and Michael Fogarasi, receiving the Turner C. Cameron Memorial Scholar- were judged on grade-point averages, SAT scores, essays, letters of recom- ships; Ana Olson, receiving the John C. Leary Memorial Scholarship; Alexander mendation, extracurricular activities and other factors. From the Academic Koenig and Patrick McGuire, receiving the Joanna and Robert Martin Merit Award applicants, a best-essay winner (Marlene Haggblade) and a com- Scholarships; and Lindsey Hunt, receiving the Donald S. Memorial and Maria munity-service winner (Abigail Einhorn) were selected. Giuseppa Spigler Scholarship. Fourteen students submitted art merit applications under one of the fol- For more information on the AFSA Merit Awards, the AFSA Scholarship lowing categories: visual arts, musical arts, drama and creative writing. Each Program, or how to establish or apply for a scholarship, contact Lori Dec art applicant was judged on his or her art submission, two letters of recom- at (202) 944-5504, at [email protected], or visit our Web site at www.afsa.org/ mendation and an essay. Cynthia Miller was selected as the Art Merit Award scholar/. All Merit Award winner information is posted there.

Academic Merit Winners

Abraham Chaibi – son of Abigail Einhorn – daughter Michael Fogarasi – son of Marlene Haggblade – daugh- Fiona Hogan – daughter of Lora Berg (State) and Karim of Joy and Norman Einhorn Mariya and John Fogarasi ter of Helen Gunther (USAID) Abby and James Hogan Chaibi; graduate of the (State); graduate of Seton (FCS); graduate of Seoul and Steven Haggblade; gradu- (State); graduate of the American School of Paris; High School, Front Royal, Va.; Foreign School; attending ate of Poolesville High School, International School of attending Princeton attending Purdue University, Boston College, majoring in Poolesville, Md.; attending Curacao; attending the University, majoring in majoring in engineering; des- environmental studies/Asian Pomona College, majoring in University of Florida, majoring physics; designated a Turner ignated the AFSA Merit studies; designated a Turner biology; designated the John in biomedical engineering. C. Cameron Memorial Awards “Community Service” C. Cameron Memorial and Priscilla Becker Family Scholar. winner. Scholar. Scholar and the AFSA Merit Awards Best Essay winner.

Stephen Kwong – son of Reuben Luoma-Overstreet Patrick McGuire – son of Caryl Merten – daughter of Ana Olson – daughter of Marsha and Ralph Kwong – son of Kristine and Charles Suzanne (State) and Patrick Susan and Ambassador Ambassador Deborah Jones (State); graduate of St. Mary’s Luoma-Overstreet (State); (State) McGuire; graduate of Kenneth Merten (State); grad- (State) and Ambassador High School, Crofton, Md.; graduate of Washington-Lee the International School of uate of McLean High School, Richard Olson (State); gradu- attending the College of High School, Arlington, Va.; Manila; attending Stanford McLean, Va.; attending the ate of the Madiera School, William and Mary, majoring in attending the U.S. Air Force University, majoring in University of Virginia, major- McLean, Va.; attending Brown biology; designated the Academy, majoring in engi- physics or comparative litera- ing in foreign affairs. University, majoring in sociol- Associates of the American neering. ture; designated a Joanna ogy or anthropology; desig- Foreign Service Worldwide and Robert Martin Scholar. nated the John C. Leary Scholar. Memorial Scholar.

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A F PMA Funds S AFSA Scholarship Winner A FSA President Susan Johnson accepts a $3,300 financial scholarship check from Scholarship Coordinator Nick N A Frankhouser and President Trellis Wright of the Public E Members Association of the Foreign Service, on May 6. W S MICHAEL LAIACONA Scholarship Winners Honored AFSA Executive Director Ian Houston and AFSA President Susan Johnson pose with four local Academic Merit Award winners who attended the May 7 reception at AFSA. Top row: Stephen Kwong; bottom row from left to

right, Lindsey Hunt, Reuben Luoma-Overstreet and Marlene Haggblade. LORI DEC

Academic Merit Honorable Mention Award Winners Emma Benjaminson – James Merz-Ramirez – son of daughter of Paula and Ana Maria Ramirez and James Eric Benjaminson (State); Merz (State); graduate of graduate of Ashbury College, Greengates School, Mexico City; Ottawa; attending the attending Princeton University, Massachusetts Institute of majoring in international rela- Technology, majoring in tions. mechanical engineering. Cynthia Miller – daughter of Richard Hinman – son of Ai Chin and Daniel Miller (State); Josephine (State) and Richard graduate of the American Lindsey Hunt – daughter of Leah Jarrett – daughter of Alexander Koenig – son of (State) Hinman; graduate of the Embassy School, New Delhi; Deborah Derrick and Baxter Ann Yen and Kenneth H. Natalie and John Koenig American Community School, attending the University of East Hunt (State); graduate of Jarrett (State); graduate of (State); graduate of Naples Amman; attending The George Anglia in Norwich, United Yorktown High School, Shanghai American School; American High School; Washington University, majoring Kingdom, majoring in English Arlington, Va.; attending attending Cornell University, attending Harvard College, in mechanical engineering. literature; designated the AFSA Middlebury College, majoring majoring in comparative liter- majoring in government/ Art Merit Award winner for her in French or psychology; des- ature. public policy; designated a Camille McCarthy – daughter poetry submission in the cre- ignated the Donald S. Joanna and Robert Martin of Elizabeth O’Brien (State) and ative writing category. Memorial and Maria Scholar. Michael McCarthy (State); gradu- Giuseppa Spigler Scholar. ate of the American Embassy Lillian Stuart – daughter of School, New Delhi; attending Ellen Wilson (State) and Steven Clemson University, majoring in Stuart (State); graduate of the chemical engineering. International School of Kenya; attending Wellesley College, majoring in international studies or theater.

Art Merit Award Winner Cynthia Miller – see Cynthia’s biographical information under the Academic Merit Honorable Mention Winners.

Mary Rank – daughter of Morgan Russell – daughter Mary and David Rank (State); of Susan Shirley and John Art Merit Honorable-Mention Award Winners graduate of the Taipei Speaks (State); graduate of Lorrayne Dever – daughter of Katrina Ternus – daughter of American School; attending Cairo American College; Lottie Erickson and James Mary and Scott (State) Ternus; the University of Virginia, attending Columbia Dever (FAS); graduate of St. graduate of Biddeford High majoring in sociology. University, majoring in Stephen’s School, Rome; School in Biddeford, Maine; English. attending Maryland Institute attending the University of College of Art, majoring in Miami, majoring in marine illustration. biology/environmental science.

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A F S 2010 AFSA MERIT AWARDS “BEST ESSAY” From that day forward, I began to see my surroundings in a A new light. The gravity of Joyce’s situation flooded my world. Before, Joyce’s Umbrella on my daily bus ride to and from school, I had passed a grave- BY MARLENE HAGGBLADE yard without noticing. Now, almost every day of the week, I noticed N a funeral commemorating yet another AIDS victim. In time, the E or a middle-aged Zambian woman, Joyce moved with sur- graveyard ran out of space, and the funeral processions proceed- W prising agility as she chased my friend Mildred around the ed a half mile further up the road to the cemetery extension. S Fyard with an umbrella. I had always thought of Joyce as a As our family prepared to leave Zambia in the summer of 2006, kind person with a gentle soul. But at that moment, she appeared I was astonished to see Joyce return, seemingly from the dead, to to have lost her mind. As I later learned, that was exactly the case. wish us goodbye. Her transformation was unfathomable. She had The macrophages in her brain were secreting deadly toxins and returned to her old gentle self. The antiretroviral drugs that the slowly destroying her neural tissue. AIDS dementia had taken over. clinic had given her after our visit worked phenomenally. I con- During the 12 years I lived in sub-Saharan Africa, this image stands sider Joyce’s recovery a miracle of modern medicine. Science pro- out in my mind as a moment that transformed my perception of vided Joyce an umbrella. Africa, medicine and disease. Academically, this experience has motivated me to explore the That afternoon, at 11 years of age, I was involuntarily drafted into broad interactions among humans, disease, the natural environ- medical service. My brother was nowhere to be found, who was ment and public health. When I entered my new U.S. high school, our domestic employee, and my mother was out. So my father asked I selected the global ecology magnet program in order to look at the me to help take Joyce to the hospital. I agreed, on the condition that links between human actions, science and the environment. This we disarm her. Joyce and I sat in the back of the car as my father past summer, I took a course at Brown University studying the epi- drove to the clinic. She stared at me blankly, and I realized that demiology of exotic diseases, including AIDS. For three periods a although I had known her for five years, she no longer recognized day during my senior year, I interned at a veterinary clinic in order me. Suddenly, out of nowhere, she hit me! Shocked, I didn’t know to explore animal diseases, their responses and available cures. how to react, so I simply pretended it hadn’t happened. My experience growing up overseas has definitely shaped my When we arrived at the clinic, she became even more agitat- priorities and my interests. It has presented me with some fasci- ed and wouldn’t sit down. Instead, she sang and danced uncon- nating encounters, as well as some very unsettling and desperate trollably. The baby next to me started to cry as Joyce continued situations. Through Joyce, in particular, I learned about the power her chaotic routine. After calming Joyce down, a kind nurse took of science, of human support systems, and of the will to fight back. her blood sample and filled out a card. She placed the card on When most people see an umbrella, they see gloomy weather top of a pile of hundreds of similar cards. In that instant, Joyce and despair. But for me, an umbrella symbolizes hope and the became another horrifying statistic: she was HIV-positive. power of human ingenuity and compassion. ❏ Since Joyce could no longer care for herself, she moved in with Marlene Haggblade will be attending Pomona College in the fall, and plans her brother, who also cared for the four children of their deceased to major in biology with the intention of becoming a veterinarian. She has sister. As I said goodbye to the shell of a woman I once knew, I lived in Bangladesh, Madagascar, Zambia and Maryland, and enjoys play- doubted I would ever see her again. ing soccer and lacrosse.

and no AFSA dues are used for political contributions. We contin- FY 2009 AFSA-PAC Treasurer’s Report ue to ensure strict compliance with federal and local election laws gov- Dear Colleagues: erning our activities. The American Foreign Service Association Political Action During 2009, AFSA-PAC contributed $18,000 to our congressional Committee, created in 2002, continues to raise AFSA’s profile on supporters’ re-election efforts. Our focus continues to remain on Capitol Hill. It is one of the legislative tools used to advance our agen- the appropriating and authorizing committees with jurisdiction over da, helping to solve the overseas comparability pay issue and to secure Foreign Service management issues, Foreign Service staffing and gen- important funding for our foreign affairs budgets. AFSA-PAC ensures eral foreign affairs matters. We enjoy good relations with key deci- that we have a “seat at the table” and allows us to draw greater atten- sion-makers at the highest levels in both parties, and we also look to tion to our issues. expand our cultivation effort to include new faces. In 2009, AFSA-PAC raised $24,575, down from the $29,000 mark As we implement AFSA’s legislative agenda in 2010, we are con- we reached in both 2008 and 2007. Of our 405 donors, over 80 per- fident that AFSA-PAC will continue to give the Foreign Service a greater cent were retired members, and 13 percent donated from overseas voice. We are one of the precious few mechanisms solely focused posts. Unfortunately, the average donation, $60.70, was down a full on issues affecting our active-duty and retired colleagues. Our impact dollar from 2008. We understand the fiscal realities faced by all of has been cumulative, and we continue striving on your behalf. our colleagues; and we will, as always, utilize the resources you donate Respectfully submitted, as effectively as possible. All donations to the PAC are voluntary, Thomas D. Boyatt, Treasurer ❏

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A F Memorial Ceremony • Continued from page 59 unteer in the Philippines in • In memory of Ter- S water treatment facility in Fallujah. the 1990s and then worked rence L. Barnich, please A Originally scheduled to work in Iraq for 11 for the Federal Emergency send donations through months following his placement there in Management Agency be- Marivell Dominguez at the 2007, he decided to stay longer to help with fore transferring to USAID Chicago office of the N Iraq in its reconstruction efforts. in 2001. Gredler served in Catholic Charities USA E Earlier, Barnich served as general coun- Jakarta, where he was in- (Tel: (312) 655-7000) or W sel to the governor of Illinois and chairman strumental in reconstruc- make a donation online at S of the Illinois Commerce Commission, and tion efforts following the www.catholiccharities.net. was the co-founder of New Paradigm devastating December 2004 •In memory of Victoria Resources Group, Inc. tsunami, as well as at the J. DeLong, donations MICHAEL LAIACONA His friend of 25 years, Phil O’Connor, USAID Central Asian Re- The AFSA Memorial Plaque, newly should go to the Little who also served with him in Iraq, recalls a publics mission in Almaty. inscribed with the names of Terrence Flower/Rosa Mina Orph- time in Baghdad a couple of years ago when Braden “Buzz” Enroth, Barnich, Victoria DeLong and Dale anage, where DeLong vol- a newly arrived officer was asked why she the deputy director for pro- Gredler. unteered. Online dona- came to Iraq, and she stumbled a bit, not curement at USAID who supervised tions can be made through the Partners in wanting to sound overly noble. Says Gredler, praised his dedication to his work: Progress Web site (www.piphaiti.org). O’Connor: “Terry stopped her and said, “Dale was a motivated and dedicated offi- There, click on “make a donation” to get ‘From now on, if someone asks you why cer who had a very bright future with to the donations page. Where it asks “How you went off to Iraq, you tell them: I heard USAID. He was willing to serve in what- should we use your donation?” use the America was in a tight spot over there, so ever capacity needed and accepted chal- drop-down menu to specify Little Flower/ I saddled up and rode to the sound of the lenging assignments, where he excelled. He Rosa Mina. guns.’ That was very much his attitude.” will be sorely missed by his colleagues and • In memory of Dale J. Gredler, please friends.” send donations to Assosiasi Koperasi VICTORIA J. DELONG Barnich, DeLong and Gredler all led lives Wanita Putroe Phang in Banda Aceh, Victoria J. DeLong, 57, a 27-year veteran defined by action and service. Their fam- Indonesia. The street address is: Jl. Tgk Di of the Foreign Service who served as the cul- ilies have asked those who choose to par- Lhong II, Lr Tgk M Saidi No. 24 A, Lhong tural affairs officer for Embassy Port-au- ticipate to make a charitable donation of Raya, Banda Aceh, Indonesia, 23239. Prince, was killed when her home collapsed any amount directly to one of the charities Phone/Fax: (011) (62) 651-26937; or e-mail during the Jan. 12 earthquake. Posted in below: Devi Puspa at [email protected]. ❏ Haiti since February 2009, she had fallen in love with the country’s people and cul- AFSA Awards • Continued from page 59 ture and called this tour the highlight of lence in the Democratic Republic of the her diplomatic career. A colleague, FSO unique in the U.S. government. For more Congo. Katherine Nichols, was also serving in Haiti than 40 years, AFSA has been honoring Finally, Kathryn A. Kiser has received at the time and remembers DeLong as individuals in the Foreign Service who have the W. Averell Harriman Award for con- “courageous and warm, someone with displayed the courage to speak out and chal- structive dissent by an entry-level Foreign whom one felt centered when serving in lenge the system from within. Three of the Service officer. While stationed in the con- dangerous posts.” four constructive dissent categories had sular section of Embassy Amman, Ms. Kiser Before coming to Haiti, DeLong had winners this year. dissented from a State Department policy served in El Salvador, Costa Rica, Papua The winner of the F. Allen “Tex” Harris that confiscates passports from some U.S. New Guinea, Germany, Australia, Malaysia, Award for constructive dissent by a citizens resident in foreign countries until the Philippines, the Democratic Republic Foreign Service Specialist is David M. a security check, which can take weeks, is of the Congo and Mauritius. Zwach, a security engineering officer who completed. persuaded the department to approve a spe- There was no winner this year of the DALE J. GREDLER cialist commission certificate commensu- Christian A. Herter Award for construc- Dale J. Gredler, 43, a Foreign Service offi- rate with the generalist version. tive dissent by a Senior Foreign Service cer at the United States Agency for The William R. Rivkin Award for con- officer. International Development, passed away on structive dissent by a mid-level Foreign Jan. 17 after suffering from cardiac arrest Service officer has been conferred on Dr. Outstanding Performance Awards en route from his post in Kazakhstan to Diana Putman for challenging the U.S. These awards recognize exemplary receive medical treatment in the United Africa Command’s proposed interventions performance and extraordinary contribu- States. He served as a Peace Corps Vol- in the area of sexual and gender-based vio- Continued on page 74

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A F S AFSA Awards • Continued from page 73 These awards serve to Diplomacy Award, who is ultimately cho- A tions to professionalism, morale and effec- sen by the AFSA Governing Board. The tiveness. recognize the intellectual Rivkin Award winner is selected by the fam- Anne Bridgman of Embassy Bratislava courage and outstanding ily of the late Ambassador William R. Rivkin N received the Avis Bohlen Award, present- and other prominent individuals connected E ed to a Foreign Service family member achievements of our to the Rivkin family. The winners of the W whose relations with the American and for- Foreign Service colleagues. three awards for outstanding performance S eign communities at a Foreign Service post are selected by separate panels of judges. have done the most to advance American The Governing Board chooses the post rep- interests. resentative of the year. The Nelson B. Delavan Award, which of Embassy Bujumbura. AFSA appreciates the efforts of all those recognizes extraordinary contributions to who sent in nominations or served as panel effectiveness, professionalism and morale AFSA Post Rep of the Year members this year. We place great impor- by an Office Management Specialist, was James (Jim) Fox was chosen as the tance on these awards, which serve to rec- won by Allie L. Almero of Embassy AFSA post representative of the year. The ognize the intellectual courage and out- Kabul. The runner-up was Alicia N. Gale post rep at the U.S. Mission to NATO in standing achievements of our Foreign of Embassy Phnom Penh. Brussels, Fox was nominated by his col- Service colleagues. This year’s winner of the M. Juanita leagues for his tireless efforts in advocating AFSA also thanks the director general Guess Award, given in recognition of out- for the mission staff with management. for co-sponsoring the annual awards cer- standing service by a Community Liaison The AFSA Awards and Plaques Com- emony, which is open to any employee Officer who has demonstrated leadership, mittee selects the F. Allen “Tex” Harris, W. wishing to attend. Congratulations to all dedication, initiative or imagination in Averell Harriman and Christian A. Herter winners and runners-up for this well- assisting families serving at an overseas post, Constructive Dissent Awards. The com- deserved recognition. (Please see the Sep- was Sarah Genton of Embassy Madrid. mittee also nominates the recipient of the tember issue of AFSA News for full cover- The runner-up was Stephanie Diamond annual Lifetime Contributions to American age of the June 24 awards ceremony.) ❏ CLASSIFIEDS

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A F S A CLASSIFIEDS N E REAL ESTATE REAL ESTATE AUTOMOTIVE W S FLORIDA’S FIRST COAST SELLING YOUR VEHICLE? REAL ESTATE TOUR BUYING A VEHICLE? www.FirstCoastEstates.Listingbook.com Since 1979, Steve Hart has been assisting YOUR PERSONAL, PRIVATE, DIRECT members of the Foreign Service with their ACCESS TO ALL CURRENT, AREA automotive needs. AUTO BUYING SERVICE PROPERTY LISTINGS. DISCOVER BUYS and SELLS EXACTLY WHAT SUITS YOU ALL MAKES AND MODELS NO CHARGE, OBLIGATION OR HASSLE Steve Hart, Auto Buying Service Tel: (904) 207-8199 2971 Prosperity Ave, Fairfax, VA 22031 E-mail: [email protected] VIRGINIA LAKEFRONT APPROXIMATE- Tel: (703) 849-0080. Fax: (703) 849-9248. LY 50 MILES WEST OF WASHINGTON, D.C. E-mail: [email protected] 5 bedrooms, 3½ baths, 2-car garage. Privately MORTGAGE Reduce your stress; use the best. situated on 10 acres with spectacular frontage on quiet Lake Coventry. Solid all-brick con- BUYING OR REFINANCING A HOME? struction, bright and airy open-floor plan, main- Jeff Stoddard and his team have specialized floor master suite, lots of glass, hardwood in home finance for FSOs for more than 10 floors, fully finished lower level bedrooms, full years. The Stoddard Group is able to provide bath and kitchenette. Enjoy the views from FSO-specific financing and title services in all lovely deck and screened porch; fireplace in 50 states and D.C. great room. $825,000. Contact them at (571) 331-0442 or via e-mail U.S. AUTOMOBILE PARTS WORLD- ALLEN REAL ESTATE. at [email protected]. WIDE: Express Parts has over 30 years’ expe- Tel: (540) 347-3838 rience shipping original and aftermarket parts for U.S. specification vehicles. Give us the year, U.S./WORLD NATIONAL FLAGS make, model and serial number of your car and LOOKING TO BUY, sell or rent property we will supply the parts you need. in Northern Virginia? This former FSO under- Tel: (440) 234-8381. Fax: (440) 234-2660. stands your needs and can help. SERVING METROFLAGS.NET is the online E-mail: [email protected]. OVERSEAS? YOU STILL MAY QUALIFY provider of U.S., state, world, military, holi- Web site: www.expresspartsinc.com. FOR FEDERAL TAX CREDITS. day and cultural flags and flagpoles to the David Olinger, GRI Long & Foster, Realtors U.S. diplomatic community, domestically and Tel: (703) 864-3196. Fax: (703) 960-1305. overseas. Visit our Web site to see our large E-mail: [email protected]. selection of flags to celebrate your country, SHOPPING heritage or post. For a 10% discount on all orders for AFSA members, use coupon SHOP IN AN AMERICAN MAKE IT WHAT YOU WANT: 6,000 sq. code: afsa10. Tel./Fax: (888) 546-7030. DRUG STORE BY MAIL! ft. manor home, ready for a vineyard, horse E-mail: [email protected] Morgan Pharmacy farm or orchards. Designed by architect Kahlill Web site: www.MetroFlags.net. 3001 P St NW Hamady, on 158-acre property in Lovingston, Washington, DC 20007 Va. (20 mins. from Charlottesville). 7 bed- Tel: (202) 337-4100. Fax: (202) 337-4102. rooms/4.5 baths, offered at $3.95 million. Long TRANSPORTATION E-mail: [email protected] & Foster Realtors www.carepharmacies.com Tel: (703) 201-2334. PET MOVING MADE EASY. Club Pet E-mail: [email protected] International is a full-service animal shipper spe- Web site: www.gobblersglen.com cializing in domestic and international trips. Club EMBASSY 220-VOLT transformers, Pet is the ultimate pet-care boarding facility in office supplies and furniture. 5810 Seminary SARASOTA, FL. PAUL BYRNES, FSO the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Rd., Falls Church, VA 22041. retired, and Loretta Friedman, Coldwell Banker, Tel: (703) 471-7818 or (800) 871-2535. Tel: (703) 845-0800. offer vast real estate experience in assisting E-mail: [email protected]. E-mail: [email protected]. diplomats. Enjoy gracious living, no state Web site: www.shopembassyusa.com. income tax, and a current “buyer’s market.” Tel: (941) 377-8181. SLF SAVE THE DATE E-mail: [email protected] (Paul) CRAVING GROCERIES FROM HOME? We or [email protected] (Loretta). ship non-perishable groceries to you via the SAVE THE DATE FOR SENIOR LIVING Dulles mail-sorting facility or your choice of FOUNDATION “Planning for Change” sem- U.S. shipping facility. SALE BY OWNER (new FS Retiree) rare inar, with a reception immediately www.lowesfoodstogo.com Florida ½ acre plus wooded lot on upscale golf afterwards. Marriott Courtyard, Sept. 16, • Choose the Reynolda Rd store in course (Summerbrooke). Backs to pond. 1 to 5 p.m., 1600 Rhode Island Avenue, NW, Winston-Salem, N.C. Tallahassee, Fla. $150K. Please call (720) 560- Washington, D.C. • Choose Delivery 9956. Please e-mail [email protected]. • Pay through PayPal

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IN MEMORY

John George Bacon, 89, a retired also served as an advocate for children Tangier, an associate USAID director FSO, died peacefully at his home in in the Okaloosa County Courts and covering Vietnam’s Military Region II Destin, Fla., on April 25. played tennis four times a week from Nhatrang, and political counselor Mr. Bacon was born in Spokane, through the age of 85. One of his fa- in Bangkok. Other assignments in- Wash. During World War II he served vorite downtime activities was concluded tours as a senior staff member in the United States Army with the templating the view of “his lake” from for East Asia on the National Security 80th Division in Europe and was his back deck with Yoffi, his dog, by his Council, diplomat-in-residence at the awarded four battle stars, before reside. Friends and family remember University of Hawaii, regional refugee signing his commission at the rank of Mr. Bacon as a quiet, introspective in- coordinator for Southeast Asia and di- captain to return to school. dividual with a quick wit and wry sense rector of the Interagency Humanitar- Mr. Bacon attended Washington of humor. ian Working Group on Kampuchea in State College and Whitman University He is survived by his wife, Maureen Washington. before graduating from Georgetown Bacon of Destin, five children and Those last two assignments led to University’s School of Foreign Service. eight grandchildren. his October 1980 entry into the Office He later earned an advanced, special- of the United Nations High Commis- ized degree from the National War sioner for Refugees. He initially College in Washington, D.C. served in Somalia as UNHCR deputy During a 30-year diplomatic career, Thomas J. Barnes, 80, a retired representative and later in Geneva as, Mr. Bacon served in London, Rome, FSO, died on April 4. successively, chief of the Southwest New York (at the United Nations), Born in St. Paul, Minn., in 1930, he Asia section, head of the Supplies and Khartoum, Saigon, Bonn and Jakarta. escaped the rigors of northern winters Food Aid Service, and head of Organ- He also served the Department of by joining the U.S. Army in 1951, ization and Management. Turning 60 State in Washington, D.C., as the exec- shortly after obtaining a master’s de- brought on mandatory U.N. retire- utive director of the Arms Control and gree in English literature from the ment at the end of 1990. Disarmament Agency and was a mem- University of Minnesota. Service in From early 1991 through mid-1995, ber of the delegation to the Strategic Korea and Japan instilled in him an en- Mr. Barnes served as coordinator for Arms Limitation Treaty talks in Hel- during affection for Asia, but fear of a operations and program development sinki and Vienna. lifetime of bivouacs in the snow led for the International Catholic Migra- After retiring as a minister coun- him to resign his regular Army com- tion Commission at its Geneva head- selor, he accompanied his wife, Mau- mission in late 1956. He entered the quarters. reen, to her Foreign Service posts in Foreign Service in 1957, serving until After settling in Austin, Texas, in Accra, Tel Aviv and Bridgetown. 1980. 1996, he wrote five books, including Mr. Bacon was a resident of Destin, During his 23-year diplomatic ca- two historical novels, Tay Son: Rebel- Fla., for more than 15 years. An active reer, Mr. Barnes spent six years in lion in 18th-Century Vietnam (2000) member of the Unitarian-Universalist Thailand, five in Vietnam and three in and Vietnam When the Tanks Were Fellowship of the Emerald Coast, he Laos. He was consul in Jue and Elephants (2005); a memoir, Anecdotes served as president and treasurer. He Udorn, consul general in Can Tho and of a Vagabond: The Foreign Service, the

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U.N., and a Volag (2000); a novella and Florida and Mizzou football. whom was born in a different country. related short stories, Coping with Lust Mr. Hallam was preceded in death Jim, the eldest, was born in the Do- and the Colonel: Wartime Korea from by his parents, his first wife and three minican Republic; Ellen was born in Sokchang-ni (2000, expanded and up- stepsons: Sam, Richard and Raymond. Germany; John was born in the United dated in 2005); and an art photo book, He is survived by his wife, Eileen, States; and Jeff, the youngest, was born Southeast Asian Portraits (2002). of Auburndale; children, Kitty and in Russia. Mr. Barnes is survived by his wife, Steve; a sister, Marge, of Oklahoma Upon Mr. Owen’s retirement from Mai Tang Barnes, and their three chil- City, Okla.; stepdaughters Rita (and the Foreign Service in 1971, the cou- dren, An, Kim and Kevin; four chil- her husband, David) Redditt of Dade ple moved to West Long Branch, N.J., dren by a previous marriage, Christo- City, Fla., Darcy Wheatley of Dothan, settling into an old Victorian farm pher, Ross, Karen and Shannon; and Ala., and Cindy Parker of Tallahassee, where Mrs. Owen’s uncle, Owen seven grandchildren, Thanasi and Niko Fla.; granddaughters Michelle Wilson Woolley, and her mother, May Hance, Pantazides, Mina and Aylin Cakirkaya, and Laura Grossman of Carollton, had lived before their deaths. Bailey and Ana Marie Ostrowski and Mo.; grandsons Dallas Hallam of Los Ready to make her own mark on Kai Barnes. Angeles, Calif., and Forrest Hallam of the world, Mrs. Owen became deeply Des Moines, Iowa; as well as many involved in the community, investing nieces, nephews and great-grandchil- countless hours in her church, the First dren. United Methodist Church in West Malcolm Perry Hallam, 90, a re- Long Branch, and in service to envi- tired FSO, died on Dec. 21, 2009, at ronmental organizations and causes. his residence in Auburndale, Fla., after She was a pioneer in promoting recy- an extended illness from chronic ob- Mary Hance Owen, 89, wife of cling in Monmouth County and began structive pulmonary disease. the late FSO Bob Owen, died on April the first such program in West Long Mr. Hallam was born in Fort Pierre, 18 at Navesink Harbor in Red Bank, Branch. After farming the land for a S.D., on Dec. 15, 1919, to Paul Loren- N.J. time, Mr. Owen joined in her conser- zo and Rose Swanson Hallam. He Born in Long Branch, N.J., on June vation efforts. graduated from Pierre High School in 8, 1920, Mrs. Owen attended Freehold Mrs. Owen developed close rela- 1937 and attended the University of High School and then went to Dou- tionships with people in numerous en- Michigan for three years. He joined glass College, where she majored in vironmental groups and got to know the State Department in 1943. journalism, graduating in 1941. In col- local and state politicians on a first- During a 30-year Foreign Service lege, she made many lifelong friends, name basis. Passionate about green career, he served in Baghdad, Athens, among them Robert I. Owen, an ath- spaces and gardening, the couple ob- Durban, Cardiff, Rio de Janeiro, Ponta lete, engineering student at Rutgers tained a conservation easement on the Delgarda, Sao Paulo, Saigon and and a good dancer, whom she married fields adjoining their farmhouse and Washington, D.C. While posted in in a military ceremony at Rutgers donated these eight acres to the town Greece, he met and married Marjorie Chapel in August 1942. of West Long Branch for use as com- Whiting, who also worked at Embassy While her husband was an engi- munity gardens. Athens. Following his retirement in neering officer in the Navy stationed in In their 80s, when the farm became 1973, the couple settled in Auburn- the South Pacific, Mary worked at Fort too much for them to manage, Mr. and dale, Fla. Monmouth, N.J., as a training coordi- Mrs. Owen moved to Navesink Har- In 1983, Marjorie passed away. Mr. nator. When he returned from the bor. Mr. Owen died in 2003, after 51 Hallam married Eileen Huntington in war, Mr. Owen joined the Foreign years of marriage. 1997. Service. Mrs. Owen traveled along On her own, Mrs. Owen continued In retirement, he enjoyed writing with him, learning multiple languages, to support her favorite environmental his memoirs, playing cards, and travel- adapting to life in one foreign culture and political causes to the extent she ing (to Alaska, Europe and South after another, and raising their family. could. Family and friends remember Africa), as well as watching Michigan, She raised four children, each of her affection and support for her chil-

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dren in foreign lands and at home; and zation of their choice or to Douglass some years as a testing engineer for her love of birds, animals and the College. Lockheed Martin and Boeing, and was beautiful, fragile environment we all eventually offered a position with the share. Her family recalls that for the Voice of America. past several years, right until her death, As a member of the U.S. Informa- every conversation with Mrs. Owen in- John Theodore (J.T.) Rosen- tion Agency’s Foreign Service, Mr. cluded details about the weather, the quist, 66, a retired FSO, died of Rosenquist supervised as many as 300 state of the Navesink River, what she esophageal cancer on Sept. 16, 2009, locally employed staff and managed had heard on the news about the envi- in Milroy, Pa. million-dollar budgets for fuel and ronment and what wildlife she had An engineer, beloved husband and equipment in places as varied as seen. father, iconoclast and former Voice of Liberia, Morocco and Greece. His She is survived by her children, Jim America Power Plant Supervisor, Mr. work on the generator plants in the Owen of Belfast, Maine; Ellen Mc- Rosenquist was born on June 12, 1943, Philippines after the Pinatubo eruption Naughton of Grand Rapids, Mich.; in San Rafael, Calif., the oldest child of enabled their continued functioning, John Owen of St. Petersburg, Fla.; and Newton and Blanche Rosenquist. for which he was recognized with a Su- Jeff Owen of Marshall, N.C.; seven After enlisting in the U.S. Air Force perior Honor award. grandchildren and two great-grand- and serving in Vietnam, Cambodia and He was also nominated for and ac- children. In her memory, friends and Japan, he attended Parks College in St. cepted a study year at the Industrial family are encouraged to make dona- Louis, Mo., receiving his B.Sc. in aero- College of the Armed Forces, where tions to a local environmental organi- nautical engineering. He worked for he concentrated on the “nuke” stuff.

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As his family and friends recall, he oc- year-old house from the ground up. James C. Suma, 79, a retired casionally despaired of ever bringing Family and friends recall fondly his FSO with USAID, died of heart fail- the “Voice” into the 20th century. sense of humor and trenchant politi- ure at his home in McLean, Va., on During his Washington assign- cal commentary. Nov. 30, 2009. ments, he fielded questions and solved Mr. Rosenquist is survived by his Born in Hamilton, Ohio, Mr. Suma problems from many governmental wife, Chris, of Milroy; their sons, Ben- first came to Washington in the mid- and nongovernmental organizations, jamin and Stephan; his brothers, 1940s, when he served as a Capitol including one memorable long-dis- David and Paul, and their wives and page. He attended the Capitol Page tance call from a barge in Alaska. In children; several great-nieces and School on Capitol Hill, graduating in Liberia, his charitable work with the great-nephews; his mother, Blanche; June 1948. local village and his upward-mobility and, last (but not least), his daily com- He attended Miami University in initiative and training program re- panion, L.D. the dachshund. Oxford, Ohio, graduating in June sulted in his being “gowned” as a para- 1952, and then was commissioned as mount chief of the local tribe, a lieutenant (junior grade) in the U.S. something he always insisted was both Navy. He served in the Navy until honorary and overstated (he felt rather Theresa Alison Smyth, 21, the July 1954. After his discharge, he at- silly in a full-length dress, he always daughter of FSO Richard H. Smyth tended the Wharton Business School said). and retired FSO Janice S. Smyth, died of the University of Pennsylvania, re- Mr. Rosenquist retired from the on Feb. 28 in Carlisle, Pa., following a ceiving an MBA in June 1958. Voice of America in 1993 and pro- long illness. Mr. Suma joined the Foreign Serv- ceeded to follow his wife, Chris, also a Born in Copenhagen, Alison grew ice in 1958, and served with the U.S. member of the Foreign Service, as her up in Denmark, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Agency for International Develop- dependent spouse — or as he put it, Jamaica and Northern Virginia. An ment for 31 years. Shortly after arriv- “a kept man.” During these years he AFSA scholarship winner and a vale- ing at his first posting, Athens, Mr. variously taught a senior-level physics dictorian of Reston’s South Lakes Suma met his wife of 49 years, the for- class in Montevideo — including the High School, she was a student at the mer Becky Daskalakis. They were formulas for ensuring both sufficient University of Virginia pursuing a dual married on Dec. 29, 1960. pressure and adequate cooling for a major in biology and psychology. In 1960, Mr. Suma was posted to working whiskey still; worked at the A skilled observer of animal — and Jakarta. In 1963, he was assigned to U.N. Climate Change Conference of human — behavior, she was a talented Amman, where the Sumas remained Parties VI in The Hague; and acted as mimic who enjoyed the theater, liter- until 1964. From 1965 until 1968, a surveillance detection supervisor in ature, aquatics, needle arts and trek- Mr. Suma served as an industrial de- both The Hague and Almaty. king. velopment officer in Kabul. (In his In his free time he also managed to In “I Am a Girl,” an essay she wrote McLean home, he kept a photo of the be a great father to two sons, ski the in 2005, Alison described her life as a two Afghan hounds he had received Alps and the Himalayas, pilot multi- “Third Culture Kid.” That essay, as a gift from the Afghan king.) In engine flights between Morocco and which was read at her memorial serv- 1968, Mr. Suma returned to Washing- Spain, and hunt wolves on the Chinese ice, is this month’s Reflections column ton, D.C., where he served as a fi- border. (see p. 88). nance officer in the East Asia Bureau. Finally, in 2004, Mr. Rosenquist Besides her parents, Alison leaves In 1970, he was assigned to the bought his “fixer-upper,” and he and behind her beloved sister, Caitlin USAID mission in the Dominican his wife retired to central Pennsylva- Smyth of Newport News, Va.; her Republic, where he served as a proj- nia, where he joined the Senatorial grandparents, Ronald and Alyce ect development officer and an ad- Circle of the Republican Party, Smyth of Bend, Ore.; her grand- viser on financial markets and opened a forge for “one-off” pieces, mother Kathleen Sullivan of Atlanta, institutions. The couple enjoyed the refined his “secret steak sauce,” and Ga.; and many loving friends around country’s beautiful beaches, and Mr. enjoyed rebuilding his almost-200- the globe. Suma became an avid sailor. In 1976,

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he was assigned as the chief of portant role in increasing funding for tics and boating on the Chesapeake. USAID’s Capital Development Office private-sector projects in Egypt. Mr. Suma is survived by his wife, in Bogota. In 1987, he was assigned as chief P. Becky Suma, of McLean, Va., and In 1978, Mr. Suma took up a chal- of the Office of Private Sector Devel- two grown children, who reside in Sao lenging assignment in Managua. Dur- opment in Panama. This posting was Paulo and Washington, D.C. ing his two-year tour of duty, a period cut short by Panamanian President of national political turmoil which in- Manuel Noriega’s termination of the cluded the last year of the Somoza dy- USAID program. Upon his return to nasty and the first year of the Sand- Washington, Mr. Suma served in the Rush Walker Taylor Jr., 75, a re- inista regime, he oversaw the imple- Bureau of Latin American and Carib- tired FSO and former ambassador, mentation of a $100 million project to bean Affairs until his retirement from died on March 7 at the Capital Hos- reconstruct facilities destroyed by the the Foreign Service in 1989. He re- pice in Arlington, Va. civil war. ceived numerous citations and merit Mr. Taylor was born in Little Rock, Mr. Suma was subsequently post- awards during his career. Ark. His family moved to Crockett, ed to Cairo, where he served as the di- In retirement, Mr. Suma remain- Texas, when he was 9 years old. He rector of the Office of Finance and ed active. He worked as a consultant attended Harvard University, where Investment from 1980 to 1986. Dur- with various companies until 1995. A he received his bachelor’s degree, and ing this period, he managed USAID’s fanatical BMW owner, he collected the University of Virginia, where he largest overseas private sector devel- cars. He also enjoyed gardening, in- earned his J.D. opment program and played an im- vesting, participating in Virginia poli- Mr. Taylor served in the U.S. Army

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for two years with the Special Forces Hildegard Elisabet Wachob, 81, Mrs. Wachob is survived by her in Heidelberg, and was a courier for wife of retired FSO James Wachob, of husband, James, of Chevy Chase, Md.; the Laos Conferences in Geneva in Chevy Chase, Md., died on Feb. 14 at her daughter, Juanita Allen Kingsley, of 1962, the same year he joined the Clark House in Westwood, Mass., after Dedham, Mass.; her son, Richard, and Foreign Service. a long battle with Parkinson’s disease his wife, Mary, of Westwood, Mass.; Mr. Taylor’s overseas posts in- and spinal cancer. and three adoring grandchildren, Ur- cluded Yaoundé, Libreville, Rome, Mrs. Wachob was born in Breite- sula, Colin and Aaron. Florence, Oporto, Nassau and Bissau. nau, in 1928, to Pastor Ernst Henn and His final posting was as ambassador his wife, Caroline Schellhorn Henn. to Togo from 1988 to 1990. There he She was the second-oldest of eight was instrumental in establishing a children; five of her siblings survive Jim Wilkinson, 72, a retired FSO, free trade zone. He also planned the her. Her youth included the hard work died on April 1, at his home in Santa Togolese president’s successful first of caring for younger brothers and sis- Rosa, Calif., of an apparent heart at- official visit to the United States. Mr. ters. She enjoyed hiking with her fa- tack. Taylor received that country’s highest ther in the German countryside, A native of New York, Mr. Wilkin- award for exceptional contributions playing the organ at church and at- son graduated from the California In- to U.S.-Togolese relations. tending hotel management school. stitute of Technology as a math major His stateside tours included serv- She married James Wachob in in 1959. He later pursued Russian ice on the Italy desk from 1967 to 1955, and for the next 35 years they studies at the Australian National Uni- 1969, as special assistant to Secretary lived in six foreign countries: Austria, versity from 1962 to 1963. of State William Rogers from 1970 to Czechoslovakia, Switzerland, the Cen- He joined the Foreign Service in 1972, as senior management analyst tral African Republic, Swaziland and 1962 and, during the next decade, in the Office of the Inspector General West Germany. She was employed as served in Canberra, Munich, Bangkok from 1979 to 1981, as director of the an administrative assistant at the and Washington, D.C. In 1973, he was Office of Press Relations from 1981 American embassy in Prague and as a assigned to the Soviet desk. He was to 1983, and as deputy U.S. coordi- teacher of German in the American posted to Moscow from 1974 to 1976, nator for international communica- consulate general in Frankfurt. She returning to the Soviet desk until 1979, tions and information policy from was engaged in local community wel- when he was assigned to Bangkok as 1983 to 1988. fare activities during her family’s resi- political counselor. From 1983 to 1985, Ambassador Taylor retired from dence in the Central African Republic he served as deputy chief of mission at the Foreign Service in 1990 with the and in the Kingdom of Swaziland. Embassy Berlin (East). He then re- rank of minister counselor. He then Mrs. Wachob loved caring for her turned to Washington as deputy assis- entered the private sector, serving husband, their children and their tant secretary of State for European first as president of Cie. Des Bauxites grandchildren. Her home and garden affairs and U.S. special Cyprus coordi- de Guinea in Guinea, West Africa; were an inspiration to many. Hun- nator from 1985 to 1989. then as executive director of the dreds of houseguests were privileged In 1989, Mr. Wilkinson was named United States–Angola Chamber of to enjoy her hospitality. She enjoyed deputy U.S. representative on the U.N. Commerce; and, finally, as vice pres- reading, walking and praying. She was Security Council, with the rank of am- ident of HSBC Equator Bank. an ardently faithful woman, serving in bassador. He served concurrently as Amb. Taylor is survived by his wife several capacities at St. Dunstan’s Epis- deputy for management of the U.S. of 45 years, Joanna Bellows of Arling- copal Church in Bethesda, Md.; she Mission to the United Nations, head of ton, Va.; three daughters, Ann Taylor regularly spoke of the joy it would be to the U.S. delegation to the U.N. Trust- of Alkmaar, Netherlands, Charlotte meet her Maker. eeship Council and alternate U.S. rep- Taylor of Providence, R.I., and Emily Family members recall how she resentative to the U.N. General As- Taylor of New York City; one son, taught by example with her quiet dig- sembly. Patrick Mensah of Woodbridge, Va.; nity, her stoicism and her complete From 1991 to 1993, Mr. Wilkinson and nine grandchildren. selflessness. served as foreign policy adviser to the

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commander-in-chief of U.S. Pacific cal science at the University of Hawaii in our community — one with great forces in Honolulu. His last posting at Hilo from 1993 to 1994 and a mem- wit, a ready smile and a glib pointed was as interim chargé d’affaires in Vi- ber of the faculty of the Hellenic Insti- pen,” Mayor Susan Gorin wrote in an entiane from October through De- tute for Foreign and European Policy e-mail that notified many Santa Rosans cember 1993. annual seminars of Halki, Greece, from of his death. Close friend, ally and for- In 1993, Mr. Wilkinson married 1995 to 1997. From 2007 to 2010, he mer councilman Steve Rabinowitsh Ellen Boneparth, a retired FSO. taught a Model United Nations course called Wilkinson a community treasure. In retirement, Mr. Wilkinson wrote with his wife, Ellen, at Roseland Uni- Mr. Wilkinson is survived by his and taught. His publications include versity Prep in Santa Rosa. wife, Ellen Boneparth, of Santa Rosa; monographs on Greek-Turkish rela- Following his retirement, the cou- two daughters from an earlier marriage, tions and the Cyprus dispute and two ple settled in Santa Rosa, where he be- Pamela Wilkinson of New York City, books on the United Nations, The came involved in local politics. Mr. and Hilary Wilkinson (and her hus- Third Try: Can the U.N. Work? (with Wilkinson had just completed a book, band, Barth Grant) of Belle Mead, N.J.; Alison Broinowski, Scribe Publications, Who Rules Santa Rosa and Why It a grandson, Theodore Wilkinson-Grant Melbourne, 2005) and “Our Last Best Matters, and wrote a blog by the same of Belle Mead; and a sister, Beth Cut- Hope”: Why the United Nations Stum- name. His co-founding of Neighbor- ting of Connecticut. ■ bles and What the United States Should hood Alliance and other forms of ac- Do About It (with Alison Broinowski, tivism brought him the city’s Award for Send your In Memory iUniverse, Inc., 2007). Community Service in 2008. submission to [email protected]. He was a visiting lecturer in politi- “Jim was a force for positive change

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REFLECTIONS

I Am a Girl

BY THERESA ALISON SMYTH

am a girl, a girl named Al. I like dinary. I have stayed at the residences cream cheese, but I am not carved Layers of pink and of royalty, enjoying tea and spending Ifrom it. white flowers nights under the roof of a princess in I was born in Copenhagen but lived the snowcapped mountains of Swat. the longest part of my life in Peshawar, surrounded my face, I have touched the coarse fur of a sometimes traveling through tribal burying me so that camel as I rode it, and swayed upon areas in Afghanistan. I remember Pak- the undulating back of a water buffalo. istan through brief images. all I could see was a I played upon the real Little Mermaid When I arrived, I was covered in patch of blue sky. at age 2, and knew the Khyber Pass at flower garlands. Layers of pink and age 4. white flowers surrounded my face, I’ve snorkeled the Great Barrier burying me so that all I could see was a Reef, seen the Eiffel Tower by moon- patch of blue sky. I was awakened each and experienced the grandeur of the light and witnessed the changing of the day by the loud speaker of a mosque Taj Mahal in India. I’ve seen countless guard at Buckingham Palace. I met the announcing the call to prayer, and rode temples and forts amid the aroma of Jamaican bobsled team, and had an to school in a bulletproof car next to dust and heat, watching mischievous Olympic swim coach. I swam at a men driving horsecarts while dust monkeys steal cameras from unsus- beach where there were signs posted motes danced around me. pecting tourists. warning of the possibility of land mines I continued my travels, moving to I’ve seen multiple distant mountain and once had a bomb explode a block Sri Lanka and Jamaica, visiting sur- ranges that seemed familiar to me, and from my house. rounding countries, changing airplanes tasted sweet oranges on the mountain As a mentor for my school, I have like I changed my clothes. I’ve walked passes of Pakistan along the Grand been trained to recognize that diversity the clean streets of Singapore, the out- Trunk Road. I’ve swerved to miss goats is not just skin color or a person’s her- back of Australia, the wet canal path- and cowherding donkeys on the roads itage, but also the sum of one’s activi- ways of rural England and the bustling of Jamaica. I’ve held turtle hatchlings ties and experiences. I don’t know how avenues of Paris. and set them free in the Indian Ocean many Swedish-Irish-Scottish-Austrian- I’ve seen wild elephants and ele- under a banner of stars. Native Americans there are, but I do phant orphans, hog deer and rhinos, I learned to scuba-dive in an Aus- know that no one grocery store sells all and walked through the territory of a trian duchess’s pool at Blue Lagoon in my favorite foods. tiger at night with my sister to get to my Jamaica, and to ride a horse on a tiny I am a Third Culture Kid. ■ hotel room with nothing but a flash- farm in a rainforest. I have trekked light. I’ve watched Caribbean sunsets across the Himalayas on paths that are Theresa Alison Smyth, 21, daughter and Welsh sunrises, the colors blending now unsafe for Americans to traverse, of Foreign Service parents Richard H. like an artist’s palette. swimming in a pool at the summit of Smyth and Janice S. Smyth (retired), I have been in the palace of the Liv- one on Christmas Eve. died on Feb. 28 after a long illness. ing Goddess in Nepal and in the Tem- I’ve ridden elephants in Sri Lanka, This essay, which she wrote in 2005, ple of the Buddha’s Tooth in Sri Lanka, through jungles teaming with life unor- was read at her memorial service.

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