PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION SEPTEMBER 2019

PREVENTIVE DIPLOMACY WAR COMES TO WARSAW—1939 COMING OF AGE IN ZAIRE

FOREIGN SERVICE September 2019 Volume 96, No. 7

Focus on Preventive Diplomacy Features

42 Foreign Service Youth Foundation: 30 Years of Service Three decades after its founding, FSYF remains focused on helping our young people adapt to changing environments as they transition between posts worldwide. By John K. Naland ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/MHJ 45 25 34 War Comes to Warsaw— We Have to Be There Predicting September 1939 The rise of risk aversion at the and Preventing A riveting look back at the State Department has undermined Intrastate Violence: German invasion of Poland 80 years U.S. diplomats’ ability to work Lessons from Rwanda ago that ignited World War II. effectively, with serious unintended An FSO and former By Ray Walser consequences for national security. ambassador to Rwanda reflects By Anne Woods Patterson on the ability to predict and prevent intrastate violence. 30 By David Rawson Getting Preventive Stabilization on the Map 39 Two practitioners discuss the Measures Short of War challenges of conflict prevention in An excerpt from the first the modern age. of the George F. Kennan Lectures By David C. Becker delivered at the National War and Steve Lewis College, 1946-1947. By George F. Kennan

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2019 5 FOREIGN SERVICE

Editor-in-Chief, Director of Publications Shawn Dorman: [email protected] www.afsa.org Senior Editor Susan Brady Maitra: [email protected]

Managing Editor CONTACTS Kathryn Owens: [email protected] AFSA Headquarters: ADVOCACY Associate Editor (202) 338-4045; Fax (202) 338-6820 Director of Advocacy Cameron Woodworth: [email protected] State Department AFSA Office: Kim Greenplate: [email protected] (202) 647-8160; Fax (202) 647-0265 Publications Coordinator USAID AFSA Office: BUSINESS DEPARTMENT Dmitry Filipoff: [email protected] (202) 712-1941; Fax (202) 216-3710 Director of Finance and Facilities Advertising Manager FCS AFSA Office: Femi Oshobukola: [email protected] Allan Saunders: [email protected] (202) 482-9088; Fax (202) 482-9087 Controller Kalpna Srimal: [email protected] Art Director GOVERNING BOARD Controller, Accounts Payable and Caryn Suko Smith President Administration Editorial Board Hon. Eric S. Rubin: [email protected] Cory Nishi: [email protected] Alexis Ludwig, Chair Secretary Administrative Assistant and Office Manager Hon. Robert M. Beecroft Ken Kero-Mentz: [email protected] Ana Lopez: [email protected] Daniel Crocker Treasurer Joel Ehrendreich Virginia L. Bennett: [email protected] COMMUNICATIONS AND MEMBERSHIP Harry Kopp State Vice President Director of Communications and Membership Jess McTigue Thomas Yazdgerdi: [email protected] Ásgeir Sigfússon: [email protected] Christopher Teal USAID Vice President Joe Tordella Senior Manager of Programs and Member Jason Singer: [email protected] Vivian Walker Engagement FCS Vice President Hon. Laurence Wohlers Christine Miele: [email protected] Dinah Zeltser-Winant Jay Carreiro: [email protected] Manager of Outreach and Internal FAS Vice President Communications Michael Riedel: [email protected] Allan Saunders: [email protected] THE MAGAZINE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS Retiree Vice President Online Communications Manager PROFESSIONALS John K. Naland: [email protected] Jeff Lau: [email protected] The Foreign Service Journal (ISSN 0146-3543), State Representatives 2101 E Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20037-2990 is Coordinator of Member Relations and Events published monthly, with combined January-February Joshua C. Archibald Ashley Baine: [email protected] and July-August issues, by the American Foreign Service Matthew Dolbow Coordinator of Member Recruitment Association (AFSA), a private, nonprofit organization. Holly Kirking Loomis and Benefits Material appearing herein represents the opinions of the Kristin Michelle Roberts writers and does not necessarily represent the views of Perri Green: [email protected] the Journal, the Editorial Board or AFSA. Writer queries Tamir Waser Retirement Benefits Counselor and submissions are invited, preferably by email. The Lillian Wahl-Tuco Dolores Brown: [email protected] Journal is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, USAID Representative photos or illustrations. Advertising inquiries are invited. Awards and Scholarships Coordinator All advertising is subject to the publisher’s approval. Lorraine Sherman Theo Horn: [email protected] AFSA reserves the right to reject advertising that is not FCS Alternate Representative in keeping with its standards and objectives. The appear- Vacant LABOR MANAGEMENT ance of advertisements herein does not imply endorse- FAS Alternate Representative ment of goods or services offered. Opinions expressed in General Counsel advertisements are the views of the advertisers and do Mary Parrish Sharon Papp: [email protected] not necessarily represent AFSA views or policy. Journal USAGM Representative Deputy General Counsel subscription: AFSA member–$20, included in annual Steve Herman dues; student–$30; others–$50; Single issue–$4.50. Raeka Safai: [email protected] For foreign surface mail, add $18 per year; foreign airmail, APHIS Representative Senior Staff Attorneys $36 per year. Periodical postage paid at Washington, D.C., Jeffery Austin Zlatana Badrich: [email protected] and at additional mailing offices. Indexed by the Public Retiree Representatives Neera Parikh: [email protected] Affairs Information Services (PAIS). Mary Daly Labor Management Counselor Email: [email protected] Philip A. Shull Colleen Fallon-Lenaghan: Phone: (202) 338-4045 [email protected] Fax: (202) 338-8244 STAFF Senior Labor Management Advisor Web: www.afsa.org/fsj Chief Operating Officer James Yorke: [email protected] Russ Capps: [email protected] © American Foreign Service Association, 2019 Labor Management Coordinator Senior Adviser, Strategic Communications Patrick Bradley: [email protected] PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. Lynne Platt: [email protected] Grievance Counselors Postmaster: Send address changes to Office Coordinator Heather Townsend: [email protected] AFSA, Attn: Address Change Therese Thomas: [email protected] Pete Lyon: [email protected] 2101 E Street NW Executive Assistant Law Clerk Washington DC 20037-2990 Richard Bruner: [email protected] Vacant

PROFESSIONAL POLICY ISSUES Director of Professional Policy Issues Julie Nutter: [email protected]

6 SEPTEMBER 2019 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL FOREIGN SERVICE

Perspectives Departments

9 93 12 Letters Reflections President’s Views 15 Talking Points Progress and New Priorities Coming of Age in Zaire By Eric Rubin By Fred LaSor 74 In Memory 84 Books 11 94 Letter from the Editor Local Lens Averting Conflict Cappadocia, Turkey Marketplace By Shawn Dorman By Tom Fenton 22 86 Classifieds 88 FS Community Businesses Speaking Out How to Strengthen 89 Real Estate Human Rights Diplomacy 92 Index to Advertisers By Samuel C. Downing

AFSA NEWS THE OFFICIAL RECORD OF THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION

51 New AFSA Board Takes Office 52 State VP Voice—Starting Out 53 USAID VP Voice—My Journey to … AFSA VP 54 Retiree VP Voice—Strength in Numbers 54 Looking Ahead to the FS and AFSA Centennial 55 FCS VP Voice—Navigating the Challenges Ahead 55 AFSA Supports Diplomacy at USGLC Event 56 Where We Stand—All Diplomacy Is (Eventually) Local 57 Meet the 2019-2021 AFSA Governing Board 51 62 The New FSJ Editorial Board Members 64 The FSJ Welcomes New Associate Editor 70 Professional Careers for FS Family Members: 64 AFSA Welcomes New Grievance Counselor A Webinar 65 George F. Kennan Writing Award Winner Announced 70 AFSA Promotes Economic, World Diplomacy 66 AFSA Recognizes Foreign Service Youth 71 FSJ Wins 2019 Excel Award 67 Governing Board Meeting Notes 71 Overseas Post Info Now Available to Family Members 68 Next Stage: How Your FS Background 72 Ambassador Stephenson Reviews AFSA Efforts Adds Value in the Private Sector in Final Webinar 68 Scenes from AFSA’s Summer Happy Hour 72 AAFAA Awards Internship Stipend 69 AFSA Welcomes Newest Foreign Service Members 73 Good News on Virginia In-State Tuition Eligibility

On the Cover–iStockPhoto.com/MHJ

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2019 7

PRESIDENT’S VIEWS

Progress and New Priorities

BY ERIC RUBIN

his is my first monthly column, to meet the needs of FS children. What future. The shift of positions from Iraq and I want to start by thanking many saw as a “gotcha” approach from the and Afghanistan offers us a once-in-a- my fellow AFSA members for Bureau of Medical Services is, we hope, generation chance to get this right. Tsupporting me and the other now being replaced with a “How can we I’ll be spending a lot of time on members elected to our new board this help you serve overseas?” attitude. Capitol Hill this fall, briefing members summer. I am grateful for your confidence, Obviously, implementation will be and staff on budget needs and priorities, and I will do my best to keep it. I also know critical. We will continue to monitor this and encouraging continued support for that the challenges we face are not going closely and work with MED on other full funding for the foreign affairs agen- to be easy. issues of concern. cies. We made good progress this year, First, the good news: our new lead- Getting more Foreign Service mem- and the budget agreement approved by ership team at AFSA has established bers out into the field is going to be our Congress and signed by the president is a positive and constructive working biggest priority in the coming months. a big step forward. relationship with the Director General, We are working with the leadership of Speaking of recruitment and hiring, Ambassador Carol Perez, and her prin- our agencies, pressing them to move none of our agencies is doing nearly well cipal deputy, Ambassador Ken Merten. the positions being cut from Iraq and enough on diversity. The most recent There is already progress to report. Afghanistan back to the posts from numbers are discouraging: as of this For State Department officers and spe- which many of them were taken in past June, 81 percent of Foreign Service cialists, the Fair Share requirement for bid- the previous decade. If the “Iraq (and officers and 75 percent of specialists ding was eliminated, although it remains Afghanistan) tax” is going to be a thing are white, while 59 percent of officers in some promotion precepts. We will work of the past, we cannot and must not and 71 percent of specialists are men. with State management to ensure this simply use the reductions in these posts The Senior Foreign Service is 89 percent change is reflected in all policy documents (and others) as a cost-saving measure, white and 68 percent male. and SOPs. And we will work with man- or to add jobs in Washington, D.C. Programs like the Pickering and Ran- agement to ensure that the Professional The Foreign Service is needed in the gel Fellows and recruitment at diverse Development Program will not derail field. Our members want to serve over- educational institutions are helping career advancement for our members. seas: that is why they joined the Service in bring in Foreign Service classes that look Thanks to a shared intensive effort, the first place. If we are going to meet the more like America, but our senior ranks State is making significant changes to challenges of a resurgent China—which do not reflect this diversity. the Special Needs Education Allowance is ramping up its diplomatic presence in We can do better. We must do better. program and to the entire approach to almost every country—and address our To represent America in 2019, the For- Foreign Service families with special other critical national security challenges, eign Service must be representative of needs children. we can’t do it without adequately staffing the country. AFSA stands ready to work The June ALDAC our missions overseas. with the leaders of all foreign affairs cable made clear that A shortage of opportunities to serve agencies to meet this challenge. the primary goal will overseas also has a direct negative I welcome your views and sugges- be to help Foreign impact on promotion eligibility and tions on how AFSA can serve you better Service members critical skills development necessary and advance our common goals more serve overseas and to create Foreign Service leaders of the effectively. n

Ambassador Eric Rubin is the president of the American Foreign Service Association.

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2019 9

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Averting Conflict

BY SHAWN DORMAN

here’s not usually a lot of fanfare lessons from their work on preventive and public attention to the things stabilization and recent discussions on that don’t happen, to the conflicts conflict prevention, offering insight into its Tavoided. Yet the diplomacy that— basic elements. in ways large and small—keeps situations Ambassador (ret.) David Rawson dis- from getting out of control, stops violence cusses whether it is possible to predict and or conflict from escalating, is critical. prevent intrastate violence. As ambassa- Diplomatic efforts don’t always succeed, dor to Rwanda in 1994, he knows firsthand but one could argue that it’s always better how difficult this challenge can be. to try. The wisdom in George Kennan’s Our focus this month is preventive lecture—“Measures Short of War (Diplo- diplomacy, which at first glance might beg macy),” from the collection of lectures he the question: What other kind of diplomacy presented at the National War College in is there? Isn’t the fundamental job of diplo- 1946—bears repeating. We excerpt it here. macy to use engagement as a way to stabi- We hope to expand the FSJ discussion lize or advance relations? True enough. of this important topic in an upcoming But preventive diplomacy refers, in issue with a view from the State Depart- particular, to the use of “measures short of ment’s Bureau of Conflict and Stabiliza- war” to avert conflict altogether or prevent tion Operations, including a look at how it from spiraling into outright warfare. the bureau has evolved and what the This can range from the everyday diplo- current priorities are. macy of maintaining working relationships September 2019 marks 80 years since with in-country actors and authorities the German invasion of Poland that to the creation and implementation of sparked World War II, and historian Ray interagency (and, indeed, international) Walser brings us the story of Embassy programs to address issues or situations in Warsaw and its unflappable ambassador, other countries that are particularly desta- Anthony J. Drexel Biddle Jr., along with bilizing and may lead to conflict. photos from those dark days. Ambassador Anne Patterson leads In the Speaking Out, FSO Samuel the focus with a sobering look at the state Downing offers suggestions for improving of State today and the current culture of human rights diplomacy work in the field. risk aversion. If we’re not there, if we’re Foreign Service Youth Foundation Presi- avoiding all risk, then how can we practice dent John Naland tells us how the FSYF preventive diplomacy, came to be 30 years ago and what it’s up to even in the everyday today. And FSO (ret.) Fred LaSor reflects sense? on “Coming of Age in Zaire.” FSO (ret.) David As always, we want to hear from you. Becker and Lt. Col. Send letters and article submissions to Steve Lewis share [email protected]. n

Shawn Dorman is the editor of The Foreign Service Journal.

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2019 11 LETTERS

Immigration United States has been in the century to come, given coastal Thank you for your the major donor for inundations from sea rise, desertifica- June focus on migration. temporary resettlement tion, acute water shortages and the loss I found useful perspec- abroad. of agricultural productivity in many tives despite having been For the rest of the areas of the globe, especially in the immersed in immigra- migrant flow to the developing world. tion policy research United States, our his- Can anyone truly imagine that the after retiring for nearly tory reflects a welcoming United States and Europe—the most as long as the 28 years policy toward those who desired migrant havens—could even I served in the Foreign come in accordance with begin to accept this human tsunami Service. (It was a nice the provisions of our laws. without mortal damage to their social surprise to find my 2001 Those criteria discriminate systems, economies and political article on immigration quoted in the FSJ in ways intended to protect national democracy? Just note what the intake in archive excerpts on p. 36.) interests and will always be fair game recent years of a “mere” several million It is axiomatic that the issue is com- for debate as the country and its people Syrian and other refugees has done to plex and vexing. But a couple of aspects change. the politics of Europe. that escaped the authors’ commentaries The current debate about immigra- The answer, I deeply regret to say, are worth noting here. tion policy is welcome, but it should is to abandon generosity, which came First, the perspective from Haiti of not be based on partisan politics and cheap when migrant numbers were the dissimilar treatment of Haitian and should heed the myriad interests of the vastly lower; harden our hearts; and for- Cuban migrants may have seemed to citizenry, rather than the aspirations of tify our borders and our internal control intentionally slight the Haitians, but would-be immigrants and those whose systems. And yes, with sufficient will and that is not the case; nationals of other presence here is in violation of our laws. effort, our borders can be defended. countries are similarly treated. Jack Martin We may be headed toward a more Cubans enjoy a unique status FSO, retired Hobbesian world. Best to get used to because of the Cuban Adjustment Act Washington, D.C. it, because the average American voter that, in effect, confers refugee status to will, even if some elites cling to noble all Cubans who set foot on U.S. soil. The A Very Different View on but outdated illusions. act dates to 1966 when those leaving the Issue of Migration I don’t like the nasty world to come, the country were seen as anti-Castro The three articles in the June issue on but a different reality requires differ- heroes. migration will not simply be overtaken, ent values. If you disagree, then please Since it has made little sense for but swept aside by future events. tell me why global climate change and decades, Congress should repeal the act The articles variously assert that resultant epochal, massive attempted to remove the dissimilar treatment of mass immigration is inevitable, that it migration flows are not going to hap- Cubans. can best be managed by distributing the pen, and why you think the United Second, immigration policy and load among recipient countries and that States could absorb them without practice necessarily reflect a national it is a moral duty on the part of recipi- catastrophe. perspective. International standards ents to rescue the downtrodden of the Marc E. Nicholson tend to dictate national practice only in world. Such elite shibboleths helped FSO, retired the area of refugees—but, even there, give us the U.S. politics we “enjoy” today. Washington, D.C. issues of national security play a role. If you believe, as I do, that global Until recently, the United States was climate change will advance too far Carolinians in the Early accepting more refugees—as identified before the world finally wakes up and U.S. Diplomatic Service by the United Nations High Commis- belatedly takes serious action, you must Henry Laurens—who was imprisoned in sioner for Refugees—than the rest of accept the inevitability of not tens but London, as “Henry of the Tower” in the the world combined. In addition, the hundreds of millions of climate migrants June 50 Years Ago item recounts—was

12 SEPTEMBER 2019 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL a South Carolinian and newly commis- views of the host government’s policies Will the leaks affect U.S.-British rela- sioned member of the fledgling U.S. diplo- and activities; this could be positive, but tions or, more broadly, U.S.-European matic service of the Continental Congress. much was negative, as well. relations? Other than a brief U.S.-British Another South Carolinian, Ralph Amb. Darroch’s evaluation of the chill, I think not. Izard, was also tasked by the Conti- Trump administration shouldn’t sur- Generally speaking, official and pri- nental Congress to join the American prise anyone. The verdict is shared by vate foreign policy circles in this coun- diplomatic team in Europe as commis- many, if not most, Washington com- try were well aware that the analysis sioner to Tuscany. mentators—and not only liberals, but in Darroch’s cables was already widely Although for many reasons Izard reflective conservatives like Michael believed by the governments of our never made it to Florence, he did associ- Gerson and George Will. European allies. Perhaps only Trump ate with Benjamin Franklin, Silas Deane The administration’s reaction is also himself was surprised. and Arthur Lee in Paris, from whence his no surprise. What administration would Last, I congratulate Amb. Darroch on reporting to the Continental Congress not object to the characterization of its doing the right thing by resigning. Even was clear and correct. Izard was later U.S. president and operations in the terms though I agree with the ambassador’s senator from South Carolina. used by Darroch? evaluation, it is clear he could no longer See “Envoy Designate” in the Spring The fact that it was leaked is more be effective in his role. He no longer 2016 edition of Carologue, a publication interesting. Who leaked, and why? Were has credibility with it and was correct of the South Carolina Historical Society, the supposedly secure British commu- to step aside and let another British or rwandakenya.blogspot.com (2016) nications systems hacked? The media ambassador deal with the difficult bilat- for more on Izard’s diplomatic efforts. reporting has used the term “leak,” eral relationship. n Robert E. Gribbin suggesting an insider, undoubtedly with Christopher E. Goldthwait FSO, retired an agenda. Ambassador, retired Springfield, Virginia This is a particularly disturbing and Washington, D.C. very sad development. More and more An Ambassador Caught people today believe that such acts Being Honest are justified when their own values are The leak in July of confidential British compromised by their employing orga- embassy cables is certainly the most nizations, despite commitments they interesting story about diplomatic have made to maintain the confidential- Washington to surface so far this year. ity of internal discussions. In it, messages transmitted under the What will be the impact of this leak? signature of Ambassador Sir Kim Dar- Will it discourage frank reporting from roch described the Trump administra- embassies to their governments? Yes tion as “inept” and “dysfunctional.” The and no. I cannot, for example, see it following comments come to mind. affecting any reporting from our Ameri- Share your First, in reporting his views, the can embassies. thoughts about ambassador was merely doing his job. But there are cases in which policy Reporting about the government of the issues concerning an embassy’s host this month’s issue. country is a top responsibility of any country may be fiercely debated within embassy. The honesty of this reporting the embassy’s home government. is supposed to be protected by its clas- Such was rumored to be the case with Submit letters sification (i.e., the inability of outside France’s Africa policy during my time in to the editor: individuals or organizations to access Chad. Under these circumstances, I can [email protected] the reporting). imagine ambassadors tempering their 1 During my 4 /2 years as ambassador official reporting in fear of leaks that in Chad, we constantly reported our could hurt them personally.

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2019 13

TALKING POINTS

Secretary Pompeo Establishes New Rights Commission ecretary of State Mike Pompeo Sannounced the formation of a Com- mission on Unalienable Rights to redefine human rights at a press conference on July 8. “The Commission will provide fresh

thinking about human rights discourse STATE OF DEPARTMENT U.S. where such discourse has departed Chair of the Commission on Unalienable Rights Mary Ann Glendon delivers remarks to the press at the State Department on July 8, as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo listens. from our nation’s founding principles of State Spokesperson Morgan Ortagus is at left. natural law and natural rights,” accord- ing to the department notice. In his press 251 named signatories (including former Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, conference, Secretary Pompeo said the senior-level U.S. government officials, writes in the July 10 Washington Post, commission would offer advice to him faith-based leaders, scholars) sent a letter that he sees only a slim chance the through an “informed review of the role of to Sec. Pompeo urging him to disband the commission can be constructive: “The human rights in foreign policy.” commission. They object to the commis- commission’s members are primar- The goal of the commission, Sec. sion’s stated purpose, “which we find ily conservative but also the kind of Pompeo told reporters in May, would be harmful to the global effort to protect individuals that, in normal times, would to sort out “how do we connect up what the rights of all people and a waste of be taken seriously. These are not normal it is we’re trying to achieve throughout resources.” times. The people running this will need the world, and how do we make sure that They also object to “the commission’s to bend over backward to demonstrate we have a solid foundation of human make-up, which lacks ideological diver- good faith to skeptics. On this issue, the rights upon which to tell all our diplomats sity and appears to reflect a clear interest administration they serve has dug a hole around the world. …It’s an important in limited human rights, including the for itself. It is possible that this commis- review of how we think about human rights of women and LGBTQI individuals; sion can level the ground. It is not very rights inside of our efforts in diplomacy.” and the process by which the commission likely.” The commission is billed as a biparti- came into being and is being adminis- A shift to “natural law” would mean a san group of 10 scholars and experts. The tered, which has sidelined human rights step away from the accepted definition State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, experts in the State Department’s own that “modern human rights are based on Human Rights and Labor is not involved. [DRL] Bureau.” the dignity inherent in all human beings, Secretary Pompeo announced July 8 that On the same day, 23 Democratic sena- not on God-given rights,” former Assistant Kiron Skinner would serve as executive tors sent a letter expressing “deep concern,” Secretary for DRL Harold Koh told The secretary. (Skinner headed State’s Policy stating that the signatories “vehemently New York Times. Planning Office until she was fired on disagree that there is any ‘confusion’ over “On the one hand it’s commendable Aug. 2.) what human rights are. …It seems that that the secretary wants to place more The commission is chaired by Mary the administration is reluctant—or even emphasis on these issues, given that Ann Glendon, a Harvard Law profes- hostile—to protecting established interna- the administration to date has not been sor and former U.S. ambassador to the tionally recognized definitions of human very outspoken on them,” David Kramer, Holy See. Other members include Peter rights, particularly those requiring it to assistant secretary of State for human Berkowitz, Christopher Tollefsen and uphold protections for reproductive rights rights under President George W. Paolo Carozza. and the rights of marginalized communi- Bush, told Politico. “On the other hand, Many observers have raised concerns ties, including LGBT persons.” I’m not sure what this commission is about the new commission. Daniel Drezner, professor of interna- supposed to do that the human rights On July 23, 178 organizations plus tional politics at the Fletcher School of bureau doesn’t already do.”

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2019 15 New Mideast Economic Peace Plan? Contemporary Quote ared Kushner, President Donald JTrump’s adviser and son-in-law, Going forward, we must continue to hold Russia accountable when unveiled the first stage of the White its behavior threatens us and our allies. While much of what divides House plan to resolve the Israeli-Pales- us is irreconcilable, there are common interests we cannot ignore. No reset tinian conflict at an economic confer- or restart is going to help, just a clear understanding of our interests and ence in Bahrain on June 25. values—and a practical framework for sustained dialogue. The economic plan calls for $50 Through our diplomacy, we have worked to stabilize years of acrimony billion to be spent on regional invest- and incertitude with the hope of a better relationship. Failure is not an ment projects, with half of the money option, and the people on both sides deserve better. allocated to the West Bank and Gaza, While times are tough, it is critical that we increase exchanges of and the rest to Lebanon, Jordan and people and maintain channels for dialogue on issues of national interest— Egypt, according to a June 25 report in combatting terrorism, ensuring verifiable arms control, insisting that The Washington Post. Russia respect the sovereignty of its neighbors, and advocating for a more The Palestinian Authority boycotted responsive system of governance that includes rule of law and the conference, and Israeli leaders were respect for human rights. not invited. —Ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman, from his The Trump administration hopes to Aug. 5 resignation letter to President Donald Trump. raise the money for the economic plan from international donors, especially from countries of the Persian Gulf, The State Updates Special The changes are the result of a review New York Times reported June 22. The Needs Education Policy by a departmentwide work group con- plan calls for $5 billion to develop a FSA has welcomed the new vened last fall by Deputy Under Secretary transportation corridor between the A guidance updating and clarifying for Management William Todd. Still, some West Bank and Gaza. Department of State policy regarding Foreign Service community members, The administration plans to release members of the Foreign Service with who have expressed concern that the new the political component of its peace children with special educational needs, policy is short on specifics, are waiting to plan after the Israeli elections in Sep- which Under Secretary of State for Man- see how it will be implemented. tember. agement Brian Bulatao announced on AFSA has persistently flagged issues Palestinian officials have rejected June 28. affecting families with special educational the peace plan, arguing that the Trump The guidance explicitly encourages needs as one of the most widespread and administration’s pro-Israel moves— these members “to bid on and serve in deeply felt “pain points” affecting the For- such as moving the U.S. embassy from Tel foreign assignments,” declaring that “[it] eign Service. The association recognizes Aviv to Jerusalem, and recognizing Israel’s is in the department’s interest to facilitate the hard work done by working group annexation of the Golan Heights—mean it the overseas capacity of our workforce, members and other department officials, cannot be a neutral arbitrator. but more important, it is our ethos to put especially Deputy Assistant Secretary “First lift the siege of Gaza, stop the our people first.” for Human Resources Steve Walker, to Israeli theft of our land, resources and According to the new guidelines, it develop and execute the changes. funds, give us our freedom of movement is in the department’s interest to enable and control over our borders, airspace, members of the Foreign Service—includ- Craft Confirmed territorial waters etc.,” Hanan Ashrawi, ing those with children with special edu- as U.N. Ambassador a senior Palestinian negotiator, wrote on cational needs—to represent America at he Senate confirmed Kelly Knight Twitter. “Then watch us build a vibrant embassies and consulates overseas. The TCraft of Kentucky as U.S. ambassa- prosperous economy as a free and sover- guidance details practical steps to make dor to the United Nations on July 31. She eign people.” this possible (see 3 FAM 3280). had been serving as a political appointee

16 SEPTEMBER 2019 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL Bipartisan State Authorization Act Heard on the Hill Congress and have the resources, guidance I am very pleased this committee came and support they need to do their job. together to pass the first comprehensive —Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.), Department of State authorization bill in six opening statement at the House Foreign years. Its passage reasserts our constitutional Affairs Committee markup of the State Article I authority to provide direction to the Department Authorization Act, June 26. State Department. Not only is it our commit- tee’s responsibility to provide robust and con- We Support You tinued oversight of the department, but we owe Every member of the committee knows just it to our diplomats to ensure they have the best how crucial the State Department is to our

tools possible in an ever-evolving international JOSH national security. The department is the face landscape. This reauthorization streamlines of America abroad. Through its work, the and improves the department, provides cost saving measures United States secures its interests across the globe and helps in embassy construction while maintaining security, and our allies and partners improve their own capabilities and eliminates duplicative programs and outdated reports. face their own threats on a better footing. I’m grateful to have —Ranking Member Michael McCaul (R-Texas), opening met some of our diplomats and State Department person- statement at the House Foreign Affairs Committee markup nel both here in Washington and abroad. They are some of of the State Department Authorization Act, June 26. America’s finest, and by passing the State Authorization bill the committee sends them a clear message: we support and Critical Tools for Advancing National Security appreciate you. Diplomacy and development are critical tools for advancing —Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), in the House Foreign Affairs American foreign policy and national security. Today’s bipar- Committee press release ahead of the vote on the tisan legislation gets us back on the right track to strengthen State Department Authorization Act, July 23. and support the important work that America’s diplomats carry out every day on behalf of our country. … We are proud Unsung Heroes that today is the first step in making a State Department As a veteran, I understand the need for strong American lead- authorization a regular part of Congress’s business. ership on the world stage, both militarily and diplomatically. —Chairman Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.), opening statement at I firmly believe that our Foreign Service agencies, like State the House Foreign Affairs Committee markup of the Department and USAID, are the unsung heroes of conflict State Department Authorization Act, June 26. mitigation. I have seen firsthand how their work supports our allies by reducing poverty, promoting democracy and main- State Department’s Vital Work taining regional stability. As a former national security officer who has served overseas, —Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), I can attest to the vital work of the State Department and its in the HFAC press release, July 23. workforce. Our diplomatic corps, our Civil Service officers, and the contractors and local staff who support them, ensure Commitment to State’s Mission that U.S. interests and values are upheld around the world. We must ensure we are providing our diplomats with the They ensure we pursue diplomatic solutions and prevent resources necessary to represent America’s interests abroad, conflicts before they start. They ensure we have strong allies and to maintain peace and security throughout the world. and partners who will stand with us in times of crisis. And This reauthorization demonstrates our committee’s commit- they ensure we have economic opportunities for American ment to supporting the State Department and their important businesses and a safe, secure world for our children. This bill mission. is the first step in doing our part to ensure those officers who —Rep. Greg Pence (R-Ind.), in the represent us at home and abroad are represented here in HFAC press release, July 23.

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2019 17 ambassador to Canada since October the opportunity to participate.” In response to the “Not an Enemy” 2017. Craft is married to coal industry J. Stapleton Roy, a former U.S. ambas- letter, an opposing letter with 130 signa- magnate Joseph Craft III, who donated sador to China, and Susan Thornton, who tories, “Stay the Course,” appeared in The about $1 million to Trump’s inaugural recently served as acting assistant sec- Journal of Political Risk on July 18. committee. retary of State for East Asian and Pacific The signatories assert that the “past The vote was mostly along partisan affairs (and penned the July-August FSJ 40 years during which America pursued lines. Democrats argued that Craft lacked article, “Is American Diplomacy with an open policy of ‘engagement’ with the necessary qualifications and spent China Dead?”), are among the signatories. the PRC” contributed to the erosion of too much time away from Canada while Chinese coverage of the letter in U.S. national security, thus challenging ambassador there, according to the July the July 5 Global Times, a branch of an assumption made by many experts 31 Washington Post. the government’s People’s Daily, said it in recent decades that China would Craft spurred controversy when she “represented the rational side of public become a “responsible stakeholder” told a Canadian news outlet in 2017 opinion in the U.S. by stating the obvious once a sufficient level of economic prog- that there are scientists “on both sides” truth”—that the approach of seeking to ress is made. who are accurate about climate change, “contain” China is not what the American “This did not happen and cannot according to Vox. But she walked that public wants. [emphasis original] so long as the [Chi- position back at her Senate confirmation Yet the letter was still “filled with nese Communist Party] rules China,” hearing, stating: “Human behavior has prejudice against China and support for signatories say. Retired U.S. Navy captain contributed to the change in climate. Let U.S. hegemony,” Global Times stated. James Fanell, the letter’s primary author, there be no doubt.” But Craft stopped short of saying the United States should rejoin the Paris cli- SITE OF THE MONTH: IRAN SANCTIONS mate agreement, according to the Post. bit.ly/TrumpIranSanctions

U.S. China Policy lthough Iran has been sub- Is Hotly Debated A jected to a steady stream early 100 Asia specialists, including of sanctions since the country’s Nformer U.S. diplomats and military revolution in 1979, their depth officers, argue for a course correction in and breadth have been dramati- the administration’s policies toward China cally increased under the Trump in a letter, “China Is Not an Enemy,” pub- administration’s campaign of lished July 3 in The Washington Post. “maximum pressure.” 2016 after the agreement went into The letter’s signatories are “deeply This interactive infographic effect,” according to ICG. concerned about the growing deteriora- created by the International Crisis “Scores of international com- tion in U.S. relations with China” and Group categorizes all major unilat- panies announced that they would write that while they are “very troubled” eral U.S. sanctions imposed on Iran end or suspend their operations in by China’s recent behavior, “many U.S. since 2017 by year, type and location. Iran even before U.S. sanctions were actions are contributing directly to the Users can select sanctions by year, formally reimposed,” ICG notes. downward spiral in relations.” type of designee, kind of sanctions “These came in two major tranches: They express several concerns about and more. an initial set of non-oil sanctions on the current U.S. approach and make “President Trump ended U.S. 7 August 2018, and a second more recommendations for a more effective participation in the 2015 nuclear deal significant batch on 5 November bilateral relationship: The “best American with Iran in May 2018, and promised 2018 against over 700 persons and response … is to work with our allies and to snap back U.S. nuclear sanctions, entities, including around 300 new partners to create a more open and pros- which were suspended in January targets.” perous world in which China is offered

18 SEPTEMBER 2019 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL is a former director of intelligence and 50 Years Ago information operations for the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Profile in Conformity Meanwhile, a new iteration of the professional group sphere which conservative group, Committee on the Adevelops its own code of encourages a Present Danger: China, is calling for a new ethics—its values, ideals, pre- free exchange Cold War against China, according to The scribed behavior. … A Foreign of ideas; where Washington Post’s Josh Rogin on April 10. Service officer must: 1) Follow competing The group—which includes Reagan political decisions fully even alternatives administration Assistant Secretary for Defense Frank Gaffney, former White when he personally disagrees. are expressed House chief strategist and executive 2) maintain proper dress and on their merits; chair of Breitbart News Steve Bannon, manners. 3) Place the “good of the where decision-makers have the and several former defense and intel- Service” over his own personal good. benefit of the difference of opinion. ligence officials—is sounding an alarm 4) Be ready to serve anywhere in the Conformity here can be destructive, about the China threat. It frames the world in any job at the discretion of leading consciously or subcon- U.S.-China relationship as an existential the Secretary of State. sciously to stacking the deck in favor struggle between two civilizations that So said the overwhelming major- of the policy believed acceptable have irreconcilably opposed plans for the ity of 588 senior and middle grade or to dropping prematurely out of world order. FSOs polled by John E. Harr in 1966. contention. State Climate Change An identical survey of 550 junior —Edward S. Walker Jr., a member Testimony Barred officers taken … in 1967 … revealed of AFSA’s Board of Directors from Record similar priorities. Both young and serving on the Policy Planning tate Department senior intelligence old emphasize conformity. Council, excerpted from his article Sanalyst Rod Schoonover resigned in I take it on faith that the best of the same title in the September protest in July after the Trump admin- policy is developed in an atmo- 1969 Foreign Service Journal. istration blocked portions of his written congressional testimony about climate change and its implications for national security, The Wall Street Journal reported “In blocking the submission of the has no true analytic independence,” he on July 10. written testimony, the White House added. “I believe such acts weaken our Schoonover, an adjunct professor trampled not only on the scientific nation.” at Georgetown University, cited peer- integrity of the assessment but also on reviewed scientific articles and intel- the analytic independence of an arm of GRACE—A New ligence reports in arguing that climate the intelligence community,” Schoonover, Christian Affinity change could lead to increased resource who worked in State’s Bureau of Intel- Group at State competition, humanitarian crises and ligence and Research, wrote in a July 30 tate Department employees have political instability. New York Times opinion piece. “That’s Sestablished a new Christian affinity While the White House allowed why I recently resigned from the job I group, GRACE, with the goal of promot- Schoonover to give public testimony considered a sacred duty, and the institu- ing a support network for Foreign Service before the House Permanent Select tion I loved.” professionals and their families. Committee on Intelligence, it barred him “When a White House can shape or GRACE works to promote the ability from including evidence supporting his suppress intelligence analysis that it of employees to manifest religious beliefs conclusions in his written testimony, The deems out of line with its political mes- in general, and Christianity specifically, Wall Street Journal reported. saging, then the intelligence community in the workplace.

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2019 19 As of June, the group had 160 mem- and European Union countries partici- Study: U.S. Fails bers, according to its president, Stephen pated in the Estonian Ministry of Foreign to Counter Putin’s Dreyer, and recently held elections to Affairs’ Tallinn Summer School of Cyber “Grand Strategy” form a steering committee. It hosts dis- Diplomacy from July 22 to July 26. white paper, “Russian Strategic cussions between department employees Estonia’s MFA organized the confer- A Intentions,” prepared for the and clergy, teachers and other profes- ence for young diplomats who have Pentagon in May argues that the sionals on ethics, religious freedom recently been handed the challenging United States is underestimating Presi- and interfaith relations, and also has a task of cyber foreign policy making and dent Vladimir Putin’s “grand strategy” Facebook page. other government officials interested to increase Russia’s influence on the Membership is open to all depart- in complex cyber issues. The venue world stage, according to a June 30 ment employees and contractors in the was fitting: Estonia was the target of a Axios report. United States and overseas, regardless of 2007 cyber attack—one of the first ever The United States is ill-equipped to religious beliefs. To learn more about the committed, and widely believed to have counter the political warfare Russia is group, email GRACE-Steering been the work of Russians. waging against democracies, according [email protected]. The sessions focused on lessons to the more than 150-page white paper GRACE operates in compliance with learned from previous international prepared by some two dozen national the June notice of the State Department’s negotiations on cybersecurity issues, security experts. Office of Civil Rights, which reminded technical developments on the latest “Contrary to conventional analysis,” employees that Equal Employment cyberthreats, and international norms the report reads, “after two decades Opportunity laws prohibit the department and laws in cyberspace. The train- under Vladimir Putin, Russia represents from discriminating based on religion. ing concluded with a simulation of a an ideological challenge to the West, “A central tenet of this is that the Depart- real-world international cybersecurity not just a political and military rivalry. ment cannot favor religion over non- crisis, Britta Tarvis, media adviser for the Although NATO continues to possess religion, cannot favor non-religion over Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told impressive overmatch against Moscow, religion, and cannot favor one religion CyberScoop. that edge is dwindling, and Western over another,” according to the notice. The U.S. State Department’s former vulnerabilities in certain military areas More than a dozen affinity groups have top cyber diplomat, Chris Painter, who are alarming. been established in the State Depart- now serves as a commissioner for the “Moreover, the unwillingness of West- ment. They act to promote and strengthen Global Commission on the Stability of ern experts and governments to confront diversity and inclusion, networking and Cyberspace, was among the partici- the ideological—as well as political and cooperating with each other, and with pants. One of the key functions of the military—aspects of our rivalry with AFSA, which is the exclusive bargaining event, he said, was to help participants Putinism means that the threat of signifi- agent for the entire Foreign Service. understand some of the technical details cant armed conflict is rising.” Management interacts regularly with of different kinds of attacks. The report’s authors contend that the affinity groups to ensure fairness and Painter noted that it was only six disarray at home is hampering U.S. equity for individuals in the work envi- years ago that the United States held its efforts to respond—saying America lacks ronment both domestically and abroad, first bilateral cyber dialogue, with Japan, the kind of compelling “story” it used to and to eradicate harassment, intolerance to discuss sharing information on cyber- win the Cold War, according to Politico’s and discrimination. threats. In May 2019, the United States Bryan Bender. had its inaugural cyber dialogue with The unclassified report is a clear Estonia Holds the Dutch, and followed that in June warning from the military establish- Cyber Diplomacy with its third session with Estonia. ment to civilian leaders about a national Summer School The United States was represented at security threat that strategists fear, if riting in the July 29 edition of the summer school by U.S. Under Secre- left unchecked, could ultimately lead to WCyberScoop, Shannon Vavra tary of State for Arms Control and Inter- armed conflict. reports that 80 diplomats from 26 NATO national Security Andrea Thompson. The assessment also raises alarm

20 SEPTEMBER 2019 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL

In this space, we will share notable comments from presidential candidates that relate to the Foreign Service. Clements Worldwide clements.com I don’t spend my time at fancy closed-door fundraisers trading favors for money, and I’ll appoint only the most qualified person for the job. AFSPA In a Warren administration, I pledge not to give ambassadorial posts afspa.org to wealthy donors or bundlers. Period. —Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), who unveiled a new BMT Hirshorn foreign affairs campaign document, “Revitalizing Diplomacy: Foreign Service A 21st Century Foreign Service,” June 28. foreignservice.bmtc.com

Federal Employees about what the authors view as a that the clinical importance of the find- Defense Services burgeoning anti-American alliance by ings remains unclear. secure.fedsprotection.com Russia and China, and sees an urgent “It certainly does not resemble the Carrington Financial need for cooperation with Russia in key imaging presentation of traumatic brain Planning areas—especially in the realm of nuclear injury or concussion, although the carringtonfp.com weapons. [patients] present with clinical symptoms which are concussion-like,” Verma said. Patriot’s Colony Study Shows Impact “It says something happened, and we riversideonline.com/ on Cuba Diplomats’ need to look further, and that’s about it.” patriotscolony Brains he source of alleged sonic attacks Abolishing Positions Property Specialists, Inc. Tagainst U.S. diplomats in Cuba in Embassies? propertyspecialistsinc.com remains a mystery, but a new University n June, the Trump administration sent of Pennsylvania Perelman School of instructions to chiefs of mission to Per Diem Suites I perdiemsuites.com Medicine study of 40 patients showed abolish long-term vacant positions. variations in brain structure compared The instructions read: WJD Management to healthy subjects, CNN reported on “To enhance accountability and wjdpm.com July 25. efficiency, the President now requires “There were group differences all over all agencies to submit requests to the Chambers Theory the brain,” study author Ragini Verma, COM to abolish positions that have chamberstheory.com professor of radiology and neurosurgery been vacant for at least two years. These at the Perelman School of Medicine, requests must be submitted in accor- told CNN. dance with existing procedures outlined “Especially in an area called the in NSDD-38. The COM must decide to cerebellum, which is also implicated in approve or disapprove the request based the kind of clinical symptoms that most on the President’s priorities and consul- of these patients were demonstrating, tations with the requesting agency.” n which is balance, eye movement, dizzi- ness, etcetera.” This edition of Talking Points was Study authors note that they did not compiled by Cameron Woodworth, have access to earlier MRI scans of the Dmitry Filipoff, Steve Honley and Shawn patients to compare the results, and say Dorman.

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2019 21 SPEAKING OUT

How to Strengthen Human Rights Diplomacy

BY SAMUEL C. DOWNING

entral to the American experi- agenda too hard or too fast will put other performance evaluations for senior offi- ment is the struggle for greater areas of cooperation at risk. cials should reflect that fact explicitly. freedom. Thomas Jefferson’s Though for the past several decades Performance pay for members of the Crevolutionary assertion that there has been a clear bipartisan con- Senior Foreign Service should be linked, “governments are instituted among men, sensus for promoting human rights and in part, to achievements related to human deriving their just powers from democracy abroad, and many members rights and democracy. Employee evalu- the consent of the governed”—not to of the Foreign Service are called to dip- ation reports (EERs) for chiefs of mission glorify kings or even to pave highways, lomatic work because of their interest in and their deputies, and for assistant sec- but rather “to secure these rights” to human rights, the management struc- retaries and their deputies, should require “life, liberty and the pursuit of happi- ture for human rights work at the State examples related to democracy and ness”—is as revolutionary today as it Department does not reflect this mandate human rights. Promotion panels should was in 1776. and tends to disempower those who pur- be directed to base decisions, in part, on If the purpose of our government sue it. Our bureaucratic arrangements act such achievements. is to protect human rights, surely that to marginalize human rights work. should be the purpose of our diplomacy, Here are five proposed adjustments 2. Regrade Human Rights too. When America acts to advance our that could restore both its priority and Positions values and not just our interests, we effectiveness. Foreign governments get the message that strengthen our diplomatic clout on the human rights don’t really matter when world stage. Promoting our values is what 1. Rate Senior Officers on How the most junior officer at the embassy is makes American diplomacy unique—and They Do on Human Rights our main human rights advocate. uniquely challenging. First, we need to align the incentives Human rights diplomacy requires a Advocating for human rights triggers for senior officers to focus more of their mastery of the core competencies we passionate defenses from foreign officials energy on democracy and human rights. expect FSOs to develop over the course steeped in cultural contexts different from Too often, senior officers prioritize issues of their careers, yet most human rights our own. Progress on human rights defies where results are easier to quantify, like positions are entry-level. The effect of this easy measure. It tends to be incremental. opening foreign markets to U.S. compa- mismatch between responsibility and An intrepid human rights officer, nies or securing a status of forces agree- capability is to undercut the importance often the junior member of the political ment with a host government. accorded to human rights in the concep- section, must swim against the tide of These are important but obvious areas tion and execution of U.S. foreign policy. bureaucratic resistance from the prin- of focus for performance evaluations. But A human rights officer is better able ciple—oft stated, but rarely supported by the unique priorities of U.S. diplomacy to push back against bureaucratic inertia evidence—that pushing our human rights are democracy and human rights, and and reflexive concerns about “preserving the relationship” if she sits on the country Samuel C. Downing is a political officer in the U.S. Foreign Service. He currently team than if she sits on the committee of works on human rights policy toward Venezuela and the Andean region, Brazil first- and second-tour officers (FAST). and Mexico for the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor. He previ- One component of a human rights ously served in Cambodia and Brazil and was a Fulbright Fellow in Uruguay. officer’s job is drafting the annual human He began his career in government in Seattle and later managed democracy rights report on the host country. One of assistance programs for the National Democratic Institute. The views in this article are those of the department’s most widely read and the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Department of State or U.S. government. influential reporting documents, it can be

22 SEPTEMBER 2019 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL tedious to produce. This is one of the rea- Human rights diplomacy requires a mastery sons these positions are usually assigned to the entry level. But the department has of the core competencies we expect FSOs to streamlined requirements for the report develop over the course of their careers, yet significantly, and this is but one task most human rights positions are entry-level. among many for a human rights officer. An effective human rights officer leads diplomatic engagement year-round: that attacks on human rights defenders universal values local meaning and vigor. pressing host governments for progress receive the attention they deserve in our FSOs need to know these cultural touch- on emblematic cases; lobbying against foreign policy and foreign assistance. stones cold and be prepared to deploy legislative changes that would undermine Still, other important human rights them in their diplomacy. rights and freedoms; advising USAID and positions are graded too low. Cambodia Foreign Service Institute training pre- the Bureau of International Narcotics and is experiencing a disastrous reversal of its pares FSOs to parry charges of hypocrisy Law Enforcement Affairs on foreign assis- democratic experiment, yet the human on human rights (guidance: admit we are tance; ensuring our security relationships rights officer is an FS-4 position. The not perfect, but emphasize our inde- align with our human rights agenda; human rights officer in Mexico City was pendent court system endeavors to hold crafting strategy for the front office on until recently an FS-3 billet even though violators to account). democracy and human rights; and more. the incumbent has to manage rights But FSI area studies and human rights Many junior officers perform admira- reporting by nine constituent posts in instructors should design follow-on mod- bly in these difficult positions despite their a challenging country context. An FS-2 ules specific to each world region to help inexperience and the odds stacked against is now assigned to lead the embassy’s human rights officers advance universal them. Nevertheless, many others are set human rights and migration unit, but the values using the language of local cultural up to fail, and the corrosive effect is to practical effect of having a dual-hatted realities. FSOs need to understand where spread corridor wisdom that the way to get incumbent is to shortchange human the country to which they are assigned ahead as a political-coned FSO is to shy rights. stands on its democratic journey, and away from too much human rights work. how democratic transitions come about. Changing this reality requires re-grad- 3. Strengthen Human Rights The goal should be to explain how ing many of the human rights officer posi- Training with a Regional Focus FSOs can operate in a global context in tions to the mid-level FS-3, -2 and -1. The American evangelism for democratic which “a pervasive, at least ostensible, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and values can trigger passionate protests commitment to democratic government” Labor (DRL), which conducts an annual that we disrespect national sovereignty, has emerged, as Walzer puts it, in tandem policy review process to assign countries misunderstand cultural realities, discredit with “an equally pervasive, and more priority rankings based on human rights progress on social and economic indica- actual, commitment to cultural autonomy trends, should lead the effort to regrade tors, discount the difficulty of incremental and national independence.” human rights positions to coincide with change or destabilize challenging political The stories that resonate in Colombo the priority assigned each country. environments. are different from those that resonate in There are exceptions to the rule that For that reason, human rights diplo- Colombia. President Iván Duque Márquez field positions focused on human rights macy requires a deep understanding of has a bust of Abraham Lincoln on his are limited to the entry level. Given the other cultures and their values, so that desk, but he may be the exception that Colombian peace process, and responsi- we can identify and explain points of proves the rule; other Latin American bility for managing a sensitive high-vol- convergence—what the political philoso- leaders might be less receptive to hearing ume Leahy vetting portfolio, the human pher Michael Walzer calls “minimalist” about houses divided against themselves rights officer in Bogotá is an FS-2. The universal moral principles—in a language than to quotes from the likes of Benito incumbent wields the clout that normally that resonates with each culture’s particu- Juárez, president of Mexico from 1861 to comes with being a relatively senior offi- lar experience. 1872, who said: “Respect for the rights of cer. She has logged notable wins, ensuring The particularities of culture give others is peace.”

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2019 23 4. Realign Reporting effectively, and the officers could sensitize Speaking Out is the Journal’s opinion Structures DRL officials to the nuances of complex forum, a place for lively discussion Human rights work requires creativity to operating environments, enabling them of issues affecting the U.S. Foreign measure progress against realistic bench- to be more constructive in their guidance Service and American diplomacy. The views expressed are those of the marks that resist easy quantification. It and assistance. author; their publication here does not This reform would also make DRL requires a commanding familiarity with imply endorsement by the American the variety of tools at our disposal, rang- headquarters assignments more attrac- Foreign Service Association. ing from Global Magnitsky Act sanctions tive to FSOs, who are naturally concerned and human rights-related visa ineligibili- about securing a desirable follow-on U.S. investors) are our best trading part- ties, to foreign assistance programs, U.S. assignment abroad. ners, and democracies that derive their anti-corruption laws that apply overseas, Further, FS positions should be set stability from popular legitimacy (includ- United Nations and regional human rights aside in the Office of Global Program- ing militaries that defend the nation bodies and how to engage them, congres- ming, which manages democracy rather than the ruling elite) are our most sional certification requirements, human assistance grants from Washington but reliable military allies. rights criteria for foreign military sales, currently has no FS billets. Posts often Human rights officers need clout to and many others. complain that USAID has personnel on push back against repression and rights For this reason, the officials best the ground who can “de-conflict” duplica- abuses abroad, and also against argu- positioned to provide guidance and direc- tive assistance, whereas DRL efforts are ments from others in our midst that put tion to human rights officers in the field overseen by absentee landlords. our values second to our interests, failing are the specialists in DRL, and reporting Setting aside FS program slots in GP to recognize that over the long term, they structures should be revised to recognize would improve program coordination and are one and the same. this reality. DRL should have responsibil- alignment with embassy priorities. This Training and practice should focus ity for filling field positions for human would also provide FSOs with sought- on human rights as a complementary rights officers, who should then report after experience managing resources to element to our various other priorities: to both the regional bureau and to DRL, demonstrate readiness for promotion. human rights and economic develop- which would share responsibility for ment, human rights and environmental drafting EERs. 5. Recognize That in the stewardship, and human rights and There is precedent for this reporting Long Term, Our Values national security. That way, we reframe structure with the positions assigned to and Our Interests Align rights as an integral aspect of achieving INL abroad. Human rights diplomacy requires us other diplomatic goals—not a side gig or, It is true that some positions abroad to “challenge the old model that places worse, an impediment. are already assigned, in theory, based security and human rights in opposite With the return to great power on consultation between the regional poles,” says Charles Blaha, the director competition, we need to draw a clear bureau and DRL. In practice, however, the of DRL’s Office of Security and Human distinction with countries that do not regional bureaus maintain full control of Rights. “[A] growing body of experience share our values, such as China and “consultative staffing” positions because and research demonstrates that rights- Russia, by doubling down on our support they control the budgets funding them. respecting, accountable security forces for democracy to avoid repeating the Allocating DRL an equal share of the bud- are more operationally effective against mistakes we made during the Cold War. get for these positions would increase the violent extremists, insurgents and trans- Emphasizing human rights will be essen- responsiveness of human rights officers national criminal organizations” than tial to strengthening American credibility in the field to the DRL experts in Wash- forces that disregard human rights. and soft power around the world and ington. Human rights diplomacy requires a reversing the rise of illiberal democracies Strengthening DRL’s oversight role for nuanced understanding that, over the that do not protect civil rights. human rights positions abroad would long term, our interests and our values The reforms outlined here will be create a virtuous cycle whereby DRL converge. Governments that protect important to strengthening U.S. diplo- could help these officers perform more rights (including the property rights of macy for the challenges to come. n

24 SEPTEMBER 2019 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL FOCUS ON PREVENTIVE DIPLOMACY We Have to

BeBY ANNE WOODS PATTERSON ThereThe rise of risk aversion at the State Department has undermined U.S. diplomats’ ability to work effectively, with serious unintended consequences for national security.

or many years, the value added of U.S. diplo- mats was knowing more about foreign coun- tries and foreigners than any other countries’ diplomats. American embassies were larger, better financed and better prepared than any other diplomatic service on earth. We were called on to prevent international disputes and help our allies (and foes) navigate their internal disagreements. Every day, American embassies took thousands of small steps to build institutions Fto serve and protect American interests. It’s what “preventive diplomacy” is all about. That was then. This is now. Recently I have seen our capacity to prevent conflict and build institutions sharply erode, particularly in countries where local knowledge is most needed. This makes it more difficult for us to foresee problems, much less shape solu- tions. Our aversion to risk means that we know less—in fact, we

Anne Woods Patterson is a retired FSO who served as assistant secretary of State for Near Eastern affairs from 2013 to 2017. She previously served as U.S. ambassador to Egypt from 2011 to 2013, ambas- sador to Pakistan from 2007 to 2010, ambassador to Colombia from 2000 to 2003 and ambassador to El Salvador from 1997 to 2000. ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/MHJ

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2019 25 turn, foreigners friendly to the United States see closed embas- The growth of risk aversion sies, evacuations and withdrawals as abandonment. One has coincided with broader Saudi told me he used to know people in the embassy when cultural shifts that have altered Americans spent years in country; but with the short tours imposed after the attack on the Jeddah consulate in 2004, he our patterns of diplomatic hasn’t bothered much to get to know any American diplomats. engagement overseas to the Anyone he met would be gone soon; and they weren’t much detriment of local understanding. interested in meeting with him, either. The growth of risk aversion at State has diminished U.S. diplomacy, and this trend has coincided with broader cultural shifts that have altered our patterns of diplomatic engagement are blind in critical countries. So we made mistakes in Libya, overseas to the detriment of local understanding. in Egypt and in Saudi Arabia, because we did not have a good In the last 40 years, we have built the elites of the world understanding of the local scene. in our image. It is a huge success story for the United States. Fundamentally, the State Department has become pro- Foreigners who want their children to get ahead school them foundly reluctant to put people in harm’s way, under any cir- in English. Our business practices have become the gold cumstances. And because we are not on the ground in places standard of the world; our military is the best; many ambitious like northeastern Syria or Libya or Yemen, we have turned students in the world want to go to our schools. All this has more and more of the responsibility over to the Department of had positive benefits for the United States. As a result, how- Defense. Further, unpredictable withdrawals of personnel and ever, many prominent foreigners don’t read and write their closing of embassies make us look afraid; and that, too, has own language anymore (and, I would add, they often know long-term consequences. less about their own countries than we do). Not long ago I was This isn’t about not having enough money—that’s not the guest of an Arab minister; his toddlers, barely able to talk, new—or about the alleged tyranny of the Bureau of Diplo- rushed out to greet him in English. matic Security. In fact, my experience is that senior DS agents Not surprisingly, we now spend a lot of time interacting understand more than most that embassies need to know what with these English-speaking people overseas. In Saudi Arabia, is going on—it makes us safer. the embassy entertains male and female entrepreneurs who The tendency to pull back was greatly aggravated by the attended Ivy League schools. Our senior diplomats have vicious political fallout from the 2012 attack on a U.S. post in always had good access to the country’s leaders. But we prob- Benghazi, killing four Americans including Ambassador Chris ably know less today about what is going on in Saudi Arabia’s Stevens. But the trend had been growing for years. The 1985 heartland than we did 30 years ago. Report of the Secretary of State’s Advisory Panel on Overseas I once asked a Saudi minister who studied in London and Security (the “Inman report”) responded to embassy bomb- Paris what was going on in his conservative home town. He ings in Lebanon, Kuwait and Africa and forced us to move our admitted he hadn’t been there in 12 years because his more embassies to the edge of cities and build fortress-like opera- conservative relatives didn’t approve of his writings. Why tions that have made it increasingly difficult to do our jobs. But does this matter? Because internal stability in Saudi Arabia is the buildings were only symptomatic. an important U.S. strategic interest. And because we need to understand what environment encouraged the Saudi hijackers The Shifts at State to flourish—or, in another context, Tunisia’s angry young men When senior officers talk about why we have become less to join the so-called Islamic State in droves. effective, they mention the inability to travel or meet people outside the embassy, the reduced pool of employees to draw An Unsustainable Model on for our unaccompanied posts, the risk of corruption in It isn’t that we don’t have talented and adventurous young management and programs because of the constant churn of Foreign Service officers. In Yemen, before our embassy was supervisors, and the workload disparities because officers who evacuated in 2015, there were two outstanding officers who have been in a country longer are simply more productive. In had been Fulbright scholars. They had great contacts and spoke

26 SEPTEMBER 2019 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL Arabic. But our security restrictions meant that they never left the embassy. Our officers could do a lot by phone, but eventu- Today’s American political ally their skills would atrophy, and Arabs would see the lack officers can’t go on the spur of of personal contact as a lack of interest. By contrast, there the moment to some rural village, were analysts from international nongovernmental organiza- tions (NGOs) who lived in downtown Sana’a and continued to ask some kid to take them to an provide useful information well into the civil war. Our ambas- unknown destination and hang sador, a distinguished Arabist, worked from Saudi Arabia on the out with some members of the phone, taking advantage of the contacts he had made during 10 months in Yemen before he was evacuated. With enormous Muslim Brotherhood. bureaucratic effort, he managed to make a few short trips back. Would the U.S. government have been more effective at resolving the conflict if he and his staff had been there more tries was brought home to me by a 2013 New Republic article on often? Hard to say. But the vast majority of countries in the Egypt by Eric Trager, an Arabic speaker with excellent contacts. world are relationship-based societies: It is far easier to find out “My Brother’s Presidency Was a Disaster” was an interview with what someone is planning when you are sitting on their couch the brother of now-deceased Egyptian President Mohammed late at night rather than talking to them on WhatsApp. Morsi. I asked Trager how he had gotten his story. He told me What the Foreign Service can no longer do in many coun- he had gone to Morsi’s hometown, a rural village, and stopped

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2019 27 This has been particularly dramatic in northeastern Syria. Even This diplomatic model is not though ISIS has lost territory, 70,000 ISIS dependents, includ- sustainable, because we are cut ing 12,000 stateless children, now sit in miserable camps in off from ministries, NGOs and northeastern Syria. This is an example of the need for preventive diplomacy at its most urgent: to ensure that these camps don’t the business community, and become a terrorist petri dish and that hundreds of children from the country’s citizens. don’t continue to die every day requires a highly specialized team of civilian specialists working with the U.S. military and with the Syrian Democratic Forces (the Kurds). Yet civilians are only allowed to be present in small numbers, if at all, after an off in a drugstore to ask where Morsi’s family home was located. exhaustive internal approval process. A kid in the drugstore offered to take him to Morsi’s brother. Trager met the brother and other members of the Muslim Everyday Diplomacy Is Essential Brotherhood. The irony is that local knowledge and contacts make us safer. His substantive point in the article was an important one: In September 2011, American embassies in the Middle East Despite the military crackdown, the Muslim Brotherhood was received frantic warnings that we were to “take steps” because alive and well in rural Egypt. But today’s American political offi- Pastor Terry Jones in Florida was about to burn a Koran. For- cers can’t go on the spur of the moment to some rural village, tunately, in Egypt Political Counselor David Ranz and Political ask some kid to take them to an unknown destination and hang Officer Peter Shea had cultivated the local Salafis, the most con- out with some members of the Muslim Brotherhood. servative branch of Islam. The Salafis actually reached out to the In Libya, our embassy closed in 2014 because of violence. embassy about the Koran burning, and Shea negotiated a state- Even before the withdrawal, the embassy had been subject to ment that effectively dissuaded them from participating in the the strictest security of posts in the region, with highly limited protest demonstration and kept in touch with them throughout staff, one-year tours and the most depressing living conditions the day. The chargé also had cultivated excellent host-govern- I had ever seen in the Foreign Service. The situation gradually ment contacts who were responsive to the embassy’s security improved, and the western embassies began to return—with the concerns. These contacts were important factors in the minimal exception of the United States and Canada. The United States damage to U.S. interests in Cairo as a result of the incident. continued to run its diplomatic operation from Tunisia. Despite Recently, when visiting our embassy in Doha, I was numerous requests from the ambassador to both administra- reminded of what U.S. embassies do year-round, all around tions, mission staff was not allowed to return on a regular basis, the world: help countries take small but important steps to and the bar to meet security standards kept being raised. strengthen their society. With no less than five checkpoints, the No one in a position of responsibility would sign off on the compound in Doha is hugely unwelcoming. The staff doesn’t embassy’s return. Like those junior officers in Yemen, we have invite Qataris to visit because of the embassy’s location and strong senior officers, too; through herculean efforts the ambas- the long delays to get in. But Doha, at least, is a fully staffed sador met with Libya’s leaders every time they were outside the embassy where the chargé is respected and highly visible. While country, and the United States was still a preeminent influence I was there, a young officer briefed us on the steps Qatar had in that country. But this diplomatic model is not sustainable, taken to improve its labor laws, inadequate to be sure, but a big because we are cut off from ministries, NGOs and the business step in the right direction. It was clear that the U.S. embassy— community, and from the country’s citizens. It is hard to know, and this officer, in particular—had worked with Qatari officials, furthermore, whether other countries saw our perceived with- the United Nations’ International Labor Organization and the drawal from Libya as a green light for their own intervention. private sector, and played an important role in promoting the The increasing militarization of foreign policy is not new, reforms. but it also received a huge boost from Benghazi. As U.S. forces Admittedly small potatoes in a strategic sense, an improve- continued to operate in places where State Department officers ment in labor conditions in Qatar is not without important weren’t allowed to go, military personnel not surprisingly implications: now our ally is not criticized as much for its assumed more and more of the traditional civilian functions. human rights record, and American firms don’t suffer reputa-

28 SEPTEMBER 2019 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL tional damage. But perhaps most important, a migrant worker 1,000-person embassy took me up on it. Instead of pressing me from Bangladesh who makes $300 a month is healthier and to send more people home, then-Management Under Secretary safer and has a better future for this accomplishment. Grant Green asked me why I had allowed people to curtail, say- No other diplomatic service in the world can touch so ing they should remain in Bogotá “and do their duty.” many people, in so many places. When we evacuate or close The repercussions of withdrawing overseas are subtle and posts, this is the type of “preventive diplomacy” that gets gradual. A review process to justify our overseas presence was eliminated. instituted in the Obama administration; it was useful but not We weren’t always so averse to risk. In 2003 the Nogal social sufficient. We need an honest conversation within the State club in Bogotá was bombed by the Revolutionary Armed Department, with Congress and with the Central Intelligence Forces of Colombia. It was three blocks from the ambassador’s Agency and DOD about the implications of our presence over- residence. Thirty-six people died, and hundreds were wounded. seas. Tragically, a children’s recital had just finished. Two embassy We can’t prevent conflicts, export our products, protect our personnel had just finished a meeting and departed the prem- citizens or improve human rights if we aren’t there. In the May ises. Within hours after the attack, American personnel were on 2015 Foreign Service Journal, James Bullock, writing after his the scene to assess the situation. U.S. Alcohol, Tobacco and Fire- temporary assignment to Tunisia, made the point eloquently arms experts arrived from Washington in two days and scraped that “staying safe” cannot be our highest priority. Our highest evidence off neighboring buildings. No one in Washington priority must be to advance the interests of the United States discussed evacuating or ordered any departure; but as ambas- with a knowledgeable, aggressive and consistent presence sador, I offered anyone the option to curtail. Two people out of a overseas. n

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2019 29 FOCUS ON PREVENTIVE DIPLOMACY

Two practitioners discuss the challenges Getting of conflict prevention in the modern age. Preventive Stabilization BY DAVID C. BECKER AND STEVE LEWIS On the Map

ften when talking to survivors of so we could go back and help mitigate the problems before they violence in burned-out villages or became crises. bullet-pocked cement-block urban The cost of violent conflict and instability is incredibly high, neighborhoods, we couldn’t help both in terms of human life and resources wasted. The United thinking: “This would be easier if we Nations estimates that the average cost of a civil war is $65 bil- had been here earlier.” lion. The benefits of prevention are also significant. A United Both of us have been involved in Nations report estimates that every $1 spent on prevention stabilization operations for years but saves $10 in recovery costs. Prevention of violent conflict is not have often wished for a time machine just common sense and fiscally sound; it is also U.S. policy, as outlined in the current National Security Strategy. Why then, if ODavid C. Becker is a retired FSO who spent more prevention saves money and lives, and is official U.S. govern- than 16 years designing and managing programs ment policy, do we have such a poor record of preventing violent in five conflict countries on two continents. He also conflict and stability? served as a political adviser to the Commander of U.S. This question was the focus of the Peacekeeping and Stability Transportation Command. After retirement in 2011, Operations Training and Education Workshop that drew a group he headed a research program on humanitarian and stabilization of stabilization veterans, including the authors, to Carlisle, Penn- technologies at the National Defense University. sylvania, last April. Sponsored by the U.S. Army’s Peacekeeping Lt. Col. Steve Lewis is a civil-military planner for and Stability Operations Institute (PKSOI), the workshop is an U.S. Southern Command, with experience in conflict annual three-day event. This year, the group of about 50 practi- countries in Asia and Latin America. tioners formed six workgroups to discuss various components The authors thank Drs. Danielle Stodilka and Wal- of stability. Our group of 10 focused on how to get ahead of the ter Dorn for their contributions to this article and the cruel curve of conflict and spiraling violence before it eventu- seminar that inspired it. ally draws the attention of the world and pulls outside nations

30 SEPTEMBER 2019 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL into yet another manmade disaster. (More information about among other locations, and this gave the group’s discussion a this workshop can be found at the PKSOI website: https://pksoi. somewhat different perspective than the work of analysts whose armywarcollege.edu/conferences/psotew/.) primary experience is in Afghanistan and Iraq. We shared personal Building on the practical experiences of successful experiences of the different and unsuccessful efforts, and attendees at the workshop, we we discussed the challenges sought to define preventive prevention efforts face, as well stabilization more precisely, as what's involved in plan- discuss some of the challenges ning and implementing such it presents, review lessons operations. The following is a learned and identify criteria for selection of some of the most its successful implementation. salient observations and con- Defining prevention. Pre- clusions that surfaced during ventive stabilization is different our deliberations. from “pure” development pro- gramming, namely, long-term Toward Preventive funding designed to improve Stabilization health, education, governance Establishing conflict pre- and prosperity—i.e., “a rising vention as a rigorous discipline tide lifts all boats” approach for on the continuum of response improving the lives of many. It to conflict—from ordinary is not humanitarian assis- political disagreements to tance—directed at populations violent hostility and war—is a affected by a disaster, natural work in progress. or manmade—either. For As Robert Jenkins, U.S. purposes of this analysis, we Agency for International define post-conflict stabili- Development’s deputy zation assistance as “aid to assistant administrator for ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/MHJ support reestablishment of the Bureau for Democracy, safe and secure environments Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance, noted in a plenary ses- and to construct or reconstruct critical infrastructure and restart sion, the U.S. military classifies stabilization operations as part of economic activity.” “irregular warfare”—as opposed to state-vs.-state conventional In light of this, what does “preventive stabilization” entail? warfare. Yet even though irregular warfare (stabilization and The group did not reach a clear consensus, although we con- counterterrorism and counterinsurgency) has today become the curred that examples from USAID’s Office of Transition Initia- norm, compared to the vast literature on prevention of conven- tives, Canada’s START program (now the Peace and Stability tional conflict, “preventive stabilization” is barely recognized Operations program) and the United Kingdom’s Department for as a concept and has received relatively little attention from International Development projects sometimes seem to apply. analysts, strategists and policymakers. Some participants cited programs conducted by USAID and Importantly, in the Carlisle discussions we drew only the State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and minimally from experience based on the United States’ and Law Enforcement—for example, working with police and social NATO’s anomalously huge long-term interventions in Iraq and groups in Central American slums run by gangs. But those cases Afghanistan, though they nonetheless offer lessons on how and seemed to be actual stabilization missions rather than preventive how not to carry out interventions (arguably more on the latter). missions, as the gangs are already clearly armed opponents of Various members of the workshop had spent decades in Central the government and local leadership. America, as well as Peru, Haiti, Indonesia, Sudan and Yemen, Development dollars do not equal prevention. The primary

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2019 31 challenge of preventive stabiliza- ing partners, facilitated dialogue tion, most practitioners agree, between Christian and Muslim is not insufficient funding for community leaders, helping development. Although devoting both groups realize that it was an more resources to development outside group that was trying to assistance might well be worth- shatter the precarious peace. This while in its own right, increasing headed off a return to large-scale local access to education and violence. boosting incomes will not magi- How do you know when to cally resolve societal conflicts. intervene? Identifying incipient COURTESY OF DAVID BECKER In fact, unequal development David Becker, at right, hears from local leaders in Cité conflict or low-level conflicts (when, for instance, investment Soleil, Port au Prince, in 2009. before they become the sort pours in from outside the conflict zone for resource exploita- of stabilization crisis that we have so often failed to resolve is a tion—oil, diamonds, timber, etc.) can actually exacerbate exist- major challenge. ing frictions into open war. More dollars alone won’t solve the How does one distinguish the conflict that is healthy political conflict patterns. friction, or at least controllable disagreement, from the conflict Good prevention is hard to find. It is difficult to come up that will become an all-consuming cancer? Is Sudan about to with clear examples of preventive stabilization. As practitioners, break down, or is it simply going through another difficult transi- we are almost always funded and arrive only after conflict has tion? How about Venezuela? Or Thailand? consumed a country, not before. Ironically, we practitioners There are ongoing efforts to identify “fragile states” using might not have heard of successful preventive efforts—precisely readily available indicators, but there is still no agreement on because they were successful. And, participants noted, even if which indicators are significant predictors. And, of course, local you are there as a prevention measure, it is very difficult to prove conflicts are by definition “local.” In other words, they don’t draw that you averted an adverse attention to themselves early on. outcome. “Preventive stabilization” is Competition for atten- We did discuss some barely recognized as a concept, tion and funds. When working instances of modest interven- in Haiti following the United tion that may have stopped and it has received relatively Nations intervention, David a return to violence during a little attention from analysts, Becker often heard from the pause or lull in the cycle of strategists and policymakers. slum dwellers: “You are only ongoing violence. In Haiti, here spending money because according to a participant who we finally started fighting back.” worked there with the Haiti Stabilization Initiative in 2008, a Or, “Until the gangs started to kidnap rich businessmen’s kids, no group of street leaders working with the initiative said they were one cared about us.” They were not entirely wrong. tired of being used as rent-a-mobs by political actors. They there- Preventing instability is simply not interesting for most donor fore voted to run the bagman of a businessman’s political party countries. Western democracies tend to be self-absorbed—their out of the Cité Soleil slum as a message that they were no longer priorities center around their own relatively immediate interests, in the violence-on-demand business. When the capital was con- and those interests (and funding) seldom call for intervening in vulsed by food riots that threatened to topple the government a foreign land. Unless the conflict has grown to the point that it later that year, only one poor neighborhood did not participate threatens the stability of a neighboring state, weakens an allied in the violence: Cité Soleil. government or is risking the lives of millions, it is probably not Another practitioner reported a similar experience in Indo- going to be a priority. nesia. When interreligious violence in Central Sulawesi province This problem is complicated by the fact that funding preven- finally subsided after four years of intermittent fighting, the tion programs would probably mean diverting money from exist- Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist group launched attacks to rekindle ing crisis response funds, creating bureaucratic wars even before tensions. The USAID staff, along with some of their implement- the conflict has broken out on the ground.

32 SEPTEMBER 2019 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL Pull together with partners. will be reluctant to face facts Despite problems of recogni- about the severity of a problem. tion and funding, the fact that The same reluctance is prob- prevention is part of a continuum ably even more true of the local of responses to conflict means government. In some cases, this that, just like traditional stabi- denial factor may be greater in lization operations, the process pre-conflict than post-conflict of creating a strategy for crisis situations. A festering conflict prevention, identifying resources is often ignored until violence and engaging partners requires results. COURTESY OF DAVID BECKER maximum buy-in from agencies David Becker, in dark glasses, talks with colleagues during The challenge that practitio- and assets traditionally designed a visit to Cité Soleil in 2009. ners identified is to make sure that to respond to crises. On the the planning and implementation ground, successful prevention of instability comes from a mix of of a preventive stabilization operation are locally led. Partici- understanding the local environment, building a team and gain- pants recounted horror stories of prevention efforts being under- ing broad institutional support from local partners to address the mined by lack of host-government buy-in. Yet there is often real driving factors of instability. dedication to solutions at the most local level. This parallels the process for successful stabilization efforts One way to resolve some of these government-to-government in general. Indeed, most lessons from post-conflict stabilization conflicts might well be to work at the grassroots level first, with operations apply equally well to pre-conflict stabilization efforts. those directly affected in the situation. Rather than forcing things To understand and adapt to a changing local environment, it is to improve from the top down, working from the bottom up may critical to develop and engage a network of local and international be more effective. It also avoids some of the immediate pitfalls partners from a variety of sectors: government, international and resource conflicts. Of course, a proper balance is needed. As organizations, embassies, military, police, national disaster man- success becomes evident, higher-level buy-in may be more likely. agement authorities, nongovernmental organizations and civil Put metrics first. Assessment criteria need to be established society. They can all help address the driving factors of instability, early and tested. The challenge of “proving prevention” is over- as well as identify the early-warning signs that may lead to a crisis. whelming, but it is made much worse if efforts are not tracked In contrast to the Iraq and Afghanistan models, however, and measured from the beginning, and against a commonly the U.S. government is probably not going to be the dominant agreed yardstick. Too often, assessment is an afterthought, when player on the field in a preventive stabilization operation. But it needs to be part of the planning from the start. even as a much smaller player, the design of a U.S. team is extremely important. It is critical to include the right mem- Enhancing the Chances of Success bers in decision-making and implementation processes, while The Carlisle participants concurred that it is possible for recognizing respective differences in their mandates. In other international actors to prevent instability from growing past the words, there may be a “core” team group and “support” partner point of no return. But it is extremely difficult to predict where group(s), depending on the role and capability of each member. instability will manifest, and determine how to invest meager These could be U.S. government agencies, but more likely will be resources to stop the process. drawn from international organizations and local society. However, our group of practitioners found a glimmer of hope Practitioners noted, however, that while a U.N.-structured in acknowledging some basic requirements: a thorough under- response could be very helpful in bringing in new outside standing of the local environment and culture, a strong network partners such as China, Russia or other countries, in some cases of like-minded partners from both the international community a response can be hamstrung by being too inclusive. So, we con- and the local community, and a willingness to take modest risks cluded, the United Nations must find the best balance. with meager resources. Go for local solutions, locally led. The U.S. government may This formula will not prevent every crisis, but it may allow us in some cases provide enthusiastic backing and support on the to forestall a few. And for that reason, it is certainly worth the ground, which is great, of course. But more often, Washington relatively modest investment. n

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2019 33 FOCUS ON PREVENTIVE DIPLOMACY

Predicting and Preventing Intrastate Violence BY DAVID RAWSON Lessons from Rwanda An FSO and former ambassador to Rwanda reflects on the ability to predict and prevent intrastate violence.

n the immediate wake of regime changes in Sudan and Alge- in Rwanda (1973), an attempted coup in Mali (1978), brutal street ria last April, The Economist magazine published a feature violence in Madagascar (1986) and a regional rebellion in Somalia on coups, charting factors that might make them predictable (1988), and civil war and genocide in Rwanda (1994). and possibly preventable. The questions asked about regime Keeping in mind Hannah Arendt’s observation that partici- change can also be asked about intrastate violence, insur- pant-observers are not the best assessors of the historical events rection and genocide. Are these generators of mass atrocities in which they have been involved, I nonetheless hazard that: predictable and preventable? • By virtue of their cultural roots, outbreaks of political vio- My own views on the subject are based on having been on lence (including coups and genocide) are sui generis and each the scene in sub-Saharan Africa during seven major insur- has a unique dynamic. rections, coups and genocides. These include a coup in Burundi • Predictions often fail to come true, and there is no discern- I(1966), an insurrection and genocide in Burundi (1972), a coup ible pattern as to why analysts miss the mark.

David Rawson was a Foreign Service officer with the Department of State from 1971 to 1999. In 1992, he was appointed the first U.S. observer to the political negotiations in Arusha, Tanzania, between the Rwandese Patriotic Front and the govern- ment of Rwanda. He served as U.S. ambassador to that country from 1993 through 1995 and capped his diplomatic career as ambassador to Mali (1996-1999). Currently a scholar-in-residence at George Fox University in Newberg, Oregon, Ambassador Rawson has written a documentary study of the Arusha political negotiations, Prelude to Genocide: Arusha, Kigali and the Failure of Diplomacy (Ohio University Press, 2018). Background documents from that study are housed in George Fox University’s archives.

34 SEPTEMBER 2019 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL • Tracking exogenous factors like rainfall, per capita income, referred to works on genocide by Leo Kuper and others, caution- regime duration or political instability (to take The Economist’s ing that rapid political change, with deep division within the categories) increases our understanding of other societies, but body politic and security forces capable of mass killings, had set it may not point us to when, where or how cataclysmic violence the scene for a potential genocide in Rwanda. occurs. Throughout my tenure at • In a system of sovereign the negotiations and dur- states, preventing the over- ing the early weeks of my throw of a recognized govern- ambassadorship in 1994, I ment or stopping its violations admonished both sides that a of human rights may require return to combat could have foreign intervention in that horrendous consequences. state’s domestic affairs. I have been wrong about the • Countries committed to tenacity and capacity of Afri- the preservation of the system can regimes more often than of nation-states are particularly I have been right. Sadly, I was hesitant to intervene in distant right this time, though neither lands outside the sphere of I nor anyone else had any their own interests. inkling of the scope and feroc- • The iron law of unin- ity of the violence that a return tended consequences applies to fighting would unleash. in all social actions; accord- Many factors went into ingly, forceful interventions our calculations. Embassy will beget violent unintended Kigali’s economic reporting on consequences. harvests, mineral extractions, export/import ratios and bud- When Knowledge get imbalances, all aggregated Isn’t Enough into national accounts, showed Let me apply these prin- how terribly poor Rwanda ciples to what happened in was. But so were other African Rwanda a quarter-century ago. ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/MHJ states. We knew of land penury Rwanda’s long history of autocratic rule and central state in Rwanda as early as 1973, through comprehensive studies the violence laid the basis for the 1994 genocidal uprising. Yet the Ministry of Planning had conducted. For its part, the U.S. Agency social caste system engendering the categories of Tutsi, Hutu for International Development had compiled a 14-year database and marginalized Twa was so complex that it took jurists of the on food insecurity in the country. International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda two years to deter- Embassy reporting during the early 1990s had traced the mine whether the killings were genocidal under the terms of the spread of political instability, including the training of militia. We Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of had information on Rwandan military capacities through occa- Genocide. And while President Paul Kagame’s government has sional visits from our defense attaché and our French colleagues, spent years working to extirpate these deeply rooted social iden- who supported the Rwandan Army; but we had collected only tifiers, they are still socially salient. Getting rid of conflict-laden scattered information on the capacities or ambitions of the exile social markers is a complex process. forces, the Rwandese Patriotic Front. At the opening of the Arusha political negotiations in August Bilateral démarches, the tracing of political alignments, 1992, one could sense deep distrust and animosity between assessments of military capacities, biographic analyses and the Rwandese Patriotic Front and the Government of Rwanda. reporting on recrudescent nongovernmental organizations all Indeed, at a roundtable organized earlier that year by the revealed political disintegration, but could not gauge the effect, State Department’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research, I had timing or extent of that decline.

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2019 35 genocide when someone shot down the president’s plane on The tracing of political April 6, 1994. President Juvenal Habyarimana was the only alignments, assessments of interim official who had been sworn in under the 1993 Accords at that time. The self-proclaimed successor regime turned military capacities, biographic quickly to civil war and launched the genocide. analyses and reporting on I immediately called the State Department and reported recrudescent nongovernmental that only with a change of mission and the matériel to carry organizations all revealed it out could U.N. peacekeepers restore order. But expanding UNAMIR’s mandate took more than a month of Security Coun- political disintegration, but cil wrangling, while getting troops and matériel to Rwanda took could not gauge the effect, another three months. By that time, 800,000 innocents had been timing or extent of that decline. slaughtered. An inchoate U.S. policy matched lassitude in international action. It was, as Assistant Secretary for African Affairs George Moose commented, bureaucracy at its worst. At a late May 1994 interagency meeting on Rwanda, as departmental deputies fell International Peacekeeping: Too Little, Too Late to discussing what color to paint the armored personnel carriers International efforts to stop the fighting between the insur- we were lending to the U.N. forces, one observer concluded gent Rwandese Patriotic Front and Rwandan government army that, by intent, nothing of import was to be decided. While fell first to chiefs of state of Zaire, Uganda or Tanzania, with U.S. agencies and bureaus quibbled about strategies and game France and Belgium in the margins. The Organization of African plans, the killings surged in Rwanda. We needed national com- Unity took the lead in facilitating the Arusha negotiations, mand determination on a workable action plan and never got it. with neighboring African states and key donor states—France, Great powers are reluctant to intervene, especially in little Belgium, Germany and the United States—as observers. Finally, countries off the radar scope of their national interests. Presi- after the two sides signed the Arusha Accords, the United dential statements and declarations are fine. Even declaring Nations Security Council established the United Nations Mis- genocide, as the United States did in Sudan’s Darfur crisis, may sion for Rwanda (UNAMIR) in October 1993. help. But to prevent political meltdown in distant lands with Lamentably, the United Nations was slow in implement- attendant mass atrocities, presidential leadership is required. ing the Arusha Accords; improvident in supplying UNAMIR Commander General Roméo Dallaire with the materiel he Moving from Prediction to Prevention needed; and feckless in carrying out its political program. Embassy Kigali warned Washington that massive politi- Commander Dallaire made early progress in force integration, cal violence was likely to break out, though we did not foresee but the UNAMIR operation, minimally equipped and manned, its magnitude or ferocity. We issued the warning more out of launched too slowly to co-opt events and maintain peace. intuition than from any hard data pointing to a determined his- Weeks dragged into months without the installation of the torical outcome. No matter what the levels of endemic malnu- interim government specified under the Arusha Accords. trition, landlessness or economic regression in Rwanda, it was Tragically, the well-intentioned, year-long negotiations that human choice on the part of the rebels to pursue civil war to had produced the Arusha Accords were flawed. We underes- upend the existing regime. Human decision, on the part of the timated the determination of both sides, although engaged in Hutu extremists who took over after Habyarimana’s assassina- peace talks, to win at all costs. The Rwandan government and tion, also determined to use genocide as a means of holding on the RFP agreed in a 2/3 vote on interim government arrange- to power. ments that took away the Habyarimana regime’s political power Scott Strauss, in his book Making and Unmaking of Nations: and accepted a 50/50 split in security forces that equated RPF War, Leadership and Genocide in Modern Africa (Cornell Uni- and government command and control. versity Press, 2015), studies five African states that approached In demoting the militarily entrenched Habyarimana regime the brink of genocide. Three of them pulled back, but Rwanda by the stroke of a pen, the conditions were set for reprisal and and Sudan fell into the maelstrom. The explanatory elements, in

36 SEPTEMBER 2019 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL Strauss’s view, were the nature of the founding ideology and the calculations of local leadership about the course ahead. No matter what the levels Once the prospect of political violence, with potential for of endemic malnutrition, mass atrocities and genocide, became likely, what might the landlessness or economic international community have done to prevent it? It must be said that, in Rwanda, the international effort engaged every regression in Rwanda, it was instrument in the peacemaking toolkit, from bilateral diplo- human choice on the part of macy accompanied by material inducements and multilateral the rebels to pursue civil war negotiations to deployment of an international peacekeeping mission. to upend the existing regime. What more could the United States have done? At the begin- ning of the Rwanda conflict in 1990, we could have joined with France in forceful support of the Habyarimana regime’s defense of its territory against a cross-border insurgency. Or, we could solutions to the divisions tearing the Rwandan polity apart, we have abetted the overthrow of the existing regime, known to be chose to urge the sides to agree to a sustainable cease-fire and autocratic and corrupt, and replaced it with a caretaker regime then to negotiate a new governmental order for Rwanda. (something both the internal opposition and the invading exiles To keep the peace process on track, we could have moved wanted). for a more rapid deployment of peacekeeping forces after the Instead, convinced as we were that democratic governance, signature of the 1992 cease-fire and the 1993 peace agreement. an open economy, the rule of law and power-sharing were With forces in place, we could have more thoroughly investi-

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2019 37 manded a still-intact, if somewhat inept, military. And we To keep the peace process should have understood how the military ratios that the facilita- on track, we could have moved tor, the observers and the newly installed Rwandan government for a more rapid deployment accepted in the rush to sign the Arusha Accords signaled to the sitting regime the insurgent’s eventual victory. of peacekeeping forces after But we did not, rather trusting that our high ideas of rule the signature of the 1992 of law, civil rights and shared governance would win out by cease-fire and the 1993 friendly persuasion. To do otherwise would have required confrontation with one side or another, the use of force to attain peace agreement. the peace. Instead, the kindling of failed negotiations gave way to conflagration in the April 1994 plane crash carrying the only installed authority of the intended interim regime. This brought a return to civil war and the launching of a horrific genocide, gated outbreaks of violence or violations of the accords, calling but also the eventual creation of a new regime under RPF a halt to impunity. control. Finally, we should have listened more carefully to all sides Though we had predicted mass atrocities, even genocide, in the negotiations, especially to Habyarimana’s outline of his with a return to fighting, a concerted international effort was basic demands. He led the largest political bloc and com- not able to preempt the tragic logic of war. n

38 SEPTEMBER 2019 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL FOCUS ON PREVENTIVE DIPLOMACY Measures Short of War

BY GEORGE F. KENNAN (Diplomatic) This presentation of diplomacy’s work in 1946, when the United States faced a new postwar world of great power competition, remains as relevant today as ever.

his morning we centers of power and ideology in this world. consider the relations They are problems of the measures short of between sovereign war which great powers use to exert pressure governments and the on one another for the attainment of their measures that they ends. In that sense, they are questions of the employ when they measures at the disposal of states not for the deal with each other adjustment of disputes, but for the promulga- … short of reaching tion of power. for their weapons These are two quite different purposes. and shooting it out. …The traditional lists Governments are absorbed today not with try- Tof “measures short of war” (see chart next ing to settle disputes between themselves, but page) were drawn up with the idea of the with getting something out of somebody else, adjudication or the adjustment of disputes, so they often promulgate a policy which goes and not primarily with the idea of exercising very, very far. Governments have to use pres- pressure on other states. … sure on a wide scale; and therefore these tradi- The problems we are faced with today in the international tional categories are not often applicable to conditions today. arena are not problems just of the adjustment of disputes. They Now let’s go on to measures of pressure, as distinct from are problems caused by the conflict of interests between great adjustment. The first thing that strikes me about measures of pressure is that they differ significantly in the case of totalitarian This article has been excerpted from George Kennan’s first lecture and democratic states. …Totalitarian governments have at their at the National War College delivered on Sept. 16, 1946. The disposal every measure capable of influencing other govern- distinguished diplomat had been named Deputy Commandant for ments as a whole, or their members, or their peoples behind Foreign Affairs at the new institution. The entire set of lectures has their back; and in the choice and application of these measures been published as a book, Measures Short of War: The George F. they are restrained by no moral inhibitions, by no domestic Kennan Lectures at the National War College, 1946-1947 public opinion to speak of, and not even by any serious consid- (National Defense University Press, 1991). erations of consistency and intellectual dignity. Their choice is

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2019 39 limited by only one thing, and that is their own estimate of the down. The Soviets would unhesitatingly resort to a policy of consequences to themselves. complete economic autarchy rather than compromise any of The question then arises as to what measures the democratic their political principles. I don’t mean they are totally uname- states have at their disposal for resisting totalitarian pressure and nable to economic pressure. Economic pressure can have an the extent to which these measures can be successful. That is a important cumulative effect when exercised over a long period tremendous question, not one on which I can give you a com- of time and in a wise way toward the totalitarian state. But I don’t plete answer. I don’t have a complete answer. … think it can have any immediate, incisive, or spectacular results with a major totalitarian country such as Russia. … Measures at Our Disposal On the strictly political measures short of war, I only mention The first category of measures lies in the psychological field. one category because it, in my opinion, is our major political It would be a mistake to consider psychological measures as weapon short of war. That measure is the cultivation of solidar- anything separate from the rest of diplomacy. They consist not ity with other like-minded nations on every given issue of our only of direct informational activity like propaganda, or radio foreign policy. A couple of years ago, when we first had discus- broadcast, or distribution of magazines. They consist also of the sions with the Soviet authorities in Moscow about the possibility study and understanding of the psychological effects of any- of setting up another United Nations Organization, I’ll admit that thing which the modem state does in the war, both internal and I was very skeptical. I was convinced the Russians were not ready external. to go into it in the same spirit we were. I was afraid the United Democracies—ours especially—were pretty bad at psycho- Nations might become an excuse rather than a framework for logical measures in the past, because so many of our diplomatic American foreign policy. I was worried it might become a substi- actions have been taken not in pursuance of any great overall tute for an absence of a policy. But I am bound to say, in the light policy, but hit-or-miss in response to of what has happened in the last year, I am pressures exercised on our government Diplomatic Measures very much impressed with the usefulness by individual pressure groups at home. of Adjustment for the of the UN to us and to our principles in the Now those pressures usually had little Redress of Grievances or world. There are advantages to be gained to do with the interests of the United for the Pacific Settlement for us working through it. … States. They weren’t bound together in of Disputes All the measures I have been discuss- any way. It is only recently and probably AMICABLE ing—economic, psychological and politi- in consequence of the experiences of the cal—are not strictly diplomatic. Remember last 8 or 10 years that our government has Non-Judicial that diplomacy isn’t anything in a com- begun to appreciate the fact that every- • Negotiations partment by itself. The stuff of diplomacy is • Good Offices, Mediation, thing it does of any importance at all has in the entire fabric of our foreign relations and Conciliation a psychological effect abroad as well as at with other countries, and it embraces • International Commissions home. every phase of national power and every of Inquiry The second category of weapons short phase of national dealing. The only of war that we have at our disposal today Judicial measures I can think of which are strictly • Arbitration is economic. Here, I’d like to give you a diplomatic in character are those involv- • Adjudication word of warning: it would be a mistake to ing our representation in other countries. • Charter of the United Nations overrate the usefulness of the economic Those can be used for adjustment as well weapons when they are used as a means NON-AMICABLE as pressure. …But you don’t have to break of counterpressure against great totalitar- relations altogether. You can withdraw the • Severage of Diplomatic Relations ian states, especially when those states are chief of mission, reduce your representa- • Retortion and Retaliation themselves economically powerful. This tion, or resort completely to non-inter- • Reprisals is particularly true of the Soviet Union, • Embargo course. You can forbid your people to have because the Soviet leaders consistently • Non-Intercourse anything to do with the other country. place politics ahead of economics on • Pacific Blockade The measure which is most usually every occasion when there is a show- considered and used is the severance of

40 SEPTEMBER 2019 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL diplomatic relations. The press often advises our Government national affairs is about the most stupid and unnecessary thing I to break relations with this government or that government. I can think of. It is stupid because it very often disrupts the whole am very, very leery of the breaking of diplomatic relations as logic of our own diplomacy; brings in an element that didn’t a means of getting anywhere in international affairs. Severing need to be there; causes the other fellow to adopt an attitude relations is like playing the Ace of Spades in bridge. You can only which he needn’t adopt; and defeats your own purposes. … use it once. When you play it, you haven’t got any more, so your Strength overshadows any other measure short of war that hand is considerably weakened. …We ought to make plain to the anybody can take. We can have the best intelligence, the most world from now on that no American recognition—no Ameri- brilliant strategy, but if we speak from weakness, from indeci- can diplomatic relations with any regime—bears any thought of sion, and from the hope and prayer that the other fellow won’t U.S. approval or disapproval; we are not committing ourselves, force the issue, we just cannot expect to be successful. when we deal with anyone, on the legitimacy of their power. We This thought is a hard point to get across with many Ameri- would deal with the devil himself if he held enough of the earth’s cans. A lot of Americans have it firmly ingrained in their psychol- surface to make it worthwhile for us to do so. … ogy that if you maintain your strength and keep it in the imme- A few other measures which democratic states can take diate background of your diplomatic action, you are courting involve control of territory in one’s own country, namely the further trouble and provoking hostilities. They insist it is the facilities granted to a foreign government. We can limit the num- actual maintenance of armaments that leads to their use. Our ber of representatives of a foreign government in this country. pacifists are incapable of understanding that the maintenance of We can deny its citizens the right to sojourn here for purposes of strength in the democratic nations is actually the most peaceful business or pleasure. We can deny them our collaboration in cul- of all the measures we can take short of war, because the greater tural or technical matters. They do these things to us all the time; your strength, the less likely you are ever going to use it. They and we can do them ourselves, although these measures are fail to understand that in the world we know today, the question more difficult for us because our controls are not so complete. is never whether you are going to take a stand; the question is These are, in general, the categories and measures I think we when and where you are going to take that stand. … have at our disposal. What this boils down to, I am afraid, is that for great nations, as for individuals today, there is no real security and there is no Two Main Conditions for Effectiveness alternative to living dangerously. And when people say, “My Now comes the real question. To what extent are these God, we might get into a war?” the only thing I know to say is, measures adequate to our purposes in the world today? Are they “Exactly so.” The price of peace has become the willingness to enough to get us what we want without going to war? My own sacrifice it to a good cause and that is all there is to it. belief is that they are, depending on two main conditions. A second condition must be met if our measures short of war The first of these conditions is that we keep up at all times a are going to be effective: we must select measures and use them preponderance of strength in the world. …It is not by any means not hit-or-miss as the moment may seem to demand, but in a question of military strength alone. National strength is a accordance with a pattern of grand strategy no less concrete and question of political, economic, and moral strength. Above all no less consistent than that which governs our actions in war. It it is a question of our internal strength; of the health and sanity is my own conviction that we must go even further than that and of our own society. For that reason, none of us can afford to be must cease to have separate patterns of measures—one pattern indifferent to internal disharmony, dissension, intolerance, and for peace and one pattern for war. We must work out a general the things that break up the moral and political structure of our plan of what the United States wants in this world and pursue society at home. that plan with all the measures at our disposal, depending on Another characteristic of strength is that it depends for its what is indicated by the circumstances. … effectiveness not only on its existence, but on our readiness to My personal conviction is that if we keep up our strength, use it at any time if we are pushed beyond certain limits. This if we are ready to use it, and if we select the measures short of does not mean we have to be trigger-happy. It does not mean war with the necessary wisdom and coordination, then these there is any point in our going around blustering, threatening, measures short of war will be all the ones that we will ever have waving clubs at people, and telling them if they don’t do this or to use to secure the prosperous and safe future of the people of that we are going to drop a bomb on them. Threatening in inter- this country. n

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2019 41 FEATURE

Foreign Service Youth Foundation: 30 Years of Service

Three decades after its founding, FSYF remains focused on helping our young people adapt to changing environments as they transition between posts worldwide. BY JOHN K. NALAND

rowing up in the Foreign Service “Where Are You From?” can be challenging. While an inter- FSYF grew out of a group named Around the World in a nationally mobile childhood pro- Lifetime (AWAL) that was co-founded in 1983 by the Foreign vides benefits such as an expanded Service Institute’s Overseas Briefing Center, the State Depart- worldview and deepened maturity, ment’s Family Liaison Office and the Association of American it can also present challenges. The Foreign Service Women (later rebranded as the Associates of nomadic lifestyle can cause con- the American Foreign Service Worldwide—AAFSW). AWAL fused cultural identities, difficulties focused on connecting D.C.-area Foreign Service teens to each adjusting to new environments and other through a variety of social activities. feelings of rootlessness due to repeatedly leaving homes, schools, In early 1989, FLO Director Maryann Minutillo and OBC Gfriends and countries. Director Lee Lacy formed a Youth Project Committee that Thirty years ago, the Foreign Service Youth Foundation was included representatives of AAFSW, AWAL, the State Depart- founded to help our young people embrace the adventure of ment’s Medical Department and State’s Office of Overseas their transient upbringing by encouraging resilience and foster- Schools. FLO staffer Kay Eakin played a key role, as did AWAL ing camaraderie. Here is the story of FSYF’s origin and current President Phyllis Habib. activities. The working group’s objective was to find ways to do a better job of helping Foreign Service youth make the most difficult John K. Naland is president of the Foreign Service adjustment of all: returning “home” to the United States, which Youth Foundation. He has served on the AFSA they may have only experienced on short vacations, and trans- Governing Board as president (two terms) and as ferring to a school where other students may not appreciate State vice president; he is currently in his second term their multicultural outlooks. as retiree vice president. He and his wife raised two As Third Culture Kids (TCKs), the children of U.S. citizen daughters in the Foreign Service. employees assigned overseas under chief of mission author-

42 SEPTEMBER 2019 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL FSYF founders Maryann Minutillo (center) and Lee Lacy are honored with Youth Advocacy Awards at the June 2019 Youth Awards ceremony. The awards were presented by FSYF President John Naland, at left.

consulates create videos depicting life at overseas posts from a kid’s perspective. FSYF also offered workshops, including Teen Get Away Weekend Training retreats. Other programming came and went depending on the availability of adult volunteers and funding.

FSYF Today Thirty years after its founding, FSYF remains focused on helping our young people adapt to changing environments as they transition between posts worldwide. This social safety net is made up of four components: information, activities, affirma- tion and advocacy. • Information on TCK issues is shared with FSYF’s globally dispersed membership via webinars, a youth-written newsletter AFSA/JOAQUIN SOSA and an online video and document library (www.fsyf.org). ity sometimes have difficulty answering the seemingly simple • Activities bringing together domestically assigned youth question, “Where are you from?” As one Foreign Service youth spread across the Washington, D.C., area include reentry explains, “All my life, I’ve belonged somewhere and nowhere. I’ve seminars for middle school and high school students return- come from neither here nor there, and yet I’m from everywhere.” ing from overseas, a college admissions workshop, fun teen/ The working group quickly agreed on the need to create a tween meetup events, community service activities and the fall new, larger and better-funded organization to expand on the Welcome Back Picnic. work of AWAL. At the request of FLO and OBC, the white-shoe • Affirmation is achieved by celebrating our youths’ achieve- law firm Arnold and Porter drafted bylaws on a pro bono basis. ments via annual contests in art, essay writing, community The Una Chapman Cox Foundation contributed $20,000 in service and video making. FSYF also offers academic merit startup money, and AAFSW provided an additional $5,000. A scholarships for high-performing young people. Each year, volunteer board of directors was formed; and, on June 5, 1989, these contests draw more than 150 applicants and award more the Foreign Service Youth Foundation was formally incorpo- than $20,000 at the annual FSYF Youth Awards Ceremony at rated as a nonprofit organization headquartered in the District Main State (see photo). of Columbia. Joel Levy, a Foreign Service officer with the U.S. • Advocacy in the last few years has focused on meeting with Information Agency, was the first FSYF president. senior State Department officials to seek better mental health In its early years, FSYF took over the teen-focused programs support for Foreign Service children and assistance for those of AWAL and established Globe Trotters for preteens and with special educational needs who accompany their parents Diplokids for grade schoolers. Those programs offered social on an overseas assignment. activities for D.C.-area youth and workshops focused on “reen- As FSYF turns 30, it continues to benefit from the support try” to the United States following an overseas assignment. The of FLO, AAFSW and the Foreign Service Institute. The last foundation published four books to help Foreign Service youth three Secretaries of State have sent congratulatory messages to deal with the opportunities and challenges of growing up over- FSYF youth award recipients. Susan Pompeo gave the keynote seas (including The Kids’ Guide to Living Abroad). address at last year’s awards ceremony and joined the FSYF FSYF also began publishing a youth-written newsletter, Board of Directors as an honorary member. U.S. Senator Chris coordinated community service projects and inaugurated the Van Hollen—a former Foreign Service youth—has long been annual Welcome Back Picnic. In 1996, FSYF joined with OBC on FSYF’s Advisory Council. Generous donors continue to fund to create the KidVid Contest, in which youth at embassies and FSYF’s programs, led by Clements Worldwide Insurance, Jim

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2019 43 FSYF has an active membership of more than 400 families drawn from all agencies assigned overseas under chief of mission authority.

McGrath-Re/Max Premier, the State Department Federal Credit webinars to reach youth and their parents worldwide. It is Union, AFSA and AAFSW. also expanding its D.C.-area social activities to bring together FSYF has an active membership of more than 400 families TCKs scattered across the D.C.-Maryland-Virginia region. To drawn from all agencies assigned overseas under chief of mission sustain these programs, FSYF is looking for adults to serve on authority. Since many maintain their membership only during their its Board of Directors and to help run events (to learn more, children’s tween and teen years, that steady turnover means that go to www.fsyf.org/Volunteer, or email [email protected]). more than 5,000 youth have been served by FSYF since its founding. Let’s give the final word to two beneficiaries of FSYF’s pro- grams. One parent writes: “Our daughter’s eyes lit up when she Looking to the Future found out the panel selected her art work as the first-place winner FSYF reaches out to all members of the foreign affairs com- in the 5- to 8-year-old category. As a parent, it’s great to be part of munity via State Department cables, FLO newsletters and other a community that values the development of our children.” And means. Dues-paying members receive programming updates and one youth says: “As a member of a military family associated with have access to additional resources on the members-only section the Foreign Service, I am immensely grateful for your organiza- of the foundation’s website. tion’s mission to provide highly mobile students with affirma- Looking to the future, FSYF is expanding its use of interactive tion and mentorship.” n

44 SEPTEMBER 2019 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL Staff members drape a FEATURE large American flag over the roof of the embassy in Warsaw in anticipation of German air attacks.

WAR U.S. HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM/JULIEN BRYAN ARCHIVE Comes to Warsaw September 1939

arsaw, Sept. 1, 1939, A riveting look 5:30 a.m. The shriek of back at the German air raid sirens awakens invasion of Poland Ambassador Anthony 80 years ago that “Tony” J. Drexel Biddle Jr. Troubled by heightened ignited World War II. German-Polish tensions, BY RAY WALSER Adolf Hitler’s demands for territorial rectifications and the recent mobilization of the Polish Army, Biddle calls the duty officer at the Polish Foreign Ministry. WIs this an attack? The answer: Yes, there are numerous reports of German incursions onto Polish soil. Electing to telephone rather than cable flash news, Biddle manages to reach Ambassador William C. Bullitt in Paris. Bullitt, in turn, places a trans-Atlantic call.

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2019 45 2:55 a.m., Washington time. the “continuing character of the office U.S. Consulate A sleeping President Franklin Roosevelt General may avoid any question of ‘reopening’ awakens to Bullitt’s call. After weeks of Warsaw on or ‘establishing’ a consular office in ter- tension, a war of nerves is now a shoot- Sept. 1, 1939. ritory under German control.” ing war. The president alerts Secretary In the hope of preventing a war, of State Cordell Hull and other senior Great Britain and France dispatched officials. In the pre-dawn hours, lights their diplomats to Moscow in an effort suddenly begin to burn at the State to enlist Stalin’s support in curbing Department. Twenty years after the Nazi aggression. The Nazi-Soviet Non- peace settlement of Versailles, Europe Aggression Pact of August 23 aligning again plunges into general war. Hitler and Stalin—an act (albeit tem- porary) of geopolitical reconciliation / between arch ideological enemies— The German attack does not catch had stunned the world. Hitler’s bold Ambassador Biddle or the department diplomacy now made war virtually entirely by surprise. In March 1939 inevitable. the department had outlined what today would be called an emergency / action plan, granting chiefs of mission A political appointee, Ambassa- considerable authority to respond CONGRESS OF LIBRARY U.S. dor Biddle would be the man of the to imminent crises and mapping out moment. Descended from a historic numerous contingencies. Guidelines were Philadelphia family, he served in World War I and was issued for handling welfare and whereabouts known in the 1920s and early 1930s as an extremely well- cases, repatriations, protection of American dressed “sportsman-socialite” on his second marriage to property and representation of the interests of an heiress. warring nations. After backing Franklin Delano Roosevelt in the 1932 Following these instructions, Ambassador election, he had been named minister to Norway. He took Biddle had requested permission on Aug. 21 to his new métier with enthusiasm, establishing close ties U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE/U.S. EMBASSY OSLO to evacuate children, wives and other nones- Anthony J. Drexel with Norwegian royalty. In 1937 FDR selected Biddle as the sential personnel. Soon afterward, American Biddle Jr. next ambassador to Poland. Immune to panic, throughout citizens were warned of an increased danger the September crisis, Biddle would demonstrate a readi- of hostilities and an evacuation route was arranged into what is ness for action, a will to serve and enormous sangfroid. present-day Belarus. As another precaution, several American staff members / moved to a safer suburban location outside Warsaw. Closing the On Sept. 3, the third day of the Nazi invasion, Biddle wakes to mission, however, was considered a last resort. The department the drone of low-flying aircraft. Taking shelter in a stairwell of his believed it was important to keep a diplomatic presence because suburban villa, he and his family endure a German attack that sends shrapnel flying, shatters glass and deposits an unexploded Ray Walser is a retired FSO who served from 1980 to incendiary bomb in his yard. The Biddles are among the first 2007. His overseas postings were Managua, Bogotá, Americans to experience the fearful impact of modern aerial Guadalajara, San Jose and Cape Town. He also warfare. served as a visiting professor at the United States That day, Great Britain and France, honoring commitments Military Academy from 1988 to 1990, and a senior to stand with Poland, declare war on Nazi Germany. World War policy analyst at the Heritage Foundation from 2007 to 2013. He II officially begins. Sadly, neither Great Britain nor France will holds a Ph.D. in European history from the University of North offer any significant assistance to the beleaguered Poles in the Carolina at Chapel Hill. weeks ahead.

46 SEPTEMBER 2019 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL To protect the embassy from German bomb blasts, sandbags cover basement windows. U.S. HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM/JULIEN BRYAN ARCHIVE

his after-action report, Davis recalls saying that “any officers who While neutral in the conflict, the wished to leave were at liberty to do so, but in my opinion their United States refuses to reward chances of surviving would be greater were they to remain in the chancery.” aggressors with the imprimatur There are no new departures. Remaining American person- of international legitimacy. nel move to the embassy, a location deemed more secure. It is a fortunate decision as German shellfire subsequently wrecks the consulate general. At the embassy, efforts are made to improvise a / safe shelter with sandbags and extra timber supports to shore up Fearing entrapment, as its gallant but weaker forces are being the basement roof. swiftly overwhelmed by the Nazi onslaught, the Polish govern- ment leaves Warsaw on Sept. 5. The Biddles, their Great Dane and / several embassy staff, including five women clerks, follow at the While bombs fall and artillery shells rain down, 40-year-old Poles’ request. Julien Bryan, a fearless American photographer, captures for pos- Among those joining the ambassador is Eugenia McQuatters, terity vivid images of Poland’s agony, of the human and material one of several unsung and often overlooked female secretar- devastation resulting from the brutal Nazi air and ground assault, ies and code clerks who constitute an important cadre of State including clear evidence of the terror attacks on purely civilian Department staff. To her surprise, Ms. McQuatters finds herself targets and the wanton destruction of Warsaw. Among Bryan’s behind the wheel of a station wagon loaded with four female films and photographs are enduring images of the American staff clerks, a Polish male and drums of gasoline, navigating unfamiliar calmly observing an air raid and preparing to ride out the Nazi roads in dangerous blackout conditions. assault with improvised bunkers, protective sandbags and Ameri- A brief stop along the escape route nearly proves fatal as Ger- can flags on the roof. man bombs hit the center of the market town, striking quite close Elsewhere, Bryan’s compelling photographs confirm reports to the temporary embassy. Fortunately, on Sept. 14, Biddle and sent by Ambassador Biddle and CG Davis regarding “unrestricted his party safely cross into Romania. German attacks—by bombing and machine-gunning from air- planes.” Blitzkrieg is synonymous with merciless, indiscriminate / air attacks against all. With the ambassador’s departure, Consul General John Ker Davis assumes charge. He is a veteran consular officer with 20 / years of experience, a China hand and a future president of the CG Davis organizes the staff to perform a variety of duties from American Foreign Service Association. In Warsaw, with no safe searching for food, performing housekeeping duties, standing escape route available, Davis adopts a shelter-in-place policy. In watch and attending to the needs of approximately 80 refugees,

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2019 47 Embassy Warsaw staff watch German planes fly overhead. U.S. HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM/JULIEN BRYAN ARCHIVE many women, sheltering in the embassy. Lifting morale, urging army and a long-serving clerk, later vice consul in Warsaw—and a forbearance and countering negative thoughts are priorities. Ten- handful of American citizens. sions mount among a staff reduced to sleeping on blankets on a From Berlin, Chargé Alexander Kirk cables the good news cement floor. “An effort,” Davis later writes, “was made to discour- to the department. “In spite of the terrific ordeal through which age officers from dwelling on the possibility of their being killed.” they have passed they are in excellent health. …I feel that any There are, according to CG Davis, frequent near-misses for expression of admiration for the magnificent courage, tenacity embassy members who venture and resourcefulness which out into the streets in search Immune to panic, throughout the they have displayed during the of food or to gather informa- September crisis, Ambassador past weeks would be feeble and tion regarding the assault on inadequate.” Warsaw. All communications Biddle would demonstrate a Under threat of invasion with the outside world are also readiness for action, a will to from Hitler, the Romanians severed. serve and enormous sangfroid. deny safe haven to the fleeing Yet when a newsman asks Polish government of President Vice Consul William M. Cramp Ignacy Mościcki and Foreign how long he is prepared to stay, he responds, “Until 136 American Minister Józef Beck. The Poles are not permitted to conduct offi- citizens are able to leave Warsaw.” Like Davis, Cramp is familiar cial business and are essentially neutralized and interned by the with tense situations. In May 1936 in Addis Ababa, he helped fearful Romanians. organize the armed defense of the legation that beat off a mob of marauders and earned him a citation for bravery. / Meanwhile, on Sept. 17, Russian troops move to occupy / roughly the eastern third of Poland. Returning to Moscow in late Relief for the trapped Americans comes on Sept. 21. Davis and September, Nazi Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop joins other neutrals succeed in negotiating a truce allowing diplomats, Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov to sign a new agree- American citizens and others (about 1,200 in total) to leave the ment arising from “the disintegration of the Polish state” and besieged city. Once into German lines, smiling, courteous Ger- cynically promising “a safe foundation for lasting peace in Eastern mans and news cameras greet the weary, hungry Americans— Europe.” Proud, independent Poland is for the fourth time in its good propaganda for Berlin. history partitioned by predator nations. By the following afternoon, Davis and his party reach safety at As Warsaw falls to the Nazis, defiant Polish patriots in Paris Königsberg, East Prussia. pass national leadership to President Władysław Raczkiewicz Electing to remain behind is 41-year-old Thaddeus Henry Chy- and General Władysław Sikorski, who was serving as premier and linski—an American-born Polish American, veteran of the Polish war minister. The new government is immediately recognized by

48 SEPTEMBER 2019 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL France and allowed to operate on French soil and organize Free General Warsaw and the ambassador’s residence, along with Polish fighters. damage to 14,000 of the 17,000 structures in urban Warsaw. Military and civilian casualties run into the tens of thousands. / Nonetheless, when the consulate general reopens some weeks Describing Poland as a “victim of force used as an instrument later, a little of what was lost is regained. In a field report to the of national policy,” Secretary Hull announces that the United State Department, FSO Landreth Harrison asserts: “People in all States will continue to recognize Poland’s government in exile. He walks of life frankly stated that when the Americans came back, tersely adds, “Mere seizure of territory … does not extinguish the it meant to them that Poland was not entirely forgotten by the legal existence of a government.” outside world.” While neutral in the conflict, the United States refuses to reward aggressors with the imprimatur of international legiti- / macy. As a nation-state, crushed by totalitarians, Poland no In late September 1939, Ambassador Biddle arrives in Paris to longer exists. As a people, as a hope for the future, it continues to preserve diplomatic contacts with the new Polish government. live in the spirits of its citizens and friends. He will follow it to its temporary home at Angers, in the south of France. After the fall of France in June 1940, Biddle will then move / to London, where he will be accredited by FDR not only to the On Oct. 15, FSO George Haering and three vice consuls return Polish exiles but to a total of eight displaced governments overrun to Warsaw on a special train provided by the occupying Germans. by Nazi invaders. They grimly report on the destruction that includes Consulate Photographer Julien Bryan will successfully evade German

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2019 49 During a yearlong stay in Nazi-occupied Warsaw and liv- ing for months across from Gestapo headquarters, Thaddeus Chylinski will meticulously record evidence of mounting Nazi atrocities and war crimes. A comprehensive report written from memory but inexplicably classified for decades, Poland under Nazi Rule 1939–1941 chronicles the Nazi terror campaign against the Poles of all classes and religions. The report will only see public light after the 1998 passage of the Nazi War Crimes Disclosure Act.

/ WIKIMEDIA COMMONSWIKIMEDIA This colorized photo shows Julien Bryan filming on top In 1939 Warsaw witnessed professional commitment and of paving stones meant to serve as a barricade against fortitude from America’s diplomatic and consular corps under the advancing German army during the siege of Warsaw. extreme duress. From ambassadors to clerks, these individuals were ready to do the right thing, defend the nation’s interests censorship, removing his priceless collection to give Western and protect the citizens they faithfully served. As Consul audiences graphic, heartrending evidence of the war’s devasta- General Davis reflected in his June 1940 journal entry: tion and human toll. This important collection resides today with “Wars may come, and wars may go, but the American Foreign the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Service ‘carries on.’” n

50 SEPTEMBER 2019 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL AFSA NEWS THE OFFICIAL RECORD OF THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATIONAFSA NEWS

New AFSA Board Takes Office CALENDAR On July 15, AFSA’s September 2 newly elected Labor Day – Governing Board, AFSA Offices Closed under the leadership September 4 of Ambassador Eric 12 p.m. Rubin, took office. “An Expert’s Take on the Outgoing AFSA Pres- TSP, New Tax Laws and ident Ambassador Developments in Federal Barbara Stephenson Benefits” swore Ambassador September 13 Rubin into office, 7:05 p.m. and he then swore in Fourth Annual Foreign Service Night at the other members Nationals Park of the new board. AFSA/ÁSGEIR SIGFÚSSON AFSA/ÁSGEIR (See bios, p. 57.) September 15-20 Outgoing AFSA President Barbara AFSA Road Scholar Program Consisting of 20 elected Stephenson swears in incoming at Chautauqua, N.Y. representatives from all of AFSA President Eric Rubin. AFSA’s constituencies, the September 18 new board will serve a two- conduct myself in a manner 12-2 p.m. AFSA Governing year term of office ending that does credit to the asso- Board Meeting July 15, 2021. ciation and to the American AFSA President Rubin Foreign Service.” September 26 swore in his new colleagues Two days later, on July 17, 4:30-6:30 p.m. AFSA’s Fall Happy Hour with the following oath: “As the new board held its first a member of the Govern- monthly meeting and began October 3 AFSA/ÁSGEIR SIGFÚSSON AFSA/ÁSGEIR 11:15 a.m.-12:45 p.m. ing Board of the American New AFSA President Eric Rubin. the serious work of running Foreign Service Association, the association, including Luncheon: 154th Specialist Class I hereby pledge to do my safeguard the association’s forming the committees that best to carry out the associa- property; respect the con- will do much of the heavy October 9 tion’s mission to represent fidentiality of board discus- lifting between board ses- 12-1:30 p.m. Luncheon: the members of the Foreign sions and deliberations; and sions. n 200th A-100 Class Service of the United States in accordance with the October 14 Foreign Service Act of 1980 Columbus Day – AFSA Offices Closed and to strengthen the ability of the foreign affairs commu- October 16 nity to contribute to effective 12-2 p.m. AFSA Governing foreign policies. Board Meeting “As I perform my duties to the best of my ability, I will October 16 abide by applicable federal 4-6 p.m. Annual AFSA and District of Columbia laws Awards Ceremony and regulations; follow the association’s bylaws, policies November 1 and standard operating pro- 12-1 p.m. Job Search Program cedures; maintain the fiscal AFSA/ÁSGEIR SIGFÚSSON AFSA/ÁSGEIR Graduation Reception at FSI integrity of the association; Members of the new AFSA Governing Board.

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2019 51 AFSASTATE NEWS VP VOICE | BY TOM YAZDGERDI AFSA NEWS

Views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the AFSA State VP. Contact: [email protected] | (202) 647-8160

Starting Out

Thank you to those who enjoy in our relations with I am motivated to see the Foreign Service elected me as AFSA’s State Congress. not just survive in this difficult environment, vice president. I will do AFSA has had some sig- but thrive. everything in my power to nificant wins. Having urged earn your trust by helping the department to address to strengthen our union and serious concerns from par- ensuring our voice is heard ents of children with special within the department, in educational needs over the the halls of Congress and by past several years, AFSA was including our economic offi- envoy for Holocaust issues the American people. heartened to see the new cers; that the department in my previous assignment, I look forward to col- policy (and updated FAM) appropriately implements a has prepared me well. laborating with our new that aims to better support waiver policy for the greater I am motivated to see president, Ambassador Eric FS families with special hardship service require- the Foreign Service not Rubin, a proven leader of needs children. ments so otherwise quali- just survive in this difficult the greatest integrity whom The new policy explicitly fied members are able to environment, but thrive. If I have had the pleasure to encourages Foreign Ser- cross the senior threshold; we are to do that—and to know for nearly 30 years. vice members with special and that tandem couples attract the best and bright- I also want to recognize needs children “to bid on are dealt with in a manner est who reflect the diversity the efforts of AFSA’s outgo- and serve in foreign assign- that recognizes the needs of of America—then we must ing president, Ambassador ments,” stating that “[it] is the Service but also puts a make certain our workplace Barbara Stephenson; my in the Department’s interest premium on keeping these practices truly support our predecessor, AFSA State VP to facilitate the overseas couples together. most precious asset: Foreign Ken Kero-Mentz; and the capacity of our workforce, Admittedly, I have much Service officers, specialists whole AFSA team for raising but more important, it is to learn about my new and their families. AFSA’s profile and grappling our ethos to put our people position, especially how My door will always be with issues of vital impor- first.” Many families who our officers and constitu- open to all who seek redress tance to the U.S. Foreign needed the Special Needs ent leaders interact with of legitimate grievances and Service. Education Allowance (known our labor-management who have innovative ideas Under their leadership, as SNEA) support had a team and with department on making AFSA, our Foreign AFSA has managed to gain strong impression that MED management. But I believe Service and the department key bipartisan congressional wanted them to not serve that my State experience, stronger, more accountable support even as we continue overseas. including the negotiations and more efficient.n to serve in a hyper-polarized We can all take great I was involved in as special political environment. satisfaction in this change, Indeed, there is now a but there is more work to be real understanding and done to make certain this respect on Capitol Hill for policy change is imple- the work that we do and for mented fairly and com- ensuring that the depart- prehensively. That is one ment has the resources it issue AFSA will focus on to needs. improve our Foreign Service. I worked for a member Here are just a few of of Congress in Washington, the other challenges that D.C., right out of college, and face us. We need to ensure will draw on that formative that there are equal pro- experience to build on the motion and advancement bipartisan support that we opportunities for everyone,

52 SEPTEMBER 2019 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL USAID VP VOICE | BY JASON SINGER AFSA NEWS

Views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the AFSA USAID VP. Contact: [email protected] | (202) 712-5267

My Journey to … AFSA VP

I decided my first column the States for college. Being stan, where I collaborated tal and Talent Management should be a bit about me an FS kid has given me great with my USAID and State office and Staff Care, we left (no eye rolling, please)—an opportunities but also great colleagues to establish the India in 2017 after one tour introduction that can give challenges—and now as an Afghanistan Reconstruction so I could help my dad look you a sense of where I’ve FSO father, I know what my Steering Group and set up after my ailing mom. come from and why I am so parents went through! the Afghanistan Reconstruc- I was fortunate to serve as invested in USAID and this Professionally, I’ve tion Trust Fund. head of the Policy, Planning job. But please note: this will enjoyed various stints in the I was subsequently and Learning Bureau’s Policy also be the last column about (semi-) private sector, includ- detailed to the National Office and later worked with me. Future columns must ing in management consult- Security Council where, the Economic Growth team in and will keep the focus on us ing, investment banking, with again, I worked closely with the Europe & Eurasia Bureau. and the Foreign Service as a the African Development USAID, State and interagency Since February, I’ve been whole. Bank and implementing part- colleagues on a range of part of a great and dedicated First, let me be clear: I ners. As a result, I not only efforts. And then I made the team in the Center of Excel- want to support all Foreign value the private sector’s move to USAID. lence on Democracy, Human Service officers and house- dynamism, dedication and Let’s face it: I’ve been Rights and Governance. holds. Families come in all strengths, but also recognize around. I joined USAID as a I have been an FS kid, shapes and sizes—including some of the risks of its at private enterprise officer in served in a Critical Priority single-member households— times heavy-handed transac- 2003. My family and I moved Country, faced eldercare and I am committed to sup- tional approach. to Jakarta where, within challenges, been an imple- porting them all. As an implementing six months, my supervi- menting partner, led projects My father retired as a partner, I saw the Automated sor resigned and I was put in virtually all sectors and for- USAID FSO in the mid-1990s Directives System, Federal in charge of the Economic mally served as a Backstop after a long career, including Acquisition Regulation, Growth Office. Soon there- 01, 02, 12, 21 and 76. stints with the Peace Corps, Foreign Affairs Manual and after, I was charged with I have worked in multiple CARE and other organiza- overall USAID bureaucracy establishing a new Millen- executive branch agencies, tions. At various posts, my in a whole new light. At the nium Challenge Corporation multilateral institutions and mother taught English as same time, I’ve also seen Threshold Office to oversee a the NSC. I have a couple of a Second Language, volun- USAID’s perspective on the control-of-corruption project kids and a spouse who loves teered and enjoyed being an private sector evolve over and separate immunization her not-very-portable profes- active member of the local the decades to where we project. sion. And I’m a proud USAID and expat communities. now recognize its potential I’ve served in USAID’s FSO, who believes that this I grew up moving around for advancing development. Office of Budget and agency embodies the best of (mostly in Africa), working There is a realistic balance to Resource Management and America and Americans. summer jobs at embas- be achieved. have been detailed as the These are my experi- sies moving furniture for My public sector history senior development adviser ences—but what are yours? GSO, serving as acting CLO, has been similarly varied, to the U.S. Executive Direc- We all have our own unique supporting USAID and the starting with being thrown tor’s Office at the World stories. Please let me hear Regional Housing and Urban into the bureaucratic and Bank and the Quadrennial from you so that I can serve Development Office, and interagency deep end. I Diplomacy and Development you to the best of my abili- generally enjoying life as a started in Treasury’s interna- Review Office at State. ties. n Foreign Service kid (ask me tional affairs division during I served in Afghanistan about being a Boy Scout in the Asia financial crisis. (leaving my family behind, as 1980s Zaire). Later, I covered a Middle we do) and then in India as a After graduating from the East portfolio until the morn- general development officer. International School of Kenya ing of 9/11. The powers that With the support of mission (Go Lions!), I came back to be then put me on Afghani- leadership, the Human Capi-

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2019 53 AFSARETIREE NEWS VP VOICE | BY JOHN K. NALAND AFSA NEWS

Views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the AFSA Retiree VP. Contact: [email protected]

Strength in Numbers

Thank you for continuing about, or problem with, your Other new retirees suc- If you attend meetings of your AFSA membership in federal benefits. cessfully re-enroll for AFSA one of the 18 Foreign Service retirement! While more than Second, your continued membership, but do so by retiree associations across 80 percent of new Foreign membership helps your writing a check for one year’s the country and you want to Service members join AFSA, successors who are still “in dues. When renewal time proactively encourage your the membership percentage harm’s way” in the active comes, they are on a trip, colleagues to join AFSA, we drops below 40 percent after duty Foreign Service by, for have moved, or only give a can mail and/or email you retirement. You are among example, supporting AFSA’s cursory glance to their flood handouts explaining the those who understand the efforts to educate Congress, of incoming mail. As a result, benefits of AFSA member- value of continuing to sup- the media and the American their reminder letter from ship in retirement along with port AFSA as a retiree, and people on the importance AFSA goes unseen, and their the membership application we need your help to spread of funding diplomacy and membership lapses. form. Just email member@ the word. That value comes development. AFSA needs your help afsa.org. in two categories. In view of the benefits of in reaching these former Finally, if your own AFSA First, there are tangible, continued membership, why members. membership depends on you individual benefits includ- do so many newly retired When you chat with fellow writing a check each year, ing: keeping you informed members drop out? In many Foreign Service retirees, try please consider switching (e.g., through The Foreign cases, it is completely inad- to find out if they belong from annual billing to paying Service Journal, daily media vertent. to AFSA. For example, you dues via annuity deduction. digest, retirement directory, After decades of pay- might ask what they think Switching will save AFSA retiree newsletter, benefits ing AFSA dues via payroll about some recent AFSA money on printing and mail- videos and webinars, and deduction, they mistakenly media digest item, Foreign ing expenses and will ensure Next Stage presentations), assume that dues will be Service Journal article or that your membership does protecting your financial automatically withheld from retiree newsletter update. If not inadvertently lapse due interests through AFSA’s their Foreign Service pension. they say they do not get that to lost or unnoticed mail. defense of retirement Unfortunately, that is not information, encourage them When your renewal time benefits on Capitol Hill, and the case. Retiring employees to rejoin AFSA. They can do comes, you can simply make having an AFSA retirement must fill out new paperwork so on the AFSA website at the switch either online at counselor available to assist to continue their AFSA mem- www.afsa.org/retired- www.afsa.org or by contact- should you have a question bership in retirement. membership. ing [email protected]. n

LOOKING AHEAD TO THE FOREIGN SERVICE AND AFSA CENTENNIAL

The United States Foreign Service and its professional association, the American Foreign Service Association, were both founded in 1924. Commemorating that centennial in 2024 will provide a unique opportunity to increase understanding among the media, Congress and American people about the vital role of the Foreign Service in sustaining American global leadership. To begin to plan for that celebration, the AFSA Governing Board established a Centennial Celebration Com- NEWS BRIEF mittee at its July 17 meeting. The committee is chaired by AFSA Retiree Vice President John Naland, who was on the Governing Board during the 75th anniversary celebration in 1999. Other committee members are AFSA Secretary Ken Kero-Mentz and Retiree Representative Mary Daly. The committee will identify the best ideas for marking the centennial and will determine the steps required to implement them. Toward that end, later this year the committee will issue a call for suggestions from AFSA members and other interested parties. n

54 SEPTEMBER 2019 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL FCS VP VOICE | BY JAY CARREIRO AFSA NEWS

Views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the AFSA USAID VP. Contact: [email protected]

Navigating the Challenges Ahead

I want to thank outgoing FCS organization works to provide Our work contributes $193 to the Vice President Dan Crocker the support you and your U.S. economy for every dollar of taxpayer for representing our interests families need. money spent. at AFSA since 2017 and for The continuing stream organizing a smooth suc- of proposals we’ve seen to cession. I am both honored close significant numbers of however, of letting members signments to home leave, and excited to be your next overseas posts and domestic of Congress know what we proper expectations should representative on the AFSA field offices is at odds with do for their constituents so be established. And those Governing Board, and I the administration’s desire we can rally their support for expectations should be met. intend to continue the excel- to enforce trade obligations much-needed resources. Our AFSA can, and should, lent work Dan has done these and, above all, create jobs in work contributes $193 to the play a role in ensuring that past two years. the United States. U.S. economy for every dollar the mechanics of life in the As you all know, we face The Commercial Service of taxpayer money spent. In Foreign Service work for some significant headwinds has a unique global and very basic terms, our work everyone. Your feedback will as an organization. The next domestic footprint and an has a real impact. guide much of what I do, and two years promise to be unrivaled culture of client- Finally, while we have I will do my part to advance challenging, and funding will based, outcome-oriented some of the most challeng- your interests and ensure be tight. My top priorities will assistance. We help tens of ing and rewarding jobs in that our organization pro- be transparency with respect thousands of U.S. companies government, the sacrifices vides the support we need to to spending and resource each year compete success- we often have to make to live perform at our best. allocation at all levels within fully in foreign markets, and and work overseas on behalf I look forward to hear- the Commerce Department, we’ve got the metrics to of our country are frequently ing from you. When you’re vigorous congressional out- prove it. overlooked. From security to in Washington, please don’t reach, and ensuring that our We need to do a better job, medical clearances, reas- hesitate to stop by. n

AFSA Supports Diplomacy at USGLC Event

Outgoing AFSA President of a time and place when Ambassador Barbara Ste- America would again be phenson represented AFSA seen as the last best hope at the U.S. Global Leader- of Earth,” Representative ship Coalition State Leaders Joe Neguse (D-Colo.) told Summit in Washington, D.C., conference-goers. June 17-18. “The only way we make The conference featured that dream a reality is mak- foreign policy briefings and ing your voices heard about meetings with members why diplomacy matters, of Congress. More than about why our engagement 600 USGLC state leaders in the rest of the world mat- attended the conference to ters. If we do that, I believe make the case about the our world will be a safer, bet-

dangers of the United States ter, more peaceful place.” n CAPTURE SCREEN Then AFSA President Ambassador Barbara Stephenson (right) speaks at pulling back from the world. the 2019 USGLC State Leaders Summit. To her right is USGLC President “Abraham Lincoln dreamt Liz Schrayer.

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2019 55 WHERE WE STAND | BY JULIE NUTTER, PROFESSIONAL POLICY ISSUES DIRECTOR

All Diplomacy Is (Eventually) Local

The role of the Foreign The report’s executive AFSA will continue to reach into U.S. Service in maintaining U.S. summary states: “U.S. communities to explain how the Foreign global leadership has been national security and foreign a constant theme in AFSA’s policy professionals in Wash- Service keeps threats at bay while keeping messaging—a point that for- ington, D.C., and worldwide America prosperous and moving forward. mer AFSA President Barbara strive to sustain U.S. global Stephenson made tirelessly leadership. Their interna- to public audiences, to Con- tional economic, trade, gress and to our members. commercial, defense, aid and stand and recognize the agenda. They have spon- We know that nine in 10 other foreign policies aim to domestic effects of foreign sored legislation like the Americans support U.S. promote macroeconomic policy decisions more deeply “Championing U.S. Business global leadership. We also growth and stability and to than before. Important food through Diplomacy” and the know this support comes deliver maximum aggregate for thought. BUILD Act. with caveats, such as a strong benefits for the nation. But Luckily, there are influ- Retired members of the preference for America acting many people at the state and ential voices in support Foreign Service, including with allies, weak support for local levels are unclear on of the value of U.S. global those in the AFSA Speakers “forever” wars and doubts what all this activity actu- leadership and diplomacy Bureau, generously volunteer about America’s role as the ally entails or how it helps to U.S. communities. At the their time to tell the story of world’s policeman. their communities prosper. U.S. Global Leadership State the Foreign Service in their In addition, even though This should be a major goal Summit on June 17, Tara communities. domestic support for free of foreign policy profession- Hogan Charles of Procter AFSA has some new tools trade agreements has been als—to explain the benefits of & Gamble, whose world to help in the effort. A new growing, according to a U.S. global leadership to all” headquarters is in Cincinnati, animated video, “What Diplo- May 10 report from the Pew (italics mine). said: “Not only is investing mats Do and Why It Matters,” Research Center, there is These findings suggest in global development and focuses on economic diplo- worry that the economic that we can no longer take diplomacy the right thing macy. A companion packet benefits of U.S. global for granted Americans’ sup- to do, it also makes great with talking points, articles leadership are not felt evenly port for U.S. global leader- business sense for American and discussion questions across the country. ship. We need to make the companies. When we engage helps members share this In 2018 the John Glenn case to our fellow Americans with the 95 percent of the message. A second video and College of Public Affairs at in new and respectful ways world’s consumers who plans for a new edition of the Ohio State University teamed and keep a close eye on how live outside of our borders ever-popular Inside a U.S. up with the Carnegie Founda- our messaging is landing. through so many of our over- Embassy are in the works. tion to produce U.S. Foreign The Carnegie study seas programs, we increase Our new president, Policy for the Middle Class— recommends that “every exports. We are helping to Ambassador Eric Rubin, Perspectives from Ohio, the relevant strategy docu- grow businesses right here in considers outreach a top first in a series of reports on ment, including the National Ohio and across the country.” priority. Along with our stra- local attitudes toward foreign Security Strategy, should We also have congres- tegic partners like the U.S. policy. explicitly answer this ques- sional champions who Global Leadership Coalition The Ohio study showed tion: Whose interests are understand how their states and our supporters in Con- sharp variation in how com- being served, and who may and the country benefit gress, AFSA will continue to munities viewed foreign lose out?” from U.S. global leadership. reach into U.S. communities policy, depending on how The authors are not They have beaten back years to explain how the Foreign well their towns and cities recommending that foreign of proposed budget cuts, Service keeps threats at are doing and whether they policy be decided on domes- convinced that the country bay while keeping America feel left behind by global tic political grounds, but that is better off when the United prosperous and moving changes. policymakers should under- States is setting the global forward. n

56 SEPTEMBER 2019 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL AFSA NEWS

Meet the 2019-2021 AFSA Governing Board

The American Foreign Service Association is proud to intro- VIRGINIA BENNETT duce the elected officers and representatives of the 2019- TREASURER 2021 Governing Board. The AFSA Governing Board meets on Virginia Bennett, senior director for inter- the third Wednesday of each month from 12 to 1:30 p.m. at national programs at CNA Corporation, is AFSA headquarters. AFSA members are welcome to attend a retired Senior Foreign Service officer who board meetings. served as principal deputy assistant secre- tary of the Bureau of Democracy, Human ERIC RUBIN Rights and Labor from 2014 to 2017. From 2011 to 2014, she PRESIDENT served as deputy chief of mission at the U.S. embassy in Eric Rubin comes to AFSA from his most Athens. recent posting as U.S. ambassador to Bul- Ms. Bennett also served in Bogota, Tokyo and Manila; in garia. His previous positions include deputy New York City at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations; and chief of mission in Moscow, deputy assistant in Washington, D.C., in the State Department’s Operations secretary for European and Eurasian affairs, Center and in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs. consul general in Chiang Mai, executive assistant to the under Ms. Bennett speaks French, Spanish and Japanese. She secretary for political affairs, assistant White House press secre- graduated from Wellesley College and has a master’s degree tary and National Security Council director for public affairs, and in business administration from Cornell University. Rusk Fellow at Georgetown University’s Institute for the Study of Diplomacy. Ambassador Rubin joined the Foreign Service in 1985 and is THOMAS YAZDGERDI a Career Minister in the Senior Foreign Service. In 1994, he was DEPARTMENT OF STATE a recipient of a group William R. Rivkin Award for Constructive VICE PRESIDENT Dissent by Mid-Level Officers for his work on the Bosnia crisis. A member of the Senior Foreign Service, Amb. Rubin is a former member of The Foreign Service Journal Tom Yazdgerdi entered the U.S. Foreign Editorial Board and a career-long AFSA member. Service in 1991 and recently served as special envoy for Holocaust issues in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs at the Department of KEN KERO-MENTZ State. SECRETARY He has served as director of the Office of South Central Ken Kero-Mentz joined the State Depart- European Affairs, political counselor at Embassy Kabul, head ment in January 2000. He has served over- of Consulate Kirkuk and deputy political counselor for Iran seas in Rio de Janeiro, Baghdad, Berlin, affairs at Embassy Baghdad. He also served as deputy chief of Colombo and Erbil, and worked domes- mission and political-economic chief at Embassy Pristina, in tically in the Bureaus of European and the run-up to and aftermath of Kosovo’s independence. Eurasian Affairs and Democracy, Human Rights and Labor. He Other assignments include Panama City, Bratislava, Tirana served most recently as AFSA’s vice president for State where and Athens, as well as positions in the European Bureau he fought to enhance AFSA’s dual mission of defending the (Czech desk) and the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, and Foreign Service and protecting Foreign Service employees. as senior Balkans program officer with the National Demo- An economic-coned officer, Mr. Kero-Mentz served as AFSA cratic Institute in Washington, D.C. post rep in Berlin, and received the AFSA Post Rep of the Year Before joining the Foreign Service, Mr. Yazdgerdi worked on Award in 2009. He served two tours on the AFSA Governing Capitol Hill. He has a bachelor’s degree in history from Cornell Board from 2011 to 2015. Prior to joining State, Mr. Kero- University and a master’s degree in Central European history, Mentz spent five years on Capitol Hill covering a wide range security studies and American diplomatic history from the of legislative issues, including foreign policy. He earned his Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. bachelor’s degree in international affairs with a minor in Ger- man and a master’s degree in public administration from the George Washington University.

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2019 57 AFSA NEWS

JASON SINGER MICHAEL RIEDEL U.S. AGENCY FOR FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT SERVICE VICE PRESIDENT VICE PRESIDENT Michael Riedel has served as an FSO with The son of a USAID Foreign Service officer, the Foreign Agricultural Service for 20 Jason Singer is a proud high school gradu- years, and realizes his long-time goal of ate of the International School of Kenya serving as AFSA vice president for FAS. with more than 20 years of professional interagency develop- His overseas assignments have included New Delhi, Baghdad, ment experience, including 14 years as an FSO with USAID Ho Chi Minh City, Beijing (as director of the embassy’s Office and earlier service with the U.S. Treasury Department and of Agricultural Affairs) and Lima (as agricultural counselor). the National Security Council. He has led USAID teams in a Between Beijing and Lima, Mr. Riedel spent time in variety of sectors including economic growth; anti-corruption FAS/Washington as Asia division director of the FAS Office and good governance; immunization and water, sanitation and of Country and Regional Affairs and as Western Hemisphere hygiene; basic education; agribusiness; workforce develop- area director in the Office of Foreign Service Operations. ment; disaster risk reduction; and women’s empowerment. Before beginning his public service career, Mr. Riedel Mr. Singer has tremendous respect for development worked as an international trade analyst in a law firm’s professionals across all functional and technical areas, and Washington, D.C., offices. He received his bachelor’s degree in appreciates the importance of intra- and interagency collabo- international and comparative politics from Western Michigan ration to strengthen the Foreign Service cadre. University and his master’s degree in international affairs from George Washington University’s Elliott School of Inter- national Affairs. Mr. Riedel is married with one daughter and JAY CARREIRO heads home to Maine as often as he can. FOREIGN COMMERCIAL SERVICE VICE PRESIDENT Jay Carreiro is a career Foreign Service JOHN K. NALAND officer and an 18-year veteran of the Com- RETIREE VICE PRESIDENT merce Department. He joined the Foreign John Naland’s 29-year Foreign Service Commercial Service in 2009, serving as career included service in Colombia, Costa special assistant to the deputy assistant secretary for interna- Rica, Nicaragua, Mexico (as principal tional operations. Prior to his election to the AFSA Governing officer in Matamoros) and Iraq (as leader Board, he was the director for business liaison and special of the provincial reconstruction team in adviser to the U.S. executive director at the Inter-American Basra). Washington assignments included the Secretary’s Development Bank in Washington, D.C. He also served in Rio Policy Planning Staff, the White House Situation Room and de Janeiro. the Bureau of Human Resources (as director of the Office of Before joining Commerce, Mr. Carreiro served as a judicial Retirement). law clerk in Trenton, N.J. He holds a bachelor’s degree in politi- Mr. Naland was AFSA State vice president from 1999 to cal science and public administration from Rhode Island Col- 2001 and AFSA president from 2001 to 2003 and from 2007 lege and a master’s degree in public administration and a law to 2009. He retired from the Foreign Service in 2015. He is in degree from Rutgers University. He is married with one child. his second term as AFSA Retiree VP. He is also president of the Foreign Service Youth Foundation and coordinator of the Foreign Affairs Retirees of Northern Virginia. Mr. Naland is co-author of the third edition of Career Diplomacy: Life and Work in the U.S. Foreign Service (Georgetown University Press, 2017). A former U.S. Army cavalry officer who served in West Germany during the Cold War, he is a graduate of the Army War College. Born in Kansas, he grew up in New Orleans and graduated from Tulane University. He is married and has two daughters.

58 SEPTEMBER 2019 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL AFSA NEWS

KRISTIN MICHELLE HOLLY KIRKING LOOMIS ROBERTS STATE REPRESENTATIVE STATE REPRESENTATIVE Holly Kirking Loomis is acting director Kristin Roberts is currently director of of the State Department Office of Global policy in the Bureau of Educational and Change, where she leads the 35-person Cultural Affairs. Before that, she was in the team that coordinates and implements Office of Public Diplomacy in the Bureau U.S. foreign policy, negotiations strategy of European and Eurasian Affairs as a desk officer, where and programs related to climate change. She previously her portfolio included Cyprus, Greece, Turkey, NATO and the served in Brasilia, Tegucigalpa and Beijing (twice). She speaks European Union. Portuguese, Spanish and Mandarin Chinese. In the summer Ms. Roberts joined the Foreign Service in 2005. She served of 2019, she served a temporary assignment as acting deputy as press attaché at Embassy Tbilisi and, prior to that, oversaw chief of mission in Majuro, Marshall Islands. the Public Affairs Office at Embassy Bishkek. Ms. Kirking Loomis joined the Foreign Service as an eco- In Washington, D.C., she has served as the special nomic officer in 2004. She earned her master’s degree from assistant to the assistant secretary for the Bureau of South Tufts University’s Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and and Central Asian Affairs and did a tour in the State Depart- earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota. ment Operations Center. She was deputy spokesperson She served as treasurer and development chair on the board for Embassy New Delhi and has also served overseas at of directors of the American School in Brasilia. She also Embassy Islamabad and at the U.S. Mission to the European recently joined the board of directors of the Green Climate Union in Brussels. Fund as the alternate U.S. representative. Before joining the Ms. Roberts earned a bachelor’s degree in social work and Foreign Service, she worked in trade finance in Chicago. Ms. a law degree from the University of Washington. She is mar- Kirking Loomis and her husband, Landon Loomis, have three ried to fellow FSO James Morris. They have two sons. young sons, who call Wisconsin and New Orleans their home.

LILLIAN WAHL-TUCO TAMIR WASER STATE REPRESENTATIVE STATE REPRESENTATIVE Lillian Wahl-Tuco joined State in 2006 as Tamir Waser is deputy director for the a consular-coned Foreign Service officer. Office of European Security and Political- She currently serves as a Pearson Fellow Military Affairs at the State Department. on the Senate Foreign Relations Commit- He served overseas most recently as politi- tee’s minority staff. cal counselor at the U.S. Mission to NATO During a Washington tour in 2011, Ms. Wahl-Tuco’s passion in Brussels, as principal deputy high representative in Bosnia for work-life issues motivated her to launch Balancing Act and Herzegovina, and as political counselor at Embassy Sara- with several other Foreign Service and Civil Service colleagues jevo. Mr. Waser has also served in Riga, Freetown, Canberra to help the department modernize all its work-life poli- and Bogotá. In Washington, he has served on the staff of cies—including in areas such as flexible work arrangements, the under secretary for political affairs, in the Balkans office telework, parental leave, childcare and eldercare. working on Kosovo, and in the Office of European Security and Ms. Wahl-Tuco was an AFSA Governing Board member Political-Military Affairs handling NATO’s operations in the from 2012 to 2014. During that time, she successfully helped Balkans. secure programs such as the voluntary leave bank, backup A native of California, Mr. Waser has bachelor’s and mas- care and job share reform, among other things. ter’s degrees from the University of Virginia and a master’s Ms. Wahl-Tuco wants to help AFSA efforts on diversity and degree from the National War College. He is a baseball fan and gender issues and continue to be an advocate for work-life enjoys history. reforms. She is part of an FS-CS tandem and has two children. She joined the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Office of Public Diplomacy in August, where she covers Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova.

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2019 59 AFSA NEWS

JOSHUA C. ARCHIBALD LORRAINE SHERMAN STATE REPRESENTATIVE USAID REPRESENTATIVE Joshua Archibald is the deputy director of Lorraine Sherman is a Foreign Service offi- the Office of Economic Policy and Public cer with USAID, where she currently serves Diplomacy in the Bureau of Economic and as senior adviser to the Office of Transition Business Affairs. Before that he was the Initiatives. Previously, Ms. Sherman served deputy director of the International Nar- as a congressional liaison officer with the cotics and Law Enforcement office in San Salvador, where he Bureau for Legislative and Public Affairs. She also served as led the fight against MS-13, corruption and impunity. He was an executive officer in Nairobi, Kabul and Pristina. also a special assistant for the under secretary for Economic A decorated U.S. Army veteran, Ms. Sherman holds a bach- Growth, Energy and the Environment; the State Department’s elor’s degree from Rutgers University, a law degree from Bos- lead officer on the Committee for Foreign Investment in the ton University School of Law and a master’s degree from the United States; and manager of the internal unit in the politi- School of Advanced Military Studies, part of the Command cal-military office of Embassy Baghdad. His other diplomatic and General Staff College. She served on the AFSA Governing assignments include Laos, Ecuador, the Dominican Republic Board from 2015 to 2017. and Italy. Born and raised in California’s Bay Area, Mr. Archibald earned a bachelor’s degree in international economics and MARY PARRISH German from U.C. Davis, and a master’s degree from George- FAS ALTERNATE town University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service. He is mar- REPRESENTATIVE ried (as part of a “tandem”) with three children. Mary Rose Parrish is the deputy director for Multilateral Trade Capacity Building Programs at USDA’s Foreign Agricultural MATTHEW DOLBOW Service in Washington, D.C. She just STATE REPRESENTATIVE returned from Mexico City where she served as the deputy Matthew Dolbow is studying Japanese at director of the Agricultural Trade Office, following a tour as the Foreign Service Institute in preparation agricultural attaché in the Office of Agricultural Affairs. for his assignment as consul general in Within FAS, Mary has also worked in the Animal Naha. He previously served as chief of staff Division and the Global Commodities Analysis Division. in the National Security Council and in the Prior to FAS, Mary worked at the World Bank in the Central National Economic Council’s international economics office, America Management Unit on Sustainable Development and counselor for economic and social affairs at the U.S. Mission on the Agricultural Risk Management Team. Previously, she to the United Nations in New York City, economic strategy unit was program and membership manager at the Fair Trade chief at Embassy Beijing and as spokesperson for Consulate Federation. General Hong Kong. She holds a master’s degree from Georgetown Univer- Mr. Dolbow completed his bachelor’s degree at the Univer- sity’s Walsh School of Foreign Service, with a concentration sity of Chicago and a master’s degree in public administration in international development, and bachelor’s degrees from at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government via the Foreign the University of California, Berkeley in international politi- Service Institute’s University Economic Training position. cal economy and Latin American studies. She was raised in He enjoys mentoring and leadership development and Raleigh, North Carolina. She and her husband have one son. aims to contribute to department efforts to promote a resil- ient workforce. Outside of the office, he races cars and enjoys studying art, design, architecture, music and film. He and his wife, Judy, recently welcomed their first child into the Foreign Service family.

60 SEPTEMBER 2019 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL AFSA NEWS

JEFFERY AUSTIN MARY DALY APHIS REPRESENTATIVE RETIREE REPRESENTATIVE Jeffery Austin is a career Foreign Service Mary Daly is a senior adviser in the officer with the Department of Agricul- Department of State’s Bureau of Human ture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Resources, where she directs the Franklin Service. Prior to his recent relocation to Fellows Program, a public-private collabo- APHIS headquarters in Washington, D.C., ration that brings outside experts to State he served as the area director for the APHIS International and USAID for a sabbatical year. She was a political officer in Services Office in San José, Costa Rica. He is responsible the Foreign Service for 23 years, serving as political counselor, for the technical/scientific, sanitary and phytosanitary side speechwriter, policy planner and legislative liaison, among of import/export regulations for agricultural trade between other assignments, before retiring early to care for a family Central America and the United States. In addition, he works member. to identify emerging animal and plant pest and disease issues Since retiring, she has served as a senior inspector at OIG, within Central America and works with Central American editor-in-chief of the International Religious Freedom Report countries to develop surveillance and mitigation measures. and FSI instructor, in addition to her work in HR. She served as AFSA’s Director of Advocacy and Speechwriting from July 2017 to March 2018. In that capacity, she built relationships STEVEN L. HERMAN for AFSA with House and Senate Appropriations and Authori- USAGM REPRESENTATIVE zations Committee members and staff, and helped launch the Steven Herman is the White House bureau Friends of the Foreign Service caucus. chief for the Voice of America. The veteran correspondent has been a member of the Foreign Service since 2007, when he was PHILIP A. SHULL named VOA’s South Asia bureau chief, RETIREE REPRESENTATIVE based in New Delhi. Subsequent to his India posting, Mr. Her- Philip Shull retired in 2016 after 31 years man was Northeast Asia bureau chief, based in Seoul, and with the Foreign Agricultural Service. A then Southeast Asia bureau chief in Bangkok. He returned native of Wooster, Ohio, his interest in food stateside in 2016 to cover diplomacy at the State Department, security and international relations was before moving to cover the new administration shortly after sparked by living as a boy in India, where the inauguration. he saw severe malnutrition. Mr. Shull’s work maximizing Mr. Herman spent 16 years living in Tokyo, working in exports of U.S. food and agricultural products and promot- media, before joining VOA as a staff correspondent. He is also ing global food security included trade negotiations, capacity a former news reporter for the Associated Press and began building, food safety, biotechnology, marketing and promo- his career in radio and television news in Las Vegas. He is a tion, scientific exchange and economic analysis. former president of both the Japan Foreign Correspondents’ His overseas assignments included Korea, Argentina Club and the Seoul Foreign Correspondents’ Club. (where he also covered Uruguay and Paraguay), Hong Kong, Philippines and three postings to China. His final position was Minister Counselor for agriculture in Beijing. Throughout his career, Mr. Shull used common goals in improved technology, science-based regulations, food safety standards and farmer-to-farmer visits to advance broader U.S. diplomatic interests. He relished working with other sec- tions of the embassy to expand the reach of U.S. Department of Agriculture programs. n

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2019 61 AFSA NEWS

The New FSJ Editorial Board Members

The Foreign Service Journal has eight new members for the director for the newly created FCS Office of Digital Initiatives. He 2019-2021 Editorial Board term. Each comes with a unique was also Commerce’s first executive director for Western Hemi- background and special talents and motivations for joining sphere operations. Mr. Crocker’s earlier foreign assignments the Editorial Board. One member said he wants to “commit were in Panama, Mexico, Brazil and the Dominican Republic. myself to work actively with other board members to reinforce Prior to joining the Foreign Service, Mr. Crocker worked in the Journal’s century-long mission of advocacy for American the private sector with Schlumberger, Amsted Rail, Webvan, diplomacy and its practitioners around the world.” Another said HomeWarehouse.com and as an MIT consultant for Hewlett- “I specifically am interested in the Editorial Board role as I see it Packard. He has a bachelor’s of science degree in engineering helping to shape the dialogue in the community, at a time when from Princeton University, a master’s degree in foreign affairs our established ideas are being challenged.” from the University of Virginia and a master’s and MBA from Yet another new board member wrote: “Over the past sev- the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Mr. Crocker is eral years, I have seen AFSA’s leadership become increasingly married with two children and has raced bicycles competi- indispensable. The FSJ can and should be the leading advo- tively throughout Latin America, the United States and France. cate—whether it’s on Foreign Service work and life issues over- seas, the unique role that specialists play and how those should Joel Ehrendreich joined the State adapt for the future, ways to highlight Civil Service careers, or Department in 1994. He currently serves the importance of recruiting and training the next generation.” as foreign policy adviser (POLAD) to the Welcome to our new Editorial Board members, and thank Commandant of the Marine Corps. Mr. you also to our continuing Editorial Board members: Alexis Ehrendreich’s prior assignments were Ludwig (chair), Harry Kopp and Dinah Zeltser-Winant! mostly in the Indo-Pacific region and West Africa. Raised in Wisconsin, he graduated Robert M. Beecroft retired from the from Drake University. Prior to joining State, Mr. Ehrendreich Foreign Service in 2006 with the rank of worked for the Peace Corps, wrote for local/specialty publica- Minister Counselor. After retiring, he led tions and taught adult rehabilitation at Goodwill Industries. State Department Office of Inspector Mr. Ehrendreich’s hobbies include watching baseball, playing General inspections of U.S. diplomatic baseball and talking about baseball, and his prized possession operations in Kuwait, Syria, Taiwan, is a baseball signed by the Dalai Lama. Vietnam, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania and He received the William R. Rivkin Award for Constructive four regional and functional bureaus in Washington, D.C. Dissent in 2011. Mr. Ehrendreich is married to FSO Rachel From 2004 to 2006, he was a professor of national security Ehrendreich, and they have two grown children. strategy at the National War College. From 2001 to 2004, he served as ambassador and head of the Organization for Jess McTigue is serving as a Pearson Security and Co-operation in Europe Peacekeeping Mission Fellow on Capitol Hill. She has been a in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Earlier, he served in Bosnia as the special agent with Diplomatic Security special envoy for the Bosnian Federation and chargé d’affaires since 2005, with assignments in Iraq, at Embassy Sarajevo. Between 1971 and 1996, he served in Yemen, Chad, New York and Washington, Washington, D.C. and overseas in Geneva, Brussels, Paris, D.C. Prior to joining the State Department, Bonn, Cairo, Ouagadougou and Amman, the latter two as she worked as an intelligence analyst in deputy chief of mission. the private sector. Ms. McTigue has a bachelor’s degree in international studies from DePaul University in Chicago. Daniel Crocker is a career member of the Upon her departure from Chad, the country’s president Senior Foreign Service. Prior to serving as made her a Knight of the National Order of Chad; she is the AFSA’s Foreign Commercial Service vice first and only embassy official, other than the ambassador, president for the 2017-2019 Governing to receive this award. Board, he was the commercial counselor in Madrid, promoting U.S. commercial interests in Spain. Mr. Crocker was the first

62 SEPTEMBER 2019 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL AFSA NEWS

Christopher Teal is a career member of She has published and lectured extensively on the practice the Senior Foreign Service. He is currently of public diplomacy in complex information environments. on a faculty assignment at the Inter-Amer- She graduated from Georgetown University’s Walsh School of ican Defense College at Fort McNair in Foreign Service and earned her doctorate in English language Washington, D.C. He recently completed an and literature from the University of Chicago. Una Chapman Cox Fellowship, for which he directed, wrote and produced a documen- Laurence Wohlers is a retired diplomat tary on the first African American diplomat, Ebenezer D. Bas- and the current board chair of Youth for sett. The film, A“ Diplomat of Consequence,” tells the story of Understanding, a nonprofit with a 70-year this groundbreaking diplomat 150 years after his appointment. history of working on youth exchanges. Mr. Teal previously served as the consul general at the U.S. During a 36-year diplomatic career, consulate in Nogales, Mexico, and held public affairs positions he served as ambassador to the Central in Sri Lanka; Mexico; Peru; and the Dominican Republic. In African Republic, minister counselor for Washington, D.C., he also worked in the Bureau of European political affairs at the U.S. Mission to the European Union, and Eurasian Affairs and at the Foreign Press Center. He and minister counselor for public affairs in Moscow, as well as joined the State Department in 1999 and previously served on other postings in Africa and Japan. After retiring, he returned the FSJ Editorial Board from 2004 to 2007. to the CAR as the deputy special representative of the U.N. Secretary General (DSRSG) to help set up the new peace- Joe Tordella is a Foreign Service officer keeping mission (MINUSCA) there. Since leaving MINUSCA, currently serving as spokesperson for the Amb. Wohlers has returned to the department for short-term Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs. assignments including as interim special representative for the Before this assignment, he was a special African Great Lakes and as head of delegation for the Secu- assistant to the under secretary for public rity Governance Initiative in Niger and Mali. He also served as diplomacy and public affairs. He also interim director of the Fulbright Program in Belgium. n served as the public affairs officer at the U.S. embassy in Moldova. A communications strategist by vocation, he has also served in public diplomacy assignments in Moscow, Islamabad, Tripoli, Manila, Tel Aviv and Riyadh. Prior to joining the Foreign Service in 2007, Mr. Tordella worked as a strategy consultant for IBM and Booz Allen Hamilton. He has a graduate degree from the London School of Economics and an undergraduate degree from American University. He speaks Spanish and Russian, and, he notes, “pretends to still speak Arabic, and stumbles through heavily New Jersey-accented English.”

Vivian Walker is executive director of the U.S. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy. Following a 26-year career with the State Department, she retired as a Minister Counselor in 2014 and became a teacher, writer and researcher. She has served as a faculty fellow at the USC Center on Public Diplomacy and editor of the CPD Perspec- tive series, as an adjunct professor at the Central European University’s School of Public Policy, and as a research fellow at the CEU Center for Media, Data and Society. Ms. Walker has also been a professor of national security strategy at the National War College in Washington, D.C., and at the National Defense College of the United Arab Emirates.

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2019 63 AFSA NEWS

The Foreign Service Journal Welcomes New Associate Editor

AFSA is pleased to welcome Embassy Tel cal science. He is the author Cameron Woodworth to The Aviv from 2015 of Green Cuisine: A Guide to Foreign Service Journal and to 2018, via Vegetarian Dining Around the AFSA publications team the Expanded Seattle and Puget Sound. as associate editor. Professional Cameron’s wife, Monica A former newspaper Associates Smith, is a legal adviser for reporter, Cameron served the Program. USAID and a member of U.S. government overseas Cameron, the Senior Foreign Service. for more than six years. He who was raised They love cycling around the was an office management in Connecticut, region; in the mountains of specialist at Embassy Buda- holds a bach- Spain, France and Italy; and pest from 2012 to 2013 and a elor’s degree in other exotic locales. They development and communi- from the live in Arlington, Virginia. cations specialist for USAID 2013 to 2015. He served in University of Pennsylvania, Cameron can be reached at Embassy Islamabad from the economic section at where he majored in politi- at [email protected]. n

AFSA Welcomes New AAFSW BOOK & ART FAIR Grievance Counselor SET FOR OCTOBER

Please join AFSA in welcom- Peace, the World Bank The Associates of the American Foreign Ser- ing former Foreign Service Group, Health for Humanity vice Worldwide will hold its annual Art & Book Officer Pete Lyon to the and the Emirates Center for Fair from Oct. 11 to 21 at the Exhibit Hall at the

Labor Management team as Strategic Studies. He was NEWS BRIEF State Department. The book fair has been held a grievance counselor. one of 60 Thomas J. Watson each year since 1961, and raises $60,000 to Most recently, Pete was fellows nationwide selected $100,000 annually. a senior adviser with C&O in 1995 for a year of inde- Proceeds from the AAFSW bookstore and Resources, Inc., an inter- pendent study and travel from the Art & Book Fair go to a number of national consulting group. abroad and is knowledge- worthy causes in the foreign affairs community, He was an FSO able in Arabic, including scholar- from 2009 to Spanish and ships for Foreign 2016, serving Slovenian. He Service students as an analyst in holds advanced and contributions to the Bureau of degrees in both the Foreign Service Political-Military public affairs Youth Foundation. Affairs and the and Middle Find out more Bureau of Coun- Eastern studies about the Book Fair terterrorism in from the Uni- at www.aafsw.org/ Washington, D.C., versity of Texas activities/art-book- a political-military officer in and a bachelor’s degree in fair. n Slovenia and vice consul in history and Spanish from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Knox College. A native of Illi- Pete has also worked nois, Pete resides in Arling- with the U.S. Institute of ton, Virginia. n

64 SEPTEMBER 2019 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL AFSA NEWS

George F. Kennan Writing Award Winner Announced

Each year AFSA presents the While at the National War George Kennan Writing Award College, Mr. Ventrell also to a Foreign Service officer completed an independent and graduate of the National research and writing project, War College whose individual “Revitalizing America’s Civil- research project and writing ian Might: Preparing for Bipo- have demonstrated excel- lar Competition,” in which he lence throughout the year. argues that the department AFSA Governing Board should work to build domestic member and Awards Com- support for our diplomatic mittee Chair Don Jacobson and development power. Mr. and Brigadier General Chad Ventrell recommends build- Manske presented this ing a long-term domestic year’s award to FSO Patrick constituency, followed by a Ventrell at the college’s push for greater reforms and Award and Distinguished resources for diplomacy after Graduate Recognition we have a better domestic Ceremony at Fort McNair in connection. Washington, D.C., on June 7. Prior to attending the Mr. Ventrell was also National War College, Mr. named a distinguished gradu- Ventrell served at multiple ate and the winner of the U.S. embassies (Bogotá, AFSA/CAROLINE QUINN AFSA/CAROLINE Theodore Roosevelt Award for San Salvador, Baghdad and 2019 George Kennan recipient FSO Patrick Ventrell, at right, with AFSA Scholarship and Leadership Santiago) and worked as the Awards Committee Chair Don Jacobson. (Commandant’s Award). He deputy spokesperson for the was praised for two essays U.S. Mission to the United he hopes to return overseas colleagues. The State Depart- proposing strategies on how Nations in New York. in a leadership position. ment has unique and historic to best advance American He joined the Bureau of “A Foreign Service career ties to the National War interests in the U.S. power Public Affairs as director of is already ideal for lifelong College going back to George competition with China. the Office of Press Relations, learning, but having the Kennan’s leadership at the Mr. Ventrell’s first essay, provided daily press briefings unique opportunity to spend institution, and it is a con- “U.S.-China: Maximum at the State Department as an entire academic year tribution that will hopefully Competition with a Release the acting deputy spokesper- pursuing rigorous studies continue on for many more Valve,” explains how the U.S. son, and served on detail to of national security strategy generations.” needs to improve diplomatic the National Security Council and earn a master’s degree Many other Foreign and development strategies staff at the White House as is extraordinary,” Mr. Ventrell Service members were to counter China. It argues director of communications said of his National War Col- honored at the ceremony as for more resources for State and NSC deputy spokesper- lege experience. distinguished scholars, and and USAID. son. “It was the ideal mid- two other FS members were His second essay, “Con- This summer, after his career moment to acquire also presented with writing taining China’s Expansion: A graduation from the National new skills and form inter- awards. Jennifer Post received Narrative Problem,” focuses War College, Mr. Ventrell agency relationships with the NWC Class of 2010 on improving public diplo- joined the State Depart- some of the nation’s best Ambassador Chris Stevens macy strategy to better ment’s Bureau of Interna- rising military and civilian Award, and Daniela Ballard inform global audiences tional Narcotics and Law leaders. It was a phenomenal received the Traeger Award about China’s actual behavior Enforcement Affairs as an year, and one I recommend for Excellence in Writing. n and intentions. office director. In the future, highly to my Foreign Service

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2019 65 AFSA NEWS

AFSA Recognizes Foreign Service Youth AFSA/JOAQUIN SOSA AFSA/JOAQUIN 2019 Youth Awards winners pose with then AFSA President Ambassador Barbara Stephenson (2nd from left).

AFSA joined the Foreign given in AFSA merit awards, her remarks Amb. Stephen- Service Youth Foundation, the and the highest number of son praised the achievements Associates of the American students so honored. of the recipients and lauded Foreign Service Worldwide Director General of the the resilience displayed by and the Family Liaison Office Foreign Service and Director children of Foreign Service in honoring excellence in of Human Resources Carol families. Foreign Service youth at the Z. Perez was the keynote Each year AFSA confers 41 2019 Youth Awards Cer- speaker at the event. She merit scholarships in the cat- emony, which took place on read aloud a letter of con- egories of academic achieve- June 26 in the State Depart- gratulations from Secretary ment, art merit and com- ment’s George C. Marshall of State Mike Pompeo. munity service to graduating Center. Ambassador Barbara high school seniors. Awards

For the second year in a Stephenson, president of range from $1,000 to $3,500 SOSA AFSA/JOAQUIN row AFSA awarded $129,000 AFSA at the time, presented and go toward alleviating Ambassador Barbara Stephenson presents an academic merit scholar- in merit awards, divided AFSA’s Merit Awards to the 12 tuition costs for recipients. ship to Aimee Dastin-van Rijn. among 38 students. This recipients who joined us on AFSA also distributes is the highest amount ever the day of the ceremony. In financial aid scholarships to judge this year’s Merit Schol- select students. This year arship submissions. the Scholarship Program For more information on awarded a record-breaking AFSA’s Scholarship Program $352,000 in scholarships please visit www.afsa.org/ across both Merit and Finan- scholar or email scholar@ cial Aid programs. afsa.org. Detailed informa- AFSA thanks the mem- tion on all of the 2019 Merit bers of the AFSA Scholarship Scholarship recipients can Committee and more than be found in the July-August 30 other AFSA members who issue of The Foreign Service AFSA/JOAQUIN SOSA AFSA/JOAQUIN Youth Awards winners (left to right) Charlotte Lanser, India Eddy and Margaret volunteered their time to Journal. n Moore. 66 SEPTEMBER 2019 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL AFSA NEWS

tative after she distinguished herself by challenging—qui- AFSA Governing Board etly but with determination, and in the spirit of accountabil- Meeting, June 19, 2019 ity—an unaddressed sexual harassment issue that affected multiple female FSOs at Commerce. And she led an initia- tive to convince Commerce to restart its FSO intake process Awards and Plaques Committee: It was moved that the after it had been neglected for over four years. Lola was the Governing Board approve the committee’s recommenda- FSO everyone wanted on their team. She was a friend to tions for recipients of the 2019 AFSA Awards. The motion many of us. And she leaves a void in our hearts.” The motion was adopted. was adopted. Death of Lola Gulomova: It was moved that the AFSA FSGB and FSLRB Appointments: It was moved that the Governing Board endorse the following statement: “The Governing Board authorize the Retiree VP to support the tragic loss of Lola Gulomova, who was in the middle of an appointment of Larry Mandel as Foreign Service Grievance outstanding career as a Commerce FSO, has left the AFSA Board Chair. The motion was adopted. community bereft. Lola exemplified what is best about the It was moved that the Governing Board authorize the Foreign Service. She served with distinction in challenging Retiree VP to support the appointment of Ambassador posts in China and India and was preparing for her next (ret.) Thomas Miller and professional arbitrator Kurt assignment as head of Commerce in Belgrade. Lola joined Saunders to the Foreign Service Labor Relations Board. the AFSA Governing Board as an alternate FCS represen- The motion was adopted. n

AFSA Governing Board as chair of the Journal Editorial Board and confirmed Meeting, July 17, 2019 Amb. (ret.) Robert M. Beecroft, Daniel Crocker, Joel Ehrendreich, Harry W. Kopp, Jessica McTigue, Management Committee: John Naland moved to add Christopher Teal, Joseph Tordella, Vivian Walker, Eric Rubin, Virginia Bennett, Ken Kero-Mentz and Russ Amb. (ret.) Laurence Wohlers, Dinah Zeltser-Winant and Capps as signers on all bank accounts. The motion was Hon. Eric Rubin (ex officio) as the remaining members. adopted. Awards and Plaques Committee: President Rubin called Centennial Committee: John Naland moved to create a for volunteers to serve on the Awards and Plaques Com- special committee to begin planning for the centennial of mittee. Lillian Wahl-Tuco offered to serve as chair; and the U.S. Foreign Service and AFSA, per the memorandum John Naland and Mary Daly offered to serve as members. Mr. Naland sent to the Governing Board, dated July 17, Without objection, these members were assigned to serve and to include as voting members Ken Kero-Mentz, Mary as such. Daly and Mr. Naland (to serve as chair), and to be open to Scholarship Committee: Pres. Rubin called for volunteers participation by all interested Governing Board members. to serve on the Scholarship Committee. John Naland vol- The motion was adopted. unteered and, without objection, was appointed as chair. Acting State VP: John Naland moved that the Govern- Mr. Naland noted the need for an additional two members ing Board grant Ken Kero-Mentz the authority to perform and discussed the time requirements for serving on the the duties of the AFSA State vice president, as outlined in committee. Virginia Bennett, Joshua Archibald and Jason the bylaws and the VP position description, until State VP Singer volunteered and, without objection, were appointed Tom Yazdgerdi takes office. The motion was adopted. to the committee. USAID Standing Committee: USAID Vice President Constituency Standing Committees: Pres. Rubin, with- Jason Singer moved to add Jeff Levine and William Han- out objection, appointed the constituency vice presidents sen to the USAID standing committee. The motion was to serve as chairs of their respective standing committees adopted. and instructed them to bring their recommended commit- FSJ Editorial Board Affirmation: AFSA President tee sizes and assignments to the next GB meeting. n Eric Rubin, without objection, confirmed Alexis Ludwig

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2019 67 AFSA NEWS

Next Stage: How Your Foreign Service Background Adds Value in the Private Sector

strategic advisory firm. way the job search process An audience member really works.” said that the panelists “did “Next Stage” is a new an excellent job of explaining AFSA initiative that includes the many ways in which our a range of events geared global skill set is valuable to toward post-Foreign Service the private sector, coaching career options and the skills us on how to describe the you need to take advantage of value that we can bring to an them. n organization and sharing a AFSA/CAMERON WOODWORTH AFSA/CAMERON Juan Gonzalez (left), Samantha Carl-Yoder, Stephen Liston and Andrew wealth of practical tips on the Rudman discuss “Transitioning to the Private Sector” during a Next Stage event.

For AFSA’s most recent Next are state-run, and foreign gov- Scenes from AFSA’s Stage program, “Transitioning ernments are often directly to the Private Sector,” Foreign involved in such issues. Summer Happy Hour Service alumni explained how Mr. Liston pointed out that they parlayed their diplomacy not all U.S. businesses are expertise into post-FS careers fully aware of the benefits in the private sector. that can be derived from the Our panel of recently expertise FS personnel bring retired members from vari- to the table, and it is impor- ous backgrounds and career tant for FS personnel to be tracks highlighted how For- ready to describe the signifi- eign Service experience can cance of their expertise when pave the way to successful looking to make the transition private-sector transitions. to the private sector. The panel was the brain- Other panelists were

child of AFSA member and former deputy assistant WOODWORTH AFSA/CAMERON State retiree Stephen M. Lis- secretary of State Juan Gon- Attendees chat at the AFSA Summer Happy Hour against a backdrop of panels from the FSJ’s centennial exhibit. ton. Currently vice president zalez, now an associate vice of global government rela- president at the Cohen Group; tions at Equifax, a consumer former State FSO Samantha credit reporting agency, Mr. Carl-Yoder, who is currently Liston underscored that For- the director of marketing and eign Service members have international affairs for Tel- a unique skill set that is key lurian, a natural gas company; to the success of U.S. busi- and Andrew Rudman, who nesses in foreign climes. was both a tenured State FSO FS personnel know how to and then an officer with the

approach and negotiate with Department of Commerce WOODWORTH AFSA/CAMERON foreign governments, which is before moving on to be man- Outgoing AFSA President

AFSA/CAMERON WOODWORTH AFSA/CAMERON Ambassador Barbara Stephenson particularly important given aging director at Monarch Attendees enjoy food at the AFSA makes farewell remarks at the that a good many economies Global Strategies, a boutique Summer Happy Hour. AFSA Summer Happy Hour June 27.

68 SEPTEMBER 2019 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL AFSA NEWS

AFSA Welcomes Newest Foreign Service Officers, Specialists and Consular Fellows AFSA/CAMERON WOODWORTH AFSA/CAMERON WOODWORTH AFSA/CAMERON Diplomatic Security Special Agent (ret.) Steve Kruchko talks with members Incoming AFSA President Eric Rubin chats with members of the 18th of the 153rd Specialist Class. Consular Fellows Class.

Members of the 199th A-100 Class enjoy a buffet lunch at the AFSA headquarters.

On July 31, AFSA welcomed Service members and answer Strategic Communications Outgoing AFSA President 71 members of the 199th their questions about AFSA Lynne Platt gave opening Ambassador Barbara Ste- A-100 Class to its headquar- and the many ways the asso- remarks, while table hosts phenson gave remarks, while ters in Washington, D.C. ciation can assist, protect included Ambassador (ret.) table hosts included incom- AFSA Treasurer Virginia and advocate for them. Michael Klosson, Diplomatic ing AFSA President Eric Bennett hosted the lun- On July 25, AFSA wel- Security Special Agent (ret.) Rubin, Amb. Beecroft and cheon. Ambassador (ret.) comed 48 members of the Steve Kruchko, AFSA Govern- Mette Beecroft, Ambassador Robert Beecroft, Ambas- 153rd Specialist Class. About ing Board Secretary Ken (ret.) Michele Bond, AFSA sador (ret.) Lino Gutierrez, half of the class members Kero-Mentz, Ambassador Labor Management Griev- former assistant secretary have joined Diplomatic Secu- Robert Blake, and Govern- ance Counselor Peter Lyon, of State Gregory Starr, AFSA rity, while eight are new office ing Board members Jason Special Agent Kruchko and State representatives Kristin management specialists. Singer, Wahl-Tuco and Waser. Keith Hanigan of Overseas Michelle Roberts, Lilly Wahl- Also included are three gen- On June 18, AFSA wel- Building Operations Bureau. Tuco and Tamir Waser and eral service officers and three comed 72 members of the Welcome to the Foreign AFSA staff were on hand to regional medical officers. 18th Consular Fellows Class Service! n speak with the new Foreign AFSA Senior Adviser for to its headquarters.

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2019 69 AFSA NEWS

Professional Careers for FS Family Members: A Webinar

On June 6, AFSA hosted a The panel of speakers webinar on employment showcased the diversity of options for Foreign Service professional careers that can family members around the be held by Foreign Service world. “Stories of Success: family members: a current Maintaining a Professional regional senior manager at Career as a Foreign Service the International Finance Family Member” focused Corporation (the private-sec- on offering ideas for fam- tor arm of the World Bank), ily members on how to find an attorney working for Dis- and maintain professional ney, a certified financial plan- careers outside the embassy ner, and a published author environment. and associate editor of The

Four Foreign Service fam- Foreign Service Journal. WOODWORTH AFSA/CAMERON ily members addressed the Family member employ- AFSA Director of Professional Policy Issues Julie Nutter (left) and Senior Manager for Programming and Member Engagement Christine Miele 68-person audience, explain- ment is a top concern for the participate in a webinar on family member employment. ing how they flourished in highly mobile Foreign Service professional careers, how community. It is an issue that The speakers did their best and generously answered they overcame obstacles, comes up again and again to answer all the questions follow-up questions by email. and how and why they made in AFSA’s structured con- from family members who The webinar can be viewed trade-offs. versations with members. registered for the webinar at afsa.org/video. n

AFSA Promotes Economic, World Diplomacy Diplomacy,” in collaboration with Smithsonian Associates. In outreach efforts over the McKee, James Pierce The speakers were Ambassa- summer AFSA has continued and Molly Williamson. dor (ret.) Patricia Butenis and to promote the “Economic Our fall Chautauqua FSO Bryan Gillespie. Diplomacy Works” theme, program will take place Our relationship with which is the focus of a year- in mid-September, Smithsonian Associates con- long effort. where the following tinues to bear fruit, as their We have found new venues speakers are scheduled nationwide network gets the in which to show our new to speak: retired FSOs word out about the impor- animated explainer video on James Benson, James tance of U.S. diplomacy to a economic diplomacy, as well Still shot from AFSA’s “Economic Bever, Allen Keiswetter, large audience. as share our updated speaker Diplomacy” video. Dr. Elizabeth Shelton Next spring, we hope to packet that accompanies and Amb. Marc Wall. As offer a multiweek program the video. We thank all of the program at the Chautauqua always, AFSA appreciates the focused on Africa as part of speakers who have made Institute in western New York willingness of our speakers to our series with them. If you use of these new materials. in early June. The speak- take a week out of their busy are not yet part of AFSA’s If you have used the video or ers at this program were schedules to help us tell the Speakers Bureau, we encour- talking points, we would love Ambassador (ret.) Gordon story of the U.S. Foreign Ser- age you to join! Visit www. feedback on how audiences Brown, Ambassador (ret.) vice to the American public. afsa.org/speaker and sign up. are receiving them. Lange Schermerhorn, and Finally, in early August, We would be happy to have As usual, AFSA offered retired Senior Foreign Service AFSA offered its annual you on board. n a weeklong Road Scholar officers Janice Bay, Richard program, “Inside the World of

70 SEPTEMBER 2019 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL AFSA NEWS

of respect, trust and partnership. The United States casts a FSJ Wins 2019 Excel Award long shadow, and when we show respect it has a big impact. Showing respect means figuring out what is really, truly The Foreign Service Journal won a important to our partners and taking that bronze medal in the “Editorial/Opin- seriously. It costs America almost nothing ion Piece” category at the Association and gets us almost everything. Media & Publishing 2019 Excel Awards Showing respect builds trust. Real, pow- gala on June 24 for an article written by erful partnership comes when you build Ambassador (ret.) Ted Osius. His article, trust. And you build trust by finding where “Respect, Trust and Partnership: Keep- interests converge, and then doing things ing Diplomacy on Course in Troubling together. The diplomat’s job is to find those Times,” appeared in the April 2018 FSJ. shared interests and make them the bases Following is an excerpt from Amb. of our actions. All those cables, all that Osius’ article: contact work, the outreach—all of it should The challenges to the Foreign Service, lead to action. and to our democracy, are existential. Some who remain at After retiring from the Foreign Service in 2017, Ambassador State feel besieged and demoralized. Yet I urge those Foreign Osius served as vice president of Fulbright University Vietnam Service officers who believe in making a difference to remain, and as a senior adviser at the Albright-Stonebridge Group. In if possible, because it is still a privilege to serve our country. February he joined Google as vice president for government I continue to believe the experienced diplomat’s language, affairs and public policy in the Asia-Pacific. regional expertise and deep understanding of a global chal- He served as U.S. ambassador to Vietnam from 2014 to lenge will pay off, and give that individual the chance to change 2017. His Foreign Service assignments included Indonesia, a bit of history. India, Thailand, Japan, the Vatican and the Philippines, and he For those who choose to remain and who love diplomacy as worked on Asian challenges from the White House, the United I do, I offer a few thoughts on what can be done to best serve Nations and the State Department. the United States, even in difficult times. I learned in my last Congratulations to The Foreign Service Journal and Amb. three posts—India, Indonesia and Vietnam—about the power Osius. n

OVERSEAS POST INFO NOW AVAILABLE TO FAMILY MEMBERS

Adult family members under chief of mission authority now have direct access to country-specific bidding research information from the Foreign Service Institute’s Overseas Briefing Center. OBC’s country information, previously available only on its Post Info to Go website at http://fsitraining.state. gov/pitg, is now available (after registration) from home computers and mobile devices. With this change, family members no longer must rely on the employee’s access to State’s intranet. Post Info to Go offers nearly 6,000 documents from 265 posts around the world, with an additional 1,900 Per- NEWS BRIEF sonal Post Insights describing life at various posts, submitted anonymously by members of the Foreign Service community. Documents for each post include childcare and schooling information, resources for EFM employment, hous- ing information, pet import and quarantine restrictions and more. OBC also offers financial and legal resources, tips for international moves, and webinars and online training resources. To request account authorization, send an email from a personal—not a business—email account to [email protected]. Use the subject line: “[LAST NAME]: Request Account Authorization for Post Info to Go External.” In the body of the email, list full name, current post, agency and the name of the employee sponsor with sponsor’s government email address. The sponsor must be a direct-hire employee of a U.S. government agency posted to, or heading to, a U.S. embassy or consulate overseas. n

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2019 71 AFSA NEWS

During the U.S. govern- Ambassador Stephenson Reviews ment shutdown at the end AFSA Efforts in Final Webinar of 2018, AFSA became a one-stop-shop for up-to-date information for diplomats, In her final webinar as AFSA AFSA’s efforts helped to keep them fully informed she added. president, Ambassador Bar- reverse the decade-long about our issues and walk AFSA is making use of bara Stephenson discussed decline in spending on core them through the data, allow- webinar technology so that the association’s successes diplomatic capability and ing these stakeholders to more members can partici- and challenges over the past increase the “Overseas maintain their oversight role, pate in interesting and topical few years with AFSA retirees. Programs” FY2019 appropria- Amb. Stephenson said. events, bringing in a steady “As you remember, in 2017 tions line item by $84 million, AFSA has emphasized the stream of experts to discuss the State Department was funding regional bureaus role the Foreign Service plays the latest information about facing a 32 percent budget abroad as well as the costs of in keeping threats at bay, Social Security, Medicare, cut,” she said in the June 20 moving FSOs overseas, she helping to address the Ebola long-term care and TSP. webinar. “AFSA was able to noted. crisis, working with Euro- AFSA’s new “Next Stage” create a common purpose In a challenging period pean allies to get passenger series focuses on the many with a bipartisan coalition of when Congress was at times name records in place, and members who have a second congressional champions to completely deadlocked, AFSA helping foreign law enforce- or third career ahead of them. maintain and restore funding was able to find new partners, ment agencies break up child Past events can be viewed at for the Foreign Service.” work with staff and members pornography rings. afsa.org/video. n

AAFAA Awards Internship Stipend to to intern at a U.S. mission Department of State Summer Intern overseas next summer. She is interested in pursuing a career in foreign policy or international law. AFSA and the Asian American Heajune Lee is working in Foreign Affairs Association the State Department’s In 2018, AFSA partnered are pleased to announce that Bureau of Conflict and with AAFAA to create the Stabilization Operations. the first internship stipend Student Internship Stipend fund recipient is Heajune Program to provide financial “June” Lee. Ms. Lee, who assistance to historically immigrated to the United underrepresented Asian States from Korea when she American and Pacific Islander was 2 years old, is a student interns. June will receive a at Stanford University, major- $1,300 stipend to cover living ing in international relations costs associated with her with a computer science unpaid internship at State. minor. She is working in the AFSA members can sup- State Department’s Bureau port this program by making of Conflict and Stabilization a tax-deductible contribution Operations, Office of Analy- to assist a summer 2020 sis, Planning, Programs and DEPARTMENT STATE intern. Checks can be made Learning. At Stanford, she has partici- Government, a student group payable to AFSA (memo line The internship builds on pated in the Hoover Institu- focused on public policy and noting “AAFAA internship Ms. Lee’s previous academic tion National Security Affairs politics. fund”). For more information work including research Fellows Mentorship Program Following her summer or to submit your donation, on U.S. defense policy. and is involved in Stanford in 2019 internship, June hopes write to [email protected]. n

72 SEPTEMBER 2019 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL AFSA NEWS

GOOD NEWS ON VIRGINIA IN-STATE TUITION ELIGIBILITY

Many of AFSA’s active-duty members currently reside in Virginia. The Virginia State assem- bly recently enacted a residency requirement change that will benefit these members and

NEWS BRIEF their dependents. Effective July 1, 2019, any member of the Foreign Service and any dependents of such member are eligible for in-state tuition at public institutions of higher education after residing in Virginia for at least 90 days, if immediately prior to receiving a diplomatic assignment and while continuing to be assigned overseas. Previously there was no exception for members of the Foreign Service or their depen- dents, and they were subject to the normal state residency requirement of 12 months to qualify for in-state tuition. Delegate Paul Krizek, who repre- sents Virginia’s 44th House District and is the son of a Foreign Service officer, sponsored HB 1936 that provided the exception. Any mem- bers who wish to thank Delegate Krizek for his efforts to help enact this welcome exception may do so by reaching out to his office using the contact information below. State District: 2201 Whiteoaks Drive, Alexan- dria VA 22306, (703) 688-2983 State Capitol: 900 East Main Street, Rich- mond VA 23219, (804) 698-1044 AFSA is happy to answer any specific ques- tions regarding this eligibility change or refer members to an appropriate contact for ques- tions we are not able to answer in full. n

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2019 73 IN MEMORY

n Eugene H. Bird, 94, a retired Macaya of Camas, Wash., Nancy Bird of Mr. Brock is survived by his wife, Joy; Foreign Service officer, died on June 2 Cordova, Alaska, and Shelly Bird of Alex- his half-brother Gregory George Brock; at a retirement community in Vancou- andria, Va.; a sister; six grandchildren; sister-in-law Priscilla Thrower Knight; ver, Wash., due to complications from and four great-grandchildren. niece J.J. Knight; and his two cats, Michi pneumonia. and Sophie. Born in Spokane, Wash., on March n Jeffrey A. Brock, 73, a retired For- Donations may be made in 17, 1925, and raised in Eugene, Ore., Mr. eign Service facilities manager with the memory of Jeff Brock to the Humane Bird served in the U.S. Navy at the end of State Department, passed away on June Society of North Myrtle Beach at World War II. He received a bachelor’s 6 in Myrtle Beach, S.C. humanesocietynmb.org or P.O. Box degree in journalism in 1948 and a mas- Born on Dec. 14, 1945, in Shreveport, 3369, North Myrtle Beach SC 29582. ter’s degree in history in 1953, both from La., Mr. Brock grew up in Montana, the University of Oregon. frequently hiking the rugged terrain of n Robert “Bob” John Clarke, 72, a Mr. Bird joined the Foreign Service in Glacier National Park with his Norwe- retired Foreign Service officer, died on 1955, working on the Israel-Jordan desk. gian grandmother and his half-brother. May 30 in Rockville, Md., of cancer. He went on to serve in Jerusalem, Beirut, In 1985, near the end of his 20-year Born in New Haven, Ct., on Sept. 30, Dhahran, Cairo, Bombay (now Mumbai) career in the U.S. Navy Seabees, Chief 1946, to Ruth Ann and Robert Joseph and New Delhi, wrapping up his Foreign Petty Officer Brock was attached to the Clarke—also a career U.S. diplomat— Service career in 1975 as political and Naval Support Unit of the State Depart- Bob Clarke spent many of his younger economic counselor in Jeddah. ment, performing security upgrade proj- years overseas, starting in Manila. In 1976, Mr. Bird worked as the ects at the U.S. embassy in Panama. He attended King George V School in Oregon chairman of Jimmy Carter’s 1976 At an embassy party he met Joy, and Hong Kong and graduated from Wash- presidential campaign. He worked for used his sense of humor to capture her ington & Lee High School in Arlington, General Electric in Riyadh and, from 1993 attention that night and his cookie- Va. to 2010, was president of the Council for baking prowess to eventually capture her Mr. Clarke received a bachelor’s the National Interest, a nonprofit that heart. The two married on Sept. 15, 1988. degree in history from Clark University works on Israeli issues. He also served as In 2001 Mr. Brock joined the Foreign in Worcester, Mass., in 1967. From 1968 a diplomatic correspondent on Middle Service, traveling with his wife, two dogs to 1970, he served as a lieutenant in the East affairs for the Washington Report. and a cat to Almaty. In 2003, he was U.S. Army, posted to Fulda Gap, Ger- “I have spent most of my adult life try- assigned to Buenos Aires. many. ing to help resolve this terrible conflict,” He spent the latter part of his career He earned a master’s degree in Mr. Bird wrote of the Israeli-Palestinian on temporary duty assignments in Africa political science from the New School for rivalry in a 2014 Los Angeles Times opin- and South America before retiring in Social Research in New York City in 1978 ion piece. 2015. and a master’s degree in interdisciplin- “We all know the bare outlines of an Mr. Brock visited and worked in more ary studies from the National Defense equitable compromise: two states with than 150 countries, bungee-jumped off University in Washington, D.C., in 2001. borders more or less along the lines of the the Victoria Falls Bridge between Zimba- Mr. Clarke enjoyed a 33-year diplo- 1967 armistice lines,” he wrote. “The only bwe and Zambia, and hit three holes-in- matic career, starting with his first tour as alternative to diplomacy is endless war, one on a par-4 course in Islamabad. consular and political officer in Managua and that is in no one’s interest. We must Friends recall his booming voice (1979-1981), just as the Sandinistas came not reward aggression—by either side.” and even bigger personality, saying that to power. Mr. Bird was predeceased by his wife, beneath his jokes and sarcastic quips He served as special assistant to Sec- Jerine Newhouse Bird, the founder of was a generous and compassionate man. retary of State George Shultz from 1985 Partners for Peace. As a facilities manager, he was a master to 1986. He is survived by a son, Kai Bird (a of all trades. As a mentor, he empowered From 1993 to 1996, he was the sole Pulitzer prize-winning author) of New others, helping them achieve better lives Balkans issues officer at the U.S. mis- York City; three daughters: Christina for themselves. sion to NATO in Belgium, drafting major

74 SEPTEMBER 2019 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL policy points that guided senior Mr. Curran was born in Brooklyn, Following his retirement from the For- decision-makers when the U.S. led NATO N.Y., in 1932. At the age of 17, he had a eign Service in 1984, Mr. Curran joined in armed intervention in the Balkans. pivotal life experience when he joined the executive leadership team of Radio While serving as senior desk officer an American Friends Service Committee Free Europe/Radio Liberty in Munich. for Indonesia (1998-2000), Mr. Clarke work camp in post-World War II Düs- In 1987 he become president of drafted key elements of U.S. policy seldorf, Germany. Springfield College in Illinois. toward Indonesia as East Timor (now There, he and 11 other young Ameri- In 1993 Mr. Curran moved to New Timor-Leste) regained its status as an can men joined 12 German young men, York City to become president of the For- independent nation following violent living together in a partially bombed eign Policy Association, then returned to unrest and Indonesia’s first democratic school, to work on the reconstruction Washington, D.C., to serve as executive elections in 1999. effort. He forever treasured the camara- director of the American Institute for As counselor for political affairs in derie and collaboration of that mission. Foreign Study Foundation until 2005. He Bangkok (2002-2005), Mr. Clarke shaped Mr. Curran earned a bachelor’s continued there as a trustee until 2017. official U.S. understanding that Muslim degree in history and Russian from In retirement he lived in Benzie unrest in Southern Thailand arose from Haverford College in 1953 and a master’s County, Mich., where he served on the separatist motivations, not international degree in Russian history from Columbia boards of the Grand Traverse Regional terrorist backing. University in 1955. Land Conservancy, the Michigan Land Serving as consul general in Her- He worked and trained briefly in Use Institute (now known as Ground- mosillo (2005-2008), Mr. Clarke oversaw IBM’s professional management program work), For Love of Water, the Interna- a major expansion of the office’s visa before joining the Foreign Service as a tional Affairs Forum and the Paul Oliver services and reporting coverage. public affairs officer in 1955. He served Memorial Hospital. He also served on In his final tour, serving as deputy overseas in Berlin, Beirut, Amman, the boards of George School and Sidwell chief of mission in Wellington, Mr. Clarke Yemen, Mexico City, Kabul and Rabat. Friends School. led the development and implementa- Mr. Curran’s 29-year diplomatic Mr. Curran’s connection to Michi- tion of policy changes that reversed career afforded remarkable encounters gan began with his marriage to Marcia a 25-year history of stalled U.S.-New and experiences—from hosting Louis Mattson, of Hillsdale, Mich., in 1956. The Zealand relations, including securing Armstrong in 1957 Germany to receiving couple established their residency at presidential authorizations. assistance for a flat tire from King Hus- Crystal Downs, Lake Township, Mich., Mr. Clarke retired in 2011 but con- sein’s bodyguard in the Jericho valley. and spent many summers there with tinued to work as a contractor for the Mr. Curran escorted Lady Bird John- friends and family. Bureau of Population, Refugees and son through the 1967 Montreal World Family members recall his love of Migration. Expo, welcomed the Apollo 11 crew in golf; the game was a source of personal In retirement, he attended Osher Mexico City in 1969, taught President growth and great joy to him. Though he Lifelong Learning Institute courses at Richard Nixon how to abrazar (embrace) played courses all around the world, his American University and other forums the president of Mexico, worked closely favorite was in Crystal Downs. for the discussion of history, politics and with William Rogers in the State Depart- As an adult, Mr. Current became an contemporary culture. ment’s Secretariat from 1970 to 1972 and official member of the Society of Friends, Mr. Clarke is survived by his wife of helped guide Henry Kissinger on a tour generously sharing with all who knew 48 years, Rosalind, of Washington, D.C., of Afghanistan in 1976. him the Quaker wisdom of a life lived and daughters Lisa and Jill of Montgom- He picked up the American hostages with purpose and a faith in the promise ery County, Md. from Iran in Algeria with President of every person’s inner light. Jimmy Carter in 1981, hosted President Family members recall his abiding n Robert Theodore (Ted) Curran, George Bush and First Lady Barbara belief in the survival of the human spirit. 87, a retired Senior Foreign Service offi- Bush in 1983 in Morocco, and played a He maintained that almost any human cer, died peacefully in his sleep on July midnight round of golf with the King of problem can be overcome if people of 10 in Traverse City, Mich. Morocco. reason can get together and talk.

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2019 75 Mr. Curran is survived by his wife, Cezanne; nephews Giovanni and Ales- Dean was portrayed by Ira Wheeler in the Marcia; two daughters, Sara and Diana, sandro; and two great-nephews, Hayden 1984 film The Killing Fields, about the fall and sons-in-law, Ralph and Laris; and and Hudson. of Phnom Penh. four grandchildren: Ingrid, Augustus, To share notes and photos with the Shortly after leaving Cambodia, Mr. Noah and Claire. family, please send to: The del Castillo Dean received a letter from President Ger- Family, 914 Gorman Ave., St. Paul MN ald Ford, who said that Mr. Dean had been n Daniel del Castillo, 50, an 55118, or to [email protected]. “given one of the most difficult assign- active-duty Foreign Service officer, died ments in the history of the Foreign Service suddenly in Washington, D.C., on May 8 n John Gunther Dean, 93, a retired and carried it out with distinction.” after a short illness. Foreign Service officer and five-time After retirement in 1989, Mr. Dean Prior to joining the Foreign Service, ambassador, died on June 6 at his home served on corporate and academic Mr. del Castillo was a print journalist for in Paris. boards in the United States, Europe and The Chronicle of Higher Education, cov- Born Gunther Dienstfertig in Bre- Asia. A fan of classical music, he helped ering the region from Timbuktu to Kabul slau, Germany (now the Polish city of found the Verbier Festival, an annual from a base in Rome. Wrocław), on Feb. 24, 1926, Mr. Dean summer music festival in Switzerland. Raised in Minnesota, he earned a fled with his family from Nazi Germany Mr. Dean is survived by his wife, bachelor’s degree in classics from the in 1938, settling in Kansas City and Martine; three children, Catharine Curtis University of Minnesota and a master’s changing their last name to Dean. of Cajarc, France, Paul Dean of Geneva, degree in Middle Eastern history from Mr. Dean studied government and Switzerland, and Joseph Dean of Sebas- the American University of Beirut. international relations at Harvard topol, Calif.; and seven grandchildren. Mr. del Castillo joined the State University before enlisting in the U.S. Department in 2008 after having spent Army. He married Martine Duphenieux n Pasquale “Pat” DiTanna, 87, a time as a fellow at Embassy Baghdad. in 1952. retired Foreign Service officer, died on He served in Kathmandu and Cairo, During a Foreign Service career that July 18 at his residence in Fairfax, Va., as a political adviser to the U.S. Africa began in 1956 and ended with his retire- after fighting cancer for five years. Command in Stuttgart, and at the ment in 1989, Mr. Dean served as U.S. Mr. DiTanna was a first-generation National Security Council before joining ambassador to Cambodia, Denmark, Italian American born in Burlington, N.J. the State Department’s Executive Sec- Lebanon, Thailand and India. A 1953 graduate of The Wharton School retariat Staff (“the Line”) in the summer Mr. Dean was perhaps best known for at the University of Pennsylvania, he of 2017. his 1974-1975 tour as the ambassador to joined the U.S. Army and served one year During his tenure there, Mr. del Cambodia. He oversaw the evacuation in Korea. Castillo advanced travel by the Secretary of the U.S. embassy in Phnom Penh after During a 32-year career as a Foreign of State to Manila, Beijing, Doha, Cairo, the capital fell to the Khmer Rouge. Service officer with the State Depart- Mexico City, Brasilia, Paris and Kansas, Mr. Dean worked desperately to ment, Mr. DiTanna served in the among other places. secure passage out of Phnom Penh for Philippines, Turkey, Colombia, Panama, His coworkers remember him for Cambodian officials and others who had Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), Chile, Switzer- his sincere regard for colleagues and fought against the communist insurgents land and Pakistan. their well-being, his insightful ques- even after the United States ended mili- He also traveled on assignment for tions about policy and State’s role in the tary support for the embattled Cambo- the Office of Foreign Building Operations world, his sartorial splendor and wit, and dian government. to the Soviet Union, El Salvador, Spain, his true love of travel—especially to the “We’d accepted responsibility for Holland, Portugal, Honduras, Costa Rica, far-flung places on his bucket list. Cambodia and then walked out without Guatemala, Nicaragua, Thailand, Austra- Mr. del Castillo is survived by his fulfilling our promise,” Mr. Dean said in lia, China and Japan. In 1972 he received wife, Renae Ask; his mother, Marcia del a 2015 interview. “That’s the worst thing a Meritorious Honor Award. Castillo; two older sisters, Deborah and a country can do. And I cried, because Mr. DiTanna met his wife, Janet, in Michele del Castillo; nieces Isabella and I knew what was going to happen.” Mr. Manila, and they were married there in

76 SEPTEMBER 2019 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 1960. The couple settled in Fairfax, Va., Prior to joining the Foreign Com- Mr. Jackson’s first overseas journey in 1979. mercial Service in 2008, Ms. Gulomova was a three-week trip to Brazil with Following retirement in 1988, Mr. worked at U.S. Embassy Moscow as his brother, Ryan. There he met his DiTanna volunteered at the Salva- the deputy representative for the future wife, Karin Cecilia Zech of Rio de tion Army University View Child Care U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Janeiro. Center, the Ambassadors of Mary and Administration, working on bilateral The couple married on July 6, 2002, in the Rosary Makers of Saint Michaels. space relations. As part of this work, Idaho Falls, Idaho, and had three sons: He was an active member of the Sons of Ms. Gulomova ensured that American Ethan Haden (2006), Benjamin Michael Italy and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post astronauts serving on the International (2010) and Robert Edward (2012). 8469 in Fairfax. Space Station received support both on Mr. Jackson worked for the State of He was an avid fisherman, hunter the ground and in space. Wyoming’s Department of Employment and bowler, and he planted flower and As an FCS officer, she served in and in the IT department at the Wyo- vegetable gardens at each post overseas. Guangzhou, Taipei and New Delhi, cov- ming Medical Center before joining the Mr. DiTanna is survived by his wife of ering major sectors such as civil aviation, Foreign Service in 2004. He served in 59 years, Janet; their four children: Tom energy and SelectUSA. Rwanda, Paraguay, South Africa, Sudan (and his spouse, Terry), Lucian (and his During her tenure in India, Ms. and Jordan. wife, Janet), Angela (and her husband, Gulomova supported numerous high- Friends recall that spending time Kerry) and Helen; six grandchildren: level visits, including President Barack with his sons meant more than any- Michael, Victor, Kyle, Cameron, Jaclyn Obama’s November 2010 visit and two thing to Mr. Jackson, and he treasured and Jennifer; and a sister, Martha. visits by Commerce Secretary Penny the special experiences they shared in Memorial donations may be sent to Pritzker. She had been scheduled in June the remote parts of the world where he Capital Caring or VFW Post 8469, Fair- to lead the first-ever trade mission to worked. fax Station, Va. Condolence messages Uzbekistan. Mr. Jackson is survived by his wife may be sent to the family through www Ms. Gulomova is survived by two and sons, and by both parents; one .fmfh.com. young daughters. grandfather, Loyd Tanner of Casper; two See p. 67 for the AFSA Governing brothers, Brandon Jackson of Casper, n Lola Gulomova, 45, a Foreign Board’s resolution on Ms. Gulomova’s and Dr. Ryan Jackson, of Curaçao; and a Commercial Service officer, died in Wash- death. sister, Sarah Annena Langton (husband ington, D.C., on June 7 in what a prelimi- Ryan) of Layton, Utah. nary investigation called a murder-suicide n John Michael Jackson, 45, a at the hands of her husband, Jason Rieff, Foreign Service specialist, passed away n Lowell Bruce Laingen, 96, a 51, who was also an FSO. on June 8 in Amman, where he worked at retired Foreign Service officer and Born in Tajikistan, Ms. Gulomova the U.S. embassy. former ambassador, died peacefully on graduated from the School of Advanced Born on Oct. 5, 1973, in Casper, Wyo., July 15 at a retirement community in International Studies at Johns Hopkins Mr. Jackson was the oldest son of John Bethesda, Md. University in Washington in 2001. M. and Marva Ann (Tanner) Jackson. Mr. Laingen was born on Aug. 6, 1922, Shortly after Hurricane Katrina He attended Casper schools, graduat- on a farm in Butterfield, Minn., the son struck the New Orleans area in 2005, Ms. ing from Natrona County High School in of Palmer and Mabel Laingen. He served Gulomova worked with the United Meth- 1992 and went to Casper College and the as a naval officer in World War II in the odist Committee on Relief on Katrina University of Wyoming in Casper. South Pacific. Aid Today programs and initiatives to Mr. Jackson’s passion for computers He graduated from St. Olaf College ensure long-term recovery for people started at a young age, and after selling in Minnesota (cum laude in history and affected by the hurricane. As a result computers and peripheral equipment economics), later receiving a master’s of her efforts, 70 percent of the initial for RadioShack while still a teenager, degree in international relations from the set-up operations budget was saved to be he launched a long career in computer University of Minnesota and an honor- rerouted to Katrina aid efforts. networking and security. ary Ph.D. from the Humphrey Institute

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2019 77 of Public Affairs. He also studied at the with AFSA’s highest award, for Lifetime Washington, D.C., and named interim National War College in Washington, Contributions to American Diplomacy. executive secretary of the International D.C. He was also recognized as a “Father of Cooperation Administration, the fore- In 1947 Mr. Laingen participated in a the Year” by the Father’s Day/Mother’s runner of USAID, until he was formally project called SPAN (Student Project for Day Council in 1981. sworn into this position in 1956. Amity among Nations), which inspired Amb. Laingen leaves his wife of 62 In 1959 he was assigned to CENTO him to join the Foreign Service in 1949. years, Penelope (Babcock) Laingen; his (formerly the Baghdad Pact) in Ankara to He served overseas in Germany, sons, William Bruce, Charles Winslow oversee the building of a 3,000-kilometer Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan, and was and James Palmer; 10 grandchildren; microwave system along the Turkish- appointed U.S. ambassador to Malta by seven great-grandchildren; two great- Soviet border and a railroad linking President Gerald Ford in 1977. State- great-grandchildren; and a sister, Norma Turkey, Iran and Pakistan. side, he served on the Greek desk and as Marsh. From 1963 to 1966 Mr. McDonald deputy assistant secretary for European worked at Embassy Cairo on economic affairs. n John W. McDonald, 97, a retired and agricultural affairs. He returned Ambassador Laingen was appointed Foreign Service officer, passed away to Washington, D.C., for a one-year chargé d’affairs in Iran by President peacefully on May 17 in Arlington, Va. program at the National War College. In Jimmy Carter in 1979, and was taken Mr. McDonald was born on Feb. 18, 1967 Mr. McDonald was assigned to the hostage in Tehran on Nov. 4 of that year. 1922, in Koblenz, Germany, where his Bureau of International Organizations. He and his colleagues remained in cap- father, Capt. John W. McDonald, an army During a 40-year diplomatic career, tivity for 444 days. For his service in Iran cavalry officer, was stationed during the Mr. McDonald served for eight years he was awarded the State Department occupation of the Rhineland at the end in Europe, four years in Washington, Award for Valor. of World War I. D.C., eight years in the Middle East During that time, his wife, Penne, Mr. McDonald earned a bachelor’s and then, for the next 20 years, focused created the Yellow Ribbon as a symbol of degree in 1943 from the University of Illi- almost exclusively on multilateral affairs, unity—and the original ribbon from the nois, Urbana-Champaign. He received a including four years with the United oak tree in their front yard is part of the law degree from the University of Illinois Nations as deputy director-general of American Folklife Center collection of in 1946 and was admitted to the Illinois the International Labour Organization in the Library of Congress. Bar in the same year. Geneva. Amb. Laingen is the author of Yellow In early 1947 Mr. McDonald arrived at In 1983 Mr. McDonald joined the Ribbon: The Secret Journal of Bruce Lain- the Office of Military Government-U.S. in newly created Center for the Study of gen (Brassey’s Inc., 1992). Berlin, one of the first civilians to work in Foreign Affairs at the Foreign Service Following his time as a hostage in the U.S. Legal Division of the Four-Power Institute. There he helped pioneer the Iran, Amb. Laingen was appointed vice Allied Control Council. emerging academic field of conflict president of the National Defense Uni- He joined the Foreign Service in 1949 resolution. versity, where he served until 1987 when and was named to the Allied High Com- Mr. McDonald was accorded the he retired from the Foreign Service after mission and as assistant district attorney personal rank of ambassador twice by 38 years. in Frankfurt. In 1950 he assumed the role President Jimmy Carter and twice by He continued serving in various of U.S. Secretary of the Law Commission President Ronald Reagan. He retired capacities during retirement, includ- of the Allied High Commission in Bad from the Foreign Service in 1989. ing as executive director of the National Godesberg. Mr. McDonald then briefly taught Commission on the Public Service and In 1952 Mr. McDonald moved with law at George Washington University for 15 years as president of the American his family to Paris, where he worked on in Washington, D.C., and was the first Academy of Diplomacy, a private institu- the Marshall Plan as staff secretary to the president of the Iowa Peace Institute in tion dedicated to furthering the highest U.S. Mission to NATO. Grinnell, Iowa, from 1989 to 1991. standards of the diplomatic service. In 1955 he was assigned to the Office In 1992, he returned to Washington to In 2010, Amb. Laingen was presented of Policy Reports and Operations in cofound, with Dr. Louise Diamond, the

78 SEPTEMBER 2019 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL Institute for Multi-Track Diplomacy, an FDR’s New Deal and World War II, Mr. stab at writing novels and, with Rosario, organization that sought to develop and McFarland grew up believing in public turned a rubble-filled vacant lot into a promote a systems approach to peace- service. leafy public park. building around the world. After 25 years At age 12 he frightened his mother Over time, Mr. McFarland’s wood- as its chairman and CEO, Mr. McDonald when U.S. officials showed up at their working hobby became his art. Self- retired in 2017 at age 95. home inquiring about him: the young Mr. taught, he eventually created beautifully Mr. McDonald was nominated in McFarland had written to the military, finished modernist sculptures. After 1994 for the Nobel Peace Prize, obtained offering to help the war effort with the moving to Austin, Texas, he had solo several honorary degrees from universi- (imaginary) weapons he was building. shows at the Davis Gallery, and contin- ties, was a member of the Cosmos Club In college, Mr. McFarland studied ued exhibiting in galleries in Washington, and was an avid fencer throughout his journalism and wrote for local papers D.C., and Maryland when he and Rosario diplomatic career. before joining the U.S. Air Force. After relocated to Annapolis in 2009. Family members and friends recall enduring brutal pilot training that killed Mr. McFarland also served as presi- Mr. McDonald’s lifelong motto: The only many of his peers and flying 20 combat dent of Texas Partners of the Americas, way to solve a problem at any level of missions during the Korean War, he the Texas Foreign Service Group in society is to sit down face-to-face and walked away from a military career to Austin and the American Society in Lima. talk about it. work for peace as a U.S. Foreign Service He was an active member of the Texas He was preceded in death by his officer. Society of Sculptors, the Washington daughter Kathleen in 1988 and his son Mr. McFarland’s diplomatic career Sculptors Group and the Maryland Fed- James in 2002. took him to Costa Rica, Cyprus, Turkey, eration of Art. Mr. McDonald is survived by his wife Peru, Brazil and Antigua. Two children Family members recall his kindness, of 48 years, Christel G. McDonald; two from his first marriage, Steve (himself wisdom, sense of humor, strong prin- daughters, Dr. Marilyn McDonald (and now a retired FSO) and Anne, accompa- ciples and gentle nature. her husband, Dr. Michael Edwards) of nied him in his exploration of the world, Mr. McFarland is survived by his wife, Madison, Wis., and Laura Schneider (and including visits to Troy, Machu Picchu Rosario; his children, Stephen, Anne, her husband, Bernie Schneider) of Battle and the Amazon rainforest. Maria and John; and many extended Ground, Wash.; four grandchildren and In 1972, at a friend’s party in Lima, Mr. family members. Memorial contributions their spouses; and six great-grandchil- McFarland struck up a conversation with may be made to the Audubon Society or dren. a confident Peruvian woman, Rosario the Sierra Club. Mr. McDonald’s Papers will be depos- Sanchez-Moreno Ramos, who loved to ited in a special collection of the Pioneers sing and play guitar. n Robert Miller, 87, a retired mem- of Conflict Resolution at George Mason The two fell in love, and on June 1, ber of the Foreign Service, died on June University’s Fenwick Library. His work 1974, they were married in an intimate 25 at his home in Indianapolis, Ind., fol- in bilateral, multilateral and multitrack garden ceremony in Ankara, Turkey, lowing a long struggle with ALS. diplomacy is outlined in his memoir, The where Mr. McFarland was serving as Mr. Miller was born on Oct. 12, 1931, Shifting Grounds of Conflict and Peace- political counselor. in Newton, Ill. Following schooling in building: Stories and Lessons (Lexington After taking early retirement from the Newton and in Indianapolis, Ind., he Books, 2009). Foreign Service in 1985, Mr. McFarland served in the U.S. Army. moved with Rosario and his two young- Curious to explore a wider world, he n George A. McFarland Jr., 88, a est children, Maria and John, to Lima, then made his way to Washington, D.C., retired Foreign Service officer, died sud- Peru. where he worked at the State Department denly during his 45th wedding anniver- The country was embroiled in an and later the U.S. Information Agency. sary celebration on June 1 in Washington, internal armed conflict that made travel He also studied at the Art Students D.C. outside the city risky, but Mr. McFarland League in New York City. He was a Born on June 28, 1930, in Dallas, took his family hiking and camping in specialist in international exhibitions, Texas, during the Great Depression, remote parts of the country. He took a developing and organizing exhibitions

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2019 79 and sometimes trade fairs for circula- n Charles “Chuck” Reynolds, 83, a played the violin and sang in the choir. tion in the former Soviet Union, Eastern retired Foreign Service officer, died on He served as deacon at the First Presby- Europe and Africa. May 24 in Corvallis, Ore. terian Church in Corvallis. His work enabled him to live abroad Mr. Reynolds was born in Hillsboro, Mr. Reynolds is survived by his and to travel extensively, especially Ore., to Bessie and Harold Reynolds. brother, Neil Reynolds, and his daugh- within Eastern Europe, an area he loved. When he was 6 years old, the family ters, Lisa Lawson, Holly Gallant and Julie While serving in Vienna with the U.S. moved to Albany, Ore., where Harold Huffman. Information Service, he managed exhibi- was maintenance chief at M&M Plywood tions in Poland, the former Yugoslavia, and Bessie was chief X-ray technician at n Marion “Bobbie” Riedel (née Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and East Albany General Hospital. Schoenfeld), 96, a former intelligence Germany. In high school, Mr. Reynolds’ analyst for the State Department and Not simply an expert in international principal activities were debate, honor widow of the late FSO Alf Bergesen, exhibits, Mr. Miller was an artist, crafts- society and orchestra. He was one of passed away on July 5 at Rockledge man and collector. Throughout his life, two students chosen to go to Boys’ State Regional Memorial Hospital in Rock- he complemented his interest in art by and participate in a mock session of ledge, Fla., after a brief illness. creating drawings, paintings, prints and the Oregon legislature at Willamette Marion Reid Schoenfeld was born stained glass works. He also acquired a University. in 1923 in Vienna, Austria, where her personal collection of works by artists He played first violin in the state of father was posted with the U.S. legation. of interest to him, especially abstract Oregon high school honor orchestra and As she recounted in her self-published impressionists and pop artists. was the concertmaster. He graduated as 2004 memoir, My Life in Capitals, she Friends and family members recall valedictorian at Albany High in 1953. lived with her parents and her siblings in that Mr. Miller’s interest in the arts Mr. Reynolds attended Stanford Uni- Finland and the Dominican Republic. extended to a love of all beautiful things versity, focusing on international politics, In June 1940, she enrolled at Smith of life, including fine cuisine, wine, and was chairman of the 60-college College. She graduated in December good conversation and beautiful places. Model United Nations in 1957. 1943, as part of a three-year wartime After retirement he accompanied his After completing a B.A. in history, program. wife, Foreign Service Officer Cynthia he was awarded a Rotary International After working for the Office of Fraser Miller, and their son Alexandre fellowship to spend a year in Geneva, Strategic Services for a few months, she to her assignments in Vienna, Berlin, Switzerland. In 1963, he married Judy resigned to travel to Hungary, where her Bonn and Rome. He had a large coterie White of Portland, Ore. father was sent in May 1945 to reopen of friends who took joy in his kindness, Mr. Reynolds joined the U.S. Foreign the legation offices in Budapest. humor and zest for living, and admired Service in 1965, and served overseas Later that year, she returned to the his unbounded courage in long years of in Ecuador, Panama and Afghanistan. United States and took a job as an intel- battle with a devastating illness. His last job for the State Department ligence analyst at the State Department. Mr. Miller was preceded in death by involved directing the Voice of America’s In early 1951, Ms. Schoenfeld married his parents, his first wife, Elin, and his Afghan (Dari) language broadcasts. Alf Bergesen, a Naval Academy gradu- brother. After retirement, he and Judy ate and newly minted Foreign Service He is survived by his wife, Cynthia; his divorced. officer. The couple embarked on a long sons James (and his wife, Halima), Robert Mr. Reynolds then settled in the diplomatic career, with overseas post- (and his wife, Kelly McAlinden) and Alex- Marin area of California, where he ings in Rangoon, Vienna, Berlin, Phnom andre; and his faithful dog, Sam. worked for the Presbyterian Church of Penh, Bangkok, Lisbon, Saipan, Dacca In accordance with his wishes, no Novato. (now Dhaka) and Port-au-Prince. services were held. Friends are invited to He married Janet Hansen in 1999; The couple also served three tours in remember him by enjoying a cool drink after a separation in 2002, Mr. Reyn- Washington, D.C., and one at the United on a sunny terrace, or by contributing to olds moved back to Oregon and settled Nations in New York City. a favorite charity. in Corvallis, where he hiked, canoed, After Mr. Bergesen’s retirement in

80 SEPTEMBER 2019 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 1984, they lived in Bethesda, Md., until 1989, when they relocated to Indian River Colony Club in Viera, Fla. Mr. Bergesen passed away in 1995. In 1999, Bobbie Bergesen married Bill Riedel, a retired Coast Guard captain. They were married for 20 years, dur- ing which time they continued to live independently at IRCC, while enjoying a variety of social events and many inland and oceanic cruises. Ms. Riedel is survived by her husband, Bill; two children, Christopher Bergesen of Bethesda, Md., and Susan Bergesen of San Francisco, Calif.; and one grandson, Curtis Bergesen of Denver, Colo.

n Theresa “Terri” Rose Robertson (née Parrette), 92, a retired Foreign Ser- vice officer, died on July 1 in Bradenton, Fla., after a brief stay in hospice. Born on Nov. 22, 1926, Theresa Par- rette helped her parents run a candy store in Minneapolis, Minn., during the Great Depression. In 1944 she was recognized by the annual Westinghouse talent search for a science scholarship. She earned a bach- elor’s degree from Marquette Univer- sity in 1948 and was hired by the State Department shortly after graduation. For the next three decades, Ms. Par- rette worked as a consular officer and secretary, serving overseas in Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Nepal, Belgium, Mexico and South Africa. She met her husband, Donald Rob- ertson, a fellow diplomat from Canada, while on assignment. After retirement, the Robertsons lived on Anna Maria Island, Fla., where they enjoyed boating. Mrs. Robertson moved to nearby Bradenton after her husband’s death. She attended St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. Mrs. Robertson leaves her son, Joseph

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2019 81 Womack, and his wife, Lili, of Jupiter, tions with the Soviets regarding the occu- parents and her brother, Leland, who was Fla.; a granddaughter, Hayley Womack of pation of Austria. When the agreement killed in military action in 1944. She is Newport Beach, Calif.; numerous nieces was reached in August, the detachment survived by several cousins. and nephews; and her beloved canine moved to Vienna. Memorial gifts in Ms. Rowberg’s companion, Reggie. Ms. Rowberg served in Vienna until memory may be made to St. Olaf College, Condolences may be sent to Brown & 1950, when she was transferred to Prague. St. John’s Lutheran Church or the North- Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory, www In 1952, she moved to Athens, and in 1956 field Historical Society. .brownandsonsfuneral.com. to Saigon. In 1956 she was commissioned as a n John A. Sanbrailo, 75, a retired n Brynhild C. Rowberg, 101, a retired Foreign Service officer. From 1958 to 1962, Foreign Service officer with USAID, Foreign Service officer, passed away on she served in the Bureau of Intelligence passed away peacefully at his home in May 17 at the Care Center of the North- and Research at the State Department, Vienna, Va., on April 20. field Retirement Community in North- leaving that position in 1962 to become Mr. Sanbrailo was born in San Fran- field, Minn. the U.S. consul in Bremen. cisco, Calif., in 1944. He graduated from Ms. Rowberg was born on Aug. 26, In 1967 she began working as a politi- the University of California at Berkeley 1917, in Northfield, Minn., the daughter of cal officer in the Office of Korean Affairs with a degree in economics and interna- Andrew and Marie (Rollag) Rowberg. She in Washington, D.C., involved almost tional relations. He also received master’s graduated from Northfield High School in exclusively in the negotiations with North degrees from San Francisco State Univer- 1935 and from St. Olaf College in 1939. Korea that led to release of the crew of the sity in economic development and inter- In 1941 Brynhild Rowberg moved to USS Pueblo, which had been captured by national relations in 1969 and from the Washington, D.C., to work for the State the North Koreans. Kennedy School at Harvard University in Department. She joined the Foreign Ser- In 1971 she became deputy chief of the public administration in 1976. vice in February 1945 and was assigned to economic section and military assistance Mr. Sanbrailo served as a Peace Corps the London staff of the Office of the Politi- officer at the U.S. embassy in Taipei. She Volunteer in Venezuela from 1966 to cal Adviser to the Commanding General remained there until a sudden, devastat- 1968. for Austria. ing hearing loss compelled her to retire. He began his USAID career in 1969 in Because Austria was still in German After living for a time in Northern Quito, and moved to Managua after the hands, the office prepared for the even- Virginia, she moved in 1978 to Northfield 1972 earthquake. tual occupation of that country. to care for her elderly mother. There she He subsequently served in USAID’s Ms. Rowberg traveled to the United served as president of the local League of Latin American Bureau and as USAID Kingdom in a 90-ship convoy that was Women Voters and in various capacities mission director in Ecuador, Peru, Hon- attacked, unsuccessfully, by a U-boat. She at St. John’s Lutheran Church, and was duras, El Salvador and again in Ecuador was in London during the last raid on the active in several other organizations. before retiring in 1997. city by the Luftwaffe, when V-2 rockets fell She wrote the introduction to a book During his Foreign Service career frequently. published by the Norwegian-American Mr. Sanbrailo rose to the rank of Career In March 1945 U.S. strategy changed, Historical Association, as well as several Minister and received four presidential and officials decided that Austria would articles for the Minnesota Historical awards for assisting Honduras in efforts be occupied by troops coming from the Society, and was a speaker at the society’s to restructure its economy in the 1980s south, so the staff, including Ms. Rowberg, 2005 commemoration of the end of World and for supporting the El Salvador peace was transferred to Allied Headquarters War II. accords in the 1990s. for the Mediterranean Theater at Caserta, Ms. Rowberg received the Distin- After retirement he worked as a Italy. guished Alumni Award from St. Olaf consultant for the World Bank, the Inter- Following the end of the war in May College in 1967 and the Distinguished American Development Bank and the 1945, the detachment was transferred first Alumni Award from Northfield High Ecuadorian government between 1997 to Florence, then Verona, then Salzburg, School in 2001. and 1999. He then served as chief execu- as they awaited the conclusion of negotia- She was preceded in death by her tive officer of the Pan American Develop-

82 SEPTEMBER 2019 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL ment Foundation, a nongovernmental Sedleski of Tewksbury, Mass. organization affiliated with the Organiza- Contributions in Mr. Sanbrailo’s tion of American States, until 2017 when memory can be made to Our Lady of he retired for the second time. Good Counsel Catholic Church, Vienna, During Mr. Sanbrailo’s tenure, PADF Va.; the USAID Alumni Association (for expended more than $1 billion in project completion of a history of USAID); or the loans to improve the incomes and lives of American Liver Association. n millions of lower-income Latin Ameri- cans. If you would like us to After leaving PADF, Mr. Sanbrailo include an obituary continued to dedicate his time to in In Memory, please researching the history of U.S. foreign send text to journal@ assistance efforts with the intention of afsa.org. amplifying his article, “Extending the Be sure to include the date, place American Revolution Overseas: Foreign and cause of death, as well as details Aid, 1789–1850,” which appeared in The of the individual’s Foreign Service Foreign Service Journal in March 2016. career. Please place the name of the AFSA member to be memorialized Mr. Sanbrailo is survived by his wife of in the subject line of your email. 45 years, Cecilia, and by his sister, Lynn

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2019 83 BOOKS

In Defense of the sion of enervating speakers Burns states flatly Tool of First Resort describing their islands in the and with unconcealed great American policymaking nostalgia that “the inter- The Back Channel: archipelago”), he was assigned section of skilled public A Memoir of American Diplomacy to Amman, while his A-100 servants and transforma- and the Case for Its Renewal colleague and wife-to-be, Lisa tive events that I wit- William J. Burns, Random House, Carty, volunteered for Ouaga- nessed in the Baker years 2019, $32.00/hardcover, dougou but was assigned to at the State Department $13.99/Kindle, 512 pages. Singapore instead. They were remains special.” Reviewed by Robert M. Beecroft married two years later. His description of the Throughout the book, Burns treats the Baker team’s textbook man- In this engaging book by a master diplo- reader to evocative, penetrating portraits of agement of the collapse of the USSR, the matic practitioner, Ambassador William diplomatic counterparts and adversaries, fall of the Berlin Wall and the reunification J. Burns recounts, in fascinating detail, from James Baker and Richard Murphy to of Germany within NATO—all without numerous highlights from his remarkable Muammar Gaddafi and Vladimir Putin, a shot fired in anger—is a highlight, as is career from 1981 to 2014, including his and traces the ups and downs of U.S. his bittersweet summing-up: “Ours was years as Deputy Secretary of State, under foreign relations through the Reagan, Bush a strategy that accepted limits, but also secretary for political affairs, executive 41, Clinton, Bush 43 and Obama adminis- reflected confidence in the capacity of the secretary of the department, ambassador trations. A few high points follow. United States to at least manage problems, to Russia and Jordan, acting director of Iran-Contra: Assigned at the time to if not solve them. …Many of the lessons policy planning, and National Security the Near East and South Asia Directorate we tried to articulate haven’t lost their Council senior director for Near East and at the National Security Council, Burns relevance today, more than a quarter South Asia. takes an objective but critical look at the century later.” The Back Channel is, however, far more players and politics of the Iran-Contra Yeltsin’s Russia: As political minister- than a memoir of Burns’ activities and affair, which he calls a “bizarre scheme counselor in the mid-1990s under Ambas- experiences overseas and in Washington. … a strange story [that turned] into a full- sador Tom Pickering (“the most capable It is also a powerful and timely advo- blown scandal that nearly brought down professional diplomat for whom I ever cacy piece for committed and informed the Reagan presidency.” worked”), Burns describes his dealings diplomatic action in support of American He points to the uncontrolled expan- with an erratic President Boris Yeltsin (“a interests and principles around the world. sion of the NSC staff, with little regard for wounded figure, his limitations as a leader The son of an Army officer and Viet- the State Department and its historic role, growing more and more apparent”) and nam veteran, Burns attended La Salle as a major cause of poorly coordinated the impact in Russia of intense debate in College in Philadelphia, becoming the and badly executed American foreign Western capitals about NATO expansion. first La Salle graduate to win a Marshall policy initiatives in recent decades. Reflecting on visits to Moscow by Presi- Scholarship for three years’ study at End of the Cold War: In 1990 Burns dent Bill Clinton, Vice President Al Gore, Oxford University. His first taste of the returned to Foggy Bottom to serve as prin- Strobe Talbott and Richard Holbrooke, Middle East and diplomacy came about cipal deputy director, later acting director, among others, Burns laments “the char- thanks to a high school friend who was of the policy planning staff. He praises the acteristically American tendency to think the son of the legendary Hermann F. Eilts, visionary leadership of President George that the right process could solve almost then the U.S. ambassador in Cairo. Burns H.W. Bush, Secretary of State James Baker, any substantive problem.” describes the summer he spent in Egypt as Deputy Secretary Lawrence Eagleburger, He points ominously to the emergence an 18-year-old as “a revelation.” Counselor Robert Zoellick and Undersec- of Vladimir Putin, armed with “a bill of In the chapters that follow, he takes retary for Political Affairs Robert Kimmitt particulars that he would use to justify us through the vagaries, surprises and at a challenging moment when “the tec- his own efforts to manipulate American frustrations of diplomatic life. In 1982, after tonic plates of geopolitics began moving politics.” Leaving Moscow for Washington completing the A-100 course (“a proces- in dramatic and unexpected ways.” in 1996 to become executive secretary of

84 SEPTEMBER 2019 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL His description of the Baker team’s textbook management of the collapse of the USSR, the fall of the Berlin Wall and the reunification of Germany within NATO—all without a shot fired in anger—is a highlight. the department, Burns looks at the “who Trump, American demagogues have lost Russia” debate and concludes laconi- doubted the loyalty and relevance of cally: “The truth was that Russia was never career diplomats, seeking to intimidate ours to lose.” and marginalize them.” Back to the Middle East: As ambassa- He calls for a top-to-bottom “reinven- dor in Amman from 1998 to 2001, Burns tion of diplomacy … developing a clearer makes clear his affection and respect for sense of diplomatic strategy, with a more Jordan, and his understanding of the chal- rigorous operational doctrine … [and] lenges the Hashemite Kingdom has faced sharper focus on issues that matter more over the decades. Subsequently, when and more to 21st-century foreign policy, he was assistant secretary for Near East particularly technology, economics, affairs, his grasp of the multiple tensions energy and climate.” and cross-conflicts throughout the region He adds a warning: “A State Depart- were put to the test after the Sept. 11, 2001, ment in which officers are bludgeoned attacks and the “muscular” response of into timidity, or censor themselves, or are the Bush 43 administration, culminating simply ignored, becomes a hollow institu- in the invasion of Iraq. tion, incapable of the disciplined diplo- Burns pulls no punches: “The Iraq matic activism that this moment in history invasion was the original sin. …The 18 demands of the United States.” months between 9/11 and the invasion My recommendation: read Chapter 10 of Iraq were one of those hinge points of first. But by all means, read the whole book. history, whose contours are easier to see There is something to learn, savor and take today than they were at that uncertain and to heart on virtually every page. n emotional time.” Unlimbering the Guns: Burns con- Ambassador Robert M. Beecroft retired cludes his professional reminiscences from the Foreign Service in 2006, then with detailed, fascinating descriptions of returned to the State Department until his return to Putin’s Russia as ambassador, 2016 to lead OIG inspections in Kuwait, his key role in “Obama’s long game,” its Syria, Taiwan, Vietnam, Ukraine, Belarus unanticipated interruption by the Arab and Lithuania, plus four regional and Spring (“When the short game inter- functional bureaus in Washington. He cedes”), and the delicate secret talks with served as ambassador and head of the Iran that produced the 2015 Joint Compre- OSCE Peacekeeping Mission in Bosnia and hensive Plan of Action, since repudiated Herzegovina, special envoy for the Bosnian unilaterally by the current administration. Federation and chargé d’affaires at U.S. But he saves his most heartfelt shots for Embassy Sarajevo. Between 1971 and 1996, last in Chapter 10, titled “Pivotal Power: he served in Washington, D.C., Geneva, Restoring America’s Tool of First Resort.” Brussels, Paris, Bonn and Cairo, and as At this point, Burns takes the diplomatic deputy chief of mission in Ouagadougou gloves off: “From Joe McCarthy to Donald and Amman.

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2019 85 CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS n LEGAL SERVICES DC GUEST APARTMENTS. Not your typical “corporate” apartments— we’re different! Located in Dupont Circle, we designed our apartments ATTORNEY WITH OVER 25 YEARS’ as places where we’d like to live and work—beautifully furnished and successful experience SPECIALIZING FULL-TIME fully equipped (including Internet & satellite TV). Most importantly, IN FS GRIEVANCES will more than double your we understand that occasionally needs change, so we never penalize chance of winning: 30% of grievants win before you if you leave early. You only pay for the nights you stay, even if your the Grievance Board; 85% of my clients win. Only plans change at the last minute. We also don’t believe in minimum a private attorney can adequately develop and stays or extra charges like application or cleaning fees. And we always present your case, including necessary regs, arcane legal doctrines, work with you on per diem. precedents and rules. Tel: (202) 536-2500. Call Bridget R. Mugane at: Email: [email protected] Tel: (301) 596-0175 or (202) 387-4383. Website: www.dcguestapartments.com Email: [email protected] Website: foreignservicelawyer.com FURNISHED LUXURY APARTMENTS. Short/long-term. Best locations: Dupont Circle, Georgetown. Utilities included. All price ranges/sizes. n TAX & FINANCIAL SERVICES Parking available. Tel: (202) 251-9482. FINANCIAL PLANNING & ASSET MANAGEMENT. Retired FSO Email: [email protected] Chris Cortese founded Logbook Financial Planning to provide fee-only advice to the foreign affairs community. We offer virtual meetings DCLuxe Properties. Washington, D.C., corporate housing, offering across time zones and cutting-edge technology. Contact us for help large fully furnished and generously equipped one- and two-bedroom with your investments, TSP, retirement or career change projections, units in the heart of the popular Dupont Circle neighborhood. In-unit college funding, social security and more. washer/dryer, cable TV, high-speed internet and weekly housekeeping Email: [email protected] Website: www.logbookfp.com are standard amenities. Your privacy is important to us—no shared spaces or large apartment buildings. The subway, grocery stores, drug DAVID L. MORTIMER, CPA: Income tax planning and preparation stores, dry cleaners and restaurants are all within 3 blocks of your unit. for 20 years in Alexandria, Va. Free consultation. We have more than 20 years of experience with USG sliding-scale per Tel: (703) 743-0272. diem. See dcluxe.com for more information and photos; contact us Email: [email protected] at [email protected]. Live like a local! Website: www.mytaxcpa.net ARLINGTON FLATS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 BR flats/houses in 25 properties located in the Clarendon/Ballston corridor. Newly renovated, IRVING CPA, PLLC. Scott Irving, CPA, has more than 18 years of completely furnished, all-inclusive (parking, maid, utilities). experience and specializes in Foreign Service family tax preparation Rates start at $2,750/mo. We work with per diem. Check out and tax planning. our listings. Welcoming Foreign Service for the last decade! Tel: (202) 257-2318. Tel: (703) 527-1614. Ask for Claire or Jonathan. Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Website: www.irvingcom.com Website: www.SunnysideProperty.net n BOOKS FOR RENT: Gorgeous Townhouse in Arlington. 3 BR, huge basement, 3.5 bathrooms. 7-minute walk from FSI! Walking distance to Ballston, Rewrite the Textbooks! Clarendon & VA Square metros. Short-term or long-term rentals accepted, Eugene G. Windchy’s willing to rent furnished or unfurnished! Photos and a descriptive Twelve American Wars—Fourth Edition (Revised) walking-tour available at: http://bit.ly/SteveArlington documents how a Franco-Russian plot killed The home is completely refurbished including: refinished wood floors; the Austrian archduke and triggered World War I. new carpet, lights and paint; granite countertops; new HVAC system, Did you know 16 men were convicted at trial? walk-in closet; and off-street parking. Brand new, stainless steel E-book $3.99 Paperback 23.95 appliances are being added to the kitchen, renter will have first use! 3rd edition at Amazon—https://www.amazon.com/ About me: I am an attorney with NASA, and a professor at Twelve-American-Wars-Nine-Avoidable/dp/1491730536 Georgetown Law. Please contact me with any questions. Tel: (202) 615-2127. Email: [email protected] n TEMPORARY HOUSING n REAL ESTATE CORPORATE APARTMENT SPECIALISTS. Abundant experience with Foreign Service professionals. We work with sliding scales. LOOKING to BUY, SELL or RENT REAL ESTATE in NORTHERN TDY per diems accepted. We have the locations to best serve you: VIRGINIA or MARYLAND? Former FSO and Peace Corps Country Foggy Bottom (walking to Main State), Woodley Park, Chevy Chase Director living in NoVA understands your unique needs and can and several Arlington locations convenient to NFATC. Wi-Fi and all expertly guide you through your real estate experience and transition. furnishings, houseware, utilities, telephone and cable included. Professionalism is just a phone call away. Call Alex for solutions. Tel: (703) 979-2830 or (800) 914-2802. Alex Boston, REALTOR, JD, MPA Fax: (703) 979-2813. Long & Foster Email: [email protected] 6299 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church VA 22044 Website: www.corporateapartments.com Tel: (571) 533-9566. Email: [email protected] Website: alexboston.LnF.com

86 SEPTEMBER 2019 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL MAIN STATE BOUND? Tap into my 30+ years of providing ARE YOU TRANSFERRING TO THE D.C. METRO AREA? exclusive representation to FSOs buying and selling real estate. Let’s jump start your housing search now! I will provide you advance You need unique and special consideration to find the right property. listings and help you identify the right property to buy or lease. Let me assist with your next home, guiding you through the myriad details for a smooth transaction. DO YOU WANT TO INVEST IN REAL ESTATE? Let me provide Marilyn Cantrell, Associate Broker, Licensed in DC and VA you commercial real estate options that require minimal property McEnearney Associates, McLean VA management. I can also suggest single and multi-unit residential Cell: (703) 819-4801. investment opportunities with ongoing property management. Email: [email protected] Website: MarilynCantrell.com As a retired Foreign Service officer who spent a career leasing overseas embassy housing and office space, I will exceed your expectations. EFM REALTOR: Transferring back “home” can sometimes be our hardest move. To make it as smooth as possible, I’ve gathered a team RUSSELL BAUM, REALTOR® that understands our unique FS needs. You can begin your process Arlington Realty, Inc. this spring: Take advantage of when properties hit the market and you 764 23rd Street S have the most choices! We can visit these properties on your behalf, Arlington VA 22202 even before you PCS back to Washington. We assist first-time home Tel: (703) 568-6967. buyers, move-up buyers and/or investment buyers. We also Email: [email protected] sell homes for clients locally and overseas. Let us be your Website: http://www.russbaum.com ally and advocate in coming home to Northern Virginia. Together, we can make this move your best one yet! Remember Tom? I remember Tom fondly. For 25 years, Rachel Cleverley, VA Licensed Realtor Tom was my “go to” Realtor when buying and selling homes Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices | PenFed Realty and investment properties in Northern Virginia. Posted overseas, 300 N. Washington Street, Alexandria VA 22314 having access to such a professional who knew the challenges of the Cell: +1 (571) 274-1910. FS and who we unconditionally trust, proved invaluable. He helped Email: [email protected] us purchase great properties and represented us, and his attention to Website: www.realestatedonecleverly.com detail was impeccable. I provide my clients with this same level of quality, individualized service. FLORIDA’S PARADISE COAST – Naples, Bonita Springs, Estero. Excellent amenities, activities, cultural events in beautiful If you’re looking for such a Realtor, a former SFSO helping clients Southwest Florida. Outstanding home values. make intelligent real estate decisions throughout Northern Virginia, Thomas M. Farley, LLC. Retired SFS. then contact me. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty. [email protected] ALAN DAVIS, REALTOR® Metro Premier Homes VERMONT PROPERTY INVESTMENT. Sale/Leaseback Opportunity. Direct Tel: (571) 229-6821. Shooting Stars Farm: 1840s Farm House with Barn and Out-bldgs. [email protected] 22 acres on quiet country road, 45 min. from Dartmouth College. www.alandavisrealtor.com Further inquiry welcome. Email: [email protected] n PET TRANSPORTATION

SUNNYSIDE PROPERTY. Over 30 furnished Arlington VA Walk-to-Metro PET SHIPPING WORLDWIDE: ACTION PET rentals. We own and manage all our properties. Studio to 5 BR houses. EXPRESS has over 48 years in business. Unique renovated, stylish homes in vintage buildings. Completely 24-hr. service, operated by a U.S. Army veteran, furnished, all inclusive (parking, utilities, maid). Starting at $2,500/mo. associate member AFSA. Contact: Jerry Mishler. We work with per diem. Welcoming Foreign Service for 10+ years! Tel: (681) 252-0266 or (844) 323-7742. For all listings/reservations: Email: [email protected] Website: www.SunnysideProperty.net Website: WWW.ACTIONPETEXPRESS.COM HEADING OUT? HEADING “HOME” TO DC? As an immigrant and Foreign Service spouse, I know what a hassle n PROFESSIONAL SERVICES international moves can be—especially without a GSO or CLO! Whether you’re looking to buy, sell or rent, in DC or VA, I can help TWIGA TUTORS. Don’t let your child fall behind American peers smooth your transition. For a realtor who understands the unique while living overseas. Our certified American EFM teachers support K-12 needs and strains of Foreign Service life, just call Marian. students in English, Math, Science, U.S. History, American Literature and McEnearney Associates Coding and Robotics. Reimbursable for most FS families. Enroll Today! 4720 Lee Highway Email: [email protected] Arlington VA 22207 Website: www.twigatutors.com Tel: (703) 967-1796. Email: [email protected] ENGLISH LANGUAGE WORKSHOPS for Locally-Employed staff. We travel to your post! Go to www.englishforthejob.com for details on packages and rates.

PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD: $1.60/word (10-word min). Hyperlink $11 in online edition. Bold text $1.00/word. Header or box-shading $11 each. Deadline: Five weeks ahead of publication. Tel: (202) 719-9712. Fax: (202) 338-8244. Email: [email protected]

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2019 87 FS COMMUNITY BUSINESSES

88 SEPTEMBER 2019 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL REAL ESTATE & PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2019 89 REAL ESTATE & PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

90 SEPTEMBER 2019 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2019 91 REAL ESTATE & PROPERTY MANAGEMENT AD INDEX When contacting one of our advertisers, kindly mention you saw their advertisement in The Foreign Service Journal. CLASSIFIED ADS Classifieds / 86, 87

EDUCATION Georgetown University, Institute for the Study of Diplomacy, Case Studies in Global Affairs / 37 Hamilton Lugar School of Global & International Studies / Inside Back Cover

FINANCIAL MCG Financial Planning / 50

FS COMMUNITY BUSINESSES Carrington Financial Planning / 73, 88 Iceland Writers Retreat / 88 Windecker Financial Planning / 88

HOUSING Corporate Apartment Specialists / 91 FSJ Guide to Extended Stay Housing / 92 Residence Inn/Arlington / 81 Signature Properties / 91

INSURANCE AFSPA/Cigna–Dental / 29 AFSPA–Foreign Service Benefit Plan / 10 AFSPA–Immediate Benefit Plan / 27 Clements Worldwide / 3 FEDS Protection / 50 Hirshorn Company, The / Back Cover

MISCELLANEOUS Address Change / 83 AFSA Social Media / 83 Council on Foreign Relations– Center for Preventive Action / 38 FSJ Archive / 11 FSJ Subscription / 14 Foreign Service Books / 83 FS Medallion / 85 Fund for American Diplomacy / 4 Patriots Colony / Inside Front Cover Speakers Bureau / 44 U.S. Institute of Peace Press/ 8

REAL ESTATE & PROPERTY MANAGEMENT AFSA Property Management Guide / 90 Alex Boston, Long & Foster Real Estate / 90 Chambers Theory / 90 Jack Realty Group / 49 James McGrath–RE/MAX Premier / 73 MAP Property Solutions LLC / 91 McEnearney Associates / 92 Meyerson Group, Inc., The / 91 Property Specialists, Inc. / 81 Richey Property Management / 89 WJD Management / 89

92 SEPTEMBER 2019 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL REFLECTIONS

Coming of Age in Zaire

BY FRED La SOR

n the late 1970s, while stationed with Drummers slowly took up a pounding beat that USIA in Zaire (now the Democratic carried throughout the day and into the night. Republic of the Congo), my wife and II had the good fortune to receive an invitation from a man who visited several trees, the village contained a handful having been taught the responsibilities of times a year selling artifacts, which he of mud huts, one of which had been manhood by village elders. Unlike some knew we liked to collect. vacated for us. There was no furniture, children of millennials who are raised He told us that in a couple of weeks but we came prepared to sleep on the gender-fluid, here were boys-becoming- twin sons of a village chief would be ground and eat food we had brought in men who understood their future role celebrating their boyhood-to-manhood an ice chest. in the village and were marking it with passage. If we wanted to witness this We called on the chief, delivered today’s ceremony. important rite, he would guide us there. the gifts and walked around the village. Dancing would spontaneously erupt We were delighted and flattered—no Manioc and vegetable fields surrounded on the small platform erected for the other foreigners would be present, but the us, the only reliable source of food, event, drawing in onlookers for 15 or so chief wished for us to participate. supplemented occasionally with a wild frenzied minutes, and then taper off for a When the day came, we were ready animal snared in the nearby forest. while. It was not as acrobatic as tradi- with camping gear, food and gifts for the There was no market nearby to buy tional dance we had previously seen in boys and their father. I was not mentally salt or a box of noodles; our artifact dealer Dahomey (now Benin), but the audience prepared, though, for the arduous drive. walked regularly from the capital to the was more involved and the drumming Our vendor had told us it would take village carrying trade goods like matches more compelling. “several hours.” He was way off. and kerosene he exchanged for the masks We spent the entire day watching, talk- We left home early in the morning he later sold. ing to villagers who could speak French and did not arrive until late afternoon. I As night fell quickly near the equator, and filming the most energetic parts of was tempted more than once to abandon we ate dinner around a small fire in front the celebration with our Super 8 camera. the trip. The road was dustier than I had of the hut and then turned in. The silence The twins were somber, sensing the ever experienced, with fine white powder of an isolated village wrapped around us. weight of their new responsibility. The filtering into the Land Cruiser through Morning came soon enough, with chief was proud of his sons and conveyed closed windows. palpable excitement in the air. Drummers that to us every chance he had. The entire The way was increasingly hindered by slowly took up a pounding beat that car- village was involved. It was a momentous vegetation we had to push through, and I ried throughout the day and into the night, occasion. noted that as we progressed, the road nar- as the chief prepared for the celebration. The next day villagers woke slowly, as if rowed inexorably. Once there, I saw that it The twins paraded through the village, nursing a giant hangover. We set off early did not exit the far side of the village. We bare skin streaked with white clay and for the long trip home. were truly at the end of the road. wearing only a raffia loin cloth. Family Had I known beforehand how bad the Shaded by a small copse of mango and friends knew they were men now, road was, I might not have gone. After- ward, I knew I wouldn’t trade the experi- Fred LaSor entered the Foreign Service in 1968 and retired from the Senior ence for anything. Foreign Service in 1997. He served seven tours with the U.S. Information A photo from that day hangs on our Agency in Africa over more than 20 years, with a tour in Laos and one in wall, and while it’s not as bright and clear Peru as bookends. He lives in Minden, Nevada. as our 40-year-old recollections, I still smile when I see it. n

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2019 93 LOCAL LENS BY TOM FENTON n CAPPADOCIA, TURKEY

uring a morning hot air balloon ride over Cappadocia, Turkey, I spotted this wedding shoot in progress. Local brides often take advantage of the beautiful landscape, and the hundreds of hot air Dballoons that launch here every day, to get some stunning portraits of their special day. n Tom Fenton is an information management specialist from the 138th specialist class. He is currently on his second tour, in Budapest. His previous post was Khartoum. He took this photo in April with a Canon 80D, an 18-135mm lens, F5.6 1/125 IS0800.

Please submit your favorite, recent photograph to be considered for Local Lens. Images must be high resolution (at least 300 dpi at 8” x 10”, or 1 MB or larger) and must not be in print elsewhere. Include a short description of the scene/event, as well as your name, brief biodata and the type of camera used. Send to [email protected].

94 SEPTEMBER 2019 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL