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THE WIKILEAKS MESS ■ CULTURE VULTURES ■ BUILDING BRIDGES
$4.50 / MARCH 2011 OREIGN ERVICE FJ O U R N A L S THE MAGAZINE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS PROFESSIONALS
WORKING ON BEHALF OF MEMBERS AFSA’s 2010 Annual Report 1 C-C4_FSJ_0311_proof 2/15/11 11:29 AM Page C2 01-22_FSJ_0311_first 2/15/11 12:05 PM Page 1 01-22_FSJ_0311_first 2/15/11 12:05 PM Page 2 01-22_FSJ_0311_first 2/15/11 12:05 PM Page 3
OREIGN ERVICE FJ O U R N A L S CONTENTS March 2011 Volume 88, No. 3
F OCUS ON AFSA’s 2010 Annual Report
2010 ANNUAL REPORT: WORKING FOR A STRONGER AFSA / 23 The Governing Board and professional staff focused on four broad goals last year: resources, management, outreach and modernization.
TOWARD A MORE PERFECT UNION / 40 AFSA is a much bigger entity than when founded in 1924, but its top priority remains serving the interests of its members. By Ted Wilkinson
MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN CONGRESS FOR OUR MEMBERS / 45 AFSA’s congressional operation has advanced key initiatives benefiting Cover illustration by Josh Dorman Foreign Service members and enhancing diplomatic effectiveness. By Thomas D. Boyatt
F EATURES
SPEAKING OUT / 15 WHAT IS CULTURAL AFFAIRS? / 50 AFSA Members Speak Out A practitioner offers an overview of a Foreign Service function on the WikiLeaks Mess that deserves to be better known and appreciated. By Michael Macy REFLECTIONS / 68 Saying It Out Loud CHANGING HEARTS AND MINDS / 53 By David Hughes The International Visitors Leadership Program is a striking example of the kind of effective “soft power” diplomacy America needs to prioritize.
AFSA NEWS LETTERS / 7 IRAN HOSTAGES MARK 30 YEARS SINCE RELEASE FROM CAPTIVITY / 57 CYBERNOTES / 11 TOP U.S. OFFICIALS VISIT AFSA FOR DISCUSSION MARKETPLACE / 13 ON MULTILATERAL DIPLOMACY / 57 BOOKS / 63 BRIEFS, EVENT CALENDAR / 58 INDEX TO ADVERTISERS / 66 CLASSIFIEDS / 60
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OREIGN ERVICE FJ O U R N A L S
Editor STEVEN ALAN HONLEY Senior Editor SUSAN B. MAITRA Associate Editor SHAWN DORMAN AFSA News Editor AMY MCKEEVER Ad & Circulation Manager ED MILTENBERGER Art Director CARYN SUKO SMITH Editorial Intern DANIELLE DERBES Advertising Intern SUSANNE BRANDS
EDITORIAL BOARD TED WILKINSON Chairman KELLY ADAMS-SMITH JOSEPH BRUNS STEPHEN W. B UCK JULIE GIANELLONI CONNOR MARY E. GLANTZ GEORGE JONES KATE WIEHAGEN LEONARD LYNN ROCHE RACHEL SCHNELLER JAMES P. S EEVERS
THE MAGAZINE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS PROFESSIONALS Foreign Service Journal (ISSN 0146-3543), 2101 E Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037-2990 is published monthly with a combined July-August issue by the American Foreign Service Associa- tion (AFSA), a private, nonprofit organization. Material appearing herein represents the opin- ions of the writers and does not necessarily rep- resent the views of the Journal, the Editorial Board or AFSA. Writer queries and submissions are invited, preferably by e-mail. Journal sub- scription: AFSA members – $13 included in an- nual dues; others – $40. For foreign surface mail, add $18 per year; foreign airmail, $36 per year. Periodical postage paid at Washington, D.C., and at additional mailing offices. Indexed by Public Affairs Information Services (PAIS). The Journal is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photos or illustrations. Advertising inquiries are invited. The appearance of advertisements herein does not imply the endorsement of the services or goods offered. TELEPHONE: (202) 338-4045 FAX: (202) 338-8244 or (202) 338-6820 E-MAIL: [email protected] WEB: www.afsa.org; www.fsjournal.org © American Foreign Service Association, 2011. Printed in the U.S.A. Send address changes to: AFSA Attn: Address Change 2101 E Street N.W. Washington DC 20037-2990 Printed on 50-percent recycled paper, of which 10 percent is post-consumer waste.
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LETTERS
Keep Pushing the Since the vast majority of these indi- 1955, and later served as an FSO-7 Reserve Corps … viduals have in excess of 20 years of economic officer in 1966, I read with Having read Susan Johnson’s Janu- dedicated service, they could help meet interest Ronald Spiers’ letter in ary President’s Views column, “Time critical needs of the department. the December Journal about the for the Foreign Service Reserve I was employed in the Foreign Serv- improved attitudes toward women Corps,” I agree with her points 100 per- ice for almost 20 years as a financial within the Foreign Service (“Letting cent. When you look at the benefits of management officer. During this time Women Lead”). However, he failed utilizing a Foreign Service reserve I became acquainted with several hun- to note that the commitment of FS corps — bottom-line cost and the ex- dred FSNs employed in financial man- women themselves contributed to this perience it brings to State — it is a no- agement sections, many of whom could trend. brainer. I encourage AFSA to continue have performed my own job better My own heroines include the feisty highlighting this subject. It is good for than I did, and definitely better than Sofia Kearney, consul at my first post State and it is good for those who many of the newly hired FMOs. When (Lima) and among the earliest female served. the department faces a critical situa- Foreign Service officers; and Ann Mer- Monte Marchant tion, such as the establishment of a new riam Claudius, chief of the visa section FSS, retired embassy, these retired FSNs could be in Mexico City in the early 1960s, who Canberra, Australia mobilized to assist in the training of fought the rules and persuaded the new employees. And this expertise is State Department to allow her to re- … And Don’t Forget not unique to the financial manage- main in the Service following her mar- about FSNs ment area. riage to a foreign national. They may I agree with Susan Johnson’s pro- I realize that AFSA’s mission does not have reached the pinnacle of the hi- posal in her January President’s Views not actually extend to the FSN com- erarchy, but they showed me that it was column to establish a reserve corps, munity, but is there any Foreign Serv- possible to succeed as an FSO despite uniting all the current When Actually ice employee — generalist or specialist the manmade obstacles. Employed staff under one roof. Hav- — who has not depended heavily on I am, of course, greatly pleased by ing been a WAE employee myself, I FSNs for help doing their jobs? AFSA the growing acceptance of women in think this is a step in the right direction. should welcome FSNs as associate leadership roles in the Foreign Service However, there is a missing element members, and include them in the de- and the recognition that women have that should be considered. velopment of the reserve corps. strengths of their own to contribute. Every year the State Department Jim Maher But we should not forget our fore- loses a knowledgeable cadre of staff FSS, retired mothers, who had a much harder road who are invaluable yet overlooked. By Royal Palm Beach, Fla. to travel and who, by their example, this I mean the retired Foreign Service taught us that “Yes, we can.” Nationals (now called Locally Em- Women in the Foreign Service Bonnie Lincoln ployed Staff), particularly those who As someone who entered the For- FSO, retired have received special immigrant status. eign Service as an FSS-13 secretary in Fort Myers, Fla.
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CHANGE OF ADDRESS L ETTERS
China Expertise Wasted about the consequences of this policy. Moving? I read with great interest and ap- How dispiriting it must be for these preciation the FS Heritage article by officers to be held under an unwar- Hannah Gurman in your November ranted cloud of suspicion by the de- 2010 issue (“John S. Service: A Cold partment, simply for possessing the Take AFSA War Lightning Rod”). life experience that has prepared them Mr. Service, along with his colleague help the State Department carry out With You! John Paton Davies and many other our nation’s most important long-term China hands of that generation, was a foreign policy mission. true inspiration to me during my uni- Franc Shelton Change your address versity years; indeed, their example was FSO online at: a significant motivation in my desire to U.S. Embassy Vientiane www.afsa.org/comment.cfm embark on a career in the Foreign Service. The damage to our diplomacy Mind the Caps To log in, use your and to Sino-American relations done by I hope my fellow Foreign Service AFSA membership number their forced removal from the State Journal readers will appreciate the fol- on the mailing label of your Department and China affairs is incal- lowing comment I recently submitted Foreign Service Journal. culable, but it most certainly set us back to The Economist magazine: The number is on the top left several decades. “The obituary of Ambassador Rich- corner of the label, right One would hope the department ard Holbrooke in your Dec. 18-31, above your name. It may be would have learned from this experi- 2010, issue again erroneously refers to 2 digits or up to 7 digits. ence. But that does not appear to be the U.S. ‘foreign service’ (sic). Please the case. At a time when Beijing is re- be aware that the Foreign Service is an The password is your last asserting itself on the world stage, and organized career corps with its own name. It is not case sensitive. will undoubtedly be our most impor- entry, promotion, salary and retirement tant foreign policy relationship for the systems, separate from both the Civil Or foreseeable future, the State Depart- Service and the armed forces. Thus, to ment appears to have blacklisted an en- write ‘foreign service’ in lower case is Send change of address to: tire generation of its current China the equivalent of referring to the ‘royal AFSA Membership specialists. It has done so by adopting navy’ or ‘black watch.’ Department a policy precluding service in China for Richard S. Dawson Jr. 2101 E Street NW my Foreign Service colleagues with FSO, retired Washington, DC 20037 PRC-born spouses, regardless of the Uzès, France spouses’ U.S. citizenship status. There are perhaps dozens of such Remembering officers with extensive China experi- Maynard Glitman ence gained before joining the Foreign Ambassador Maynard W. Glitman Service, decades in some cases. They died on Dec. 14, 2010. But “Mike” have developed expertise on China’s Glitman (no one who knew him for language, culture, history, economy more than a Washington moment ever and politics that the department des- called him Maynard) died long ago, his perately needs. Yet State allows these mind stolen by dementia, a body- and critical human resources to go to waste, consciousness-killing combination that precisely when it requires them the destroyed one of the finest minds in the most. Foreign Service. I submit that we should have a There were no diplomats or global more open and transparent dialogue internationalists in Mike’s family. Rath-
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L ETTERS
er, his commitment to U.S. foreign re- time appreciation of the value of (both strategic and tactical) of negoti- lations came from study and a personal NATO-U.S. relations and the profes- ating effectively with Soviets while appreciation that the global challenge sional skill to know how to maximize managing the vagaries of the NATO al- of communism was one that the gener- the “possible” from the starting point of liance and the Washington interagency ation following World War II was des- disagreement. process. Which element was more dif- tined to face. Following high-level assignments at ficult on a given day was never pre- Isaiah Berlin divides people into State and the Pentagon (where he was dictable. “hedgehogs” and “foxes” — the foxes one of the authors of the “3-percent so- Mike’s ability to balance all of the know and pursue many truths, and the lution” to increase NATO conventional contending elements was remarkable; hedgehog knows one great truth. force strength and upgrade theater nu- his ability to meld an interagency “team Mike was the consummate hedgehog, clear forces), Mike was assigned as of rivals” into a coherent negotiating and his truth was the North Atlantic deputy chief of mission for the U.S. team was unique. It was appropriate, Treaty Organization alliance and the Mission to NATO. There he encoun- albeit accidental, that in 1987 Presi- effort to protect Europe and the West tered intermediate-range nuclear forces dents Ronald Reagan and Mikkail Gor- from Soviet domination. close up and personal — the challenge bachev signed the INF Treaty on his After the standard variety of intro- that would occupy the bulk of his pro- birthday, Dec. 8. ductory Foreign Service assignments, fessional career. For more than 23 years now, Mike’s Mike was sent as the politico-military The long saga of the INF is re- team has met in early December for an specialist to Embassy Paris, where I counted in The Last Battle of the Cold INF reunion/birthday party. In years met him. There he developed a life- War, Mike’s tour-de-force analysis to come, we will continue to honor our
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good fortune to have played on the A general (not president), a position he Team with him as our captain. held until his death in September 1948. David Jones Liaquat Ali Khan became prime minis- FSO, retired ter until his assassination in October Arlington, Va. 1951. Pakistan did not have a president Don’t Praise the until March 1956, with the adoption of Human Rights Council the nation’s first constitution and the Although it’s nice to know that naming of Iskander Mirza as its first entry-level FSO Sarah Ciaccia is en- president. Prior to that time, the India joying her tour of duty at the U.N. Act of 1935 provided the legal basis for Human Rights Council in Geneva, her Pakistan’s parliamentary government. piece in the December FSJ (“A Day at William H. Barkell the UNHRC”) makes no mention of FSO, retired the fact that the council is widely re- Arlington, Va. garded as a toothless, mostly anti- American international bureaucracy. The Hunger Site As veteran foreign correspondent Thank you to Editor Steve Honley Jackson Diehl noted recently in the for recommending The Hunger Site Washington Post, “The council is dom- (www.thehungersite.com) as the Site of inated by human rights abusers who the Month in January’s edition of Cy- devote most of the agenda to condem- bernotes. It is a great Web site that I nations of Israel.” would not have found on my own. Guy W. Farmer Judy Jones FSO (USIA), retired FSO, retired Carson City, Nev. Sanibel, Fla.
Pakistan’s Presidency CORRECTION One reads book reviews with the Due to an editing error, the refer- expectation that the reviewer knows at ence on p. 40 of Ken Brown’s January least the basic elements of the subject Appreciation of the late Ambassador matter under review. Imagine my sur- Stephen Low, “A Visionary and Activist prise, then, to read Patricia Lee for the Foreign Service,” should have Sharpe’s review of Philip Oldenburg’s stated that Amb. Low worked very India, Pakistan and Democracy: Solv- closely with John Sprott, former deputy ing the Puzzle of Divergent Paths in the director of the Foreign Service Insti- January FSJ, in which Ms. Sharpe tute (rather than Representative John makes the following statement: Spratt, D-S.C.) to acquire the new “By contrast, not only did Pakistan’s campus as a permanent home for FSI. Muslim League lack the long history We regret the error. ■ of the Congress, but its leader Mo- hammad Ali Jinnah opted to become president instead of assuming the chal- Send your lenges of parliamentary leadership.” Letter to the Editor At Pakistan’s independence on Aug. 14, 1947, Mohammad Ali Jinnah was to [email protected]. appointed the new nation’s governor
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CYBERNOTES
Crisis in Côte d’Ivoire think I will be answering concerns about WikiLeaks for the rest of my life, The standoff in Abidjan between not just the rest of my tenure as Secretary of State. I’ve told my team long-time ruler Laurent Gbagbo and I that I want to get one of those really sharp-looking jackets that rock-and- the internationally supported victor of roll groups have on tours. And I could have a big picture of the world, the Nov. 28 runoff election, Alassane Ouattara, has yet to be resolved as we and it could say “The Apology Tour,” because I have been very, very much go to press in mid-February. As the sit- involved in reaching out to leaders and others who have concerns about uation in Côte d’Ivoire deteriorates, either the general message of our confidential communications being the international community is striving exposed in this way or specific questions about their country or to find a solution that both reflects the themselves. outcome of the election and halts the That aspect of it has receded a lot. I’ve done an enormous amount country’s downward spiral. of work, as have other members of our government, but it still is in the According to the United Nations, as atmosphere. So I think it is always better to affirmatively raise it, and of late January more than 200 people set forth the concerns that we know our friends have. had been killed in post-election vio- — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, speaking to reporters en route lence, and the 22,000 refugees who to Dubai on Jan. 9; www.state.gov. have fled thus far were already chal- lenging aid organizations in Liberia. The African Union, the Economic diplomatic solution. They were un- In a Dec. 3 post titled “Côte d’ Community of West African States, the successful, but Kenyan Prime Minister Ivoire on the Brink,” Mohamed Vall of United Nations, the European Union Raila Odinga traveled to Abidjan as the Al-Jazeera recounts the ominous par- and the United States have all endorsed A.U.’s chief mediator on Jan. 16 to con- allels that exist between the present cli- Mr. Ouattara’s presidency, yet Presi- tinue negotiations. mate in the country and the climate dent Gbagbo refuses to yield power. Meanwhile, there are limited re- that led to civil war in 2002 (http:// As a result, the Obama administra- sources with which to cope with the cri- blogs.aljazeera.net). tion has imposed limited sanctions sis. The U.N. presence in Côte d’Ivoire During a Jan. 14 teleconference against the president and his associ- consists of 10,000 troops, plus 900 with the Center for Strategic and Inter- ates, including a travel ban and asset French soldiers who are pledged to national Studies from the Abidjan hotel freeze. In addition, the World Bank back the organization. Lawrence in which Gbagbo’s forces have block- has suspended financing and the Cen- Woocher of the U.S. Institute of Peace aded him, Mr. Ouattara supported the tral Bank of West Africa has officially writes in the January 2011 edition of On use of force to remove Mr. Gbagbo, and cut off Gbagbo. the Issues: Genocide and Prevention declared that “if ECOWAS shows Following the election, three that “the situation in Côte d’Ivoire mer- clearly its will to intervene, Mr. Gbagbo ECOWAS heads of state accompanied its close monitoring for signs that the will stop.” Ouattara also emphasized former South African President Thabo political conflict could metastasize into the need to fully implement the sanc- Mbeki, the African Union’s mediator, large-scale targeted violence against tions of the regional central bank and to Côte d’Ivoire to attempt to forge a civilian populations” (www.usip.org). stated that he would like Washington
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and other Western capitals to instruct their banks not to deal with Gbagbo’s 50 Years Ago... government (http://csis.org). wo years ago the U.S. Information Agency began giving psy- In a Dec. 22 post titled “The Fight chiatric and psychological tests to all its new Foreign Service to Restore Democracy in Côte d’ Trecruits, including wives. So far, there are no plans to give Ivoire,” Morgan Roach of the Heritage these tests to employees already serving overseas. Although USIA officials still Foundation concurs that it is up to consider the program experimental and admit it will be several years before they will be certain just how good it is, they are already encouraged by the results. neighboring African leaders, like Nige- The State Department’s Medical Division has followed USIA’s experiment ria’s President Goodluck Jonathan, to closely, but, as far as we know, has no plans to follow suit. Nevertheless, the press Gbagbo to step down. Roach signs, it seems to us, indicate that a P-and-P evaluation, as it is called in USIA, adds that the U.S. must work with the may some day become required of all personnel interested in government service A.U., U.N. and E.U. to ensure that abroad. USIA’s experience in this field thus deserves attention and comment. democratic governance is restored — Editorial, “Psychiatric Testing for All?” FSJ, March 1961. (http://blog.heritage.org). A Dec. 5 Le Monde story lays out three possibilities for how the situation could develop: diplomatic compro- crisis without preconditions and Ouat- OECD Downplays Risks mise, international embargo or vio- tara’s readiness to ensure a dignified of Cyberattacks lence (www.lemonde.fr/afrique). exit for Gbagbo present a glimmer of Attacks on computer systems have However, Ouattara does not yet hope. But Gbagbo’s actions since the limited potential to cause global catas- support global economic sanctions be- mission by Mr. Odinga and the trophe, but only in combination with cause they would hurt the Ivorian peo- ECOWAS team have dimmed that another disaster, the Organization for ple. One option for compromise hope (http://alafrica.com). Economic Cooperation and Develop- would be a power-sharing agreement In a Jan. 12 International Herald ment concludes in a Jan. 17 report ti- like those in Kenya and Zimbabwe. Tribune op-ed, “What to do about Ivory tled “Reducing Systemic Cybersecur- Several experts are wary of this Coast,” Council on Foreign Relations ity Risk” (www.oecd.org). path. In a Dec. 6 Foreign Policy post Senior Fellow John Campbell also ex- In the study, conducted as part of titled “The Case Against a Unity Gov- presses reservations about a co-presi- the OECD Project on Future Global ernment in Côte d’Ivoire,” Elizabeth dency and lays out his own plan for the Shocks, authors Peter Sommer (Infor- Dickinson cautions against the co- U.S. to best contain the conflict. Wash- mation Systems and Innovation Group, presidency option, given the fact that ington should underscore Mr. Gbagbo’s London School of Economics) and Ian the two rivals are professional and per- pariah status, assist neighboring states Brown (Oxford Internet Institute, Ox- sonal foes who would be unlikely to with refugee outflows and stanch the ford University) say very few single get along (http://blog.foreignpolicy. flow of arms into the country. cyber-related events have the capacity com). The U.S. Institute of Peace also Mr. Campbell further urges Wash- to cause a global shock. The main pos- cautions against a power-sharing agree- ington to provide diplomatic support sibility is an attack on one of the un- ment, noting in the January edition of to the A.U. and ECOWAS in interna- derlying technical protocols on which its Prevention Newsletter that Mr. tional forums like the Security Coun- the Internet depends, such as the Bor- Ouattara was the clear winner (www. cil, and warn Pres. Gbagbo that he and der Gateway Protocol, which deter- usip.org). his supporters will be held accountable mines routing between Internet ser- The overall outlook for a diplomatic for any human rights violations they vice providers. solution is increasingly grim. In a Jan. perpetrate. Finally, the international Otherwise, most breaches of cyber- 16 article titled “Mission to Abidjan — community should plan the delivery of security — such as malware, distrib- Will Raila’s Carrots and Stick Strategy humanitarian assistance should fight- uted denial of service and espionage, Work?” Jaindi Kisero of The East ing break out in Côte d’Ivoire (www. and the actions of criminals, recre- African writes that Gbagbo’s willing- nytimes.com). ational hackers and hacktivists — have ness to negotiate a peaceful end to the — Danielle Derbes, Editorial Intern relatively localized and short-term im-
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pact, despite the exaggerated, sensa- All that said, the authors do en- WWW.FSJOURNAL.ORG tionalistic language many analysts em- courage governments to take steps to Click on the Marketplace tab on the marquee ploy to assess them. Accordingly, withstand and recover from a wide rolling all these activities into a single range of unwanted cyberevents, both AFSA Legacy statistic leads to grossly misleading accidental and deliberate. But such conclusions about the likelihood of preparations are complicated by the afsa.org/CFCFAD.cfm concerted cyberattacks and the dam- fact that large sections of the critical age they might inflict. national infrastructure of most OECD AKA Hotel residences Sommer and Brown point out that countries are in private hands, not stay-aka.com many critical computer systems are under direct government control. well enough protected that designers The authors flag three current Arlington Court Suites of new cyberweapons would first have trends of particular concern. First, arlington-court-suites.com to identify new weaknesses, then learn World Wide Web portals are being in- how to exploit them — a tedious, time- creasingly used to provide critical gov- Clements International consuming process. Moreover, the ef- ernment-to-citizen and government- clements.com fects of cyberattacks are difficult to to-business facilities. Although these predict due to the interconnectedness portals potentially offer cost savings Crises and Compassion of systems, and could well backfire on and increased efficiency, overdepend- www.mqup.ca the perpetrators and their allies. ence on them could result in a repeti- Diplomatic Automobile Sales Site of the Month: http://iranprimer.usip.org/ diplosales.com Ever since the 1979 Iranian Revolution, the West has struggled to understand the Islamic Republic and how to deal with it. The challenge looms even larger in the face Hirshorn Company, The of Tehran’s controversial nuclear program, disputed 2009 elections, growing human hirshorn.com rights violations and angry rhetoric. Although The Iran Primer promotes a new book with a similar title (The Iran Inside a U.S. Embassy Primer: Power, Politics and U.S. Policy, U.S. Institute of Peace, 2011), the Web site afsa.org/inside/ stands on its own. Each link connects to a chapter in the book addressing one of 62 subjects in 10 categories, with printable PDF attachments available at the bottom of ProMax Management Inc. each chapter. (The entire book is available free on the site.) In addition, each week promaxrealtors.com new analysis is added to the “Author Talk” section, analyzing recent developments in Iran. SDFCU Both in the book and on the site, 50 top Western and Iranian experts, including sdfcu.org scholars from 20 think-tanks and eight universities, as well as senior foreign policy officials from six U.S. administrations, offer comprehensive but concise overviews of Iran’s politics, economy, military, foreign policy and nuclear program. Reflecting TetraTech the diversity of the site’s contributors, no single political perspective or agenda pre- tetratech.com dominates. The Iran Primer also features a wide-ranging database of chronologies, nuclear WJD sites, sanctions resolutions and other information, including an Iran Factbox with a wjdpm.com map of the country and a wealth of statistics. These are constantly updated to pro- vide reliable information about the many facets of a complex country with which the United States has not had diplomatic relations for more than three decades, offering context and analysis for what lies ahead. — Steven Alan Honley, Editor When contacting an advertiser, kindly mention the Foreign Service Journal.
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tion of the problems Estonia suffered OECD study of events that could pre- in 2007 from concerted cyberattacks, cipitate “Future Global Shocks.” believed to have originated in Russia. Other examples to be evaluated in- Second, several OECD govern- clude a further failure of the global fi- ments have outsourced critical gov- nancial system, large-scale pandemics, ernmental computing services to the widespread pollution, and long-term private sector. This yields economies, meteorological or volcanic conditions but the contractual service-level agree- inhibiting transport links. ments may not be able to cope with — Steven Alan Honley, Editor the unusual quantities of traffic that occur in an emergency. Korean Tricks and Tweets Finally, cloud computing holds real We reported back in November that potential for savings and resilience, but South Korea’s spy agency had accused may raise concerns about confidential- the North of launching cyberattacks ity, if authentication is not robust, and that briefly paralyzed the Web sites of loss of service. With that in mind, the some South Korean and U.S. govern- authors recommend that governments ment agencies and commercial firms. take the following steps to minimize In what may be a case of turnabout as the risk of cyberattacks and mitigate fair play, on New Year’s Day the North any damage: Korean government’s official Twitter • Ensure that cybersecurity policies account (http://twitter.com/urimin encompass the needs of all citizens, zok) denounced leader Kim Jong Il not just government facilities. and heir apparent Kim Jong Eun as • Encourage ratification of the Cy- sworn enemies of the Korean people berCrime Convention and other inter- and called for their removal from national treaties. power. • Support end-user education to re- The Telegraph reported on Jan. 8 duce the number of unprotected com- that the site’s 11,000 followers received puters available for hijacking. tweets about the regime’s profligate • Use procurement power, stan- spending on nuclear weapons and lav- dards-setting and licensing to influ- ish drinking parties “while three million ence computer industry suppliers to people are starving and freezing to properly test hardware and software. death” (www.telegraph.co.uk). The • Extend the development of po- unidentified hackers, believed to be lice and forensic computing resources. South Korean, also posted a video to • Support the international Com- Pyongyang’s official YouTube site de- puter Emergency Response Team picting a caricature of Kim Jong Eun community, as the most likely means driving a luxury sports car, running over by which a large-scale Internet prob- women and children on the side of the lem can be averted or mitigated. road, but it was quickly removed. • Fund research into such areas as The tweets were in Korean, limiting strengthened Internet protocols, risk their impact overseas. However, the analysis, contingency planning and dis- hacking came as an embarrassment to aster propagation analysis, human fac- the regime, particularly because Jan. 1 tors in the use of computer systems is thought to be Kim Jong Eun’s birth- and security economics. day. ■ This report is part of a broader — Steven Alan Honley, Editor
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AFSA Members Speak Out on the WikiLeaks Mess
ver since late November, when material released so far. this “hero” was quick to threaten re- WikiLeaks released the first of Calls from other old confidants from lease of the entire tranche of cables, Emore than a quarter of a mil- prior posts are not so sanguine, infused without review or redaction. lion Department of State cables that had with fears of retribution from the pow- WikiLeaks is not the Pentagon Pa- been stored on a Defense Department erful in places where rights and free- pers. In that situation, journalists ob- database, the debate has mainly focused doms are notional. I wonder if state- tained information about a specific U.S. on whether making sensitive diplomatic ments made to me in confidence could policy, reviewed and understood it, and reporting public was justified. We asked cause these people harm and imagine deemed it vital to public knowledge. In AFSA members to weigh in on the im- worst-case scenarios. Some colleagues the current case, an army private and pact of the disclosures, posing the fol- receive similar calls, trying to be sup- Web-site host allegedly stole 250,000 lowing questions in a message sent via portive and make some sense of the sit- documents with no idea of their con- the AFSAnet listserv: uation. tent, releasing them “willy-nilly,” as Bob • What do you see as the ramifica- I didn’t get any inquiries from world Woodward puts it. tions of the leaks for future reporting leaders. Like most diplomats, I don’t Leaks are sometimes justified as from the field? know any. Instead, we talk to human bringing forward new information sig- • How are your overseas contacts rights workers, journalists, bureaucrats, nificant enough to cross some cost-ben- reacting to the disclosures? political and labor organizers, school efit threshold; e.g., something that • What are you and your colleagues administrators — anyone who can shed would change public opinion. But doing to minimize potential damage to some light on a particular subject that there is no intellectual rigor or moral bilateral relations from the leaks? might help policymakers better under- compass at work in Assange’s copy- • What do you think the story has stand the countries where we serve. paste approach. done to the image of the Foreign Serv- The fact that people speak candidly to The cost of these alleged leaks to ice? a U.S. diplomat should not endanger U.S. diplomacy should not be over- Our thanks to all who responded so their privacy or safety. stated, but it is significant. That’s fine if thoughtfully to our invitation to com- Despite promises to protect vulner- you think the U.S. does more bad than ment. able cable sources, some redactions by good in the world. Then it’s easy to jus- — Steven Alan Honley, Editor WikiLeaks and its partner media have tify depriving us of our secrets, think been comically inept. Failing to con- our sources get what they deserve, and Life After WikiLeaks sistently remove or disguise individual absolve yourself of any responsibility. My cell phone rings with an un- names, occupations, locations and But any sincere attempt to examine known number. An old contact wants other information makes identities ob- the totality of what the State Depart- to know if he’s going to be featured on vious. Imagine this line in a cable: “We ment does ought to give reasonable WikiLeaks. Having just returned from spoke with the first African-American people pause before singling us out for a news-free vacation, I’m caught off president of the United States, Barack blanket sabotage. Hindering our abil- guard. He’s more curious than con- XXXXX.” ity to report on overseas developments cerned. “At least some good informa- Moreover, when Julian Assange felt impedes all of our efforts, including the tion is getting out there,” he says, of the legal action might be taken against him, many important, benign things we do
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abroad (e.g., development, scholar- feel if he had consulted a lawyer about ships, demining, cooperation on crime, a very personal matter, such as a bank- etc.). Perhaps the compilers of this I am less troubled by ruptcy or a divorce, and then found a data dump prefer military options that full copy of the lawyer’s notes to his file may have to be relied upon as a result what WikiLeaks has now available for public viewing on the of diplomatic failures. Web. Simply put, the world is not safer or revealed than by the I then suggested that my friend’s rel- better informed because of this release. ative should see the Foreign Service as But the Foreign Service can perhaps precedent the posting of acting as the nation’s lawyer abroad, take some small consolation from the consulting with our adversaries as well fact that more people now know that our cables establishes. as our allies, and realize that the results we do good work. of our consultations deserve the same Let’s get back to it, when the phones privacy and respect as he would want stop ringing. his own consultations with his own T. Joe Reik lawyer to have. FSO The Value of Privacy The result? Probably no decrease Office of the Coordinator A friend’s relative, inherently suspi- in his mistrust of government, but per- for Reconstruction and cious of government, thought the dis- haps some increase in being willing to Stabilization closures by WikiLeaks were a wonder- acknowledge that private communica- Washington, D.C. ful thing. I asked him how he would tions deserve to be protected from
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The cost of these alleged leaks to U.S. diplomacy should not be overstated, but it is significant.
public disclosure. Perhaps the above line of reasoning might persuade some that diplomatic consultations deserve a certain amount of privacy for a certain period of time. Charles O. Cecil U.S. ambassador, retired Alexandria, Va.
How Embassy Buenos Aires Handled the Fallout On day one, the chargé d’affaires here in Buenos Aires said, “We have two bad choices: try to run and hide or go out and take a beating.” His deci- sion was to engage with the press and defend diplomacy — with a dose of hu- mility. In Argentina, where the negative views of the U.S. far outweigh the pos- itive, many people wanted to see the “superpower” on its knees. Given our embarrassment at being unable to pro- tect our contacts, and facing full expo- sure of controversial embassy assess- ments of the government, it wasn’t hard to be humble. The Spanish newspaper El Pais began its coverage of the WikiLeaks story with cables focusing on criticism of Argentine President Cristina Kirch- ner’s government reported by our em-
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WikiLeaks should be held accountable for what it has done, not to get even, but to defend our liberty.
bassy, citing highly placed sources from within her own Cabinet. Yet the one cable the Argentine press seized upon was a biographical psychoanalysis questionnaire from State’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research about whether Mrs. Kirchner had mood swings and, if so, what her doctors pre- scribed for them. This led to repeated headlines along the lines of “Hillary Questions Cristina’s Mental Stability.” Embassy Buenos Aires had fortunately chosen at the time not to respond to those questions, whether for lack of substan- tiated data or prudence — or a combi- nation of both. Still, the question itself became the story. We immediately went out to the media. The information officer ap- peared on selected radio and TV talk shows to answer questions. She and other embassy officials talked to news- paper columnists, and the press section used the embassy Twitter account (a very popular medium in Argentina) ju- diciously to reinforce key points. When one magazine published a made-up story claiming the CIA had passed it a cable on the president’s mental health, the embassy responded aggressively with a categorical denial of the story.
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When the ambassador returned and use it as a moment for reflection Defining Freedom of Speech after Thanksgiving, she taped a per- on how and what we report, and how I am less troubled by what Wiki- sonal audio/print message for posting we can better protect that information. Leaks has revealed — that we are a on the embassy Web page. Even with- We did not comment on the con- Foreign Service actively engaged in out any press release, the news agen- tent of the leaked documents, how- protecting freedom at home and pro- cies picked up her statement and the ever. Rather, we sought to educate moting it abroad, and opposing terror- story went everywhere. Because of her the public about the context and ists, drugs and arms dealers, nuclear personal engagement, our “human process of cable writing — including proliferation, human trafficking and face” diplomacy helped garner signifi- the fact that no ambassador or Secre- many other threats to liberty and secu- cant amounts of sympathy for Ameri- tary of State personally drafts all the ca- rity for all — than by the precedent the can diplomats — both by depicting bles bearing his or her name. posting of our cables establishes. them not as culprits but, rather, as Finally, we reaffirmed a commit- In the name of freedom of speech, among the victims in this incident; and ment to openness and transparency, freedom of speech is destroyed. How by recognizing that they had been while stressing the need for everyone, can one speak freely if some people doing their jobs responsibly. including journalists, to handle some proclaim themselves arbiters of what The message that we consistently information only on the basis of confi- should be part of a private conversa- used had two elements: first, regret for dentiality. tion? And what should be forever any harm caused to our contacts due to Diana Page searchable, quoted and misquoted? the breach of privacy; second, deter- Public Affairs Officer Since when does freedom of speech mination to learn from the incident Embassy Buenos Aires mean that I have a right to make pub-
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lic your words, opinions and conversa- Now, more than ever, our govern- tions, without your permission? Yes, it ment must seek ways to facilitate the gives me the right to express myself, I think State deserves a sharing of important classified infor- and to have and declare an opinion mation while, at the same time, making about you — but not to take your place massive slap on the wrist it harder for employees to pass confi- in deciding with whom, when and how dential information to organizations you express yourself. for trusting the Pentagon like WikiLeaks. It has been argued that such in- Morrie Blumberg fringements are necessary for the on what appears to have USAID FSO, retired achievement of greater goals, like keep- Albuquerque, N.M. ing government open, transparent and been a one-way street. honest. But that argument fails to rec- WikiLeaked! ognize — or chooses to ignore — that Unexpected Attention from it is peoples’ lives and careers, not in- Unintended Audiences stitutions, whose privacy is being vio- The cat is out of the bag. Not only lated. Who has given WikiLeaks the health-care providers open, honest and our adversaries and allies, but even our right to decide whose privacy should be transparent? next-door neighbors can read what we protected, and whose not? Liberty is destroyed when it is not have been classifying secret. The gen- WikiLeaks is specifically designed to exercised responsibly. WikiLeaks is eral public was never supposed to be deny people — not just governments part of the Internet, and so are we — the audience for our confidential analy- and corporations — their right to pri- willingly or unwillingly. Our lives are sis and reports, but this is a reality with vacy and, ultimately, to professional and better because of what we do online. which we must come to terms. personal dignity. It blatantly and irre- In addition, it is also our Internet. Reactions from foreign diplomats, sponsibly ignores the negative conse- We should not give it up to hackers, in- U.S. citizens, journalists around the quences that extensive, out-of-context formation thieves and their accom- world, and even our own families give disclosures have on people’s lives. plices. us an unexpected opportunity to take a This is not journalism, where pro- WikiLeaks should be held account- fresh look at what our reporting says fessional analysis and ethics gauges able and liable for what it has done and about our profession and its culture. how information is presented. Wiki- continues to do. Not to get even, but to News reports and public comments Leaks is only engaged in abusive data defend our liberty. aired about the content of the leaked dissemination. Rafael Foley State cables characterize FSOs in di- All who choose to post and circulate FSO vergent ways, from “arrogant” and unauthorized disclosures violate the Embassy Islamabad “brash” to “perceptive” and “vivid writ- Golden Rule: “Treat others like you ers of tabloid-like headlines.” One re- want to be treated.” What is next? Will Control Access port heralded our cables as “their own WikiLeaks help a disgruntled journal- Back in the late 1960s, an Indian literary genre.” ist post the identities of dozens of his colleague in New Delhi posed a ques- In reference to our professional colleagues’ confidential sources? A tion to me that comes to mind now in skills, some commentators have said judge release scores of ongoing court regard to WikiLeaks: “May we talk a that our cables show that diplomacy is proceedings? A banker disclose the little about the liabilities of affluence?” in “capable hands.” To others, like a transactions in hundreds of accounts? After 9/11, several U.S. government freelancer who titled his blog post “U.S. A doctor reveal thousands of patients’ agencies, civil and military, increased diplomats are not stupid after all,” our records? their efforts to share confidential infor- effectiveness comes as a big surprise. Can these actions be justified be- mation. Their efforts produced enor- A recent piece in The New Yorker cause WikiLeaks decides that it could mous volumes of data, paving the way details a few fantasy cables, describing singlehandedly make the media, the for WikiLeaks to procure and dissemi- FSOs breezily masterminding a defin- justice system, the financial world and nate thousands of messages. itive end to the Afghan conflict, among
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other diplomatic feats. What struck me that the public did not need to know about this creative writing exercise was the granular details of ongoing negoti- its realistic jab at our culture of self- What WikiLeaks has done ations or U.S. diplomats’ assessment of congratulation. Do our training and the idiosyncrasies of foreign leaders like our promotion system push us to weave is not whistleblowing. the hard-partying Italian Prime Minis- tales of how our talents are indispen- ter Silvio Berlusconi. sable to negotiations and political pro- What evil or illegality The students were, however, in- cesses? Do we go overboard or engage tensely curious about diplomacy in ac- in hyperbole to show results when they is the flood of American tion — why internal diplomatic do not seem to come fast enough for communications are secret and how Washington’s demands? diplomatic cables they are written, and how FSOs build While on a leave of absence this relationships and make deals behind year, I served as a volunteer foreign pol- revealing? the scenes. icy lecturer at an international univer- As a public servant, I am annoyed by sity in Rome. The WikiLeaks phenom- Assange’s bravado and his smug sup- enon has been a big topic of discussion port for WikiLeaks’ right to disseminate here across academic disciplines, not stolen government correspondence to only among colleagues in the interna- Julian Assange and to champion his call the public without consequences. And tional relations department. for complete freedom of information, as a public diplomacy officer, I am frus- I expected my students to side with but they didn’t. Many of them said trated by the damage the release of
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these messages has done to our credi- p. 153: The Pentagon received [Gen- bility with local audiences around the eral Stanley] McChrystal’s classified as- world. Despite promises to sessment of the Afghanistan War on Yet in the classroom I found a bright Monday, Aug. 31. Secretary of Defense side to all of this — increased attention protect vulnerable cable Gates was responsible for giving a copy to the conduct of diplomacy by the In- to President Obama. The document ternet generation. This incident just sources, some redactions was so sensitive that even parts of the might improve our image, at least review team who had helped draft among those members of our domes- from WikiLeaks and its parts of it and held security clearances tic audience with suspicions about the could not obtain a copy. quality of our work in support of the na- partner media have been p. 175: In mid-September, after a tional interest. nearly two-hour interview, I asked one Lillian deValcourt-Ayala comically inept. person, “You’ve got a copy of the Mc- Public Affairs Officer Chrystal report here?” “Yeah, it’s on Embassy Guatemala City my desk,” was the answer, and that per- son photocopied the report for me. A Silver Lining Michael D. Thomas I’m no longer in the field and so A Firing Offense FSO cannot comment about foreign opin- I think those who decided to put Board of Examiners ions of WikiLeaks. However, from a secret cables all over the Pentagon site Arlington, Va. U.S. university town perspective, the should be fired for cause. I also be- reaction has been very negative. But lieve those who allowed for insecure It’s Not Whistleblowing the reaction to the content has been computers to have access to classified With regard to the ongoing soap general approval of the reporting, and material should be fired. And I hope opera of WikiLeaks and Julian Assange, belief in the accuracy of the reports. those who never bothered to look into many commentators are calling this American diplomats are perceived as this massive breach just waiting to whistleblowing. But that term applies professional and well-informed. happen will be reprimanded. The to revelations of evil or illegal acts. James Carter naive enlisted man charged with the While some of the previously hidden FSO, retired theft should be given a trial and, if military errors in Iraq or Afghanistan College Station, Texas found guilty, should serve a meaning- might fit that definition, what evil or il- ful, but not overly severe, sentence. legality is the flood of American diplo- Consult FRUS Finally, State deserves a massive slap matic cables revealing? Those in the media who have com- on the wrist for trusting the Pentagon Diplomatic confidentiality has been mented that one good thing that came on what appears to have been a one- respected by the whole world, going out of the leaks was that it showed way street. “You share with us, we back to the Greek city-states, for more how qualified and erudite our diplo- share with the world.” than two millennia. We accord similar mats are should be made aware of the John R. Savage rights to journalists to protect commu- Foreign Relations of the United States FSO, retired nications with their sources, lawyers publications. If they are interested in Charlotte, N.C. with their clients, or doctors with their learning more about the high quality patients. of our work, they can avail themselves So Much for Assange’s defenders should ask of released documents without doing Securing Documents themselves what qualifies such contin- harm to our national security. I was reading Bob Woodward’s lat- uing excesses and blowhard hubris as Carol A. Colloton est book, Obama’s War, as the Wiki- “whistleblowing.” ■ FSO, retired Leaks diplomatic cables began to ap- George Lambrakis Bureau of Administration pear, and was struck by the irony as I FSO, retired Washington, D.C. read the following passages in the book: London
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American Foreign AFSA Service Association ANNUAL 2010 Working for a Stronger AFSA REPORT BY SUSAN R. JOHNSON, PRESIDENT
verall, 2010 has been a year of with the two co-chairs of the Quadrennial Diplomacy and De- new initiatives and serious chal- velopment Review regarding human resources issues of direct lenges for the Foreign Service interest and concern to AFSA. Our feedback on an early pro- and for AFSA. The Governing posal for a mid-level lateral entry program from the outside led Board and AFSA’s professional to it being dropped and replaced by alternative approaches. staff have focused on four broad Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton spoke positively about goals: protecting resources for AFSA’s contribution to these issues. our agencies, including overseas comparability pay for the For- Professional Education and Training eign Service; increasing cooperation with management; im- Another priority on which we have begun to engage with Oproving the image and outreach of AFSA and the Foreign management is professional education and training for diplo- Service; and modernizing and professionalizing AFSA’s in- macy and development. AFSA has worked closely with the ternal operations, especially in the area of communications. American Academy of Diplomacy and participated in the ad- To move forward on this agenda we visory group chaired by Ambassa- engaged on five main fronts: man- dor Thomas Pickering, which has agement, Congress, the media and worked with Director General other organizations, our members, Nancy Powell and FSI Director and strengthening internal AFSA Ruth Whiteside. We look forward capacity and operations. to continued engagement in this Josh Dorman area. Management The Policy Planning Staff and Management across all our the Bureau of Human Resources member agencies was challenged welcomed AFSA’s initiative to re- and stretched as the Obama admin- vive the Open Forum, which we istration launched an ambitious believe will encourage informed agenda: implementation of Diplo- discussion and sharing of different macy 3.0 and hiring surges for State perspectives on key foreign policy and USAID, a large budget request increase at FCS for the issues. We hope the Open Forum or a successor program will National Export Initiative, and holding the line against further soon be restored. erosion elsewhere. Our goal was increased engagement but, Throughout 2010 we actively engaged on a broad range of despite initial hopes stemming from President Barack Obama’s individual issues and they are detailed by each agency vice pres- executive order calling for better labor management coopera- ident elsewhere in this report. tion and more consultation, it was an uphill march. AFSA is working to strengthen our advocacy and legislative We had little to no input on implementation of Diplomacy affairs capacity in a variety of ways. These include creating new 3.0, but we did succeed in engaging constructively and frankly senior staff positions for policy and labor management; devel-
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American Foreign Service Association 2010 ANNUAL REPORT
oping an internal advocacy team; forging better communi- cation tools; seeking more direct engagement by our ac- tive-duty members and retirees around the country; establishing new organizational alliances and coalitions; and using our Political Action Committee strategically.
Congress Passage of a Foreign Relations authorization bill remains an important goal, but our biggest immediate priority is Overseas Comparability Pay. Based on the Comparability Pay Act of 1990, all federal employees receive salaries adjusted to the prevailing mar-
ket rates for similar skills and experience in the private sec- Francesca Kelly tor. Working in parallel with management, we have Ambassador John Negroponte, left, and AFSA President obtained the first two tranches of OCP, but the fate of the Susan Johnson meet prior to his informal talk at AFSA headquarters on April 7. third tranche is unclear. Prospects for keeping OCP are at best uncertain, but tional tools, explaining the importance of diplomacy to a AFSA is mounting a major effort to explain that denying broad range of professional and academic audiences. We comparability pay for service overseas — the mission of reinforced these efforts with new programs such as our dis- the Foreign Service — would undermine our civilian for- cussion series in partnership with Lockheed Martin and spe- eign affairs institutions by penalizing Foreign Service per- cial events, such as the panel discussion we held on the 20th sonnel at the very moment that we need them to serve anniversary of German reunification. That event featured overseas in increasingly difficult, dangerous and risky sit- General Brent Scowcroft and Amb. Rozanne Ridgway. uations. This coming year will present serious challenges for the Membership Foreign Service. We will need to be determined and per- We have continued to build our active-duty and retiree haps bolder than we have been in presenting our case membership, which has grown from 10,500 a decade ago to against the backdrop of a very tough fiscal environment, well past 15,000 members now. We are reassessing how with deficit reduction an understandable priority. We plan we communicate with our members and plan to use our to call on our members to engage with us on the Hill and new Web site, along with our Facebook and Twitter ac- in home districts to speak up for the Foreign Services of all counts in more targeted and effective ways that will im- our member agencies. prove and expand our member services. Already we are in a position to seek much greater mem- The Media ber participation in telling the story of today’s Foreign Serv- Our sharply expanded outreach, marketing and media ice to Congress and to the American public in new and program is described in detail elsewhere in this report. We better ways. have worked hard to raise the profile of diplomacy and de- velopment and have seen the number of press releases, let- AFSA Internal Operations ters to the editor, articles, and op-eds placed in major This has been a transformational year in many respects, media increase markedly. WikiLeaks did its share to draw marked by some reorganization to promote better team- attention to diplomacy, and we have sought to use occa- work, investment in our new Web site and other commu- sions such as the annual AFSA Memorial Plaque ceremony nications technology, and some rethinking of AFSA staffing or the 30th anniversary of the release of American hostages to strengthen capacity. We approved a number of new po- from Iran as reminders of the courage and sacrifice of the sitions to do just that, deepening our bench in the areas of Foreign Service. policy, legislative work, retiree services and information Our newly established speakers program and AFSA technology, to be supplemented by short-term contracting Booknotes series have been effective outreach and educa- for special expertise or projects.
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American Foreign Service Association ANNUAL REPORT 2010 Labor Management Office’s Advocacy Efforts Meet with Success ■ BY SHARON PAPP, GENERAL COUNSEL
FSA’s Labor Management office tackled a whose entry step had been wrongly assessed by the State workload of between 350 and 400 e-mail, Department’s Human Resources Bureau. As a result, sev- telephone and in-person inquiries every eral dozen agents have had their entry step raised from week in 2010. These issues covered all as- FS-6, Step 3, to Step 4, and have received back pay with pects of Foreign Service employment, in- interest. Acluding promotions, evaluations, assignments, travel, In addition to our representation of individual employ- housing, retirement, investigations, discipline and security ees and discrete groups, AFSA negotiated or consulted clearances. The numbers include ongoing work on the with the HR Bureau on a wide variety of issues in 2010. hundreds of grievances that our staff has assisted employ- These include the extension of language pay for hard lan- ees in filing both at the agency level and in the appeals guages, the need to restrict the number of linked assign- process, before the Foreign Service Grievance Board. ments (despite their expansion to employees volunteering In 2010, the Department of State changed the manda- for service in Pakistan, Iraq and Afghanistan), the annual tory low-ranking percentage by promotion panels from 5 procedural promotion precepts and the rules for assign- percent to 2 percent for any class numbering more than ments. 20. This is an important change, for which AFSA has been We were also closely involved in the most recent up- lobbying both the department and Congress for many date of the core precepts, which were revised to include years. Dating back to the late 1990s, this requirement had sections that highlight the particular contributions made its genesis in the need to reduce personnel numbers. by the 21 specialist groups, and how their duties differ in Twelve years later, this is no longer a priority and boards emphasis from those of generalist officers. routinely struggled with the task of meeting the 5-percent Finally, we have been able to assist many members in quota. While AFSA’s ultimate goal is for the Department their dealings with various commercial entities, success- of State to adopt USAID’s procedure, where promotion fully persuading some property, cell-phone and vehicle- panels are not forced to meet a minimum quota but can leasing companies to allow Foreign Service employees to low-rank as they deem appropriate, we believe the 2-per- cancel their leases when proceeding overseas on govern- cent figure is more reflective of reality. ment orders. We won an important victory in 2009 in the case of newly promoted Senior Foreign Service officers who had The Memorial Plaques been denied the opportunity to compete for performance ■ BY PERRI GREEN, SPECIAL AWARDS pay. 2010 saw its follow-up, with four separate boards con- AND OUTREACH COORDINATOR vened to consider some 1,035 files that included the 205 he first AFSA Memorial Plaque was unveiled Senior Foreign Service officers who had been newly pro- in 1933 by Secretary of State Henry Stimson. moted in 2006 and 2007 and were found to be eligible for There are now two plaques in the C Street consideration for performance pay in 2007 and 2008, re- lobby of the State Department honoring mem- spectively. Ultimately, 67 people have received either per- bers of the Foreign Service who have died in formance pay or pay-for-performance payouts in accord- the line of duty, bearing a total of 235 names. In 2010, new ance with the appropriate precepts, including several em- T names were added at an emotional ceremony on Foreign Af- ployees who received performance pay awards of either fairs Day, May 7, at which Secretary of State Hillary Rodham $10,000, $12,000 or $15,000, along with commensurate Clinton eulogized Victoria DeLong (killed in an earthquake in pay increases. This includes 55 SFS generalists and 12 Haiti), Dale Gredler (died of a massive cardiac arrest while on specialists. tour in Almaty) and Terrence L. Barnich (killed by an impro- In 2010, we assisted Diplomatic Security agents who vised explosive device in Iraq). entered the Foreign Service in late 2008 and 2009, and
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American Foreign Service Association 2010 ANNUAL REPORT Legislative Affairs: Successes and New Challenges ■ BY CASEY FRARY, LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR
uring the past year, AFSA remained very is operating on a continuing resolution — signed into law active on the legislative and advocacy by Pres. Obama on Dec. 22 — to fund the government at front. Here are some highlights from enacted FY 2010 levels, through March 4, when the new 2010. Congress is scheduled to finish work on FY 2011 funding. AFSA continued to press for full im- Dplementation of Overseas Comparability Pay, to close the Foreign Relations Authorization pay gap once and for all. One of AFSA’s top priorities is passage of a Foreign Re- lations Authorization bill, which would make some much- Overseas Comparability Pay needed changes to the State Department. On April 27, In late July, we were pleased to report more progress: 2010, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee marked The second tranche of back pay was authorized in the Fis- up and voted out of committee S. 2971, the Foreign Rela- cal Year 2010 Omnibus Appropriations bill and imple- tions Authorization Act (the House passed its version of mented on Aug. 15. With this development, 16.52 percent the bill in 2009). This bill would have fully implemented of the gap has been closed (7.7 percent last August, plus OCP, provided much-needed personnel expansion of the 1.12 percent in January 2010, and 7.7 percent in August Foreign Service and prompted a renewed focus on train- 2010). The 1.12-percent increase in January was the lo- ing and professional development. cality pay portion of the increase that D.C. workers got Historically, it has been a challenge for Congress to pro- over and above their base pay increase of 1.5 percent. duce a comprehensive Foreign Relations Authorization We were also successful in helping the International bill; while important strides were made this year, the full Broadcasting Bureau obtain the necessary funding to im- Senate never considered the bill. AFSA will continue to plement OCP. work closely with both the House Foreign Affairs Com- While this is real progress, the fight is not over. Over- mittee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, en- seas Comparability Pay will continue to be authorized couraging them to move swiftly on drafting and passing under the continuing resolution, but the federal fiscal sit- this crucial legislation early in the 112th Congress. uation is very tight, and we have already seen federal em- ployee pay and benefits being targeted — Overseas AFSA on Capitol Hill Comparability Pay in particular. AFSA remains focused Once again, AFSA remained the strong and present on securing a permanent fix to this problem. voice of the Foreign Service on Capitol Hill during 2010. We met with key members and congressional staff in both Funding the Foreign Affairs Agencies chambers and sent letters on issues critical to the Foreign 2010 started out with a bang for the Foreign Affairs Service. In addition, AFSA joined forces with other fed- agencies and has, very frustratingly, ended with more of a eral unions to expand our outreach efforts on the Hill. fizzle. On Feb. 1, 2010, President Barack Obama released AFSA President Susan Johnson, State Vice President his Fiscal Year 2011 budget request, which was very ro- Daniel Hirsch, USAID Vice President Francisco Zamora, bust for all our member agencies. It called for 610 new Foreign Commercial Service Vice President Keith Curtis, Foreign Service officers at the State Department and and Foreign Agricultural Service Vice President Henry USAID and provided increased resources to help meet Schmick had a busy summer of meetings with House and the new demands being placed on all agencies. The Sen- Senate Appropriations Committee members and their ate Appropriations Committee also reported out bills that staff, including one with House State and Foreign Opera- would have provided increased funding, but none of those tions Subcommittee Chairwoman Nita Lowey, D-N.Y., to bills were ever passed by the House or Senate. Since no convey how important the continued investment in our appropriations bills were signed into law, the government Foreign Service agencies is for FY 2011.
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American Foreign Service Association ANNUAL REPORT 2010
Preparing for a Fight Pres. Obama announced a two-year pay freeze for federal If the end of 2010 is any indication, the Foreign Service employees, which was included in the CR. and federal employees are in for a daunting year in 2011. Given the tough fiscal environment and the changes In December, Pres. Obama’s National Commission on Fis- brought by the November election, AFSA and the Foreign cal Responsibility and Reform released a report that took a Service have a tough year ahead. We will be up on Capitol swipe at federal employees and the Foreign Service, specif- Hill early in 2011, meeting the new members of Congress ically targeting OCP. Though the report failed to move, to inform and educate them about the critically important Senators Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., and Mark Warner, D-Va., work the Foreign Service does. We will continue to expand have announced plans to introduce legislation early in our alliances with other unions and organizations to protect 2011 based on the report. Also, at the end of the year, what we have fought so hard to gain. Outreach and Public Affairs Efforts Sharply Expanded ■ BY ÁSGEIR SIGFÚSSON, MARKETING AND OUTREACH MANAGER, AND TOM SWITZER, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
FSA significantly increased its outreach ef- Amb. J. Stapleton forts in 2010. An internal reorganization Roy, left, discusses created a new four-person team focusing on the rise of China at the Adair Memorial communications, marketing and outreach, Lecture on Sept. 1 and the payoff has been a very successful ex- at American Apansion in the scope and definition of AFSA’s outreach University. work. The story of the Foreign Service reached more Americans in 2010 than ever before.
Special Events The past year saw AFSA host more events than at any Jeff Watts/American University Jeff Watts/American time in its history. AFSA’s charitable 501(c)(3) arm, the Fund for American Diplomacy, received a generous In late October, AFSA offered a blockbuster panel dis- $15,000 donation from Lockheed Martin, which enabled cussion on the 20th anniversary of German reunification, us to present a highly attended speaker series focusing on featuring former National Security Adviser General the skills and resources needed for 21st-century diplomacy. Brent Scowcroft and Ambassador Roz Ridgway, with Among the speakers were Ambassador John Negroponte, journalist Marvin Kalb as moderator. All of these events Representative Nita Lowey, D-N.Y., and Alec Ross, the were taped by WETA-TV for its Web site as part of a new State Department’s senior adviser for innovation. partnership with the longtime Washington, D.C., PBS af- In addition to this series, AFSA inaugurated a Book filiate. Notes program focused on titles related to foreign affairs and diplomacy. Among the authors who led discussions of Online Presence their works were ambassadors John Limbert, Jack Matlock AFSA’s online presence improved by leaps and bounds and Richard Solomon. in 2010. Some readers will by now have visited the brand- The fourth annual Adair Family Memorial Lecture new AFSA Web site (www.afsa.org), which was recently took place on the campus of American University in Sep- unveiled. Its content and navigation are a huge improve- tember, where Ambassador J. Stapleton Roy provided an ment, and we urge our members to visit the site for many insightful overview of “U.S.-China Relations and Foreign AFSA resources. In addition, AFSA’s list of Facebook fans Service Challenges” to a standing-room audience of more crossed the 2,000 mark, and our Twitter feed also steadily than 500 academics and students. added followers throughout the year.
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American Foreign Service Association 2010 ANNUAL REPORT
America’s security and economic interests around the globe. They also spotlighted AFSA’s book, Inside a U.S Embassy, and encouraged audience members to contact their congressional representatives to request increased funding for U.S. diplomatic readiness.
Media AFSA also expanded its media push in 2010, preparing a record 44 press releases for major outlets nationwide. We also placed, either directly or through AFSA retirees, 34 letters to the editor, op-eds, fact sheets and articles ad-
Michael Laiacona vocating increased public and congressional support for Rep. Nita Lowey, D-N.Y., right, listens as Andrea Mitchell frames U.S. diplomacy in media entities including the Washington a question at AFSA HQ on June 15. Post, Los Angeles Times, Government Executive, Federal Times, Associated Press, NPR and CNN. Speakers Program A highlight was arranging media coverage for AFSA’s One of AFSA’s most effective outreach elements is our annual Memorial Plaque Ceremony held at the State De- Speakers Program, which in 2010 arranged for Foreign partment, which resulted in heavy network-TV coverage Service speakers to explain the critical importance of U.S. and in-depth treatment via some 20 outlets nationwide. diplomacy to more than 31,000 professional and academic AFSA officials also took part in frequent interviews re- attendees in 41 states and Washington, D.C. AFSA’s garding core AFSA issues with the more than 35 diplo- speaker corps comprises more than 480 retired Foreign matic correspondents attached to the State Department, Service officers, including 80 former ambassadors, most as well as with writers and bureau chiefs of other national still actively involved in international affairs as teachers, media based in Washington, D.C. authors, businesspeople and consultants. Drawing on their personal experiences and historical Road Scholar perspectives, they offer audiences an opportunity to ex- AFSA’s longstanding collaboration with the national El- plore the complex international order that has replaced derhostel organization continued in 2010 under the new the Cold War, as well as to reflect on the evolving role of program name Road Scholar. Seven programs were of- the Foreign Service in the face of chal- fered in Washington, D.C., providing a lenges like global terrorism. Audiences look at foreign policy through the eyes of ranged from world affairs councils and The story of the the Foreign Service. In addition, three universities to community-service organ- Foreign Service programs took place in Chautauqua, izations, town meetings, adult education reached more N.Y.; two were held in St. Petersburg, and high school classes. Fla.; and one in Tucson, Ariz. The com- Among the best programs was one Americans in 2010 bined audience at these programs ex- given by retired FSO and China-expert than ever before. ceeded 700. Retired FSO Bernie Alter Douglas Spelman, who lucidly explained is the administrator of these programs for the diverse challenges involved in doing AFSA. business with China to an audience of academics and re- These outreach programs have promoted three impor- gional corporate representatives at the University of South tant AFSA goals: broadening the Foreign Service con- Florida’s business school in Tampa. Spelman addressed stituency through outreach to the public, enhancing public some five faculties at USF as part of a pilot series aimed at awareness of global affairs and of the key role of the For- reaching out to institutions in major U.S. cities that might eign Service and diplomacy, and involving the AFSA re- consider partnerships with AFSA. tired constituency in significant programs which draw on Speakers addressed numerous other topics, highlight- their background and skills in telling our story to audiences ing the vital role the Foreign Service plays in advancing nationwide.
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American Foreign Service Association ANNUAL REPORT 2010 AFSA Awards: A Unique Tradition ■ BY PERRI GREEN, SPECIAL AWARDS AND OUTREACH COORDINATOR
FSA’s annual Awards Ceremony took place structive dissent that causes foreign policy to be reworked at the State Department on June 24. Am- and improved. Appropriately, the awards are held in the bassador Lowell Bruce Laingen received Benjamin Franklin Room, where participants are sur- AFSA’s Lifetime Contributions to Ameri- rounded by paintings of America’s original constructive can Diplomacy Award, and was introduced dissenters — the Founding Fathers. Aby Deputy Secretary of State Jacob J. At the same annual ceremony, Lew and Ambassador John Limbert. AFSA also presents awards for out- Three members of the Foreign Serv- standing performance. In 2010, the ice community took home awards for winners of these awards were: Anne constructive dissent: David M. Bridgman (the Avis Bohlen Award for Zwach (the Tex Harris Award for a a Foreign Service family member), FS specialist), Diana Briton Putman Sarah S. Genton (the M. Juanita (the William R. Rivkin Award for a Guess Award for a Community Liai- mid-level officer) and Kathryn A. son Officer) and Allie Loraine Almero Kiser (the W. Averell Harriman (the Delavan Award for a Foreign Award for a junior-level officer). Service Office Management Special- The AFSA Constructive Dissent ist). In addition, James A. Fox was Awards are unique in the U.S. gov- named AFSA Post Representative of Patrick Bradley ernment; no other organization rec- Diana Putman, right, with AFSA Special the Year. ognizes federal employees for voicing Awards & Outreach Coordinator Perri The ceremony was attended by a dissenting opinion. Yet it is con- Green. many guests and dignitaries who en-
National High School Essay Contest ■ BY PERRI GREEN, SPECIAL AWARDS AND OUTREACH COORDINATOR
ecretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton pre- U.S. national interests by sented the first-place award in AFSA’s 2010 Na- participating in the reso- tional High School Essay Contest to Evaline Bai lution of today’s major
on Aug. 11. The award came with a check for international problems. Michael Laiacona $2,500 and a $500 check to the winner’s school. The goal of AFSA’s Sec. Clinton presents Evaline Bai, Bai, a rising 11th-grader at Upper Arlington High School High School Essay Con- center, with the first-place award S for the 2010 high school essay in Columbus, Ohio, submitted her winning essay on the test, now entering its contest. subject, “Challenges to the U.S. Foreign Service: Rebuild- 12th year, is to stimulate ing Afghanistan.” Her mother Jin Liu, her father Fred Bai, interest and understanding of the United States Foreign and brother Jason Bai, also met Sec. Clinton, who com- Service among high school students nationwide. (Foreign mended Ms. Bai for her work and encouraged her to pur- Service dependents are not eligible to enter.) AFSA pro- sue a career in the Foreign Service. motes the contest widely through listings on various Web The 2010 contest drew more than 400 submissions from sites, including Facebook. high school students nationwide. Students were asked to For more information about the essay contest, and to analyze and explain how Foreign Service members promote read this year’s winning essay, please visit AFSA’s Web site.
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American Foreign Service Association 2010 ANNUAL REPORT
thusiastically supported the winning The AFSA Baker (Arabic), Alfred Boll (Serbian), awardees and honored Ambassador Lain- Constructive 2003 Serbian-language winner Laura gen. In accepting the award for lifetime Brown (Arabic), Alan Clark (Mandarin contributions to American diplomacy, he Dissent Awards Chinese), William M. Coleman (Japan- introduced his wife, Penne, as his main are unique in the ese), Scott Hansen (Mandarin Chinese), support. She modestly stood to great U.S. government. Adam Hantman (Thai), Zachary Harken- rounds of applause. ride (Dari), Meredith Rubin (Icelandic), AFSA presents other awards throughout Denise Shen (Mandarin Chinese) and the year, such as the Sinclaire Language Awards, which Vincent Traverso (Dari). honor FS foreign language students for outstanding ac- AFSA also sponsors the George Kennan Writing complishment in the study of a hard language and its as- Award, given each year in honor of the best paper writ- sociated culture. AFSA established the program based ten by a State Department employee enrolled at the Na- on a bequest from Matilda W. Sinclaire, a former For- tional War College. This year’s winner was Andrew J. eign Service officer. The 2010 winners were Joshua Weinschenk.
Foreign Service Journal Builds Digital Audience ■ BY STEVEN ALAN HONLEY, EDITOR
his year’s most popular edition of the For- ing on the Office of Medical Services, the Department of eign Service Journal, judging from online State sent out a cable encouraging all employees to seek hits, letters to the editor and other feedback, help to deal with stress. The message also assured them was February’s “Exploring New Worlds: Life that doing so would not affect their security clearance, a & Work after the Foreign Service,” which key concern of many AFSA members who provided input Tbrought 4,995 unique visitors to our Web site. Close be- for our coverage. hind were the July-August issue, which profiled AFSA’s Working with a local company, Texterity, the Journal dissent and performance award-winners and featured a set continued to upgrade its online presence, attracting more of article-length Reflections pieces, and the January edi- unique visitors. Thanks to our enhanced digital capabili- tion, whose cover story examined USAID’s prospects. ties, we again significantly exceeded our target for online Just days after we released the September issue, focus- advertising this year.
Foreign Service Books: Inside a U.S. Embassy ■ BY SHAWN DORMAN, EDITOR/PUBLISHER, FOREIGN SERVICE BOOKS FSA’s popular introduction to the at Work, will be released in early 2011. Along with Foreign Service, Inside a U.S. Em- profiles of diplomats and specialists in most types bassy: How the Foreign Service of Foreign Service jobs (including State, USAID, Works for America, continued to FCS and FAS), day-in-the-life entries from For- sell well in 2010, about 3,000 eign Service members around the world, and tales Acopies. We released a Kindle version of the book from the field, the new edition will feature chap- for Amazon in July, and by year’s end had sold ters on the Foreign Service exam process and a about 170 copies of the electronic edition. look at FS life and work. For more information, The all-new edition, Inside a U.S. Embassy: Diplomacy please visit www.afsa.org/inside.
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American Foreign Service Association ANNUAL REPORT 2010 Retiree Services: A Very Busy Year ■ BY BONNIE BROWN, RETIREE ISSUES COORDINATOR
FSA staffed phone banks in a successful ef- from the department that it would look into assisting re- fort to increase retiree membership, and tiree Foreign Service personnel who suffer from Agent also continued to work on legislative efforts Orange–related illnesses acquired while serving during to eliminate the salary and hours caps on the Vietnam War. reemployed annuitants. Retiree Coordinator Bonnie Brown assisted retiree AIn 2010, AFSA began to actively consider establishing a members with more than 400 benefits issues this past year grave marker program to honor Foreign Service personnel, and increasingly focused on federal benefits issues, both in as well as a contractor job placement service for retirees the AFSA Retiree Newsletter and online. Alongside Leg- seeking employment with national foreign affairs and secu- islative Director Casey Frary, she worked to increase coor- rity agencies. dination with other federal unions. Bonnie Brown and AFSA was successful in persuading the State Depart- AFSA President Susan Johnson also traveled to Florida to ment to reverse a decision to automatically reduce sur- speak to retirees and participated in several question-and- vivor annuities to satisfy the debt of deceased annuitants. answer sessions at the Foreign Service Institute’s Job Tran- Also, in response to its efforts, AFSA received assurances sition Program.
Scholarship Program Advances in 2010 ■ BY LORI DEC, SCHOLARSHIP DIRECTOR FSA’s Scholarship Pro- scholarship assistant. gram underwent sev- ■ The Scholarship Program also eral key changes in approved its first gift acceptance pol- 2010 that have im- icy, giving donors and AFSA written proved its ability to guidance in making and accepting helpA Foreign Service youth. major gifts. ■ Under the oversight of the AFSA ■ As of the 2010 Combined Fed- Committee on Education, the AFSA eral Campaign, we are now called Scholarship Program bestowed $35,700 “Foreign Service Youth Scholarships
in Academic and Art Merit Awards on Michael Laiacona — AFSA” (CFC# 11759). This year AFSA’s local Academic Merit Award Win- 25 Foreign Service high school seniors. we produced the first CFC Scholar- ners were honored at a May 4 reception. A total of 72 children of Foreign Serv- ship Program video aimed at increas- ice employees received AFSA need-based financial aid ing donations. scholarships for undergraduate college study in the 2010- ■ Two one-time-only financial aid scholarships were es- 2011 school year, amounting to $145,000. These programs tablished and bestowed in 2010: the Stella Panagoulias allowed AFSA to assist 97 students with aid totaling Stutz Scholarship and the Foreign Service Retirees of $180,700. Southern Arizona Scholarship. ■ The competitive Academic Merit Award’s scoring ■ In other developments, Stephen A. Hubler renewed rubric was revised to better reflect the higher-level courses the annual financial aid scholarship in his name. Eric D.K. students take in high school. The new rubric will be im- Melby added to the perpetual financial aid scholarship in plemented in the 2011 program. his parents’ name (Everett K. and Clara C. Melby), while ■ In January 2010, the AFSA Scholarship Program Norton Bell and Ambassador Rozanne Ridgway added to hired Jonathan Crawford to work 20 hours a week as the the perpetual financial aid scholarships in their names.
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American Foreign Service Association 2010 ANNUAL REPORT State Department: A Year of Accomplishments ■ BY DANIEL HIRSCH, AFSA STATE DEPARTMENT VP
ast year was a busy one for AFSA. From re- February vising core precepts to addressing airline fees AFSA met with the Bureau of Diplomatic Security to for families, we have worked closely with the discuss clearance investigations in Canada. Because Cana- State Department on a multitude of issues dian law prohibits foreign agencies from conducting back- all year long. ground investigations in that country, DS was asking FS L members who had lived or worked there to sign makeshift January release forms granting the Canadian government carte The year began with a catastrophic earthquake in blanche to investigate them. The bureau agreed to de- Haiti that took a quarter of a million lives — among them velop an official form that would limit the investigation in those of Foreign Service member Victoria DeLong, the scope and time, restricting it to items required by the Se- wife and children of Andy Wyllie, and more than a dozen curity Policy Board’s Uniform Investigative Standards for locally employed staff of Embassy Port-au-Prince. AFSA a security clearance. worked with the department to help evacuees to Wash- We also convinced the Foreign Service Institute to in- ington with medical, personal and professional issues, de- clude English As a Second Language among the online velop an appropriate memorial; and, later, to seek more courses available to Eligible Family Members. standardized procedures for dealing with the death of FS members abroad. We urged the Bureau of Overseas March Building Operations to prioritize obtaining earthquake- We continued our ongoing efforts to eliminate the 15- resistant housing for all posts in earthquake zones, a goal year time-in-class limit for FS-4 couriers. While couriers that OBO has substantially advanced toward this year. do have opportunities for promotion to the mid-level and Throughout the 2009-2010 evaluation cycle, we pro- senior ranks when they reach FS-3, the structure of the vided the Bureau of Human Resources with summaries of skill code means they have minimal opportunities for over- member critiques on e-performance and monitoring im- coming that first crucial hurdle. provement of the program. The large number of com- We noted a discrepancy in the Foreign Affairs Manual plaints and problems encountered convinced the preventing rest-and-recuperation leave to employees ar- department to delay mandatory implementation of e-per- riving at post outside the normal transfer season. The de- formance overseas. partment corrected this discrepancy. AFSA began working with the department to revise We also obtained an agreement from the department to the core precepts for promotion, ensuring that they ap- confer certificates signed by the Secretary of State to all plied equally to Foreign Service members of all cones specialists upon their attainment of tenure as career mem- and specialties, both domestically and overseas. This in- bers of the Foreign Service. cludes recognizing that many FS jobs involve technical rather than political skills; that dealing with state and local April counterparts in the U.S. requires similar skills to dealing AFSA reported a change in DS policy with regard to with foreign counterparts; that supervisors should en- Law Enforcement Availability Pay suspension for DS courage required training; and that avoidance of a hostile agents. Discussions revealed that the bureau was not fol- work environment is an integral responsibility of man- lowing existing Foreign Affairs Manual procedures for de- agement. certifying special agents and lacked standard operating We also conducted our annual survey of AFSA member procedures for recertifying them — issues closely linked opinion, which provided us a better picture of the compo- to LEAP. We are now discussing a draft of such an SOP. sition of our membership, your opinions on issues already We negotiated the procedural precepts governing the known to us, as well as dozens of other issues communi- way the promotion boards operate and issues requiring cated through the survey’s comments section. special consideration. We inserted language to reduce bias
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American Foreign Service Association ANNUAL REPORT 2010
against those serving in Washington, D.C., and also to re- had removed the disabled daughter of an FS member quire boards to take into account deficiencies in e-perfor- from a state-funded program when her overseas parents mance that could misrepresent the employee’s position were deemed to be no longer state residents. within an embassy or alter the space allotted to the rater’s comments. October AFSA also intervened to convince Georgetown Uni- The State Department agreed to reimburse recently in- versity that the value of overseas housing was not income troduced fees that some airlines charge to seat families to- and should not be considered as such in calculating finan- gether. We also convinced Volkswagen of America to cial aid to applicants with FS parents. eliminate penalty charges for FS members who sought to break a VW or Audi lease due to assignment overseas. May AFSA began a full-court press to eliminate the 5-per- December cent low-ranking rule. The under secretary for manage- In talks with management, we raised issues related to ment lowered the quota to 2 percent, a number acceptable Security Technical Specialist and Office Management Spe- to AFSA as it is within what many boards had reported cialist career paths and assignments, seeking greater op- would be the “natural number” they would low-rank based portunities for advancement. on performance, regardless of the quota. We became aware of errors in entry-level salaries for newly hired DS special agents and similar problems in sev- FCS: Successes in a eral other entry classes. AFSA worked closely with HR to identify all affected employees and ensure that their Rebuilding Year ■ salaries were raised to appropriate levels. BY KEITH CURTIS, AFSA FCS VP ur advocacy work with Secretary of Com- June merce Gary Locke paid off in a strong rec- After complaints from the field, AFSA urged DS to ommendation to President Barack Obama clarify its regulations regarding contact reporting of for more resources, which materialized in the Facebook and other social networks. DS responded by National Export Initiative and the largest urging employees to treat such contacts the same as real- OFCS budget increase request from the administration to Con- life contacts for reporting purposes. gress in our history. We met with the Office of Civil Rights to express con- Thanks to the White House, we were fortunate to work cern over a growing number of cases in which it opened an with Suresh Kumar, a strong director general with real inter- investigation based not on any complaint from an ag- national business experience, who has responded positively grieved party, but rather on “tips” from third parties. to all of our requests. He has strengthened the Office of For- Agreeing that there were some instances in which this eign Service Human Resources, freed our trust funds and ap- might be proper, we nonetheless urged greater consider- pointed a very strong deputy, retired Ambassador Chuck ation of the reporting circumstances before launching an Ford. AFSA had advocated for a Foreign Service officer who investigation. intimately knows our issues to be named to the position, so we were delighted to see Ford’s appointment. August We have worked to make funding of the NEI for the Com- We intervened to prevent elimination of opportunities mercial Service a reality. We also advanced the issue of sen- for information management technical specialists to seek ior pay and made sure FCS was on board for locality pay, the excursion tours. While the numbers allowed to do so are biggest concrete benefit we have ever received. Despite ef- small, we kept the door open and continue to push to forts to obtain changes to the seven-year rule, we have not yet widen it for all specialists. prevailed on that front, however. Our fate still hangs in the balance after all that work but, September all in all, it has been a very good year for FCS. We successfully intervened and reversed a decision that
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American Foreign Service Association 2010 ANNUAL REPORT USAID: Preserving Past Gains ■ BY FRANCISCO ZAMORA, AFSA USAID VP
he past year was not an easy one for USAID Less well known are the hundreds of personal inter- and its employees. But it began well: After ventions we made on behalf of our members. For in- a year of uncertainty, Administrator Rajiv stance, we helped one overseas family move out of a Shah was finally confirmed on Dec. 24, neighborhood potentially contaminated by lead pollution. 2009. Yet many important actions, such as We supported medically compromised employees seeking Tthe publication of the Quadrennial Diplomacy and De- extended sick leave donations once their own keave had velopment Review, kept being postponed. And, as we been exhausted. came to the end of 2010, several key positions, such as We routinely intervened with the Bureau of Human those for assistant administrator for the various bureaus, Resources to process late travel orders, reimbursements were still vacant. Nevertheless, the USAID AFSA office and annual leave issues. We also resolved payroll and continued to look after your interests both globally and, in billing problems, such as lease penalty payments, for de- many instances, individually. parting officers. In March 2010, after receiving complaints from the There are too many other issues to mention individually field, AFSA carried out a worldwide employee survey on here, but we have worked to address all of them fully. the State Department’s move to consolidate USAID ad- While most cases can be negotiated with HR, some in- ministrative platforms into embassy operations. The sur- volved the more complicated grievance process. Our suc- vey results documented employees’ concerns over cess rate for those is high, as well. increased administrative costs, inefficiencies, poorer serv- To avoid litigation, we participated closely in the For- ices, waste and inequalities for USAID. eign Service assignment system, as well as the annual eval- AFSA’s other lobbying efforts focused on preserving past uation and tenure processes, to ensure fairness and successes, including the Overseas Comparability Pay phase- conformance with the rules. in and keeping mid-level hiring to reasonable levels. We encourage you to contact us about your needs.
AFSA by the Numbers in 2010 19 percent of unique visitors regularly reading the digital Foreign Service Journal 69 people following AFSA on Twitter 75 percent of overseas posts with an AFSA representative 97 students receiving AFSA scholarship aid 105 members participating in AFSA’s newest benefit program, Zipcar 174 countries where people accessed the digital Journal 530 FS community members who are lifetime members of AFSA 2,114 fans of AFSA on Facebook 3,344 average number of visits per month to the digital Foreign Service Journal 6,365 regular online readers of the Journal 9,479 subscribers regularly receiving news updates from the AFSANET listserv 15,438 individual AFSA members 33,692 unique visitors to the online Foreign Service Journal 33,715 visitors to the Inside a U.S. Embassy Web page $103,703 December FSJ ad sales, a new monthly record $180,700 awards and scholarships bestowed to Foreign Service students for college $5,114,619 AFSA Scholarship Fund’s endowment value as of Sept. 30
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American Foreign Service Association ANNUAL REPORT 2010 International Broadcasting Bureau: New Year, New Agreement ■ BY AL PESSIN, AFSA IBB BOARD REP
t was a year of slow-burn frustration on finalizing forum for various issues. The group shepherded the om- the now-two-year-old agreement with the agency budsman posting and selection process, and is trying to on foreign correspondent time-in-class/time-in- work on other issues. But with only one meeting per service, low-ranking and related issues. But at last, month and continuing mistrust on both sides, progress has in the final days of the year, the agreement was been slow. Icompleted, and I signed it on Jan. 20, 2011. Finally, two new issues came up late in the year. VOA The agreement makes the TIC/TIS freeze permanent News is creating overseas editing GS positions. AFSA is for Voice of America foreign correspondents who were in working with management to try to get those changed to service when the temporary freeze went into effect nearly Foreign Service so all can compete. In addition, the IBB 10 years ago. Technology Strategic Plan (http://inside.bbg.gov/offices/ Also in 2010, IBB implemented retroactive Overseas tsi/default.aspx), issued on Dec. 8, contains some poten- Comparability Pay in the spring, putting our staff on par tially worrisome passages on privatizing the Thailand relay with other agencies; and the agency paid the second in- stations and planning for the “sunsetting” of shortwave crement in the fall. We expect the third and final incre- broadcasts. AFSA staff and I are looking into the impli- ment in 2011, if Congress allows it to go forward. cations of that for our constituents. AFSA continued to participate in IBB’s labor-manage- As always, I stand ready to help with individual or group ment committee, which has been a somewhat useful concerns. Please contact me at [email protected].
FAS: To Boldly Go and Justify ■ BY HENRY SCHMICK, AFSA FAS VP
here is something very satisfying about end- be to boldly justify everything we do to a very skeptical ing one year and starting the next. We like U.S. public and eager-to-cut Congress. Our talking point to imagine the new year brimming with will have to be, “FAS boosts agricultural exports, which many rosy things, while we discard the old generates U.S. jobs.” We do much more than that, of year like recycled newspaper. In the loom- course, but efforts to improve global food security, etc., are Ting dark days of flat pay, more work and fewer resources, weak tea. Live long and prosper. however, we might be looking back at 2010 as the good old days. To review 2010 in short, blunt words: the AFSA/FAS contract renegotiations have stalled, and we’ve reached a new Washington Placement Plan agreement for 2011- 2013. FAS/Washington has been slightly reorganized, and many key officials have changed — among them the deputy under secretary, administrator, associate adminis- trator and many deputy administrators. There’s a contin- uing lack of attention to the FAS Human Capital Strategy, particularly for the Foreign Service. Several new initia- tives remain undefined, including Labor-Management Fo- Courtesy of Holly Higgins rums and Cultural Transformation. Foreign Agricultural Service Attache Holly Higgins with With apologies to “Star Trek,” our mission in 2011 will villagers in Lucknow, India.
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American Foreign Service Association 2010 ANNUAL REPORT
Membership by Constituency Membership Participation by Constituency December 2010 December 2010 USAID 8% IBB 0% FAS 1% 100
80 % of Membership Participation 76% 77% 77% Retiree 24% 60 63%
40
State 65% 37% 20 FCS 1% 24% Associate 1% 0 Retiree IBB FAS FCS USAID State
Total Membership 1989 to 2010
16,000 Record High 15,438 Members 15,000
14,000
13,000
12,000
11,500
11,000
10,500
10,000
9,500
9,000
8,500 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2010 Budget in Brief* INCOME ...... $ EXPENSES ...... $ Membership Dues...... 2,884,000 Membership Programs ...... 1,436,188 Foreign Service Journal ...... 547,500 Foreign Service Journal ...... 968,916 Insurance Premium ...... 23,000 Legislative Affairs ...... 136,566 Legislative Action Fund ...... 37,000 Administration ...... 596,552 Other...... 57,400 Professional Programs & Outreach ...... 340,246 Professional Programs & Outreach ...... 312,743 Scholarships ...... 442,973 Scholarships ...... 483,684 Contribution to Reserve ...... 423,887 TOTAL ...... 4,345,327 TOTAL ...... 4,345,327 *Approved Budget figures. Audited Financial Statements for 2010 will be available at www.afsa.org.
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American Foreign Service Association ANNUAL REPORT 2010 AFSA Board of Governors
Back row (left to right): Bill Farrand, Al Pessin, Keith Curtis, Bob Houdek, Stephen Morrison, Mary Ellen Gilroy, Andrew Winter, Michael Haughey, Lynn Nelson, Ako Cromwell. Front row (left to right): Les Hickman, Henry Schmick, Molly Williamson, Joyce Namde, Francisco Zamora, Janice Bay, Mary Glantz, Susan Johnson, Sharon White, Daniel Hirsch, Carleton Bulkin. Patrick Bradley (Not pictured: Tex Harris, Raymond Maxwell, Bruce Matthews.)
The Foreign Service Journal Editorial Board
Back row (left to right): Chairman Ted Wilkinson, Joseph Bruns. Middle row (left to right): Jim Seevers, Kate Leonard, Lynn Roche. Front row (left to right): George Jones, Julie Gianelloni Connor, Rachel Schneller, Mary Glantz, Kelly Adams- Smith.
(Not pictured: Stephen Buck.) Amy McKeever
AFSA on the Web you will start following us there. In addition, we started our own channel on YouTube and hope to utilize that outlet more isitor traffic to the AFSA Web site (www. in the future (www.youtube.com/afsatube). afsa.org) continues to grow; in 2010 we had We are especially excited about the brand new afsa.org Web close to 1.6 million page views overall. That is site, which will have launched shortly before you read this a tremendous number for an organization of blurb. We have added more helpful information, made the AFSA’s size and speaks well of the quality of in- whole site easier to read and navigate, and improved its over- formationV we have made available to our members. all look and feel. We hope you like it as much as we do. The most popular sections continue to be the Foreign Serv- The most beneficial change to visitors and members is the ice Journal, high school essay contest, scholarships, the Tax new ability to become a member and renew your membership Guide, our ambassador project, Inside a U.S. Embassy and our online. You can also make donations, update your profile in- member guidance section. formation, and subscribe to the Foreign Service Journal — We are also very active when it comes to social networking. with just the click of a button. Our original site launched in Our Facebook page has new postings almost every day and 1999 and didn’t change much over the years. We are very now has close to 2,200 fans. We have also started tweeting reg- pleased to be able to bring afsa.org into the 21st century! ularly on Twitter (www.twitter.com/afsatweets), and we hope — Ásgeir Sigfússon, Marketing/Outreach Manager
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American Foreign Service Association 2010 ANNUAL REPORT
Staff Communications, Marketing & Outreach Executive Director - Speakers Bureau Ian Houston - Legislative Affairs - Road Scholar
Amy McKeever - Memorial Plaques Finance - Foreign Service Day - Accounting - AFSA Awards - Financial - AFSA Web site Management - National High School Left to right: Essay Contest Assistant Controller - Corporate Relations Cory Nishi, Controller - AFSA Events Kalpna Srimal and - Fundraising Patrick Bradley Finance Director Left to right: Awards and Outreach Coordinator Perri
Femi Oshobukola. Amy McKeever Green, Marketing & Outreach Manager Ásgeir Sigfússon, AFSA News Editor Amy McKeever and Director of Com- munications Tom Switzer. (Not pictured: Legislative Direc- Foreign Service Journal tor Casey Frary.) - Editing - Writing - Design Member Services - Advertising - Member Recruitment - Subscriptions - Post Reps and Sales - Insurance Programs - Inside a U.S. - Address Changes
Amy McKeever Embassy - AFSAnet Listserv Left to right: Editor Steven Alan Honley, Associate Editor - Member Inquiries
Shawn Dorman, Senior Editor Susan Maitra and Advertis- Amy McKeever - Member Records ing and Circulation Manager Ed Miltenberger. (Not pic- Left to right: Member Services Director Janet Hedrick and tured: Art Director Caryn Suko Smith.) Administrative Assistant & Office Manager Ana Lopez. (Not pictured: Membership representatives Michael Laiacona and Richard Buscemi.) Labor Management - Negotiations - Protecting Professional Programs and Benefits Executive Support - Grievance - Financial Aid, Counseling Merit and Art - OIG & DS Scholarships Investigations - Retiree Services - Member - Retiree Newsletter Inquiries - Retiree Directory - Informing the - Governing Board & Field Amy McKeever Executive Support
Left to right: Senior Staff Attorney Neera Parikh, General Amy McKeever - Special Projects Counsel Sharon Papp, Staff Attorney Michael Willats, Office Manager Christine Warren, Deputy General Counsel Left to right: Scholarship Assistant Jonathan Crawford, Zlatana Badrich and Staff Attorney Raeka Safai. (Not pic- Scholarship Director Lori Dec, Retiree Issues Coordinator tured: USAID Senior Labor Management Adviser Douglas Bonnie Brown, Staff Assistant Patrick Bradley. (Not Broome and Labor Management Specialist James Yorke.) pictured: Executive Assistant to the President Austin Tracy.)
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American Foreign Service Association ANNUAL REPORT 2010 Benefits of AFSA Membership AFSA Core
Labor Management Relations: AFSA negotiates the regulations affecting Values employees’ careers. We work to make the Foreign Service a better place in which THE AMERICAN FOREIGN to work, live and raise a family. Our network of AFSA post representatives provides on-site assistance to overseas members. SERVICE ASSOCIATION Legal Services: We offer free legal advice and representation on employment Established in 1924. issues, including security and OIG investigations, discipline cases and security clear- ance proceedings. Mission Congressional Advocacy: AFSA is your advocate before Congress on issues To make the Foreign Service a more affecting the careers of active members and the annuities of retired members. effective agent of United States inter- Ombudsman: We work to resolve member problems with pay, allowances, national leadership. claims, annuities, health care and many other issues. Voice of the Foreign Service: As the professional association of the Foreign Vision Service since 1924, AFSA works to strengthen our profession and is ever vigilant We work to make the Foreign Service for threats to the career Foreign Service. a better-supported, more respected, Grievance Representation: AFSA’s legal staff provides hands-on assistance more satisfying place in which to spend with grievance proceedings when your rights are violated. Outreach: AFSA communicates the views of the Foreign Service on profes- a career and raise a family. sional issues to the news media and directly to the general public. Foreign Service Journal: Our monthly magazine offers provocative articles ■ Responsiveness: We listen that will keep you current on developments in the foreign affairs profession. to our members and actively AFSA News: AFSA’s monthly newsletter, inside the Foreign Service Journal, promote their interests. highlights issues affecting your daily life. ■ AFSA Web Site: Our online member area includes a member directory and Effectiveness: We act with a member forums. sense of urgency, get results, AFSAnet: Regular e-mail updates keep you current on issues of importance to and make a difference. the Foreign Service community. ■ Integrity: We demonstrate Insurance Programs: You can choose among competitively priced insurance openness, honesty, and fairness programs designed for the Foreign Service community, including professional lia- bility, long-term care, accident, dental and personal property/transit. in everything we do. AFSA Scholarships: Approximately 100 merit-based and financial-need schol- ■ Efficiency: We carefully expend arships are granted every year to Foreign Service family members. Since 1926, our resources where they can AFSA has awarded nearly $5,000,000 in scholarships. have maximum impact. AFSA Awards: This unique program honors constructive dissent and out- ■ standing performance. Community: We foster Retiree Newsletter: This bimonthly newsletter is exclusively for retired mem- teamwork, respect each other, bers. and enjoy our time together. Directory of Retired Members: This invaluable annual listing, by state, of ■ Courage: We encourage contact information for retired members is provided to all retired AFSA members. Discounts: AFSA members are eligible for special discounts on subscriptions responsible risk-taking in order to major foreign affairs journals. AFSA is also very pleased to have a new partner- to achieve results. ship with Zipcar, the world’s largest car-sharing and car club service. Members re- ■ Patriotism: We are faithful to ceive a significant reduction in annual fees and hourly rates. the grand and enduring ideals Esprit de Corps: We work to build a sense of common cause and professional that gave our nation birth. pride among all Foreign Service members: active-duty and retired; generalists and ■ specialists; entry-level, mid-level and senior. Empowerment: We trust each AFSA Memorial Plaques: Established in 1933, and maintained by AFSA, other to give our best efforts these plaques in the Truman Building lobby honor members of the Foreign Serv- guided by these core values. ice who lost their lives overseas in the line of duty.
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F OCUS ON THE AFSA 2010 ANNUAL R EPORT
TOWARD A MORE PERFECT UNION
AFSA IS A MUCH BIGGER ENTITY THAN WHEN FOUNDED IN 1924, BUT ITS TOP PRIORITY REMAINS SERVING THE INTERESTS OF ITS MEMBERS.
BY TED WILKINSON
he publication of AFSA’s an- salaried staff of 29, an annual budget of $4.5 million, and a nual report offers an opportunity to comment on two cen- membership of more than 15,400. tral questions that each new Governing Board grapples with: IsT the American Foreign Service Association adapt- AFSA Becomes a Bargaining Agent ing well to changing circumstances? And is it serving the in- The social ferment of the late 1960s had an impact on terests of its members in the best possible way? the Foreign Service, just as it did on most American insti- AFSA’s mission in 1924, when the association was tutions. AFSA was no exception, and the “Young Turks” formed, was to “foster an esprit de corps” in the Foreign who took charge of the association in the early 1970s (Bill Service, whose consular and diplomatic functions had been Harrop, Tom Boyatt, Lannon Walker and others) were de- brought together by the Rogers Act passed earlier that year. termined to modernize the practice of diplomacy as a pro- For its first 50 years, before it became an “exclusive repre- fession. sentative,” it served principally as a fraternal management When President Richard Nixon signed his 1972 execu- society like the American Bar Association and the Ameri- tive order mandating the election of bargaining agents to can Medical Association, dedicated to promoting the in- represent federal employees at each agency and depart- terests and the influence of an elite corps of professionals. ment, AFSA’s leadership seized the opportunity. AFSA eas- This core mission hasn’t changed, but the organization’s ily defeated the American Federation of Government scope and activities have broadened considerably, particu- Employees to become the exclusive representative for all larly in recent decades. AFSA has evolved from a handful Foreign Service employees of the Department of State, the of dedicated staff (mostly unpaid volunteers), whose main U.S. Agency for International Development and the function was publishing a monthly journal, into a sophisti- United States Information Agency in 1973. cated, multifunctional, nonprofit organization with a The idea of taking on a union’s functions didn’t sit well with everyone in the Foreign Service. Traditionalists felt Ted Wilkinson, a Foreign Service officer from 1961 to 1996 the existing personnel system worked well enough, and and AFSA president from 1989 to 1991, is the chairman of many of them tended to identify more with management the FSJ Editorial Board. than “labor.” But AFSA’s new leadership recognized the
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opportunity that exclusive representation constituted to early 1970s, I had to suppress my own traditionalist instincts sweep away some of the cobwebs of outmoded practice in to take on a politically powerful ambassador to NATO on the Service. These included confidential annexes to effi- two personnel issues that the deputy chief of mission was ciency reports, the archaic rule that female FSOs had to re- unwilling to raise with him. (In both cases, the ambassador sign if they married, and the feudal hierarchies of Foreign wanted to disregard provisions of the Foreign Affairs Man- Service wives under the chief of mission’s wife at overseas ual he found inconvenient, but he wisely decided not to posts. proceed once he understood the consequences.) It quickly became clear just how badly the Foreign Some traditionalists found it hard to adjust to AFSA’s Service needed an organization to pursue employee rights new focus on bread-and-butter issues. When it sought more broadly, and how little senior management could be overtime pay for junior officers working 12-hour shifts in counted on to stick up for them. As chairman of AFSA’s the Operations Center or as staff aides, for instance, Sen- Members’ Interests Committee, which was charged with ate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Claiborne labor-management negotiations in the late 1970s, I took Pell, D-R.I., expressed indignation. The idea of overtime up the issue of duties, taxes and import limits being im- pay had never even occurred to him or anyone else in his posed by many host governments on Foreign Service em- own days as a junior FSO (1945-1952). ployees assigned abroad, in violation of the Vienna AFSA’s obligation to defend the rights of individual Convention. members in trouble also sometimes proved to be costly. We proposed an obvious mechanism for ending such in- While I was AFSA president in the early 1990s, I had to equities: establishing reciprocal rules for the embassies and answer for our legal counsel’s defense of a senior officer consulates of those governments in the United States. This who was found to have had the official representational sil- idea ran into a wall of resistance, for neither the Secretary ver packed and sent to his home in the U.S. on reassign- of State nor our ambassadors in those countries wanted to ment, for which he was severely punished. He claimed that encumber our bilateral agendas with such matters. The it was inadvertent, but several senior officers in the de- department complained that reciprocity would require bur- partment’s management branch said he should have known densome, detailed accounting rules for each country, which better, and resigned from AFSA in disgust at our willing- the department lacked the manpower to meet, and argued ness to represent him. that too much interagency coordination would be required. Nor is our “union” image always helpful when resource But in the end, State relented. In 1982 it set up the Of- issues play such a prominent role in our relations with Con- fice of Foreign Missions, and began to apply the same stric- gress. For instance, we are still struggling to implement tures to foreign diplomats based in the U.S. as were being fully a tremendous, multiyear initiative to recoup the ben- applied to our personnel abroad. Just as AFSA had ex- efits of locality pay for personnel assigned abroad — an ef- pected, foreign governments quickly lifted many of their fort eerily reminiscent of AFSA’s long struggle to get improper restrictions. local-currency rent and cost-of-living allowances raised after Washington went off the gold standard in 1971, and Bread-and-Butter Issues the dollar’s value sank by about a third. There was resistance, too, when AFSA pressed man- Year in and year out, AFSA presidents have beaten the agement to raise Foreign Service salaries to match what halls of Congress supporting the efforts of successive Sec- Civil Service personnel in comparable jobs were earning. retaries of State to obtain adequate resources to run the de- Budget-conscious managers argued against the idea, claim- partment. Legislators tend to run for cover when they see ing that the Foreign Service enjoyed compensating bene- AFSA coming to call, because they know that our pitch is fits such as rent-free housing abroad. In the end, AFSA going to be “send more money!” — even though much of found sympathy on Capitol Hill, which incorporated more each year’s budget request goes for the training, staffing favorable comparability linkages into the Foreign Service and overhead to run an effective organization, not into our Act of 1980. members’ pockets. Nevertheless, it goes without saying Despite such successes, tensions persisted between that we will be obliged to repeat the litany this year and AFSA’s new union responsibilities and the old fraternal as- probably for years to come. sociation role. As post representative in Brussels in the AFSA’s secondary identity as a union has other draw-
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backs in today’s context, when for the AFSA has evolved Let’s Emphasize first time in history there are more Professional Concerns… unionized Americans in government into a sophisticated, At this point it should be pretty (counting the state and local levels) clear what I think AFSA’s focus has than in the private sector. Recent multifunctional, nonprofit to be going forward. On top of deal- polls show a strong belief that public ing with current labor-management servants are paid too much, and con- organization. issues, the association must concen- siderable sympathy for the idea of trate on what has always been part freezing government salaries. of its job description: showing our It is entirely appropriate for us to draw the usual dis- fellow Americans the public face of a broadly representa- tinctions between Civil Service responsibilities and our own tive, disciplined corps of dedicated public servants, and pro- unique challenges. But the Foreign Service has an addi- moting and explaining the importance of diplomacy. tional image problem that we probably have yet to live There are lots of ways to do this, and AFSA is already down — the October 2007 town hall meeting with Secre- carrying out an imaginative array of programs: tary of State Condoleezza Rice, during which the press got • Sending issues speakers on demand, encouraging re- an unauthorized glimpse of the internal furor over possi- tiree chapter activities around the country and organizing ble mandated assignments to Iraq. Despite the fact that “Road Scholar” (formerly Elderhostel) educational events; volunteers ultimately filled all positions, the episode sent • Conferring and publicizing lifetime diplomacy awards the message that some diplomats were reluctant to serve and awards for constructive dissent and independent on the front lines. thought within the Foreign Service, along with conducting
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a high school essay contest about the The idea of taking on a profile on the use of ambassador- importance of diplomacy; ships as rewards for campaign con- • Using the Foreign Service Jour- union’s functions didn’t tributors, a highly sensitive political nal to publicize and document what issue. AFSA was successful in get- AFSA is doing and to air diverse sit well with everyone in the ting language into the 1980 Foreign opinions, and making sure that the Service Act to enshrine a preference magazine gets to all national legisla- Foreign Service in the for career personnel as ambassa- tors and many libraries; dors, but the results have been dis- • Publishing Inside a U.S. Em- early 1970s. appointing. We need to keep calling bassy, AFSA’s popular introduction attention to this principle, even if we to the Foreign Service, which reaches thousands; and seem to be beating our wings on a lampshade, considering • Hosting author appearances and public issues forums how little respect is paid to it in practice (including by the at AFSA headquarters, and conducting outreach to busi- Obama administration). ness organizations. AFSA has also sprung to the defense of individual diplo- mats who have been pilloried publicly for reporting un- …And Speak Out popular views from the field — e.g., “China hands” John Beyond that, I would encourage AFSA to consider Service, John Davies, et al. Yet we have consistently speaking out about the key foreign policy issues being de- stopped short of taking positions on other foreign policy is- bated nationally, when the practice of diplomacy is threat- sues, even when basic principles are involved, on the ened. In fact, we have consistently maintained a high grounds that the Foreign Service exists to implement pol-
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icy, not to make it, and that AFSA must avoid becoming ple and partisan applications is difficult to tackle — maybe enmeshed in partisan political disputes. even impossible for a corporate entity like AFSA — and The problem with this approach is that the organiza- that the task of defending diplomacy should normally fall to tion ends up looking parochial. We are vocal about our individual spokespersons, rather than to the organization. budgets and our people, but where does the organization But when it is necessary for AFSA to speak out, it should stand on other matters of principle? For instance, diplo- not hesitate to do so. macy depends in large measure on the rule of law in in- In the meantime, we can take some comfort from a per- ternational relations, but advocacy of American verse outcome of the WikiLeaks episode. Whatever the “exceptionalism” (the belief that such rules don’t apply to complications Julian Assange and his colleagues have us because of our uniqueness) surfaces all too often in caused for the practice of diplomacy, the chorus of praise is both major political parties. growing for the quality of Foreign Service work and the re- Is it really enough for former ambassadors to speak out porting that’s been publicized. as individuals against such aberrations? Shouldn’t AFSA Years ago, when I told the late Representative Stephen also resist them publicly, pointing out that flouting the rules Solarz, D-N.Y., about a cable that I had written to State ourselves can only damage our efforts to build respect for about our visit to a refugee camp, he observed: “Oh, you re- the law elsewhere? And as a corollary, shouldn’t AFSA add ported to the Black Hole.” WikiLeaks has opened many its voice to efforts to get the Senate to ratify the Law of the foreign affairs pundits’ eyes worldwide, both to what For- Sea Treaty, the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and the eign Service personnel do and how well we do it. AFSA Inter-American Treaty on the Illegal Export of Weapons, might well consider publishing a compendium of such and to support free trade agreements with key allies? commentators’ remarks, which add some much-needed I recognize that drawing a line between abstract princi- luster to the FS image! ■
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F OCUS ON THE AFSA 2010 ANNUAL R EPORT
MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN CONGRESS FOR OUR MEMBERS
AFSA’S CONGRESSIONAL OPERATION HAS ADVANCED KEY INITIATIVES BENEFITING FOREIGN SERVICE MEMBERS AND ENHANCING DIPLOMATIC EFFECTIVENESS.
BY THOMAS D. BOYATT
t is axiomatic that Foreign Service When I told him we intended to testify against clearly un- officers know the political structures, intricacies and nu- qualified, politically appointed ambassadors, he smiled ances of every country save their own. Perhaps that phe- and told me, “And you must remember, I can always send nomenonI explains why it has taken AFSA more than 30 you to Chad.” years to evolve a highly effective congressional operation. We did testify against several political appointees but, But we have done so, to the great benefit of the people after being ignored by Republican and Democratic sena- of the Foreign Service and the processes of diplomacy. tors alike, we ceased quixotically breaking our lances Shortly after becoming the “exclusive employee rep- against that particular windmill. But we continued to resentative” for all Foreign Service employees following lobby the Hill on “bread and butter” and personnel issues. an 1973 election, the AFSA leadership was called to the This activity became particularly intense when a later iter- office of the senior active-duty FSO at the State Depart- ation of AFSA leaders led by Ken Blakesley played a major ment, Under Secretary for Political Affairs Alex Johnson. role in drafting Public Law 96-465, the Foreign Service He had heard that we intended to “petition the Con- Act of 1980. The members of the Senate Foreign Rela- gress” independently of the department, and wanted us tions Committee wanted to be sure the people of the For- to know he thought that was “unthinkable.” eign Service (through their elected union) supported the A few months later, we met with Secretary-designate legislation. AFSA made significant contributions to the Henry Kissinger to explain our views and intentions. substance of the law and learned significantly more about “working the Hill” as a result of these experiences. Thomas D. Boyatt, an FSO from 1959 until 1985, served In the later 1980s and 1990s, AFSA built on those gains. as ambassador to Colombia and Upper Volta (now Burkina First, the Governing Board engaged a series of consultants Faso) and chargé d’affaires in Chile, among many other with long experience in positions on Senate and House postings. Currently the treasurer of AFSA’s political action staffs for advice on how to proceed. Some years later AFSA committee, AFSA-PAC, Ambassador Boyatt has been created a full-time position for legislative relations, and our AFSA’s president, vice president and treasurer, and is pres- knowledge of Capitol Hill, and ability to operate effectively ident of the Foreign Affairs Council. there, increased markedly with such experts on staff.
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The ABCs of Education Allowances How to Choose The College By Pamela Ward That’s Right For You By Francesca Huemer Kelly Online High School Courses By Kristi Streiffert The International Baccalaureate Program: A Primer Online Education: By Francesca Huemer Kelly Unprecedented Opportunities By Kristi Streiffert Taking A Gap Year By Ingrid Ahlgren Community College: Time To Take Another Look ? FAQ: Educating Special Needs By Rebecca Grappo Children Overseas By Francesca Kelly Getting Found: Global Nomads 2.0 By Mikkela Thompson Going To College In America Dean Mitchell/iStockphoto.com By Francesca Huemer Kelly Building Resiliency in Global Nomads By Rebecca Grappo ARCHIVE OF Study Abroad: Take The Plunge By Brooke Deal Flying Solo — Going to College Articles on Education from Overseas: A Guide for Parents Lost And Found: By Rebecca Grappo Make this collection of authoritative International School Reunions Foreign Service Journal articles By Mikkela Thompson Special-Needs Kids and the Foreign Service: Dispelling the Myths the starting point for planning Applying to U.S. Colleges: By Pamela Ward your children’s education. A Primer for FS Teens By Francesca Huemer Kelly The Boarding School Option: A Tent for a Global Nomad Go to www.afsa.org/ads/school/ Dip Kids Fill Void at U.S. Colleges By Pamela Ward for a PDF of these articles. By Antje Schiffler
Watch for the October FSJ’s annual roundup of books by current and former members of the Foreign Service and their families.
2011 ANNUAL FS AUTHORS ROUNDUP
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In 2002 I recommended to the AFSA-PAC has given us a committees or are proven “friends of Governing Board that AFSA organ- the Foreign Service.” ize and fund under existing legisla- seat at the table whenever The purpose of our PAC (like any tion a political action committee other) is to make organizational similar to those operated by every relevant legislation is being views clear to the relevant commit- other union, nongovernmental or- tee and subcommittee chairs and ganization, business entity, church, forwarded or discussed. ranking members, and other mem- etc. My argument was that while we bers. By contributing to these legis- had a constitutional right to petition lators’ “Committees to Re-elect,” we Congress, the most effective way to do so was defined by are invited to their small, personal functions (breakfasts, the culture of that body, not by us. The recommenda- lunches, receptions and dinners) at which all participants tion was accepted, and AFSA-PAC was organized. have the opportunity for discussions directly with the principal. The Value of AFSA-PAC Over time, this process has had the effect of giving AFSA-PAC differs from most other PACs in several AFSA a seat at the table whenever relevant legislation is important respects. First, we are funded by voluntary being forwarded or discussed. There is nothing sinister contributions, not a dues check-off, and we contribute to about this educative process. Indeed, every FSO who both parties equally, as required by our internal bylaws. has made diplomatic representations at a cocktail or din- In addition, we donate only to House and Senate cam- ner party to a local official should recognize its utility. paigns, as well as to sitting members who are on relevant During the past four years, AFSA’s congressional op-
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Help AFSA Go Green and Save Some Green t Please make sure we have your e-mail address!
As AFSA prepares to institute more environmentally friendly practices, significantly reducing our consumption of paper, we are asking our members to please ensure that we have their valid e-mail addresses on file. This will allow us to contact you by e-mail rather than cluttering up your home with paper mail, and it also leads to significant savings in postage.
We ask our active-duty members to give us their “.gov” e-mail addresses, as those are unlikely to change throughout your career. For all others, any valid e-mail address works! American Foreign Thanks for helping us go green — and save some green! Service Association You can submit your e-mail address either by sending it to [email protected] or visiting www.afsa.org www.afsa.org/addresschange.cfm. Art: iStockphoto.com
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eration has been of fundamental Past victories we have made a strong start on importance in two developments establishing a training float that critically important to the people validate the value of will produce dramatic improve- of the Foreign Service and to ments in professional develop- diplomatic effectiveness. First, our congressional operation. ment for all Foreign Service as a result of AFSA’s fight for personnel. overseas comparability pay, in But they do not, of course, Past victories validate the June 2009 Congress acted to value of our congressional opera- begin to close the ever-widening guarantee future success. tion. But they do not, of course, OCP gap. guarantee future success. We Second, from 2007 through currently face enormous pressure today the AFSA congressional team has partnered with for reductions in the 150 Account, so the period imme- the American Academy of Diplomacy in pushing for an diately ahead is going to be extraordinarily challenging additional 4,700 new positions for State and USAID to for us. Mindful of this, AFSA is working to deepen our be funded by the 150 Account. Through the regular advocacy strength further through internal management budgets and supplementals of 2008, 2009 and 2010 (and changes and development and reconfiguration of the possibly 2011), some 3,200 new positions have already professional staff. been added. This is an historic achievement. All empty Still, in the last analysis the key to our effectiveness State positions in Washington and abroad have now been will remain, as always, the financial and operational sup- filled; USAID is growing in numbers and capability; and port of our members. ■
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WHAT IS CULTURAL AFFAIRS?
A PRACTITIONER OFFERS AN OVERVIEW OF A FOREIGN SERVICE FUNCTION THAT DESERVES TO BE BETTER KNOWN AND APPRECIATED.
BY MICHAEL MACY
ecently a new Foreign Service officer had a classified login for years, let alone a top-secret mis- asked me what the cultural affairs sec- sion. tion does. While I was glad to en- For their part, many of my colleagues think I make my lighten him, his question made me living going to parties, receptions and performances. Ad- realize that such uncertainty is wide- mittedly, going out is part of the job, but it is hardly the rai- spread, possibly extending even to son d’être. some of us who do it. So I offer this essay as an attempt to define cultural affairs, the least un- Building Bridges Rderstood of Foreign Service functions, and explain its im- So what do we do? To paraphrase one definition, cul- portance. tural affairs officers seek to establish and maintain mutually Most people understand what political officers do, even beneficial relationships between the United States and our if they can’t distinguish between a demarché and the March host country. Or, as one of the categories in the Mission Hare. Indeed, when the wider world thinks of diplomats Performance Plan puts it, we facilitate “mutual under- (however rarely), it imagines political officers. Similarly, the standing.” work economic and management officers do is defined in Put another way, CAOs use a variety of tools to build the title they bear. bridges between cultures, delivering information and im- And because most people understand visas and Ameri- pressions that help our target audiences better understand can citizen services, they are readily able to form an accurate the United States. We try to do that by delivering the right idea of consular work. Even the information officer func- message to the right audience at the right time and in the tion is fairly well understood, for its tools — press releases, most efficient manner possible. press conferences and, now, blogs, tweets and Facebook — More often than you might think, the tools we use to are all in the public domain. But cultural affairs still seems build the bridges are mistaken for the bridge. (And the to defy simple definition. bridge itself is sometimes confused with the destination.) It Friends and family back home figure I must be a spy. really is the tools that most often define what we do, but in After all, isn’t being the cultural attaché always the cover actual fact that observation is no more useful than saying a spies use in novels? Sorry to disappoint them, but I haven’t carpenter is someone who uses a hammer. Even so, that is a good way to start defining cultural af- Michael Macy joined the Foreign Service in 1994 and has fairs work: the use of culture as a tool to span the chasm be- served in London, Bamako, Valletta, Riyadh and Kabul as a tween countries. But just as a hammer isn’t the right tool for cultural affairs or public affairs officer. He is currently the every carpentry job, neither is there any one program that cultural affairs officer in New Delhi. can always be used to build bridges.
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Truth be told, no single activity fully defines the sum and with people who don’t have the same filters. So I encour- substance of what we do. Exchanges, the International Vis- age my colleagues, particularly new ones, to study Ameri- itor Program, performances, exhibits, speakers, libraries, can culture with their minds open, learn about their etc. — all are useful tools, but still just tools. prejudices and trace them back — by reading widely, watch- ing movies and TV shows, listening to all kinds of music and, Building Relationships yes, studying cultural analysis. Cultural affairs practitioners generally impart impres- We also need to understand American culture because sions and images that help make the audience more recep- so many people all over the world wrongly think they al- tive to the specific information that the embassy press office ready understand it — and us — from watching our TV delivers. The best analogy I can think of is that cultural af- shows and films and listening to our popular music. If any- fairs is to the press office what public thing, the movies and programs most relations is to advertising. I know I indicative of American culture are tread on dangerous ground here, for often the most misunderstood and many of my colleagues would hate All cultural affairs officers unpopular overseas. “Fargo” is a any parallels between public diplo- good example: most Americans don’t macy and any form of marketing should understand American get the duck stamp reference in that communications. But as a well-re- movie unless they’re from the Mid- spected public affairs officer once culture, know how to west, so it is even less likely to make told me, “We don’t sell hamburgers.” sense in places like Riyadh. He was right. Public relations is communicate effectively, Just as buying a Ford doesn’t give never a call to action, the actual sale; you automatic insight into life in that role should be left for advertis- and be able to identify their America, neither does watching a ing. Rather, cultural affairs develops Hollywood movie directed by an relationships, so that when we do primary audience. Australian in Budapest. An impor- issue a call to action — support for a tant part, then, of what we do in cul- treaty, a vote in the United Nations, tural affairs is challenging people’s a commitment to send troops to preconceptions about the United Afghanistan — the host-country audience supports us, or is States. But how can we do that if we don’t know our own at least thoughtful in its criticism. Even if the foreign gov- culture? ernment does not go along with our request, its citizens will resist the temptation to condemn us for asking — if we have What We Have Here… done our cultural affairs work well. The second element needed to do this job may seem ob- As my conversation with the young officer I mentioned vious: the ability to communicate. Most people consider at the beginning of this article continued, he asked what I themselves experts at this. After all, didn’t we do well on need to know to do my job well. I told him that while there university papers and then pass the Foreign Service exam? is a tendency to think that the key is to understand the host And haven’t we been talking for years? Doesn’t that make country, it is equally important to understand American cul- us world-class communicators? ture. In fact, the three skills any cultural affairs practitioner As a matter of fact, no. Far too many Foreign Service should develop are the ability to: understand American cul- personnel have never studied how to put forward a message: ture; learn how to communicate effectively; and identify planning a campaign, evaluating its effectiveness, identify- your primary audience. ing audiences and choosing among different forms of com- munication. Effective communication entails going beyond Culture Vultures organizing events to create experiences that reach foreign Most of us spend little time analyzing our own culture. audiences on multiple levels, both intellectually and emo- We think we instinctively know it simply from being con- tionally. And to do that well, cultural affairs officers have to stantly immersed in it. But that’s like thinking fish are nat- know why some performances and works of art still move ural hydrologists just because they spend their whole lives in us even though we already know the story behind them. water. The third key element of the cultural affairs function is Every culture is a filter that defines how we experience the audience. Cultural affairs officers need to know how, the world. Unless we are aware of that, we don’t know what and how quickly, inhabitants of the host country establish we’re missing, and we don’t know how to make comparisons relationships. That will help indicate whether it is more pro-
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ductive to try for a broad audience by training at the Foreign Service Insti- using television or other mass media, tute. Another area would be cultural or to host an exclusive event with lim- Cultural affairs officers analysis. Two of the greatest names in ited attendance. In other words, will it that field, Joseph Campbell and Ed- be more effective to reach out to the use a variety of tools ward T. Hall, once taught at FSI. We same people repeatedly to reinforce a should strive to reach that level again. particular theme, or send the message to build bridges Another step would be to recruit of- just once? ficers who have studied American his- Sometimes the turnout for an em- between cultures. tory, literature and culture, and worked bassy event is but a fraction of the sec- in public relations. There are ongoing ondary audience, which may be the attempts to develop metrics for what real target of our outreach. For exam- we do, and that should be encouraged, ple, organizing an awareness campaign as well. We won’t know if we’re effec- about a USAID program may not draw “last three feet.” It’s best if a meal is tive — and why — if we can’t (or don’t) many people, but it raises the pro- part of the program (there is a reason measure it. gram’s profile and underscores the most religions have rituals centering on Cultural affairs will grow increas- commitment of the United States to food). One reason exchange programs ingly important as the century unfolds. helping the local population. are so useful is that they create experi- As we face the challenge of state-con- ential relations. Alumni programs trolled capitalism, along with other Best Practices maintain those relationships. threats to our core values of democ- The most effective cultural affairs To improve our professional skills as racy, human rights and free markets, programs are those that bring people cultural affairs officers, we could offer the battle for “hearts and minds” in- together in the spirit of Edward R. courses in communications theory and creasingly needs the cultural affairs Murrow’s exhortation to bridge the practice as part of public diplomacy shock troops. ■
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CHANGING HEARTS AND MINDS
THE INTERNATIONAL VISITORS LEADERSHIP PROGRAM IS A STRIKING EXAMPLE OF THE KIND OF EFFECTIVE “SOFT POWER” DIPLOMACY AMERICA NEEDS TO PRIORITIZE.
BY JOANNE GRADY HUSKEY
hile watching the 2009 film gram officer at the Meridian International Center, working “The Hurt Locker,” I was with the International Visitors Program, I have been espe- haunted by the little children cially privileged to have “promoting international under- hiding behind window curtains standing” as my job description. and peering through doorways, The IVLP works to reverse ingrained anti-American atti- watching with wide uncompre- tudes by presenting a very different picture of the United hending eyes the alien robotic States to some 5,000 visitors, all selected to come to the U.S. creatures roaming their streets. What did those little Iraqi each year as guests of the State Department’s Bureau of Ed- Wchildren take away from watching the huge, intimidating ucational and Cultural Affairs. Designing and coordinating American soldiers in heavy armor and with massive guns these professional exchange programs for up-and-coming clamoring down Baghdad’s streets? young leaders in various fields, to meet and exchange ideas How could they possibly comprehend what they saw daily with their American counterparts, has made me step back in their neighborhoods? Was this really the way to build a new and think about what our nation really stands for and the val- Iraq? Could infantry laden with armor and guns meaningfully ues we espouse and hold dear. “befriend” the people? Will these children grow up with fond I have sought to give these visitors, most of whom have feelings for America and want to cooperate with us? never been to the United States before, a broad taste of all I am dubious. As we pull our troops out of Iraq after eight that is American — a personal experience of our cultural di- long years of war, we need to re-examine our priorities. versity, our generosity, and our spirit of volunteerism. They Shouldn’t we, as a nation, put more emphasis on “promoting might meet a member of Congress, have dinner or stay peace” than on “fighting terrorism”? overnight in an American home, attend a town hall meeting, One program that has been changing hearts and minds meet the head of a major corporation, or work as a volunteer about America through “soft power” for 60 years is the In- in a soup kitchen. They spend their free time strolling the ternational Visitors Leadership Program. As a seasonal pro- streets of American cities and towns, mingling with people and attending cultural events. Joanne Grady Huskey is a seasonal program officer at the Meridian International Center and a member of a Foreign A Broad Taste of America Service family that has served in Beijing, Chennai, Nairobi During their three weeks in the U.S., these visitors wit- and Taipei. A graduate of Harvard University, she is the au- ness firsthand how Americans live and work — and that is thor of The Unofficial Diplomat (New Academia/Scarith what most impresses them. There is no hard sell. Average Books, 2009), a volume in the Association for Diplomatic Americans, just being themselves, are enough to bring words Studies and Training’s Memoirs and Occasional Papers Se- of praise from many IVLP participants. An Iraqi teacher of ries. She presently resides in Bethesda, Md. English as a Second Language, who took part in one of my
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programs last year, told me: “The tol- Arabs based on their political positions erance I have seen here in the U.S. was in the Middle East. However, my view remarkable. I honestly didn’t think it During three weeks in changed when I met ordinary American would be so. At home I am so accus- people and negotiated human and po- tomed to [our people] being divided the U.S., visitors witness litical issues face to face with them. into Sunnis, Kurds and Shiites, who no Now I better understand the way longer tolerate each other. I felt ac- first-hand how Americans Americans think of themselves and of cepted and welcomed everywhere we others. What I like best about them is went in the U.S.” live and work — and that they are kind, caring, honest and A group of Indian journalists on a hardworking. Despite the diversity of visit last June commented on their in- that is what most people, they enjoy a peaceful life in teraction with professional counter- which respect and dignity are recipro- parts: “What an excellent meeting at impresses them. cal.” the Washington Post! Our hosts were Another teacher from the West incredibly informative, and the meet- Bank had this to say after her IVLP ing reminded us of an MBA case analy- program ended: “All the meetings sis session. First, our hosts discussed New York City and the increase in anti- presented a wonderful insight about the changes in the industry; then they Islamic sentiments in America, these America. Both formal and informal discussed how these changes impacted firsthand, noncontroversial interactions appointments and meetings, which we the Post. And then they presented the with hard-working people of Muslim had all around the States, provided us measures employed to cope with the descent, as well as with people of every with knowledge about the norms and changes. ... It was a great meeting!” nation, help promote much-needed habits of the American people. This is A visiting group of Pakistani lawyers understanding. simply the place where freedom can traveled to Oklahoma City, where they An Iraqi deputy governor visiting be enjoyed. met with the director of the Memorial various U.S. municipalities last Octo- “Another advantage of this program Institute for the Prevention of Terror- ber told me that he was amazed at the is that there were many things I shared ism and discussed counterterrorism openly helpful and hospitable nature with my American counterparts. In techniques. They came to understand of average American citizens. While addition to talking about our experi- that terrorism is a global phenomenon, he was in the States, county officials ences in teaching English, we also rather than being unique to their part and mayors from three geographically shared our values, cultural aspects, of the world. diverse cities — Arlington, Va.; Col- norms of life and points of view about When they were invited to offer Fri- orado Springs, Colo.; and Phoenix, different issues. We talked about the day prayers in a mosque in Oklahoma Ariz. — shared with him their insights common points that bridge the gaps built by the local Muslim community, about governance and city manage- among our cultures.” the visitors were filled with a sense of ment. He returned to Iraq full of ideas pride and brotherhood. A lawyer from for city planning, budgeting and devel- “Globalizing” That the Swat Valley put it this way: “This is oping infrastructure that he can use in Cuts Both Ways the most memorable experience of my his devastated province. And he made A side benefit of the IVLP program life. It has broadened my vision and many contacts with whom to exchange is the opportunity it gives Americans given my perception a global dimen- useful information for years to come. from all walks of life to meet with visi- sion. … I hope in the future people of Visitors often arrive here with a tors from around the world. For many both great nations will understand each large dose of skepticism, even animos- Americans, it is the first time they have other in a better way. These confi- ity, toward the U.S. One West Bank/ conversed with someone from Pak- dence-building measures will definitely Palestinian ESL teacher visiting last istan, India, the West Bank, Ghana or accrue one day, and we will be able to July told me: “On a personal level, I, as other places. Volunteers working in explore ways to cooperate and work to- well as most Palestinians, had false nonprofit Councils for International gether for global peace.” stereotypes about the American peo- Visitors in all 50 U.S. states and the ple. This is mainly due to the Ameri- District coordinate programs that Getting Behind Stereotypes can foreign policy in the Middle East, bring people together, and provide a In light of the recent controversy in general, and in Palestine, in particu- platform for the exchange of ideas. over the proposal to build an interfaith lar. Visitors from Mongolia might meet religious center near Ground Zero in “Americans are usually judged by people in North Dakota, or young
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leaders from Tajikistan might hold long The cost of this diplomatic offensive discussions with local leaders in Mis- is minuscule compared to that of our sissippi. These unique and enlighten- These experiences cut defense budget. Yet the result might ing experiences cut both ways, last a lifetime and multiply before it can “globalizing” both our foreign visitors both ways, “globalizing” be fully measured in each visitor’s life. and Americans in every part of our The added mutual benefit from “glob- country. both our foreign visitors alizing” Americans more than warrants The IVLP’s people-to-people diplo- the $95 million annual cost of the pro- macy is a powerful tool, enabling group and Americans in every gram, a mere fraction of total federal after group to return to their home expenditures. countries with a new understanding of part of our country. With that in mind, as our own Sec- America — one based not on media retary of Defense Robert Gates has said, distortions, military action, or rumors we must make it a national priority to and misinformation, but rather on see- invest more money in diplomacy, both ing and meeting firsthand real Ameri- Sarkozy, England’s Gordon Brown, official and unofficial. Initiatives such cans in all their diversity. This in- Afghanistan’s Hamid Karzai, Egypt’s as the International Visitors Leadership creased knowledge of the U.S. then in- Anwar Sadat, Kenya’s Mwai Kibaki, Program have proven their ability to forms their professional work and, Mexico’s Felipe Calderón, Turkey’s change the world’s image of America. hopefully, has positive long-term ef- Abdullah Gul and India’s Manmohan As a young Indonesian blogger text- fects on international relations. Singh. Many other distinguished messaged his millions of readers in world leaders in government and the Sumatra, while sailing across San Fran- An Impressive Record private sector have come to the States cisco Bay on the final day of his IVLP Nearly 300 alumni of the IVLP on this program as young profession- program: “America is beautiful. I have have become heads of state or govern- als, and that has made a world of dif- seen it with my own eyes and felt it ment. These include France’s Nicolas ference in how they see the U.S. today. with my heart!” ■
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AFSAAmerican Foreign ServiceNEWS Association • March 2011 Iran Hostages Mark 30 Years Since Release From Captivity BY AMY MCKEEVER
hey were all imprisoned for 444 days, with some sentenced erator and NBC News chief foreign affairs correspondent An- to solitary confinement and others facing mock executions drea Mitchell to reflect on the event on the 30th anniversary of Tand beatings. All the hostages taken during the seizure of their release. They spoke candidly and, at times, lightheartedly, Embassy Tehran faced unspeakable horrors. about their imprisonment, subsequent liberation and the shock But speak about it they did, at an AFSA-sponsored event at waves that the crisis sent through the diplomatic community. the State Department on Jan. 28. Five former hostages — Am- bassador L. Bruce Laingen, Ambassador John W. Limbert, Barry Tales of Captivity Rosen, Donald J. Cooke and Alan B. Golacinski — joined mod- When the Iranian students first stormed the embassy, nobody imagined it would turn into the 444-day saga that ensued. As Amb. Limbert describes, the expectation was that this was a 1970s university-style sit-in, staged simply to send a message. Even the strategists of the takeover thought it would play out that way, Limbert added. “People today can’t imagine what happened to us and how that could have happened,” said Golacinski. “How could it pos- sibly happen that this magnificent embassy goes down like this to what at that time was termed as a bunch of students?” The men on the panel recounted stories of American bravery,
ASGEIR SIGFUSSON both during the seizure and throughout the confinement. Go- AFSA commemorated the 30th anniversary of the release of the Iran lacinski recalled a U.S. Marine security guard who held 60 stu- hostages throughout the last week of January, wearing yellow ribbons and also tying them to the trees outside AFSA headquarters. Continued on page 59
Human Rights Council. Top U.S. Officials Visit AFSA for Though Schaefer conceded that the Discussion on Multilateral Diplomacy U.S. seat on the HRC has produced some successes, he believes these have been BY AMY MCKEEVER limited. For example, while the U.S. pre- n Jan. 11, AFSA and the Foreign at the United Nations and discussed their vented Iran and Belarus from joining the Service Journal teamed up to host visions for reform of that body. council, Libya did win a seat. Respond- Oa discussion on multilateral ing to a question from the audience, diplomacy, the focus of the Journal’s De- The U.S. at the U.N. Schaefer said that peacekeeping missions cember issue. U.S. leadership on the United Nations can serve a valuable role, even though he Moderated by Molly Williamson, a Security Council remains absolutely doesn’t necessarily agree with the Gov- retiree member of the AFSA Governing vital, Brimmer said. She noted several ernment Accountability Office’s finding Board, the panel consisted of Assistant recent successes in multilateral diplo- that they also save money. Secretary of State for International Or- macy, including the role of the United Carnahan, too, conceded that inter- ganization Affairs Esther Brimmer, Rep- Nations peacekeeping mission in South- national organizations are not perfect. resentative Russ Carnahan, D-Mo., and ern Sudan’s referendum. She also cited He voiced frustration with the some- Brett Schaefer of the Heritage Founda- new sanctions on Iran and the positive times contradictory behavior that stems tion. The panelists debated the U.S. role influence of U.S. membership on the Continued on page 60
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A F S A AFSANEWSBRIEFS N E W AFSA 2011 Memorial 2011 Saigon Embassy Reunion S Plaque Ceremony About 20 years ago, U.S. Marine Security guards who had served at Embassy Please mark your calendars for Fri., May 6, Saigon between the late 1950s and its fall in 1975 began having reunions. when the Department of State will once again Through the years, employees of State and other agencies employees who served celebrate Foreign Affairs Day. This annual there have been invited, as well. event brings foreign affairs retirees back to the The 2011 Saigon Embassy Reunion will be co-hosted by Frank Soto, U.S. Marine department for a day of meetings, ceremonies and remembrances. Corps, and State Department retiree Judy Chidester, in Albuquerque, N.M. , on As is now customary, the AFSA Memorial Sept. 14-18. Plaque Ceremony will take place in the C Street If you are interested in attending, please visit the Web site, www.saigonmac.org, lobby during the morning of Foreign Affairs and click on “reunions” for information on the hotel. Complete information on Day. This solemn occasion honors those For- eign Service employees who have given their registering for the reunion will be added to the Web site soon. lives in the line of duty. We are sad to report that we will, once again, be adding new names to the plaque this year. More information on those being honored will be forthcoming in Notice: AFSA Governing Board Elections next month’s AFSA News. Following the official programs at the de- Please visit the AFSA Web site to learn more about the current partment, AFSA will welcome retirees and oth- AFSA Governing Board Elections, including a list of candidates ers to its headquarters at 2101 E Street NW for a reception and light refreshments. During the and access to the online forums for discussing campaign issues reception, we will also honor this year’s AFSA (www.afsa.org/elections/). All members in good standing as of scholarship recipients and donors. The Memorial Plaque Ceremony is a very March 1 should receive a ballot to be mailed on or about important occasion to pause and remember the March 28. In the event that you do not receive your ballot, sacrifices of America’s diplomats around the world, so we hope that our members will join please contact [email protected]. us on May 6. More information on AFSA’s Memorial Plaques is available on AFSA’s Web site.
AFSA HEADQUARTERS: (202) 338-4045; Fax: (202) 338-6820 Staff: Governing Board: STATE DEPARTMENT AFSA OFFICE: (202) 647-8160; Fax: (202) 647-0265 Executive Director Ian Houston: [email protected] PRESIDENT: Susan R. Johnson Business Department USAID AFSA OFFICE: (202) 712-1941; Fax: (202) 216-3710 STATE VP: Daniel Hirsch Director of Finance Femi Oshobukola: [email protected] USAID VP: Francisco Zamora FCS AFSA OFFICE: (202) 482-9088; Fax: (202) 482-9087 Controller Kalpna Srimal: [email protected] FAS VP: Henry Schmick Assistant Controller Cory Nishi: [email protected] PRESIDENT: [email protected] Labor Management FCS VP: Keith Curtis STATE VP: [email protected] General Counsel Sharon Papp: [email protected] RETIREE VP: Robert Houdek SECRETARY: F.A. “Tex” Harris RETIREE VP: [email protected] Deputy General Counsel Zlatana Badrich: [email protected] TREASURER: Andrew Winter USAID VP: [email protected] Labor Management Specialist James Yorke: [email protected] Senior Staff Attorney Neera Parikh: [email protected] STATE REPS: Carleton Bulkin FAS VP: [email protected] Staff Attorney Michael Willats: [email protected] Ako Cromwell FCS VP: [email protected] Office Manager Christine Warren: [email protected] Mary Glantz USAID Senior Labor Management Adviser Douglas Broome: Mike Haughey AFSA News [email protected] Les Hickman Editor Amy McKeever: [email protected] USAID Staff Assistant Patrick Bradley: [email protected] Bruce Matthews (202) 338-4045, ext. 516; Fax: (202) 338-8244 Member Services Raymond Maxwell Member Services Director Janet Hedrick: [email protected] Joyce Namde Foreign Service Journal Member Services Representative: vacant Lynn Nelson FSJ: [email protected] Administrative Assistant and Office Manager Ana Lopez: [email protected] Sharon White Editor Steven Alan Honley: [email protected] Communications, Marketing and Outreach USAID REPS: Michael Henning Senior Editor Susan Maitra: [email protected] Retiree Counseling & Legislation Coordinator Bonnie Brown: [email protected] Glenn Rogers Director of Communications Thomas Switzer: [email protected] Associate Editor Shawn Dorman: [email protected] FCS REP: Stephen Morrison Legislative Director Casey Frary: [email protected] Ad & Circulation Manager Ed Miltenberger: [email protected] FAS REP: Melinda Sallyards Executive Assistant to the President: vacant IBB REP: Al Pessin Art Director Caryn Suko Smith: [email protected] Scholarship Director Lori Dec: [email protected] On the Web RETIREE REPS: Janice Bay Scholarship Program Assistant Jonathan Crawford: [email protected] Robert (Bill) Farrand AFSA WEB SITE: www.afsa.org Road Scholar Administrator Bernard Alter: [email protected] Mary Ellen Gilroy How to Contact Us: to Contact How Marketing & Outreach Manager Asgeir Sigfusson: [email protected] FSJ: www.afsa.org/fsj and www.fsjournal.org Molly Williamson Special Awards & Outreach Coordinator Perri Green: [email protected]
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A
Iran Hostages • Continued from page 57 F S dents at bay with a riot shotgun — one important had arrived at A that he did not fire, an event that would the airport at the same have played directly into the demonstra- time. His wife had to tell N tors’ hands. Laingen also praised the ac- him to wave — the crowd tions Canada took to rescue a handful of was there for him and his E the hostages. colleagues. W “We are a fortunate country in hav- “That was a very big dif- S ing a neighbor like that,” Laingen said, to ference and a real surprise great applause. — clearly a very pleasant The Iranian guards had also identi- surprise — for us to know fied key hostages early on, the panelists that really everybody in the ASGEIR SIGFUSSON said, meaning that those diplomats were United States really cared,” NBC News chief foreign affairs correspondent Andrea Mitchell given much harsher treatment than the Cooke said. (center) led five former hostages in a discussion about their time in captivity and its effect on diplomacy today. The panelists in- rest, facing beatings and worse. It didn’t Amb. Laingen paid trib- cluded (from left to right) Donald Cooke, Amb. Bruce Laingen, always make sense — but it didn’t have ute to his family and those Amb. John Limbert, Alan Golacinski and Barry Rosen. to, either. of the other hostages who “The first thing you learn as a pris- had coordinated with (and sometimes from the hostage crisis. oner is that the situation you are in is the fought against) the State Department as One such lesson was the need for bet- ultimate in unreason and illogic,” said it worked to secure their release. His ter protection of U.S. diplomats working Limbert. own wife, Penelope, had tied a yellow overseas. Cooke explained that back in But the panelists all agreed that it did ribbon to the oak tree in their front yard 1979 there wasn’t much effort to track not matter who received what kind of in remembrance of the hostages. the actions of “irresponsible junior offi- treatment. “We’re supposed to be heroes,” he cers” like himself at high-risk posts. He “Being in prison for 444 days, wheth- said. “That’s the way we were seen. But said he would go out at night or on hol- er you are ‘treated well’ or treated badly all of us sitting here, we’ve always said the idays with Iranian friends without ques- is horrendous,” Rosen said. “No matter real heroes were our families back home. tioning. But now in Iraq, from which he how you look at it, we were imprisoned They were the ones who worked the recently returned from a one-year tour, and treated badly.” hardest against unknown circum- nobody goes out the door without stances.” humvees and bodyguards. Back at Home Limbert joked, though, that one of Still, as Amb. Limbert pointed out, The Iranian guards had kept their the great aspects of FS life is that it always it’s not easy to prepare for a crisis like hostages in the dark when it came to brings you back to earth. He recounted 1979. “The one thing we still have great American public opinion regarding their his first run-in with personnel upon re- difficulty doing is thinking the un- captivity. So the diplomats, remember- turning to the U.S. When he stopped in thinkable.” ing how quickly the 1968 North Korean to ask about onward assignments, the of- Stronger security measures were not seizure of the USS Pueblo had faded ficer merely replied, “Well, they really re- the only takeaway from the Iran hostage from the news cycle, assumed that they, leased you at a very bad time.” crisis, though. Indeed, one of the main too, had been forgotten. That, of course, lessons Americans learned was the was not the case. A Lasting Impression courage and resilience of their diplo- “Just as most Americans can tell you Historians have missed the real sig- matic corps. where they were when President nificance of the hostage crisis, Cooke “May none of us ever have to endure Kennedy was shot or when the Twin said, which is that it signaled the end of what they did,” Powell said. “And may we Towers came down on 9/11, I think the Vietnam War period during which all draw strength from their strength and every diplomat of a certain age recalls many Americans were embarrassed by their courage in facing and, indeed, over- what they were doing when our col- their citizenship. The seizure of a U.S. coming the challenges and the dangers leagues were taken hostage in Tehran,” embassy and mistreatment of scores of of our very unpredictable world.” said Foreign Service Director General American diplomats was an outrageous Mitchell seconded the FS director Nancy Powell in her opening remarks. act that bound the country together. general’s sentiments with a reference to And, indeed, a crowd waited in New- “This was a chance for Americans to the recent unrest in Cairo and Tunis. burg, N.Y., to greet the hostages when say, ‘No, we really are something differ- “It is simply another reminder that they finally returned to the U.S. on Jan. ent. We really are not what our enemies you are all on the front lines serving qui- 23, 1981. Limbert recalls peering out the declare that we are,’” Cooke said. etly and effectively in posts around the airplane window at all of the cameras And as Director General Powell said, world,” she said, “often unheralded and and bright lights, wondering if someone there were important lessons learned underappreciated.” ❏
MARCH 2011/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 59 56-62_FSJ_0311_AN_firstlook 2/15/11 12:54 PM Page 60
A F Multilateral Diplomacy • Continued from page 57 S from countries sending separate delega- it’s a battle that has to be fought.” In any case, Schaefer argued, the U.S. A tions to the United Nations and Wash- doesn’t have to engage the U.N. to act ington. “Countries shouldn’t have one Visions of Reform multilaterally. He urged members of set of rules in New York and another in The Obama administration agrees Congress to act as the “bad cop” to the N D.C.,” he said. that multilateral diplomacy is extremely State Department’s “good cop” in order E Still, he said, it is in the world’s inter- difficult, Brimmer said. She stressed the to wield more influence in U.N. negoti- W est to have a strong human rights arm at value of reaching out to countries that ations. S the United Nations. He noted that the are not just U.S. allies to make the case Under the newly divided Congress, U.S. has not needed to use its veto power for what the U.S. believes in. But, she Carnahan pointed out, the U.S. can ex- for anti-Israel resolutions since 2006 be- said, it’s also important to remain dili- pect to see some changes in the way the cause they are not even permitted to get gent about making international organ- legislative branch approaches multilat- on the table. izations work well. eral diplomacy. He added that he ex- Multilateral diplomacy is rarely an She acknowledged that the U.N. pects Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., easy path to solving problems, Schaefer needs to face reform in key areas such as the new chairwoman of the House For- noted. The more negotiating partners management and budgeting practices, eign Affairs Committee, to make one has, the more difficult it is to find the but she argued that the best way to re- changes, including greater oversight on source of any sticking points. Vote trad- form an organization is to stay active waste, fraud and abuse. ing and consensus-driven votes further within it. “It is our goal to strengthen the Despite the panelists’ differing visions complicate the process, he says. Iran and U.N., not tear it down,” she said. in regard to the usefulness of interna- North Korea continue to flout U.N. res- Schaefer, on the other hand, con- tional organizations, Brimmer declared olutions, while U.S. concerns about cluded that the U.S. shouldn’t assume it that there are “really exciting opportuni- treaties often go ignored, he added. receives tangible benefits from member- ties” for Foreign Service personnel in “It’s often a losing battle,” he said, “but ship in each international organization. multilateral diplomacy right now. ❏ CLASSIFIEDS
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BOOKS
Gardens, Not bulk of his book to illustrating how this comfort, of course. Yet, as Washington creed, forged at a historical moment Rules documents, this imaginary pro- Garrisons when American power was at its height, gram pales in comparison with the ex- has remained sacrosanct for two-thirds isting military posture of the United Washington Rules: America’s Path of a century despite periodic pledges by States — a program that has literally to Permanent War U.S. presidents to revisit it in light of become unaffordable. Andrew J. Bacevich, Henry Holt and new conditions. So far, so good. Alas, Bacevich’s so- Co., 2010, $25, hardcover, 286 pages. To make his point, Bacevich asks us lution, which he lays out in the con- to imagine our reaction if China’s de- cluding chapter, “Cultivating Our Own REVIEWED BY STEVEN ALAN HONLEY fense minister announced plans to: Garden,” is breathtakingly simplistic: • Increase military spending so that bring our troops home. To be fair, such Back in May 2003, just after Amer- annual expenditures by the People’s a move would be considerably cheaper ican forces entered Iraq, I reviewed Liberation Army will henceforth ex- than our current approach (at least in Philip Bobbitt’s The Shield of Achilles: ceed the combined defense budgets of the short run), and has the real virtue War, Peace and the Course of History Japan, South Korea, Russia, India, Ger- of rolling back our society’s slide into in these pages. I began my review by many, France and Great Britain; acceptance of permanent war as the quoting Bobbitt’s magisterial prologue: • Create a constellation of forward- normal state of affairs. But as Bobbitt “We are at a moment in world affairs deployed PLA garrisons to conduct war explained in his 2002 book, home gar- when the essential ideas that govern games and exercises in strategically sen- dening does not equip us to deal with statecraft must change. For five cen- sitive areas around the world, including genuine threats. turies it has taken the resources of a Latin America; and Particularly disappointing is Bace- state to destroy another state.” He then • Partition the planet into sprawling vich’s failure to explore the potential of advocated the use of pre-emptive war territorial commands, with one four- diplomacy and soft power to obviate to deal with such threats. star Chinese general assigned respon- the need for armed conflict in the first Andrew J. Bacevich’s latest volume, sibility for the Asia and Pacific, another place. (Indeed, other than taking a published at the other end of the Iraq for the Middle East, and so forth. truly cheap shot at former Secretary of War, is far slimmer than Bobbitt’s, but Bacevich wryly adds: “No doubt State Madeleine Albright about mid- equally ambitious in its scope. How- the defense minister would caution way through, he makes almost no ref- ever, it presents a very different vision other nations not to view this program erences to the subject at all.) of U.S. national security priorities. In as posing any threat, the People’s Re- Still, despite that alarming blind Bacevich’s view, the time has come for public of China being sincerely com- spot, I highly recommend Washington Washington to abandon “the abiding mitted to living in harmony with Rules. As I said about Bobbitt’s book, conviction that the minimum essentials others. The minister might even whether you agree with Bacevich’s the- of international peace and order re- argue that China, both a venerable civ- sis or not, it will change the way you quire the United States to maintain a ilization and a rising nation-state, has think about the world. ■ global military presence.” an inherent responsibility to con- Bacevich calls this set of beliefs the tribute to global stability.” Steven Alan Honley is the editor of the “Washington Rules,” and devotes the Such assurances would give cold Journal.
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REFLECTIONS
Saying It Out Loud
BY DAVID HUGHES
ack in the 1960s, I asked an older of his dismissal from the Foreign Serv- Foreign Service officer why Contemplate ice, I was inspired to write a letter to the Bthere had not been an uproar the desolation of editor on the importance of standing up within the Department of State when for what is right. John S. Service and John Paton Davies being locked out “Fifteen years is a long time to wait Jr. were subjected to seven and nine of your career. for even a small measure of justification Loyalty Board hearings, respectively. and/or sympathy from one’s colleagues His answer still haunts me today, a for 23 years of life cut short by … half-century later: “You don’t know whom? There will always be people to what it was like in the Department of cashiering him was an act of cruelty staff that ninth Loyalty Board, but it is State in the 1950s. Saying something akin to taking away the baseball from up to the rest of us to make sure that would almost surely cost you your job, Willie Mays or depriving Pablo Picasso there are not any 8th, 7th, 6th, 5th, 4th, your career.” of a paintbrush. 3rd and 2nd loyalty boards,” I wrote. I initially ascribed the anguish in his You don’t know what it was like. “In the new Foreign Service Club voice to fear. Looking back on it now, Imagine, if you can, seeing colleagues in building [then under consideration], though, I think it was actually shame the hallways of State turn the other way will there be one small plaque to mark that he, and others like him, had looked lest they be condemned by association those men like Davies and Service who the other way. for speaking with you. Or worse, telling believed so much in our Foreign Serv- Service and Davies, both supremely you surreptitiously that they supported ice that they would take all the abuse capable Foreign Service officers, were you but just couldn’t say it out loud. and still fight to stay?” accused of being communist dupes if Contemplate the desolation of being Some months later, I received a not actual communists. Some State of- locked out of your career. Try to feel the packet in the mail. Inside was a China ficials apparently gambled that setting stark loneliness of being obliged to Research monograph, The Amerasia up a star chamber to examine their loy- shoulder the blame. Papers: Some Problems in the History alty would head off calls for closer Sure, eventually the Supreme Court of U.S.-China Relations, from Jack Serv- scrutiny of the Foreign Service. They determined that Jack Service had been ice. It was inscribed, “For David were wrong. unjustly deprived of his livelihood. But Hughes, with gratitude for a generous The first Loyalty Board to examine denied promotions, he finished out his remark boldly made in a public place.” Jack Service found him to be a loyal career as consul in Liverpool. I have thought about those words for public servant. So did the next five. Fi- I once asked him, “Why did you go many years, and about the courage it nally, with the seventh board, State got through seven Loyalty Boards, and then took these heroes to go to bed each what it wanted. He was held to lack the the courts?” With barely a pause, he night, and get up the next morning, to loyalty required of the nation’s Foreign said, “Because the Foreign Service is struggle to right a terrible wrong — and Service officers and was discharged. too important to be left in the hands of to have to do it alone. The son of American missionaries those people.” Will the Foreign Service display in China, Service spoke and knew Chi- In August 1968, when the FSJ pub- more courage the next time the Know- nese, and the country, in a way that few lished an article by Henry B. Day re- Nothings come calling? ■ Americans ever achieve. Being a calling John Davies and quoting Eric China hand was his life’s work, so Sevareid’s poignant 1954 condemnation David Hughes is a retired FSO.
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