The Foreign Service Journal, December 2006.Pdf

WRITE FOR US! LIVING WITH IRAQ REMEMBERING CHARLIE BRAY

SEMIANNUAL SCHOOLS SUPPLEMENT

$3.50 / DECEMBER 2006 OREIGN ERVICE FJ O U R N A L S THE MAGAZINE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS PROFESSIONALS

KEEPING THE LID ON Prospects for Peace in the Middle East

CONTENTS December 2006 Volume 83, No. 12

F OCUS ON M IDDLE E AST P EACE F EATURES

21 / THE HOLY LAND: LIVING WITH IRAQ / 52 CAN PEACE BE RESCUED? Many Foreign Service personnel and family members have The U.S. could, if it wished, already experienced events that place them at high risk for break the impasse and help PTSD. It’s time to talk about the problem. Israelis and Palestinians By Beth Payne make peace. APPRECIATION / 56 By Philip C. Wilcox Jr. The Best Among Us: Charles W. Bray III, 1933-2006 27 / BITTERLEMONS.ORG By Shawn Dorman AND THE LEBANON WAR Launched in 2001 with U.S. S CHOOLS S UPPLEMENT assistance, an innovative project promotes joint, Web-based THE INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE PROGRAM / 85 Israeli-Palestinian dialogue. The IB is a challenging academic program with many By Yossi Alpher perks — for the right type of student. By Francesca Huemer Kelly 29 / HOLDING ISRAEL RESPONSIBLE Bitterlemons’ Palestinian co-editor offers his own perspective. SCHOOLS AT A GLANCE / 98, 102 By Ghassan Khitab Essential data on educational choices.

33 / U.S. POLICY AND THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT C OLUMNS D EPARTMENTS President Bush has not held Israel to account PRESIDENT’S VIEWS / 5 LETTERS / 7 for its failure to pursue peace with its neighbors. Foreign Assistance “Reform:” CYBERNOTES / 12 By Nadia Hijab The Short-Term Mentality Sets In By J. Anthony Holmes MARKETPLACE / 14 39 / THE IMPLICATIONS OF IRAQ FOR THE MIDDLE EAST AFSA NEWS / 59 The presumption of U.S. military superiority is under PEAKING UT S O / 14 BOOKS / 74 fire in Iraq. Even more important, the world may Immigration Policy for the IN MEMORY / 80 begin to doubt our leadership and reliability. 21st Century INDEX TO By Edward Walker By David Searby ADVERTISERS / 114 45 / TOWARD A NEW FOREIGN POLICY AGENDA LETTER FROM THE EDITOR / 19 Terrorism in the Middle East is not the cause of the By Steven Alan Honley violence we face, but the response to occupation by REFLECTIONS / 116 those too weak to use any other tactic. The Lucky Pole By Robert V. Keeley By Nicholas Rey

THE MAGAZINE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS PROFESSIONALS OREIGN ERVICE Foreign Service Journal (ISSN 0146-3543), 2101 E Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037-2990 is published J O U R N A L F S monthly with a combined July/August issue by the American Foreign Service Association, a private, non-profit Editorial Board Editor organization. Material appearing herein represents the opinions of the writers and does not necessarily represent STEVEN ALAN HONLEY TED WILKINSON, the views of the Journal, the Editorial Board or AFSA. Writer queries and submissions are invited, preferably by Senior Editor CHAIRMAN e-mail. Journal subscription: AFSA Members - $13 included in annual dues; others - $40. For foreign surface mail, SUSAN B. MAITRA add $18 per year; foreign airmail, $36 per year. Periodical postage paid at Washington, D.C., and at additional mail- Associate Editor KENT C. BROKENSHIRE SHAWN DORMAN ing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to Foreign Service Journal, 2101 E Street N.W., Washington, D.C. STEPHEN W. B UCK Ad & Circulation Manager 20037-2990. Indexed by Public Affairs Information Service (PAIS). The Journal is not responsible for unsolicited ED MILTENBERGER ANTHONY S. CHAN manuscripts, photos or illustrations. Advertising inquiries are invited. The appearance of advertisements herein Business Manager JOSH GLAZEROFF does not imply the endorsement of the services or goods offered. FAX: (202) 338-8244 or (202) 338-6820. ANDREW KIDD WILLIAM W. J ORDAN E-MAIL: [email protected]. WEB: www.afsa.org. TELEPHONE: (202) 338-4045. © American Foreign Service Art Director LAURIE KASSMAN CARYN SUKO SMITH Association, 2006. Printed in the U.S.A. Send address changes to AFSA Membership, 2101 E Street N.W., KAY WEBB MAYFIELD Editorial Intern Washington, D.C. 20037-2990. Printed on 50-percent recycled paper, of which 10 percent is post-consumer waste. CRYSTAL K. MERIWETHER LAMIYA RAHMAN Advertising Intern JOYCE NAMDE FLORIAN HEINHOLD CHRISTOPHER L. TEAL Cover and inside illustrations by Adam Niklewicz

DECEMBER 2006/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 3

PRESIDENT’S VIEWS Foreign Assistance “Reform:” The Short-Term Mentality Sets In BY J. ANTHONY HOLMES

The buzz is back. The idea standing thematic and regional tributing anti-retroviral drugs to AIDS that was so pervasive earlier this programs are reportedly being sufferers, it could be quite the opposite year, that the State Department relegated to the margins of via- with our larger programs and broader under Secretary Rice intends to bility. goals. take over USAID, has flared up A number of affected peo- Reducing our aid’s geographical and again despite adamant denials. ple have expressed alarm that thematic focus creates other problems, This time, though, the percep- the new USAID Administra- particularly on a strategic level in terms tion is that a merger by stealth is tor/Deputy Secretary, former of how to use aid to pursue overall U.S. already well advanced. pharmaceutical executive Randall Tob- interests. USAID was forced to shrink Reports of rock-bottom morale and ias, is trying to apply to the huge, com- to survive during the 1990s, when a con- rumors of a surge in voluntary retire- plex foreign aid structure the formula centrated, “invest-in-success” model ments reflect a growing perception of that worked relatively well for him, was also a reasonable development stra- huge shifts in power and control from albeit on a much smaller scale, as head tegy. However, this approach neglects overseas to Washington and from of PEPFAR, the White House initiative many challenges in a post-9/11 world, USAID to State. I’ve gotten the impres- to fight HIV/AIDS. PEPFAR’s hall- where we must find a way to engage sion that all our foreign assistance pro- marks include: the narrowest possible with precisely those countries to which fessionals think is missing is an official geographical and thematic focus to we give short shrift. The same is true, announcement that long-term develop- achieve immediate impact; maximum many believe, for our regional programs ment has now been supplanted as the control by headquarters, with limited and our initiatives on transnational agency’s overarching goal by short-term input on funding decisions from pros in threats like WMD proliferation and political considerations cloaked as the field; and a focus on ensuring mea- environmental degradation. “transformational diplomacy.” surable results even in the near term for The growing disquiet in State and The initial announcement early this use as PR and in budget battles. USAID is striking in that consciousness year that the new USAID Administrator But what works in the fight against of these profound changes has been would concurrently be the Deputy HIV/AIDS, some veterans believe, is such a creeping phenomenon, slowly Secretary of State for Foreign Assistan- not an appropriate approach to the sinking in without frank discussion, ce generated major heartburn among complex, interrelated issues and pro- debate, or intellectual buy-in by the USAID staff but little reaction at the cesses of economic and social develop- major stakeholders involved. Most of State Department. Aggressive efforts to ment. They want flexibility in the field the large and diverse U.S. development assuage those concerns focused on com- to be able to respond quickly to changes community doesn’t have a clue. While ing reforms in the allocation process and on the ground. They fear a zealous pur- some briefings on Capitol Hill have potential benefits from streamlining suit of demonstrable results — an inher- taken place, I understand, invitations multiple pots of our aid funds. But now, ently short-term focus — will be the tail were limited and the focus was on eight months into the effort, people that wags the dog, reordering priorities, process not substance. After the mid- have seen enough detail about the damping creativity and risk-taking, and term elections, of course, there will soon process, and learned of major funding dictating a supply rather than demand- be new individuals in key positions cuts and reallocations, that the decibel driven dynamic between the U.S. and and a different approach to oversight. level of concern has skyrocketed. This its aid recipient partners. The need for Perhaps this would be a good time to applies within State as well, where long- “local ownership” has become an article initiate an all-parties review of the of faith in development. While that may new paradigm so that the necessary J. Anthony Holmes is the president of the converge completely with Washington’s support here at home is achieved in American Foreign Service Association. political agenda when it comes to dis- advance.

DECEMBER 2006/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 5

LETTERS

Public Diplomacy Congress for U/S Hughes’ strategic Editor’s Note: We welcome the & Career FSOs ability and leadership has led direct- four officers’ testimonial to the work We read with surprise in your Oc- ly to increases in funding for educa- Karen Hughes is doing as under sec- tober issue (“Damage Control: Karen tional and cultural exchanges. She retary for public diplomacy — most Hughes Does PD”) that Under Secre- has pioneered new information out- points of which, in fact, appear in the tary Karen Hughes has supposedly not reach support like the Rapid Res- Zeller article — and for their first- recruited experienced Foreign and ponse Unit and overseas regional hand account of her aims and goals. Civil Service officers for key positions public diplomacy hubs, all led by Indeed, the author requested, and we on her staff and in the “R” (public career department officers. She has would have welcomed, direct input diplomacy and public affairs) bureaus. also strengthened our language Web from the under secretary’s office; What about us? As senior career sites and added features to the PD unfortunately, it was not forthcoming. Foreign Service officers who have community’s dedicated Web site, Quotes cited in the article, of course, been working for U/S Hughes for over INFOCENTRAL, to make it more do not necessarily reflect the views of a year, and are members of her core useful to posts. Overall, she has either the author, the Journal or public diplomacy and exchanges team, worked to make existing public diplo- AFSA. we submit that the Journal article was macy tools more effective, and she incorrect and misleading. has encouraged everyone to consider Public Outreach Is Not In fact, U/S Hughes has put in public diplomacy part of their core Public Diplomacy place an integrated team of career responsibilities. First, I would like to commend the Foreign Service, Civil Service and Under Secretary Hughes has also FSJ for an excellent and balanced non-career professionals, all dedicated made addressing issues such as the October magazine focusing on public to the mission of advancing public competitiveness of PD-coned officers diplomacy. As a PD-coned officer, it diplomacy and more fully integrating for promotion and senior assignments was gratifying to see many of the public diplomacy into the mainstream a top priority, together with building issues that my colleagues and I discuss of the department. into the system better professional informally put out to a larger audi- Your readers should also know that training of public diplomacy officers. ence. the under secretary very strongly sup- Most important, she has championed I’d also like to expand on an issue ports and encourages the professional the central role of public diplomacy in raised in Shawn Zeller’s article. To growth and development of the public shaping effective diplomacy for the quote the article, “Hughes has not diplomacy function across the State United States in the 21st century. taken it upon herself ... to commend Department. Her energetic support Those of us who are privileged to career staff when they do a good job, for the PD cone in particular has given see firsthand the many ways in which or give them assurances that hard public diplomacy professionals an Under Secretary Hughes is making a work and training in the public diplo- unprecedented voice in the depart- difference know how lucky public macy arena will lead to career ment’s senior policy and management diplomacy and the department are that advancement.” circles. Under Secretary Hughes is also she has thrown in her lot with ours. True enough, as far as it goes, but providing needed leadership in the Miller Crouch, the real issue goes even deeper. The interagency community to strengthen Jeremy Curtin, oft-repeated phrase “every officer is a our public diplomacy across the U.S. Daniel Smith and PD officer” is not only untrue, but is government. None of this is easy or Gretchen Welch demeaning and demoralizing to those inevitable. FSOs of us who are career public diplomacy Respect in the administration and Washington, D.C. professionals. It takes years of train-

DECEMBER 2006/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 7 L ETTERS

ing and experience to perfect public reach by mission officers is only one uation expressed more than once by diplomacy skills — and there are tool of many in the kit — and a public Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. more than a few senior Foreign diplomacy officer’s expertise is Secretary Rice was no sooner set- Service officers outside of the PD required to decide when and where to tled into the seventh floor than she cone who may be superb in their best use that particular tool. began to question the Foreign conal area, but don’t have a clue about It is time for senior officials to stop Service assignment procedures and PD. (And that goes both ways — I denigrating public diplomacy officers issued her pronouncement that offi- admit I don’t have a clue about eco- and start treating us as the well- cers should line up to learn Arabic nomics, but then no one is going trained professionals that we are — and other tough languages for what around saying “every officer is an eco- not to mention commending us when she deemed the really important FS nomic officer.”) we do a good job, and giving us assur- assignments in the world’s trouble What is true is that every Foreign ances that hard work and training in spots. Then, as noted in the Sep- Service officer can and should be PD will lead to career advancement. tember AFSA News report of her doing public outreach — but that is Anne E. Grimes meeting with AFSA, she called for not public diplomacy. Public diplo- Public Diplomacy Officer the Foreign Service to be more macy is a well-thought-out plan, Washington, D.C. ‘expeditionary,’ with the implication developed by the public affairs officer that some cadre or cadres of officers and his or her staff at post, and The Missing Face of PD ought to be groomed and ready to go approved by the ambassador or prin- Under Secretary Karen Hughes’ anywhere on super-short notice to do cipal officer, to influence and inform wariness of the Foreign Service anything. foreign publics, using a full range of (“Damage Control,” FSJ, October) If U/S Hughes is the face of public public diplomacy tools. Public outcomes close to echoing the cold eval- diplomacy at State, the face is not much on view. In fact, Journal readers in Austin, Texas, are relieved to learn from your excellent October issue that she is actually on the job (sort of). Having heard next to nothing about what Hughes was up to since leaving Austin to rejoin the government, we rather equated her ap- pointment to the high public diplomacy post at State with Elizabeth Dole’s election to the U.S. Senate: Neither has ever been much heard from since. We now learn that U/S Hughes has spent a lot of energy pushing her ‘five Es’ talking points (far too pithy to repeat here) instead of effectively using the inside-administration mus- cle she clearly used to have. The diplomatic world would have taken clear note had she pushed for restora- tion of the true and once-reliable face of American diplomacy, the U.S. Information Agency, to official and independent status. Public diplomacy took a real hit seven years ago when USIA/USIS was dispersed into varied State bureaus and those weird, unco- ordinated media outlets. Administra-

8 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2006 L ETTERS

tion after administration had put USIA in the crosshairs of government reorganization in the name of efficiency, and it has been costly. Perhaps I am wrong to suspect that Hughes’ timing in returning to Washington was to meet the minimum five-year federal retirement/ health insurance benefits sinecure, entitlements not to be forsaken light- ly. Whatever her motivation and efforts, Hughes has done little mea- surable good for public diplomacy, and she has done nothing to correct the impression of disdain at the top for the Foreign Service as an institution. The Secretary of State dismisses as unimportant, if not unworthy, a robust Foreign Service presence in friendly, progressive countries — countries which have become and remain friendly and progressive in no small part owing to our diplomatic efforts. This bespeaks a lack of understanding of what diplomacy is or should be about. It is also an attitude demeaning to officers past and present and to the tradition of careful preparation for the important work of diplomacy around the globe. We who view our Foreign Service years in the rear-view mirror have to be grateful that our time was then and not now. And those officers now working and coping with this putative redefinition of their jobs and purpose should take heart in knowing that this, too, will pass. Edmund L. Nichols Senior FSO, retired Austin, Texas

Reintegrate the PD Function The October FSJ on public diplomacy is a superb, timely and imagina- tive issue. As a former FSO who served in USIA as assistant director for the USSR and Eastern Europe, I know the critical importance of the PD function. I lament the sloppy dis-

DECEMBER 2006/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 9 L ETTERS

solution of USIA and slow reintegra- ership at the top to reflect the real pri- original aspirations. Many years ago, tion of the function into the depart- ority that PD must have. when I temporarily served on our ment. I say reintegration, because Kempton Jenkins U.N. staff, I had security people qui- when I was sworn in as a new FSO in FSO, retired etly identifying delegates as well as 1950, the PD functions were a part of Bethesda, Md. staff being financially supported by the department in Washington and the KGB and the East Germans, who overseas (as USIS). Death Squads were well aware that their small bud- The Journal’s measured and large- In his book review of Empire’s gets were inadequate for living in ly critical treatment of the present Workshop (September), Ambassador expensive New York. alignment and priority for this func- Dennis Jett gratuitously, and erro- It is time for the United States to tion is right on the money. I hope neously, writes that “the death squads revitalize the democracies of the Secretary Rice and Under Secretary we encouraged in Central America world into a strong and permanent Hughes have read it, as well as the are being replicated in Iraq today.” caucus aimed at restoring the dignity, earlier report on the function by Ed We did not encourage death squads in the integrity, the idealism and the Djerejian and company. Central America. Quite the contrary. influence of the original aspirations of There are three important barri- Do “we” encourage them in Iraq? I those who created the U.N. There ers to fulfilling the critical task of doubt it. isn’t much time. rebuilding our PD function that were As for “the myth of U.S. success in Tom Boyatt deserves our appreci- not so obvious in the FSJ articles. Central America,” I note that the ation for urging us forward by re- First, the budget. There was a gen- guerrillas in El Salvador, despite minding us of facts and not only eral acknowledgement that budget being supported by Cuba, the Soviet dreams. constraints continue to restrain our Union and the Marxist regime in Max M. Kampelman effort in spite of Under Secretary Managua, did not prevail. Ambassador, retired Hughes’ success in incrementally Deane R. Hinton Washington, D.C. increasing the PD budget. What is Ambassador, retired essential now is a fundamental “beef- Mechanicsburg, Pa. Clean Up the U.N. ing up,” not an incremental increase. The September “Speaking Out” No one is in a better position to U.N. Corruption by Ambassador Thomas Boyatt con- accomplish this than Hughes, whose I write to thank you for publishing cerning the United Nations’ culture ties to President Bush are undisput- Tom Boyatt’s perceptive article about of corruption was a very powerful ed. the United Nations’ culture of cor- piece and right on the mark over and Second, vacant slots need filling. ruption (Speaking Out, September). over again. It should be widely dis- The cost of gearing up our personnel It is not in our interest to be blind to tributed. to expand our outreach is marginal that regrettable reality. When I’ve considered the United compared to “bridges to nowhere” or President Truman went to San Fran- Nations corrupt for years. Because F-22s. More creative recruiting of cisco to address the final meeting of of my USAID assignments from Arab-American students could help the U.N. conference giving birth to Afghanistan to Zambia, I know jump-start a personnel buildup. that new international body and its something about Third World cor- Third, the visa barrier. Often aspirations for peace and human dig- ruption. In many poor countries, underappreciated is the fact that for- nity, he said that its charter was a corruption is a way of life and a key eigners’ first impression of the U.S. is “solid structure upon which we can to survival. On the other hand, cor- our visa and customs process. We build a better world.” We should not ruption at the U.N. is all about greed must maximize the security element of be blind to its failures if we wish to and personal enrichment. The “Oil visa issuance without insulting those help restore that body to its original for Food” program is but the latest we seek to influence. The assistant aspirations. scandal, and it has yet to play out secretary for consular affairs must be Being blind to corruption will not fully. enlisted in Under Secretary Hughes’ address the bureaucratic rot that it I don’t know if a new internation- PD efforts to present a polite and wel- represents. Being blind to the power al organization of the willing is possi- coming face to the world, even as we and influence of long-term U.N. ble. But at the very least the U.S. tighten our entry procedures. staffers from Third World and unde- government should call for a top-to- In short, we need aggressive lead- mocratic states will not achieve our bottom housecleaning at the U.N.

10 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2006 L ETTERS A time of service…a time of need Help for Seniors May and withhold funds until this is accomplished. Be Just a Phone Call Away— John Patterson Former AFSA/USAID VP The Senior Living Foundation may be and USAID FSO able to help you or someone you know. North Kingstown, R.I. Some examples of assistance are:

Military Background N Home Health Care In his State VP Voice column, N Adult Day Care & Respite Care “The Elephant in the Room” (Octo- N Prescription Drug Copayments ber AFSA News), Steve Kashkett wrote: “We are not the military either N Transportation to Medical Appointments by background, temperament, train- N Durable Medical Equipment ing or skill sets.” Many Foreign Ser- vice personnel, however, do indeed For more information, please contact the have a military background. The SENIOR LIVING FOUNDATION current director general of the For- OF THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE eign Service, Amb. George Staples, 1716 N Street, NW N Washington, DC 20036-2902 Phone: (202) 887-8170 N Fax: (202) 872-9320 is a former Air Force officer. Amb. E-Mail: [email protected] N Web Site: www.SLFoundation.org Staples’ predecessor, Amb. Robert SPONSORED BY THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION Pearson, is a former Navy officer. Former Army, Navy and Air Force personnel, as well as Marines and Coast Guard, fill the ranks of the Foreign Service. In fact, some of our colleagues in the reserves have even been reactivated for military duty. I have not been in the military, but I salute, acknowledge and thank those of my colleagues who have for their service in our nation’s armed forces, whether it was during the Cold War era or the present. John Higi FSO Embassy Kuwait

Send your letters to: [email protected]. Note that all letters are subject to editing for style, format and length.

DECEMBER 2006/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 11 CYBERNOTES

Truth Meets the Message taken choice of words.’ Hughes did No public-diplomacy related news e have lost international not, however, go on the record with an item received more coverage in blogs support not because official statement, but conveyed her and the media in recent months than Wforeigners hate our ‘support’ through an assistant (see State Department official Alberto values but because they believe Item D at http://uscpublicdiplom Fernandez’ statement in an Oct. 21 acy.com/index.php/newsroom/jh we are repudiating them and interview with Al-Jazeera that U.S. nbrown_detail/061027_pdpbr/). policy in Iraq has displayed “arro- behaving contrary to them. Whether this is enough to prevent a gance” and “stupidity” (http://uscpu — Amb. Chas W. Freeman, Jr., further erosion of enthusiasm in PD blicdiplomacy.com/index.php/new ranks, as officers absorb the implica- Oct. 4, remarks to USIA sroom/johnbrown_detail/061023_ tions of getting the tiniest bit “off- pdpbr/). The front pages of newspa- Alumni Association, message,” remains to be seen. pers throughout the Middle East cele- http://www.public Meanwhile, the view circulating in brated this unusual candor from a diplomacy.org/71.htm the Middle East that America can U.S. spokesman, while conservative never admit a mistake has a new life. commentators back here called for his — Susan Maitra, Senior Editor head. The Bush administration first as- impassioned plea to Arabs to engage Polls Find Americans Unhappy serted the quote was mistranslated, constructively in solving the region’s with U.S. Foreign Policy but dropped that claim when the BBC problems. Indeed, as he himself Two recent polls indicating that a and NPR verified the text. explained, he was defending Ameri- majority of Americans are unhappy Fernandez, a member of the Sen- can policy in a region where everyone with U.S. foreign policy proved to be ior Foreign Service, is director of the dislikes the U.S., and he was doing so accurate gauges of public sentiment Office of Press and Public Diplomacy in an aggressive way. “I know what going into the Nov. 7 election. Accor- in the Bureau of Near East Affairs and the policy is and what the red lines ding to both reports, Americans a fluent Arabic speaker. He has been are, and nothing I said hasn’t been believe that the world is becoming an described as “one of America’s most said before by senior officials,” increasingly dangerous place and that potent public diplomacy weapons in Fernandez told CNN. Secretary Rice Washington’s current involvements the region” (www.csmonitor.com/ herself had acknowledged publicly in abroad are only making the situation 2006/1024/p10s01-woiq.html). A March that the U.S. had made “thou- worse. profile in the Aug. 29 Newsweek sands” of mistakes in Iraq. In October, New York-based re- explained: “By breaking from the stilt- Yet the following morning the search organization Public Agenda ed style of traditional U.S. diplomats, State Department publicized Fernan- released its third “Confidence in U.S. Fernandez is able to connect with his dez’ formal recantation: “I seriously Foreign Policy Index” in collaboration Arab audiences and at the same time misspoke by using the phrase ‘there with Foreign Affairs, drawing on the deliver a strong line on foreign poli- has been arrogance and stupidity’ by responses of 1,001 adults to over 100 cy” (www.msnbc.msn.com/id/145 the U.S. in Iraq. This represents nei- questions regarding current U.S. for- 60221/site/newsweek/). ther my views nor those of the State eign policy. The Fall 2006 Index fea- As the Oct. 21 interview transcript Department. I apologize.” tured the first-ever Anxiety Indicator, shows (www.iht.com/articles/ap/ The apology apparently gave a tool that “will track the public’s over- 2006/10/22/africa/ME_GEN_Iraq_ Under Secretary Karen Hughes the all outlook on world affairs much as Insurgent_Negotiations_Text.php). chance to assure everyone of her sup- the Consumer Confidence Index fol- Fernandez’ candor was part of an port for Fernandez in spite of his ‘mis- lows its view of the economy” (www.

12 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2006 CYBERNOTES

publicagenda.org/foreignpolicy/ over half believe that the Bush admin- to increasing the public’s role in for- foreignpolicy_intro.htm). Mea- istration’s policies have increased the eign policy and international relations. sured on a 200-point scale (200 being likelihood of terrorist attacks. For more information, see www.wor the most anxious) the Anxiety Indi- More than seven out of 10 Ameri- ldpublicopinion.org/?nid=&id=& cator recorded a level of 130, denot- cans hope for a candidate who will lb=hmpg. ing significant public discontent. pursue a new approach to foreign pol- — Lamiya Rahman, Roughly 60 percent of Americans icy. Among respondents, 67 percent Editorial Intern believe international relations are “on believe that there should be a greater the wrong track,” with 69 percent emphasis on diplomatic and econom- Grameen Bank: feeling that the government is doing a ic methods, while only 2 percent think Giving Microcredit “fair” or “poor” job of improving inter- that the U.S. has the balance between Where Credit is Due national security. Respondents rank- military and diplomatic approaches In October, the Norwegian Nobel ed the most pressing issues to be the about right. Committee chose to honor Bangla- Middle East, dependence on foreign The majority agree that the U.S. deshi “banker to the poor” Muham- energy and America’s image abroad should make stronger efforts to work mad Yunus and his Grameen Bank (which participants saw as essential to with the United Nations, even if it has “for their efforts to create economic national security). Significantly, the to forgo its first choice of policies. and social development from below” government received failing grades on Participants also called for greater (http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prize crucial issues such as curbing nuclear cooperation on both domestic and s/peace/laureates/2006/). Through proliferation and achieving our goals international levels, suggesting that a relatively simple idea, Yunus man- in Iraq and Afghanistan. Congress overcome bipartisan divi- aged to economically empower mil- The report also reveals that cer- sions and that the United States work lions of poor Bangladeshis who would tain issues — namely the situation in toward more multilateral strategies. otherwise have no access to loans or Iraq and our dependence on foreign PIPA is a joint effort of the Center financial services. The accolade has oil — are at a “tipping point.” As the on Policy Attitudes and the Center for brought microcredit to the general Index notes, “public concerns have International and Security Studies at public’s attention. reached such a high pitch that politi- the University of Maryland, dedicated The seeds of the Grameen Bank cal leaders avoid [these issues] at their peril.” A second questionnaire, published 50 Years Ago... by the Program on International Poli- An unprincipled, poker-playing foreign policy can be cy Attitudes/Knowledge Networks in administered with great effectiveness by a totalitarian October, aims to answer the question, “What kind of foreign policy does the nation which can largely ignore public opinion. When the American public want?” (for the full leaders of a democratic government attempt such a policy, they report, see www.worldpublicopin inevitably find themselves drifting out of touch with public and ion.org/pipa/articles/home_page/ congressional opinion. Unable to discover any clear pattern of 262.php?nid=&i). The poll reports the opinions of 1,058 participants. principles or objectives, the average citizen becomes first confused, The PIPA poll paints a similarly pes- then disillusioned, and finally antagonistic. simistic picture: 68 percent of — Chester Bowles, Letter to the Editor, FSJ, December 1956. Americans are dissatisfied with the U.S. position in the world today, and

DECEMBER 2006/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 13 C YBERNOTES

were sown in 1974 when, convinced of microcredit.org/). In November, the entrepreneurial spirit of the poor, 2,000 delegates from 100 countries Yunus began lending small amounts of attended the Global Microcredit Sum- money to men and women in rural mit in Halifax, Canada. They endor- Bangladesh without requiring collater- sed two main goals: to ensure that 175 al. Since then, the bank has grown to million of the world’s poorest families, serve over 70,000 villages and three especially the women of those fami- million clients who use the loans to lies, are receiving credit for self- set-up small businesses. employment and other financial and Grameen Bank uses innovative business services; and that 100 million methods to make microloans effec- of the world’s poorest families move tive. To ensure high recovery rates — from below $1 a day to above $1 a day currently at 95 percent — members by the end of 2015 (www.globalmi are assigned to groups of five that are crocreditsummit2006.org). collectively responsible for loan However, as many experts hasten repayment, a measure that applies to point out, microcredit is no social pressure and incentives. panacea. These development practi- Having discovered early on that men tioners fear that the hope of microcre- are less productive and more likely to dit is turning to hype as proponents default on loans, the Bank caters pri- embrace unrealistic expectations of its marily to women, who comprise 97 developmental effects. “It helps with percent of Grameen clients. Because cash flow smoothing, and can also borrowers are the principal owners — boost the confidence of women,” clients own 94 percent of the bank states Thomas Dichter in a critical and the government the rest — look at the microcredit movement. Grameen Bank is a predominantly “These are good things, but they are female-owned institution, highly un- considerably less than the serious usual in a traditionally male-dominat- long-term economic changes that are ed society (www.grameen-info. claimed for the movement. They are org/bank/index.html). not the same as credit used for pro- But Grameen Bank is not just a ductivity, job creation and enterprise financial institution. It has given birth growth in an increasingly competitive to several spin-off organizations dedi- and global economy” (http://micro cated to promoting development in financgateway.org/content/arti rural areas, such as an energy pro- cle/detail/31747). gram, a phone company and an Inter- Bangladesh is a case in point: the net service, among many other enter- birthplace of the model microcredit prises (www.grameen-info.org/ institution remains a Least Developed gfamily.html). Last month, in col- Country. Microfinance has a vital role laboration with French dairy giant to play, but not as a substitute for Danone, Grameen opened a food much-needed political and economic plant aimed at providing nutritious reforms. products for the poor. — Lamiya Rahman, In recent years, hundreds of Editorial Intern microcredit institutions have been established to engage poor popula- Afghanistan at A Turning tions all over the world. The United Point? Nations’ Economic and Social Coun- A sharply rising tide of violence in cil named 2005 the Internation- Afghanistan, as the southern insur- al Year of Microcredit (www.yearof gency gathers momentum, and the

14 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2006 C YBERNOTES

call by NATO Secretary General Jaap and trade; and failure to meet popular ments and policy in Afghanistan. The de Hoop Scheffer for a “radical over- expectations of development and ICG monitors the country, and the haul” of policy in Afghanistan have improved lives (see the full report at Afghanistan page of the organization’s once again put the spotlight on this www.crisisgroup.org). Web site contains links to other help- critical front in the Bush administra- The group urges a rethinking of ful sites, crucial documents and stud- tion’s war on terrorism. NATO took policies by both the Karzai govern- ies, and a history of the problem as over command of the International ment — whose writ remains for the well as its own analyses (www.crisis Security Assistance Force in Afghani- most part confined to Kabul — and group.org/home/index.cfm?id=3 stan over the summer (http://www. its Western backers and advocates, 071&l=1). Another valuable resource jfcbs.nato.int/ISAF/index.htm). in particular, a substantial increase in is the Afghanistan page of EurasiaNet, De Hoop Scheffer laid out the international forces deployed to the operated by the Central Eurasia need for a strategy change at a Nov. 2 battle zones. The ICG also warns Project of the Open Society Institute; it meeting in Brussels, where for the that without putting real, sustained features news developments and anal- first time major donors — namely the diplomatic pressure on Pakistan to ysis (www.eurasianet.org/resou U.N., the World Bank and the reverse policies that feed extremism, rce/afghanistan/index.shtml). To European Union — sat down with the it will be impossible to stabilize Af- monitor daily news, see South Asia military alliance to coordinate assis- ghanistan. News (http://southasia.net/news/ tance activities (www.iht.com/arti There are several online resources afghanistan/index.php). cles/2006/11/05/news/nato.php). that are useful in following develop- — Susan Maitra, Senior Editor A well-functioning Afghan police force and judiciary are essential for NATO, De Hoop Scheffer states. He Site of the Month: wants the military alliance to concen- www.globalmuseum.org trate on training the Afghan army, and have the E.U. take over entirely the Whether culture is your passion or you’re just looking for an interesting out- training of police forces. There is no ing in Cairo, you’ll want to check out Global Museum. This award-winning military solution, per se, De Hoop Webzine is a required read for museum enthusiasts of all varieties. As List-A- Scheffer stresses; coordination bet- Day.com describes it, “From bizarre and unbelievable news to noteworthy his- ween the reconstruction side and the torical facts, this newsletter will plug you into information that is just slightly off military side is essential. the beaten media track.” In early October, ISAF Comman- Since its 1998 launch by New Zealand Web-developer Roger Smith, Global der British Lieutenant General David Museum has become an essential resource for museum aficionados worldwide. Richards had sounded the alarm, It is an excellent source for the scoop on the museum world, with details on warning that without visible improve- new museums and exhibits, job openings, museum studies courses and recent ments in the daily lives of ordinary scientific discoveries. The home page features headlines on museum-related Afghans in the next six months, up to news from various international publications, from the BBC to Al-Jazeera. 70 percent of Afghans could shift Users can browse links to virtual libraries and research databases on the their allegiance to the Taliban-led Resources page to access a wealth of information on topics like artifact analy- insurgency that is steadily gaining sis, archaeology and anthropology. ground in the south and east (www. If you’re looking for a museum in your town, the Museum Links page is an eurasianet.org/departments/insi invaluable resource. A list of international links includes Web sites such as the ght/articles/pp101406.shtml). Virtual Library Museums Pages, an extensive directory of museums in over 90 A new report from the Inter- countries. A section dedicated exclusively to unusual museums around the national Crisis Group titled “Counter- world is sure to delight the less conventional user. The site also provides pod- ing Afghanistan’s Insurgency: No cast subscriptions to audio tours from several museums and a catalogue of Quick Fixes” pinpoints the issues: a museology books and publications. resurgent Taliban and other anti-gov- For updates on Global Museum, you can sign up for its free weekly sub- ernment elements from previous eras; scription. a crisis of government legitimacy; — Lamiya Rahman, Editoral Intern constantly expanding drug production

DECEMBER 2006/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 15 SPEAKING OUT Immigration Policy for the 21st Century

BY DAVID SEARBY

n the morning of my Foreign reducing the “opportunity disparity” Service oral exam back in Before we embark on in countries of origin that fuels illegal OOctober 1986, I sat down at grand redesigns of immigration. The Millennium Chall- my kitchen table with the Washington enge Account is a study in both for- Post and a cup of coffee. (It’s a good immigration policy, eign and domestic realpolitik, but it thing I did, or I might not be writing it would be wise to does not target illegal immigration; this piece!) The lead story was the develop a limited nor does it focus on problem coun- passage of the Simpson-Rodino Bill, pilot project. tries like Mexico. And even if it did, officially called the Immigration U.S. foreign assistance levels to many Reform and Control Act of 1986. countries are going down, not up. Later that morning, I sat nervously So is there no way to fund devel- with two FSOs in an aesthetically opment that might help slow illegal challenged Rosslyn office that provid- already living in the United States. immigration? Actually, there is. The ed fair warning of my environs to Unlike the Senate, House Repub- simple answer is that the new source come. One of the examiners asked licans rejected the president’s call for a of funding would be the intending me, “What can you tell us about more nuanced approach to controlling illegal immigrants themselves. recent U.S. immigration reform?” I illegal immigration that includes an Many poor illegal immigrants breathed a sigh of relief and then expanded guest worker program and a somehow raise thousands of dollars went over the points of the Post arti- path to “legalization” (amnesty having for often-dangerous entry into the cle. I was off to a good start. become a “Scarlet A”). By the time U.S. to compete for low-paying jobs In many ways, the debate has you read this, we will know whether with no labor protections. Such per- changed little in the last 20 years. The their bet on reinforcing their activist sons willing to play this high-stakes two key elements of Simpson-Rodino base will enable the GOP to hold onto crapshoot would pay even more for were an amnesty for long-time illegal control of Congress. But even if it safe, certain and legal access to the aliens and employer sanctions to pre- does, over the long term an anti-illegal U.S. job market for a period of time, vent new illegal workers from coming, immigrant stance looks more and particularly if they were seen as boost- though the sanctions were never more like a vote-loser — particularly ing their local communities and would aggressively enforced. Both ideas are among Latinos, the fastest-growing get their money back in the end. still around, but in the post-9/11 era segment of the U.S. population. I propose to create a new category the emphasis is definitely on border The current deadlock suggests that of legal entry that combines our security. The Secure Fence Act pass- before we embark on grand redesigns immigration objectives with our for- ed by Congress and signed by Presi- of immigration policy along the lines eign assistance objectives to control dent Bush, almost exactly 20 years of Simpson-Rodino, it would be wise illegal immigration and play a small after President Reagan signed Simp- to develop a limited pilot project that role in closing the opportunity gap son-Rodino, authorizes a 700-mile could be tested and evaluated before that underlies illegal immigration. fence along the most porous parts of being carried further. Here are some More important, the program would the 2,000-mile border with Mexico — ideas for such a new approach. immediately deter illegal immigration though there is real doubt the struc- by raising reasonable hopes for tem- ture will ever be built as proposed. The Missing Piece: porary, legal entry into the U.S. in a But even if the fence does go up, the Development Abroad way that is less objectionable to those legislation does not address the plight Conspicuous by its absence from Americans who want to shut the door of the millions of illegal immigrants the immigration debate is a focus on on all immigration.

16 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2006 S PEAKING O UT

Program participants would post a “failure” — when a participant did not The Dominican Republic is a siz- sizable bond and pay an administra- return — would plant seeds for future able source of illegal immigration. In tive fee to help keep the program rev- success in reducing immigration 2000, what was then the Immigration enue-neutral (aside from startup pressures. Funds generated would be and Naturalization Service estimated costs). Selected participants would be used to create jobs and promote there were nearly 100,000 illegal given the right to work in the U.S. for growth in the country of origin via pro- Dominican immigrants in the United a limited time (perhaps 10 years). jects in job training, Internet connec- States. And the number is growing. The bond would be returned upon tivity, trade capacity building, cooper- Each year, the Coast Guard interdicts the participant’s relinquishing of legal ative sales organizations, microfinance between 2,000 and 5,000 Dominicans residency in the U.S. Each year, par- and rural development programs. attempting illegal entry into Puerto ticipants would contribute to their USAID would likely administer the Rico through the treacherous waters existing bond to further boost devel- program. of the Mona Channel (hundreds opment in their home country and The best method for selecting par- more die trying). However, many progressively increase their incentive ticipants would be a simple lottery thousands more each year succeed in to return home. Participants could with a low entry fee, a system that entering the U.S. illegally. Thus, for a extend their stay here for a limited would play well into the psyche of the pilot program for the Dominican time by paying a higher annual bond intending illegal immigrant. Foreign Republic, let us assume the following supplement. The size of the bond and Service officers who have seen many a figures: the annual supplement could be hopeful, hapless face in a visa line • 10,000 program participants per adjusted periodically on a country-by- know that many intending illegal year (a reasonable figure in a country country basis to be high enough to immigrants are just waiting for that of nearly nine million persons that ensure that most participants would one lucky break and may delay illegal received nearly 20,000 green card return home. At the same time, these entry attempts in the hopes of win- visas in 2005); bonds would remain comparable to ning the lottery the next year. Thus, • A $5,000-10,000 bond on each the cost of illegal entry to attract a the deterrence effect on illegal immi- person (vs. smuggling fees of $1,000- large number of applicants, perhaps gration would extend beyond actual $6,000 from the Dominican Repub- two to three times the actual number program participants. lic); of annual participants. • An annual bond supplement of During the participant’s time in the A Pilot Program: $1,000; program, the bond would be invested The Dominican Republic • A 5-percent rate of return (a con- in a secure U.S. fund or, possibly, in The need to define the project so servative guess given that the Thrift financial institutions in the partici- as to be able to evaluate results in Savings Plan currently offers a 10-year pant’s country of origin, with interest depth suggests that the project should average return of 7.2 percent); and, used to finance development grants be confined to a single country, • An administrative fee of $500- and loans. Participants who return preferably one that is a significant $1,000 per participant to cover costs. would be given preferential access to source of illegal immigration to the With these assumptions, a pro- the aid program if this would help cre- U.S. Because Latinos are the major gram in the Dominican Republic ate jobs. Those who fail to return source of illegal immigration, it would could generate $5.5 million in first- home at the end of their work permit make sense if the pilot country was year interest alone, an increase of 23 would forfeit their bonds and bond Latin American. percent over current FY 2006 assis- supplements, which would then be But which? Mexico is too big and tance levels of $24.2 million. Ten directed toward development in their politically sensitive. El Salvador, Gua- years into the program, as more bonds country. temala and Honduras are next in line earn interest, the additional assistance Exceptions would only be made in in producing illegal immigrants, but it available would reach $55 million per case of the death of the participant. If would be difficult to choose one over year, or $88 million per year assuming participants gain legal permanent res- the other two. The natural choice a “worst case” 30-percent overstay/ idence in the U.S. via other means, would be the next-largest Latin Ameri- bond forfeiture rate, or an increase in such as marriage, they would still lose can source of illegal immigration, a foreign assistance ranging from 127 to at least a portion of the bond for vio- country that stands apart but has much 263 percent. lating their unconditional pact to in common with the rest of Hispanic These estimates are just examples; return. In any case, programmatic America: the Dominican Republic. a considerable amount of tinkering

DECEMBER 2006/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 17 S PEAKING O UT

with the details would be necessary. lic and the United States. It would secure our borders, which raise the But the main point is that a pilot pro- undercut the big criminal business of cost of illegal entry and, thus, also the gram in a smaller country would offer human trafficking, a business that attractiveness of this legal alternative. valuable lessons that could be applied undermines Dominican law enforce- to a broader program — or show that ment integrity and often works along- No Plan Is Perfect the concept is not workable. side narcotics trafficking. Once in the There are, of course, some draw- U.S., all participants would have to backs to the idea, as well. The chief Program Benefits remain gainfully employed, out of jail, one is the fact that many participants I believe such an approach would off public assistance and current in will overstay and forfeit their bonds. offer the following advantages: their U.S. tax payments, or they would Even so, a high overstay rate would • Besides the primary benefit of forfeit their bonds. raise more money for development cutting illegal immigration, this pro- • It would offer excellent U.S. and could be brought down by raising gram would reduce the magnet effect public diplomacy opportunities, such the bond. In addition, such individu- of immigration. Participants would be as yearly graduation ceremonies for als would already be fingerprinted, a less likely to try to draw family mem- returning participants involving the big plus over most illegal immigrants. bers into the U.S. if they plan to U.S. ambassador. In addition, bonds, such as those return home. • This approach would comple- associated with tourist visas, are gen- • It would literally save hundreds ment other temporary worker pro- erally seen as distasteful, demeaning of lives a year by lowering illegal boat grams, like those targeting specific job and difficult to administer. However, passages. skills, as well as our program for green a bond that offered new opportunity • The program would promote the card/legal permanent residence visas. specifically tied to development rule of law in the Dominican Repub- It would also complement efforts to would be more politically acceptable, both in the U.S. and overseas. Let me emphasize that this program should not be used as a new vehicle for importing skilled labor, which can be addressed through existing means. Accordingly, additional bond requirements for higher salaries above certain levels might be necessary. Albert Einstein quipped, “I never think of the future — it comes soon enough.” Twenty years from now, will we still be mired in today’s immigration debate? Addressing illegal immigration will take time and a multifac- eted approach, with some carrot and some stick. There are no simple solutions. Still, a new visa category that integrates foreign assistance and immigration objectives could be part of a compromise in today’s polarized debate.

David Searby, a Foreign Service officer since 1988, has served in Santo Dom- ingo, Rome and Mexico City. He is currently desk officer for the Domini- can Republic. The views expressed in this article are the author’s own.

18 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2006 LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

BY STEVEN ALAN HONLEY

appy holidays! Once again sider writing a feature article (also it’s time for my periodic There are many generally 2,000-3,000 words long) on Hinvitation to take advantage a topic of your choice. of the many opportunities to con- ways you can share Our annual fiction contest is now tribute to the Journal. your insights in our in its second decade. As we did this Occasionally friends will tell me summer, instead of devoting an that while they enjoy reading the pages. Let us hear entire issue to it (as in past years), we magazine, they wonder why we from you. will publish the winning story in the decided to devote an entire issue to a July-August 2007 double issue, and topic that they don’t find particularly the runners-up in other issues relevant or interesting. But some- throughout the year, space permit- how, I don’t think anybody will feel ting. that way about this month’s focus on articles, but warmly welcome contri- The rules and timing are basically the Middle East and, specifically, the butions from FS personnel. the same as before, with one impor- Israeli-Palestinian dispute! On the next page you will find a tant exception. Entrants are still Of course, that is not to say that list of the focus topics our Editorial restricted to one story of 3,000 words our treatment of this thorny subject Board has identified for the coming or less, which must be e-mailed to will satisfy everyone; in fact, I’d be year (subject, of course, to revision). Journal Business Manager Andrew willing to bet it won’t. But as always, Most of these themes relate directly Kidd at [email protected]. However, the we have tried to put together a range to Foreign Service professional and deadline for submissions is now of commentaries and analyses from a lifestyle issues, so I hope many of you March 1 (not April 1 as in past variety of perspectives, including will consider sharing your insights years). For more details, see the ads several contributions by authors and expertise. elsewhere in this and the next sever- from the region. So whatever your Do note, however, that because of al issues, or contact Andrew directly. stance, we hope you will at least find our lead time for publication, and the We invite those of you who expect our coverage thought-provoking. requirement for Editorial Board to publish a book between now and I also hope you will share your approval, we need to receive submis- next fall to send us a copy, along with reactions, positive and negative, not sions at least two months (and promotional materials, for inclusion only to this issue but to what you preferably longer) prior to the issue’s in our annual compilation of recently read every month, by contributing to release date. Thus, we have already published books by Foreign Service- our Letters section. Just bear in lined up authors for the January and affiliated authors, “In Their Own mind that, as with all periodicals, the February issues, but there is still Write.” Sept. 1 is still the deadline briefer and more focused your letter, time to submit manuscripts for later for inclusion in that roundup, which the more likely we’ll be able to print months. Submissions should gener- will run in November as our main it in full. (In general, 200 to 400 ally be between 2,000 and 3,000 feature. For more information, con- words is a good target.) words, though shorter pieces are tact Senior Editor Susan Maitra at Each issue of the Journal features always welcome. [email protected]. a focus section examining various If those choices don’t grab you, or facets of an issue related to the if you feel we have not devoted Share Your Insights Foreign Service or international af- enough space to a professional con- We take seriously our mission to fairs. We commission most of these cern or functional issue, please con- give you “news you can use” — e.g.,

DECEMBER 2006/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 19 L ETTER FROM THE E DITOR

information about how to advance Lighter Side (FS humor). Con- your career; tips on dealing effective- tact Journal Associate Editor Shawn ly with the bureaucracy at State and The Speaking Out Dorman for more information at the other foreign affairs agencies, [email protected]. especially when you are trying to department is your Another place to look for such resolve a problem; and updates on items is our periodic FS Know-How how AFSA is working to improve forum to advocate section. We welcome contributions working and living conditions for on topics ranging from managing one’s Foreign Service employees and their policy, regulatory or career and cutting red tape to parlay- families. ing one’s professional skills in retire- Much of that coverage is found, of statutory changes to the ment, as well as financial information course, within the pages of AFSA and guidance for Foreign Service per- News (now part of the magazine’s Foreign Service. sonnel. “white pages”). That section offers There are many other ways you can many different ways for members to contribute to our pages, of course. share their experiences, thoughts and The Speaking Out department is concerns regarding professional issues, (ist) Concern (a forum for specialists), your forum to advocate policy, regula- including the following departments: Where to Retire, The System and tory or statutory changes to the Family Member Matters, Of Special- You, Memo of the Month and The Foreign Service. These columns (approximately 1,500 words long) can be based on personal experience with FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL an injustice or offer insights into a for- 2007 EDITORIAL CALENDAR eign affairs-related issue. Our Reflections page features JANUARY “Best & Worst Posts” survey (cover story) short commentaries (approximately FEBRUARY Prospects for Bush administration foreign policy in 600 words long) based on personal final two years experiences while living or traveling overseas. These submissions should MARCH Militarization of the FS (Iraq War’s impact) center on insights gained as a result of (PLUS: AFSA Annual Report) interactions with other cultures, rather APRIL Russia than being descriptive “travel pieces.” Note that we are also pleased to con- MAY The FS career life-cycle sider poetry and photographs for pub- JUNE Iran (PLUS: semiannual SCHOOLS SUPPLEMENT) lication, either in that section or as JULY/AUGUST Promoting nonproliferation: controlling WMDs & delivery freestanding features. systems (PLUS: Summer fiction winner(s) and AFSA Award Please note that all submissions to winners) the Journal must be approved by our Editorial Board and are subject to SEPTEMBER Human Rights & the “Global War on Terror” editing for style, length and format. OCTOBER The U.S. borders (Mexico & Canada posts and related issues) For information on how to submit a NOVEMBER Non-foreign affairs agencies at overseas posts column, article or letter, please contact (PLUS: “In Their Own Write”— annual roundup of books us at [email protected]; we will be delighted to respond. For other by FS authors) inquiries — changes of address, sub- DECEMBER Religion and diplomacy scriptions, etc. — e-mail us at journal (PLUS: semiannual SCHOOLS SUPPLEMENT) @afsa.org. Let us hear from you.

20 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2006 F OCUS ON M IDDLE E AST P EACE

THE HOLY LAND: CAN PEACE BE RESCUED? Adam Niklewicz

THE U.S. COULD, IF IT WISHED, BREAK THE IMPASSE AND HELP ISRAELIS AND PALESTINIANS MAKE PEACE. SO SAYS A VETERAN FSO AND MIDDLE EAST HAND.

BY PHILIP C. WILCOX JR.

he Israeli-Palestinian struggle over the Holy Land, which has attracted more obses- sive attention and defied a solution longer than any major conflict of the past century, is the story of two victims. The Jews were the victim of historic Christian anti-Semitism that brought forth Zionism, the quest for a state for the Jews in their ancient homeland.T The Nazi era and the Holocaust made the Zionist cause even more urgent, and led to the 1948 war and the birth of Israel. The Palestinians, many of whom were dispossessed and fled the war, were the other victim.

DECEMBER 2006/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 21 F OCUS

It is not surprising that neither the Jews, given their ous offer” at Camp David in 2000 in favor of armed past suffering and desperation after Hitler’s war, nor the struggle. Nevertheless, Israel’s patriotic myths are Palestinians, who had no responsibility for Jewish suf- deeply entrenched and constantly recycled. fering at the hands of Westerners, but nevertheless lost Israel’s political culture exalts military power and their homeland, felt any empathy for each other. It is deterrence as the key to security, and devalues negotia- tragic, nevertheless, that the passage of time has done so tions and compromise. The Israel Defense Forces is little to heal these historic wounds and that the rest of the country’s most powerful institution in shaping pub- the world, especially the United States, has allowed this lic opinion and national security policy. The IDF’s icon- dreadful situation to fester. And it is ironic that today ic status and the country’s overblown faith in force are the prospects for peace are still distant, even as the out- understandable, given the Jews’ historic powerlessness, line of a two-state solution, the only way to meet the the Holocaust and seven wars in the last 58 years. But core needs of both societies, has become clear. pervasive propaganda has also reinforced a sense of per- There are many reasons for this failure: unrelenting manent siege, notwithstanding Israel’s military pre-emi- propaganda; dysfunctional Israeli and Palestinian poli- nence and nuclear monopoly in the region. tics; the huge disparity of power between them; and Israelis’ self-righteous narrative of exclusive victim- America’s failure to serve as an even-handed peace- ization and exaggerated belief in force have made it maker. more difficult to deal realistically with their Palestinian neighbors. The occupation and settlement of territories The Power of Propaganda conquered in 1967 has produced deep intellectual and Pervasive, self-righteous propaganda and incitement moral confusion over the character of Zionism and the — deeply embedded in the political culture of both Israeli state. Propaganda has obscured the injustice of sides — have prolonged the conflict. Each has demo- settlements in the territories and continued denial of nized the other to justify violence and cruelty. genuine Palestinian self-determination. “Security” is Politicians promote fear, not reconciliation, and find cited to justify violations of international law and basic obstacles to negotiations because they oppose compro- Jewish values, and to protect Israel’s self-image as a mise. Negative mirror images between Israelis and humane, democratic country. Palestinians and, especially, terrible mutual violence Historically, unrelieved occupation of an unwilling have devastated hopes for peace in both societies. people has always bred violent rebellion. Yet many In recent years, Israeli historians, using newly Israelis do not grasp the link between terrorism and mil- opened archives, have debunked some well-worn itary occupation, settlements and denial of human totems of Israel’s idealized national narrative. They rights. Politicians and the media still preach that have established, for example, that 750,000 Palestinians Palestinian violence stems from hatred of the Jews and were driven out by Israeli forces in the 1948 war, or fled rejection of Israel, even after most Palestinians and the in fear of their lives, and that their “voluntary” depar- Arab states have abandoned rejection of Israel in favor ture in response to Arab radio broadcasts is a myth. of a two-state peace. And they have established that ideology and territorial Palestinians are also deeply self-absorbed with their expansion, rather than peace, have sometimes motivat- victimization and, like the Israelis, they too easily sured Israel’s policy. More recently, Israeli and other ana- render to pathologies of martyrdom and revenge. Their lysts have challenged the notion that Yasser Arafat political culture seldom accepts responsibility for dys- wrecked the Oslo peace process by rejecting a “gener- functional organization, internal fragmentation and other historic failures, and tends to blame everything on Ambassador Philip C. Wilcox Jr. was a Foreign Service Israel. Some Palestinians, like President Mahmoud Ab- officer from 1966 to 1997. Among his many assignments, bas, condemn terrorism and recognize its brutalizing he was director for Israeli and Arab-Israeli affairs, con- effect. Yet many young Palestinians still cling to the fan- sul general in Jerusalem and ambassador-at-large for tasy that Israel will ultimately yield to violence. Too few counterterrorism. He is currently president of the understand the devastating effect of terrorism in feed- Foundation for Middle East Peace. ing negative Israeli and worldwide stereotypes of

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Palestinians and diverting attention Radical minorities on West Bank and opposing the newly from the justice of their cause. elected Hamas government, bodes ill both sides wield for Palestinian institutional develop- Two Divided Societies ment. The IDF has taken charge, de Another reason for the stalemate is disproportionate facto, of security in the West Bank, the fact that radical minorities on both and Palestinian civil government sides wield disproportionate power power that blocks hardly functions. Onerous controls that blocks effective majorities and over internal movement and the sep- cripples peacemaking. In Israel, the effective majorities and aration barrier block trade. And the influence of extremist and religious cutoff of Western aid and Israel’s factions is inflated by a parliamentary cripples peacemaking. withholding of tax revenues owed to system that allows the election of Palestinians in order to undermine members from many small parties, Hamas have accelerated poverty and including ultra-orthodox Jews and messianic Religious institutional breakdown. Zionists who support settlements. The results are un- In this environment, armed factions have filled the vac- stable coalitions or “national unity” governments like uum. Fractious and disorderly, the Palestinian political Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s current Kadima-led coali- system is ill-equipped to make major decisions about tion. Held hostage by minorities, governments have been peace with Israel and to win public support for hard choic- unable to act decisively on issues of territory and peace, es. President Abbas and Hamas Prime Minister Ismail and the few that have attempted it have collapsed. Haniyeh have called for a national unity government of Most of Israel’s impressive intellectual and cultural technocrats with a nonpartisan prime minister, hoping to elite understand the corrosive effects of occupation. They restore aid and restart negotiations. But as of this writing, support a wide variety of human rights and peace groups, this has not been implemented, Hamas/Fatah violence and produce the most trenchant and authoritative criti- continues, and Israel and the U.S. have offered little cism of Israeli policy. Moreover, repeated polls suggest encouragement. that a majority of Israelis, on the conceptual level, want peace, oppose settlements and support a negotiated two- “Peace Process” Versus Peace state solution in return for real peace. Since 1991, the American concept of peacemaking has Paradoxically, however, at election time Israelis’ sup- been a process of dialogue, negotiations and “confidence port for peace is often trumped by security fears. For the building.” Washington has served as a go-between, but majority, the lesson of the failed Oslo process, the 2000- has seldom offered clear American policy views on the big 2004 intifada and the recent Lebanon war, constantly issues of settlements, borders, Jerusalem and refugees. reinforced by politicians and generals, is that Israel can The exception was the “Clinton parameters” offered in only rely on force, since “there is no Palestinian partner.” December 2000 to rescue the dying Oslo process after the Thus far, the peace camp has been unable to persuade collapse of the Camp David Summit in July. Both sides electoral majorities that negotiations and peace are a real- accepted these, although with reservations, and Israeli istic alternative. and Palestinian negotiators fleshed them out at Taba in Palestinian politics are also deeply divided and dys- January 2001. But this tentative agreement was soon functional. The main fault line lies between Fatah and mooted by the election of Ariel Sharon, a proponent of Hamas, but there are many smaller secular and Islamist force, and the inauguration of George W. Bush. factions. As in other subject societies and emerging poli- The 1993 Oslo Declaration was little more than pro- ties, Palestinian institutions are weak, for lack of experi- mises for mutual recognition, an end to violence, and ence and opportunity. Except for a few years during the negotiations over six years. Its failure confirmed that a Oslo era, Israeli policy has worked against Palestinian self- process without strong third-party mediation and an government and democracy. Arafat’s authoritarian style agreed definition of peace cannot work. The Oslo process and lack of coherent strategy also took a toll. contained no such agreement and the two sides had very Israel’s policy today of maintaining its occupation of the different expectations. Israel assumed it could keep most

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settlements and all of Jerusalem, and that the Palestinians policy is politically dangerous, if not suicidal. would accept a shrunken quasi-state. But the Palestinians The passionate efforts of some American Jewish groups expected evacuation of all settlements, full sovereignty to protect Israel from criticism reflect genuine fears, based within the 1949 armistice line and a capital in East on Jewish history, that even well-meaning criticism, if it Jerusalem. The Oslo process also failed because of deep becomes widespread, might bring latent anti-Semitism out political divisions on both sides that deprived Arafat and of the woodwork and weaken American support that Israel Rabin — and later Peres and Barak — of strong negotiat- needs. Mention of the lobby also evokes memories of old ing mandates. anti-Semitic canards about “Jewish power.” Others fer- The lack of an agreed destination and internal disunity vently reject any criticism of Israeli policy because it helped extremists on both sides wreck the process. Israel threatens their belief system that idealizes Israel as some- aggressively expanded settlements; suicide bombings by thing exceptional and above criticism. radical Islamists violated the Palestinians’ promise to halt But the Israel lobby is hardly the only reason for violence; and the IDF imposed repressive new policies in America’s lopsided alliance with Israel. Many Americans the name of security. The result was a devastating loss of feel a strong affinity for Israel because of the Bible, the mutual confidence in peace. “Judeo-Christian” cultural tradition and remorse over the It was naïve to expect that Israelis and Palestinians Holocaust. There is also a powerful fundamentalist Chris- could make peace by themselves, given the huge dispari- tian lobby that views Israel as the prophetic vehicle for the ty of power between them, without strong, even-handed second coming of Christ. These forces are strong, espe- U.S. mediation. Yet the U.S. withheld vigorous mediation cially in the absence of historic American connections and policy proposals of its own until December 2000, with, and much suspicion and ignorance toward, Arabs when Clinton offered his “parameters.” But it was too late. and Muslims. Nor was the U.S. an honest broker. As Aaron Miller, the Some conservatives argue that Israel is a strategic mil- deputy U.S. negotiator, acknowledged in 2005: “Far too itary ally, although the case for this was never strong and often, we functioned ... as Israel’s lawyer.” faded after the Cold War. Also, some Americans reject the view that terrorism against Israel is a response, ugly America’s Failure but predictable, to the prolonged denial of Palestinian Why has America, notwithstanding its great power, self-determination, and believe America must stand been unable to summon the diplomatic leadership and uncritically with Israel in a “war on terrorism.” even-handedness needed to help resolve this conflict? Contrary to conventional wisdom, the United States, if For years, it has been widely believed, although seldom it wished, could break the current impasse and help discussed in public, that an “Israel lobby” has discouraged Israelis and Palestinians make peace, notwithstanding the U.S. policies that could make peace and protect American obstacles that have crippled policy in the past. The sub- interests. The now-famous essay on this lobby in the stance of a comprehensive peace plan is already clear. In March 2006 issue of the London Review of Books by over 20 years of unofficial and official negotiations before Professors John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt — who, 2001, Israeli and Palestinian experts found mutually quoting Salon, describe it as the “elephant in the living acceptable answers to almost all final-status issues. (There room” — has provoked shrill criticism, including charges is less consensus on Jerusalem and refugees, though solu- of anti-Semitism. But it has also opened up useful public tions for these issues are not beyond reach.) debate. The essence of an overall solution is found in the still- It is no secret to U.S. officials, legislators and the media born Clinton parameters of late 2000, the Taba talks of that well-funded, dedicated groups like the American January 2001 and the citizen-led Geneva Accords of 2003. Israel Public Affairs Committee have often succeeded in In short, a workable plan would include an end to most discouraging official or media criticism of Israel and the settlements, with some border changes and land swaps, adoption of U.S. policies at odds with Israel’s. These two capitals in Jerusalem, security and economic arrange- groups often do so by conflating criticism of Israeli policy ments, and a resolution of the Palestinian refugee issue with hostility to Israel and Zionism, stifling debate and (albeit one that is mostly symbolic). strengthening the conviction that any criticism of Israeli Moreover, repeated polls suggest that majorities on

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both sides would support a comprehensive plan for peace sure, such a plan would be bitterly opposed at the outset if they had reason to hope peace were possible. The prob- by right-wing Israeli leaders and by influential conserva- lem is that the same majorities have lost all hope, and nei- tive Jewish and Christian elements here at home. It ther Israeli nor Palestinian leaders have embraced such a would therefore require stamina, an extended horizon for plan. The current Israeli leadership, driven by the military success, and a skilled effort to build a strong American and and settler interests, seeks a radically different outcome international peace constituency. with a unilaterally imposed, ersatz Palestinian state, con- To succeed, an American peace plan should propose fined by barriers in scarcely connected enclaves. Palestin- solutions not only for the core Israeli-Palestinian issue, but ian policies have been ambiguous, and the new Hamas for Israel’s conflicts with Syria and Lebanon as well. government seems to have no clear policy except sticking Israel’s recent disastrous war with Lebanon has under- fast to non-recognition of Israel and the right to armed scored the indivisibility of these three conflicts. Such a resistance, although it continues to support a ceasefire and bold American initiative could ease our disengagement has authorized President Abbas to negotiate. from Iraq and encourage support from the Arab world for that process. A comprehensive approach could also help The Path to Peace neutralize the challenge from Iran and establish a more A U.S. peace initiative, with a firm commitment by the rational U.S.-Iranian relationship. president, that sponsored new negotiations based on solu- To create a domestic foundation for a new Middle East tions already proposed by Israelis and Palestinians could policy, the president should engage and seek to empower, have a dramatic effect on the politics and psychology of especially, liberal Zionist groups and unaffiliated Jews who both sides if skillfully designed, presented with compas- support peace and may well constitute, contrary to con- sion for both, and pursued firmly and patiently. To be ventional wisdom, a “silent” American Jewish majority.

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No U.S. president has ever tried this, mistakenly assum- define itself and Zionism. The choices seem clear. Will ing that groups like AIPAC speak for most American Jews. Israel abandon the ill-fated adventure with occupation Such a strategy would also reach out to peaceminded and settlement begun after 1967 to become a state at Israeli political groups and leaders, whom Washington has peace with its neighbors and the world? Or will it be a ignored in recent years. besieged, garrison state, in strategic retreat notwithstand- Success for a new American initiative would also ing its nuclear weapons, burdened by a chronic, violent require strong international support, especially from the rebellion, and beset with a new anti-Semitism, especially Arab world, and endorsement by the U.N. The plan in the Arab and Muslim worlds, that confuses Judaism might incorporate parts of President Bush’s Middle East with Israeli policy? Will Israel sacrifice its goal of becom- Road Map, as a preliminary phase to precede talks to ing a peaceful state, based on universal and Jewish values, implement the plan’s larger vision for a final-status peace. for an impossible project of defeating and colonizing its The 2002 Arab League offer to make peace with Israel in Palestinian neighbors, who in a matter of decades will out- return for liberation of the Palestinians should also be number Israeli Jews? built in, and a distinguished, full-time envoy would be Israel has been unable to make this choice, and the set- needed. tler movement — the nation’s most united, dynamic polit- The underlying strategy would be to mobilize support, ical group — although a minority, continues to prevail by over time, from the majority of Israelis and Palestinians by default. The U.S., which proclaims its eternal support for offering renewed hope with a bold plan that meets both Israel’s security and well-being, should help Israel escape peoples’ most fundamental needs. It would rest on expec- from this trap, instead of indulging it in self-destructive tations that Israelis and Palestinians, who are deeply policies. That is what friends are for. weary of conflict, would ultimately support such a plan in Likewise, if America is serious about democracy, their self-interest, and would, if necessary, oblige their human rights and its own principles of justice and free- leaders to do likewise or give way to others. dom, it must also help rescue the Palestinians. Like the The American message would reflect the compelling Jews, they, too, are victims and deserve freedom and dig- but little-understood reality that such a comprehensive nity in a state of their own. plan would be pro-Israel and pro-Palestine, since the fun- Time is short. Some analysts say that the settlements damental interests of both sides — Israelis’ need for peace — “facts on the ground” — have already created an irre- and security in a democratic, Jewish state, and Palestin- versible Arab-Jewish entity and advocate a single secular, ians’ demand for freedom and justice in a state of their democratic state. But the one-state formula would likely own — are absolutely interdependent. Majorities on both bring further decades of communal conflict, not peace. sides understand this equation, but have lost hope it can Zionism is based on deep historical forces, and the Jewish be achieved. With convincing American leadership, both people will not abandon it. Nor do most Palestinians wish could embrace it. to forgo the dream of a state of their own and face further decades of strife and misery, although today some, in The Stakes Are High despair, are reverting to the one-state concept. Conventional political wisdom today holds that the sit- Most important, the U.S. owes its own citizens a new uation is not “ripe” for a bold U.S. initiative; it would col- policy to resolve a conflict that endangers American na- lapse amidst a fire storm of opposition, embarrassing the tional security. The continuation of the Israeli-Palestinian U.S. and creating deeper cynicism about peace. In fact, struggle and the well-grounded perception that Washing- this conflict is never “ripe” for a solution. It becomes ton defers to Israeli policy have done more than any- worse as time passes, and efforts to manage it by working thing else to inflame anti-American hostility among on its margins have always failed. Moreover, the gravity of Arabs and Muslims. At a time when regaining the con- the situation calls for an audacious change in policy. Even fidence and respect of people in those volatile regions if the U.S. did not succeed after persistent efforts, it would that now breed terrorism is critical, and when nuclear win stature and respect for a wise and courageous new proliferation poses another ominous threat, resolving the policy. Israeli-Palestinian conflict should be an urgent strategic Israel, 58 years after its founding, is still struggling to priority for the U.S.

26 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2006 F OCUS ON M IDDLE E AST P EACE

BITTERLEMONS.ORG AND THE LEBANON WAR Adam Niklewicz

LAUNCHED IN 2001 WITH U.S. SUPPORT, THIS INNOVATIVE PROJECT PROMOTES JOINT, WEB-BASED ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN DIALOGUE.

BY YOSSI ALPHER

n the regional map that emerged in early 2006, Israel faced militant and aggressive Islamist movements on two fronts, in Lebanon and Gaza. Both Hezbollah and Hamas are combinations of militia, terrorist band and political party, the latter enfranchised by recent democratic reform schemes for the region. Backed by Iran andO its client state, Syria, both reject Israel’s very existence, refuse to negotiate with it, and feed on failed or weak Arab political entities.

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Within a few short weeks in late June and early July of related corollary to the fighting in Lebanon and Gaza was this year, both movements carried out acts of war against the shelving by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert of his plan Israel, invading its territory to kill and abduct members of to withdraw unilaterally from parts of the West Bank. the Israel Defense Forces. The IDF responded with a Israel felt it had been attacked unprovoked across two prolonged air and ground counterattack. In mid-August, internationally recognized boundaries after having with- a ceasefire ended more than a month’s fighting between drawn unilaterally across them; this called into question at Israel and Hezbollah, after which a United Nations force, least the Gaza model of withdrawing both the settlements known as UNIFIL II, was introduced under U.N. Secur- and the army without prior agreement with a viable ity Council Resolution 1701. As of early November, low- Palestinian government. level conflict continued between Israel and Hamas, and In both the Israeli and Palestinian arenas, some of the with other militants in the Gaza Strip. ramifications of the Lebanon ceasefire appeared to be All these developments, and more, that took place dur- negative, both militarily and politically, while a few ing and after the war constituted the weekly fare of bitter seemed to open prospects for possible new diplomatic lemons.org, a joint Israeli-Palestinian Web-based dialogue departures. project launched in 2001 with considerable support from United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 at the State Department’s Wye River People-to-People least temporarily ended the fighting. After some initial Program. Produced and co-edited by the author together international fumbling, Italian, French and other forces with Ghassan Khatib (see p. 29), a former Palestinian began to arrive in the south, and Israel was able to with- Authority minister, bitterlemons is unique in several draw its troops from southern Lebanon and end its respects: for having some 100,000 well-placed readers in embargo of Lebanese ports. Hezbollah’s leadership was the region and beyond, for the coverage its articles receive contrite, Lebanon’s forceful. At least in these early stages, from Web and print media, and for its format. 1701 appeared to be working. Rather than looking for agreement on the issues and Yet, despite the enthusiasm of some European leaders risk narrowing its readership to the peace camp niche, bit- who volunteered their troops for UNIFIL II in Lebanon, terlemons thrives on diversity, airing views that range from 1701 is a problematic model for an Israeli-Palestinian Hamas to the settlers. Every week Khatib and I select a ceasefire in Gaza. In Lebanon, an international force was new topic of controversy; each addresses it in op-ed for- introduced to support a weak government that at least had mat, and each solicits an op-ed by a compatriot with dif- good intentions, even as it feared the consequences of ferent views. Because the two of us agree on little beyond complying with U.N. demands to disarm Hezbollah. A the need for bitterlemons and the way to run it smoothly, similar measure in Gaza would support an even weaker — the result is usually four very different views on the issue but also extremist — Hamas government that is boycotted at hand. by the international community. Nor is the geography of tiny, overpopulated Gaza conducive to deploying interna- Fallout from the War tional forces on a large scale to create a buffer zone. What, then, are we trying to prove? That political Finally, non-U.N. forces, such as the U.S.-led Multi- antagonists can deal with their differences in a civilized national Force and Observers on the Sinai Peninsula and manner. That is the bitterlemons message. In this article the European Union monitors in Gaza, appear to have a we shall briefly review the key strategic developments of greater chance of success in the Israel-Arab context than the immediate postwar situation, then examine how bit- U.N. forces like UNIFIL, whether enhanced or not. terlemons dealt with them. On the other hand, Israel’s military achievements in One important and almost immediate Palestinian- Gaza (Qassam rocket firings were radically reduced; large numbers of militants were killed, against few Israeli casu- Yossi Alpher is co-editor of the bitterlemons family of alties) and the prospect of a ceasefire and prisoner Internet publications. He is a former director of the Jaffee exchange agreement appeared to obviate the immediate Center for Strategic Studies at Tel Aviv University and a need for anything but humanitarian international interven- former senior adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud tion there. Nor did Israeli forces reoccupy Gaza as they Barak. did, however briefly, southern Lebanon. In other words,

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Holding Israel Responsible By Ghassan Khatib

n recent years, Israeli positions and practices vis-à-vis borders of a two-state solution, the main vision of peace Palestinians and the Arab-Israeli conflict at large have shared by those interested in ending this conflict. Ibeen responsible for the process of regional political The failure of the peace process culminated after the and ideological radicalization. death of former Palestinian President Yasser Arafat and Over the last few decades, Palestinians and Arabs have the election of President Mahmoud Abbas. Abu Mazen, as come a long way toward reaching a historic compromise. he is generally known, was elected by a clear majority in They have accepted the outline of an end to the conflict — order to achieve through peaceful means the legitimate recognition of Israel within the pre-1967 borders — Palestinian aspirations of ending the occupation and despite the fact that this solution compromises the basic attaining independence. But during the year of Abu historical, political and national rights of Palestinians. In Mazen’s presidency, between Arafat’s absence and the return for an end to the illegal Israeli military occupation election of Hamas, he and the peace camp that he repre- of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem and the Gaza sents were completely abandoned by Israel and the United Strip, Arab countries unanimously endorsed such a com- States. This further contributed to the radicalization of promise at a 2002 summit. public opinion in Palestine and the region. These changing attitudes enabled Palestinians and Israeli collective punishment, specifically “closure” poli- Israelis, with the help of the international community, to cies and movement restrictions on people and goods begin the Madrid peace process in 1991. This culminat- between various Palestinian areas, have been recognized by ed in the signing of the Oslo agreement two years later, the World Bank and other international agencies as being the which instituted interim arrangements lasting five years, primary cause of ongoing economic deterioration and to be followed by an end to the conflict on the basis of the unprecedented poverty. Many independent studies have land-for-peace formula. tied political radicalization to increases in poverty. Toward the end of the 1990s, particularly after the But this Palestinian account is far less liable to reach 1995 assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak the eyes and ears of those interested in achieving a bal- Rabin, significant changes occurred in the Israeli political anced understanding of the conflict. As such, bitter landscape. Israeli public opinion manifested itself in posi- lemons.org has created a unique opportunity for both tions and practices that left Palestinians and the Arabs concerned individuals and groups outside the region to with the sense that Israel had not yet reached the maturi- gain greater understanding. Its contributors write and are ty required to end its illegal occupation, which has been interviewed separately by each side’s editor, allowing the conflict’s main provocation and the source of 39 years them to present their views as complete viewpoints, of humiliation and suffering for the Palestinian people. rather than as reactions to the ideas of others. As such, The single most decisive aspect of ongoing Israeli poli- perspectives are presented without compromise or the cies that contribute to this shared Palestinian and Arab approval of the “other side.” This is the truly unprece- conclusion has been nonstop Israeli expansion of illegal dented aspect of bitterlemons, one made possible by the Jewish settlements inside the occupied territories, along- landless arena of cyberspace and the commitment of its side construction of the Israeli separation wall, which all readers and creators. too often has been routed through Palestinian land rather than on the 1967 borders. Ghassan Khatib, co-editor of the bitterlemons family of Settlement expansion policies are incompatible with Internet publications, is a former Palestinian Authority the peace process, because they consolidate rather than Cabinet minister. He is a lecturer in cultural studies at end the occupation. Nor are they easily reversed. Birzeit University and director of the Jerusalem Media and Settlements create facts on the ground that prejudice the Communications Center.

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from Israel’s standpoint an internationally mandated cease- the Lebanon conflict ended without a decisive victory for fire was not needed in Gaza, and in any case probably either side. would not work even as well as in Lebanon because of the Certainly no new American initiative appeared likely ideological positions of the Hamas government. until after the November 2006 midterm elections. Even Broadly speaking, it was not at all clear whether a war then, Washington’s heavy commitments regarding Iraq fought by Israel in Lebanon to restore its deterrent profile and Iran, and the Bush administration’s reluctance to actually did so. This could have negative repercussions for engage intensively in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, appear the way Palestinian militants view Israel. The most obvi- to preclude a major U.S. move. On the other hand, the ous example is the failure of Resolution 1701 to return United Nations, the European Union and the moderate Israel’s two abducted soldiers from Lebanon; this hardly Arab states all appeared to be increasingly resolved to try boded well for a resolution of the hostage affair in Gaza on to do something after Lebanon on the Palestinian front as terms congenial to Israel. More important was the warn- well. The March 2002 Arab League peace plan was ing by senior Israeli security officials that Hamas would revived and Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan all evinced a now redouble its efforts to obtain a rocket arsenal similar desire to facilitate movement on the Israeli-Palestinian to that deployed so effectively by Hezbollah in Lebanon. front as a means of leveraging better Arab-Western-Israeli This put the focus on Egypt, which has undertaken to stop coordination against the looming Iranian threat that many arms smuggling into Gaza from the Sinai Peninsula. believe fostered Hezbollah’s performance in Lebanon. Yet Palestinian militants in Gaza were also aware that The United States, part of the Middle East Quartet (along Israel could do far more damage to the Gazan infrastruc- with the European Union, Russia and the United Nations), ture than it had actually done. They expressed apprehen- supported this general direction. sion lest Israel “take out its frustrations” from its latest Israel appears to be increasingly comfortable with such Lebanon experience by stepping up its attacks on Gaza, initiatives, and to prefer an international presence on its where the humanitarian situation was disastrous. All this borders with troublesome Islamist neighbors to renewing appeared to have raised hope for forming some sort of its military occupation — an option now rejected out of unity or technocratic government in the Palestinian hand by the Israeli public. Until recently, few in Israel Authority that might conceivably restore lines of commu- would have wished for an enhanced UNIFIL in Lebanon. nication between the PA and Israel and the West. Two years ago, few would have imagined that Egypt and the E.U. would play their current constructive role in Cause for Optimism? Gaza. Strong doubts about the efficacy of occupying Optimists hoped that a successful prisoner exchange enemy territory and a growing readiness to accept inter- deal with Hamas would pave the way for a Palestinian national intervention are two very dramatic recent strate- unity government that increased stability and moderation, gic departures for Israel. maintained a ceasefire and ushered in a peace process. But this was hardly a necessary chain of events. Equally, if Exploring the Issues not more, likely, stalemate and anarchy in Palestine could Bitterlemons explored these issues week after week generate new military and terrorist escalation or the col- throughout the conflict and beyond. Thus, in discussing lapse of the Palestinian Authority — eventualities that regional ramifications of the conflict, Professor Asher would benefit neither Palestinians nor Israelis. Susser of Tel Aviv University wrote on July 24 that “the Some on the Israeli left and in the Arab world called weakening of the Arab state has raised the profile and rel- for the 1991 Madrid Peace Conference to be reconvened, evance of primordial, sectarian and religious identities, or some other multilateral process invoked, as a means of coupled with the rise of non-state actors throughout the using the outcome of this war to leverage a renewed polit- region. The likes of Osama bin Laden, Abu Misab al- ical process. But Madrid followed an American-led mili- Zarqawi and his successors, and Hezbollah and Hamas, tary triumph that ostensibly ushered in a regional Pax the latter now in some mode of control of the non-state of Americana, which in turn helped generate a peace Palestine, have created a unique brand of chaotic state- process. In contrast, the United States’ involvement in lessness.” Iraq was not seen as bringing stability to the region, and Professor George Giacaman of the Palestinian Insti-

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tute for the Study of Democracy countered that the Pales- de facto [international] trusteeship is likely to continue.” tinian reaction to Lebanon was “the determined attempt The applicability of the international force decided on to reach internal [Palestinian] agreement on a package by the U.N. for Lebanon has also been the subject of a bit- deal with the Israelis involving release of the captured sol- terlemons debate. Palestinian law professor Camille Man- dier and an exchange of prisoners at a later date, plus a sour asserted on Sept. 18 that “any deployment of an ceasefire from both sides. [This] ... seems to be the first international force would be largely impossible in the consequence of the Lebanon escalation: first to separate absence of political negotiations,” while former Israeli the Lebanese issue from the Palestinian issue; and, sec- Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami responded that, to the ond, to resolve the Gaza situation independently from the contrary, “the solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict Lebanese situation.” will have to come from the international community, or Looking at the fate of the Palestinian Authority in there will be no solution at all.” light of the war, Professor Mustafa Abu Sway of al-Quds The rest of the Arab world commented on the war and University in East Jerusalem argued on Aug. 7 that “a its ramifications in the virtual pages of bitterlemons-inter- growing number of Palestinian voices are calling for an national, Alpher and Khatib’s companion Webzine that end to the existence of the interim PA itself in order to pits diverse views on broader Middle East issues from force Israel to assume its responsibilities as an occupier.” throughout the region against each other. Egypt’s Abdel Professor Gerald Steinberg of Bar-Ilan University Monem Said Aly, who heads the Al Ahram Strategic responded with a radically different formula: “Until Studies Center, noted with satisfaction on Sept. 14 that basic changes in Palestinian self-governance take place Cairo had contributed to formulating an “ideal conclusion and a more capable and pragmatic leadership emerges, to the [Lebanon] crisis,” which was to have “neither win-

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ners nor losers.” Professor Soli Ozel of Bilgi University in Syria. But Damascus, according to Bassma Kodmani, a Turkey explained why the government in Ankara opted to Syrian who serves as executive director of the Arab Reform contribute forces to UNIFIL II despite the public’s mis- Initiative, was preoccupied elsewhere: “The priority today givings. Nawaf Obaid of the Saudi National Security for Damascus is to be rid of the pressure from the interna- Assessment Project acknowledged that “the actual extent tional community regarding the Hariri investigation.” of the damage is now being realized, as is the fact that That Saudis, Iranians, Lebanese and Syrians all con- Hezbollah will not be able to rebuild what they have tribute to the bitterlemons project alongside Israelis and promised. And the apology by Hezbollah leader Hassan Palestinians testifies both to the growing readiness of all Nasrallah for the war was a big change in the perception parties in the Middle East to debate their views openly — that [it] had actually been victorious.” and to the power of the Internet to break down “tradi- Lebanese think-tank director Oussama Safa, writing in tional” barriers of enmity and suspicion. While Khatib late August, appeared to agree, noting “Hezbollah has, in and I have no agreed plan for solving the Israeli- reality, given up a major part of its ability to maneuver.” A Palestinian conflict, we have found a useful formula for month later another Lebanese academic, Habib C. Malik, expanding and deepening the discussion of both causes addressed the possibility of some sort of peace process and possible solutions. A growing number of Web practi- emerging from the war and noted that it really depended tioners who deal with the Middle East, from Syrians to on more distant issues. As he wrote, “A Syrian-Israeli Americans, have begun to copy the bitterlemons format peace is a function of the peaceful resolution of the current for promoting free and open discussion among rivals and impasse with Iran over the nuclear issue,” while a enemies — a very necessary step before the region’s Lebanese-Israeli process still depended, at least in part, on pressing problems can be resolved.

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U.S. POLICY AND THE ISRAELI- PALESTINIAN CONFLICT Adam Niklewicz

PRESIDENT BUSH HAS NOT HELD ISRAEL TO ACCOUNT FOR ITS FAILURE TO PURSUE PEACE WITH ITS NEIGHBORS.

BY NADIA HIJAB

n her speech to the American Task Force on Palestine on Oct. 11, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice pledged her personal commitment to a Palestinian state living side by side in peace with Israel. She asserted that President George W. Bush was the first American president to make “the creation of a Palestinian state, with territorial integrity,I with viability, living side by side with Israel, in peace and security” a matter of policy. As one example of U.S. efforts to “help the Palestinian people to lay the economic foundations of a successful state,”

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Rice recalled her personal involve- The Palestinians are European Union Council at its Sept. ment in reaching the 15 November 15 meeting. 2005 Agreement on Access between now arguably further Severely limited access to food and Israel and the Palestinian Authority. medicine due to Israel’s border clo- To be sure, Rice did invest consider- from achieving a sures, and to safe water and electrici- able political capital in securing ty due to its bombing of Gaza’s power Israeli agreement to the document. sovereign state than plant, has been reflected in a dramat- But in fact, that agreement is an illus- ic increase of diarrhea in children, tration of what has been wrong with at any time during among other health impacts. At American policy to date, not a shining least 68 Palestinian women have had example of sustainable peacemaking. the past 50 years. to give birth at checkpoints, leading The agreement provided, among to 34 miscarriages and the deaths of other things, that: four women. • Israel would “on an urgent basis ... permit the Donations from Arab states and the European export of all agricultural products from Gaza during Community’s Temporary International Mechanism have this 2005 harvest season.” done little to alleviate the desperate situation of some • The Rafah, Karni, Erez and Kerem Shalom cross- 160,000 Palestinian Authority employees. Around ings would “operate continuously.” 80,000 of them, including teachers and health workers, • Bus and truck links between Gaza and the West began an open-ended strike in early September. Bank were to be facilitated. Meanwhile, Israel continues to arrest Palestinian • The U.S. and Israel were to establish a list of “obsta- politicians to force the release of a soldier captured by cles” to movement within the West Bank, with a three Palestinian militant groups on June 25 in retaliation view to reducing them. for the killing of a family on the Gaza beach. A third of • A Gaza seaport was to be constructed and the air- the Cabinet, including Education Minister Nassereddin port was to be rebuilt. Shaer, and a quarter of the parliament, including Speaker Yet, in the end, the pact’s only tangible achievement Aziz Dweik, have been added to the more than 9,000 was the posting of European Union monitors at the Palestinians in Israeli jails. Most of the detainees are Rafah crossing. It did not even rescue the Palestinian West Bank Hamas moderates. Even Israeli commenta- harvest, which was left to rot because it could not be tors speculate that “Israel is ... seeking to eliminate every transported to market. And what was Washington’s sign of sovereignty.” response to the Israeli refusal to live up to its pledges? The International Parliamentary Union has called on Nothing that made a difference on the ground. Israel to respect the “parliamentary mandate,” but the United States remains silent. And instead of easing The Gap Between Rhetoric and Reality access within, between and to the Occupied Palestinian Today, the situation is indescribably worse than it was Territories, Israel has increased restrictions on the entry a year ago, in large part due to U.S. support for Israel’s of Palestinian holders of foreign passports, including U.S. actions and its imposition of sanctions on the government citizens — an issue that Rice has also promised to the Palestinians elected democratically in January 2006. address. The United Nations estimates that there are over 540 The Palestinians are now arguably further from checkpoints in the West Bank, far more than in 2005, achieving a sovereign state than at any time during the while the Gaza crossings are almost always closed. The past 50 years. They could thus be forgiven for feeling U.N. has repeatedly warned of an impending humanitar- considerable skepticism about U.S. policy statements, ian disaster in Gaza and is urging open access, as did the given the massive gap between stated intent and action. Nor are they alone in despairing of meaningful moves Nadia Hijab is a senior fellow at the Institute for Palestine toward peace led by Washington. Studies and co-director of its Washington, D.C., office. Nongovernmental bodies such as the International The opinions in this piece are her own. Crisis Group are stepping into the policy breach. On

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Sept. 22, the ICG launched an initiative to generate new United States is Israel’s largest donor and political sup- political momentum for a comprehensive settlement of porter. the Arab-Israeli conflict. In addition, a bipartisan group Arguably, if the U.S. had used some of its considerable of former senior diplomats convened at the Israel Policy leverage with Israel to support Palestinian President Forum in early October to urge the Bush administration Mahmoud Abbas after he was elected in January 2005 — to engage in the region. a full year before the election of Hamas — his party, Fatah, might have remained in power. However, Abbas Three Critical Errors was unable to point to any concrete benefits from any of From a Palestinian perspective, there are three things the past peace agreements — e.g., release of some of the wrong with the current administration’s policy toward the Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, an end to settlement- conflict: building in the West Bank, or greater freedom of move- False even-handedness. U.S. policymakers deal ment. In addition, reports of American financial support with Israel and the Palestinians as though they were for Abbas have enabled his opponents to paint him as a equal adversaries, ignoring the fact that Israel is the U.S. lackey, further undermining his already weak posi- strongest military power in the region and one of the tion. strongest in the world; it is a U.N. member-state; and it If Rice and Bush want to achieve their personal and has controlled Palestinian economic, social and political policy commitments in the Middle East, they will have to development in the Occupied Territories for nearly 40 move beyond negotiating piecemeal agreements that are years. The Palestinians are stateless, and have lived in not implemented. They should instead move to promote exile, under Israeli rule or under Israeli occupation, since a comprehensive agreement to end the conflict once and Israel was created in 1948. Palestinian security forces for all. Experience has shown that an incremental and militias are no match for the Israeli army, as the toll approach renders progress a hostage to any escalation of of dead and wounded clearly shows. violence on either side. Lack of reciprocity. Washington demands from the Israeli-Palestinian accords since 1993 have been billed Palestinians results that are not demanded from the as a series of small confidence-building steps, but have Israelis: an end to violence, recognition of past agree- instead perpetuated a vicious cycle: Israeli settlement- ments and political recognition. To back up its demands, building, land confiscation and the separation barrier the U.S. has led the international community in imposing provoke Palestinian protests, both non-violent and vio- an economic siege on the Palestinian Authority. To be lent. Those, in turn, lead to Israeli military incursions, fair, Washington should push for reciprocal recognition targeted killings and closures. The result: increasing and a mutual ceasefire. Palestinian loss of life and freedom, poverty and despair, No accountability. Israel has continued to build set- and a constant state of war for Israel. tlements and construct a so-called security wall on Palestinian land. It has doubled the number of Israeli Missing the Signals settlers in the West Bank from 200,000 to 400,000 since Against this background, the international community 1993, when Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organi- has ignored the signals from Hamas — both before and zation signed the first of a dozen painstakingly negotiated after it was democratically elected to head the Palestinian agreements. government — that it is willing to accept a Palestinian The Israeli economic and military pressures on the state side by side with Israel, and is capable of maintain- Palestinian Authority predate both the current crisis and ing a unilateral ceasefire with Israel for months. Rein- the election of Hamas. They began in the mid-1990s and forcing that point, in mid-October Khaled Meshal, the escalated after the collapse of the Camp David talks and Damascus-based head of Hamas (frequently described as the outbreak of the second intifada in 2000. By the end a hardliner), declared on television that what Hamas of 2002, major Israeli military offensives had led to the wants is a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, destruction of PA security forces and severely damaged which constitutes an implicit recognition of Israel. Mes- much civilian infrastructure. Yet the past two American hal pointed out that Hamas has repeatedly stated its sup- administrations have taken no action, even though the port for this aim.

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Furthermore, as Pres. Abbas and others recognize, Thus, if Rice really wants to support Abbas, she will Hamas is a deeply-rooted social and political movement. accept the compromise language he and Hamas reached The evolution of Hamas has been carefully monitored by in September during their negotiations on a unity gov- leading experts in the field who certainly cannot be ernment. accused of being apologists for terrorism. They include the International Crisis Group and Henry Siegman, a for- The Lebanon Model mer executive director of the American Jewish Congress Fortuitously, Israel’s political disarray after its July- who is now a Council on Foreign Relations senior fellow. August invasion of Lebanon provides the Bush adminis- The simple fact is that Hamas is now part of the main- tration with an opening to tackle the fundamentals of the stream of the Palestinian political spectrum and its conflict with the Palestinians. The scale and intensity of demands are also in the mainstream: a Palestinian state, the Lebanon-Israel war finally forced the international freedom, sovereignty and the right of return for community to hammer out a ceasefire after six weeks of Palestinian refugees and exiles. bloodshed. But it has yet to act on ending the bloodshed But instead of engaging Hamas, the Middle East on the Israeli-Palestinian front, where conflict has raged Quartet (the United States, Russia, European Union and since September 2000, with over 4,000 Palestinians and the United Nations) has focused on its inability to meet 1,000 Israelis killed and massive destruction on the the letter of their many preconditions. In particular, the Palestinian side. During a visit to Israel in August, Italian demand that Hamas unilaterally recognize Israel quickly Foreign Minister Massimo D’Alema remarked that a suc- torpedoed efforts this past September by Pres. Abbas and cessful international force in Lebanon could presage a former Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh to negotiate a similar one in Gaza, “and the presence of a U.N. force to unity government. bolster the Palestinian government.” The U.S. security However — and here is the crux of this matter — coordinator in the West Bank and Gaza, Maj. Gen. Keith Israel does not need Hamas’ recognition. It is already a Dayton, has also proposed international observers at the member-state of the United Nations and enjoys interna- Karni crossing to prevent repeated Israeli closures. tional recognition. And because any Palestinian state Such measures would bring great relief to the would eventually become a member-state of the U.N., it Occupied Palestinian Territories and provide security for would have to deal with its fellow member-states, includ- Israel. But beyond short-term measures, perhaps the ing Israel, in line with the U.N. Charter. main lesson to learn from Lebanon is the way in which it This is a reality that even some leading Israelis accept, marked the limits of military power and spelled an end to according to Margarita Mathiopoulos, a professor of unilateralism — both Israeli and American. American foreign policy at the University of Potsdam. The explanations for Israel’s decision to escalate what She quoted a number of former Israeli military and secu- could have been just another border skirmish with rity officers who acknowledge that “Hamas was not like- Hezbollah into all-out war include the desire to: re-estab- ly to unequivocally recognize Israel’s right to exist. But lish its image of military superiority, dented by its unilat- from their point of view, Israel’s legitimacy and viability as eral withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000; wipe out Hez- a state do not rest on some grudging and insincere recog- bollah’s military infrastructure, if not the movement as a nition extracted from its neighbors, but on its own mili- whole; and eliminate the last pockets of Arab resistance tary and economic power.” Further, they noted that once — Hezbollah and Hamas — before setting Israel’s final Israeli-Palestinian borders were demarcated, it would be borders in the West Bank. up to the Palestinians to police them. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was elected in For all these reasons, the best way to bolster Israel’s March 2006 on a platform of completing former Prime national security would be to set up a Palestinian state, Minister Ariel Sharon’s unilateral approach to the not thwart it. The most likely alternative to engagement Palestinians. He pledged to follow the unilateral with- by the U.S. is an uncontrollable situation of civil war and drawal from Gaza (which, however, continues to be chaos. Attempts to support security forces that report to under siege) with plans for a unilateral withdrawal from Abbas and Fatah against those that report to Hamas can the West Bank. only exacerbate the clashes between the Palestinians. Sharon believed he had secured American blessing for

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his vision of the final settlement of Washington deals with believe its objectives were met. the conflict in his exchange of let- Several analysts and commentators ters with Bush in 2004: no with- Israel and the Palestinians argue for a different approach. drawal of major Israeli settlement Professor Mathiopolous quotes blocs, no return for Palestinian as though they were equal other retired army generals as say- refugees, and maintenance of ing it is “time for Israel to return Israel’s identity as a Jewish state adversaries, which they the Golan Heights to Syria. The (meaning no equal rights for more military’s preference, the generals than one million citizens of Israel are emphatically not. say, would be for the Heights to be who are Palestinian). But after the ceded back to Syria but still con- latest fighting in Lebanon, the lim- trolled by Israel on a long-term its of unilateralism were exposed — neither the unilater- lease. If nationalistic sentiments in Syria made such an al withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000 nor that from Gaza arrangement impossible, then it should still be possible to had brought peace. Olmert’s plan for unilateral with- negotiate the area’s demilitarization.” They further note drawal has completely disappeared from his agenda, its that the conditions for peace are never going to be per- absence formalized in a speech laying out his program for fect and negotiators have to work with what they had. the coming year at the opening of the Knesset’s winter Many in the region believe Hezbollah’s resistance has session on Oct. 16, 2006. made this a very different Middle East. Rice referred to In spite of Bush and Olmert’s attempts to paint a glow- the moderates in the region seven times in her speech at ing victory, Israel’s own politicians and public do not the ATFP dinner. But the new Middle East is one in

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which moderate countries will find it even harder to take tions with Israel if it withdraws to the 1967 borders, pro-American positions. accepts a sovereign Palestinian state encompassing the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem, and agrees to a just Toward a Comprehensive Settlement solution for Palestinian refugees. These are all proposals If the Bush administration really wants a sustainable fully upheld by international law. solution in Lebanon, it will have to acknowledge the links Indeed, the majority of people throughout the Middle to Syria’s determination to recover the Golan, the Pales- East have been ready for peace for decades. There can tinian struggle for self-determination, and Lebanese be no doubt that the majority of the populations in Israel demands that Israel respect its sovereignty. Bush may and in the Occupied Palestinian Territories continue to find himself finally forced to implement the second para- support a two-state solution: for the Palestinians, free- graph of the July 16 G-8 statement issued in St. Peters- dom, self-determination, sovereignty and the right of burg: “The root cause of the problems in the region is the return; for the Israelis, peace and security; and for all, absence of a comprehensive Middle East peace.” Such a equal rights. settlement will require meaningful negotiations, leading It will not be easy to move back from the brink of to an end to unilateralism. chaos, but it can still be done. In her speech Rice The Palestinians and Arabs have been ready for peace noted that what today seems a distant dream can with Israel for years. They restated this commitment in become reality. Washington should support such an the Arab Peace Initiative launched by Saudi Arabia’s outcome in every possible way. If it cannot, for what- then-Crown Prince Abdullah in 2002. Under the plan, ever reason, it should step aside and let others, includ- they would sign a peace agreement and normalize rela- ing the Europeans, do so.

38 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2006 F OCUS ON M IDDLE E AST P EACE

THE IMPLICATIONS OF IRAQ AND ITS IMPACT ON THE REGION Adam Niklewicz

THE PRESUMPTION OF U.S. MILITARY SUPERIORITY IS UNDER FIRE IN IRAQ. EVEN MORE IMPORTANT, THE WORLD MAY BEGIN TO DOUBT OUR LEADERSHIP AND RELIABILITY.

BY EDWARD WALKER

n a regional poll of Arab attitudes conducted by Zogby International in October 2005, respondents in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Lebanon agreed by substantial pluralities that the most important factor in determining their anti-American attitude was U.S. occupation of Iraq. One major reason for thisI reaction is a misunderstanding of why we went into Iraq in the first place. In a separate poll Zogby and the University of Maryland conducted in May 2004, respondents averred by a substantial majority that protecting

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Israel and access to oil were the What the example of Iraq ourselves if we are not already in two motives for U.S. intervention the middle of a civil war. This war in Iraq. They still believe this. is doing, thus far, is to offer is less about al-Qaida and terror- The second major reason for ism than about the deep religious the hostility toward our presence encouragement to radical differences that divide the Middle in Iraq is the high cost to the Iraqi East. And it is this aspect of the people in terms of civilian casual- Islamists and other war that can have the most far- ties and the appearance that our reaching and profound conse- intervention has caused a civil war. terrorist wanna-bes. quences for us and for our friends The people in the region want to in the region. see the bleeding stop, and yet all The United States has been a they see is the presumption of an open-ended American stabilizing and balancing force in the region for many commitment to extend the occupation as part of a drive years. But when we disrupted the existing balance of for hegemony in the region. power in the region by toppling Saddam Hussein and With civilian casualty counts at some of their highest breaking the Sunni hammerlock on the population of levels since the war started, President Bush has made it Iraq, we opened the way for Shia resurgence, as well as clear that we will be in Iraq for the long haul, measured for the extension of Iranian influence and power in Iraq in years, not months. In his speech on Sept. 11, the pres- and, most recently, through Hezbollah in Lebanon. In ident said once again: “We will not leave until the work is short, we exposed a division in the Middle East centered done.” And what is that work? “To help the Iraqi people in Iraq, hidden by the borders of an artificial state. It was build a democracy,” he said. This is not just a question of the natural fault line between the Sunni and Shia that has defeating terrorism or providing security for the Iraqi existed for centuries — as opposed to the borders drawn people. We are talking about nationbuilding. And by the British for the convenience of their colonial nations are not built overnight. People like to refer back empire. This natural fracture has been pasted over, hid- to the successful occupation and nationbuilding of den and suppressed — first by colonial power and then Germany after World War II; they forget that the occu- by the repressive regime of Saddam Hussein. pation did not end until 1955, 10 years and many man- The fault line is not about terrorism but rather, in the hours later. And that was an occupation where there was famous words of Professor Samuel Huntington, a “clash little or no resistance. of civilizations.” But it is not the clash that Huntington foresaw between Islamic culture and Judeo-Christian Exposing a Fault Line culture. It is the clash within the Islamic civilization At the same time, our military leaders are warning between the Shia and Sunni interpretations of the Koran, about the increasing prospect of civil war in Iraq. In real- of Islamic history, of tradition and culture. It is also a ity, when a moderately violent day — like the one sever- clash between a radical, intolerant version of Islam that al weeks ago, when there were “only” 20 Iraqi civilians seeks a purity of faith that has not existed in centuries — killed — is celebrated as a good day, then we have to ask if it ever did — and those who believe in a different, more tolerant, more modern Islam. It is also a clash of power Edward Walker was a Foreign Service officer from 1967 and privilege: the result of years of second-class citizen- to 2001. In addition to serving as assistant secretary of ship for the Shiite plurality in Iraq. Now it is payback State for Near East affairs (2000-2001), he was ambas- time. And, finally, it is a clash of nationalism between sador to Israel (1998-2000), ambassador to Egypt (1994- Persian and Arab nationalities. 1998), deputy permanent representative to the U.N. This is not to say that the terrorists of al-Qaida have (1992-1994) and ambassador to the United Arab Emirates not made use of the disintegration of security and stabil- (1990-1992). After serving as president of the Middle East ity in Iraq. They have. They have replaced the training Institute from 2001 to 2006, he now holds the Christian grounds of Afghanistan and Sudan with the live-fire expe- Johnson Distinguished Professorship chair at Hamilton rience of Iraq. They have used Iraq to hone their tactics College in Clinton, N.Y. and develop new ways to cause American casualties.

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They are learning lessons in tactics and The asset of commitments to Iraq (not that he is like- weapons that can be applied elsewhere ly to use that term). And finally, he would against other targets, like Saudi Arabia, invincibility that be correct if he said the U.S. would lose Jordan and Egypt. They have also used deterrent power against the terrorists, if the surge of anti-American anger in the we projected in we are seen to be “cutting and running.” region and in expatriate communities in In fact, the president has magnified the Europe as an effective recruiting tool. 1991 has been negative effect of withdrawal by so char- The recent release by the White House acterizing it. But even in the absence of of the less damaging portions of the eroded. withdrawal, the fact that it appears that National Intelligence Estimate from we have been unsuccessful in achieving April 2006 reinforces the argument that our objectives is giving terrorists around our continuing occupation is growing the terrorist threat the world heart. in the region, at least temporarily. What the example of Iraq is doing, thus far, is to offer encouragement to radical Islamists and other terrorist Fueling Terrorism wanna-bes. Because we have not yet been able to bring When President Bush says that if we walk away from the violence under control, meet the challenge of asym- the problem, Iraq could become an even greater breed- metrical warfare or defeat the insurgency, we have encour- ing ground for international terrorism, he is correct. aged the aspirations of other militant groups in the region, The president would also be correct if he were to say that like Hezbollah and Hamas, and provided an example of a the U.S. would lose “soft power” if it turned away from its superpower that does not seem to be all that super.

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That perception has emboldened Regimes in the region about our ability to engage in addi- our enemies to challenge us, and tional military efforts beyond Iraq. because they see the vulnerability are beginning to cover What had been a constraint for of our conventional military forces regional players before the war — they have also dared to challenge their bets with Iran as its implicit in the prospect of over- Israel. Our deterrent posture has whelming American military action eroded, and the erosion of our leaders continue to defy, as we saw in 1991 in Kuwait — has deterrence erodes Israel’s. We are now been largely discounted by seeing ripple effects in other coun- with apparent impunity, Presidents Bashar al-Assad in Syria tries of the region as autocratic gov- and Mahmoud Ahmadinijad in ernments face new energy and the West. Iran. They do not fear us. The aggressive action on the part of reli- asset of invincibility that we pro- gious fundamentalists and religious jected in 1991 has been eroded. radicals. The message is “Religion works” or, in the words of its radical advocates, “Islam is the answer.” The Rise of Iran We should not underestimate the factor of pride that Iran has gained in relative power in the region as Hezbollah and their cousins in Iraq offer to the Arab American attention and military commitment has and Islamic people. They are the David to our Goliath. focused on Iraq. Iran’s influence has spread dramati- Nor should we forget the fundamental message that cally by taking up residence in southern Iraq. As one of these organizations are sending: Arab governments, our military officers who served there told me, “The which are tied to the Americans and the Israelis, are Iranians now own southern Iraq.” Their ties to Syria unable or unwilling to stand up for the Arab cause. The have grown apace, and their presence in Lebanon Islamists, with a fraction of the manpower, weapons and through Hezbollah is changing the balance of power in financial resources of the Arab governments, do a bet- favor of the Shiites in that country. ter job of making the world, and its superpowers, The message of the growing Iranian shadow in the respect Islamic culture, power and will. It is a powerful region has been lost in the Persian Gulf. The United message. Arab Emirates, where I served as ambassador in the In Egypt, the government fears a rebirth of the first Gulf war, is now coming out publicly and saying Islamist terror attacks of the mid-1990s, led at that time that Iranian intentions are peaceful and Iran’s nuclear by the Egyptian Islamic Jihad and Ayman Zawahiri, now program is related to peaceful ends. This is quite a dif- the al-Qaida number-two. We and the Egyptians beat ferent tune from the one I heard only a year ago, when Zawahiri then, and the EIJ went underground. Today it government leaders were expressing to me deep con- is re-emerging. In Syria, the Muslim Brotherhood’s ter- cern about Tehran’s intentions. rorist attacks of the late 1970s were snuffed out by The Gulf Cooperation Council, comprised of the President Hafez al-Assad’s attack on his own people in Gulf States and Saudi Arabia, is now talking about the Hama. Earlier this year, these same terrorists reap- right of all states to develop nuclear power — a theme peared and attacked our embassy in Damascus. that has been picked up by Egypt and seems to support In Israel, Hamas dares to stand up to Israel and Iranian pretensions about its own nuclear program. Hezbollah gambles on a cross-border adventure that Countries and regimes in the region are beginning to cost them dearly, but burnished the concept that a ded- cover their bets with Tehran as its leaders continue to icated non-state force can stand up to the power of an defy, with apparent impunity, the West and the Security Israel or of the United States and survive. Council. At the same time, because of the intractable violence Unlike Iraq, Iran could become a direct threat to us and the continuing need for at least 140,000 American and most certainly could become an existential threat to troops in the Iraq area of operations, we have raised our friends in the region, with Israel at the top of the questions in the minds of the leaders of terrorist groups list. The anti-Semitic and anti-Israeli rhetoric of a and regional leaders, particularly in Iran and Syria, Mahmoud Ahmadinijad may be designed to capitalize

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on local prejudices and build a populist base. But it can likely consequences of an Israeli attack on Iran, particu- also set the stage for direct action or further action larly after the recent war in Lebanon and the growth of through surrogates like Hezbollah. anti-Americanism in their domestic populations. Under current conditions, a nuclear-armed Iran is Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and King just a matter of time. An intercontinental delivery sys- Abdullah of Jordan are already vulnerable because of tem will take longer. But left unchecked, both are pos- their links to Israel and their close association with us. sible and probably inevitable. And the time frame is Waiting in the wings in both countries are substantial reduced if the delivery system is through terrorists. bodies of public support for representatives of political This is a case where I think the critics may have been Islam who are ready to take over if Mubarak or Abdullah right: Iraq could be a distraction from the primary threat, falls. The fact is that the hero of the hour is Hezbollah Iran. leader Hassan Nasrallah, who stood up to Israel and, in Two things are certain, so long as we are engaged in the view of most of the people in the region, won the con- Iraq: there will be little appetite in our armed forces or frontation. our population for another military adventure, and there By contrast, many in the region see Mubarak as old will be little incentive for Iran to back away from con- and tired, while Jordan’s Abdullah is seen as weak and frontation. beholden to America and Israel. So when I ask my Vice President Cheney has suggested that Israel might friends in the region whether it would be better for Israel take on the task of attacking Iran’s nuclear facilities for us. or America to take on the job of a military attack on Iran’s My friends in the Arab world, particularly in Egypt and nuclear facilities, the overwhelming answer is neither; Jordan, countries at peace with Israel, shudder at the but if it is to be done, then let it be done by America.

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The Question to Ask The image in the world the broader American position in We will, of course, survive the the region. If she is able, backed Iraq War, and our real power, as of U.S. power and up by the efforts of General Day- represented by our economy, our ton, to get Palestinian Presi- technology, our entrepreneurial rightful leadership is a dent Mahmoud Abbas’ presiden- spirit and our military, will still tial guard expanded to 6,000 from leave us predominant in the major asset that we 3,500 men, as Steve Erlanger world. But in the process, we reported in the New York Times will have lost a psychological cannot afford to squander. on Oct. 5, and if they are put in edge. And we may lose an even charge of reopened ground trans- more important asset than the portation windows into Gaza, then presumption of our military superiority if people in the she will have taken a critical first step. Our appetite world begin to doubt our leadership and our ability to should be for small steps, not garnering headlines. honor our promises. That is the real risk for America. And if the unity talks between President Abbas and The image in the world of U.S. power and rightful lead- Hamas fail, so that Abbas can appoint an emergency ership is a major asset that we cannot afford to squan- government, then both Abbas and the new government der. may be in a position to give the breath of life to negoti- It is in this context that the current efforts by ations. If Hamas is out of the government or has a Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to breathe life into minority position and does not have to be responsible negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis, for a decision to enter talks — and assuming it has not despite the roadblocks in the way, are so important to had to recant its “principled” position — then it can rhetorically oppose talks but not disrupt them politically or through terrorism. Hamas is a political animal, and if the Palestinian people want talks to go forward by a reasonable majority, which is likely to be the case, then Hamas will not want to be seen as the spoiler. The question we have to ask is where our interests and those of our friends will be most affected. It seems to me that we have two choices: either find a way to back out of our heavy engagement in Iraq so that we can take on the other, possibly greater challenges in the region, like the Palestinian issue and Iran; or, roll up our sleeves, focus all of our attention on Iraq, and make the commitment in many more American soldiers and resources to actually accomplish the task the president has set out for us — to provide a massive security blan- ket over all of Iraq while its own fledgling government and military have a chance to grow and build a real democracy. Indeed, if the stakes are as great as the president contends, then it is time to abandon the failed tactics of minimal forces and inadequate investment that some of President Bush’s advisers seem to favor. Or perhaps it is time for him to abandon those who have led us to this difficult choice. These are the questions I hope the administration is asking itself now, and the questions we need to be asking ourselves as a nation.

44 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2006 F OCUS ON M IDDLE E AST P EACE

TOWARD A NEW FOREIGN POLICY AGENDA Adam Niklewicz

TERRORISM IN THE MIDDLE EAST IS NOT THE CAUSE OF THE VIOLENCE WE FACE, BUT THE RESPONSE TO OCCUPATION BY THOSE TOO WEAK TO USE ANY OTHER TACTIC.

BY ROBERT V. K EELEY

he latest round of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon this past summer only reinforces the urgent need for the Bush administration to adopt a new diplomatic approach, both toward the Middle East and in all its foreign relations. In this essay I would like to offer some thoughts on what such a new framework shouldT encompass. The most obvious change we should make is to emphasize the role and effectiveness of diplomacy, while resisting the

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inclination to seek solutions through the threat or actual answer usually offered is that it will end only when all the use of force abroad. As a corollary, we need a major shift terrorists are killed or captured or convicted and sent to in tone and style in our practice of diplomacy, away from prisons. When will that be? Never, of course. We might criticizing, cajoling, denouncing and threatening toward as well ask when will all the new enemies we have creat- greater reliance on consulting, listening and negotiating ed give up the fight against us and surrender to be incar- — both with allies and with potential or actual adversaries. cerated in our prisons. Who would like to predict the For example, in many situations unilateral action has date of that outcome? been of limited effectiveness at best. I would hope we Moreover, terrorism in the Middle East is not the have now learned that some of our armed interventions cause of the violence we face. It is primarily the response abroad, while demonstrating our overwhelming military to occupation by those too weak to use any other tactic. power, have also made matters worse rather than better. We simplistically label groups fighting against occupation Instead, let us rely more on alliances and multilateral (e.g., Hamas and Hezbollah) “terrorist organizations” organizations to police threats to international stability because they resort to the only tactic available to them. and order. Once those occupations end, we will see a great reduc- A second overall change would be to abandon the so- tion in violence, as Louise Richardson explains in her new called “war on terror” or the “war on terrorism.” We book-length study, What Terrorists Want: Understanding should cancel this so-called war — the term, the concept, the Enemy, Containing the Threat. the project. Terrorism is not an ideology, program, move- Richardson cites the case of former Israeli Prime ment or organization, so by definition it cannot be an Minister Menachem Begin. That he became a statesman enemy — and, therefore, it cannot be a target. It is a tac- in the 1970s does not alter the fact that he was a terrorist tic, a violent one to be sure, used mostly by the weak in the 1940s. But Richardson uses that term to describe, against the strong in an effort to alter the odds in a strug- not demonize. As she points out, it is simply a fact that gle: for example, in a struggle by the occupied against the Begin, like his counterparts in the Red Brigades, the occupier (e.g., Vietnam, Palestine, and now Iraq), or by Tamil Tigers, Hamas, al-Qaida and countless other the colonized or oppressed seeking liberation (e.g., groups, was a terrorist. This does not mean that he was Algeria, South Africa). So long as the underlying griev- an evil monster forever beyond understanding, or that he ances persist, such a “war” will never end. It should also was insane or a criminal, or that he had no legitimate be abundantly clear, as the most recent National motive for the violence he committed. It simply means Intelligence Estimate (slated to be partially declassified that he used violence against civilian targets for political and released as I write in late October) acknowledges, ends; i.e., he was a terrorist. that the tactics used to fight such a “war” have only suc- Used in this fashion, of course, the word “terrorist” has ceeded in creating more terrorism and more terrorists in quite a different value than it does in the way it is cus- more places. tomarily used in the American press, where it is a virtual A “war on terror” makes as little sense as a “war on synonym for “evildoer.” Richardson rejects the wide- bombing,” or on artillery, or on invasion, or on occupa- spread notion that “to understand or to explain terrorism tion, or a “war on assassination.” Intelligent people have is to sympathize with it.” She makes it clear that she been asking when the “war on terror” will end. The regards the intentional targeting of civilians as profound- ly immoral. But she, in effect, brackets or suspends Robert V. Keeley retired from the Foreign Service in issues of morality, focusing first on other characteristics of 1989 with the rank of career minister after 34 years. terrorism. This astringent, detached perspective allows He served three times as ambassador: to Greece (1985- her to situate terrorism in a larger historical and social 1989), Zimbabwe (1980-1984) and Mauritius (1976- context without falling into facile judgments or general- 1978). In 1995, he founded Five and Ten Press, a small, izations. independent publishing company dedicated to bringing out original articles, essays and other short works of True Support for Democracy fiction and non-fiction that have been rejected or A third general change would be to deep-six the cur- ignored by mainstream outlets. rent administration’s democracy promotion program, in

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the Middle East and elsewhere, at ongoing conflicts. This can easily least until we have resolved some A “war on terror” makes happen prematurely; that is, be- of the conflicts that are destabiliz- fore the states have achieved the ing whole areas of the world. as little sense as a “war on status of civil and secular societies Where serious and longstanding in which real democracy can flour- conflicts are unresolved, our insis- bombing,” or on artillery, ish. Free, fair and democratic elec- tence on democratic elections — tions are necessary, but only after an admirable goal in the abstract or on invasion, or on the terrain has been prepared — — has brought to power more ex- something that can only be done by treme groups that are antagonistic occupation, or a “war on the people concerned themselves. to the U.S. (with justification) and It cannot be imposed by outsiders. has marginalized those we might assassination.” In some cases free and fair find more amenable to compro- democratic elections have brought mise. to power or participation in gover- Some thoughtful people feel strongly that it is wrong nance Islamist groups that we consider hostile to our to try to refashion other societies in our own image. But interests and therefore refuse to recognize or deal with. even idealists shouldn’t ignore the often deleterious con- But if we truly support democracy, we have to accept the sequences of such uninvited interventions. The democ- outcomes of the elections that we promote. We should ratization program risks the destabilization — even over- not ostracize the winners, boycott them, try to starve throw — of regimes we need to work with to resolve them or encourage their ouster.

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The best recent example of the The best recent example of before an international audience, hypocrisy that characterizes our though some fictions were main- policies was the U.S. reaction to the hypocrisy that tained. These talks were a pre- the Hamas victory in the Palestin- lude to the later Oslo negotiations ian elections of January 2006. characterizes our policies that for a while advanced the Nearly a year later, we still refuse cause of peace. The Madrid con- to recognize and deal with the vic- was the U.S. reaction to the ference also led to an actual tors unless they agree to three pre- peace treaty between Israel and conditions we insist upon: recog- Hamas victory in the Jordan three years later. nize Israel; renounce violence; and This time the hosts should not accept all previous agreements Palestinian elections of be the U.S. and the USSR, but signed by their Fatah opponents. rather the U.S., U.N. and E.U. But which Israel, with what bor- January 2006. The negotiators should be Israel ders? Hamas had already ob- and all of its Arab neighbors — served a truce for more than a year Jordan, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon in order to join the political competition. Those agree- and Palestine, plus Saudi Arabia. The agenda should be ments they are told to accept have been mostly ignored the Arab Peace Initiative adopted by the Arab League — or violated by the other signatory, Israel. with all 22 members approving, including the Palestinian Similarly, we refuse to deal with other Islamist parties delegation — at the League summit held in Beirut in that have achieved some electoral success: Hezbollah in 2002. The goal would be final implementation of U.N. Lebanon and the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. What Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338 and the “land about the undemocratic, authoritarian regimes in the for peace” formula that has been the foundation concept region that are not our allies, such as Iran and Syria? for any final peace agreement since 1967. Both are major actors who need to be engaged if peace is Egypt and Jordan have signed peace treaties with ever to be established in the Middle East. Yet we have Israel, so the primary interlocutors on the Arab side had no relations with Iran for 27 years, and have recent- would be the two states that still have outstanding land ly threatened that country with regime change. The same issues with Israel — Syria and Lebanon — and the goes for Syria, where we have an embassy (but no ambas- Palestinians (most of all), who need to end the occupa- sador for more than a year), but constantly criticize and tion and establish their new sovereign state on what threaten its government. remains to them of the land of the British Palestine We have followed a policy that says merely talking mandate — that is, the 22 percent of the land of that with them would be a reward and therefore must be entity that Israel occupied in the 1967 war. Saudi earned through their good behavior. This is a remarkable Arabia should be included both because it was then- change in the fundamentals of diplomacy, which tradi- Crown Prince, now King, Abdullah who proposed the tionally considered talking with potential and actual initiative at the 2002 summit, and in recognition of that adversaries as being as important as exchanges with one’s country’s close proximity to Israel and its prominence allies. This is not rewarding them, but keeping them in the Arab world. engaged in a useful dialogue. The Arab Peace Initiative is in fact the very best offer still on the table and could provide the basis for a fair, A New Madrid Conference just, legal, comprehensive and permanent resolution of Now would be a good time to organize a repeat of the the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as well as peace between Madrid Conference of October 1991, but with an Israel and all of the Arab states. There is no doubt that expanded membership and host list. That conference, the Palestinian delegation fully supported the initiative at coming after the first Persian Gulf War, did not bring the time. In a speech to the summit by video feed peace to the Middle East, but it did achieve new mea- (because Israel would not guarantee Arafat’s return to sures that facilitated the process. For the first time there Ramallah if he left to attend the summit) the Palestinian were direct official talks between Israelis and Palestinians president endorsed the offer. (How many people know

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that in his speech Arafat also censured the 9/11 attacks on Expectations from Israel: the U.S. as “terrorist acts of aggression against New York A. Complete withdrawal from the occupied Arab ter- and Washington, condemned first by us and then by the ritories, including the Syrian Golan Heights, to the 4 June rest of the world”?) 1967 line and the territories still occupied in southern Four years on, Israel has yet to respond to the Arab Lebanon. initiative, so far as I am aware. Is it not about time that it B. Attain a just solution to the problem of Palestinian did so, particularly because it is doubtful that the Arab refugees to be agreed upon in accordance with the U.N. states will collectively and unanimously ever make a more General Assembly Resolution No 194. generous offer? While the concessions required of Israel C. Accept the establishment of an independent and may seem distasteful to it, are they not outweighed by the sovereign Palestinian state on the Palestinian territories reward of peace treaties with all of the states of the Arab occupied since 4 June 1967 in the West Bank and Gaza world, and full and total acceptance of Israel as a legiti- Strip with East Jerusalem as its capital. mate, permanent state? In return the Arab states will do the following: In any case, these steps are actually obligations for Consider the Arab-Israeli conflict over, sign a peace Israel, pursuant to United Nations Security Council agreement with Israel, and achieve peace for all states in Resolutions 242 and 338, which have never been the region. repealed or abandoned. The essential and complete ele- Establish normal relations with Israel within the ments of the Arab Peace Initiative are the following framework of this comprehensive peace. (quoted from the resolution in its final form, text avail- It is important to understand that the reference to able on the Arab League Web site): “the problem of Palestinian refugees” does not mean that

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millions of Palestinian refugees would return to Israel, Jerusalem, returns the Golan Heights to Syria, recog- which would then no longer be a Jewish state, as some nizes the right of the Palestinians to establish their own media commentators have argued. The statement about state in the 22 percent of the Palestine mandate not the refugees, with its reference to United Nations included in Israel prior to 1967, renounces violence General Assembly Resolution 194, was carefully worded against the Palestinians and all of the other Arab states, and negotiated and was no doubt a disappointment to and begins implementing all of the agreements made many refugees, but the Palestinian leadership accepted with the Palestinian authorities that it has ignored or vio- it. What it calls for is an agreement, obviously by negoti- lated.” ations among the parties concerned, most importantly This would be a balanced outcome, not a one-sided Israel, and it was well understood that Israel would never proposal that requires the Palestinians to do lots of things agree to massive repatriation of large numbers of and requires Israel to do nothing. A sweetener to this refugees to its territory. But the “right of return” would peace agreement would be the release of thousands of be recognized (as stated in 194) and compensation would Palestinian and other Arab prisoners Israel is holding, be paid to those not returning (also as called for by 194). and the return to Israel of the three Israeli soldiers taken Here is the relevant part of UNGA Resolution 194: prisoner by the Gazans and Hezbollah. When conflicts 11. Resolves that the refugees wishing to return to end there is supposed to be an exchange of prisoners of their homes and live at peace with their neighbours war — which is what these people are. should be permitted to do so at the earliest practicable Is this proposed peace plan unfair to Israel? The U.N. date, and that compensation should be paid for the prop- Partition Plan of 1947 awarded 52 percent of British erty of those choosing not to return and for loss of or dam- mandate Palestine to Israel, at a time when the Jewish age to property which, under principles of international population owned about 6 percent of the land, and they law or in equity, should be made good by the govern- were perhaps one third of the territory’s population. At ments or authorities responsible; the end of the 1947-1949 War, Israel held 78 percent of Instructs the Conciliation Commission to facilitate the the territory. How can Palestinians be reasonably expect- repatriation, resettlement and economic and social reha- ed to find this fair? bilitation of the refugees and the payment of compensa- UNSC Resolution 242 forbade the acquisition of land tion, and to maintain close relations with the director of by force of arms. Contrary to the phraseology employed the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine by our media, the West Bank and Gaza Strip were not Refugees and, through him, with the appropriate organs “captured” or “conquered” by Israel. They were occu- and agencies of the United Nations. pied by Israel. This land does not belong to Israel and cannot belong to it. Israel is not free to dispose of it as it Dealing with Hamas pleases. It must be returned to the millions of stateless There has, of course, been concern that Hamas, the Palestinian people, many living as refugees for the past winner in the Palestinian elections in January 2006, is nearly 60 years. committed to the “destruction” of Israel, and therefore Israeli scholar Mark Heller long ago made an interest- there is no longer any serious support by Palestinians for ing suggestion for what to do with the Israeli settlements the Arab League Initiative. That is something we should on the West Bank in the context of a permanent peace. be exploring; but instead, we refuse to talk to Hamas, dis- He estimated that 80 percent of the settlers were not missing it as a “terrorist organization.” fanatic “redeemers” of land promised by their God to the We and other powers have admonished Hamas to rec- Jewish people, but were there because of nice, inexpen- ognize the right of Israel to exist, to renounce violence and sive housing from which they commuted to jobs in Israel to accept agreements previously signed by the Palestinian proper. So, they would be happy to be bought out hand- authorities. A rational response by Hamas might be: “We somely so that they could move to equivalent housing in will recognize Israel if it accepts the Arab Peace Initiative Israel. and withdraws to the June 1967 lines, cancels the illegal Heller proposed that Saudi Arabia buy the settlements annexations of the Golan Heights, East Jerusalem and the for, say, $10 billion. While some might object to compen- portions of the West Bank included in expanded sating people for something illegal they had done, it could

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be palatable if presented as a project to provide housing the status of Jerusalem. Israel claims it all, even expand- for Palestinian refugees returning to a new Palestinian ed far beyond its previous boundaries, as its sole and eter- state rather than to their former homes in Israel. nal capital. Is this just? Is it fair to the adherents of three great religions with indisputable ties to the city that only A Just, Permanent Peace one of them have it all? Would it harm anyone’s faith to The compromise offered in the Arab Peace Initiative share it with others of a different faith? is not designed simply to “appease” the Arabs or Muslims The city has had a long history marked by struggles in general. Rather, it provides the only means of ensur- over its possession. So would it not cement a general ing the near- and long-term security of Israel as a normal, peace in the area to end the struggle and make it truly a legitimate state in the Middle East. It would also help city of peace, to be shared by all who hold it dear? Is restore the standing of the United States as an agent of there any rational reason why Jerusalem could not be the peace rather than of conflict in the world. shared capital of two states living in peace with each These results cannot be achieved by legitimizing other? Israel’s annexation of East Jerusalem and the Golan It is essential that any comprehensive peace agree- Heights and the incorporation into Israel of still more ment designate at least some part of Jerusalem as territo- Palestinian land in the West Bank now occupied by hun- ry to serve as a capital city for the Muslims and Christians dreds of thousands of Israeli settlers. A return to the of Palestine. Such a gesture would enlist adherents of 1967 borders is the sine qua non of any comprehensive those two religions all over the world as strong support- solution. ers of a just, permanent peace, increasing the chances it But the most difficult element to resolve is no doubt will take root and endure.

DECEMBER 2006/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 51 LIVING WITH IRAQ

MANY FOREIGN SERVICE PERSONNEL AND FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE ALREADY EXPERIENCED EVENTS THAT PLACE THEM AT HIGH RISK FOR PTSD. IT’S TIME TO TALK ABOUT THE PROBLEM.

BY BETH PAYNE

left Baghdad on April 15, 2004. As the plane surprising amount of anger that I struggled to keep below soared out of rocket range, I breathed a sigh of the surface. Even worse, though, was my loss of interest in relief — I had lived through Iraq. Little did I something I had always loved — living overseas. Life know that my journey of living with Iraq was just seemed dull, and I was no longer excited about meeting new beginning. people and learning about new cultures. When I returned I was exhausted and emo- Still, it was easy to hide my symptoms from my friends tionally numb, but I told everyone that I was OK. and colleagues, and even from myself. I blamed my lack of I was sure the daze I was in would interest in being overseas on my new Ipass with time, and I just wanted to post, telling myself that perhaps it was get on with my life. I was also afraid just a boring assignment. I reasoned that if I told anyone I was not OK, that the change in sleeping habits and particularly the Office of Medical I could not explain away the lack of energy were just because I was Services, I would not be allowed to go getting older. But I could not explain to my onward assignment in Dakar. I anger or reason away the away the anger or reason away the could not relax due to thinking about fact that, one year after I left Iraq, I Iraq, and believed that getting back to fact that one year after I left was still exhausted and emotionally work would force me to think about fragile. something else. Iraq, I was still exhausted Using the Internet to research my troubling symptoms, I discovered that Classic Symptoms and emotionally fragile. as a result of having experienced an Unfortunately, things did not event that threatened death or serious return to normal. For the first time in injury in Iraq I was at high risk for my life I had trouble sleeping, waking post-traumatic stress disorder. My at 3:00 or 4:00 each night. I constant- symptoms were classic PTSD: diffi- ly worried about the safety of friends and colleagues still in culty staying asleep, irritability and outbursts of anger, diffi- Iraq, and obsessively followed the latest news. I also had a culty concentrating, hyper-vigilance, diminished interest or participation in significant activities, a feeling of detachment Beth A. Payne is the consul general in Dakar. Her previous from others, and a sense of a foreshortened future. It assignments include Iraq, Rwanda, Israel and Kuwait. She appeared that I had chronic PTSD as my symptoms had last- received the Department of State’s Superior Honor Award ed for more than three months. and an Award for Heroism for her actions after the Oct. 23, PTSD is treatable by a variety of forms of psychotherapy 2003, terrorist attack on the Al-Rashid Hotel in Baghdad. (talk therapy) and drug treatment. I did not want to take any

52 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2006 medication, so that left counseling. However, I was living in detached and lacked my normal interest in activities, so Senegal, and there were no English-speaking therapists while home on R&R, I saw a specialist in PTSD and was for- there with a background in PTSD. I also wondered how my mally diagnosed. colleagues would react if they found out I was in treatment, The most effective treatment I had was a guided imagery which was inevitable in the fishbowl world of the Foreign session, in which I revisited the terrorist attack. I learned Service. Would they think I was weak and not capable of that when I knelt to assist a severely injured colleague, a part handling difficult assignments? Would I jeopardize my of me — the part of me that loves adventure and learning — medical and security clearances? went away. With the help of my therapist, I worked to regain my spirit and zest for life. Getting Help It is wonderful to feel like myself again. I am extremely I eventually decided that living with my symptoms was thankful that I finally refused to accept my PTSD symptoms worse than the risks of getting help, and talked to my region- as a part of life, but instead pursued therapy both in Dakar al medical officer about finding a therapist. Fortunately, and later in the U.S. there was an expatriate with a background in family therapy living in Dakar who was willing to see me through an Education Needed arrangement with our medical unit. While she was not an So why am I now sharing this story with my fellow FSOs, expert in PTSD, the therapy was extremely helpful. After particularly given my concerns about clearances and my rep- only a few sessions, I was sleeping normally again and was no utation? Mainly because these concerns (which were not longer thinking about Iraq all the time. But I still felt well-founded) almost stopped me from getting help.

Suddenly there were huge explosions and my room was filled with smoke…

Sunday morning (Oct. 26, 2003), I had just woken up to the Muslim call to prayer and was lying in bed thinking about getting up and starting another day. Suddenly there were huge explosions and my room was filled with smoke — the Hotel Al- Rashid was under attack again, and this was a big one. I rolled out of bed, grabbed my sandals and phone — and was instantly out of my room. The hallway was filled with smoke and I had almost reached the stairs when I heard an American woman screaming for help — her arm had been hit. I ran back and immediately put pressure on her wound (thanks to State Department training on emergency medical assistance when I was in Kuwait). I yelled for assistance and after ordering several guys with tourniquets away (she could have lost the arm if we’d tied a tourniquet), I found several men to help carry her down the three flights of stairs. I remember calling for a medic once we got to the lobby of the hotel, which was already filled with people. After what seemed like forever (but probably was 15-20 minutes), the army ambulance arrived. Because there weren’t many medics, I stayed with the woman in the ambulance continuing to keep pressure on her arm, using my other hand to call the State Department and tell them of the attack. We arrived at the hospital and she was immediately taken into surgery for two or three hours. The doctors saved her arm and she is doing very well. So, there I was at the 28th Combat Surgical Hospital in my green PJs (my favorite PJs!) and sandals, clutching my cell phone! I was covered in blood and still somewhat in shock, but I called Mom and Dad and told them I was all right. I then started count- ing the casualties as they were brought into the hospital. … At one point some officer ordered me away (I had no ID and couldn’t prove who I was), but luckily I knew the head of the hospital. He told the guys that I was the U.S. consul and asked them to let me hang around and give assistance to the injured Americans. ... That night I slept in a friend’s trailer (she was in the U.S. on leave) and tried to figure out what to do. The homeless from the hotel were scattered throughout the Green Zone (protected area) ... I was at breakfast on Monday (Nov. 1, 2003) when bombs started exploding all over the city. I ran to the office of Global Risk Security (a private security company with some of the best people I’ve ever met). ... There were a total of eight explosions on Monday morning — luckily, miraculously, no private Americans were injured or killed. ... It’s going to be a rough few weeks — there’s been at least one bombing each day so far, and people in town are pretty scared.

Excerpted from Beth Payne’s “Letter from Baghdad” in the January 2004 Foreign Service Journal.

DECEMBER 2006/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 53 Help After High-Stress Assignments By Samuel B. Thielman, M.D., Ph.D.

ith the increased emphasis problem develops. on diplomatic service in war From the MED perspective, if an W zones and high hardship- Since the time of the employee develops PTSD at an over- differential assignments, the possibility seas posting, he or she can be treated of exposure to violence and chronic East Africa embassy by the regional psychiatric officer, or stress is greater than ever. From the MED will facilitate referral to whatever Office of Medical Services’ perspective, bombings, MED has local resources are available. In the State Department employees, both U.S., an employee can contact the Foreign and Civil Service, should take developed relationships director of Mental Health Services for advantage of the mental health support guidance and referral for treatment. options that the department offers. with some of the world’s Since the time of the East Africa MED has 14 psychiatrists in various embassy bombings, MED has devel- assignments around the world today. experts on PTSD. oped relationships with some of the The department employed its first psy- world’s experts on PTSD. We can usu- chiatrist, Frank E. Johnson, in 1971, ally arrange an effective referral to a and then expanded the program signif- qualified clinician, depending on indi- icantly in the 1980s and 1990s in the ability to compel returning Foreign vidual circumstances. Domestic em- response to the Iran hostage crisis, the Service officers to complete a mental ployees with problems requiring only Beirut embassy bombing in 1983 and health screening survey, but our short-term counseling can also be seen the East Africa embassy bombings in impression is that the prevalence of free of charge through the Employee 1998. Currently, Mental Health Ser- these conditions is significant. Hoge’s Consultation Service. vices has 17 domestic and overseas study also found that 23 to 40 percent psychiatrists, four psychologists, seven of those who screened positive for a Effect on Security Clearances social workers, a nurse practitioner and mental disorder sought mental health As has been the case for years, the a nurse case manager. care, so it is important to publicize what biggest barrier to mental health care is Although post-traumatic stress dis- is available through MED for employees concern about the effect on the securi- order is not inevitable following expo- covered by the department’s medical ty clearance (and to a smaller degree, sure to a life-threatening event, some program. the medical clearance). Mental Health transient psychological symptoms Services, which reviews mental health emerge in almost everyone so expos- The Outbriefing security clearance issues for the Bur- ed. A widely quoted study of soldiers The high-stress assignment out- eau of Diplomatic Security, takes a very serving in Iraq, conducted by Dr. briefing is the most important service. tolerant view of treatment for stress- Charles Hoge of the Walter Reed Army Mandated for those returning from Iraq related problems. DS, with the cooper- Institute of Research and his col- since 2004, but encouraged for those ation of MED, issued a department leagues in 2004, found that 15 to 17 returning from Afghanistan and others notice in 2004 that stated its position percent of soldiers returning from Iraq who wish to take advantage of it, the on this issue. I will quote from it, met screening criteria for major de- outbriefing is a joint effort of FSI and because it is very much to the point. pression, generalized anxiety disorder MED. Details about the program were The notice says, in part: “Executive or PTSD (www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/fro recently reissued in State 40966 (dated Orders 10450 and 12968 require the ntline//shows/heart/readings/nejm.pdf). March 14, 2006), titled “Outbriefing department to make a determination of Unlike the military, we do not have Sessions and Psychosocial Support for an employee’s ability to safeguard clas- Iraq Returnees.” The briefing is design- sified information. In certain situations, Samuel B. Thielman is director of ed to offer information on adjustment to DS asks the Office of Medical Services Mental Health Services in the State more normal circumstances following to review the DS investigation, seek per- Department’s Office of Medical Ser- Iraq service, warning signs of a psycho- tinent information, and make a ‘whole vices. logical problem, and how to get help if a person’ assessment as to whether there

54 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2006 Without help, I do not think I would have recovered from PTSD — and, PTSD Resources Online based on my research, my mental and, eventually, physical health prob- Veterans Affairs’ National Center ably would have become worse over is a condition present that may affect for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder time. judgment, reliability or stability. As http://www.ncptsd.va.gov/ A significant number of Foreign dictated by law, DS is never allowed Service personnel and family mem- access to confidential medical infor- PTSD Alliance bers have already experienced events mation. During this process, only the http://www.ptsdalliance.org/ that place them at high risk for final MED recommendation is com- PTSD. Given the number of people municated to DS. A mental health who now serve in dangerous posts National Institute of Mental Health condition that does not impact an and the high risk of being targeted by http://www.nimh.nih.gov/ employee’s judgment, reliability or sta- terrorists, the number will continue publicat/reliving.cfm bility will not have an adverse impact to grow over the next few years. For on a security clearance review.” those who have the condition, un- At Mental Health Services, we Facts for Health treated symptoms can cause medical recently studied the impact of mental http://www.ptsd.factsforhealth.org/ problems, destroy families and side- health issues on security clearance who/ line careers. decisions. Of 201 employees referred If the Foreign Service does not by DS as part of their security clear- Sidran Institute: Traumatic Stress start talking about PTSD — educat- ance evaluation due to a mental health Education and Advocacy ing FSOs about the disorder and its issue, only 9 percent received an ad- http://www.sidran.org/index.html impact on clearances — I fear we verse recommendation from our ex- will unnecessarily lose some of our perts. Most of the adverse determina- most effective members. tions were related to psychosis, un- treated alcoholism or some other severe psychiatric disorder affecting judgment, reliability or stability.

The Bottom Line Although employees often worry about the effect of receiving counseling for psychological issues resulting from service in a war zone, our study showed that the impact on security clearance is negligible and receiving treatment is a mitigating factor. Dur- ing the past three years, our mental health clearance group is aware of only one adverse recommendation involving a person with PTSD symptoms; that case involved psychotic symptoms and issues of safety. The bottom line is this: employees suffering from mental disorders should seek treatment, both because it is likely to ameliorate the condition and it will make a favorable assessment by our mental health experts more likely.

DECEMBER 2006/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 55 APPRECIATION The Best Among Us Charles W. Bray III 1933 – 2006

BY SHAWN DORMAN

harlie Bray came from the classic old- Each participant shared thoughts about the life of school background: the prep school, the Charlie Bray, weaving the pieces of his life together to cre- “tweedy” intellectual years at Princeton ate a rich picture of Bray the diplomat, the reformer, the University. Yet, far from using this philanthropist, the academic, the loyal friend and devoted advantage for his own gain, Bray chose a family man. The many three-minute tributes (the timing career and life of public service. He is strictly enforced by host Tex Harris) all made clear that remembered as a diplomat, philanthro- Bray was a man of vision, a man of action, someone who pist and scholar; and, as his friend Peter Krogh points out, believed in and empowered the people around him. He Che was “equally at home” in each role. was also, as many described, a lot of fun. After an overseas tour with the U.S. Army from 1956 to Remembering their days together at Princeton in the 1958, Bray joined the Foreign Service in 1958 and served class of 1955, Amb. Tom Boyatt used three words to with distinction in Cebu and Bangui before returning to describe Bray: “tweediness, intellect and leadership.” Early Washington in 1965. Beginning in the mid-1960s, he evidence of his leadership skills was illustrated, Boyatt says, played a major role in transforming the American Foreign by the fact that he was chosen to lead the Tiger Club, a club Service Association into a vehicle for reforming the Foreign for “sweaty jocks,” even though he was distinctly not one of Service and American diplomacy. them. Boyatt closed with this description of his lifelong The AFSA Foreign Service Club was a fitting place to cel- friend, from the Iliad: “The mildest manners, and the gen- ebrate the life of Charlie Bray, the man who helped establish tlest heart. In death a hero, as in life a friend!” the “Young Turks” reform movement in the 1960s that eventually led to the establishment of AFSA as a union, and as the The Young Turks exclusive bargaining agent it is today for the 14,000 members In the mid-1960s, against the backdrop of the Vietnam of the Foreign Service. AFSA is sometimes even called “the War, Bray was co-founder with Lannon Walker and Dean house that Charlie Bray built,” referring to both the AFSA Brown of a reform movement inside the Foreign Service. headquarters building as well as to AFSA as an institution. The press dubbed them the Young Turks. They sought, in The Oct. 17 event, attended by about 100 of Charlie Bray’s the words of former AFSA president and Young Turk Tex colleagues, closest friends and family members, paid tribute Harris, “to expand the connections between the Foreign to his extraordinary life of service. Service and Americans involved in foreign affairs and to modernize the Service’s personnel system.” Charlie Bray is Shawn Dorman is associate editor of the Foreign Service credited with figuring out how to win an AFSA election so Journal. that the Young Turks could take over AFSA and use it as a

56 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2006 launching point for reforms. His efforts led to the election ment and AFSA’s expansion into a union, see the June 2003 in 1967 of all 18 original members of the reform group, a Foreign Service Journal at www.afsa.org/fsj/2003.cfm, espe- group that came to be known as “the Group of 18,” to the cially “AFSA Becomes a Union: The Reformers’ Victory,” AFSA Electoral College, which was charged with choosing by Tex Harris.) the new board of directors. Ambassador Lannon Walker, whose remarks were Bray realized that AFSA needed someone who could recorded at AFSA prior to the celebration, noted that Bray work on the reform agenda full-time, and he volunteered to was the first to push for Foreign Service members to go to go on leave to do it. Under his leadership, in 1968 AFSA Capitol Hill and speak out on behalf of the Foreign Service. published “Toward a Modern Diplomacy,” a book-size doc- Ambassador Ted Eliot, also in prerecorded remarks, re- ument that laid out the reform agenda. Some of the issues membered that he and Charlie testified before the Demo- driving the support for AFSA becoming a union had to do cratic and Republican Party Platform Committees in 1968 with basic inequities in the Foreign Service system, such as to gain support for the career Foreign Service. discrimination against women (among other practices at that time, FS women who married were forced to resign). A Standard for Truthfulness The Young Turks established the core principle that the Dean of the State Department Press Corps Barry professionals in the Foreign Service accept active responsi- Schweid was covering the State Department when Bray bility for the conduct of their profession and the making of was serving as the press spokesman for Secretary of State rules that govern their careers. They raised the funds to William Rogers, beginning in 1971. Calling Bray a dedicat- convert a run-down office building into a modern head- ed spokesman for Sec. Rogers, he noted that Bray “set a quarters for AFSA and a Foreign Service club. Significant standard of truthfulness and he set the standards for kind- successes of the “Bray Board” included the creation of the ness,” and was appreciated for “his directness and dignity.” Dissent Channel for employees to voice differing views on While Bray was still press spokesman and Henry policy; the launching of the first demands for an impartial Kissinger was about to move to Foggy Bottom as the new grievance system through which employees could address Secretary of State, Bray heard news of the Nixon adminis- unfair treatment; and creation of an AFSA awards program. tration’s wiretapping of several Foreign Service officers. (Note: For more details on the Young Turk reform move- Bray resigned from that position. He was quoted as saying

The Bray Board at a meeting in 1970. From left: George Lambrakis, Alan Carter, Erland Heginbotham, Barbara Good, Richard Davies, Charlie Bray, William Bradford, Princeton Lyman, Bill Harrop, Robert Nevitt.

DECEMBER 2006/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 57 that he did not want to work for anyone who would wiretap his subordi- Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to nates, noting that “loyalty goes both ways.” improve the lot of others, or strikes out against During the Carter administration, injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope; and Bray served as deputy director of the U.S. Information Agency. Former crossing each other from a million different centers USIA Director John Reinhardt spoke at the AFSA celebration, calling Bray of energy and daring, those ripples build a current a different kind of Foreign Service that can sweep down the mightiest walls of officer, not a “striped-pants diplomat.” He explained that when he oppression and resistance. became head of USIA, he turned to — Robert Kennedy (as quoted by Charles “Chip” Bray at the Oct. 17 Bray as “someone who knew what to AFSA celebration of the life of Charlie Bray) do.” With his leadership skills, “he led a number of people down the right roads.” In 1981, Bray was has placed over 1,000 graduates in bring people together, whether it was tapped by President Ronald Reagan grass-roots and other nongovernmen- to reform the Foreign Service, to as ambassador to Senegal. tal organizations. explain administration policy to a One of his many contributions out- Charlie Bray was a leader in the feisty press corps or raise money to side of diplomatic service was as a purest, most organic, sense. He was a save a historic landmark. founding member of Princeton Pro- man who “thought everyone had a Bray later served as president of ject 55. Bray responded to a challenge place at the table,” explained Tony the Johnson Foundation Conference posed by Princeton classmate Ralph Schaffer of Ten Chimneys, who Center at Wingspread in Racine, Wis. Nader at their 1989 reunion, Ken worked with Bray to turn the Wis- He was also instrumental in establish- Webster explained, “to attack systemic consin home of Broadway legends ing Georgetown University’s Institute ills” by putting Princeton graduates to Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontayne, for the Study of Diplomacy, and work in public interest programs and which was a retreat for numerous art- taught classes there. public service projects. Bray served as ists, into a museum. He loved con- Though he accomplished so much president and chief executive for the versation and “loved what each per- inside and outside the Foreign project, which is still going strong and son brings to it.” Bray knew how to Service, Bray was not all about the work. He enjoyed life’s pleasures and delighted in friends and family. He enjoyed birding, major league base- ball, poker, good food and wine, a wide variety of books and, most importantly, his wife, children and grandchildren. In a moving tribute, Chip Bray said that his father thought everyone had something to say, and he was “full of ideas and he put them to use for the common good.” He spoke of the way his father held an “unwavering belief in the power of human potential” as well as in the power of fate and the power to create your own luck. He also believed strongly in the importance of “travel as educator.” At the Charlie Bray Celebration Oct. 17, from left: Charles “Chip” Bray, Charlie Bray was, indeed, in the Christopher Krogh, David Bray, Dean Peter Krogh. Inset: Charlie Bray with words of Lannon Walker, “the best his daughter Katherine Bray-Merrell. among us.”

58 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2006 AFSAAmerican Foreign ServiceNEWS Association • December 2006

2007 AFSA DISSENT AWARDS Inside Call for Nominations for This Issue:

AFSA Constructive Dissent Awards BRIEFS: MEMORIAL PLAQUE...... 60 BY BARBARA BERGER, PROFESSIONAL ISSUES COORDINATOR VP STATE: STEPPING UP IN IRAQ ...61 FSA is seeking nominations for VP USAID: IF IT QUACKS ...... 63 its 2007 Constructive Dissent VP FAS: REORGANIZATION...... 65 Awards. These awards serve to THEY LOST ME OVER DAY CARE ....66 A honor and recognize those LETTER TO THE SECRETARY ...... 68 members of the Foreign Service who dare to challenge conventional wisdom, question the status quo or suggest alternative CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR plans of action. An open and candid THE 2007-2009 BOARD exchange of differing points of view on issues of foreign policy can only strength- Make a Difference: en our Service and our country. Members Join the AFSA Board of the Foreign Service receive years of intensive training in order to develop and prac- have always believed that AFSA is the tice their expertise in matters of diploma- “ one entity looking out for the Foreign cy and promote the foreign policy goals of IService, and so have been active since the United States. However, when there I joined the Service. Being in Washington

Continued on page 62 JOSH gave me a chance to help shape AFSA’s direction and contribute instead of just complaining about policies or work con- 2007 AFSA PERFORMANCE AWARDS ditions. AFSA helped me out in the past, and I felt it was time to give back.” — Joyce Call for Nominations for Namde, State Representative and Governing Outstanding Performance Board Liaison to the FSJ Editorial Board BY BARBARA BERGER, PROFESSIONAL ISSUES COORDINATOR “Participation on the AFSA Governing Board was one way of giving back to the FSA offers three awards for exem- • The M. Juanita Guess Award goes to Foreign Service community that had given plary performance of assigned a community liaison officer who has me so much pleasure. I have realized that A duties or voluntary duties at an demonstrated outstanding leadership, the depth and breadth of issues that overseas post that constitutes an extraor- dedication, initiative or imagination in AFSA, its board and its staff handle far dinary contribution to effectiveness, pro- assisting the families of Americans serving exceeded my expectations. I’m proud to fessionalism and morale. at an overseas post. serve this community.” — David Reuther, • The Delavan Award acknowledges • The Avis Bohlen Award recognizes the Retiree Vice President the work of a Foreign Service office man- accomplishments of a family member of “Serving in AFSA has given me two of agement specialist who has made a signif- a Foreign Service employee whose relations my most satisfying years in the Foreign icant contribution to post or office effec- with the American and foreign commu- Service.” — Steve Kashkett, State Vice tiveness and morale beyond the frame- nities at post have done the most to advance President work of her/his job responsibilities. Continued on page 64 Continued on page 67

DECEMBER 2006/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 59 A F S A N AFSANEWSBRIEFS E W News from the AFSA Board S n October, Al Pessin of the International Broadcasting Board was appointed to fill the IBB representative position on the AFSA Governing Board. That position was left open when Sheldon Daitch resigned from Ithe board in June to take an assignment to Morocco. The board welcomed two new State representatives this September. Sandy Robinson, who joined the Foreign Service in 1984, is a management officer currently serving as executive director in the Bureau of Legislative Affairs. Andrea Tomaszewicz, who joined the Foreign Service in 2001, is an economic officer currently serving on the Iraq desk in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs. They replaced James Roseli who resigned June 30 for an assignment to Embassy Baghdad, and Brad Bell, who resigned Aug. 27 for an assignment in Vienna as the U.S. liaison to the U.N. Special Envoy for the Future Status of Kosovo.

Life in the Foreign Service Two Names Approved for BY BRIAN AGGELER Memorial Plaque At the October AFSA Governing Board meeting, the board approved the recommendation from the Awards and Plaque Committee to add two names to the AFSA Memorial Plaques in the State Department’s C Street lobby: Margaret Alexander and Doris Knittle. Margaret Alexander, an FSO with USAID, was killed on Sept. 23, 2006, in a helicopter crash in Nepal. She was the deputy director of the USAID mission in Nepal. (See In Memory, page 80.) Also killed in the crash was Foreign Service National Dr. Bijnan Acharya, who had worked for USAID/Nepal since 1999. He served as the environment and forestry program specialist. Doris Knittle was a Foreign Service nurse assigned to Kabul when she was found murdered in her home there in August 1970. Recently obtained documentation confirms that the circumstances of her death met the criteria for inclusion on the plaque: that she was killed “in the line of duty.”

AFSA HEADQUARTERS: Staff: Governing Board: (202) 338-4045; Fax: (202) 338-6820 Executive Director Susan Reardon: [email protected] Business Department STATE DEPARTMENT AFSA OFFICE: PRESIDENT: J. Anthony Holmes (202) 647-8160; Fax: (202) 647-0265 Controller Steven Tipton: [email protected] Accounting Assistant Jon Reed: [email protected] STATE VICE PRESIDENT: Steven Kashkett USAID AFSA OFFICE: (202) 712-1941; Fax: (202) 216-3710 Labor Management USAID VICE PRESIDENT: Francisco Zamora General Counsel Sharon Papp: [email protected] FCS VICE PRESIDENT: Donald Businger FCS AFSA OFFICE: Labor Management Attorney Zlatana Badrich: [email protected] (202) 482-9088; Fax: (202) 482-9087 Labor Management Specialist James Yorke: [email protected] FAS VICE PRESIDENT: Vacant Grievance Attorneys Neera Parikh: [email protected] and RETIREE VICE PRESIDENT: David Reuther AFSA WEB SITE: www.afsa.org Charles Garten: [email protected] SECRETARY: Tex Harris AFSA E-MAIL: [email protected] Office Manager Christine Warren: [email protected] FSJ: [email protected] USAID Senior Labor Management Adviser Douglas Broome: [email protected] TREASURER: Andrew Winter PRESIDENT: [email protected] USAID Office Manager Asgeir Sigfusson: [email protected] STATE REPRESENTATIVES: Alan Misenheimer, STATE VP: [email protected] Member Services Hugh Neighbour, Joyce Namde, Randy Director Janet Hedrick: [email protected] RETIREE VP: [email protected] Steen, Daphne Titus, Andrew Young, USAID VP: [email protected] Representative Cory Nishi: [email protected] Web-site & Database Associate Sheng Zhao: [email protected] Andrea Zomaszewicz and Sandy Robinson FCS VP: [email protected] Administrative Assistant Ana Lopez: [email protected] USAID REPRESENTATIVE: Mike Henning Outreach Programs FCS REPRESENTATIVE: William Center AFSA News Retiree Liaison Bonnie Brown: [email protected] Editor Shawn Dorman: [email protected] Director of Communications Thomas Switzer: [email protected] FAS REPRESENTATIVE: Robert Curtis (202) 338-4045 x 503; Fax: (202) 338-8244 Congressional Affairs Director Ian Houston: [email protected] IBB REPRESENTATIVE: Al Pessin Executive Assistant to the President Austin Tracy: [email protected] On the Web: www.afsa.org/news Scholarship Director Lori Dec: [email protected] RETIREE REPRESENTATIVES: Leonard J. How to Contact Us: to Contact How Professional Issues Coordinator Barbara Berger: [email protected] Baldyga, Roger Dankert, Larry Lesser and Elderhostel Coordinator Janice Bay: [email protected] Gilbert Sheinbaum

60 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2006 A F V.P. VOICE: STATE BY STEVE KASHKETT S A N Stepping Up to the Plate in Iraq E W S e hear it all the time from right-wing pundits who plish until the military has succeeded are always looking for an excuse to bash the State in pacifying and securing the country. WDepartment, from neocon ideologues hunting for a The stated mission of the Iraq scapegoat to blame for the failure of their grand schemes to Provincial Reconstruction Teams, reshape the Middle East, and — sadly — from some of our mil- which are led by Foreign Service members, includes ensuring itary colleagues at the Pentagon. Our detractors love to whis- stability and transparent democratic governance in each region per that we diplomats of the Foreign Service are just not on board of Iraq, fostering respect for human rights and the rule of law, with the president’s agenda, that we are not taking the tough ending corruption, establishing civil-society institutions, stim- jobs in the tough places, that we are not “stepping up to the ulating economic development and overseeing reconstruction plate” in Iraq. of the country’s infrastructure. Members Meanwhile, the Secretary of State has of the Foreign Service and State created the largest U.S. diplomatic mis- Department Civil Service in Iraq are daily sion in the world in Baghdad and is also Foreign Service employees undertaking heroic efforts to accomplish staffing 16 provincial outposts scattered have bravely put themselves this ambitious mission under the most across Iraq with dozens of our people. difficult and dangerous conditions imag- The director general has made far-reach- in the forefront of the mission inable — but it is a tall order for unarmed ing changes in our assignment system to rebuild Iraq and are diplomats struggling to function in a and is conveying repeatedly to our mem- country still at war. bers that service in Iraq is the adminis- doing their best in the Security problems over which our tration’s highest priority. chaotic environment. people have no control affect every aspect The Foreign Service is answering the of their work. Foreign Service members call. The facts speak for themselves: dur- can only venture out of the International ing the past four years, more than 1,400 Zone in Baghdad with extensive protec- members of the Foreign Service have volunteered to serve in tion and under military escort. These limitations on our mem- Iraq. Many State civil servants have leapt at the opportunity bers’ ability to move about the country are often even more to serve there as well. All these patriotic employees assume the severe at PRTs, which are supposed to cover vast regions of risks of living in a war zone, taking on an incomparably diffi- Iraq, some of which remain dangerous even for U.S. military cult task and spending a year or more away from their fami- convoys. Threats and fears of reprisal often inhibit Iraqi con- lies. The number of volunteers is striking when you consider tacts from coming to meet with our people in the IZ or at the that the entire active-duty State Foreign Service worldwide, which PRTs. has to staff 250 other embassies and consulates around the world Despite all this, Foreign Service employees have bravely put — most of which are also in hardship spots — only hovers themselves in the forefront of the mission to rebuild Iraq and around 10,000. are doing their best in the chaotic environment created by the Contrast this 10,000 with the Pentagon’s 2.5 million mem- ongoing sectarian violence and the struggle between the U.S. bers of the combined uniformed armed forces and reserves. armed forces and the insurgency. We understand the insur- Unlike our military counterparts, who go to war when their mountable challenges confronting our military colleagues and units are called up and ordered to go, our 1,400-plus Foreign do not blame them for the lack of progress in bringing peace Service members have all volunteered for Iraq; State has had to Iraq. In the same vein, we expect understanding of the no need to order anyone to go. Unlike our military counter- extreme constraints on unarmed Foreign Service members when parts, Foreign Service members courageously plunge into that they try valiantly to accomplish the Herculean tasks that have war zone unarmed, untrained for combat and willing to take been left to them in Iraq. on the daunting task of trying to establish a new, democratic We at AFSA hear frequently from our members serving in society and to rebuild a country while the war rages on around Iraq, and we know better than most the personal sacrifices they them. are making and the obstacles they have to overcome in their Some would consider this task to be impossible to accom- daily work. They deserve our highest consideration.

DECEMBER 2006/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 61 A F S Dissent Awards • Continued from page 59 and propose alternative policies through- Service specialists; A is an opportunity to offer their expert advice, out his tour there. The W. Averell Harriman Award for many of our best personnel choose not to • A mid-level officer felt the Department entry-level officers (FS 6-4); present a reasoned and constructive stand of Homeland Security’s policies were The William R. Rivkin Award for mid- N if it differs from the status quo view, because hurting relations between the U.S. and level officers (FS 3-1); E they fear negative repercussions to their Muslims in Panama, so he challenged and The Christian A. Herter Award for W careers. ultimately influenced DHS’s passenger- senior-level officers (FE OC-CA). S Our country is facing enormous chal- screening procedures, as well as the The nomination should include the fol- lenges in the conduct of foreign policy today embassy’s approach to engagement with lowing: in many areas of the world. When address- Panama’s Muslim community. Part I — The name of the award for ing critical issues relating to Iraq and • A Foreign Service specialist authorized which the person is being nominated; the Afghanistan, North Korea and Iran, to the broadcast of a controversial news inter- nominee’s name, grade, agency and posi- name a few, there is a need for the best view on the Voice of America, despite tion. expertise and creativity available in the intense pressure against it, in an effort to Part II — The nominator’s name, grade, Foreign Service. defend VOA’s congressional charter, which agency and position, and a description of As Senator Richard Lugar, R-Ind., requires reporting to be “accurate, objec- the association with the nominee. chair of the Senate Foreign Relations tive and comprehensive.” Part III — The justification for the nom- Committee, declared when he accepted These examples demonstrate the intel- ination. This narrative should discuss the AFSA’s 2005 Lifetime Contributions to lectual courage and integrity of Foreign actions and qualities which the nominator American Diplomacy Award in June of Service personnel who were willing to work believes qualify the nominee for the award, that year, “Our country depends on the within the system to bring about change. giving specific examples of accomplish- Foreign Service to temper a world that is AFSA believes that members of the Foreign ments that fulfill the criteria stated in the often uncertain and dangerous. We take Service should not just be rewarded for previous paragraph. Part III should not for granted that FSOs will venture into superior performance of duties, but also for exceed 700 words. hostile circumstances to advance their willingness to ask tough questions, to All winners receive a monetary award American interests, often with far less pro- present alternatives to the status quo and of $2,500 and a framed certificate, and are tection than corresponding military to take a stand for what they believe, despite honored at a reception in late June at the units. Many Foreign Service officers have the consequences. State Department’s Benjamin Franklin given their lives in service to their coun- AFSA’s Constructive Dissent Awards Diplomatic Reception Room. The try. Innumerable others have made the have been a proud tradition for almost 40 Secretary of State is invited to participate deep personal sacrifices of being away years, with the establishment of the first in the ceremony. from their families, of risking their award in 1968 in honor of Ambassador Please note that the Constructive Dis- health in difficult posts and of forgoing William R. Rivkin. Amb. Rivkin was first sent Awards are not for performance of more lucrative financial opportunities in appointed to Luxembourg by President assigned duties, however exceptional. other fields. Rarely are these sacrifices cel- John F. Kennedy, and later served as ambas- Submissions that do not meet the above cri- ebrated or even understood by casual ob- sador to Senegal until his death in 1967. He teria of initiative, integrity and intellectual servers.” was described by colleagues who had the courage, which contributes to constructive AFSA’s Constructive Dissent Awards privilege of working with him as someone dissent, as determined by our judges and provide a means to honor and recognize who had “a fiery passion for truth and fair- the Awards & Plaque Committee, will not the men and women of the Foreign Service ness.” He was known for asking tough be considered. who have demonstrated the courage and questions and expecting serious answers. Further details on nomination proce- integrity to take an unpopular stand He had the deepest respect for the career dures, additional guidelines and a nomi- because they believe passionately that professionals in the Foreign Service, and he nation form can be found on the AFSA their professional opinion should be val- advocated that they be proud of their ser- Web site at www.afsa.org/awards.cfm. ued. Consider these examples of Construct- vice and courageous in their convictions. From there, you can also link to articles ive Dissent Award winners from the past The William Rivkin Award is presented to about the AFSA awards and find a com- few years: a mid-level officer. prehensive listing of past award winners. • A mid-level officer sent a Dissent Questions should be directed to Barbara Channel cable in 2003 titled, “Let the U.N. Nomination Procedures Berger, Coordinator for Professional Issues, Manage the Political Transition in Iraq.” He Please consider nominating someone by e-mail: [email protected]; telephone: was one of the first FSOs to volunteer for for one of these four Constructive Dissent (202) 338-4045, ext. 521; or fax: (202) 338- duty in Iraq with the Coalition Provisional Awards: 8244. The deadline for submitting all nom- Authority, and continued to identify issues The Tex Harris Award for Foreign inations is Feb. 28, 2007.

62 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2006 A F V.P. VOICE: USAID BY FRANCISCO ZAMORA S A N If It Quacks Like a Duck ... E W S telling sign that a merger has been in ne of my favorite sayings goes like this: If it looks like progress was the creation of country core teams in which hun- a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it must dreds of USAID staff were combined into planning teams with Obe a duck. This is a good analogy for the situation fac- State experts. The first big meeting at the Loy Henderson ing us at USAID. Are we being merged with State or not? Some Auditorium created some awkward, even comical situations. of us can remember the days when Senator Jesse Helms, R-N.C., When a mass of about 500 USAID employees showed up at the was intent on forcing a shotgun marriage between the State appointed time at the diplomatic entrance, the guards became Department and our agency. Congress did not go along, and so annoyed at the large, unruly crowd, most of whom did not we seemed to have dodged that bullet. We were fairly sure that have State badges, that there was actually chaos, mass confusion the issue had been put to rest, and became and lots of head-shaking. Eventually every- complacent. But today, we see signs all around one got through the gates, but the meeting us that the camel’s nose is again sneaking back started more than 30 minutes late. Not a very into our tent. “We see signs all around good start to our partnership. Now there has While we have heard official protestations us that the camel’s been talk about whether there is a need to have from the likes of Secretary of State duplicate country desk officers at both USAID Condoleezza Rice, USAID Administrator nose is again sneaking and State. Randall Tobias and others that “No, we are back into our tent.” The latest sign of the merger was the inclu- not merging,” the duck keeps waddling back. sion of over 50 State positions (primarily Is it a matter of semantics or am I just para- management officer jobs, those people who noid? How does one explain these facts: the run our embassies overseas) in the USAID USAID administrator now has an addition- 2007 Foreign Service Assignment Cycle al title — director of foreign assistance — and occupies a very Major Listing. This is called the “CAP” (Crossover Assignment high-level position at the State Department, where he is spend- Program), a program in which State and USAID employees ing most of his time. A large contingency of our Policy and can bid on each other’s jobs. A lot fewer positions are avail- Program Coordination staff has physically established residen- able to State officers, however, who wish to bid on USAID jobs. cy at Main State. There are close to 50 State management offi- The interesting thing here is that it seems that State is willing cer positions listed for USAID executive officers to bid on in to allow USAID executive officers to manage embassies and our latest Assignment Cycle Major Listing? Let’s look at each USAID missions overseas, but most of the positions are in Africa of these developments. and predominantly at hardship posts. As far as I know, none The USAID administrator’s office has, in the organization- are in Paris or London. It makes sense to do this for many rea- al charts as well as physically, been merged into the State sons, but does anyone doubt this is also a merger? Or did I Department structure under something called the “F” office. miss something? Ambassador Tobias reports directly to the Secretary of State, You might think that I am against such a merger. Maybe and the USAID program implements her transformational yes, maybe no. There probably are many excellent reasons to diplomacy initiative. USAID’s budget and planning function merge, such as increased efficiency, cost savings, alignment of now falls under the direct control of State. The result is that program strategies and so on. There are also many reasons not development programs, which are now under increasingly cen- to do so, such as weakening long-term development achieve- tralized control, have been redefined and in some cases cut to ment for short-term political gains, losing the good faith of the accommodate political imperatives of State Department staff international community concerning our true goals, and reduc- over the advice of USAID technical experts and even mission ing our technical edge. directors. This is a political decision that the president and Congress As I indicated above, the Policy and Program Coordination have a right to make, for us to implement. I am concerned, staff, about 40 of them, have already relocated in offices at Main however, by this death by a thousand little cuts. Let’s just admit State. Since PPC is the heart and brains of our organization, to what is happening and stop trying to keep the merger under this is more than a symbolic act. It is major surgery. Another the radar. It’s quacking, so it must be a duck.

DECEMBER 2006/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 63 A

F Performance Awards • Continued from page 59 S tions of office management specialists, both AFSANEWSBRIEFS A the interests of the United States, in the tra- overseas and in the Department of State. dition of the late Avis Bohlen. As with the job of the CLO, in recent years The Avis Bohlen Award was established the work of the OMS has become more Final Reminder: N in 1982 by the late Pamela Harriman to complex and a much more integrated part Support AFSA with E honor family members of the embassy work- Your CFC Contribution W of Foreign Service Please help us continue this force. The OMS often Don’t forget to make your Combin- S employees. Avis Bohlen works long hours for ed Federal Campaign pledge to sup- was the wife of Amb- tradition of honoring FS demanding bosses, and port AFSA in 2007. When you select assador Charles E. Boh- family members by sending rarely receives apprecia- which worthy organizations to sup- len, and the Bohlens tion and acknowledg- port, please consider an AFSA fund: and Harrimans were a nomination to AFSA. ment. The Delavan • (#2422) The AFSA Scholarship close friends for many Award serves to highlight Fund provides scholarship money to years. Mrs. Bohlen was known for her con- the recognition this group deserves. Foreign Service children to help pay cern for the American staff at posts as well for their college education. as for charitable works directed at the local Nomination Procedures • (#2460) The Fund for American community. While Pamela Harriman was The nomination should include the fol- Diplomacy educates the public on the critical role of U.S. diplomacy alive, she personally funded this award each lowing: in the world. Through grassroots year and, whenever possible, would present Part I — The name of the award for education programs we show how it in person at the annual AFSA awards cer- which the person is being nominated; the the Foreign Service helps America’s emony. After her death, the Mary W. nominee’s name, grade, agency and posi- national security and economic Harriman Foundation, which also funds tion. (For the Bohlen Award, also include prosperity. the Harriman Constructive Dissent the family relationship.) For more information contact Award, agreed to take over the funding of Part II — The nominator’s name, grade, Lori Dec at [email protected] or the Avis Bohlen Award as well. Every year agency and position, and a description of 1 (800) 704-2372, ext 504. since 1983, a family member of a Foreign the association with the nominee. Service employee has been honored with Part III — The justification for the nom- the award, except for last year, when we ination. This narrative should discuss the received not one nomination. Please help actions and qualities which the nominator us continue this tradition of honoring FS believes qualify the nominee for the award, family members by sending a nomination giving specific examples of accomplish- JOSH to AFSA. ments that fulfill the criteria stated above. Let AFSA Help Fund Your The M. Juanita Guess Award was first Part III should not exceed 700 words. Child’s College Education given in 1995. Clements & Co. established All winners receive a monetary award High school seniors and college under- it to honor community liaison officers for of $2,500 and a framed certificate, and are graduates of Foreign Service employees their valuable work assisting Foreign honored at a ceremony in late June at the (active-duty, retired and deceased) are Service members, their families and the local State Department’s Benjamin Franklin eligible to apply for one-time-only AFSA embassy community with a multitude of Diplomatic Reception Room. The Academic/Art Merit Awards and renew- issues regarding relocation and living Secretary of State is invited to participate able need-based AFSA Financial Aid overseas. Their efforts have contributed in the ceremony. Scholarships. Awards range from dramatically to improving the lives of Further details on nomination proce- $1,500 to $3,000. The submission Foreign Service communities worldwide, dures, additional guidelines and a nom- deadline is Feb. 6, 2007. Visit AFSA’s and AFSA is proud to recognize their ination form can be found on the AFSA Scholarship Program Web page at achievements. The work of the commu- Web site at www.afsa.org/awards.cfm. www.afsa.org/scholar/index.cfm for nity liaison officer has become more mul- From there, you can also link to articles tifaceted and complex during these turbu- about the AFSA awards and find a com- complete details or contact Lori Dec lent and dangerous times, but many posts prehensive listing of past award winners. at [email protected], (202) 944-5504 or continue to maintain a high morale and a Questions should be directed to Barbara 1 (800) 704-2372, ext. 504 (toll free). strong sense of community due in large part Berger, Coordinator for Professional Issues, Parents and students can also to the outstanding work of CLOs world- by e-mail: [email protected]; telephone: visit free, online scholarship search wide. (202) 338-4045, ext. 521; or fax: (202) 338- engines such as www.fastweb.com, The Delavan Award was established in 8244. The deadline for submitting all nom- www.wiredscholar.com, www.srnexp 1990 to recognize the enormous contribu- inations is Feb. 28, 2007. ress.com and www.brokescholar.com.

64 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2006 A F AFSANEWSBRIEFS V.P. VOICE: FAS BY ROBERT CURTIS, FAS REPRESENTATIVE S A The System and You: A Successful Outcome N We are pleased to report that the prob- E lem described by Kenya Owens in the first A Reorganized FAS W edition of the feature “The System and S You” has been resolved in his favor. In “A Housing Loss” (AFSA News, September), Owens explained how he and his wife, both Foreign Service specialists but s you read this, the Foreign Agricultural Service will assigned to different training facilities, already have flipped the switch to implement the long- were penalized for sharing lodging during Aoverdue reorganization. This is an exciting time for those of us in Washington training, even though they were married as we attempt to make the reorganized FAS function as we envision it. For staff sta- and it saved the government money. tioned overseas there will be less adjustment. The “new” FAS permits development Owens recently let us know that the of an overall USDA country/regional strategy to focus efforts and monies on the same vouchers have been recalculated, and it policy goals. For years we have bemoaned missed policy opportunities: now we should was determined that a mistake was be able to take full advantage of them with coordinated responses across the agency. made. He has been reimbursed for the Most FAS FSOs worked on — or provided valuable input into — the reorganiza- difference. He tells AFSA News, “When I tion to address our concerns. originally asked about challenging this, I It surprises me how the reorganization magnifies the differing work attitudes and was led to believe that the decision from perceptions held by FAS employees from our two main personnel systems. FAS FSO the travel claim technician and/or the comments focused on how to make the reorganization better for all employees. Most supervisor was final. The only reason I FAS overseas posts are now regional in nature, so we work in virtual offices within our contacted AFSA was in an attempt to region with our computer and cell phone. This work experience influenced reorga- identify this to other couples so they did nization comments expressed along the lines of, “just give me a computer and a phone not potentially make the same mistake and I can figure out how to work anywhere.” that we did. It is pretty daunting to think that if I had decided not to e-mail AFSA, Many of our Civil Service colleagues, on the other hand, asked career-focused ques- the claim would have never been tions about the reorganization, such as: “Exactly what will I be doing?” “What are reviewed.” my career advancement opportunities?” “What if I don’t enjoy my work?” The lesson? It can pay to question “Where/when can I change positions?” While developing program area work strat- something that just seems wrong. Share egy, the civil servants seemed more concerned about how activities and responsibil- your story of a struggle inside the bureau- ities would mesh with the other program areas (who would actually do what?), while cracy with Journal readers by sending the FSOs’ basic approach has been to figure things out over time. This reminds me your submission (300-500 words) to of something Senior Executive Service member Richard Schroeter said 15 years ago, [email protected]. when he was assistant administrator for international trade policy: “I try to fill half of my (90-member) staff with FSOs: you guys just need a task, any task, and are happy Inside Embassy for the to go off and do whatever is necessary to get the job done.” I believe these differing Holidays: 5 for $45 work attitudes, concerns and perceptions of employees in our two personnel systems combine to make FAS a much better agency, covering all aspects of the reor- AFSA is offering a holiday discount on ganization to be more responsive and to better serve our customers. purchases of five or As overseas postings loom, a few of us reluctantly contemplate the task of address- more copies of Inside ing the procedure for assigning returning FSOs to Washington-based positions. This a U.S. Embassy. This year’s Summer Placement Plan matched FSOs to positions in a bidding process in much book is a great gift for the same way they were done prior to the establishment of the Washington Placement family, friends and Plan. Now is the time to provide us your guidance and ideas on these two assignment contacts who may not understand systems and possible alternatives. what the Foreign Service is and how FAS/AFSA remains without a vice president to lead upcoming contract negotia- an embassy works. tions. Currently, a group of FAS AFSA advisers picks up many of the tasks normally Go to www.afsa.org/inside for more handled by the VP. FAS needs one person to handle and effectively coordinate these information and to order, or call various tasks. If you are interested in filling the vice president position, please contact (847) 364-1222. Send questions to me at [email protected], or call AFSA Executive Director Susan Reardon at [email protected]. (202) 338-4045, ext. 505.

DECEMBER 2006/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 65 A F S FS VOICE: FAMILY MEMBER MATTERS BY DONNA SCARAMASTRA GORMAN A They Lost Me Over Day Care N passed the Foreign Service written exam. Then I passed the job — a job I’d been actively pursuing for almost two years. It’s E oral exam. I passed the medical clearance and the background unfortunate. I think I would have made a good Foreign Service W Icheck. I even passed the Russian-language exam. After clear- officer. Having served at three posts as an FS spouse, I under- S ing all of those hurdles, I was finally offered a position as a Foreign stand the lifestyle and know what is expected of officers. As a Service officer. Then the real challenge began. Russian speaker, I would have been able to help fill a gap in the I had no idea how hard it would be to find good, affordable knowledge base of the Foreign Service. I was excited about the child care in Northern Virginia. When I called FSI’s day-care cen- opportunity. But it wasn’t worth jeopardizing the health and safe- ter in July, I was told that they were full, but they expected an open- ty of my children. ing some time in December. They referred me to a list of day- I have no idea how much money the State Department spent care providers, but as I worked my way down the list, looking for to recruit me, but it couldn’t have been cheap. After all, they had someone with space available for an infant, I quickly grew dis- to pay for my background investigation, along with a full med- couraged. Every facility was full. Many didn’t even bother to return ical workup, a Russian-language exam and a daylong oral exam. my phone calls. One woman who did return my call informed State’s Web site lists some of the benefits of joining the Foreign me that the waiting list for infants at her facility was one-and-a- Service, and these benefits include on-site day care. Shouldn’t half years long. That’s right — you have to put your baby on the they make sure this benefit is actually available? Couldn’t they waiting list nine full months before you even conceive. take some of the money they spend recruiting candidates and Next, I began interviewing live-out nannies. But most of the use it to expand the on-site day-care center at FSI? people I could afford on a government salary spoke limited English, It is too late to change the outcome of my job search, but money had limited experience or had questionable references. One spent on expanding the day-care center might well net the State woman forgot to show up for the interview. One listed her hus- Department other qualified candidates down the road. band as her only reference. Another — who was actually my Donna Scaramastra Gorman is a freelance writer whose work has been favorite — had no CPR certification and a fondness for heavy published in The Washington Post, The Christian Science Monitor, The Seattle perfume. Times and Horizon Air Magazine. She and her family have been posted Ultimately, I decided I had no choice but to turn down the in Almaty, Yerevan and Moscow. They are leaving for Beijing in 2007.

Send a note to FSJ Associate Editor Shawn Dorman at AFSANEWSBRIEFS [email protected] and tell us how the bidding season is Celebration of Charlie Bray going for you. On Oct. 17, over 70 friends and colleagues of former AFSA chair Charlie Bray gathered at AFSA headquarters to celebrate AFSA Members Receive and remember his many important contributions to his univer- Service to America Medals sity, his profession and his community in Wisconsin. Charlie Two AFSA members, Ambassador Nancy Powell and Mark S. Bray was a leader of the Young Turk movement that turned Ward, have won Service to America Medals. These awards are AFSA into a change agent for the Foreign Service, based on the supported by the Atlantic Media Co. (which owns Government key concept that Foreign Service professionals must participate Executive, National Journal, and The Atlantic) and the in the making of the rules that govern their careers. Charlie Partnership for Public Service. Amb. Powell received a medal in Bray was the force who led the design team and funding cam- the category of homeland security for leading a U.S. initiative to paign to create the AFSA headquarters building. See the establish a worldwide protocol for response to avian influenza. Appreciation on page 56 for more details. Mark S. Ward of USAID received the medal for the international affairs category. He was honored for his work in planning the New Assignment Rules: allocation of millions of dollars in federal aid following the Asian How’s It Going? tsunami and the earthquake in Pakistan. The new assignment rules have changed the process for Also, State Department lawyer Christina Sanford won the bidding and assignment, and AFSA would like to track the award for “Call to Service.” An article on the awards can be way the new process is playing out in implementation. One way for us to know is for you to tell us of your own experi- found at: www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=35135 ence navigating the system. &sid=7

66 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2006 A F Governing Board • Continued from page 59 colleagues, whether dealing with general Important dates in this election cycle: S “I would recommend serving on issues, State Department problems, the Feb. 1, 2007 — Deadline for nomina- A the Governing Board without reservation.” Finance Committee or other functions.” tions — Andrew Winter, Treasurer He adds that “It is precisely the broad out- March 26, 2007 — Ballots and candi- Every two years, AFSA members world- ward-looking function of being Commerce N date statements mailed wide elect a new Governing Board. AFSA VP that I enjoy, the contacts with State, E June 1, 2007 — Ballots counted is currently seeking nominations for the 24 USAID, FAS and IBB in an attempt to make W July 15, 2007 — New board takes office positions on the next Governing Board, sense of our collective interests, as opposed S which will serve from July 15, 2007, to navel-gazing in a smaller function inside through July 14, 2009. The Governing an HQ operation.” Board directs the policies of this 82-year-old Why Serve on the AFSA Board? Retiree Representative Gil Sheinbaum institution that represents all Foreign In order to give a clearer picture of what says that service on the board “has been very Service employees. As both the profession- service on the board is about, we asked our stimulating, since we have a hands-on role al association and the union for the Foreign current board members to comment on in following how the Foreign Service has had Service, AFSA’s principal mission is to their experiences. State VP Steve Kashkett to cope with the needs of our foreign pol- enhance the effectiveness of the Foreign says, “At a time when the role of the Foreign icy. There have been very interesting and Service, to protect the professional interests Service is under fire from many quarters — impressive people on the board, including of its members, to ensure the maintenance and when we are fighting to preserve a career from the other agencies.” of high professional standards for both career with good promotion opportunities and diplomats and political appointees, and to flexibility in terms of assignments that are Your Time promote understanding of the critical role good both for professional advancement The president and the State, USAID and of the Foreign Service in advancing and for families — AFSA’s mission is vital.” FAS vice presidents are full-time positions America’s national security and economic He adds that “The AFSA board can speak detailed to AFSA. The FCS vice president prosperity. out in defense of the Foreign Service in ways is detailed 50 percent of his or her time to Please consider running for a position that no one else can — or will.” AFSA. These employees are assigned over- on the next board, or nominate a colleague. “There is nothing more important that complement and are eligible for time-in- Help make sure the voice of the Foreign we can do for our colleagues than ensure class extensions. The Retiree VP position Service is heard by management, on the Hill the FS remains a professional, respected enti- is a volunteer position that can take as much and around the country. Instructions on ty that fully utilizes the talents of those who or as little time as desired, with a minimum how to submit a nomination are in the join,” says State Rep. Namde. “It is vital that of four hours a month for the board and November AFSA News, posted at www. we all participate to help shape the FS tomor- executive committee meetings. afsa.org/news/index.cfm. row while keeping it a good place to work Board representatives are only required now. Especially in this era, AFSA is having to spend a couple hours a month on AFSA The officer positions to be filled in this a major impact and say in what the FS will business. “The State active-duty reps on the election are: look like and how management will treat board make a small time commitment — President (full time) its employees for years to come.” just one two-hour board meeting each Vice President for State (full time) State Representative Andrea Tomas- month,” says State VP Steve Kashkett. “But Vice President for USAID (full time) zewicz, a newcomer to the board who they get to have a big voice in helping define Vice President for FCS (half time) entered the Foreign Service in 2001, says she the future of the Foreign Service.” Vice President for FAS (full time) joined the board because the Service “is at The treasurer and secretary positions are Vice President for Retirees a moment of change for the way we work volunteer positions. The secretary attends Secretary overseas, and I want to make sure that the the board and executive committee meet- Treasurer way forward is an inclusive process. I believe ings. The treasurer must be available for The constituency representative positions AFSA plays an important role in this.” She more hours, because he or she heads the to be filled in this election are: found her first board meeting interesting, Finance Committee. Treasurer Andrew State Department Representatives (eight noting that “everybody was very welcom- Winter says that his position requires about positions) ing.” six to 10 hours per month, which “is a lit- USAID Representative (one position) “The board and executive committee tle more work, but very rewarding.” FCS Representative (one position) meetings are intellectually stimulating and This is a challenging and critical period FAS Representative (one position) personally fulfilling,” says Foreign Com- for the Foreign Service. Consider a term on IBB Representative (one position) mercial Service Vice President Don Busin- the AFSA Governing Board, so you can con- Retired-member Representatives (four ger. “Each time we meet, I gain more re- tribute to ensuring the Foreign Service positions) spect and admiration for my AFSA board career is protected.

DECEMBER 2006/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 67 A F S LETTER TO THE SECRETARY A AFSA Protests Assignment System Abuse FROM AFSA PRESIDENT J. ANTHONY HOLMES TO SECRETARY OF STATE CONDOLEEZZA RICE N E W October 24, 2006 the position. At a time when the depart- own rules, its negotiated agreements with S Dear Madam Secretary, ment is asking our members to devote a us, and its abuse of the assignment powers am writing today with a sense of deep greater part of their careers to service in the Foreign Service Act provides you. sadness to express AFSA’s dismay at the more difficult hardship and danger-pay Moreover, other important rules were Irecent, unfathomable decision by the posts — and when the global reposition- disregarded. The Senior Assignments Department of State — in violation of the ing exercise is shrinking the number of posi- Division did not “cede” the position, as must department’s own regulations, its negoti- tions at more comfortable European posts be done before a senior-level job becomes ated agreements with AFSA, and the — it is incomprehensible that the depart- available to a non-senior officer for assign- guidelines in the Foreign Service Act — to ment would deny this senior Brussels ment. And particularly egregiously, the assign a mid-level civil servant from Under opportunity to career Foreign Service offi- department did not execute, as required in Secretary Karen Hughes’ office to fill the cers. This position might well have been advance of such an assignment, the recently established Senior Foreign Service a perfect fit and an ideal onward assignment Certificate of Need discussed above until well position as chief of the department’s high- for a veteran FSO coming out of an unac- after the fact, and only after AFSA expressed ly-touted new Public Diplomacy Rapid companied tour of duty in Iraq, Afghan- its deep displeasure over the way this posi- Response Team in Brussels, which is istan, Pakistan or Saudi Arabia. tion had been handled. The cursory, min- meant to serve as the “hub” for our media imalist nature of the department’s efforts to outreach efforts throughout Europe on Iraq, The AFSA Governing Board find a Foreign Service officer feed our con- Afghanistan and the war on terrorism. The clusion that this was a “pre-cooked” deal creation of this important position and the has voted unanimously done in contravention of the department’s manner in which it was assigned were to initiate an institutional own rules and standard practices. processes that minimized employees’ Madam Secretary, over and above the awareness of its existence and excluded grievance to undo this inexplicable abuse outlined above, what many Senior Foreign Service officers who assignment. AFSA finds so incomprehensible about this have extensive career experience in public assignment is that it goes such a long way diplomacy in Europe, the Middle East and to directly undermine the message that you South Asia. I regret to tell you, Madam Secretary, that have been so determined to send about the As you know, the Foreign Service Act the department did not even follow its own need for Service discipline and your call for of 1980, bolstered by the Foreign Affairs standard practices to find a Foreign Service sacrifice. In his recent “The Future Is Now” Manual and subsequent administrative case officer for a newly created, immediate vacan- cable to the field, the director general called precedents, makes it clear that only in truly cy. During your tenure as Secretary, the for the Foreign Service “to renew our com- exceptional instances should Foreign department has sent out 119 formal calls via mitment ... to the principle of Service need.” Service positions overseas be filled by non- cable for volunteers for 193 priority posi- I can reiterate to you what you already know FS personnel. In such rare cases, you or tions. Many of these positions came open for yourself, that the Foreign Service is meet- your designee justify this anomaly by exe- unexpectedly, after the normal assigning this call. In your cable to all FS person- cuting a Certificate of Need that explains ment cycle had run its course, and needed nel sent last week, you asserted that “our why the department was unable to find a to be filled urgently. Yet the department assignment process must be fair to all qualified FS employee and what unique made no such call to fill this Brussels PD employees.” I must tell you that the Foreign qualifications the non-FS employee has to position. Its refusal to issue such an Service also expects this same discipline on warrant assigning someone from outside announcement sends the message to our the part of State Department management the Service. In this Brussels PD case, there members worldwide that either it was a low- in terms of following its own rules and resist- are many highly qualified Senior Foreign priority position (and thus one in which a ing attempts to give special treatment and Service officers with appropriate experience, non-Foreign Service employee would never preferred onward assignments to staff far exceeding that of the non-FS person be considered), or that the assignment members of senior department officials, be brought in, who might have jumped at the process was manipulated so that the possi- they career officers or political appointees. chance to take this key position in Brussels ble attention of unwanted applicants would This assignment is devastating for morale — if they had been made aware of its exis- be minimized. In either case, AFSA decries and is both an abuse of the department’s tence and given the opportunity to bid on the failure of the department to follow its authority and an affront to the Foreign

68 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2006 A F Service. It creates a cynicism that only cer- tem the department has enjoyed until now. On that basis, AFSA set aside its concerns S tain employees will be subject to Service dis- Unfortunately, this assignment compromis- and accepted your decision without protest A cipline, while others will be able to thumb es the integrity of both the FS assignment or appeal. I would ask that you contrast their noses at it — and at them. process and the “hard-to-fill” and unac- those circumstances with this Brussels PD Madam Secretary, as you know, AFSA companied posts programs. assignment, where not a single one of those N has long cooperated with the department One example of the good faith that special circumstances or policy imperatives E to develop and operate an open, transpar- AFSA has shown in cooperating on this exist. W ent system in which qualified Civil Service sensitive issue, one that we have discussed For all of these reasons it is my somber S employees can serve overseas. Formally des- before, is the recent case of a Civil Service duty to inform you that AFSA has conclud- ignated “hard-to-fill” positions become officer being assigned to the high-profile, ed that it must defend the Foreign Service available after a months-long process in much-sought-after Foreign Service posi- and the integrity of the Foreign Service Act which exhaustive efforts are made to find tion of DCM in Baghdad. Baghdad is our and our negotiated agreements. The AFSA qualified Foreign Service applicants. largest embassy in the world, the ambas- Governing Board has thus voted unani- Separately from the hard-to-fill program, sador there is a political appointee, and the mously to initiate an institutional grievance we also work with HR to minimize vacan- DCM plays a number of roles of vital to undo this assignment, which has now cies at unaccompanied posts through importance to both the huge FS contin- been formally filed. Civil Service excursion tours. It has long gent in Iraq and our foreign policy inter- Finally, Madam Secretary, even though been, and it remains, AFSA’s view that the ests — roles that only a Senior Foreign all assignments are made in your name, we department’s Foreign and Civil Service Service officer can fulfill. You assured me are not sure that you were aware of this issue employees are all foreign policy profession- that you believed the combination of the before receiving this letter. If that is the case, als and part of the same team. But how imperatives of the administration’s high- it is an issue that we believe warrants your these assignments are made, and why they est foreign policy priority and the truly personal attention. are made, are issues crucial to the effective exceptional circumstances that existed in Respectfully yours, J. Anthony Holmes, functioning of the carefully balanced sys- Iraq justified that exceptional assignment. AFSA President

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70 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2006 A F S CLASSIFIEDS A N E TEMPORARY HOUSING REAL ESTATE VACATION W S MOVING BACK TO D.C. area? FSO JOANN PIEKNEY/RE/MAX REALTORS: HOME LEAVE ON SANIBEL: Former HOME FOR RENT IN Cheverly, Md. Nice Complete professional dedication to residen- FSO offers 2-bedroom, 2-bath condo on yard and 20 minute walk to Cheverly Metro, tial sales in Northern Virginia. I provide you Sanibel Island, Florida. Steps from famous 2 minutes by bus, 10 minutes to downtown with personal attention. Over 24 years’ real seashells and pristine beach of this vacation D.C. Easy commute to State or USAID. 4 estate experience and Foreign Service over- paradise. Available on monthly and weekly bedrooms, 1.5 baths, yard, detached garage, seas living experience. JOANN PIEKNEY. basis. Check http://www.vrbo.com/92653 for screened porch and office space. 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72 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2006

BOOKS

A Unique Perspective Court. As Kiesling ruefully com- Kiesling’s broad ments, the United Nations may be a “large, unwieldy, inconsistent body Diplomacy Lessons: Realism scope and incisive that Americans are taught by their for an Unloved Superpower wit are reminiscent nationalist politicians to despise,” but John Brady Kiesling, Potomac Books, by underfunding and/or bypassing it Inc., 2006, $19.11, hardcover, of some of Sir Harold with “coalitions of the willing,” the 320 pages. Nicolson’s best U.S. is forgoing “the world’s main REVIEWED BY TED WILKINSON essays on diplomacy. source of transnational legitimacy.” Kiesling saves many telling ad Diplomacy Lessons: Realism for hominem barbs for the president and an Unloved Superpower is really vice president themselves. Whereas three books rolled into one. It com- the dissenters and their many sympa- “Pres. Clinton had a rare gift for bines a short autobiographical sketch thizers. expressing American values in a way of a rich and engrossing 20-year Throughout the book, Kiesling’s that recognized that foreigners had Foreign Service career with a search- broad scope and incisive wit are rem- them too, Pres. Bush prefers, for light examination of several specific iniscent of some of Sir Harold domestic political reasons, to imply policy issues author John Brady Nicolson’s best essays on diplomacy. that America is a uniquely virtuous Kiesling experienced in Greece, His critique of the Bush administra- and legitimate purveyor of freedom Armenia and the Indian subconti- tion, for example, is so acute and acer- and democracy.” In press confer- nent. It then concludes with a wide- bic that some might group him with ences, the president’s “inability to ranging critique of Washington’s drift Lewis Lapham and Sidney Blumen- articulate a logical response to a diffi- away from true “realism” in its inter- thal (whose just-published books, in at cult question frightens the world national relations, particularly under least one reviewer’s eyes, display “a more than he wants the world to be the current administration. distorting case of Bush-phobia”). frightened.” Instead, Kiesling avers, While Kiesling is perhaps the most Kiesling asserts that President Bush Bush should “leave to his diplomats famous FSO to resign in recent years, and Vice President Cheney allowed the job of answering the unanswer- at least two others (John Brown and themselves to be duped into an Iraq able questions about the contradic- Ann Wright) also resigned in 2003 adventure by a known con-man tions inherent in the foreign policy of over the Iraq War. Nor, as Kiesling (Ahmed Chalabi) in ways that an any great power.” Vice President notes, were they the first to take such experienced diplomat would easily Cheney’s specific transgressions in- a stand over a policy issue: a group of have seen through. clude transparent attempts to manip- five FSOs resigned in the early 1990s Apart from its Iraq mistakes, the ulate pre-invasion intelligence on Iraq in frustration over the initial U.S. administration seriously undermined and belligerent public statements refusal to intervene in Bosnia. Still, any claims to international moral sup- about Iran’s nuclear program. judging from the recent acclaim that port — or to legitimacy, or “soft But the United States is not an Diplomacy Lessons has received and power” by other names — by abrogat- “unloved superpower” just because of the rebroadcasts of his book launch ing or ignoring the ABM Treaty, the the Bush administration; Kiesling lists talks on National Public Radio, Kies- Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, the several systemic problems that pre- ling may have come closer than any- Geneva Conventions, the Kyoto Pro- date and will outlast the Bush/Cheney one else to capturing the zeitgeist of tocol and the International Criminal era. One is excessive executive

74 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2006 nce again the Foreign Service O Journal is seeking works of fiction of up to 3,000 words for its annual contest. Story lines or characters involving the Foreign Service are preferred, but not required. The top story, as selected by the Journal’s Editorial Board, will be published in the July/August issue; the runners-up will be published in subsequent issues An Invitation for as space permits. All winning stories will be posted on SUMMER the Journal’s Web site at www.fsjournal.org. The FICTION writer of each story will receive an honorarium of $250,

Mikkela Thompson payable upon publication.

Deadline for submissions is March 1.

Please also note the following:

Authors are limited to one entry, which should be unsigned. All stories must be previously unpublished. Submissions should include contact information and a short biographical statement. Entries will only be accepted by e-mail (preferably in the form of Word or Word Perfect attachments and with the text copied into the body of the message). Please send submissions (or questions) to the attention of Andrew Kidd, Journal Business Manager, at [email protected]. B OOKS

reliance on clandestine intelligence veto power of permanent U.N. pretentious effort. I found the follow- sources, which tends to produce Security Council members without ing explanatory note particularly skewed perspectives at the top, and actually eliminating it, so that no single appealing: “Defending my assertions not just on Iraq (e.g., persistent exag- veto can stymie action. The most more formally would require several geration of Soviet military capabilities important change he suggests, howev- books this same size. No one would during the Cold War). Both the er, is more than systemic. He declares read them.” He’s probably right about sources of secret data and the agencies that American leaders must be condi- that, but what he has produced in the that oversee them often have their tioned to make policy decisions only volume at hand is both readable and own policy axes to grind. Another after listening to and absorbing foreign thought-provoking. common policy distortion comes from government concerns, rather than bureaucratic rivalries in Washington, cooking them up in an interagency Retired FSO Ted Wilkinson is chair of where hyperactivist solutions to inter- near-vacuum with little regard for the FSJ Editorial Board. national problems that look good on world reactions (e.g., the Iran-Contra paper often prevail, but fail to serve arms transactions). either U.S. interests or those of the Scattered among Kiesling’s “les- Art for Art’s Sake? affected countries. sons” are some splendid vignettes with Kiesling’s prescription is to resur- incandescent lighting from his person- rect “realism” in U.S. foreign policy. al experience — the long saga of Fallout Shelters for the But “realism” is no longer the classic bringing the November 17 terrorists Human Spirit: American Art Metternichean model of pragmatic, in Greece to justice; our vain efforts to and the Cold War amoral pursuit of one’s own defined control nuclear proliferation on the Michael L. Krenn, University of national interests. Now “principles subcontinent (foreshadowing North North Carolina Press, 2005, $39.95, matter.” So does an understanding of Korea and Iran today?); and struggling hardcover, 312 pages. the perspectives of other countries with the Azeri-Armenian dispute over that only the Foreign Service can pro- Nagorno-Karabakh and observing Ar- REVIEWED BY JOHN BROWN vide. menian elections. Kiesling’s list of “lessons” consti- Diplomacy Lessons is marred a bit The title of this book by Michael L. tutes a cri de coeur against a system by the ugly black marks of deletions, Krenn, a professor of history at that suppresses “realism,” suggesting a which Keisling deliberately left in to Appalachian State University, comes career trajectory that makes his even- show the pointlessness of government from a quotation by Lloyd Goodrich tual resignation seem almost foreor- editing. In almost all cases what has (1897-1987), the art critic and ardent dained. Earlier, he details his passion- been left out is a transparent reference supporter of government support for ate Dissent Channel messages over to an embassy CIA station. Kiesling the arts. In the alarming world of the the sensitive issue of naming the newly could just as easily have written Cold War, Goodrich wrote in 1962, independent Macedonia in 1992, and around those redactions without any “the arts provide fallout shelters for in 1993 over Washington’s initial re- loss. However, there is one intriguing the human spirit vastly more essential, fusal to be drawn into collective inter- deletion in Kiesling’s description of (at more urgently needed and at infinite- vention in Bosnia (for which he and the time) Under Secretary John ly less cost than those for the human his co-drafters won an AFSA award Bolton’s role in the dismissal of José body.” for constructive dissent). Bustani as head of the chemical But what kind of fallout shelters Kiesling may not be the “possible weapons treaty organization: “Judging should these be? And whom exactly new Kennan” that Ron Spiers labels from press reports about Bolton’s should the shelters spare from the him; for one thing, he doesn’t offer any unsavory bureaucratic habits, I threat of communist ideological radia- geostrategic formulas. Nor is he an assume ... (deleted).” One wonders if tion? These questions — the subject iconoclast, though he does have some what followed was classified or simply of much debate among Americans, interesting ideas for systemic change. unprintable. both in and out of government, during One is to train new CIA case officers One of the most refreshing aspects the first 25 years of the East-West and FSOs together, so that they have a of the book is the author’s self-depre- struggle — are at the core of Krenn’s better understanding of each others’ cating sense of humor, which is a good penetrating monograph. Focusing on missions. Another is to weaken the antidote for an otherwise somewhat the complex, and often comic, story of

76 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2006 B OOKS

the promotion of American painting United States, was that the mission for abroad in the post-World War II era, American art was to “serve as an inter- primarily by the State Department Krenn’s subtle national language of understanding and the United States Information and healing in a world left scarred and Agency but also by private groups study explains why divided by global war.” (including the American Federation of Krenn illustrates the tensions — Arts), he delineates two approaches “arts diplomacy” and compromises — between these toward American international art two groups in an illuminating and programs. plays such a minor detailed treatment of some key The first, upheld by the handful of episodes of the U.S. international art U.S. government officials who saw a part in our foreign programs saga between 1945 and role for the arts in fighting the Soviet 1970. He begins with the “Advancing cultural offensive, was that art was policy today. American Art” fiasco of 1946-1947, a essentially another propaganda tool modern art exhibit organized by the for, among other things, “assuring the State Department that had to be world’s peoples that America was not a abruptly terminated while on display militaristic, materialistic, anti-intellec- individuality in contrast to the strict in Czechoslovakia after the U.S. tual nation; and, particularly through dogmas of the Soviet Union’s ‘socialist media, Congress and even President the use of modern and abstract art, realism.’” The second view, held by Truman himself severely criticized it serving as a message of freedom and members of the art world in the (“the vaporings of half-baked, lazy

DECEMBER 2006/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 77 B OOKS

people” is how Truman characterized Staving Off Disaster special emphasis on the Strategic the show). Arms Limitation Talks), Jimmy Car- He then offers revealing and some- ter’s response to the Euromissile de- times amusing chapters on the exhibit At the Borderline of bate and other nonproliferation deci- of American modern art in Berlin in Armageddon: How American sions, and Reagan’s “Star Wars” deci- 1951; the cancelled Sport in Art show Presidents Managed the Atomic sion and Reykjavik negotiations. He in the mid-1950s; and the display of Bomb also discusses arms control policy un- American paintings at the Brussels James E. Goodby, Rowman & der both Bush presidencies and Pres. World’s Fair in 1958 and at the Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 2006, Clinton. American National Exhibition in $24.95, paperback, 240 pages. Though Goodby does not hesitate Moscow in 1959. He ends with a to criticize certain decisions as myopic, chapter dissecting the disastrous U.S. REVIEWED BY HARRY C. BLANEY III he generally regards past administra- participation in the Venice Biennale of tions as wiser than more recent ones in 1970 (“the naïve, know-nothing exhi- There are few more important sub- grappling with national and global bition of the American pavilion is, jects than how to deal with nuclear security. One place where this review- quite simply, humiliating,” wrote one weapons in an age of conflict. Much er differs with that assessment is the U.S. critic), which was handled by the can be said of the many issues and credit Goodby gives Reagan, both for Smithsonian and effectively marked crises our nation has faced over the ending the Cold War and for setting a the end — in Krenn’s view — of offi- last half century, but few rival the con- positive course in nuclear arms con- cial U.S. support for the promotion of sequences of badly managing the so- trol. Given the impact of Reagan’s American art abroad. (USIA, he called “balance of terror” which, “Star Wars” decisions and his adminis- notes, had already decided to get out despite the end of the Cold War, tration’s general hostility to arms con- of the arts business.) remains a calamitous threat. trol, many of us have a somewhat less While he acknowledges that the At the Borderline of Armageddon: generous interpretation of the Reagan U.S. enjoyed some kudos for its over- How American Presidents Managed record. seas exhibits among foreign audi- the Atomic Bomb provides both a his- One of the most telling sections of ences, Krenn concludes his book on a torical perspective and careful analysis the book is the chapter on the current pessimistic note: “In the end, the of how America dealt with the nuclear administration. Goodby cogently out- international art program provided challenge over the last six decades. It lines the significant changes that Bush neither an ideological ‘fallout shelter’ also provides an insider’s view of this and his team ushered in with major for American propagandists, nor an critical time and gives the reader a departures in key policies that under- avenue for speaking to the ‘human ringside seat into the process by which mined America’s role and capacity to spirit’ so desired by American art various U.S. decisionmakers not only gain the support of our allies. He lovers.” Given how well written and handled the nuclear weapons crisis of explores the main challenges of this researched Krenn’s subtle study is, it the moment, but also addressed long- period, which have included the is hard — but not particularly com- term challenges in a fast-changing essential destruction of the ABM forting — to disagree with his less security landscape. treaty, the doctrine of pre-emptive than cheerful conclusion, and to Retired FSO James Goodby is bal- war, the Iraq debacle (including the understand better why “arts diploma- anced in most of his judgments and misuse of intelligence regarding Iraq’s cy” plays such a minor part in our for- perceptive in understanding what was non-existent weapons of mass destruc- eign policy today. at stake and the role of key players. tion), and the North Korean stale- He describes such milestones as mate. Here is his stark perspective: John Brown, a former Foreign Service President Eisenhower’s early order on “The Bush administration’s foreign officer who practiced public diploma- the use of nuclear weapons, Kennedy’s policy is based on a conviction that the cy for more than 20 years, now com- handling of the Cuban Missile crisis defense of American interests is best piles the Public Diplomacy Press and and ratification of the Limited Test served by retaining the freedom to act, Blog Review (http://www.uscpublic Ban Treaty. Goodby also analyzes unfettered by other obligations. ... diplomacy.org/pdpr) for the Univer- Johnson’s decision to build and fund Temporary coalitions, rather than sity of Southern California’s Center on multiple warheads, the Nixon/Ford entangling alliances, are seen as the Public Diplomacy. era’s nuclear arms control efforts (with best way to achieve American aims. ...

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America’s friends see in this a depar- the basic terms on which the nation ture from the America they knew, a chooses to be involved in the world.” nation that pursued a foreign policy For those who believe I suspect very few thoughtful diplo- based on norms and rules, and steadi- mats would come to a different con- ness in commitments.” that effective diplomacy clusion. Yet as one reads this book, it For those who believe that intelli- seems that we are living in an era in gent and effective diplomacy still can should remain a major which nothing was learned from the and should be a major tool to preserve past and we are blind to the reality of American security, this book is a must- tool to preserve American the present. read. Speaking as one who has devoted a long and distinguished career to security, Goodby’s book Retired FSO Harry Blaney served at trying to put the genie back into the the U.S. missions to NATO and the bottle, Goodby concludes: “If states is a must-read. European Community, and on the fail to act together to uphold the con- Policy Planning Staff and in the White straints imposed by international law House, among other assignments. He and custom, the terrorists will win.” is now the president of the Coalition The second major insight in the for American Leadership Abroad book’s concluding section is this: can happen again. Many of the issues (COLEAD), an alliance of 50 nonprof- “After each great historic turning point the United States will face as it con- it U.S. foreign affairs groups that in world affairs, mistakes have planted fronts the challenge of nuclear includes the American Foreign Service the seeds of future catastrophe. This weapons in the 21st century involve Association. Executive Lodging Alternatives Interim Accommodations for Corporate and Government Markets Apartments, Townhouses & Single Family Homes “FOR THE EXECUTIVE ON THE MOVE” [email protected] Locations throughout Northern Virginia and D.C. Units fully furnished, equipped and accessorized Many “Walk to Metro” locations Pet Friendly 5105-L Backlick Road, Annandale, Virginia Tel: (703) 354-4070 Fax: (703) 642-3619

DECEMBER 2006/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 79 IN MEMORY

Jake M. Dyels Jr., 72, a retired FSO, died in Brentwood, Calif., on USAID FSO Killed in Nepal June 12, only a few days after being diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. A helicopter crash in Nepal, near Mount Kanchenjunga, the world’s third- Mr. Dyels had an exemplary career highest peak, took the lives of FSO Margaret Alexander and FSN Bijnan in public service. In the late 1950s Acharya of the USAID mission in Nepal on Sept. 23. They and 22 others were and early 1960s he was an enlisted returning from a ceremony in the village of Ghunsa marking the handing over of man in the U.S. Naval Reserve and, a World Wildlife Fund conservation area to the local community, part of a during the same time frame, became USAID project to develop a national park at Kanchenjunga. the first African-American firefighter The cause of the crash is unknown. The helicopter was flying to a local air- with the Richmond, Calif., fire de- port in Taplejung district when it lost radio contact and disappeared. The crash partment. In a big career change in site was located two days later. There were no survivors. 1966, Mr. Dyels was named an assis- “We mourn these two dedicated professionals who gave their lives in service tant Peace Corps director, serving in to Nepal and the United States,” USAID Administrator Ambassador Randall M. Cartagena, Colombia, until 1968. He Tobias said in an official statement on Sept. 25. “They both were instrumental in joined the Foreign Service in 1969, ensuring the sustainable use of Nepal’s rich natural resources while promoting and began a 28-year diplomatic career democratic principles and transparency,” Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that ended with his retirement from stated in extending official condolences to the officers’ families. “They will be the ranks of the Senior Foreign missed by their State Department and USAID colleagues and friends.” Service in 1997. Margaret Alexander, 57, an FSO with USAID, was deputy director of the Mr. Dyels earned a B.A. in inter- USAID mission in Nepal. She had recently been confirmed as the new mission national relations from San Francisco director to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. State College, an M.A. in public Ms. Alexander was born in New York and grew up in Iowa. She graduated administration from Oklahoma Uni- from Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania in 1971, and then did graduate work in versity, trade-union certification from art and anthropology at Columbia University. She worked on archaeological pro- the Harvard School of Business and jects in Tunisia in the 1970s. In 1980 she received a law degree from the public administration certification University of Pennsylvania, where she was editor of the law review. She was a from the John F. Kennedy School of law clerk for a U.S. district judge in Delaware and then, from 1981 to 1987, prac- Government at Harvard University. ticed law with the Washington, D.C., firm of Covington & Burling. Accompanied always by his wife, In 1987, Ms. Alexander joined USAID as a regional legal counsel. From 1988 and by their children when they were to 2001, she had Foreign Service assignments in the Ivory Coast, Swaziland and young, Mr. Dyels served in consular Haiti. From 2002 to 2005, she was based in Nairobi as senior regional legal advis- and labor-officer positions in New- er to USAID’s missions in East and Central Africa. She was assistant general foundland, Bogota, Panama City, counsel for the Europe and Eurasia Bureau in Washington before taking up her Colombo, Amsterdam and Monter- position as deputy mission director in Nepal one year ago. rey. At the latter two posts he was Ms. Alexander is survived by her sister Harriet of Iowa City, Iowa. both consul general and principal FSN Dr. Bijnan Acharya has worked with USAID Nepal for more than a officer. He also served several years decade. He was serving as an environmental officer and managing USAID envi- in Washington, D.C., including a stint ronmental programs with the NGO community. He is survived by his wife Sujata in the Bureau of Western Hemi- and two children. sphere Affairs (then ARA) as regional labor adviser.

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In addition to Joanne, his wife of as a political officer monitoring the Red Cross and field director for the 50 years, Mr. Dyels is survived by Middle East. Far East. He traveled with his par- their three daughters, Jocelyn Dyels Amb. Eilts’ first tour of duty in ents and sister throughout Asia in the Fuller, Karen Ann Dyels, Janice Saudi Arabia was in 1948, when the prewar years. In 1941, when Japan Dyels Strong; and their son, Kevin kingdom had just begun pumping oil invaded the Philippines, Mr. Forster Richard Dyels. Mr. Dyels was the for the international market: later he was a senior in high school there. proud grandfather of April, Ryan, Jas- served as ambassador there during With all the foreigners, he and his mine, Joy, Ronald, Ashley, Jona- the 1967 Arab-Israeli Six-Day War. In parents were rounded up and intern- thon, Vanessa and Brandon; and he 1973, he reopened the embassy in ed at camps in Santo Tomas and Los was able to enjoy beautiful twin great- Cairo, which had been closed by the Banos. His father had a heart attack grandchildren, Kyan and Kyree. break in relations during the 1967 soon after, and was removed from the war. As ambassador to Egypt, he as- camp along with his mother, leaving sisted Secretary of State Henry Kis- Mr. Forster to fend for himself. singer in conducting shuttle diploma- In 1943, he was returned to the Hermann Frederick Eilts, 84, a cy between 1974 and 1975. U.S. in a prisoner exchange, and retired FSO and ambassador to Saudi A letter from Amb. Eilts to Presi- promptly enlisted in the Navy. Short- Arabia and Egypt who helped negoti- dent Jimmy Carter on July 30, 1978, ly before shipping out to duty in the ate the Camp David peace accords, reporting on President Anwar Sadat’s Far East, Mr. Forster was transferred died on Oct. 12 of complications of impatience with what he saw as Israeli to the office of the Chief of Naval heart disease at his home in Welles- intransigence, set in motion the sum- Operations, where his vast experi- ley, Mass. mit meetings that produced the his- ence in the Philippines was useful in Ambassador Eilts was born in toric Camp David agreement in 1979. intelligence work. Weissenfels Saale, Germany, and Amb. Eilts’ critical role made him a Following the war, Mr. Forster immigrated to the U.S. as a child, target of Libyan assassins during this studied international relations at becoming a citizen in 1930, at the age period. Stanford University, and joined the of 8. He grew up in Scranton, Pa., Amb. Eilts retired from the Foreign Service in 1949. His first and graduated from Ursinus College Foreign Service in 1979. He then assignment was to Davao, in the in Collegeville, Pa. During World joined Boston University as founder southern Philippines, to establish War II he served in Army intelligence and director of its Center for Inter- headquarters for the Mindanao-Sulu in North Africa and Europe, receiving national Relations. He often wrote, U.S. Information Service Center. He a Purple Heart and Bronze Star. lectured and was quoted as an expert was then sent to Yale University for Following the war, Amb. Eilts attend- on Middle East political crises. He intensive Japanese language and area ed Johns Hopkins University’s School served on the board of trustees for the studies. of Advanced International Studies. American University in Cairo, and During a 34-year FS career, Mr. He received a master’s degree in was a charter member of the Ameri- Forster served a total of 15 years in 1947, and immediately joined the can Academy of Diplomacy. Japan. He lived and worked on the Foreign Service. Survivors include his wife of 58 islands of Shikoku and Kyushu, in One of the State Department’s years, Helen Brew Eilts of Wellesley, Kobe and in Tokyo. There he was first Middle East specialists, Amb. Mass.; two sons, Conrad Marshall instrumental in developing “sister Eilts was a figure in major events Eilts of Bahrain and Frederick city” programs between San Fran- during his distinguished 32-year Lowell Eilts of Wichita, Kan.; and cisco and Osaka, and between San Foreign Service career. Described four grandchildren. Jose and Okayama. He also served in as “a man with unflappable self-con- Burma and Israel, and was assigned trol” in a 1979 Washington Post pro- to the U.S. delegation to the U.N. file, Amb. Eilts helped maintain under Adlai Stevenson. He retired in peace during some of the major Clifton Forster, 82, a retired 1983 as director for East Asia and the crises of the 1970s and 1980s. He FSO with USIA, died Sept. 19 follow- Pacific for the U.S. Information served in Egypt, Libya, Iran, Iraq, ing a fall at his home in Tiburon, Calif. Agency, with the rank of minister- Saudi Arabia and Yemen, in addition Mr. Forster was born in Manila, counselor. to Washington and a tour in London where his father was director of the Mr. and Mrs. Forster lived in

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Hawaii from 1983 to 1995. There, he tired ambassadors and other career harp, at weaving Portuguese Arraiolos was senior associate director for the friends when they came to speak. He rugs and tapestries and at preparing Pacific Forum, vice president for was on the board of the Sarasota- ethnic cuisine. She collaborated with institutional relations at Hawaii Loa Manatee U.N. Association and a embassy spouses on compiling three College, director of the Honolulu member of the Foreign Service cookbooks of ethnic recipes. She International Visitors Program for the Retirees Association of Florida and was honored by the Honduran gov- U.S. government, and executive the American Foreign Service Asso- ernment for her extensive volunteer director of the Pacific and Asian ciation. work in local hospitals. Affairs Council. He and his wife Friends remember Mr. Gutman as An avid bridge player, she was a moved to Tiburon in 1995. a man of unparalleled character and winner of the Department of State’s Mr. Forster is survived by his wife, intellect; an avid world traveler; a nat- annual worldwide duplicate bridge Nancy; sons Thomas Forster of Orcas ural wit and humorist in many lan- tournament. A staunch Boston Red Island, Wash., and Washington, D.C., guages; and a student of people and Sox fan, she followed the team’s ups and Douglas Forster of Mill Valley, all aspects of cultures. and downs from around the globe. Calif.; daughter Cindy Forster of Mr. Gutman was predeceased by In 1993 Mrs. Jordan was an office Claremont, Calif.; and four grand- his long-term companion, Anne M. volunteer and later an employee of children. Keen, in 1991. He is survived by a Saint Luke Lutheran Church in Sil- niece, Tara H. Gutman, and grand- ver Spring, Md., where she became a nephew, Maxim Gutman, of Canber- Stephen Minister. ra, Australia. She is survived by her husband, Harvey E. Gutman, 80, a retired Robert F. Jordan of Silver Spring, FSO with USAID, died on Sept. 1 at Md.; a daughter, Linda J. Winnard of his home in Sarasota, Fla. Leawood, Kan.; two sons, Michael S. Born in St. Gall, Switzerland, on Elizabeth Marie Jordan, 79, the Jordan of Damascus, Md., and David July 1, l921, Mr. Gutman moved to spouse of retired USIA FSO Robert P. Jordan of Lake Worth, Fla.; a sister, the U.S. in 1938. He served in U.S. F. Jordan, died at her Silver Spring, Donna D. Good of East Greenwich, Army Combat Infantry Intelligence Md., home on Sept. 23 after a 13-year R.I.; brothers Norman H. Dabar- during World War II and in the mili- struggle with mesothelioma cancer. einer Jr. of Oconomowoc, Wis., and tary government in Germany for two Born Elizabeth Dabareiner in Larry C. Dabareiner of Bellingham, years following the war. He was Wisconsin, daughter of the late Nor- Mass.; and five grandchildren. awarded the Bronze Star. man H. and Marie (Schulz) Dabar- Mr. Gutman earned a bachelor’s einer, she was a graduate of Janesville degree from the University of Port- high school, class of 1945. She land in Oregon, and a master’s degree attended Milton College, and in 1947 James George Sampas, 79, a from American University in Wash- moved with her family to Framing- retired FSO, died on Sept. 5 at his ington, D.C. After initial employ- ham, Mass., where she met her future home in Chevy Chase, Md. He had ment with the Department of Com- husband. She attended Framingham Parkinson’s disease. merce, he joined USAID as a Foreign State Teachers College and worked as Mr. Sampas was born in Lowell, Service officer in 1958. During a 22- a property tax officer in a local bank. Mass., the son of George and Mary year career, he was posted to Vien- In 1956 she married and there- Tsouprakakis Sampas. He was edu- tiane, Lome, Paris, Bangkok, Rabat, after accompanied her husband cated in the Lowell public school sys- Monrovia and Niamey. He retired throughout a 36-year career with tem, and graduated from Lowell high from the Foreign Service in 1980, and USIA, serving in Asuncion, Rosario, school in 1945. He left high school subsequently worked as an economic Monterrey, Tegucigalpa, Palermo, early to serve in the U.S. Army Air consultant on projects in Africa. Port-au-Prince, Dublin, Lisbon, Hav- Force from 1945 to 1946 in the U.S. In 1991, Mr. Gutman moved from ana, Manila and Brasilia. and Germany. Virginia to Sarasota, Fla., where he While overseas, she learned four He received B.A. and M.A. degrees was active in planning international foreign languages and taught English from Boston University, and a J.D. lectures at the Sarasota Institute of in binational centers. She became degree from American University’s Lifetime Learning and hosting re- proficient at playing the Paraguayan Washington College of Law. He

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moved to Washington, D.C., in 1952. died of lung cancer in Boulder, Colo., vices officer. Two years later, he As an FSO, Mr. Sampas served in on Sept. 26. received orders to proceed to Bangkok, Paris, Ottawa, Brussels and Mrs. Thurman was born on April Elisabethville (now Lubumbashi) to Reykjavik, in addition to Washington. 22, 1944, in Newport News, Va., the serve as an administrative officer. He He retired from the Foreign Service daughter of Joseph and Thelma was transferred to Marseille in 1963, in 1980, but continued to serve the Basham. She attended Oklahoma and sent to Paris as a GSO in 1965. Department of State on a part-time City University, and in 1965 married He was posted to Algiers in 1967, and basis until 1990. In addition to work- Richard Thurman. The couple set- transferred to London in 1970, where ing on Freedom of Information Act tled in Nashville, Tenn., where Mrs. he was commissioned in 1972. In requests in the department, he assist- Thurman worked as a reporter for 1973, he was assigned to the Bureau ed the culture and press section of the Nashville Tennessean. After her of East Asian Affairs at State, where Embassy Beijing, especially during husband joined the Foreign Service, he was post management officer for the Tiananmen Square crisis. she accompanied him on postings in Japan and China. He later served at Married to Dorothy Myers Sam- Chile, Turkey, Cyprus, Mexico and the fledgling U.S. Liaison Office in pas, also a career Foreign Service Brazil, along with several Washing- Beijing. officer, on retirement Mr. Sampas ton-area assignments. Mr. Wetherbee received the State accompanied her to her posting in Following Mr. Thurman’s death in Department Meritorious Honor Beijing, to the U.S. mission to the 1997, Mrs. Thurman moved to Santa Award in 1978, and retired from the United Nations in New York and to Barbara, Calif., and then Boulder, Foreign Service that same year. He Mauritania, where Mrs. Sampas ser- Colo., to be near her daughter Diana. settled in Washington, D.C., later ved as ambassador. There, he assisted She is survived by her two children, moving to Silver Spring in 2005. He youngsters in reading at the American Diana of Louisville, Colo., and Alex of was a member of the American International School of Nouackchott. Brooklyn, N.Y., and two grandchildren. Foreign Service Association and Dip- In retirement he also served on the lomatic and Consular Officers, Department of State’s Board of Retired. Appellate Review and on the town Mr. Wetherbee’s first wife, Mickey council of Somerset, Md. Donald A. Wetherbee, 79, a Joan Wetherbee, a Foreign Service Mr. Sampas was a member of retired Foreign Service officer, died secretary, died in 1990; his second Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church. on Aug. 8 at Holy Cross Hospital in wife, Josephine “Jo” Wetherbee, He was also a member of the District Silver Spring, Md., after a brief ill- whom he married in 1992, died in of Columbia Bar, the American ness. 2005. He is survived by a sister-in- Foreign Service Association and Mr. Wetherbee was born in New law, Althea Wetherbee of Huntington Diplomatic and Consular Officers, York City, and graduated from Ford- Station, N.Y.; a niece, Jule Nelson of Retired, and served as an assistant ham Preparatory School. He served Mequon, Wis.; nephews Lawrence Boy Scout master. in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1945 Wetherbee of Centerport, N.Y., Survivors, in addition to his wife, to 1955, including stints in China, James Wetherbee of Seabrook, Texas, include two children: Lawrence Sam- Korea, Paraguay and Chile. In Korea and Daniel Wetherbee of Sherman pas of Washington, D.C., and George his responsibilities included the Oaks, Calif.; and several cousins, Sampas of New York City. He is also Pusan Perimeter, Inchon Landing grandnieces and grandnephews. survived by a brother, John G. Sampas and Chosin Reservoir. He was of Lowell, Mass., and two sisters, wounded in the line of duty, and was Claire Paicopolis of Woburn, Mass., awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Send your “In Memory” and Helen Surprenant of Cracut, the Purple Heart. In Paraguay and submission to: Mass., as well as many nieces and Chile, he was assigned to marine Foreign Service Journal nephews. security detachments. Attn: Susan Maitra, Mr. Wetherbee entered the For- 2101 E Street NW, Washington DC 20037, or eign Service in 1955, and was e-mail it to [email protected], assigned to Santiago as a communica- or fax it to (202) 338-8244. Judith Ann Thurman, 62, spouse tions clerk. In 1958, he was trans- No photos, please. of the late FSO Richard Thurman, ferred to Vientiane as a general ser-

DECEMBER 2006/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 83

S CHOOLS S UPPLEMENT

THE INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE PROGRAM: A PRIMER

THE IB IS A CHALLENGING ACADEMIC PROGRAM WITH MANY PERKS — FOR THE RIGHT TYPE OF STUDENT.

BY FRANCESCA HUEMER KELLY

here is simply no way to earn of the fact that students “learn more than a collection of an IB diploma without learning facts.” Independent research and writing are a key com- “ to write, and more importantly, ponent of the program. to think on one’s feet.” The IB diploma is awarded once students successfully Those words, spoken by complete a rigorous two-year program. Students are usu- Cambridge University student ally 16- to 19-year-olds in 11th and 12th grade, although Aaron Curtis, sum up the strength and rigor of the some students start courses in 10th grade, and some finish InternationalT Baccalaureate Diploma Program, a special, in the 13th grade. The program aims to encourage stu- worldwide school curriculum that was started in the 1960s dents to love learning and develop critical thinking and by a group of educators who wanted to provide children of writing skills, and to promote a lifelong commitment to internationally mobile families with an uninterrupted, public service. Writing an extended essay is required, and quality education. students must pass comprehensive exams before earning The organization that sprang out of this learning pro- the diploma. gram is now officially called the International Baccalaure- This demanding program is not for everyone. Roughly ate Organization, based in Geneva with offices and repre- 20 percent of students in the diploma program worldwide sentatives around the world. The IBO offers three acade- fail one or more of the IB diploma exams every year. But mic programs for three different age-groups (elementary it is possible for high-schoolers to take certain IB courses, school, middle school and high school). It is the high just as American students take AP (Advanced Placement) school program, also called the Diploma Program, which courses, without taking part in the full diploma program. will be discussed in this article. (For more information When people refer to “the IB,” or “full IB,” they’re almost about the primary and middle school programs, go to always referring to the complete IB Diploma Program, as www.ibo.org.) opposed to individual IB-level courses. Individual courses The International Baccalaureate Organization is proud are often referred to as “IB classes,” or “IB certificate classes,” because a certificate is earned for each IB class Francesca Huemer Kelly, a Foreign Service spouse present- successfully completed by those students not enrolled in ly based in Brussels, is a professional freelance writer whose the full program. work is published regularly in American and international The IB diploma has traditionally been thought of as a magazines. A founder of Tales from a Small Planet (tales European program geared for students attending the top mag.com), she was the Web site’s editor-in-chief from 1999 world universities, and that is probably still its main focus. to 2003, and currently serves in an advisory capacity. Ms. However, its presence is growing around the world — par- Kelly, a trained concert singer, has lived in Milan, Lenin- ticularly in the United States, where institutions of higher grad, Moscow, Belgrade, Vienna, Ankara and Rome. She is learning are increasingly recognizing the IB’s merits when the mother of four children. evaluating college applicants.

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The IB Curriculum areas are central to the program: The curriculum is made up of six 1. Extended Essay. Students are subject areas, or groups: Language The IB has traditionally required to write up to 4,000 words A1 (the student’s most “comfortable” (on a topic chosen by the student but language); Second Language (which been thought of as a with curricular and teacher guide- can include A2, a language in which lines), usually due in the first term of the student is fairly competent; B, a European program geared the 12th grade. This is an opportuni- language in which the student has ty for students to utilize research had some previous experience; or for students attending the techniques independently, and to “language ab initio,” for beginners); write in depth at a college level. Individuals and Societies; Sciences; top world universities, 2. Theory of Knowledge. This is Mathematics; and the Arts. an interdisciplinary seminar course Within each of these subject areas and this is probably still exploring knowledge itself, including dozens of courses may be offered, perception, cognition, philosophy and depending on the school and country. its main focus. diverse viewpoints. Here, students Courses are offered at both a “high” hone their critical-thinking skills and level and a “standard” level, so that learn to cogently present an argument students can choose even more rigor- by using supporting evidence. ous courses for subjects in which they 3. CAS (Creativity, Action, need a greater challenge. Students classes take much more time (240 Service). Students are required to must take three subjects at a high level course-hours) than the standard-level participate in creative endeavors, and three at a standard level, although classes (150 course-hours). either in or outside the classroom taking four high-level subjects and two In addition to the six subject areas (e.g., art classes, choral singing, the- standard is allowed. The high-level above, the following three “core” Continued on page 88

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(Continued from page 86) ater productions, etc.). They are also program, go to the IBO’s manual for required to take part in sports, either schools: http://www.ibo.org/program on teams or individually. Finally, they Perhaps the most mes/documents/schools_guide_diplo must be involved in community ser- ma.pdf vice, which can include anything from negative aspect of the IB volunteering at school events to orga- Is the IB Necessary? nizing a drive for the homeless — diploma is the amount of If a student wishes to attend high- usually at least three to four hours a er university in most countries, par- week or, at many schools, a total of work and accompanying ticularly European countries and the 150 hours. U.K., the IB is most certainly neces- The IB grading system uses a amount of stress sary. American high-schoolers who numerical scale from 1 (lowest) to 7 intend to go to U.S. colleges and uni- (highest). At the end of the two-year it entails. versities do not need to take on the program, students take exams in each full IB Diploma Program and, in subject. The diploma is awarded to fact, it is not available at many those students who have achieved at schools in the States. least a sum of 24 (in other words, an However, if they have access to average grade of 4 in each of the six subject, plus up to 3 “extra” points if a the program, and are strong students subject areas) and who have success- student has done excellent work in who wish to apply to the most com- fully completed the three core ele- TOK and the Extended Essay. The petitive U.S. colleges (or universities ments of the program: TOK, CAS and students are graded by their own high abroad), it would be a smart move to the Extended Essay. The maximum school teachers and also by external enroll in the full IB program, accord- score that can be attained is a 45: 42 IB examiners. ing to Keith Todd, director of under- points for a perfect 7 grade in each For a complete description of the Continued on page 90

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(Continued from page 88) graduate admissions at Northwestern how to write and has engaged in pub- University, one of the top-ranked uni- lic service, creative endeavors and versities in the U.S. “Admissions offi- If you are enrolling in athletics is certainly a noble one, and cers at the nation’s most selective col- may be enough right there to fuel the leges, including Northwestern, recog- the IB Diploma Program decision to enroll in the program. nize the exceptional rigor and range But there are other perks, as well. that the International Baccalaureate solely to receive college Because of its level of academic chal- program offers students,” he says. lenge, the IB diploma prepares stu- When Todd and his admissions offi- credit, it is essential to dents for college perhaps better than cers review applications, they look any other experience. The curricu- “not only at letter grades, but at the investigate the possibility lum, required readings and amount of overall challenge of an applicant’s cur- writing are all at a university level. riculum, and we recognize that IB thoroughly. Probably the first thing current uni- courses, and especially the full diplo- versity students say about the IB ma, are evidence that applicants are diploma is that their adjustment to col- challenging themselves academically lege was far easier because they had at the highest level. This is a definite gone through the last two years of high plus in the admission decision-mak- Middlebury or Carleton,” she says, school in such a demanding program. ing process.” “the admissions officers all said, ‘Do “Nothing I have done since the IB Mari O’Connor, a Foreign Service the full IB diploma because it will has seemed difficult by comparison,” spouse who recently accompanied give your application a boost.’” says Samantha Huffman, who attend- her daughter on stateside college vis- The IB diploma has a lot going for ed George Mason High School in its, agrees. “When we toured highly- it. The goal of producing a well- Falls Church, Va. “In fact, my first ranked American universities such as rounded, critical thinker who knows Continued on page 92

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(Continued from page 90) year at McGill University wasn’t near- grade in northern Virginia points out, ly as challenging. I did an honors it’s even earlier: “Because you have to degree in international development, The goal of producing a be planning to do the diploma ahead and always felt I was on top of my of time in order to have all your pre- classes.” Huffman, who now works at well-rounded, critical requisites under your belt, the kids the World Bank, went on to write here refer to themselves as being in two masters-length honors theses on thinker who knows how the IB Diploma Program long before AIDS in Cambodia. She adds, “I was junior year.” always reminded of my IB disserta- to write and has engaged Although there are no formal tion — because it really was an initi- requirements for admission to an IB ation to doing independent research in public service, creative program, preparation is definitely for a full year and developing a men- necessary. “You have to be ‘ready’ for toring relationship with a professor, endeavors and athletics the level of intensity of the IB cours- which is an invaluable skill for any es, and have had the right group of kind of graduate research.” is certainly a noble one. courses to be ready for the IB curriculum,” is the way Rebecca Grappo Requirements: puts it. Grappo, an FS spouse, is an Work and Stress educational consultant and former So, if it’s such a wonderful pro- education and youth officer at State’s gram, why wouldn’t every student accompanying amount of stress it Family Liaison Office. enroll? In fact, there are some dis- entails. IB diploma candidates have, “Preparation is necessary for any advantages to the program. Perhaps in many ways, begun university two high-level subjects, and you also need the most negative aspect of the IB years early. In fact, as one parent to be prepared to enter one of the diploma is the amount of work and whose daughter is currently in 10th Continued on page 94

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(Continued from page 92) four levels of IB math offerings,” says courses in just a few subjects they’re Mari O’Connor, whose daughters both strong in, would be better off with- did the full IB Diploma Program. Because of its level of out the full IB program. “Both my daughters did IB Math “It really depends on what pro- Methods Standard Level,” O’Connor academic challenge, the gram exists where you are, and explains. “To prepare for entrance whether or not you want to take the into this course, both were in the high- IB diploma prepares most rigorous course load available,” est math class available in grades 8, 9 says Stuart Symington, who attended and 10 (Algebra I and II and Geom- students for college high school in Virginia and is now a etry).” A student may have less flexi- sophomore at Yale. “Sometimes, a bility with certain classes, and with perhaps better than mix of IB and non-IB classes is a per- what he or she ends up taking at the fect fit; in the end, it depends on the high level or standard level, if they any other experience. individual.” aren’t put on track in the 9th grade. Another downside to the IB pro- American students who do not gram, according to some students, is want to spend their last two years of less flexibility and choice in high high school with an intensely de- school classes. Because most of the manding workload generally avoid ened demands of the IB. Teens who classes in the IB program are two-year the IB Diploma Program. Although do the bare minimum of studying to courses, there may be no time left for no student intending to go to uni- get by in a course, or who have a one-year classes in additional or elec- versity should ever “coast” in any huge roster of extracurricular activi- tive subjects. year of high school, particularly the ties that already take up a large About IB’s two-year courses, last two, even good students just amount of time, or who simply pre- Cambridge University student Aaron may not be cut out for the height- fer taking Advanced Placement Continued on page 96

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(Continued from page 94)

Curtis says: “On the bright side, this who fail to receive the IB diploma are receiving the cream-of-the-crop means you have a chance to build may still earn a general high school applications give different amounts of very deep and solid knowledge in a diploma and graduate from high credit for the scores you receive in few areas. However, you lose the school, as well as receive certificates higher-level classes. Typically, you flexibility of one-year courses; you for those IB classes they do pass. need to receive a grade of 5, 6 or 7 in simply aren’t introduced to as many Although this is not common in high-level subjects in order to receive subjects. If I had been at a U.S. high the U.S., in other parts of the world credit for those classes. Students can school I might have had the freedom students who do not receive the IB sometimes cut out a full year of to take something like photography diploma after two years will often expensive schooling by doing the full or music theory.” stay a 13th year in school to “finish IB diploma.” Some families report problems as up,” retaking the IB classes they did In fact, Florida and Oregon now a result of relocating when their stu- not pass the year before. It’s regard- require their public universities to dents are in the middle of an IB Dip- ed in much the same way as give a full year’s college credit for loma Program. It can be challenging American students treat a “gap year” those students entering with an IB to make a smooth transition from between high school and college. diploma — and more states may join one IB school to the next, because of them. curriculum differences. What about College However, be forewarned: While One negative aspect of the IB is, Credit? there is no question that the IB ironically, due to its strength: be- Can you get college credit for the Diploma Program is advantageous in cause the IB Diploma Program is at IB diploma or for IB courses? This getting admitted to college in the a high academic level, only 80 per- varies from college to college. FS first place, high school students cent, on average worldwide, actually spouse O’Connor, whose daughter is investigating colleges need to ask receive the diploma after two years now at the University of Edinburgh, questions about credit, and get firm in the program. However, students says, “The higher-ranked schools that answers, from college admissions

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officers and registrars. If you are However, Duguid was advised to enrolling in the IB Diploma Program stay for the full four years at Bryn solely to receive college credit, it is “It’s a great program Mawr. “Although I had received a essential that you investigate the pos- year’s worth of credit, graduate sibility thoroughly with the schools to if your child thrives on schools do not see IB and AP high which you intend to apply. Even if school courses as being ‘college- colleges and universities give a full that kind of academic level,’ but rather as challenging high year of credit, graduate schools may school courses which are required to frown on students who have only challenge and is prepared get into a top-tier college,” she been at an undergraduate institution explains. “Thus, it was highly recom- for three years instead of four. to make the commitment, mended that I take four years of col- Kate Duguid, who graduated from lege classes if I wanted to go to a the International School of Brussels but many students find it good graduate school.” and is now a sophomore at the highly Many students have found that selective Bryn Mawr College in overwhelming.” U.S. colleges and universities are Pennsylvania, has this to say: often more willing to give college “I took four higher-level courses — Rebecca Grappo credit for AP classes than for IB cer- (English A1, French A2, Theatre Arts, tificates in the same courses. While and History) and two standard-level the IB diploma should, and usually courses (Math Methods and Bio- does, carry the most weight, IB cer- logy). Bryn Mawr gave me credit for tificate classes taken outside of the my four higher-level courses (be- had covered calculus. In addition, diploma program are not always rec- cause I had received a 6 or above) they were going to allow me to grad- ognized as readily as AP courses, even and for my math course, because it uate a year early.” Continued on page 100

DECEMBER 2006/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 97 S CHOOLS S UPPLEMENT SchoolsSchools atat aa GlanceGlance Go to our Web page at www.fsjournal.org and click on the Marketplace tab for more information.

Annual Tuition, School Name Advertisement PageEnrollment No. Gender Distribution,Percent M/F BoardingPercent InternationalLevels Offered Common ApplicationAccepts/Offers ADDMiles and to LD Int’lInt’l Airport StudentsDorms Orientation w/E-mail,Holiday phones Break CoverageRoom & Board (USD)

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Alexandria Country 88 240 47/53 NA NA K-8 N N 20 NA NA NA 16,693- Day School 18,095 Browne Academy 94 276 49/51 NA 1 PS-8 N N 5 NA NA NA 17,502 Langley School, The 90 466 50/50 NA 0 PS-8 NA N 15 NA NA NA 22,900 ELEMENTARY/JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL Congressional Schools 91 345 53/47 0 20 PS-8 N N 22 N N N 14,150- of Virginia, The 17,650 Rock Creek International 104 220 47/53 0 25 PK-8 N N 20 Y NA N 19,775 School ELEMENTARY/JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL British School of 93 300 50/50 NA 50 PK-12 N N 10 Y NA NA 19,465 Washington Hockaday School, The 94 1,020 All girls 9 1 PK-12 Y Y 30 Y Y Y 36,800 Indian Mountain School 108 260 60/40 37 12 PK-9 N Y 50 N Y N 35,180 Perkiomen 89 265 60/40 60 20 5-12, PG Y Y 50 Y Y N 36,000 Stone Ridge School of 95 740 All girls NA 5 PK-12 N N 15 N NA NA 10,000- the Sacred Heart 19,275 Sandy Spring Friends 106 548 48/52 7 6 PK-12* NA NA NA NA NA NA 15,680- School 21,400 Washington International 101 825 49/51 NA 37 PK-12 N Limited 8 Y NA NA 21,375 School JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL Cardigan Mountain School 96 180 All boys 95 20 6-9 N N 130 Y Y N 36,450 JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

COEUS International 103 80 48/52 NA 50 5-10* N Limited 25 N N NA 22,975** School Dana Hall School 101 465 All girls 40 10 6-12 Y Limited 12 Y Y N 39,405 Queen Margaret’s School 106 300 All girls*** 33 25 PK-12 Y N 38 Y Y Y 29,200- 35,700 SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL Cranbrook School 105 770 53/47 34 11 9-12 Y N 30 Y Y Y 31,900 Foxcroft School 97 190 All girls 69 16 9-12 Y Y 30 Y Y Y 37,500 Idyllwild Arts Academy 95 262 40/60 85 27 9-12, PG Y N 120 Y Y N 35,800 Interlochen Arts Academy 108 475 40/60 89 18 9-12, PG N N 16 Y Y N 34,100 International School of 84 1399 53/47 NA NA PK-13 Y Y 12 NA NA N 32,050**** Brussels Kents Hill School 100 230 60/40 75 20 9-12, PG Y Y 50 Y Y Limited 37,645 King George School, The 91 72 60/40 100 5 9-12 Y Y 60 N N Y 5,800/mon Madeira School, The 97 302 All girls 55 13 9-12 Y Y 15 Y Y Limited 34,780 Miss Hall’s School 103 175 All girls 75 18 9-12 Y NA 40 Y Y N 37,800 Oregon Episcopal School 86 300 50/50 25 25 9-12 Y Limited 20 Y Y Y 35,450 St.Timothy’s School 93 132 All girls 55 22 9-12, PG Y N 19 Y Y N 34,500 Subiaco 87 165 All Boys 85 20 9-12 N Limited 110 Y Y Limited 15,500 White Mountain 92 100 50/50 80 14 9-12, PG Y Y 110 N Y N 37,100

* 5-12 in 2007 ** Flexible tuition 1,000-22,975 *** Pre-K-7 is co-ed **** 7,000 – 25,000 euros Notes: NA - Not Applicable ADD - Attention Deficit Disorder LD - Learning Disability

CONTINUED ON PAGE 102

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(Continued from page 97)

though both cover university-level material. “The IB program is a wonderful challenge and you come out of it having learned and accomplished so much,” says Yale student Stuart Symington. “But if the AP alternative exists, I would take it if credit is what matters most. It all depends on the college/university you would want to go to, but AP is more widely accepted.” However, Symington feels that “a good educational foundation — and the full four-year experience — are more important than the credit you receive in college.” “At Richard Montgomery High School (Maryland),” reports Gina Ruebensaal, who attended Williams College and later Harvard’s Kennedy School, “they encouraged us to take the AP exams in the same subjects as our IB exams. Although I had tech- nically taken the IB classes instead of the AP, I was prepared for both exams, and had both IB and AP credits when I graduated. In the end, I only used two IB/AP credits in college: my school accepted both, but only as a mechanism for skipping introductory courses, not as substitu- tion credits.”

Offerings Vary Ask a dozen Foreign Service 12th- graders around the world what their IB programs are like, and you’ll get a dozen different answers. That’s because the makeup of IB Diploma Programs varies greatly from school to school — and there are currently 1,466 schools in 123 countries offering the IB diploma. As with any curriculum, the classes are more likely to be good if the teachers, administrators and students are motivated. However, there are more external controls on the IB program, exerted by the IBO in Geneva and in regional offices, and this ostensibly keeps the quality of IB programs worldwide at a high standard. “Every IB World School is subject to an extensive authorization process (typically lasting two years) and then a review every five years,” states Jenan

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As with any curriculum, the classes are more likely to be good if the teachers, administrators and students are motivated.

al-Haddad, communications manager at IBO. “Teachers regularly participate in international teacher training workshops. The organization takes these quality-control processes very seriously.” Yet some parents and students have found that IB programs can still vary in quality. One parent, whose child went from high school in Arlington, Va., to an IB World School in Africa, has commented sadly that “the IB work here is not as challenging as the 9th-grade honors courses there. So I would not agree that the IB program is superior to the better private schools. The other possibility is that this is just a bad implementation of the program. The IB structure is there, but the depth of thought and exploration and quality of teaching are not. I think my son would have ended up with a better high school education had we stayed in Virginia.” “I guess the moral is that all IB schools are not equal,” adds another parent who has put several children through various IB programs. “It does depend so much on the director, on the teaching staff, on the school board and on the community — just as at any school. All the same basic issues (economics, demograph- ics and size of the student body, etc.) still apply in an IB school.” IBO’s al-Haddad counters: “From Continued on page 104

DECEMBER 2006/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 101 S CHOOLS S UPPLEMENT SchoolsSchools atat aa GlanceGlance Go to our Web page at www.fsjournal.org and click on the Marketplace tab for more information.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 98

MILITARY SCHOOLS Missouri Military 88 218 All boys 100 25 6-12 Y Y/N 115 Y Y Limited 27,500 Academy Randolph-Macon 109 407 71/29 81 21 6-12 Y Y/N 60 Y Y N 24,000 US- Academy 28,500 Int’l SPECIAL NEEDS SCHOOLS Benedictine School, The 90 200 80 5 NA N Y 60 Y Y Call School Frederic L. Chamberlain 108 112 61/39 82 2 6-12, PG Y Y 50 Y N/Y Y 116,227 School Gow School, The 99 143 All boys 100 27 7-12, PG N All LD 20 Y Y N 41,900 Oakland 91 NA NA 50 5 NA N Y 60 Y N N 37,000 Riverview School 100 180 45/55 99 7 6-12, PG N All LD 75 Y Y N 62,015 DISTANCE LEARNING Texas Tech University 103 K-12 and accredited HS diploma; Bachelor’s through graduate programs Visit http://www.de.ttu.edu Univ. of Missouri - 109 26,000 enrollment Independent study: Grade 3 through university. Ctr Distance & Accredited HS diploma. Bachelor’s degree completion. Independent Study For more information, go to cdis.missouri.edu/go/gFSJ6.asp. OVERSEAS SCHOOLS American Overseas 89 630 50/50 NA 65 PK-PG N Y 30 Y N N 12,750- School of Rome 21,500 CCI Renaissance School 96 120 40/60 100 5 10-12 N N 175 Y Y N 26,500 Jakarta International 107 2,535 50/50 NA 80 K-12 NA Limited 30 Y N N 5,350- School 16,350 John F. Kennedy 89 65 50/50 50 70 K-8 N Limited 90 Y Y/N N 37,000 International School Leysin American 99 350 52/48 100 65 9-12, PG Y Limited 75 Y Y N 34,000 School in Switzerland Marymount International 93 240 All girls 43 75 6-12 N Limited 12 Y Y Y 44,600 School - London Marymount International 87 750 49/51 NA 50 PK-12 N Limited 15 Y N N 10,125- School - Rome 19,500 St. Stephen’s School 86 211 45/55 18 63 9-12, PG N N 12 NA Y N 35,978*

OTHER AAFSW (Associates NA Bringing the Foreign Service community together to promote a better quality of life. of the American Go to www.aafsw.org Foreign Service Worldwide) FSYF (Foreign 104 Assists Foreign Service Youth by coordination development programs Service Youth Go to www.fsyf.org Foundation)

* 28,000 euros Notes: NA - Not Applicable ADD - Attention Deficit Disorder LD - Learning Disability

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(Continued from page 101) a student’s perspective, every school late into higher student (and parent) advance.” But al-Haddad insists that will look and feel different. This satisfaction with the program. Says the high standards of the IB diploma tends to reflect the culture, traditions, Cambridge student Curtis, “Every IB should not vary much between infrastructure and experience of the school is different. Each offers a dif- schools, no matter what the size or faculty who take and deliver our pro- ferent set of subjects, and it’s impor- course offerings. “It would not be fea- grams. We welcome this diversity of tant to check that your interests are sible for every school to offer every schools in the IB community and satisfied. Also, some have serious subject, and so the choices that a would be disappointed if our contri- scheduling conflicts. At Kungshol- school makes will typically be driven bution to international education was men Gymnasium (Stockholm), for by student demand, staff and local to create a ‘global sameness,’ in the example, no one could take both biol- resources. However, certain popular same way you might expect a beef ogy and physics because they conflict- subjects will be found in nearly every burger to look and taste the same any- ed in the schedule, so an aspiring bio- IB school, and all schools have to offer where in the world.” Al-Haddad con- medical engineer might have been in at least one subject from each of the cedes that “good education is much a bit of a jam. This is exacerbated by IB subject groups, as well as the core more complex than that,” yet goes on the disadvantages of the two-year sys- elements of the Extended Essay, CAS to assert: “Our assessment standards tem. In a U.S. school, the scheduling and Theory of Knowledge.” are high and consistent ... universities conflict could be avoided by offering Still — as in any school anywhere worldwide understand what an IB biology one year and physics the next. — one bad teacher can diminish the Grade 7 means, wherever the student Larger IB programs can generally quality of the experience. One stu- comes from.” escape such conflicts.” dent who is generally very positive School size can make a difference, IBO’s al-Haddad acknowledges about the IB Diploma Program of course. A larger program with that “a student transferring from one laments: “Theory of Knowledge is more course offerings and several sec- school to another would be wise to another opportunity for interesting, tions of the same subject may trans- check out subject availability in Continued on page 106

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The IB: Resources http://www.ibo.org/ The official Web site of the International Baccalaureate Organization — your first stop for information from the source. You can find a list of all IBO World Schools on this site, learn which colleges give credit for IB courses and gather information for setting up the IB program in your school. http://www.washingtonpost.com/ wp-dyn/content/custom/2005/12/14/ CU2005121401454.html The “Washington Post Challenge Index” rates Washington, D.C.-area schools based on how challenging the curriculum is, including IB and AP courses. http://www.geocities.com/ calcfreak901/ib.html A little unofficial IB-related humor. http://www.state.gov/m/dghr/flo/ rsrcs/pubs/1992.htm The Family Liaison Office’s online listing (with active links) of Washington, D.C.-area high schools that offer the IB diploma. http://www.agateny.com/News_Ibornot. html This article by Washington Post writer Jay Mathews describes how colleges are biased, giving more AP credit than IB credit. http://www.ibmidatlantic.org/ List of Mid-Atlantic region IB schools http://www.ibscrewed.net/ “So you’ve sold your soul to the International Baccalaureate Program ... what’s next?” A great site where kids doing the full IB diploma can let off steam and bond with other stressed-out souls. Books:

Jay Mathews and Ian Hill, Supertest: How the International Baccalaureate Can Strengthen Our Schools (Open Court Publishing, 2005).

A.D.C. Peterson, Schools Across Borders: The Story of the International Baccalaureate and the United World Colleges (Open Court Publishing, 1991).

Tim Pound, The International Baccalaureate (RoutledgeFalmer, 2005).

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(Continued from page 104)

The full diploma is appropriate for bright students who are good writers and highly motivated.

creative thought. Without the right teacher, however, it can be a complete waste of time, as I found out. Our TOK teacher was simply not interested in anything anyone had to say, nor did he actually seem to plan any lessons.” Foreign Service families can relax a bit when considering IB World Schools in the Washington area, as most students who’ve attended them report that they are very good. Symington, who attended J.E.B. Stuart High School in Falls Church, Va., felt the IB program there was “a great synthesis of varied disciplines.” And the program is still paying off at Yale: “In a recent ‘Peoples and Cultures of Latin America’ lecture we talked about quilombos (escaped slave communities) in Brazil, which I had learned about in my IB history class.” Additionally, in the D.C. metropolitan area, if your local high school does not offer the IB diploma, you may be able to attend an IB World School even if it’s not in your school district. Check with your county public schools authority for more information.

Is the IB for You? Pamela Ward, education and youth officer for State’s Family Liaison Office, feels it is, provided you’re bright and — just as important — motivated. “I have talked with many students who have done the full IB diploma. Most think it has prepared

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them well for college. It is, however, very challenging and the full diploma is most appropriate for bright students who are good writers and highly motivated. Motivation is critical because of the add-ons such as the Extended Essay and CAS.” Kristin Pollock, an 11th-grader at Frankfurt International School, says, “At my school we’re almost required to take the IB.” When asked about how difficult the program is so far, she reports: “While you are required to take three high-level courses, you can make it hard or easy. Lots of students take art, music, or drama as a high- level at my school. On the other hand, I decided to take history and English ‘high,’ which require a lot of essays. I also take biology high; and I haven’t taken it since 9th grade in the U.S. So far, it really isn’t that bad.” “It seems very much worth it,” agrees Faye Hammond, who’s in 11th grade at George Mason High School in Falls Church, Va. “I have fantastic teachers, am interested in all my subjects, have met very interesting class- mates, and haven’t had to stay up late to do homework yet,” she says. Perhaps Hammond and Pollock will feel differently in 12th grade, although Aaron Curtis at Cambridge is still glad he completed the IB: “The strongest aspect of the IB program is that it is really designed to let students think for themselves. The curriculum seems devised to avoid needless memorization of facts and to encourage individual thought.” But he adds a caveat: “To some extent, IB does drop you off in the deep end. If you can’t motivate yourself to study, you may not realize how far behind you are until it is too late because IB offers little in terms of quizzes, tests or progress reports. Other than the one- off ‘mock exams,’ there’s nothing to stop you from slacking off and bombing the exams at the end of two years. You could call it the ‘sink or swim’ diploma.” Rebecca Grappo urges both parents and students to weigh the deci- Continued on page 109

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(Continued from page 107) sion on the IB carefully. “It’s a great program if your child thrives on that kind of academic challenge and is prepared to make the commitment, but there are many other students who find it burdensome and overwhelming,” she says. “Some parents get caught up in the cachet of the program and push their kids into it when they really don’t want to do it.” Grappo raises another concern. Often, she points out, the most talent- ed teachers and kids and school resources go into a program that serves the top tier. “In many smaller schools there is no good alternative, or fewer alternatives, for a student who doesn’t want to do the IB,” she says. “But I want to make sure that students who choose not to do the IB program aren’t marginalized in the school setting.” Lesley Chritton, a freshman at Wellesley College in Massachusetts, attended the International School Nido de Aguilas in Santiago, Chile. Chritton is perfectly happy she chose not to do the full IB diploma. “I found that the U.S. schools I was interested in didn’t place as much importance on, or even recognize, the IB diploma as many schools in the U.K. or Canada do. Instead I decided to take IB classes and earned certificates in two of them, which meant doing the IB requirements for those classes only. Earning the full diploma wasn’t necessary for me, so instead of stressing about CAS hours and the Extended Essay, I had time to do three varsity sports as well as Habitat for Humanity, journalism, the year- book — and even sleep every now and then.” On the other hand, Samantha Huffman, the George Mason student who went on to McGill, concludes, “Even though I remember my last two years of high school as probably the most sleep-deprived of my life, I am a fervent defender of the IB program.” For FS high-schoolers and their parents the best advice is this: while the IB is a great program, it is necessary to proceed with caution.

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DECEMBER 2006/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 113 REAL ESTATE

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114 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2006 REAL ESTATE

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DECEMBER 2006/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 115 REFLECTIONS The Lucky Pole

BY NICHOLAS REY

am probably the most fortunate me how my family had actually es- Pole who ever immigrated to the Were it not for Amb. caped Warsaw on Sept. 5, 1939, and it I United States, and not only be- Biddle, I certainly would blew my mind. She told me she had cause I have a three-letter last name. not be an American known the American ambassador at I was born in Warsaw on Jan. 23, the time, Anthony J. Drexel Biddle Jr., 1938, and escaped to the United today, let alone one of socially. When our family decided to States with my family during the blitz- his successors. leave, she asked him if she could bor- krieg. Knowing several languages, I row some gas for our car. He said he, dreamed of a diplomatic career. But too, was leaving, and invited our fami- upon graduation from college, I pro- ly to join his motorcade. ceeded to flunk the State Depart- was assured for the first time in its The next morning they discovered ment orals and ended up working for 1,000-year history when the country Amb. Biddle and his people trying to 30 years in the Treasury Department was invited to join NATO in July 1997. camouflage his canary-yellow Cadillac and on Wall Street. As ambassador I had two equal convertible. My aunt recounted help- In 1990, the U.S. created a fund to challenges. The first was to convince ing to drape pine bows over it. The jump-start private enterprise in the the Poles that the U.S. truly did view group then drove south to Romania, new Poland. At the time, I was the Poland’s security as a high priority. In dodging stukas (dive bombers) all the only white-haired investment banker the eyes of most Poles, the U.S. had let way. So, were it not for Biddle, I cer- in captivity who spoke Polish, and was the country down after World War II: tainly would not be an American today, chosen to be on the board of the fund. “Roosevelt sold us down the river at let alone one of his successors. Ironi- Three years later Bill Clinton nominat- Yalta and he was a Democrat. Why cally, my picture was placed directly ed me to be ambassador to Poland. should we trust Clinton?” My other under his in the embassy’s rogues’ Sending me to Warsaw was like task was to move them to do the things gallery after I departed. sending Geoffrey Chaucer to the they needed to do to ensure that they The team at Embassy Warsaw was Court of St. James: I am a direct de- would be cemented into Western truly fabulous. I take great pride in the scendant of the father of Polish litera- structures, particularly NATO. fact that of the dozen senior FSOs who ture, Nicholas Rey (Mikolaj Rej, 1505- Given the times and the things I served on my country team, five are 1569), the first poet to write in Polish had to say, I ran a serious risk of being now ambassadors. and not Latin. accused of replacing the Soviet (Rus- A week before my wife and I left, in After I presented my letters to sian) ambassador as Big Brother. But late October 1997, our friends the President Lech Walesa in December my Polish ancestry allowed me to Russian ambassador and his wife host- 1993, my wife and I took up front-row speak not as an American but as ed us at an informal farewell dinner at seats on history. Poland’s democracy Mikolaj Rej. Talking one Pole to an- the former Soviet embassy. The other and free enterprise system were con- other made it a lot easier to speak can- guests were the German ambassador, solidating. Moreover, Poland’s security didly, whether in public or telling Pres. Poland’s foreign minister and their Walesa he needed to fire his top mili- wives. We joked and laughed and Nicholas Rey is a principal at Intelli- tary man and take a whole new ap- enjoyed each other’s company that bridge Corporation, an Internet pro- proach to civilian control of the military. night, truly appreciating that we were vider of global business intelligence But these were not the only reasons witnesses to the end of the Cold War solutions. He served as ambassador to for my great good fortune, as I came to and a millennium of Polish insecurity the Republic of Poland from 1993 to learn when I returned on home leave. — the fruit, in no small part, of 50 1997. My then-87-year-old aunt described to years of American foreign policy.

116 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2006