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The Foreign Service Journal, March 2010.Pdf C1-C4_FSJ_0310_COV:proof 2/15/10 2:25 PM Page C1 RESET AND MATCH ■ DIGITAL DIPLOMACY ■ MEMORIES OF A-100 AFSA ANNUAL REPORT INSIDE $3.50 / MARCH 2010 OREIGN ERVICE FJ O U R N A L STHE MAGAZINE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS PROFESSIONALS IRAQ & ITS NEIGHBORS New Challenges As the U.S. Shifts Focus C1-C4_FSJ_0310_COV:proof 2/15/10 2:25 PM Page C2 01-15_FSJ_0310_FRO:first 2/18/10 3:12 PM Page 1 01-15_FSJ_0310_FRO:first 2/18/10 3:12 PM Page 2 01-15_FSJ_0310_FRO:first 2/18/10 3:12 PM Page 3 OREIGN ERVICE FJ O U R N A L S CONTENTS March 2010 Volume 87, No. 3 F OCUS ON Iraq & Its Neighbors IRAQ, IRAN AND THE UNITED STATES / 16 The route to direct talks between Washington and Tehran could run through Baghdad. By Selig S. Harrison ACHIEVING CLOSURE ON IRAQ’S PREWAR WMD / 23 Understanding why it turned out Saddam Hussein had no WMD provides insights useful in other situations. By Charles A. Duelfer Cover and inside illustrations THE U.S. AND TURKEY: BACK FROM THE BRINK / 30 by Laszlo Kubinyi American, Iraqi and Turkish policymakers should continue to focus on promoting dialogue and making common cause. PRESIDENT’S VIEWS / 5 By Ross Wilson Exploring the New Frontiers of THE MIDDLE EAST: FORKS IN THE WAY FORWARD / 37 Diplomacy and Development The stakes for getting U.S. policy right in the Middle East are higher than ever. By Susan R. Johnson Here is an overview of the problems and opportunities. By Chas W. Freeman Jr. SPEAKING OUT / 13 A Real Reset Button for U.S.-Russian Relations By Thompson Buchanan F EATURE REFLECTIONS / 84 DIPLOMACY REBOOTED: MAKING DIGITAL STATECRAFT A REALITY / 43 A-100, Past and Present The State Department is now in a position to build novel By Steven Alan Honley applications to support the mission of diplomacy. By Chris Bronk LETTERS / 7 CYBERNOTES / 9 AFSA NEWS BOOKS / 68 2009 ANNUAL REPORT: WORKING FOR A STRONGER AFSA / 49 IN MEMORY / 71 MARKETPLACE / 78 YEAR IN REVIEW / 51 INDEX TO CONSTITUENCY SUMMARIES / 57 ADVERTISERS / 82 CLASSIFIEDS / 65 MARCH 2010/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 3 01-15_FSJ_0310_FRO:first 2/18/10 3:12 PM Page 4 A time of service…a time of need OREIGN ERVICE FJ O U R N A L S Help for Seniors May Editor STEVEN ALAN HONLEY Senior Editor Be Just a Phone Call Away— SUSAN B. MAITRA Associate Editor The Senior Living Foundation may be SHAWN DORMAN able to help you or someone you know. AFSA News Editor Some examples of assistance are: FRANCESCA KELLY Ad & Circulation Manager ED MILTENBERGER N Home Health Care Art Director N Adult Day Care & Respite Care CARYN SUKO SMITH Advertising Intern N Prescription Drug Copayments JOSERELDA BOON N Transportation to Medical Appointments EDITORIAL BOARD N Durable Medical Equipment TED WILKINSON Chairman For more information, please contact the MAY G. BAPTISTA SENIOR LIVING FOUNDATION JOSEPH BRUNS OF THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE STEPHEN W. B UCK JULIE GIANELLONI CONNOR 1716 N Street, NW N Washington, DC 20036-2902 JEFF GIAUQUE Phone: (202) 887-8170 N Fax: (202) 872-9320 MARY E. GLANTZ E-Mail: [email protected] N Web Site: www.SLFoundation.org D. IAN HOPPER SPONSORED BY THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION GEORGE JONES LYNN W. R OCHE RIMA J. VYDMANTAS THE MAGAZINE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS PROFESSIONALS Foreign Service Journal (ISSN 0146-3543), 2101 E Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037-2990 is published monthly with a combined July-August issue by the American Foreign Service Associa- tion (AFSA), a private, nonprofit organization. Material appearing herein represents the opin- ions of the writers and does not necessarily rep- resent the views of the Journal, the Editorial Board or AFSA. Writer queries and submissions are invited, preferably by e-mail. Journal sub- scription: AFSA members – $13 included in an- nual dues; others – $40. For foreign surface mail, add $18 per year; foreign airmail, $36 per year. Periodical postage paid at Washington, D.C., and at additional mailing offices. Indexed by Public Affairs Information Services (PAIS). The Journal is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photos or illustrations. Advertising inquiries are invited. The appearance of advertisements herein does not imply the endorsement of the services or goods offered. TELEPHONE: (202) 338-4045 FAX: (202) 338-8244 or (202) 338-6820 E-MAIL: [email protected] WEB: www.afsa.org; www.fsjournal.org © American Foreign Service Association, 2010. Printed in the U.S.A. Send address changes to: AFSA Attn: Address Change 2101 E Street N.W. Washington DC 20037-2990 Printed on 50-percent recycled paper, of which 10 percent is post-consumer waste. 4 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/MARCH 2010 01-15_FSJ_0310_FRO:first 2/18/10 3:12 PM Page 5 PRESIDENT’S VIEWS Exploring the New Frontiers of Diplomacy and Development BY SUSAN R. JOHNSON The conventional diplomat dress the professional devel- tional State and USAID positions, both is fast becoming an endan- opment and training require- to carry out core diplomatic functions gered species, one that may be ments for diplomats and and to provide a training float. Attention teetering on the brink of irrel- development officials. is now rightly turning to the equally im- evance. It has become almost Old-style diplomacy, with portant related issue in which we all have trite to talk about the new its venerable conventions and a stake: updated and expanded profes- technologies, new players, structural rigidities, continues sional development and training for our new issues and the increas- to have some role in execut- Foreign Service across the board. ingly blurred lines between foreign and ing formal, state-to-state business, but AFSA supports and will participate in domestic policies — or whether today’s its space is narrowing and its impor- a new AAD study titled “Foreign Affairs foreign ministries and assistance agen- tance diminishing. To paraphrase a Leadership in the 21st Century: Recali- cies are relics of the past or the engines point Daryl Copeland makes eloquently brating the Diplomatic Profession.” We for a renaissance of diplomacy and de- in his book, Guerrilla Diplomacy, the plan to contribute to the development of velopment. new frontiers of diplomacy and devel- this study in several ways: by acting as a The forces for change are real; so is opment lie primarily in understanding conduit to our members to keep you in- the need for radical reform of Foreign and managing the effects of the colos- formed about the issues that the study Service structures, culture, recruitment, sal forces collectively known as global- addresses; by seeking your input and training and professionalization. Yet ization. perspectives on what sort of training and while the debate over how best to rein- Yet paradoxically, all too often that professional development you think is vent the Foreign Service to meet the phenomenon generates insecurity, splin- needed, and how and when it should be needs of the 21st century has generated ters politics and deepens cultural di- provided; and by working to see that the a slew of articles, studies and books, vides. What was once fixed and pre- study considers what the new require- today’s active-duty diplomats have been dictable is becoming diffuse and dy- ments are and what general training and relegated to the margins of the discus- namic. The business of diplomacy is professional development principles sion. done less and less in banquet halls, re- apply across the Foreign Service. If foreign affairs professionals want ceptions and closed meeting rooms and The world we knew is gone. The new to be part of the process of developing more and more in barrios, villages, cafés world is increasingly complex and dy- the right blueprint, we must engage in it and chatrooms. namic, and is coming at us fast. Is recali- seriously. We can start by answering the Foreign Service recruitment is now brating the diplomatic profession enough, question: What are the new and emerg- finally on a fast upswing as we play or do we need to be reinventing it? ing requirements for effective diplo- catchup for years of below-attrition hir- If you would like to participate in the macy and development? Only through ing. AFSA is proud to have actively sup- ongoing discussion of this issue and con- an open, inclusive discussion of those ported the development of the “Foreign tribute to AFSA’s participation in the requirements can we intelligently ad- Affairs Budget of the Future,” a blue-rib- AAD study on foreign affairs leadership bon panel report issued in October 2008 in the 21st century, please contact me at Susan R. Johnson is the president of the by the American Academy of Diplo- [email protected]. All comments and American Foreign Service Association. macy. It documents the need for addi- suggestions are welcome. ■ MARCH 2010/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 5 01-15_FSJ_0310_FRO:first 2/18/10 3:12 PM Page 6 01-15_FSJ_0310_FRO:first 2/18/10 3:12 PM Page 7 LETTERS The Sky’s Not Falling conclusion is reiterated in the January other developed countries where life Regarding AFSA’s objection to the FSJ, AFSA believes the sky is falling. expectancy is higher than ours and Senate’s proposed excise tax on high- This is based on a faulty assumption health costs a fraction of ours. If we’re cost health plans (“Priorities and Sur- that premiums will immediately begin as exceptional a nation as our politi- veys,” January AFSA News Retiree VP increasing at a projected 8-percent an- cians constantly proclaim, then surely column), I wonder if it polled its mem- nual rate.
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