The Foreign Service Journal, July-August 2004

Home , Berlioz (crater), Carolan (crater), George Seward (diplomat), Richard Boucher

A DIPLOMATIC “RENAISSANCE MAN” ■ REBEL AS CONSUL ■ SAVING UGANDAN CHILDREN

$3.50 / JULY-AUGUST 2004 OREIGN ERVICE FJ O U R N A L S THE MAGAZINE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS PROFESSIONALS

THE STORIES OF SUMMER On Vacation with Foreign Service Fiction

CONTENTS July-August 2004 ■ Volume 81, No. 7-8 See p. 44

F OCUSON F OREIGN S ERVICE F ICTION F EATURES 20 / STRANGE DAY AFSA AWARD WINNERS IN ACTION / 44 A man recognizes the rhythm of life Photos and citations for some of this year’s winners. and death in a rainstorm in Africa. By Shawn Dorman By Michael E. Kelly AN FS “RENAISSANCE MAN”: RICHARD B. PARKER / 49 23 / THE VERDERER Three-time Ambassador Richard Parker was a A centuries-old affront drives Foreign Service officer for 31 years, and since a political officer to plan a retirement has continued to write and teach. meticulous revenge. Last month, AFSA honored Parker for a By John D. Boyll lifetime of contributions to American diplomacy. By Steven Alan Honley 26 / AWAKENING As the slow, creaky wheels of an REBEL RAIDER AS DIPLOMAT: JOHN MOSBY IN CHINA / 60 African emergency turn, an As U.S. consul in Hong Kong, the colorful Confederate American health worker comes guerrilla leader greatly improved the United States’ to terms with the reality of her reputation in China. own loss. By Kevin H. Siepel By Rachel Herr IT’S TIME TO WIN THE BATTLE FOR 32 / BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS UGANDA’S CHILDREN / 66 An early education in peacemaking A perverse war continues to devour thousands of chil- in Brooklyn lasts a lifetime. dren each year in Uganda, putting President Museveni’s By Francis Xavier Cunningham international reputation at risk. By Michael Orona 38 / THE KEEPER Negotiating a peace with Rose Williams’ C OLUMNS D EPARTMENTS loyal cat is Conrad Campbell’s greatest challenge. PRESIDENT’S VIEWS / 5 LETTERS / 6 By Ricky Rood Creative Writing: CYBERNOTES / 14 45 / THE GULSHAN REGATTA A Talent for All Seasons BOOKS / 71 A young man finds that fate plays a role — By John Limbert IN MEMORY / 73 even in an arranged marriage. SPEAKING OUT / 17 By Mary Cameron Kilgour INDEX TO ADVERTISERS / 86 A Tribute to the Senior AFSA NEWS / Seminar CENTER INSERT By William Stedman

REFLECTIONS / 88 By Jeff Mazur

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 Editor Editorial Board organization. Material appearing herein represents the opinions of the writers and does not necessarily represent STEVEN ALAN HONLEY the views of the Journal, the Editorial Board or AFSA. Writer queries and submissions are invited, preferably by Senior Editor JUDITH BAROODY, CHAIRMAN SUSAN B. MAITRA e-mail. Journal subscription: AFSA Members - $13 included in annual dues; others - $40. For foreign surface mail, Associate Editor add $18 per year; foreign airmail, $36 per year. Periodical postage paid at Washington, D.C., and at additional mail- MARK W. BOCCHETTI SHAWN DORMAN ing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to Foreign Service Journal, 2101 E Street N.W., Washington, D.C. STEPHEN W. BUCK Ad & Circulation Manager 20037-2990. Indexed by Public Affairs Information Service (PAIS). The Journal is not responsible for unsolicited PATI CHAPLIN ED MILTENBERGER manuscripts, photos or illustrations. Advertising inquiries are invited. The appearance of advertisements herein TATIANA C. GFOELLER Business Manager does not imply the endorsement of the services or goods offered. FAX: (202) 338-8244 or (202) 338-6820. CAROL A. GIACOMO MIKKELA V. THOMPSON E-MAIL: [email protected]. WEB: www.afsa.org or www.fsjournal.org. TEL: (202) 338-4045. © American Foreign WILLIAM W. JORDAN Art Director LAURIE KASSMAN Service Association, 2004. Printed in the U.S.A. Send address changes to AFSA Membership, 2101 E Street N.W., CARYN SUKO SMITH HOLLIS SUMMERS Washington, D.C. 20037-2990. Printed on 50 percent recycled paper, of which 10 percent is post-consumer waste. Editorial Intern BILL WANLUND KRISTOFER LOFGREN TED WILKINSON Cover and inside illustrations by Donald Mulligan

JULY-AUGUST 2004/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 3

PRESIDENT’S VIEWS Creative Writing: A Talent for All Seasons

BY JOHN LIMBERT

We have dedicat- garbage; and the so-called forces of ed our summer law and order are the greatest threat issue, as we do every In our Foreign to public safety. year, to the work of Service work, there General Reporting. Here the the best fiction writ- possibilities are endless. One can, for ers among us. I am are year-round example, compose poetry — leaving always amazed to opportunities for the dull world of reality far behind — see the variety of tal- about the positive impact of this or ents among colleagues — music, paint- creativity and that program or visitor. I once had to ing, poetry, and, as reflected in this imagination. deliver the text of a 27-page speech magazine, a knack for creative writing. about the Law of the Sea Treaty to a Where does all this wonderful talent bored host-country official whose come from? ignorance of the subject was only But while the Foreign Service leagues who have, according to their exceeded by his indifference. How Journal devotes its summer issue to fic- EERs, unilaterally brought democracy could I describe his reaction in my tion, it stays serious during other sea- to the previously oppressed inhabitants reporting cable? The bald truth in sons, with articles about “prospects for of some remote corner of Afghanistan this case would have been brutal and development in Africa” or “what next reachable only by a six-day trip on broken the hearts of many good for world oil prices.” But how about muleback. friends. Or, with just a little poetic the rest of the year? Why should we MPPs. Years ago I was responsible license, I could spread good will restrict our fiction and fantasy to one for preparing a post’s Mission among those Washington colleagues season? In our Foreign Service work Program Plan. One category was, who had worked so hard on the issue there are year-round opportunities for “Please list all required factual report- and had labored so many hours on the creativity and imagination. Consider ing.” After listing human rights speech. The choice was easy. the following: reports, real property reports, family The above examples are just the EERs. Was there ever a greater member employment reports, free- most obvious ones. Judging by the opportunity for letting the imagination dom of religion reports, trafficking in quality and variety of Foreign Service wander through realms of unreality? persons reports, etc., I could only add fiction, there are few areas where our An employee evaluation report is clear- the comment: “As far as I know all of colleagues cannot apply their creativi- ly not the place for understatement or our reporting is factual, not science ty. So the next time you are preparing even literal adherence to fact. The test fictional.” In retrospect, however, I inspection reports, management con- for a rated officer is: if you recognize am not so sure. All too often, Foreign trol compliance reports, differential yourself in the report, then it probably Service employees and their families reports, or other documents not needs work. Nor do you want to be the live in a world reminiscent of Ray known for exciting and vivid writing, object of your supervisor’s unilateral, Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, in which be imaginative. Although the Foreign quixotic campaign to restore “balance” firemen were responsible for burning Service Journal publishes fiction only to the EER process — especially not books. After all, in many places we in the summer, there is no reason the when you are in competition with col- serve, the electric company steals rest of us must restrict fiction to one your power and sells it to your neigh- season of the year. We should mine John Limbert is the president of the bor; the water company turns off your those rich veins of fantasy just waiting American Foreign Service Association. water; the garbage men deliver to be tapped. ■

JULY-AUGUST 2004/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 5 LETTERS

A Welcome Policy 1999 to October 2001 as office man- month stay and then a long-distance I have been a special agent in agement specialist for the deputy relationship. In October 2001, we State’s Diplomatic Security Service chief of mission. In March 2000, I were married. for an eventful two years and will be took a trip to New York via Air Paula P. Guimond considering overseas bids in the next Afrique. After two days, I was ready OMS year. As an employee with a non-tra- to leave New York and return to Embassy Beijing ditional family, I am faced with addi- Senegal. tional stresses related to overseas At the airport, there were long In Defense of U.S. Policy assignment. I was considering leaving lines and short tempers. After 12 As I read Louis Janowski’s article, my life partner here in the States to hours waiting (some spent at a nearby “Neo-Imperialism and U.S. Foreign fulfill my overseas requirement and hotel), I saw a gentleman arguing (he Policy” (FSJ, May), I found myself feeling marginalized in having to says he was “discussing”) with the remembering an old line: This isn’t make this sacrifice, given the danger woman at the counter. I was thinking, right; it isn’t even wrong. and demands already placed upon me “Hey, give her a break, back off, and Janowski argues that the narcotics in the course of my duties. sit here like the rest of us.” Twelve situation in Afghanistan is worse with- Until recently, I was not aware of hours turned into 15, and we finally out the Taliban in power. The Taliban the Members of Household policy. took off. was up to its eyeballs in the narcotics The coverage of it in your June issue When we arrived in Dakar, I heard trade, running it as a monopoly. Now was welcome news, indeed. While I this voice, and it was “him,” the man it is a free-for-all, but we have a much have not yet had the opportunity to who had argued with the ticket- better chance of fighting its corrosive put the policy to use, its very existence counter woman. He started chatting effects with a friendly government in is a boost to morale. While it does not with me and I thought, “Please, lug- Kabul, greater U.S. engagement in afford all of the rights that others gage, come fast; I just want to go the region, and with terrorist training enjoy, I can at least find comfort in the home.” The luggage arrived and I camps shut down. policy as a means to remaining with headed home. The following day at Janowski uses pejorative buzz- my family, and I see it as a step in the work, I told my co-worker about my words without definition. He asserts right direction. trip and mentioned this man from the that U.S. policy is being reoriented I sincerely appreciate the steps airport, telling her how annoying he “along neoconservative lines.” What taken on behalf of Foreign Service was. is a “neoconservative”? Does Janow- employees. Then he showed up at the com- ski know? It seems that every month, Jennifer A. Franklin mercial office describing me to one of someone rushes into print with a new Special Agent, Diplomatic the FSNs in the office. She identified breathless explanation of some secret Security Service me, and then I received a phone call cabal behind the policies of the Bush Office of Mobile Security from him. I turned to my co-worker, administration (the idea that the Bush Deployments “Help, it’s him! I don’t want to talk to administration is behind the policies him.” But I did the unthinkable, and of the Bush administration is appar- Africa Plays Cupid met him outside of the lobby area. ently too prosaic). They are all I enjoyed the articles on Africa so We talked and the next thing I knew, Straussians, we are told, or much (FSJ, May), I am inspired to tell I’d agreed to have lunch with him the Trotskyites, or neoconservatives, or you my story of how Africa played next day, and the next, and so on. Texas oilmen, or Bible-thumping fun- Cupid. The “him” was Alan Guimond. damentalist Christians, or a bunch of I served in Dakar from December His three-week trip turned into a two- J-E-W-S. We need to be debating

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actual ideas, not arguing over who had lunch with Richard Perle. Janowski alleges that U.S. policy is to create an empire, but he does not define “empire.” Over the past two years, the United States has employed a variety of means to deal with what it defines as threats to its security, and has shown a willingness to use military force to do so even when it lacks the explicit support of an international organization or the support of all of its traditional allies. This sounds more like the definition of an independent nation-state than an empire. Before our invasion, our Iraq policy consisted of indefinitely stationing large numbers of troops in Saudi Arabia; endless air patrols over the northern and southern thirds of the country; a Swiss-cheese sanctions regime, under which Saddam Hussein mysteriously grew richer and stronger; and an inspections regime that he first treated as a shell game and then con- temptuously refused to work with at all. Saddam continued to support terrorism, and attempted to develop WMDs and dominate the region. This was an untenable situation. Janowski neither acknowledges this nor suggests what he would have done differently. Nor does he discuss what should be done now. He asserts that there were no WMDs. The possibilities that Iraqi WMDs were moved elsewhere or hidden, or that the WMDs were dismantled by Saddam to ride out the new round of inspections, receive not the slightest consideration or acknowledgement. Janowski exhumes Cordell Hull and exhorts us to concentrate on international economic affairs, leaving behind “obsolete” political-military paradigms. The United States, on a firmly bipartisan basis, tried something like this in the 1990s, cutting the Foreign Service, CIA human intelligence collection and the military, while also virtually obliterating public

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diplomacy. While we sipped our lattes and watched our stocks, the international jihadist movement grew stronger and stronger within the Islamic world, defined us as an exis- tential enemy, and began a series of attacks culminating with 9/11. Surely what we need is an integrated foreign policy that brings together political, military, intelligence and public diplomacy objectives — not an exclusive focus on our balance of trade. Janowski has not grounded his arguments in the facts and has decided to insult those who do not share his views. This is unfortunate. Kerem Bilgé FSO heading to Baku

Lies, Damned Lies and Statistics I spent a large part of my Foreign Service career working on trade policy issues, and support initiatives such as the African Growth and Oppor- tunity Act that promote the integration of developing countries into the world trading system. Anthony Carroll, in his article “AGOA: Open- ing Doors” (FSJ, May), touts the success of AGOA and notes that U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoel- lick has called AGOA an unqualified success. A closer examination of trade data, however, reveals a decid- edly less rosy picture. The 2001 to 2003 trade data included in the article reveal a mixed trade performance at best. While imports increased by $4.4 billion, or 20 percent, fully $3.5 billion of this growth represents higher imports of petroleum and petroleum products from Nigeria, Angola, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. These products were duty-free prior to AGOA, and their value largely fluctuates with world prices rather than in response to trade policy. Furthermore, while several countries, such as Kenya, Swaziland and

8 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/JULY-AUGUST 2004 L ETTERS columbia plaza apartments Madagascar, showed impressive ex- Capital Living With Comfort and Convenience port growth over this period, a depress- 24 Hour Fitness ingly large number of countries (nearly Center half of the 50-plus countries in sub- Saharan Africa) actually exported less to the U.S. in 2003 than in 2001. Sub-Saharan Africa clearly faces enormous challenges and the U.S. Toll Free 1-888-240-5131 should continue to pursue policies Utilities Included that promote growth and develop- Complimentary Voice Mail Beautiful and Spacious: ment in that part of the world. The Courtyard Style Plaza Polished Hardwood Floors Efficiency$1,100 - $1,250 formulation and assessment of our Private Balconies 1 Bedroom 1,400 - 1,700 policies, however, should be based on Huge Walk-in Closets 2 Bedroom 2,100 - 2,700 careful and objective analysis of issues and outcomes. 2400 Virginia Ave., N.W 24 Hour Front Desk Washington, D.C., 20037 Stephen Muller Garage Parking Avaliable Tel: (202) 293-2000 FSO, retired Controlled Access E-mail: [email protected] Troy, N.Y. Potomac River Views Minutes to Fine Dining Newly Renovated Kitchens Office Hours: Mon. - Fri. 8:00 AM-5:30 PM Ignoring Public Diplomacy Sat 10:00 AM-4:00 PM Thank you for Bill Kiehl’s thought- Directly across the street from Main State, minutes to Kennedy Center and Georgetown ful piece on public diplomacy (Speaking Out, April). Many hope, as Kiehl does, that the State Depart- ment will begin to take the public diplomacy function seriously. How- ever, his comment that a “middle live better. ground” will be found between the independent approaches of the for- brand new luxury high rise : fully appointed one, one bedroom dens and two bedroom corporate suites : state of the mer USIA and the current lack of art fitness and business centers : heated outdoor lap pool : direction is too optimistic. custom made mahogany furniture : fully equipped kitchens A riveting illustration of the actual : luxury towels and linens : soft, firm or hypoallergenic pil- low selection : weekday club breakfast serving Starbucks® position of public diplomacy is Coffee : afternoon Tazo® Tea : digital premium cable and described by Doug Wells of Embassy high speed internet : 27” and 20” sony wega tv and dvd : sony cd stereo : free local phone : on-site management, Paris in “Last Flight of the Black maintenance, housekeeping : concierge services : walking Swan,” from the same issue. If I read distance to ballston common mall, ballston and virginia the piece correctly, in the weeks square metro stops before the Iraq invasion, Embassy Paris disposed of the correspondence it was receiving from tens of thousands of French citizens. That the leadership of a flagship post in the midst of the most serious crisis with its host country in 50 years decided not to respond to the thoughts, comments and desires of korman communities arlington the people to whom it is accredited CORPORATE SUITES was an incredibly bad management arlington, va 880 north pollard street decision that says all one needs to 866.korman.4 : kormancommunities.com know about the role outreach and public diplomacy has and will have in

JULY-AUGUST 2004/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 9 L ETTERS MARKETPLACE Web access to major advertisers. Go to www.afsa.org Click on Marketplace tab on the marquee Bukkehave the department. have had since the days of Charlie www.bukkehave.com The many studies carried out by Wick to inform and influence the various commissions and committees decision-making process. Charles Smith Corp. Living www.SmithLiving.com have had — and will have — no effect Our experience in communicating or impact on the department’s intro- across cultural and language divides, Clements International spective, introverted culture. Foreign our understanding of how to shape www.clements.com public opinion simply doesn’t count. messages that will persuade and influ- Diplomatic Auto. Sales Neal Walsh ence, and our knowledge of how to www.diplosales.com FSO deploy human and program resources Executive Club Suites Fredericksburg, Va. creatively in support of policy objec- www.execlubdc.com tives are assets we brought to the Deeds, Not Words Department of State. It’s true that Georgetown Suites www.georgetownsuites.com It’s all very well for pundits, practi- many of our colleagues in Washington tioners and kibitzers in the field of may not fully understand what it is we Harry Jannette International mass communications to bemoan the do because we are largely field-orient- www.jannetteintl.com inadequacy of U.S. efforts at public ed, and they may not grasp how pub- Hirshorn Company, The diplomacy (Speaking Out, April). The lic diplomacy can and does add value www.hirshorn.com fact is, however, that no nostrums to the policy equation. So it is our Laughlin Management involving bureaucratic reshuffling, responsibility to inform them. www.laughlincompanies.com financial resources, technical enhance- In my view, to stovepipe public ments or programming expertise are diplomacy within the department, by Long & Foster www.simunek.com likely to produce measurable changes reconsolidating PD offices now dis- in America’s global image as long as persed throughout the department Marriott our society and political leaders are under an under secretary for public www.marriott.com seen to behave in ways that belie the diplomacy, is no remedy. What Oakwood values we profess to hold dear — i.e., serves the interests of the PD func- www.oakwood.com values such as freedom, self-determi- tion and the department better is to Quality Hotel nation, democracy, elemental fairness, continue to conduct our own out- www.hotelchoice.com/hotel/va058 human rights and equal justice under reach program to educate our col- law. This rings especially true with leagues about what we can and Prudential Carruther/Piekney www.foreignservicehomes.com regard to U.S. policies toward the should be doing as equal partners at Middle East. the policy-making table. It can be Prudential Carruthers In other words, it’s not what we say done: take a look at the inspection www.prudentialcarruthers.com that will improve America’s declining report of the Bureau of Western Remington image abroad, but what we do. To Hemisphere Affairs conducted two www.remington-dc.com pretend otherwise is self-defeating. It years after consolidation. The inte- SDFCU is also hypocrisy. gration of public diplomacy is hap- www.sdfcu.org Thomas J. Carolan Jr. pening throughout the department, FSO, retired and will continue to take root, large- State Plaza www.stateplaza.com Silver Spring, Md. ly due to the efforts of people — within and outside the PD cone — U.S. Gov’t Printing Office Internal Outreach who simply understand the worth of http://.bookstore.gpo.gov/sb/ sb-075.html Like Bill Kiehl (Speaking Out, reaching out to publics and make a April), I had grave doubts about the conscious effort to factor that into WJDManagement consolidation of USIA into the policy-making. That’s what enabled www.wjdpm.com Department of State in 1999. What I WHA’s approach to succeed. have seen and experienced first-hand Simply to insist, as Kiehl does, that since then, however, has convinced PD officers are victims of uninformed For more information about advertisers in the Journal go me that the integration of public rating officers in Washington and in to: www.afsa.org/marketplace diplomacy into the State Department the field gives little credit to all has given us the best opportunity we involved. While they may not be

10 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/JULY-AUGUST 2004 L ETTERS

experienced PD practitioners, most senior rating officers have surely read the Secretary’s statements about the importance he attaches to PD. Surely they are aware that those skills are now part of the standard training con- tinuum for all officers and count among promotion precepts. What they don’t know about the macro and micro of PD they can be taught by any PD officer with a modicum of self-interest. It’s in everyone’s interest to get smarter about PD, and those of us who know and practice it best ought to be spreading the word daily. We can claim that we’re not well- understood or intelligently supervised, or rail that State just isn’t like USIA, and there just might be some grain of truth in those assertions. The real issue, however, is whether those PD officers still in the trenches in the State Department really want to iso- late themselves further by demanding a separate public diplomacy bureau, or would prefer to proactively reach across the information divide and show that they are and should remain part of the team. Elizabeth A. Whitaker FSO Washington, D.C.

EFM & the FS Staffing Puzzle Shame on you both, Mr. Honley and AFSA, for not even mentioning Eligible Family Member employment, or the fact that EFM positions are an important component of the Foreign Service staffing puzzle, in your Editor’s Introduction on Foreign Service staffing (FSJ, April). You focus on the vital contributions of Foreign Service National employees. Similar to the FSNs, the EFMs provide valuable support to our embassies and consulates, accom- plishing a wide range of jobs. We are hard-working and undercompensat- ed, expected to perform at the same

JULY-AUGUST 2004/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 11 L ETTERS level as FSOs, but without any of the More on CAJE job to the 1970s standards. Lacking perks, respect or opportunities for Alex Ludwig’s article on the accurate, up-to-date standards, it was advancement. Computer Aided Job Evaluation pro- difficult for different classifiers to When the Family Member gram (FSJ, April) was both interesting come to similar grade determinations. Associates program was created in and insightful. It’s gratifying to me, as Without any uniform guidance across 1998, the department’s goal was to an HR practitioner, to see this topic different categories of jobs, it was increase the professionalism of family- given the thought and time it extremely difficult to convince member employment and create an deserves. Implementing CAJE is a employees and their supervisors that appointment mechanism that would huge change for overseas missions, their jobs were being classified fairly allow EFMs to earn credit toward and Ludwig pointed out legitimate in relationship to other jobs. retirement. By providing “real” oppor- concerns. However, I don’t think he Ludwig does not support his tunities for family members, the fully conveyed why this change was assertion that “the CAJE calculus department hoped to improve the undertaken in the first place and how implicitly assigns more value to the recruitment and retention of FSOs. the benefits of this transition to a work done by FSNs in the It was a worthy goal, but the reality new way of evaluating jobs outweigh admin/GSO fields — thereby dis- is that the department has missed the some of the negatives. criminating against the rest.” My target. There is little “buy-in” from CAJE is an off-the-shelf system personal experience implementing management and HR officers to that is being used widely in the U.K. CAJE at three posts does not support ensure that EFMs are afforded truly and around the world. It has been this. Some management employees equal status with FSOs, or even FSNs! tailored slightly in order to give value — those with huge responsibility for In these “real” EFM jobs, we continue to some of the unique skills our over- funds, property or other employees to have to fight our own HR office to seas locally-hired employees must — tend to get significant credit for receive our highest previous rate of pay have to work successfully with the “responsibility.” Political, economic and are rarely able to convince HR that U.S. government. All agencies and and public diplomacy employees we are worthy of having our back- all regional and functional bureaus tend to get high scores for knowl- grounds reviewed for the Superior were invited to participate in the edge, intellectual skills and commu- Qualifications Rate. development of CAJE. As a result of nication. Some of the higher-level Nothing is more frustrating to an their input, changes were made to management jobs tend to score well EFM, already relegated to a significant the basic tool. in these areas, too. pay cut from a U.S.-based job, than Ludwig is right on the mark in It’s not just political assistants that learning there are mechanisms to rec- many of his observations. CAJE does should be given credit for being “con- ognize private sector experience but measure five factors: knowledge, summate diplomats.” I’ve seen many HR didn’t understand the process, or responsibility, intellectual skills, shipping assistants and HR assistants didn’t bother to inform the EFM candi- communication and work environ- who exercise high-level interpersonal date of the options. That the hiring ment. He accurately notes that the skills in influencing people, complet- rules preclude salary grade adjustments local employee system is based on ing difficult negotiations, and solving once we begin working and have the “rank-in-job” rather than “rank-in- tricky long-term problems important opportunity to do a little digging into the person.” This has always been true to mission goals. These employees archaic Foreign Affairs Manual rules, and is unlikely to change, CAJE or no deserve credit for these skills and and discover we could have been more CAJE. CAJE can give it to them. fairly compensated, is yet another The old system, based on the Local The CAJE questionnaire is on the bureaucratic barrier. Employee Position Classification HR/OE Web site, and I’d encourage By excluding the EFM piece from Handbook, was a “standards-based” interested employees to look specifi- the Foreign Service staffing puzzle, system. The standards were written cally at the questions under “intellec- your article seems to confirm that in the 1970s and most were never tual skills” and “communication.” FMA are no closer to being considered updated. They had arbitrary limita- These questions are designed to try professionals than when we were tions and in many cases were almost and tease out some of the indefinable known as “the PITs!” impossible to understand and explain. interpersonal and “human” skills. Terri Lawler Smith The classifier had to write a long, One thing that always bothered Eligible Family Member often convoluted “analysis and evalua- me about the old system is that Embassy Ankara tion” based on a comparison of a real supervisors quickly learned to take

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the standards and write jobs based on can evaluate it for you (in much less officer incarnation as an efficacious them. They did this mainly to try and time, by the way). grievance attorney for AFSA (AFSA get people promoted, but an unin- But I do agree wholeheartedly with News, April). Harry certainly has the tended consequence was that they Ludwig that our local employee col- character for the job. started to believe that jobs had to be leagues deserve an evaluation system Harry and I were fellow budding the way the standards described that recognizes all their valuable contri- “Arabists” at Embassy Beirut’s Arabic them. The standards became a strait- butions to our overseas missions. CAJE Language School from 1960 to 1961. jacket and we were all conditioned to is a big step forward. While it may not In those days, “Arabist” was an honor- think that embassy sections have to be perfect, it is light-years ahead of able designation. In our class, there be structured a certain way based on what we had in the past and will only were many fine Arabic scholars, includ- how the poorly-written and out-of- get better as more posts implement it ing Harry, Dick Murphy, Terry date standards defined our work. and post managers learn about its Todman, Morrie Draper and others. With CAJE, that’s all out the window. strengths. True to his nature, Harry was always Creative supervisors can now design Michael S. Tulley thoughtful and treated me as an equal jobs they need, not jobs based on HR Officer even when I was of much lower rank. some preconceived idea from a fat Embassy Rome Please add my congratulations to those book written in 1978. If you need an Harry has already received on his “sec- office manager to run the section’s Serving with Sizer ond retirement.” Web page and be in charge of the It should come as no surprise to John D. Tinny post’s alternate command center, you anyone to learn that Harry Sizer FSO, retired can write the job description up and I capped his exemplary Foreign Service Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. ■

2000 N. 14th Street ■ Suite 500 Arlington, VA 22201 Telephone (703) 797-3259 Fax (703) 524-7559 Tollfree (800) 424-9500

JULY-AUGUST 2004/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 13 CYBERNOTES

Tales from A Small Planet Web” Directory also includes these larger Shia and Sunni populations Named Best Expatriate sites: Transitions Abroad (www. received the two top posts in the new Resource transitionsabroad.com), Escape interim Iraqi government, Iraqi Kurds Tales from A Small Planet, the Web Artist.com (www.escapeartist.com), were given one of the two vice presi- site launched in 2000 by Foreign Outpost Expatriate Network (www. dencies, the foreign ministry and the Service spouses Francesca Kelly and outpostexpat.nl) and Overseas deputy prime minister’s portfolio. But Fritz Galt to replace their “Spouses’ Digest (www.overseasdigest.com). crucial issues such as a constitutional Underground Newsletter,” the SUN, One particularly useful site, www. safeguard of minority rights and the has been awarded top billing in newsstand.com, provides online sub- status of Kirkuk remain to be tackled. Forbes magazine’s “Best of the Web” scriptions for hundreds of internation- With the fall of the Ba’thist regime, Directory in the category of “Expatri- al newspapers and magazines. the Kurds — who had developed a ate Resources” (http://www.forbes. governmental infrastructure in north- com/bow/). Iraq Bellwether: ern Iraq at the end of the 1991 Persian Tales (www.talesmag.com) has Kurds at a Crossroads Gulf War — were logical protectors of steadily evolved into the most com- The Kurdish ethnic minority may the vast oil reserves around Kirkuk. prehensive source of information and have reached a crossroads. The long- Saddam Hussein had, however, insti- education on what it is really like to oppressed ethnic group has been dealt tuted a policy of Arabization and driven live in a foreign country. It employs a new set of challenges in the wake of most Kurds from the city — and ten- literature, humor and the arts, as well the overthrow of Saddam Hussein — sions have recently flared anew. as online discussion groups, to enrich not least of which is to participate in In Ankara, meanwhile, the thought and share the experience of living overcoming the ethnic animosity of a Kurdish regional authority with a abroad, including how to cope with inspired and enforced by decades of newfound source of wealth is trou- the challenges that come along. persecution by the Ba’thist dictator. bling. Quoted in the Turkish daily The Forbes magazine “Best of While representatives from the newspaper Zaman, Turkish Foreign

Site of the Month: Nation Master egun in May 2003 by an inquisitive fact-finder, Near the top of the page is a “Make Your Own Graph” Nation Master (www.nationmaster.com) pro- feature that can be used to rank countries according to a Bvides to serious statisticians and trivia enthusiasts particular variable using color-coded bar graphs or pie the simple tools for comparing the national statistics of charts. By clicking on the “Stats” link in the top corner of nearly every country in the world. Whether you want to the page, users can see the long list of possible data. Maps learn how countries rank according to industrial growth or and flags of every country are also available. In addition, simply want to know which nations are the top exporters of there is a free “Forum” where users can discuss topics apricots, Nation Master has the answer. ranging from crime and health to sports and geography. Nation Master draws its data from a variety of gov- While some of the most advanced features of the Web ernmental, international and private sources. Among site, such as correlations and scatter plots, are limited to many others, these include the CIA World Factbook, the “supporters” only, all of the data are accessible free of Department of Energy, the World Health Organization charge. With statistics ranging from health and environ- and the World Bank. The Web site provides an easy and mental to economic and governmental, Nation Master is an informative way to gather and compare data on every- invaluable central resource for the curious and the scholar- thing from national unemployment to car thefts per ly alike. capita. — Kristofer Lofgren, Editorial Intern

14 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/JULY-AUGUST 2004 CYBERNOTES

Minister Abdullah Gül warned the op-eds by expatriate Kurds and news Kurds that, “it is dangerous to play from Iraq. Finally, the northern Iraq hat to do now [about with Kirkuk,” a thinly veiled warning Regional Kurdish Government also WIraq]? You know, there’s a against Kurdish muscle-flexing. has its own Web site (http://www. rule that if you find yourself in a Though Turkey has been pushed to krg.org). hole, stop digging. The first come to terms with its own 12-mil- — Kristofer Lofgren, thing I would say is we need to lion-strong Kurdish minority by the Editorial Intern requirements for European Union stop digging. membership, the task is by no means Is the G-8 Committed to Africa? — Gen. Anthony Zinni, USMC complete. On June 1 the Kurdish ter- (Ret.), Remarks at Center for rorist group KONGRA-GEL, the suc- As President Bush hosted leaders Defense Information Board of cessor of the Kurdish Workers Party from the world’s leading industrialized Directors Dinner, May 12, 2004, (PKK), announced it would end its democracies June 8-10 at Sea Island, five-year truce with the Turkish gov- Ga. (www.g8usa.gov), African coun- www.cdi.org ernment (http://www.kurdistan tries wondered whether the G-8 forum.com/article88.html). Summit of 2004 would continue the The earlier 15-year war between progress outlined two years earlier at investment. The report, however, the Turkish military and the PKK Kananaskis, Canada, when the G-8 warned G-8 leaders against losing resulted in over 37,000 deaths. formally endorsed the New Partner- their focus in other areas: “The Though KONGRA-GEL is dismissed ship for Africa’s Development (www. African political terrain is littered with by many Turkish Kurds as an extrem- nepad.org). good initiatives that floundered for ist group that does not represent their At Sea Island, African develop- want of sufficient funding from sub- interests, the re-emergence of conflict ment took a back seat to the summit’s scribing states.” High agricultural tar- at the very time when Kurdish efforts three broad themes: freedom, pros- iffs in G-8 countries were also cited as may have the best chance at success is perity and security. Development and a limiting factor to African growth. not heartening. the spread of HIV/AIDS played only a The G-8’s focus in recent months There are a number of Web sites supporting role. So rather than push on the Middle East and the world that are helpful in following develop- forward the African growth initiative economy, moreover, has forced ments affecting the Kurds, starting on its own terms, the six African lead- African leaders to frame their needs in with their story from 1920 to the pre- ers invited to Sea Island found them- a context that strikes a chord with the sent (www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/ selves trying to convince G-8 leaders U.S. and its allies. The U.S. has frontline/shows/saddam/kurds). that African success could help already committed over $100 million Kurdish Media (http://www.kurd advance the summit’s three themes. to counterterrorism efforts in East ishmedia.com) is a source of gener- The G-8’s waffling on Africa is put Africa and an embryonic peace effort al commentary on Kurd-related news. into perspective in a new report by the has developed in the Sudan. Kurdish Daily (http://www.kurdish Council on Foreign Relations, which The Council report was critical of daily.com) references international offers a mixed assessment of the G-8’s the G-8’s inconsistent promotion of media for stories from the region in dedication to NEPAD (http://www. political reform: “Although the U.S. and around geographic Kurdistan, cfr.org/pdf/G8Africa.pdf). The government has traditionally consid- while Kurdistan Forum (http://www. report, written under the direction of ered democracy a high priority on its kurdistanforum.com) emphasizes Ambassador Princeton Lyman, global agenda, it has not placed con- news from local sources. The applauds G-8 members for their sistent emphasis on funding programs Kurdistan Observer (http://www. efforts to raise Africa’s paltry 1-per- that support democracy and good gov- kurdistanobserver.com) features cent share of world foreign direct ernance in Africa.” As Africa’s share

JULY-AUGUST 2004/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 15 C YBERNOTES of world energy production increases beyond a quarter of the world supply in 50 Years Ago... coming years, the G-8’s strategic inter- [The] public impression of the Foreign Service is most est in Africa may follow suit and force important for the Service itself to realize. … If the a more attentive policy. average voter or constituent has a fixed opinion of our In the meantime, NEPAD may be diplomats and consuls, there are few congressmen who the best method for moving toward are willing to take the time, trouble and risk to correct this stereotyped Africa’s development goals. That ini- opinion. The best way to influence the Congress in a favorable tiative has encouraged African coun- manner is to work on the “folks back home.” tries to work toward better gover- — Hon. Alvin M. Bentley, “Congress and the Foreign Service,” FSJ, July nance, market-based economic trans- 1954. parency and broader support for private sector development. It also insti- tuted a peer-review process between several G-8 countries have advocated an June 2-4 for the World Economic African countries in order to promote extension of the Heavily Indebted Poor Forum (www.weforum.org). The good economic management and hon- Countries initiative (www.world forum ensured a new focus on est government. While NEPAD has bank.org/hipc), which has helped NEPAD by the private sector — a shown its inadequacies in countries some of the worst-off countries in the development that may provide a need- such as Zimbabwe, African leaders world, many African countries still pay ed complement to the G-8’s equivocal defend the plan as a “building-block more in debt than they receive in for- efforts in promoting African develop- process” that will evolve over time. eign investment. To address this issue, ment. ■ G-8 members still face an uphill task Southern African leaders and business — Kristofer Lofgren, on the issue of the debt burden. While representatives met in Maputo from Editorial Intern

16 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/JULY-AUGUST 2004 SPEAKING OUT A Tribute to the Senior Seminar

BY WILLIAM STEDMAN

y the time this issue of the ship, and immerses them in a 41-week Foreign Service Journal ap- From its inception, program in preparation for such lead- Bpears, the Senior Seminar will the Senior Seminar ership positions. have passed quietly into State “The objectives of the Seminar Department history, ending nearly half has concentrated on encompass both strategy and leader- a century of sustained and impressive conducting public ship. … The curriculum uses the contributions by its graduates to the diplomacy in local president’s National Security Strategy conduct and creation of foreign policy. and U.S. foreign policy and military Considering that distinguished communities around strategies as the basis for analysis of track record, the bad news was deliv- the U.S. the domestic connections. Partici- ered in a strangely low-key way: a rou- pants enhance their understanding tine departmental notice dated Aug. and appreciation of senior-level inter- 15, 2003, announced that the course agency dynamics in Washington and would be terminated upon the gradu- the work of U.S. government agencies ation of the 46th Seminar class on offers the highest level of executive dealing with homeland security, June 4, 2004. The notice went on to training in foreign affairs offered by national security and foreign affairs, as promise that “beginning in the fall of the U.S. government. Each year a well as the roles of the Congress and 2004, the Senior Seminar will become limited number of highly qualified state and local entities. a series of shorter, stand-alone train- Foreign Service and Civil Service per- “Participants also engage in a ing events relevant to executives at sonnel at the grades of FE-OC, SES, broad array of activities aimed at the senior-most ranks of the national FO-1, and GS and/or GM-15, from refining senior-level leadership, man- security community.” the Department of State and other agement and tradecraft skills. The Speaking as an alumnus of the 13th agencies are chosen for this course, emphasis is on strategic leadership, Senior Seminar, I think the decision based upon past performance and and skills modules on subjects such as to terminate the class was unfortu- current potential, and in accordance strategic planning and delivering con- nate, both for the Foreign Service as with merit principles.” gressional testimony are specifically an institution and for the many col- Although the size of the Seminar geared to the senior officer. leagues who could have benefited has fluctuated from year to year since “To achieve its objectives, the from taking the course. I can certain- the first group met in the fall of 1957 Seminar employs an imaginative mix ly understand that for mid-level and (the most recent class had 30 partici- of dialogue with leading authorities on junior personnel, the issue seems pants), it has remained true to that major current issues at home and somewhat remote. But at a mini- vision. But far from remaining static abroad. This includes sessions with mum, the seminar deserves an appro- or stodgy, the content and methodol- public officials, scholars, journalists, priate send-off; hence this column. ogy of the Seminar have evolved over business and labor leaders, and repre- the years to meet the changing needs sentatives of interest groups and study Fostering Executive of the Foreign Service. trips to U.S. military bases and differ- Excellence Consider the statement of purpose ent regions of the United States. The The Foreign Affairs Manual (3 for the current Seminar, the 46th: integrated learning process also takes FAM 2724.3) describes the course as “The Seminar brings together 30 place through extensive reading, indi- follows: “The Senior Seminar is a career foreign affairs and national vidual research assignments, case nine-month program conducted by security professionals with high studies, group projects, simulations, the Foreign Service Institute and potential for executive-level leader- public presentations, and informal

JULY-AUGUST 2004/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 17 S PEAKING O UT

discussions among the Seminar mem- Seminar’s aim was to expand its partic- date. They attributed that shift in pri- bers. The professional relationships ipants’ horizons, and develop their orities to Secretary Powell, who has developed among Seminar members latent abilities, not just teach them spe- frequently stressed the importance of from various organizational cultures cific skills by demonstration, practice training in general, and instruction in lead to greater understanding of insti- or rote. leadership and management in partic- tutional differences and serve to devel- But as valuable as the Seminar ular. Yet it still seems very strange that op an interagency network of con- experience has been to its participants, he would order the termination of a tacts.” the Foreign Service arguably benefited successful program. as much as they did. Consider the Our interlocutors also expressed Leadership Training public diplomacy component of the disappointment that many graduates Hundreds of U.S. ambassadors, course. It has long been the goal of the of the Seminar retired soon after they generals, admirals, and top-ranking Department of State to strengthen participated in it. They also alleged officials of agencies involved in foreign understanding of issues in the foreign that agencies sometimes used the affairs are among the alumni of the relations of the U.S. and to relate poli- Seminar as a place to “park” officers Senior Seminar. Alumni cite several cies to domestic concerns and inter- who were difficult to assign. I recog- major benefits that they derived from ests. However, most public diplomacy nize that these assertions may have participation and which enabled them efforts have focused on the first of some validity. However, so far as I to make substantial contributions to those objectives. Only the Senior know there has been no systematic the management of foreign affairs Seminar has, from its inception, con- evaluation to substantiate either issues. Many note the opportunity to centrated on the second aspect, via its charge. Furthermore, such situations reflect on issues and concerns without program of monthly domestic travel reflect failures within the assignment the constant press of dealing with throughout the U.S. Local communi- process, not problems with the Senior immediate problems. Others under- ties around the country have been Seminar itself. score the development of enduring ties delighted that a group of Washington- Unsatisfied, the Senior Seminar among high officials from various for- based foreign affairs specialists visited Alumni Association wrote to Secretary eign affairs agencies and departments, them each year to exchange views of State Powell on Jan. 15, 2004, noting that through such connections about issues and problems in our inter- requesting reconsideration of the deci- they have been able to resolve intera- national affairs and their impact on life sion to terminate the course. That let- gency problems, either by involving in the U.S. There never has been a ter noted: colleagues from the Seminar or by comparable program in the U.S. gov- “The Senior Seminar was con- drawing on the knowledge of other ernment. ceived as a program for senior State government departments that they Department officers and from the out- attained in the course. A Senior Seminar SOS set included senior representatives The Senior Seminar has regularly Graduates of the Senior Seminar from the military and the other foreign included women, officers of the uni- formed an Alumni Association in 1984, affairs agencies. Participants were formed services and representatives of and for 20 years this organization pro- selected for their potential to continue civilian agencies with foreign affairs vided strong support for the Seminar. to advance in the Service, and most interests. While State is the most heav- As soon as they learned of the decision had spent the majority of their working ily represented agency, participants to disband the course, the association years mainly overseas. Because these have come from every branch of the board met with the leadership of FSI. officers had not lived in America in military, as well as USIA, USAID, They underscored the tremendous decades, the Senior Seminar was a DOD, CIA, NSA, FBI, EPA, professional value of the Seminar and valuable mechanism that reacquainted Commerce, Treasury, Agriculture, and cited examples of how the course had them with their own country — warts Labor. enabled them to do their jobs more and all. At base the Senior Seminar Former Secretary of State George effectively after graduation. has been an American studies course, Shultz spoke at several graduation cer- The FSI officials did not dispute the designed to enable Foreign Service emonies for Seminar classes. He con- value of the Senior Seminar, but assert- and other agency leaders to represent sistently described the course as an ed an overriding need to provide lead- their nation at the highest levels based adult experiential educational experi- ership training to a much larger num- on personal knowledge. …” ence, not as “training.” I believe what ber of senior officials of the depart- A reply rejecting the request came he was getting at was that the ment than the Seminar can accommo- from the director of the Foreign

18 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/JULY-AUGUST 2004 S PEAKING O UT

Service Institute, who asserted that nation well for 46 years, offering mine what makes good leaders; and the Senior Seminar format is not the senior officers of all foreign affairs • gaining an appreciation of the only way to train leaders to meet agencies and departments much geographic and functional areas of future challenges. The director fur- needed opportunities for: foreign affairs other than those they ther noted that FSI offers a variety • reflecting on current policies have been involved with. of other programs for that purpose, and practices and on ways to improve It could and should continue to do such as the Senior Executive Thres- them, something the demands of so. My hope is that sometime soon, hold Seminar. their everyday job responsibilities the department will recognize this However, these courses only run a otherwise precluded; and recreate the Senior Seminar or a few days and do not yet include offi- • exchanging views and concerns similar program. ■ cers from other agencies. Thus, while about U.S. foreign relations with there is an important place for such leaders and citizens in communities William Stedman, a retired Senior instruction, they are no substitute for in major regions of this country; Foreign Service officer, was a member the kind of in-depth, long-term train- • establishing close working rela- of the 13th Senior Seminar. He is cur- ing that the Senior Seminar offered. tionships with members of other rently the director of the Education Indeed, I would contend that this is agencies and departments involved and Culture Program for Partners of not a zero-sum game: both approaches in foreign affairs; the Americas, an NGO whose mission could be conducted with only a modest • understanding the missions and is to bring together citizen volunteers increase in the department’s budget. responsibilities of other agencies in from Latin America, the Caribbean the conduct of U.S. foreign affairs; and the United States to improve the A Proud Legacy • interacting with recognized lead- lives of people across the Western The Senior Seminar served this ers in a variety of fields so as to deter- Hemisphere.

JULY-AUGUST 2004/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 19 F OCUSON F S F ICTION

STRANGE DAY

he clouds amassed on the horizon reading. My little bungalow sat one block in from the one day last year. A new member of main road leading into the capital. The main road was the community noted they looked paved. My road was sand in the best of times and mud like rain clouds. No, was my in the worst. During the dry season, everything was response, they might look like rain covered in a thick layer of fine dust kicked up from the clouds but they’ll never spill their road, or blown in from the Sahel. The normally Tcontents here. Not in Africa. Not during the dry sea- vibrant African colors were dulled by the rusty-brown son. I spoke with a certainty gained from too many film of dust, and the bright hot sun further bleached years suffering the conti- everything in sight. nent’s predictable weather I was engrossed in my patterns. book and only afterward That’s what was so would I remember that strange. everything around me had So unusual. stilled. The usual cacophony It did rain. that is urban Africa — the The locals were a bit con- street vendors, the greetings cerned. They tried to go of passersby, the cluck of about their business as if chickens, the bleating of nothing unusual happened, goats, the sputter of poorly- but it was evident in their tuned combustion engines, eyes and in the long pauses pied crows cawing from that marked their conversa- rooftops, the grinding and tions. The market didn’t grating and squealing of matter to them that day. bearings in need of lubricant, Selling their wares didn’t the regular schwok-schwok matter to them that day. It sound of a machete being rained that day. That’s what used to trim bushes and cut mattered to them. It was the back the tall grass, and, yes,

dry season, and in Africa that Donald Mulligan the incessant chorus of means no rain. But it rained. insects — fell away. I was Strange. less aware of the sudden lack I remember the day well. of noise than I was of the Perhaps because of what A MAN REALIZES sound of the wind playing happened to Ebrima that THE RHYTHM OF LIFE AND DEATH through the fronds of the day, or maybe it was because IN A RAINSTORM IN AFRICA. palms and the leaves of the of the butterflies. hibiscus that sheltered my When it began to rain, I BY MICHAEL E. KELLY porch. It was a sound I usu- was sitting on my front porch ally only listened to in the

20 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/JULY-AUGUST 2004 F OCUS

quiet of the night, when Africa slept. Then, sometimes, was clean. It was cool. I would steal away to my roof to watch the moon arc Then, as quickly as it had started, the rain ceased. across a perfect sky, or stare in awe at the Southern Cross The veil that covered the sky and muted the sun lifted. as it slowly rotated in its ascension. The heat returned in an instant, and the air was sud- As I listened to the quiet of the wind, I lowered my denly muggy and thick. The insects took up their cho- book to my lap and looked out at the sky. It was as if a rus. The animals joined in, soon followed by the rest of shroud was cast across the sky from horizon to horizon. the noise of urban Africa. Not so much clouds as a pale green veil that deepened I lowered my head. A blush rose to my cheeks and into turquoise as I watched. I put down my book and I found myself looking around to see if anyone had wit- stood, transfixed. The usual harsh shadows of the mid- nessed my baptism. That is when I noticed the butter- day African sun were gone. The sun’s rays were dif- flies, scores of them. It was as if they simply blossomed fused so that everything was bathed in an even light, out of the bushes. One moment they weren’t there, and the breeze that played through my garden was and the next they were everywhere. They danced and almost refreshing. Almost cool. flitted about. I stared in wonder. Most were light blue and trimmed in black. Others were orange. I followed t was a bizarre experience. The world around me my footpath around to the back of my garden. The Iwas at once familiar — yet strangely surreal. I felt butterflies were there too. I could hear their wings transported, detached, unplugged, and a feeling of flapping, and the air verily pulsated with each tiny wing unease spread from my stomach to my bowels, then up beat. my spine. The hairs at the back of my neck pricked to attention. In retrospect, I think I was approaching the y garden was a carefully planned and tended steep edge of a deep and primal panic the likes of Mchaos of flowers, shrubs, bushes, and trees. which I had never experienced before. But that is Ebrima, my gardener, was tasked with its care, and in when the wind stopped blowing and it began to rain. that he was unsurpassed. He was before me now. Not It started as soft, evenly-timed pats, not unlike standing, but lying in the middle of a patch of green someone holding a sheet of paper and flicking it with grass. He was in his work clothes — brown trousers cut his finger. I watched as the drops, fat and wet, struck at the legs so they came just below his knees and one of the dusty leaves of the hedge surrounding my porch, my old dress shirts with the sleeves rolled up above his leaving them clean and bright. I watched as the drops elbows. He wore the shirt tucked in the trousers and hit the dusty path leading from my porch into my gar- open to the waist, not as a fashion statement, but sim- den. They struck hard and heavy, like little artillery ply for lack of buttons. The trousers were cinched shells, sending up barely-perceptible puffs of dust and around his waist with a tattered piece of rope. Oddly, leaving dime-size craters. his plastic flip-flops rested next to him side-by-side, as But then it started to rain in earnest. if placed there with care. His machete, the tool of Something overcame me. The next moment I was choice for all of his gardening chores, lay on his other in my garden in the deluge, barefoot and soaked to the side, again as if placed there by a gentle hand. The core. My light cotton shirt clung to my body; my hair wool cap he normally wore, was rolled up and loosely was plastered to my head. I lifted my face to the sky. rested in his right hand. His body was still wet from the The rain fell in my eyes and ran down the creases of my rain, droplets glistened in his close-cropped gray hair, face, into the corners of my mouth. It was sweet. It and pooled in the hollow at the base of his neck and the corners of his closed eyes. His body shone magnifi- Michael E. Kelly, a military brat, is no stranger to a cently in the bright sun. He looked fresh and alive like nomadic lifestyle. Following graduate school and a stint the rain-cleaned greenery that surrounded me, but I as a defense contractor for a Beltway bandit, Michael knew without going any closer that he was dead. took on his toughest assignment, as a stay-at-home father Ebrima had been my gardener from the day I married to an FSO. Between playgroups and naps he moved my battered suitcases into the tiny bungalow I focuses on his writing. He is heading to Nuevo Laredo came to call home. He was there waiting for me at the with his family this fall. gate as the bush taxi dropped me off. He stood proud

JULY-AUGUST 2004/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 21 F OCUS

One of the butterflies broke from the group and began a slow, wavering spiral up into the sky, as if caught on an errant breeze.

but short and withered with age in what were probably him from his well-deserved rest; I just didn’t want to his best clothes. He greeted me, told me his name, and destroy the sanctity of his final moment. I was wit- in a manner that was not rude or arrogant told me he nessing a mystery where flesh meets nature in its great- was my gardener. He explained he had been the gar- est and final glory, and I wasn’t sure I was worthy. Still dener for every previous resident. I saw no need to the butterflies flittered and fluttered about the garden, break the cycle. but even they seemed to be losing interest. Where Over the years, my dealings with Ebrima were infre- their efforts had been focused on the bushes and blos- quent and brief. He knew what he was doing and he soms a moment before, now they were breaking up and did it well. He managed to stretch out a day’s worth of flying about in random loops and whirls. I knew the hard work into six full days of steady toil. For his moment was passing. It had rained. The butterflies efforts, he took away a reasonable weekly wage, all the had come. And now they must go again. As they per- firewood he could cull from my trees and still leave me formed their last dance across the garden before disap- with shade, and half the crop when there was fruit to be pearing, a handful passed over Ebrima in his repose. harvested from the mango, papaya or avocado trees. They seemed to hover there a moment before moving He never bothered me for extra money, never asked for on, and one of them, one of the butterflies, broke from a loan, never coveted my meager possessions, and the group and began a slow, wavering spiral up into the never troubled me with conversation beyond his formal sky, as if caught on an errant breeze. I watched that greeting every morning as I left my bungalow to try to butterfly as it was carried higher and higher, above the save the continent. In the evenings when I returned limbs of the avocado, above the tall palms, then up from my efforts, frustrated and hot, he was already beyond view. By the time my eyes returned to my gar- gone. den, the rest of the butterflies were gone. Only Ebrima He had 12 children. That’s right, 12 children. and I remained. Eleven girls and one boy. The boy was the last to be Finally, I reached out and gently took his hand in born. The day his son was born was one of the few mine. His fingers were long, the pads on them and his occasions Ebrima and I spoke at length about anything. palm surprisingly soft and warm. This was never my He waited for me to come home from work that garden, never my home, never my Africa. I held his evening to tell me, his face twisted into a wrinkled mass hand in mine. I held his hand and I cried. of beaming flesh that took me a moment to realize was A year has passed since Ebrima’s spirit was set free a smile. I noticed for the first time that he was almost in the garden. The husband of his oldest daughter now toothless. Eleven daughters and one son—he was a tends it. His touch with the land and the greenery isn’t rich man in a land where riches were counted by one’s as gentle and perfect as was Ebrima’s, but that will progeny. There were several wives too. That’s just the come with time. I greet him as I leave for work every way it was. Each one younger than the last. He must morning. Sometimes I linger and ask how the family is have been close to 80 when his son was born. That was doing, or if he needs any supplies for the garden. just a couple of months back. Sometimes we just talk about the weather, and I ask him if he thinks it will rain. knelt down next to Ebrima’s still form. His skin It is the dry season again, but there has been no rain, Ishone and was pulled tight across the frame of his and there is no sign of rain. Just like it has always been. body, not stretched, just a perfect fit. What I could see Just like it should be during the dry season: hot, dusty, of his chest and arms were lean and fit; only his face and dry. There have been no butterflies either. No gave away his great age. At first I didn’t want to touch other surprises. Africa is as it is — as it should be. Ebrima. I wasn’t worried my presence would disturb Finally, I understand that. ■

22 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/JULY-AUGUST 2004 F OCUSON F S F ICTION

THE VERDERER

nthony Riggs removes the chiffon fog, but do little to illuminate it. Anthony watches the paper from around his recently pur- car drive into the street and quickly disappear from chased gloves. He relishes the view. “Perfect timing,” Anthony says to himself. “Mrs. sweet smell of new leather and Dixon is out of the house, and Nigel is home alone.” admires the gloves’ fine craftsman- At the bus stop, Anthony steps into the thick fog ship before slipping them onto his and immediately feels the damp air penetrating his Abare hands, careful not to set a single finger on the clothing like cold fingers wriggling through his black outside surface. The gloves scarf and overcoat. Walking are of exquisite quality, and purposefully toward the Anthony believes they will driveway from which the make a fine gift for some luxurious automobile has lucky relative when he just exited, Anthony eyes returns to Boston. After all, the number on the mailbox: he plans to wear the gloves 129. He has arrived. just once, and for the Anthony slinks up to the briefest of moments. front door, completely The winter morning is undetected, and rings the dark at this hour, a condition doorbell. He hears the muf- accentuated by a soup of fled chimes through the London’s thickest fog. An- walls and waits silently on thony looks out the window the low, stone porch. A visi- of the bus in which he is rid- tor so early in the morning, ing. He can barely make out Anthony knows, will catch the naked trees and sign- the house’s owner by sur- posts by the side of the prise and make him hesitant street, but it does not matter. to open the front door. He has traveled this route A porch lamp jumps countless times in the last 12 awake above Anthony, but its months. He knows every weak light fragments into a

street and every house along Donald Mulligan million dull particles in the the way. fog. Just to be sure, Anthony’s As the bus finally face is mostly covered by his approaches the desired stop, A CENTURIES-OLD AFFRONT low-hanging hat and scarf. Anthony sees a luxurious DRIVES A POLITICAL OFFICER The door opens just a crack, automobile backing out of a TO PLAN A METICULOUS REVENGE. enough for Anthony to see driveway in this upscale resi- the warm glow of a living dential neighborhood. The BY JOHN D. BOYLL room lamp behind the suspi- tail and headlights enter the cious slice of face that cau-

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tiously peeks out at him. and an even more fervent affection for the land of his “Yes — who is it?” the man behind the door asks ancestors. He wore only English suits, English shoes, hesitantly. and English spectacles. He had easily become, as his “Nigel Dixon?” Anthony asks, filling his words with American friends observed, more a Londoner than a urgency. Bostonian. “That’s right.” It was this dedication that slowly dissolved Anthony’s “Mr. Dixon, your wife has just had an auto accident. endearment to America, and he came to feel like an alien May I come in?” in his own land. Though he was soon to be sworn into the It is a ruse, of course. It has, however, the planned American diplomatic service, he did so with one goal in effect. As the door shuts, Anthony hears the chain lock mind: to be assigned to London for as long as possible. being undone. The door flies open in an instant. It took several years, but Anthony was finally given his “Please, come right in,” the homeowner says. “Where chance to call London home, albeit with a foreign pass- is she?” port and a very impermanent assignment. It was of no “It just happened; I got here as fast as I could. No matter to Anthony. He was at last where he belonged, need to call an ambulance, the paramedics are on their and he was sure of only one thing: he wished his ances- way,” Anthony says as he closes the door. tors had never left such a wonderful, civilized place. “Where are they taking her?! I must go meet them,” After just two years in London, Anthony had married Nigel says, turning to a closet to find his coat. Maggie, the loveliest, most enchanting subject that the Nigel Dixon is visibly distressed, and his body shakes Queen could ever wish for. As a result, the legality of with nerves. Anthony notices the sumptuous turtleneck Anthony’s permanent stay in London was finally a matter sweater that Nigel wears, and cannot help but think how of mere paperwork. Still, he was already scheduled to appropriate it is. Anthony has awaited this moment for return to Washington for his next diplomatic assignment. over a year, or perhaps a lifetime. Should he throw his career away to stay in England Anthony glances at his watch. It is exactly 6:30 a.m. where he belonged? With his back to Anthony, Nigel cannot see the insulated It wasn’t a difficult decision. Anthony had no equal wire rising high before it comes down over his head and among Anglophiles, and would now draw even closer to around his neck. his forefathers. But the exact details of his English heritage were not completely clear. Anthony knew that his hen Anthony began working at the U.S. embassy family were loyalists in the American Rebellion, as he Win London four years ago, it was like a dream called it, but it was not until he delved passionately into come true. As a political officer, he was tasked with learn- his family’s genealogy during the next year or so that he ing as much as he could about life in the British Isles, and uncovered something unexpected, truly sinister. he took the assignment to heart. Anthony faced no great challenge, however, as he already possessed more knowl- onathan Riggs, whose son journeyed to the New World edge about his host country than many of the natives. His Jand from whom Anthony’s family descended, was not family lineage demanded no less of him. a rich man. He was so poor, in fact, that his surname was Anthony’s ancestors journeyed to Boston from Britain awarded to him posthumously by his widow and chiseled hundreds of years ago — that much he knew from an into his crude headstone. As a man of no means, early age. His English heritage was a source of great Jonathan was married to the land and to the land alone. pride as he grew up, to the point that he dedicated his He was very old by the time he took a common-law wife university studies to all things British, including attending — about age 30. Oxford as an exchange student. Providing for a wife and a child, though, turned out to Beginning then, Anthony cultivated a British accent be more than Jonathan could afford. He felt prosperous enough, having a family and a lifelong job of toil, so long John D. Boyll currently works in the U.S. embassy in as his lord’s land would yield crops. He was short, how- Mexico City and has served with the State Department ever, of one important thing: food. Living next to the in Manila and Frankfurt. He enjoys writing works of king’s forest as a serf meant living in a world of constant fiction and humor in his free time. temptation, and this was Jonathan’s cross to bear.

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The blood on his hands was nothing short of beautiful, until the verderer demanded that Jonathan drop his bounty.

The king’s verderer traveled on a magnificent steed, After months of Internet communication with Nigel and carried a sword that by all accounts was far too and mutual assistance in constructing two separate family large to be wielded practicably. The sword, the verder- trees, Anthony discovered his connection to that age-old er claimed, had killed 70 men. Whether the claim was day of deceit and treachery. Thereafter, Nigel wrote but accurate did not matter. The verderer, known to histo- one single, acrimonious e-mail in response to Anthony’s ry only by his surname, Dixon, knew that he could not revelation. It is burned forever into Anthony’s mind: “It personally guard the entire perimeter and area of the appears one of mine murdered one of yours. Bloody good king’s forest all at once. To do his duty properly, the show! History shows that yours are the filth of the earth, verderer relied on the reputation of his sword to be mine are the gems — and history cannot be undone.” where he could not. Jonathan knew that the forest was forbidden territory he muscles in Anthony’s arms are taut, frozen in a and that neither fowl nor fawn belonged to him. Tpowerful isometric contraction. He stands over a Jonathan also knew that his family would soon starve gasping Nigel and calmly thinks of how beautifully his unless he took matters into his own hands — and game yearlong preparation paid off. He added detailed knowl- was only plentiful in the king’s hunting grounds. edge of London bus routes, timetables and weather pat- Jonathan walked to the edge of the forest many times, terns to his already extensive understanding of British yearning for some unwitting creature to bound out of the history, politics and economics. The hours of secret foot- thicket and into his desperate grasp. work, researching Nigel’s background and tendencies, his Though Jonathan had seen the verderer somewhat likes and dislikes, tracking and timing his daily routine — frequently in his last days, he knew nothing of espionage, it was all worth it now. and he knew nothing of instigating a crime. He was so Anthony is controlled and deliberate in his work. As simple, in fact, that Jonathan did not think it odd when Nigel’s body slowly succumbs to its fate, Anthony the verderer himself invited him into the forest to see watches only his wristwatch. Ten minutes is a long time what game he might find. After all, Jonathan thought, his to wait, but he is patient. It will now take him exactly family was obviously in need and the verderer must have five minutes to walk the four city blocks and catch the noticed. 6:45 bus. It is the same bus line Anthony took to arrive When Jonathan finally emerged from the forest, he at Nigel’s house, but it goes in the opposite direction carried two enormous pheasants and new hope for the and has a different driver. It has all been carefully goodness of life. The blood on his hands was nothing thought out. short of beautiful, until the verderer demanded that On the bus again, Anthony wraps his leather gloves Jonathan drop his bounty and present his palms. The carefully in the tissue paper once more. At his stop he verderer declared Jonathan guilty of theft, having been buys one dozen roses, and goes directly home to tell caught “red-handed.” Maggie the good news: their trip to the States will only be The verderer’s blade met its mark, and the very next temporary, because he is now determined to live in day Jonathan’s family fled the vicinity, and made plans to London for good. begin a new life. The verderer’s cruelty was what forced Anthony has no worries. He is certain his guilt will Anthony Riggs’ ancestors to the British colonies in never be known, for he has left nothing for Scotland America, according to the public records and private Yard to work with. As the lonely city bus winds its way diaries dredged up by the curious confluence of a mutu- through the dense fog like a submarine in the thickest al interest in genealogy — shared by Anthony and one of brines, Anthony breathes deeply and peacefully. His Londoner, Nigel Dixon. deed is history now, and history cannot be undone. ■

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AWAKENING

he deep, hollow thump, thump of shivers down my spine. The villagers of Marama-Ba mortar meeting pestle that wakes believe that the spirits of the forest protect them from the sun and brings it from its hori- all harm, and so are reverent and fearful of entering zon bed has not yet begun. The log into these trees, lest the spirits be angered. Of course fires are not yet lit to make the I don’t believe in sorcery, but I have never ventured morning into them either, unsure porridge. whether the comfortable TIn this dry savanna village of suburban American reality Africa, where noise and that I know holds true rhythm seem as perpetual as halfway across the globe. air, it is shocking to witness I arrived at the maternité such stillness. early this afternoon, for what We are awake because we we all thought was the immi- are waiting. My weary head nent arrival of Awa’s child. is propped against a concrete But even now, the infant’s pillar, as I look out from the soft head remains firmly thatch-roofed porch of the wedged between Awa’s too- maternité. Fifty meters in small pelvic bones. front of us, the narrow dusty Hours ago, when I sug- road at the entrance to the gested that Awa needed a village of Marama-Ba lies flat doctor, the midwife had said, and empty — temporarily “The hospital is too far, and relieved of the traffic of she can’t afford to pay.” callus-footed farmers, flip- Instead, the midwife pressed flopped schoolchildren, and with both hands on Awa’s the worn-smooth rubber belly, yelling “Push! Keep tires of second-hand Chinese pushing!” Then, turning to bicycles. Awa is sitting on me she muttered disdainful-

the porch steps, her head gen- Donald Mulligan ly, “These women are so tly supported by the shoulder lazy.” of her mother-in-law, Mon. Awa obediently pushed. S THE SLOW CREAKY WHEELS Aminata, the assistant mid- A , Her lips pinched together wife, stands watch over us like OF AN AFRICAN EMERGENCY TURN, into a pale thin line across a soldier at attention. AN AMERICAN HEALTH WORKER her face. Her eyes shut vio- A soft wind picks up, and COMES TO TERMS WITH THE REALITY lently, extending wrinkles the trees just beyond the along her temples. But she OF HER OWN LOSS. main road that make up the never allowed a sound to “magic forest” whisper in BY RACHEL HERR escape her lips. To bear their movement. It sends their pain without sound

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was a source of pride for the Jula women. I felt her they said quietly, with an air of drama. “How shame- screams inside me, though, alongside my own stifled ful!” they whispered and clucked their tongues, all the cries. Between contractions, her head dangled limply while blushing. They relished telling the story, each to one side, drops of sweat that had beaded up in the time adding more enticing details. curls of her hair at her brow, ran in rivulets down her In its most basic telling, the story went like this: face and into her ear. Aminata dabbed her face with a Four years earlier, Awa was married to a man in the vil- rag. Awa’s eyes were large vacant saucers. lage of Marama-O. But when she met Namory, a prominent cotton farmer from Marama-Ba, she fell in met Awa two weeks after I arrived in the village to love, and they would sneak out to the cotton fields at Iwork at the health center. I was helping the nurse night and make love under the stars. One night, with his monthly vaccination of infants when she confi- Namory’s friends snuck into Marama-O and “kid- dently strolled over, sat at the register and proceeded in napped” Awa from her husband’s home, just as if she her slow and careful handwriting to record each child’s was a young bride being taken from her father’s house. vaccinations as if this was her job. When I scheduled They brought her in darkness to the bed of the waiting “baby-weighing days,” she came again, and helped me Namory. Scandal arose the next morning when Awa’s record each infant’s weight. Effortlessly, she translated angry husband went to Awa’s parents and to the village my French into the mother’s Jula, slid wriggling babies elders of Marama-O. onto the scale, and then recorded the weights. To settle the affair, the elders of the two villages met On the first day, when I told one mother how beau- and listened to both the pleas of the scorned husband tiful her son was, and the mother gasped and stepped and the cotton farmer in love. Awa had sat quietly on back in fear, Awa corrected me. “Bintou,” she said, a stool, head covered with a shawl, and was not allowed using the African name she had given me, “we don’t to speak. In the end, the elders decided to annul her like it when you say the child is beautiful. We think the first marriage and acknowledge her marriage to spirits will hear you and come take all the beauty away. Namory, but decreed that she could never return to her In Marama-Ba, you must always say ‘Mama, how ugly home village. She would have to start a whole new life your child is!’ The mother will know what you mean.” in Marama-Ba. Another day, after weighing the babies, she sighed, sat back in her chair, then turned to me and said sim- his evening, at sunset, the midwife went home for ply, “Thank you, Bintou.” Tdinner and her evening bath. She told us to come “Thank you? For what? You’re doing all the work! get her when the baby came. Aminata, Mon and I I should thank you!” stayed with Awa in the little cement room, which, like “No, Bintou. After I married, I thought that this was our spirits, grew dimmer as the evening progressed. To it — I would never again get to use my French, and I soothe her youngest infant, tied to her back, Aminata would only work as a farmer in my husband’s fields. remained standing and swayed from side to side, some- Now I can use what I learned in school. I’m very times reaching back to tap her palm rhythmically upon happy.” the infant’s bottom. She paused only to periodically Unlike other village women, Awa was confident, and expose Awa’s taut belly and listen with a small ear horn willing to try new things even when they challenged for the sound of the baby’s heart. Each time when she her own beliefs and customs. I imagined her learning went back to rocking her infant, I knew that Awa’s to navigate a Wal-Mart or surf the Internet, if I could infant was still alive inside her, and felt relieved. just take her home with me. I believed that she could After midnight, the midwife returned, glanced into survive anywhere. our room, declared authoritatively that Awa needed to I was not really surprised, then, when I heard other go to the hospital, then left to go to bed. The slow, village women talk about her. “She married for love!” creaky wheels of an African emergency began to turn. Suddenly people I did not recognize appeared out of Rachel Herr is a new entry professional specializing in the darkness to help. Aminata sent them off to deliver health and nutrition with USAID’s Foreign Service. messages. Someone went down the road on a bicycle

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to find the man who owned a vehicle in a village 6 miles making my hands into spiders climbing waterspouts, or away. An hour later, a beat-up old jalopy bumped and I make my crooked elbow into a teapot. The kids laugh clanged up the dusty road, bicyclist hanging off the and mimic my gestures and sounds, melting my words back end, black smoke spewing out of the tailpipe, and into an alphabet soup none of us understand. Other dragged itself to a clumsy halt at the front steps of the times, when I’m homesick or frustrated, I sit as still as maternité. I can, hoping to be boring enough that they will go “Thank God!” I shout. “Let’s go!” Aminata and I away. This usually does not work. lifted Awa from her bed and, her arms around our The best evenings are when Awa cooks for Namory. shoulders, helped her to the steps of the maternité. On those nights, she puts aside a portion for me and But by then, the driver and the bicyclist had disap- comes to sit with me until late in the evening while I peared into the village. The truck sat empty, a wide eat. On one of these evenings, she playfully asked me, line of smoke emanating from the hood. My jaw “Do you know why my husband’s cotton grows so tall?” clenched. Suspicious of where she was leading me, I drawled “What is it now? Awa needs to go!” out, “Nooo …” and looked at her to continue. “I don’t know, Bintou.” Aminata herself looks She eyed me for a moment, and then tossed her dejected for a moment, but then says calmly, “I think head back in great guffawing laughter. “Bintou! You the men have gone to negotiate the price. They must know! Bintou, loooove makes my husband’s cotton think the price is too high, and the driver won’t go until grow so tall!” She roared at her own joke, and I could he is paid.” not help but laugh, too. “Too high?! Tell them to go! Just go! We can figure When our laughter faded, she said with solemnity, out the price later. Or I’ll pay! Just let them go!” “Bintou, I know what the women say about me, but I Aminata laughs gently, as if to tell me how naïve I am not ashamed. I am happier than they are. My first am. “I know, Bintou. They will go. Don’t worry.” husband did not treat me well. Namory has made me “Aminata, tell me where they are. I will go and get happy.” Her youthful, 23-year-old face belied her them. Please help me do this!” I cry out. But then I courage and wisdom. She challenged me with an realize from her defeated demeanor and silence that unwavering, steady gaze. my words will be to no avail. Awa moans aloud for the I asked, “Awa, do you miss your family?” first time, and the noise hangs in the air like an insect “Yes,” she said slowly and quietly, “but I had to go trapped in a web. away to be with my husband.” She paused. “Now it is “Aminata? Aminata?” I plead, trying to keep tears important that I make my own family.” back. She has had two miscarriages already. In a village “Bintou. It’s not up to us. God willing, they will where virtually every woman carries a baby on her return, and then Awa will go.” back, Awa is among the very few who do not. Awa con- “God willing?” tinued, “But, Bintou, I am worried.” “Yes, Insha’Allah.” Over a year ago, on a hot, still afternoon when most With nothing else to do, we eased Awa onto the villagers were still in the fields, a small barefoot child steps, and now, we four women are waiting. came running up to me, “Bintou! Bintou! Bintou!” She used my name as a siren. She urged me to follow n Marama-Ba I live alone in a two-room concrete her, and I ran with her to Awa’s dark, concrete-floored Ibrick house in the village chief’s compound. Most room. people live in one room, and never alone, but I receive “Bintou!” I heard Awa plead in a tiny, quivering special accommodations as an honored guest of the vil- voice as I arrived on the doorstep. I felt a shock of cold lage, because the villagers had been instructed that in my heart. “Americans like to be alone.” But in the evenings, the “What is it? What’s wrong?” children’s faces peeking in my windows and the little “Bintou, help. Please.” As my eyes adjusted to the hands reaching over the sill remind me that I am never darkness of her room, I saw her on all fours on top of really alone. scattered clothes and bedding. Underneath her, a When I am in a good mood, I sing children’s songs, small bloody heap lay on the rags. Her wrap-around

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Every second feels like an eternal minute, and it’s all I can do to restrain myself from screaming out, “Why here? Why now? This would never happen at home!”

skirt was pulled up around her waist, and blood cov- her sorrow. Her shawl was draped delicately around ered her legs. She looked up at me, brow furrowed her head and shoulders, sheltering her small frame. with worry. I hadn’t even known she was pregnant. My Her eyes looked downward. I couldn’t believe this was hand flickered across my own belly, absent of scars, but the only option. once knowing that same loss, and I was frozen for a “Wait!” I ran home and returned with a small cush- moment, unsure what to do. ion for her to sit on. They roared off, leaving us behind “Awa, stay there. I’ll get help.” My heart pounding, in dusty silence. I sent the child to find Namory, and I ran to the clinic A couple of days later, Awa was back. When she saw to find the nurse. An hour later, we were helping Awa me, she smiled as if nothing had happened, and went onto the narrow metal luggage rack on the back of her about her work. Other women did not speak of Awa’s husband’s motorbike for the long, bumpy, 20-mile ride miscarriage, lest they recall their own similar incidents, to the nearest hospital. She was dignified, but silent in or curse themselves by saying one wrong word of hope.

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wa moans softly, and her shoulders tense in pain. restrain myself from screaming out, “Why here? Why AShe is increasingly unable to hide her discomfort. now? This would never happen at home!” I begin to Mon, or “grandmother,” lays her weathered hand over feel as though ghosts are surrounding me, and I want Awa’s and closes her eyes, seeming to draw Awa’s pain nothing more than to be away from here, as if my disap- inside of her. The dark crevices, hollow cheeks and pearance will prevent this scene from being real, or my long eyes of Mon’s face are testament to the harsh con- ignorance of it will bring me peace. My own scene had ditions of her life. Mon has borne 12 children, of been too unreal, too quick; I almost believe it was imag- whom seven survived. She attended the births of all of ined. I was too young and naïve when I quietly withdrew Namory’s children from his two other wives. She is the three hundred dollars from my well-padded college sav- vigilant mother, overseeing the household, helping the ings account, to go to a nearby clinic. I disappeared from co-wives with their work, restoring peace among them my classroom for a day, and was back the next Monday, when they argue, and caring for the youngest children as if nothing had ever happened. My parents and my while the able-bodied go to the fields. I usually see her boyfriend never knew. If not for the sound of the stifled at midday, slowly and methodically pounding dried cries rising inside of me now, I might, perhaps, still think palm nut kernels to make black palm soap, surrounded it had never really happened … by a dozen young children attending to their own At last, out of the gray shroud of dawn, two men games. Now she sits beside Awa, watching over her appear, walking briskly. Without a word or signal, the protectively, holding her hand. driver sits in the cab of the dilapidated vehicle and It’s been over an hour since the driver disappeared. waits. Aminata and I help Awa to her feet, her neck too My anger and frustration are growing. Every second weak to support her head. We place her in the deep feels like an eternal minute, and it’s all I can do to indentation of the torn cushion, ready again for the Home Suite Home

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long journey. Mon clambers into the covered bed of with families and new mothers and the wailing of new- the truck. What is Awa thinking? How will she man- borns. Mon grabs my wrist in her firm hand and leads age that bumpy ride with her infant still wedged me to a thin cot where a tiny infant lies alone, swaddled between her thighs? Are these spirits with her, too? in Awa’s colorful print shawl. “It will be fine,” I say. A lump rises in my throat. Fear and disbelief melt “Insha’Allah,” Aminata says. into my bones. My legs feel weak when I whisper, The next day the men go to the fields. The women “Where is Awa?” sweep their dirt floors, rhythmically pound the husks off “With God,” Mon answers solemnly. rice, cook breakfast over open fires and soothe sleepy I can no longer see. A hazy curtain of color and infants tied to their backs, oblivious to the slow drama of sound is drawn around me. Tears track down my dusty the night before. For Marama-Ba, it has been an ordi- cheeks. My throat is so swollen that even mouth agape, nary night. Despite the blazing sun and swirling dust, I only a strangled, high-pitched groan emerges. Mon hop onto my bike and head to town toward the hospital. lifts the infant from the bed. She turns to face me, her I arrive covered in sweat and dust. Mon is at the door of own face long with sadness. “Bintou, please…” she the maternity ward and looks surprised to see me. stretches out her weathered arms, offering me the “Bintou!” she calls brightly, despite her obvious infant on her two open hands. exhaustion. She leads me into the large recovery room, As though guided, my own arms open to accept the where three rows of narrow cots are lined up in the child, and as I fold Awa’s tiny infant against my chest, the dingy white-tiled hall. Three dusty ceiling fans turn noise and motion of the world slip away. I feel only the lazily at the lowest speed; one, I notice, is dragging a peaceful thump, thump of this small heart alongside cobweb through the air. The room is noisy and bright mine. ■

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BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS

he call came during supper at a Hibernians that both belonged to. modest home in a Roman Catholic After a whispered conversation, Dad said in a low parish in Flatbush, in the borough voice, “Thanks, Martin, we’ll see what can be done.” of Brooklyn, in the city of New Redface saluted. York, in the Year of Our Lord 1939. Dad went back to the table with a quick kiss for Dad was telling Billy (Mom and the Mom. “Supper was delicious, wasn’t it, boys?” A cho- rest of the kids listening as they ate) what he was learn- rus of “Yes!” followed. Ting in night school at St. John’s University, School of Then, to Mom, he said, “Sorry, Kathleen, but I’ve Commerce. All about corpo- got to help out up the street. rations: what they are, how I shouldn’t be long. And they are formed and orga- with your permission I’ll nized, how they are seen as take Tim along. There individuals under the law, might be a chance for him to the function of the Board of learn something.” Directors, what proxies are. “I know, of course. Jesus Dad had the gift of making and Patrick be with you.” such things simple and inter- “And Mary and Joseph esting. He should have been with you.” a teacher, with his love for “Tim, lad, we’re going to explaining things and his the Quillens,” Dad said as voice, “soft as an Irish rain,” they ran out the door. “You as Mom would say. are going to learn a little Dad was right up to about being a peacemaker. answer the doorbell. “Now And isn’t the Quillen girl in who could that be, wanting your class?” us at suppertime?” Yes, Maureen Quillen Tim could see from his was in Tim’s class, the eighth place at the table that it was grade at St. Vincent’s gram- a policeman. Everyone mar school, which was about knew “Redface the Cop,” as to graduate. She lived with

Martin O’Rourke was called. Donald Mulligan her mother and father and a The boys prayed that he was new baby sister in a store- not calling to talk with Dad AN EARLY EDUCATION IN front next to the bar and about something one of them PEACEMAKING IN BROOKLYN grill on the corner. When a might have done. Maybe he small business would fail, as LASTS A LIFETIME. just wanted to remind Dad often happened, and move about the next meeting of BY FRANCIS XAVIER CUNNINGHAM out of a store, the owner of the Ancient Order of the property would some-

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times rent the storefront to a family at some negligible man of a street gang laying gas pipe for the Brooklyn rent like $5 a month, or maybe even no rent at all. Union Gas Company. He loved to tell his boys about “Otherwise the store would stand empty,” some owners how he had to separate his Irish immigrant workers would say, as if the families were not objects of their into street gangs by their county of origin in Ireland. charity, but rather were doing the owners a favor by Otherwise there would be constant fighting among occupying the stores. Dad said it was a Christian act, them. Dad was a Mayo man, and also a weekend club done by store owners who were often Jewish. The fam- fighter — at smokers, Knights of Columbus bazaars, ilies had to pay for heat and electricity if they wanted men’s gatherings — making $10 if he won his four them and could do so, but sometimes the landlord rounds, five bucks if he lost. Dad didn’t lose often. It would even neglect to bill them for the utilities. was an easy way to make extra money beyond his $35 a “Mr. Quillen has come home drunk again and is week as foreman — as long as you kept in shape. beating up his wife,” Dad continued. Redface had One of Dad’s semipro fighter buddies, “Jerry looked in and tried to quiet Mr. Quillen, but there was Levine, The Fighting Marine,” came to dinner from nothing else Redface could do. The policy of the police time to time. Dad told Tim that Jerry could be world and the courts in New York City was clear and simple: welterweight champion if he wanted, but he refused to Do not interfere in domestic troubles. “A man is the fight on Friday nights for religious reasons, and there- ruler in his own home.” Dad said Redface was bound fore had to pass up the best bouts. to either follow this policy or be fired, though he knew “Why? What’s a religious reason?” Tim had asked. it was cruel and stupid. “It’s like we Catholics won’t eat meat on Friday — Redface had often tried to reason with Quillen when it’s a sacrilege that we will burn in hell for, if we do it. he was sober as well as drunk. The priests of St. Just know, lad, that the man is a saint, because he won’t Vincent’s had tried many times also, but nothing could do something against his beliefs, even though he would stop his drinking, or help Mrs. Quillen in her purgato- profit from it,” Dad had explained. ry. “So it’s up to us, lad, to do what we can to bring Jerry was as sweet and gentle a man as you could peace in the home,” Dad concluded. ever hope to meet. Dad said that all really good fight- When they got there, the baby was asleep in a cot ers were gentle like Jerry, probably for two reasons: and Maureen Quillen was sitting on a stool at the first, they get rid of their base instincts, their native counter in the front of the store. The rear of the store male aggression, through fighting; and, second, they was partitioned off, with a door leading to a bedroom abhor chance violence through fear of breaking their and a toilet. Tim’s heart began to pound when he heard knuckles on someone’s jaw, and having to stop boxing cursing and screaming, and the sickening sound of fists and lose money until the fractures heal. hitting flesh, coming from the closed-off rear of the store. eah, Tim knew Maureen from school. She was a “Tim, you know Miss Quillen. Why don’t the two of Ylittle runty kid, watery eyes and runny nose. None you go over some of your lessons? I’ll be going back to of the other girls were friends with her. She had black visit with the folks. I won’t be long.” Dad closed the hair and a round, red face and was very shy, always door after himself as he stepped into the rear area. hanging her head and never looking directly at you. Tim remembered that the last time Sister had slapped im wasn’t worried about his dad getting hurt; he Maureen, her left cheek had turned white and stayed Tknew he could take care of himself. Dad was fore- that way for a few minutes from the impact. All the guys resented it when a nun hit a girl — hitting a boy Francis Xavier Cunningham is a chemist and solid pro- was undoubtedly deserved, but girls were entitled to a pellant rocket scientist who joined the Foreign Service certain amount of dignity and were seldom struck. If in 1973. After postings to Brussels, Manila and Cairo, they were, their mothers would be right up to complain an assignment in INR and a detail to NASA headquar- to the pastor. But nobody seemed to care when ters, he retired in 1992. He is currently a WAE, work- Maureen Quillen was slapped. ing on electronic document review. Anticipating graduation in June, all the eighth-

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“Tim, lad, we’re going to the Quillens,” Dad said as they ran out the door. “You are going to learn a little about being a peacemaker.”

graders had bought little, 4-inch by 8-inch, 100-page, class, school and date, was missing from this book. It “autograph books” from Woolworth’s Five-and-Ten at wasn’t obvious, but he could see that the page had been the Junction, where Flatbush and Nostrand Avenues torn out very close to the binding. intersected. They brought their books to school to get “Now, is that your book, Timothy?” their classmates’ autographs and comments. “No Sister, this is not my book. I’ve lost my book, As Tim was very bashful, he was glad to leave his but this is not it — I can tell.” book with a group of girls to sign, while he was signing Sister Gonzaga glared at Tim for about 10 seconds. other kids’ books. He could not think of clever things Then she told them, in a surprisingly gentle voice, to to write, like “Roses are red, violets are blue, sugar is return to their places. Some of the girls started to wave sweet, and so are you” for the girls, or some tough-guy their hands, obviously wanting to tell Sister something, thing for the boys, like “Give ’em hell, Flash Gordon.” but she looked at them and said, “I don’t want to hear He got so wrapped up in trying to think of things to any more accusations.” write that he forgot all about his own book. And when And that was that, and blessed be the peacemaker. he looked for it, nobody seemed to know where it might have gone — until one of the girls told him that ow Tim was trying to talk to Maureen, trying to at Maureen Quillen had taken it because she didn’t have Nleast get her attention. Maureen kept reading the a book. She had been getting signatures of classmates label on a can of soup sitting on the counter in front of in it, saying it was her book. But everyone knew she her, over and over, “Camp - bells - toe - may - toe - didn’t have a book; she couldn’t afford one, and had soop.” stolen his. “Maureen, listen; it’s ‘Cambuls,’ quick, like that.” “Yeah, where would she get 25 cents to buy one?” No response, no recognition even, of his presence. Tim thought. He looked across the room and saw that Didn’t she know he was president of the Altar Boys Maureen did have an autograph book. “Oh, well, I Society, that she should be glad he was talking to her, didn’t need a book anyway.” even though none of the other kids did? Wasn’t she But some of the girls had told Sister Gonzaga that glad he and his Dad were there to help them out? She Maureen had stolen Tim’s book, and Sister apparently almost seemed hypnotized. Maybe she was mad at was determined that justice be done. “Timothy and him, ignoring him because of the trouble with Sister Maureen, come to the front of the room. Maureen, Gonzaga. But that wasn’t his fault. bring your autograph book.” Maureen looked fright- Suddenly the door to the rear flew open, and Mr. ened, and Tim thought he saw a tear, but she walked up Quillen, face bloody, and propelled from behind by and stood beside him “bold as brass,” as the nuns would Dad’s foot, crossed the room, lurched out the front say. door and fell onto the sidewalk. “Maureen, where did you get that book?” “Don’t come back until you’re sober, Quillen,” Dad “At the Woolworth’s, Sister.” said. “And do ask permission from Mrs. Quillen; you “Did you steal that book?” may only enter her home if she permits it. We didn’t “No, Sister.” break anything this time, more’s the pity. But if I have “Timothy, is that your autograph book that Maureen to come for you again, we’ll break some ribs and arms, has?” and maybe a jaw.” “I don’t know, Sister.” And to two ladies who happened to be passing out- “Well, look at it carefully, and tell me if it is yours.” side, Dad added: “Please step across Mr. Quillen, and The first page, where Tim had written his name, please do accept his apology for blocking the sidewalk.

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He pulled his State Department ID out of his pocket and flashed it, careful not to let them focus on it.

And may I add my own regret for your inconvenience?” peacemaker in action. On the way home Dad told Tim that he was a peace- Brother Mark, a Christian brother who taught biol- maker now. He should be proud of himself, and for the ogy, and Vladimir Kalucki were standing about 50 feet rest of his life he should be alert to the opportunity for apart and throwing a softball back and forth. Brother peacemaking; it can come suddenly, without warning. Mark, about 6 feet, 1 inch and 200 pounds, had played There were many kinds of peace, of course. The one football for Georgetown. Vladimir, about 16 years old they had just imposed by force was a worthy accom- and from Greenpoint, was maybe the same height and plishment, but it probably would not hold. It was more weight as Brother Mark. But they were not having a peacekeeping than peacemaking. The most effective friendly catch. This looked to be for blood. peacemaker cannot take sides in any way, and must They had been playing in a pickup softball game have the respect of all parties. He must be imaginative, after school, when one of them fielded the ball and and use whatever means will help both parties keep threw it to the other, perhaps with a little too much their basic self-respect. steam. The recipient took it personally, and sent the And a peacemaker seldom is thanked, and must be ball back even harder. The situation escalated, each of prepared for criticism, and sometimes even attack. them now throwing the ball as hard as he could — and “When we get home you’re to read the Sermon on the they didn’t use gloves for softball. Both players’ hands Mount. You’ll see that peacemakers are blessed, and were scarlet. A group of students had gathered, fasci- they shall be called children of God,” Dad said. “And nated, wondering in trepidation how the incident tell me, lad, did you have a nice visit with your class- would end. A student-faculty shootout like this was mate Maureen?” unprecedented. “She wouldn’t even talk to me, Dad. It was as if I Suddenly Brother Cassian, the high school princi- didn’t exist, and I felt pretty bad. She wouldn’t even pal, came striding out and shouldered his way through say hello; just kept reading a soup can label, over and the crowd: “Gentlemen, please let me see that ball.” over.” Turning the ball in his hand, he continued, “Just as I “Now don’t you be feeling bad, son. You can be sure feared. You may not realize how rough handling can she appreciates that you were there and trying to keep damage these softballs. You must understand how peace in the family. There was nothing personal in it much they cost, and how hard it is for us to come up on her part. She was in her own private world, a secret with the funds to replace them. So, gentlemen, please world where no one can hurt her, a world nobody else — enjoy your game, but be careful with the equipment. can enter,” Dad explained. Thanks.” “Tim, sometimes things get so bad that a person has As Brother Cassian walked away, Brother Mark to escape from their world,” Dad continued. “They threw an arm across Kalucki’s shoulder. “You’ve got a may do it by getting drunk, and maybe this is what Mr. good arm, Kal, but we’re going to have to work on your Quillen does. Maureen escapes by entering her own control.” private world. Maybe the real world is so bad for her “Thanks, Brother. I hope I’m as good as you some- at times that the only way she can survive is to leave it. day.” “You did a good job, lad,” Dad concluded. “Now let’s get home to the family, lest they worry about us.” ifty years later Tim was privileged to have an Fopportunity to be a peacemaker again. Stepping ive years later, on the athletic field behind his high out of a subway car at a station in Washington, D.C., he Fschool, Tim was privileged to witness another encountered a group of people watching two men

JULY-AUGUST 2004/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 35 F OCUS

And then Tim heard another voice, soft as an Irish rain, “Good job, lad. We’re all proud of you. Now go home to your family, lest they worry about you.”

about to square off. One man, maybe in his 40s and tion, before I lose my temper. Now, move!” The two powerfully built, was yelling obscenities at the other, turned in opposite directions and were off. itching to fight. In his 20s and slightly built, the other “Mister, you were very foolish and very lucky,” a man obviously would be the loser, but apparently felt bystander said to Tim. “That one man was so mad and he must uphold his honor in front of his wife or girl- mean he might have attacked you. You had no author- friend, who looked terrified. ity to interfere; you bluffed it. You could have been Tim stepped between them and yelled, menacingly killed; you never know about people these days. Just and with authority, looking at one and then the other: mind your own business after this, and let the police “You two clods knock this off right now, or I’ll finish you handle things like that — it’s their job, not yours. both off.” He pulled his State Department ID out of Someone should have called the station manager.” his pocket and flashed it, careful not to let them focus And then Tim heard another voice, soft as an Irish on it. “If you think I won’t, just try me. Now I want rain, “Good job, lad. We’re all proud of you. Now go each of you to turn around and walk away, leave the sta- home to your family, lest they worry about you.” ■

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F OCUSON F S F ICTION

THE KEEPER

n the room of his own, in the house of his own, bell found Rose, a childless widow, seemingly forgotten, at the end of the road of his own, Conrad living on an ancient estate along the shore of Campbell picked up another box. The distur- Nassawango Creek. The discovery followed from his bance of the dried cardboard raised the fecal answering an odd advertisement in Pine Hill’s free dust that had come to cover everything he had weekly paper: Curious and watchful neighbor needed dragged out of Rose’s old house. These 10 for guest house. Rent to own. Need Cash. Iboxes, the remnant of 50, sat on the floor in front of the Campbell bought Rose’s guest house and 25 acres of bright maple bookcases. land and took up residence about 200 yards from Rose’s Conrad Campbell had house, where she cured moved to the end of this flat, herbs, distilled oils, and sandy road a decade earlier. stored all that she collected. He had searched for a place On thick, old paper, she that had both the feeling of maintained journals of her home and that avoided the discoveries, including pencil tendrils of the world. Much and watercolor sketches. of his career had him working They shared a garden, and he on a series of impossible prob- became her conduit for rou- lems that were, in the end, the tine supplies. same. They were all prob- From these rotting boxes lems of ample resources, poor Campbell was trying to con- distribution and primitive struct order, to save the farm. power; twice in the past 35 Strewn across card tables years he had been quoted as a around the room were relat- “career diplomat” in the ed piles. On the power com- Washington Post. He was an pany table were four piles. In expert on famines and epi- the first were letters asking demics. Campbell labored for payment of derelict bills. under the idea that he held In the second were invoices the best interests of all and from appliance repair shops worked for a higher cause, but called in to fix powerless

in the end he left with pro- Donald Mulligan appliances. The third pile found fatigue and uncertainty. contained letters from Rose Rose Winstead Williams NEGOTIATING A PEACE WITH ROSE to Eastern Shore Power and was a relative of questionable to various Maryland agencies ILLIAMS LOYAL CAT IS ONRAD connection; they shared peo- W ’ C complaining of electrical ple in the same hometown CAMPBELL’S GREATEST CHALLENGE. waves that were being whom they both called pumped into her house, try- BY RICKY ROOD cousins by marriage. Camp- ing, if not to kill her outright,

38 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/JULY-AUGUST 2004 F OCUS

to disorient her and take her property. In the final pile wild and was the northern reach of the bald cypress. were uncashed dividend checks from 25,000 shares of On the higher parts of the land there was remnant Eastern Shore Power stock. The checks Campbell had American chestnut. Campbell was arranging the trans- found totaled more than $135,000. fer of the land into a private conservancy that would The envelopes and papers in today’s box were from produce enough cash to handle Rose’s perilous debts. six years ago. On top was a letter from A. K. Hillston, He carried on all of his business with lawyers in the Agent, Internal Revenue Service. There were three capital, Annapolis. high-priority goals of Campbell’s, and maintaining the peace with Agent Hillston was one. As Rose carried on rom his desk that looked out over a ragged field, with Eastern Shore Power, Hillston came to collect FCampbell could see the tundra swans in the what the government was owed. Over fruit pies and famous wide cove of the creek. The swans had arrived iced tea, he and Rose had spoken many times. Hillston two weeks ago, the Friday after Thanksgiving. They realized that Rose was unable to deal with the world, flew in behind a strong storm, a storm that had toppled and he decided that anything the government was the old sweet gum tree into the creek. He watched owed would come at her death. Mal-ku, the last of Rose’s cats, walk down the trunk of The second goal of Campbell’s was to keep the fallen tree. Everyday, Mal-ku walked the 50 feet CreekShore Homes from getting Rose’s land at the end out to the end of the trunk. From there he shimmied of his road. Rose failed to pay the property taxes, and out one of the branches until his front legs dangled in CreekShore Homes led the charge to have the land the air. He sat motionless as the black-billed swans cir- sold at auction. Constant calls to the tax-hungry coun- cled, unconcerned, below him. The fur on Mal-ku’s cil reminded them of what a hundred new waterfront neck occasionally stood. houses would mean to the local contractors. Mal-ku was Campbell’s greatest failure; he had Quietly, Campbell had borrowed the money against negotiated no peace with the cat. The only building his savings and paid the taxes in Rose’s name. In the that remained on Rose’s land was a Norwegian-cut log year that followed he obtained a power of attorney, barn with 30 five-foot-long, 14-inch-square timbers. with Rose’s signature coming after his invocation that One end of the barn had a massive chimney. On sum- CreekShore’s owner was trying to damage her hus- mer evenings, Mal-ku straddled the peak of the barn’s band’s business. Mr. Williams, Rose’s husband, had roof, watching the bats and swallows at sunset. In win- died 30 years earlier, and his partner’s son, T. R. Raines, ter, he walked the shores of Nassawango Creek, shad- owned CreekShore Development Corporation. The owing the flock of tundra swans. He’d not been in a Raines name agitated Rose, and Campbell had found a house since Rose’s was burned down for practice by the common enemy whom he could use to advantage. fire department. Every month the company lawyer asked about Over time, Rose had closed off portions of her house Rose’s condition and sent flowers. Campbell only — first the upstairs, then random rooms downstairs. lamented that Rose was intestate, and he meekly con- She said they were full. There were cats, some indoors, jectured that the land would certainly go to auction. some out, and eventually they had overrun the house. The power of attorney was fragile, especially if some Rose started to forget, to wander, and to set fires on top lost cousin was to figure out that there was a $7 million of her cold electric stove and in her sink. Three years pot of land and stocks. Campbell proceeded discreet- ago, Campbell arranged to move Rose into Pine Hill to ly, using the shield of charity. Nassawango Creek was live with Mae and Big Jimmie. This was his final goal — that Rose was well cared for and did not die alone. Ricky Rood is an atmospheric physicist whose sister is Campbell became the keeper of Mal-ku. a member of the Foreign Service. Originally from Rose let any visitors, even Campbell, only onto the North Carolina, he currently lives on the Chesapeake back porch. She said that the rest of the place was too Bay in Maryland. In addition to scientific publications, messy. One day, after noticing the kitchen curtains had he writes short stories, poems and essays, which have not been raised, Campbell ventured in to see if Rose was appeared in Faultline, Arnazella and Night Music. alive or dead. Nothing could have prepared him for the

JULY-AUGUST 2004/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 39 F OCUS

sediment of newspaper, feces, bones and fur that covered As he headed to the door, the phone rang. the floor. Even the historical society had no interest in Campbell ignored it, ran from the house to the dock preserving the place. and untied the canoe. The tide was low, and he had to Campbell signed another letter generated by the drag the canoe through icy muck. lawyer of the trust he had set up for Rose. He was just Mal-ku was waterlogged; he’d swim one direction a few weeks away from completing the transfer to the and the four swans would corral him back to their conservancy as well as providing Mae and Big Jimmie a center. The water beaded off their feathers; they hov- modest annuity. Standing to go get more coffee, he ered, almost standing on the water. Mal-ku was sim- heard a large splash, like the dropping of a brick into a ply an annoyance that would be easily dispatched. barrel. This was followed by a chorus of bellows and Campbell paddled, but with the way the shore ran, whistles of straining air. At the window he saw 60 with all the fallen trees and brush, it was hard going. swans running across the water, their wings slapping Mal-ku’s head was below the water more than it was the surface as they crept into the air. Four swans above. remained under Mal-ku’s tree, two reared high with The two reared swans settled down. The four of their wings spread broad like sheets, foaming the water them swam tightly together. They seemed to be using between them. their bodies to hold Mal-ku under water. Campbell Mal-ku was in the water. The other two birds swam yelled. He threw the canoe’s bailing bucket at them. around, their heads darting at the water, snapping; one An explosion burst out of the woods. had a tuft of orange fur in its bill. Campbell watched As the sound resonated through the cove, a second, as they trapped Mal-ku in a cold, frothy cage. more percussive shock followed. Steel pellets rained

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into the water, several clanging in the bottom of the e dragged the boat to shore. The phone was ring- canoe. The four swans scattered. Mal-ku’s head rose Hing again, or maybe, still. Campbell looked at his above the water, nose pointed skyward. watch: Sunday, 7:33. He picked up the phone and “That damned cat of yours finally jumped.” On the words started to pour out. shore, in a cloud of blue gun smoke, stood Bobby from “Praise God you’re home, Mr. Campbell, you gotta across the creek. get up here as fast as you can!” It was Mae. “Miss Rose “He’d a-been drowned long afore you got there,” done gone completely wild. She’s been runnin’ all Bobby yelled. “Those swans are the meanest damn round the house for the last 30 minutes. She’s tearing birds I know.” Bobby turned and walked back toward things off the wall and throwin’ them on the floor.” his house. “How?” Campbell asked. “I mean …” Mal-ku clawed onto a branch hanging into the water. “Mr. Campbell, she’s got the strength of Samson. Campbell picked up a piece of spent shot from the bot- Big Jimmie had to grab her like a bear. He’s sittin’ in tom of the canoe, rolled it between his fingers, and the chair holdin’ her on his lap now, an’ she’s just began to paddle toward the cat. “Thanks,” he mouthed pounding his legs. We needs you.” to Bobby’s back. “I’m on my way,” Campbell said. “Call Doc The cat scrambled up to the trunk of the tree and Willoughby.” ran to his barn. He was sodden and scrawny. Campbell “We have,” Mae said. turned back and finally noticed the 40-degree salt Campbell washed the mud from his legs, put on water that soaked his pajama legs and burned his shell- some pants and soft, thick socks, and started the 20- cut feet. minute drive to Pine Hill. Mae had spent most of her life

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taking care of other people, mostly white people. Along The lyric voice of a radio preacher came from the with her husband, Big Jimmie, Mae was stuck some- kitchen, “We start to worship the created ...” There was where between the Civil War and the 21st century. a long pause, “Instead of the creator.” Both their families had been in the county forever, usu- Campbell walked over to Mae and Rose. “Look at ally as domestics and laborers. With a bit of good for- her face, Mae,” he said. “She looks like she did in those tune and a lot of ambition, they were now licensed in old pictures we found.” geriatric care and had an old house in Pine Hill. They “She’s at peace, Mr. Campbell.” Mae laid Rose’s always had one or two live-in wards. Their children, all hand on the edge of the couch. Humming along with except for Little Jimmie, had finished college and dis- the beginning of a hymn on the radio, she stood and persed across Maryland and Virginia. Little Jimmie, the walked down to sit next to her husband. “So, I’m sit- oldest, stayed at home and did whatever needed doing. ting with her and Rose looks at me and says, ‘Thank Rose had been bedridden for three months. If you you, Mae. I’m tired now,’ and she lay down.” were there when she woke, she’d say hi, smile, and start “Laid down and died,” said Big Jimmie. “I’m sorry, to sit up. Then the smile would disappear, fear would Mr. Campbell.” take her eyes, and what strength she had mobilized into “It’s for the best, Big Jimmie,” Campbell said. With rigidity. a finger he touched Rose’s cheek, and pulled her hair At the house, Campbell hurried to the steps. There back from her eyes. “Mae, what do we do?” was a gust of cold wind, then three loud clanks on the “Wait for Doc Willoughby.” tin roof. The clanks were followed by the rat-a-tat of “No,” Campbell said. “I mean, I don’t know what to acorns rolling down and falling with a soft thud into the do. What’s next?” yard. He picked up two large nuts from the ground. Campbell walked to the front window. People were The door was cracked. Campbell looked in. collecting at the Methodist church across the street. A The room was quiet and hot. Rose lay on the couch. still vigorous Lawrence Godbold, who had worked with Mae sat in a straight-back chair, Rose’s hand in her lap. Rose’s husband to convince the Army Corps to keep Big Jimmie was at the end of the couch at Rose’s feet, the river dredged after the Second World War, walked holding his face in his hands. “How are things?” to the church’s steps. Rose’s husband wanted the Campbell asked. dredging because he didn’t think the town could main- Big Jimmie looked up slowly. “Miss Rose is dead,” tain the light manufacturing the war had brought. he said. “She woke up with the sun today and was Today there was a modest collection of restaurants and thrashing all around.” marinas at the river that kept Pine Hill vital. T. R. “You sure?” Campbell asked. Raines walked up and shook Godbold’s hand. He “She was all worried about her cat, Mr. Campbell,” paused and looked at the extra car parked in front of Mae said, as she stroked the still hand in her lap. “She’s Mae’s. always worried about some cat or another.” “Oh, we’ll have a fine funeral, Mr. Campbell,” Mae “We’d catch her,” Big Jimmie continued. “She’d pull said. “You’ll need to write an obituary. You might be away and run pick up something, swing it around and the only thing she could call family, but people will throw it.” On the floor under the radiator was a small remember Mr. William’s Rose.” shattered bottle; the house smelt of honeysuckle. Campbell walked back over to the couch, then to “And that picture,” Mae pointed at a crumbled frame pick up the broken picture from the floor. “No, Mae, I on the floor. It was a watercolor of the cove in the don’t think these people really want to know. Let’s have creek. a service in your church. You and I can talk about “Yes sir,” Big Jimmie laughed. “She got that picture Rose, the choir can sing, and Reverend Johnson can and snapped the frame in two. Then she just stood call on the Lord.” there. I grabbed her and held her tight.” Big Jimmie “Mr. Campbell,” Mae said. “You think that’d be looked at Rose’s body and swallowed the end of his okay with Miss Rose?” laugh. “I carried her over to the couch and set her “Yes, Mae. I think she’d find it curious and appealing.” down. She just sat there, calm as snow.” Campbell pieced the picture of the cove back together.

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“Mae,” Campbell said. “We need to keep Rose’s dotted with old wooden barns and new metal sheds; death quiet. We need to wait as long as possible before houses with fresh paint and houses with sagging roofs; we file the death certificate and the death notices — boats for sale in front yards; empty vegetable stands before we do whatever we have to do.” with a few darkening pumpkins on the ground. Five Mae, Big Jimmie and Conrad Campbell sat in the miles from town was the entrance to “Cypress Grove at kitchen, waited for Doc Willoughby, and set a plan. In Dialeigh, A CreekShore Community,” named for the the quiet of the evening, the funeral home used by the developer’s daughter, Diane. black folks of Pine Hill would come and get Rose. If Five more miles along, at a heavy stand of oaks and noticed, most would assume it was some other person beech, a sandy road ran down the side of one of the Mae cared for. They would cremate the body, have a fields. There the swans spent the afternoons rooting private memorial service, and spread Rose’s ashes on out lost kernels of corn. Down this road, after a hard the shore of the creek. The next day Campbell would curve into the woods, cypress trees, clung to the shores take a room in Annapolis and accelerate the land deal of the creek. It was these trees, that reached like knob- and solidify his power. by fingers from the south, that held Campbell to the “I’ve got to go,” Campbell said as soon as the plan creek. was hatched. “I’ve a mess to clean up down at the As the car bounced into the clearing, Mal-ku looked creek.” from the door of his barn. He started to trot, then run. With a single jump he went from the ground to the lowly he drove, without the usual worry of being a raised porch of Campbell’s house. He nuzzled at the Shindrance if cars lined up behind him. The way was door. ■

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JULY-AUGUST 2004/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 43 ...INACTION

Ahead of His Time on Iraq Telling It Like It Is The 2004 William R. Rivkin Award recipient is Keith Mines, Ron Schlicher was honored with the Christian A. Herter Award for who was honored for his dissenting opinion on Iraq policy. “unmatched courage and integrity” while serving in Israel and Iraq, deal- The gist of his viewpoint is clear from the title of his Dissent ing with some of the toughest and most politically charged issues facing the Channel Message, sent in May 2003: “Let the U.N. Manage U.S. government today. the Political Transition in Iraq.” The Team: Ron Schlicher (center, in suit) with his security detail from Keith Mines is pictured here (in suit) during a visit with the Armed Forces Office of Special Investigations, and Military Assistant Sheikh Latif, an influencial tribal leader. Mines toured Col. Dale Shirasago (far right, in suit). They are standing in front of the Latif’s farm outside Ramadi, Iraq, while they awaited the Triumphal Arch — originally built to celebrate Saddam Hussein’s “victo- arrival of several local tribal leaders. ry” over Iran — inside the Green Zone in Baghdad. Pictured from left, front row: Chris Garon, Kurt Playle, Craig Hotaling. Back Row: Mike Leinig, Ed Calter, Ron Schlicher, Ben Hatch and Dale Shirasago.

The “Heart and Soul” of Embassy Kabul Jenny Jeras has been honored with the Delavan Award for her outstanding performance while serving as the office management specialist for the management section of Embassy Kabul. Described as the “heart and soul” of the embassy, Jeras helped Raising Morale in Kyrgyzstan keep the many sections of a rapidly expanding embassy coordinated and in good communication. Susanne Turner, community liaison officer for Embassy Bishkek and Jeras is pictured here with the Embassy Kabul manage- winner of the 2004 M. Juanita Guess Award, is credited with raising ment section, and a few others. Standing, from left: Richard post morale and fostering a sense of community during a particular- McInturff, John Shippy, Roy Vacho, Peggy Douglas, Chris ly difficult time for the embassy. Del Corso, Robert C. Wood, David Smith, Onnie Ogot and Turner is pictured here (on right) with a local guide at a Kyrgyz David McCrane. Seated, from left: Chad O’Brien, Jenny yurt during an October 2002 visit to the caravanserai at Tash Rabat, Jeras, Judie Pruett and Vincent Romero. Jeras notes that we not far from the Chinese border. The traditional caravanserai were should not be fooled by the pingpong table, “I have yet to see rest stops along trade routes, and this one was a stop along the paddles or balls!” ancient Silk Road.

44 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/JULY-AUGUST 2004 F OCUSON F S F ICTION

THE GULSHAN REGATTA

ameed jumped out of bed with the on you.” alarm’s first buzz. He washed quickly “On me?” and dressed in cut-off jeans and a T- Stan rolled his eyes. “Mrs. Right could be under your shirt that advertised his college back in nose while you go the old-fashioned route. But, hey, what Tennessee. He ran an electric razor do I know?” over his morning stubble and brushed Hameed smiled. His American friends were intrigued Hhis thick, unruly hair into suffi- by his pursuit of an arranged cient order for a Saturday morn- marriage, and peppered him ing. Old sneakers without socks, with questions and opinions. a few bites of a toaster-heated He tried to explain the system chapatti, and he was ready. He and why it worked at least as well looked in the mirror — brown as the American way, but they skin, dark brown eyes, black hair, didn’t seem convinced. not unhandsome — a Bengali “So who are we racing?” man who also looked American. “Several of the embassies and Stan, the co-worker who had aid missions. Also, the World talked him into participating in Bank, CARE, the U.N., the this international community International School, and the regatta, showed up in a similar rest I can’t remember. Sixteen outfit, although his T-shirt adver- in all, I think.” tised the U.S. Marine Corps “And it’s fair game to capsize Security Detachment. “All set? the other boats?” Loretta and Jerry are going to “Absolutely, if it helps us win. meet us there.” But remember, these boats “Loretta? Women do this, aren’t very stable. They’re more too?” like canoes than rowboats.” Stan “Yeah, especially smart, self- smiled, as if relishing victory, or confident women like her. She some secret joke he wasn’t shar- designed the costumes. We’re ing.

going to dress as bananas.” Donald Mulligan It was less than a mile to the “Oh, nice. I hope no one in lake, tucked in between the two my family sees me. Do the locals posh enclaves where most of the watch this?” A YOUNG MAN FINDS THAT international community lived, “Of course. They line the FATE PLAYS A ROLE — EVEN IN AN Gulshan and Baridhara. Ha- shores and laugh at us. It’s good ARRANGED MARRIAGE. meed’s office and apartment for them. You know, Loretta was were in Gulshan. His family asking me about you the other BY MARY CAMERON KILGOUR lived in an older neighborhood day. I wonder if she has a crush across town called Dhanmandi,

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a different world now, although years ago there had been What would his brother, busy finding suitable Bangladeshi foreigners in that neighborhood, too. candidates, make of that? He thought of the conversation with his family the previ- He put on the costume. It was sleeveless and came to his ous night, the focus on finding him a marriage partner, the knees. Then Loretta gave him a yellow hat shaped like the unstated plan to do it before his father died. His father, 78 end of a banana made from painted cardboard. He put it on and with a bad heart, had been a widower for three years. and stepped into the green leaf boat with his teammates. He continued to live in the family home with Hameed’s old- The Bangladeshi fisherman-owner sat barefoot on his est brother and his wife and children, as was the Bangladeshi haunches watching them with a bemused expression on his custom. Next door another brother lived in a smaller house. face. His lunghi was pulled up and wrapped to resemble They all gathered for dinner most nights, and the house rang shorts. His undershirt was clean but pocked with small wear with the singsong games of children and the bustle of the holes. He puffed a local cigarette, a bidi, whose acrid smoke women in the kitchen. brought memories floating toward Hameed — memories of After dinner, Hameed sat with his father and brothers his grandfather and uncles smoking on the flat roof of their chewing paan. The cheek-sucking dryness of the betel nut house before sleeping on hot summer nights, memories of gave him a sense of ease, although he chewed it only here. last night’s conversation, which had started with a compli- In 17 years in the States, he had lost many of his home- ment to his sister-in-law. country ways, even his accent, and become a U.S. citizen. “Your cooking is delicious, as always, Rifat,” he had said, He was tenured at his small college in Tennessee and would smiling at his sister-in-law when she joined them in the sit- be returning there after this 18-month sabbatical with an ting room. “Will you be sure to teach my future wife this international aid organization. Surely he would find a wife particular dish?” before then and start his own family. It would mean a lot to “With pleasure, brother. When might I start?” be able to present his first child to his father for his blessing. “Yes, Hameed, when? We are running out of girls.” He hadn’t looked very hard for a wife in the States. First Hameed gave his oldest brother, who was a banker and he was busy with school, then with work. A couple of long Rotarian, a mock scowl. “Farouk Bhai, I don’t think I’m relationships had petered out. Over the years he realized being unreasonable to ask that she already have experience that he wanted to marry someone who shared the same living in the States. You know I’ll be going back there to live childhood experiences and customs, religion and family val- and I want her to be able to adjust, to be happy.” ues, so the Dhaka job had come at the right time. “No, that’s not unreasonable. But does she also have to Why was he thinking about this now? He yanked himself be beautiful, intelligent, well-educated, charming and ath- back to the present as Stan pulled onto a bumpy lane bor- letic? Where am I going to find such a girl? What was dering the lake. Better to relax and enjoy this interlude. wrong with the last two, I’d like to know?” They unloaded the banana leaves from the back of Stan’s “Well, Salma’s years in Russia really didn’t qualify her. car and carried them to a boat that Jerry and Loretta had And Nila was too young, only 19 and not yet finished with already claimed. her education. Besides, I need to feel a spark.” “Here’s your costume, Hameed.” Loretta handed him a “A spark?” gown-like thing made of yellow cloth. Hameed stood up and stretched, tired from a busy work- He wondered if Stan could be right about Loretta. week and the tensions of this wife search. “Yes, my brother. Wouldn’t it be ironic if she turned out to be the one he fell Use your networking skills to find me a spark.” for? He would have come all the way back to his native His father had been silent, but the look on his face, which country, after years in the States, to marry an American. made it clear that Farouk was speaking for both of them, changed to a smile. “The spark will come, my son, if we Mary Cameron Kilgour was an FSO with USAID from choose carefully.” 1966 to 1995. She served in Pakistan, Colombia, Costa Hameed nodded and smiled as he bent to kiss his father’s Rica, the Philippines, Liberia and Bangladesh. Retired in cheek. “Well, Father, I’ll take my leave. I have to be up early Gainesville, Fla., she writes fiction and creative nonfiction tomorrow.” and volunteers with several local groups. Her childhood “Okay, I’ll add spark to the list.” Farouk shook his head. memoir will be published in January 2005. “Don’t forget tomorrow afternoon. We have to be at the

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Rahmans’ house at 5. Their daughter’s name is Suraya. one of the Scandinavian embassies. There were people in She’s an excellent prospect, here visiting from the States, I’m grass skirts, with a grass-draped boat. Another boat was told, and supposedly very brainy.” wrapped in silver foil and its crew wore wet suits and masks. “I won’t forget.” “Look at that one with the gongs and leather shields,º” “And next weekend is the foreign minister’s niece. Her Jerry laughed. “They must be samurais from the Japanese name is Huda.” mission.” When Hameed drove back to his apartment through “There’s the International School crowd.” Loretta point- streets crowded with buses, trucks, motor rickshaws, bicy- ed to a crew in caps and gowns. “I have friends on that cles, cows and pedestrians, his prospects floated through his team.” mind like smoke. He knew he was more than ready to “So do I,” said Jerry. “But don’t give them any leeway. marry. But brains at 5, the foreign minister’s niece a week We won’t live it down if they win.” later? Would her family be willing to let her leave the coun- By the time all of the boats were ready it was after 8 try permanently? Was this system really better? A heavy o’clock. A crowd dotted the shores of the lake. People sat diesel gloom obscured the night sky. The smell filled the car, on blankets or beach chairs on the sloped banks. Clumps of forcing him to roll up the window. onlookers stood on the road; others lined the bridge. This “Let’s get moving.” Stan’s call startled him. “Are you with early it was pleasantly cool, but an ice cream vendor had us, Hameed?” already set up his cart. He nodded as they started paddling through the turbid “That guy’s not going to get much business from this water to the starting line at the bridge. Other boats joined crowd,” said Hameed. them. One crew was dressed like Vikings, probably from “Don’t be sure,” responded Jerry. “People willing to

THE REMINGTON

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swim in Gulshan Lake will eat anything. And it’s going to get “Take that!” she shouted, and threw a full paddle of hotter.” water into his face. “Ha!” She thumped her paddle against When they were all in line, the Swiss ambassador fired a his side of the boat. Her teammates did the same, rocking starting gun. Birds flew off in all directions, flapping their it dangerously close to the water line. wings and distracting the paddlers for a second or two. “Teachers, beware!” Stan thrust his paddle at the last “Damn. C’mon, let’s go!” shouted Jerry. They began man in the teachers’ boat, forcing him off the other side. paddling wildly, out of rhythm with each other, splashing One of his mates grabbed the oar and pushed back at Stan. water everywhere. Rather than abandon the boat, Stan let it be pushed so hard ‘Synchronize!” Stan shouted. “One. Two. Stroke. Lift. that water rushed in. Stroke. Lift.” “Lean forward!” Stan shouted as he tumbled backward They got into rhythm and soon reached the middle of and out of the boat. the pack. The crowd was cheering. Horns were blaring. Hameed, Jerry and Loretta leaned toward the teachers’ Street kids were jumping into the water to swim after the boat. This brought Hameed within inches of the lovely boats. Bangladeshi girl. Suddenly their boat took a hard knock from the silver foil The dream girl pulled his hat off and threw it overboard. boat. What were they? Navy Seals? The banana boat start- She looked startled by her own boldness. He reached for ed rocking, jostled by the pushes of silver foil paddles. her arm, to pull her into his boat. She resisted, grabbing his “Brutes!” Loretta shouted. “Get away!” She pushed hand instead. with her own paddle and the nose of the silver boat changed Who is she? He looked at Loretta and Jerry. They were direction. Stan gave it a shove from the rear and it headed grinning. At that moment, the two boats started to tip into the Samurais. toward each other, nudged by the frogmen, already in the The bananas took a few minutes to regain their rhythm, water with their snorkels and fins. but soon found their boat heading right for the Vikings. Hands clasped, Hameed and the dream girl fell into the “Watch out!” Loretta shouted from the helm as the two water together. Her mortarboard floated away. boats collided. She toppled backward, out of reach of the Treading water, he shook the hair from his eyes and sput- hairy arms of a Viking hulk. tered, “Who are you?” Hameed stood up to defend her, possibly his future wife. She flipped onto her back and looked toward the sky. It started their boat rocking wildly. “I’m from Texas, but I’m teaching at the International “Sit down!” Stan shouted to him as they struck the School for a while.” Her accent was faint, similar to his. Vikings again. “Paddle! Keep paddling!” He followed her gaze. The pale blue sky was dusted The Vikings pulled ahead. with wispy clouds and black birds soaring on wind cur- “Catch them! Paddle!” rents. Judging from the sounds of laughter, splashing Hameed was sweating. The yellow costume stuck to water and distant cheers, the race went on without them. him. Another boat was coming alongside. The She raised her head and turned to look at him while still International School scholars were almost abreast. They floating on her back in the chocolaty water. Her gown clung started splashing water into the bananas’ boat. The bananas to her. splashed back. Paddles were flying. Everyone was shouting. “My name’s Suraya. And who are you?” Beads of water He laughed with the exhilaration of it, the incongruity of sparkled in her hair. him, a studious economics professor temporarily turned aid “I’m Hameed, from Tennessee.” worker, participating in such a nutty adventure. It made him She flipped upright to tread water and looked at him feel very American. closely, taking his measure. The International School boat crashed into the bananas. He blinked once, then again, and ran a hand through his He saw, under a mortarboard cap with a crimson tassel, the hair. “Is your family name Rahman?” face of a beautiful girl. Her eyes were large and black, her She smiled and her eyes glowed. “Yes. I think we’re hav- cheeks wet and rosy. She was laughing. She was a ing tea this afternoon.” Bangladeshi. He took her hand and felt the warmth. “Shall we swim Hameed stopped splashing and stared at her. to shore together?” ■

48 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/JULY-AUGUST 2004 A DIPLOMATIC “RENAISSANCE MAN”: RICHARD B. PARKER

THREE-TIME AMBASSADOR RICHARD PARKER WAS A FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICER FOR 31 YEARS, AND SINCE RETIREMENT HAS CONTINUED TO WRITE AND TEACH. LAST MONTH, AFSA HONORED HIM FOR A LIFETIME OF CONTRIBUTIONS TO AMERICAN DIPLOMACY.

BY STEVEN ALAN HONLEY

n June 24, Ambassador Richard the Arab world. In 1961, he became the first non-native Bordeaux Parker received the speaker in the Service to attain a 4/4 rating in Arabic, indi- American Foreign Service Associa- cating full fluency in the spoken and written language, from tion’s award for Lifetime Contributions the Foreign Service Institute. That facility paved the way to American Diplomacy, in recognition for him to be a three-time ambassador, to Algeria, Lebanon of a distinguished 31-year Foreign and Morocco; earlier assignments included Australia, Israel, Service career and equally impressive academic and schol- Jordan and Egypt, as well as several stints on country desks Oarly accomplishments. back in Washington. Being born on July 3, 1923, in the Philippines, where Somehow, along the way he found the time to take up the his father was stationed with the U.S. Army, gave Parker study of Islamic architecture as a hobby and to write two an early, if brief, exposure to overseas life. But his initial “practical guides” on the subject — the first of seven books professional goal was to become a chemical engineer. It he has written or edited: Guide to Islamic Monuments in was while he was studying engineering at Kansas State Cairo (American University in Cairo Press, 1974; now in its University (known then as Kansas State College of fifth edition) and Guide to Islamic Monuments in Morocco Agriculture and Applied Science) that fate stepped in for (self-published, 1981); North Africa: Regional Tensions and the first time. The future ambassador had to take German Strategic Concerns (Praeger, 1984; a Council on Foreign as a prerequisite for chemical engineering, he recalls, Relations book); The Politics of Miscalculation in the Middle “and it was clear that German came much easier to me East (Indiana University Press, 1993); The Six-Day War: A than to anyone else in the class. I discovered a gift for lan- Retrospective (editor; University Press of Florida, 1996); guages that I hadn't realized I had.” The October War: A Retrospective (editor; University Press Then fate nudged him once again — much more strong- of Florida, 2001); and his latest, Uncle Sam in Barbary: A ly, this time — when World War II interrupted his studies Diplomatic History (University Press of Florida, 2004; see and he went overseas as an infantry officer. Captured by p. 71 for a review). He has also served as editor of the the Germans after the Battle of the Bulge, he was eventual- Middle East Journal, and has contributed dozens of articles ly repatriated at the end of the war via Odessa, the Turkish and book reviews to various periodicals. Straits, Port Said and Naples. That first encounter with the Upon retirement from the Service in 1981, Parker “great wide world” left him determined to go back and see became diplomat-in-residence at the University of Virginia a lot more of it. for two years, and has also taught at several other colleges Soon after he joined the Foreign Service in 1949, his and universities. He served as the first president of the facility in languages steered him toward a specialization in Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training and is also a member of many other prestigious organizations, includ- Steven Alan Honley, a Foreign Service officer from 1985 to ing the Advisory Council on Near East Studies at Princeton 1997, is editor of the Journal. University, the American Academy of Diplomacy, the

JULY-AUGUST 2004/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 49 Council on Foreign Relations, the very easy courses. So I had a wonder- Middle East Institute, the Cosmos ful semester and a great time. Club and Delta Tau Delta. His many “The term ‘Arabist’ was honors and awards include the FSJ: This was the fall of 1943? Department of State Superior Service no compliment even in RP: The spring. Award (1967, for a rescue mission to Yemen), the Grand Cordon of the the 1950s, but it was a FSJ: And you were already in offi- Order of the Cedars, Lebanon (1979); cer training by this point? the Air Force Medal of Merit (1980); fascinating world and RP: Yes, I was in ROTC. We were and the Foreign Service Cup (1989). told we would be sent to an OCS Little wonder, then, that many of language. And no one (Officer Candidate School) after we Parker’s peers in the Foreign Service did our basic training. I was in coast over the years (even those who did ever tried to warn me off artillery, or anti-aircraft, ROTC as not already know of his penchant for befitting an engineer, but along with chemistry and math) have described from going into it.” all my classmates, ended up being him as a “Renaissance man.” sent to infantry OCS — which, of Ambassador Parker is married to — Richard Parker course, was a good deal more danger- the former Jeanne Jaccard. They ous. have four children and nine grandchildren. FSJ: And then you shipped over- Foreign Service Journal Editor seas in 1944? Steven Alan Honley interviewed FSJ: You were born in the RP: Yes, our division went first to Parker at his Georgetown home on Philippines. How long did you live England and then to France. March 31. there? RP: We left when I was three FSJ: Tell me about your experi- FSJ: Congratulations on your months old. My father was stationed ence as a POW in World War II. award for lifetime contributions to there as an Army officer; and they RP: Well, our division was annihi- American diplomacy, which places were just waiting for me to be born. lated in the Battle of the Bulge, and I you in the same company as George was among the thousands of men cap- Shultz, Tom Pickering, Cyrus Vance, FSJ: I understand you originally tured. I spent only 34 days under George Bush Sr., and Larry planned to be a chemical engineer. German control, ending up at a camp Eagleburger, among others. What What drew you to the Foreign Service for American ground-force officers in would you say have been your instead? Poland, near Poznan. When the strengths as a diplomat? RP: Well, engineering studies are Soviets finally began moving west RP: I think the fact that I’ve been very difficult, with a very heavy class from Warsaw, where they’d been able to maintain my sense of humor load. The war was on, and I had sort stopped the previous September, the through some difficult times, first of of lost interest. I had one more Germans started marching us back to all. Eisenhower once said, “Always semester to go at Kansas State Germany. About 200 of us, out of the take your job, but never yourself, College of Agriculture and Applied thousand or so men in the camp, said seriously.” But of course, if you Science (now Kansas State after one day that we were too weak to don’t take yourself seriously, no one University), before I was going to be walk any further. So they left us, and else will, either. So you have to find taken into the Army in 1943, and I the Soviets arrived that night. some compromise there. But the said the hell with it, I’m going to have important thing is if you don’t take one fun semester before I leave. So I FSJ: And then you were repatriat- yourself too seriously, you can dropped engineering, much to the ed? understand the humor in the situa- dismay of my faculty adviser, and took RP: Yes, over a long period: it took tion in which you find yourself and a semester of things like public speak- over six weeks before we got back into you can relate much more easily to ing and Spanish, as well as German, American control down in Odessa. other people. which I’d already been studying — I would also say that I’ve always that was required for chemical engi- FSJ: I understand from one of the concentrated on doing whatever my neers — and navigation math, which biographical sketches I read that you job was to the best of my ability. was very easy. That made 12 hours of saw a lot of the world on the trip and

50 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/JULY-AUGUST 2004 that was one of the factors behind FSJ: When did you apply to the your decision to apply to the Foreign Foreign Service? Service. Parker’s first RP: I took the written exam in RP: Oh, yes. I’d had no idea many Tokyo in 1946, when I was still in the of the things I saw existed. I was also encounter with the Army. I took it just to see what it was very concerned that we not have like, with no expectation of passing it, another war like World War II, and I “great wide world,” and much to my surprise, I passed. So thought maybe I could help by joining they let me out of the Army and I the Foreign Service. Pretty idealistic as he later called it, went back to school. I got there in of me, but anyway, that’s how I turned March 1947 and graduated in May; up. left him determined I’d had such a heavy schedule as an engineering student that there was no FSJ: So then you went back to to go back and see problem getting enough hours to Kansas State? What was your degree graduate with. in? a lot more. I took the oral Foreign Service RP: I got a degree in general sci- exam later that summer in Chicago. ence. My major was math- The chairman of the board, a ematics, which was a mis- Mr. Eberhard, said to me, in take. effect, “We like your style, Mr. Parker, but you don’t know FSJ: Why was it a mis- anything. Go back to college take? for a year and study about his- RP: I had almost failed tory and economics.” Which I integral calculus because did. the war had diverted my attention, but I had more FSJ: That’s when you hours of mathematics on earned your master’s degree? my transcript than any RP: Yes, in something other subject. I was not a called citizenship education, serious mathematics stu- which was a “Great Books” dent, but I got through it. program modeled on the one at the University of Chicago.

FSJ: Tell me about your time with the Kansas State UNESCO Commission. RP: Well, it was brief but interesting. Milton Eisenhower, who at that point was the president of Kansas State, and changed its name to Kansas State University, was the chairman of the U.S. National Commission on UNESCO. UNESCO had its first international conference in Beirut in the summer of 1948, and he wanted to establish a UNESCO commission in every state. He started with Kansas and got three or four other states to follow suit, but all of the state commissions died on the vine not long afterward. Amb. Parker and his wife Jeanne at DACOR on April 14 at the launch of his new The commission was an early book, Uncle Sam in Barbary: A Diplomatic History. NGO, funded by the university. This

JULY-AUGUST 2004/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 51 was at the beginning of the imple- pulled out a large bottle of aspirin and mentation of the Fulbright legislation popped a couple in my mouth and and the resumption of Junior Year “Beirut was the most fun chewed them. Abroad and that sort of thing. There Anyway, I decided to become a had been almost no exchanges before of my postings. I served political officer, which was supposed between Kansas schools and schools to be the road to glory. And I felt I abroad, and we were beginning that there three times, once needed to develop some specialization program. There was a good deal of to get there. This meant studying a interest throughout the state, but the as a language student, hard language. program died after Milton Eisen- My wife and I looked at the post hower left to go to Johns Hopkins once as political officer, reports and the possibilities around University. the world. My first choice would have and once as been a specialization in Japanese or FSJ: What did your job entail? Polish, but neither one of those was RP: I did some local travel, doing ambassador.” open. Coming home from Odessa things like showing educational films during the war, I’d been much to groups. One of my favorite films — Richard Parker impressed with the sight of Istanbul was “No Place to Hide,” an from the water. Then we stopped in Encyclopedia Brittanica film about Port Said, so I’d had a brief exposure the implications of atomic warfare. to Egypt. Both places looked interest- Trying to bring that issue home to ing, so we narrowed it down to Arabic farmers in Kansas was interesting. know some day, but we don’t have any or Turkish, and I wrote on my April They were ready to listen. work for you now.” So I went back to Fool’s card that I wanted to specialize But the most exciting thing I did Kansas and took the UNESCO job in one of those, but would like to have was to witness a festival celebrating until they told me to report for train- a post in the area first. So they sent us the adoption of a town in Holland by ing, which was in January 1949. to Jerusalem in 1951, and I never a little town named Morganville, not looked back. It was so fascinating, I far from Manhattan, where the uni- FSJ: Where was your first post- spent the rest of my career working in versity was. That was a great event. ing? or on that area. Everyone came from miles around RP: Sydney. I was the general ser- We started out on the Israeli side of and people performed on a stage set vices officer there, dealing with diplo- the line and then we moved to the up in a vacant lot. It was a very matic pouches and customs clearances Arab side. I hired a tutor and paid for rewarding grass-roots experience. and things like that. And I did some Arabic lessons for about a year before consular work, as well. the department invited me to come FSJ: Did anyone from the town in and join an Arabic class in 1953. Holland come? FSJ: You are perhaps best known RP: No. It was a long way to go, as an Arabist. At what stage did you FSJ: In retrospect, it seems there and travel was difficult then. choose that area for your concentra- has always been some stigma within tion, and why? the Foreign Service associated with FSJ: You spent about six months RP: It was while I was in Sydney. I becoming an Arabist. Did you feel with the commission? enjoyed consular and administrative that way at the time, and did anyone RP: Less than that, actually: work, but this was a period when we ever try to discourage you from mak- August to December 1948. So about were saying no to everybody who ing that choice? five months. wanted to come to the United States. RP: Well, the term “Arabist” was I spent the day saying no to Australians no compliment even then, and I FSJ: And you entered the Service who didn’t understand why they had understood that. But it was a fascinat- in 1949? to be taken under a quota of 200 ing world and language. And no one RP: Yes. After I completed my immigration visas a year. ever tried to warn me off from going year of graduate school, I came to That was pretty dreadful and I had into it. Washington and took the oral again in a perpetual headache. My replace- 1948 and passed. I said I was ready to ment was much impressed when I FSJ: Which of your postings stand work, but they said, “Oh, we’ll let you casually reached into my desk drawer, out in your memory?

52 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/JULY-AUGUST 2004 RP: Beirut was the most fun. I then (1974-1977) I was the only U.S. afraid to sentence people for fear of served there three times, once as a ambassador accredited to an Arab reprisals. The president’s power did language student, once as political country who didn’t have a bodyguard. not extend much beyond the presi- officer, and once as ambassador. The But I was the first ambassador to dential palace. But the Lebanese are Lebanese are very hospitable, and you serve there after the resumption of very entrepreneurial and found ways get to know a lot of people. diplomatic relations, which had been to make things work. Even the last tour as ambassador in broken in 1967 and restored in late the late 1970s, which was a time of 1974. FSJ: Who were some of the people great danger — my predecessor had So there was a lot of work to be you especially admired or were been assassinated — was much better done. I liked the Algerians, but the inspired by during your Foreign than today in terms of security for our infrastructure there for diplomats and Service career? personnel. We were much freer to the possibilities were very restricted. RP: I liked all my chiefs but one, move around. Even so, it’s no fun to Housing was a great problem, and my who shall be nameless. My first boss, have to go everywhere in an armored staff was generally unhappy with the the consul general in Sydney, was vehicle and not be able to stop and go fact that Algerians never returned Orsen Nielsen, long since gone to his into a shop or look at the sights with- telephone calls. It was a frustrating reward. His first post had been St. out a bunch of bodyguards jumping place to work in, but relations have Petersburg, in 1917. It was 1949 out and standing around you, intimi- improved a good deal since then. when I met him, so that had been 32 dating everybody. Still, Beirut was a much easier years earlier: it was so unbelievably The third time I went to Beirut, I place to work. I knew everybody, or remote to me. It wasn’t until I went should note, I was plucked out of had access to everybody, and people back to Amman, I think in 1989 — 33 Algiers and sent there on very short were willing to help. The only prob- years after I’d left that post — that I notice. Algiers was a tough post, lem was, there was no functioning realized how short a span that actual- although the security situation was government; it was basically anarchy. ly was. nothing like what it is today. Back Courts did not operate; judges were Nielsen was old-line Foreign

JULY-AUGUST 2004/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 53 Service, very proper. His secretary was that he did not leave much for me eign policy. President Eisenhower was said he had a way of pointing out to to do. the ultimate authority, of course, but you that you were inferior. But still, I could go on and on … Dulles had no real competition from he was a decent fellow, and an honest anybody else in the structure. man. FSJ: You spent most of your career Everyone deferred to him. He was My first ambassador was Lester overseas, but you were in Washington very competent and a good director; Mallory, in Amman, in 1955-1956. A for eight or nine years. Which he understood international politics former agricultural attaché, he was a Secretary of State do you most admire and American interests. I disagreed rough-hewn fellow, but I liked him and why? with many things he did, but I think very much. He taught me a good RP: I would say John Foster only Henry Kissinger rivaled his con- deal. Dulles. Not because of his personality trol of foreign policy. Next was Ambassador Armin — he was very much a cold fish, and he Meyer, who’s still around. He started treated the Foreign Service like a pub- FSJ: How would you assess out as a radio operator, along with Bill lic convenience — but because of his Secretary Powell? Porter, and was still a ham operator command and control of the depart- RP: I think very highly of him. He when we arrived in Beirut in 1961. ment. He was running American for- is the first Secretary we’ve had in a He was our ambassador and I long time who understands the quali- was political officer. He ties and principles of leadership. taught me many things. Then there was Lucius FSJ: Going back to your career — Battle, who was ambassador in you were ambassador to three coun- Cairo in 1965. I learned a lot tries during the 1970s: Algeria, from him, too. Lebanon and Morocco. What were I first worked with Stuart some of the challenges you faced as Rockwell in the Near Eastern chief of mission, and how did you Affairs Bureau back in handle them? Washington from 1957 to RP: In the case of Algiers, we had 1958, and later was his DCM significant American investment in in Rabat. He is the most com- the petroleum sector: prospecting for petent Foreign Service officer oil, building natural gas liquefaction I ever knew, but the problem plants, and so forth. That presence had stayed intact even during the break in diplomatic relations. American firms had good working relations, in general, with the higher echelons of the Algerian government. But they had a lot of problems with the lower echelons: for example, the Ministry of the Interior requirement that their personnel obtain an exit permit to leave the country. Holding their hand and helping them with such problems was a preoccupation. Trying to get something done in terms of cooperation in the cultural field was another challenge in Algiers. Having had open-heart surgery that left me needing a monthly lab test in a place where the hospital was sort of Above: The monument to American diplomat Joel Barlow in Zarnowic, Poland, anarchical, I was very interested in erected after a campaign launched by Richard Parker. Below: Parker (second from left) at the dedication of the monument in 1998, with Francis Scanlan, getting some kind of exchange going Consul General, Krakow (center), and Polish dignitaries. with American doctors to try to

54 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/JULY-AUGUST 2004 improve local health care. Doing that as in your other two ambassador- chy there. He was U.S. consul in was a constant preoccupation, and I ships. Tunis at the time of the Tripolitanian had not succeeded by the time I left. RP: Oh yes. I liked the country War that began in 1801. And he was In fact, I don’t think it’s ever come to and the people, and the U.S. and PNG-ed three times: in Tunisia, pass. Morocco have had good relations for Algeria and Libya. This is obviously a some 200 years. But even so, I didn’t subject that needs more research. FSJ: Was the problem getting want to go back there because of the By the way, he also lived for a time institutions interested back in the way the king treated foreign ambas- in Georgetown, on P Street. States or there in the country? sadors. He wanted them to be lackeys RP: It was both dimensions, and who played golf and went to parties FSJ: It’s just a coincidence that there were a lot of complications. For and basically waited for him to tell you also live on that street, I take it? one thing, we didn’t have a bilateral them what to do. In addition, there It’s not an homage? agreement in place on cultural and had been two coup attempts when I RP: Oh, no. I had no idea of that educational exchanges, and you had was there before, and the king was when we bought this house. to get that done first. And once we never fully persuaded that we weren’t located an American consortium that involved in them somehow. So I only FSJ: We’ve already touched on was interested in doing this, some- lasted about six months. your time in Lebanon, but how much where up in the north-central states, did the deteriorating security situa- getting the Algerian side to cooperate FSJ: Were you “PNG-ed” from tion affect your ability to do your job was a problem. I think there was one there? as ambassador? brief exchange, and then the thing RP: No, he said he would not RP: We certainly had plenty of folded. Initiatives like that require declare me persona non grata, but problems — constant fighting among constant attention from both sides, declared that relations would not the Lebanese militias, Israeli incur- and if they don’t get it, they stop. improve as long as I was there. He sions and PLO infiltration along the Also, in contrast to Libya and was upset because I was unable to southern border, and the invasion of Egypt and other states in the region relieve him of the [exiled Iranian] 1978, plus an almost total absence of — even during the break in relations, Shah [Pahlavi]’s presence, but his judicial activity. But that didn’t really there were hundreds of Egyptian stu- principal complaint about me seemed inhibit our work very much; we had dents in the U.S. — there had been to be that I knew too many people. contact with everybody, and the com- almost no Algerian students here; just mon danger generated a certain a handful. Algerians didn’t travel to FSJ: Always a dangerous quality camaraderie among us all. But we did the States. But that began to change in a diplomat. try to do something about the securi- almost immediately after restoration RP: Yes, indeed. I was also PNG- ty situation, not for ourselves but for of relations. We were very surprised ed, in effect, while serving in Egypt in the country as a whole. One of the to have a long line of visa applicants, 1967. President Nasser himself problems was that because of the one of whom was a man named Elias ordered my departure because he State of Siege Law (which came about Zerhouni, who is now director of the apparently thought I was the real CIA because of the movie starring Yves U.S. National Institutes of Health. station chief and was personally Montand that portrayed the U.S. as One of my problems was that USIA responsible for all the bad things he teaching the Uruguayan police how to wanted to close its office there, which thought the Americans had done to torture and provoked Congress to it had operated at a modest level Egypt. The Egyptians later explained pass a law limiting aid to foreign throughout the break in relations, that they thought I had not acted like police forces), we couldn’t give a sin- because of the lack of response from a diplomat. I’m not sure what that gle bullet to the gendarmerie, the the Algerians. So I said, send an meant, but have taken it as an unin- rural police force, which was an Arabist to run it and let’s see what hap- tended compliment. essential part of the security structure pens. They brought in Chris Ross, and Being PNG-ed twice is not a ser- in Lebanon. It didn’t look very immediately things started moving on vice record, however. I don’t know for impressive to the outsider, but it was the informational and cultural side. sure, but the man who holds the very influential in the countryside. record may have been James Leander One of my first assigned tasks after FSJ: How was your return to Cathcart, who was one of the getting there was to try and arrange a Morocco as ambassador? I assume American prisoners in Algiers in 1785 ceasefire between the Chamounists conditions there were not as difficult and rose to prominence in the hierar- and the PLO in southern Lebanon,

JULY-AUGUST 2004/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 55 where a firefight was going on. I suc- FSJ: And do you think the admin- ceeded, and received a telegram from istration’s “road map” is still viable? Roy Atherton, the NEA assistant sec- “In the old days, when an RP: Well, the ink is still on the retary, congratulating me on this. But paper, so I suppose it could be by the time it arrived, they were fight- assistant secretary came revived. But it looks pretty dormant ing again! now. That was the way it went, though. out to your post, that was You’d work and work to hammer out a FSJ: Are you a pessimist about a ceasefire or an agreement and get really something. Today, peaceful resolution of the Israeli- everyone on board, and then some- Palestinian conflict? body would fire a shot and it was all someone at that level RP: You know, Adlai Stevenson over again. said that “Optimism is to a diplomat I have a framed cartoon showing a visits every three months what courage is to a soldier.” group of Lebanese politicians stand- Pessimists don’t make good diplo- ing around in a state of embarrass- or so, and they sneak in mats. I am professionally optimistic ment, while a hand is sticking out that there is going to be a solution, but from behind a curtain — holding a and out.” I must say that when I look at the Parker pen that was labeled “The details, I don’t see how it will come Godfather.” I’d persuaded this group — Richard Parker about. of traditional political leaders — Sunni, Shia and Maronite — to agree FSJ: Do you think the U.S.-Middle on an informal compact by urging that East Partnership Initiative has if they agreed to stop fighting each promise? other, the Israelis and Syrians would FSJ: Do you think Ariel Sharon RP: No, I don’t. I may be wrong, not be able to exploit them the way will ever make peace on terms accept- but the whole idea, it seems to me, is they had. And they agreed and able to the Palestinians? that we’re preaching to the natives, as signed, but five days later, the fighting RP: No. Any peace will come in though the problem is reform. That started back up. spite of Sharon, not because of him. isn’t the problem: it’s people and land. Some of this is discussed in my Where do we draw the borders and book on diplomatic miscalculations, FSJ: Were you frustrated by what do we do about the refugees? The Politics of Miscalculation in the the ban at that time on American There will be little American-spon- Middle East (Indiana University diplomats dealing directly with the sored progress on democracy until we Press, 1993) and in an article I did for Palestinian Liberation Organization? do something effective about Arab- the Middle East Journal’s Autumn RP: Not really; the ban was on Israeli peace. The initiative doesn’t 1996 issue. formal contacts only. Our CIA folks deal with that; we’ve just sort of put The most frustrating thing was try- in Beirut — Robert Ames, in partic- that aside, but it’s the 900-pound ing to get the Lebanese Army to move ular, who was later killed when the gorilla in the room. Now, I’m out of into southern Lebanon to take over embassy was bombed in 1983 — touch: I haven’t been out there since security. We thought we had it dealt with the PLO all the time. At 1997. And I haven’t talked to any arranged, but then it was blocked by times we saw them as a positive Palestinians on the ground, so I may the Israelis and their local puppet, who influence in the civil war; they were not know what I’m talking about, but really didn’t want them down there. more responsible than some of the I doubt it. Lebanese factions. But there wasn’t FSJ: Speaking of Israel: did you much they could do, so there wasn’t FSJ: Do you see signs that Arab ever have occasion to meet Ariel much substance to our dealings with societies themselves are starting to Sharon? them. recognize the urgency of reform and RP: No; I did see him twice, once are willing to pursue that process? speaking at the Council on Foreign FSJ: Did you disagree with the RP: Yes, I see some modest signs, Relations and once in the Kremlin, in Bush administration’s initial reluc- even in Saudi Arabia. And that’s the 1990, when we both happened to be tance to become engaged in the only way reform will happen — from visiting Moscow. But we’ve never Middle East peace process? within. The idea that we’re somehow spoken. RP: Yes, I did. going to teach them the way is non-

56 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/JULY-AUGUST 2004 sense. For us to push them actually dictable that one never knows for RP: Yes, going from being an makes it less likely to come to fruition. sure, but it looks like he is serious ambassador to a college professor about coming clean and restoring ties. was the hardest transition I made. FSJ: In your view, has our inter- After being in a situation where vention in Iraq been successful? FSJ: Have you met him? every day was divided up into 15- RP: I felt at the time that it was a RP: Not to my knowledge. minute intervals during which I’d see tragic mistake to go in there, that we visitors, and people were constantly were going to have a great deal of dif- FSJ: How successful do you asking me for answers to their ques- ficulty in the aftermath, and that it believe we have been in getting out tions, suddenly my telephone was no would engender a good deal of hostil- the message that the war on terror- longer ringing. And nobody cared ity toward us in the region. I think all ism is not a war on Arabs or what I was doing, not even my fellow those assumptions have been vindi- Muslims? professors, as far as I could tell. That cated. RP: I don’t think we’ve been suc- took a real adjustment; I think it took I also think that if we are safer cessful at all. The restrictions we’ve me five or six years to deprogram today than we were on Sept. 11, 2001, had to introduce on travel and so myself and stop talking like an NEA it’s because of the security measures forth inevitably create the appear- officer. Maybe I still am! we’ve taken, not because we went into ance of discrimination against Iraq. That action has actually made us Muslims. I don’t think there is any- FSJ: How long were you at the less safe. thing we can do about that other University of Virginia? than be as tactful and careful as pos- RP: I was at U. Va. for two years, FSJ: If there should be a stable, sible in implementing the policies. during which time I also held down democratic government in Iraq, do the job of editor of the Middle East you think it will help pave the way for FSJ: You’ve had a wide-ranging Journal. And then I decided there democratization in the region? career with several phases — you’ve wasn’t enough going on regarding RP: Oh, yes. Anytime you have a been a soldier, a diplomat, a teacher, the Middle East in Charlottes- successful change, and the result is an administrator, an editor, and an ville to keep me busy, so I moved beneficial, that’s going to have an author. Have the transitions been back to Washington. I kept working effect on others. And I hope that is difficult, or have you always seen at the Middle East Journal, but not the result in Iraq, but I don’t think we yourself as pursuing several different quite full time. can count on it. We are a long way interests at the same time? from a stable Iraq today. RP: Aside from my desire to FSJ: And you were the first pres- maintain the world’s peace, what ident of the Association for FSJ: How serious do you think really motivated me and my wife to Diplomatic Studies and Training, Libya is about moving closer to the go into the Foreign Service was a right? West? desire to live abroad and meet other RP: Yes, [former FSI director] RP: They’ve been talking in those people and learn about foreign cul- Steve Low hired me for that. But I terms for some time. Martin Indyk tures. I’ve been fascinated by these stayed at the magazine for another (formerly NEA assistant secretary) things ever since we started. Also, year or so before leaving to devote published an interesting commentary I’ve always been intellectually curi- more time to ADST. on this in the March 9 Financial ous about why people are doing cer- Times, pointing out that the Libyans tain things and what it means. And FSJ: And then what? were talking about breaking out of that has led me to write, and read, RP: I’d been thinking for years their isolation back in 1999. And I and study. I’ve been too busy to about the theme of miscalculations think that desire is the real cause of worry unduly about shifting from one in diplomacy and wanted to write a the change. Iraq may have increased thing to another. book on the subject. And I thought somewhat their fears of American the way to do it was to get a fellow- “cowboyism,” but they were already FSJ: When you retired from the ship at the Woodrow Wilson Center moving in that direction on their own. Foreign Service in 1980 after 31 at the Smithsonian, which I did. And years to become the diplomat-in-res- I’ve been a casual laborer ever since. FSJ: So this is an evolutionary idence at the University of Virginia, For example, during the 1992-93 change, then? was that transition particularly diffi- academic year, I was the Stephen RP: Yes. Qaddafi is so unpre- cult? Scarff Distinguished Visiting Pro-

58 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/JULY-AUGUST 2004 fessor at Lawrence University in RP: Yes, they do not understand every three months or so, and they Appleton, Wisc. (a fellowship set up what really happened. They think sneak in and out. by the parents of a student who had that “Millions for defense, not one Communications have so multi- been killed in an accident; I don’t cent for tribute,” is what it’s all about. plied that I sense we no longer have know where he was killed or how). I They don’t realize that we paid the control we once did. Dean taught courses on the Middle East almost a million dollars to get our Acheson talks about this in one of his there, which was fun. Then I came men out of Algiers in 1796 — which books: when he was Secretary of back and for one semester taught a would be about $15 million in today’s State, there was a woman named course at the School of Advanced money — at a time when our total Mrs. Halla who ran the correspon- International Studies (part of Johns annual federal revenues were about dence review branch up in S/S. She Hopkins University) in tandem with $6 million or $7 million. And force looked at every telegram that went Bill Zartman. did not settle anything there, at least out of the department and corrected initially; one could argue that it did the grammar — “You can’t do this, FSJ: Tell us about your new book, later, in 1815, but these initial prob- Mr. Parker.” Those days are long Uncle Sam in Barbary: A Diplomatic lems with Algiers were solved by gone, and I’m sure our writing has History (University Press of Florida), negotiations. gotten a lot sloppier as a result. E- that is about to come out. You’ve mail also encourages sloppiness. been working on that for what, six FSJ: But wasn’t that at least par- The deterioration in the security years? tially because we didn’t really have situation has really affected diplo- RP: Even longer than that: since any navy to speak of at that stage? mats’ ability to do their jobs, as well. 1990. It’s really been a retirement RP: Well, yes, but even if we’d In places like Beirut, personal con- project, but during that period I did had greater forces to bring to bear, tact is so important. And if you’re sit- three other books before concentrat- what difference would it have made? ting up on a hill and you can’t go out ing on this one. All our prisoners there would simply without a guard, even for junior per- have been sacrificed; we would not sonnel, I think that’s decreased our FSJ: What in particular drew you have been able to rescue them mili- ability to influence events. to writing about America’s early tarily. In the end, we still would have But diplomacy is still necessary. diplomatic relations with North had to negotiate. Sometime back, I heard Newt Africa two centuries ago? Is it the My other preoccupation has been Gingrich speaking at Georgetown fact that the topic isn’t well known? Joel Barlow, an American diplomat about how the Foreign Service was RP: Well, a lot of American histo- from that period. In fact, I was up in becoming irrelevant. But I don’t rians have written on it, particularly his hometown of Redding, Conn., last think he understands anything about the war with Tripoli, but not much weekend to give a talk on him. I how diplomacy is conducted, or how has been done from the point of view helped raise funds to erect a monu- important it is to have people on the of an area specialist. Only one of ment to him in 1998 in Zarnowic, ground in these places. Personality is these historians, to my knowledge, Poland, where he died. It’s near everything. has ever been to the area, and that Krakow. briefly; most of them have known FSJ: Whenever you talk to bright almost nothing of the local language FSJ: As someone who has written young people today, college gradu- and culture. extensively about U.S. diplomacy and ates, do you recommend the Foreign So Carl Brown at Princeton sug- taught it, in addition to being a prac- Service to them as a career? gested that I write the history of those titioner, you’ve obviously seen a good RP: Yes, I have given talks on that early relations from the perspective of many changes in it over the course of quite a bit. And I always tell them a practitioner who is knowledgeable your career. How has diplomacy that I can’t think of anything I would about the area to see if it made any changed over the past 50 years or so? rather have done with my life than be difference in the interpretation. Are you optimistic about the future in the Foreign Service. There was of the profession? never a dull moment. I was some- FSJ: In your introduction to the RP: In the old days, 50 years ago, times troubled or unhappy with what book, you write that, to the extent when an assistant secretary came out I had to do, but I never wished I anyone does know about that to your post, that was really some- were doing something else. episode, they’ve drawn the wrong thing. The trumpets would blare. lessons from it. Today, someone at that level visits FSJ: Thank you very much. ■

JULY-AUGUST 2004/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 59 REBEL RAIDER AS DIPLOMAT: JOHN MOSBY IN CHINA

AS U.S. CONSUL IN HONG KONG, THE COLORFUL CONFEDERATE GUERRILLA LEADER GREATLY IMPROVED THE UNITED STATES’ REPUTATION IN CHINA.

BY KEVIN H. SIEPEL

mong those who have studied lier battles, and the result was a consular housecleaning that American history, the name of greatly improved the United States’ reputation in China. Colonel John S. Mosby conjures up an image of “Mosby’s Rangers,” a An Irregular in War and Peace Confederate guerrilla band known By the end of the Civil War, John Mosby had become for its highly effective harassment of well known in the North — the subject of frequent, if ill- Union troops during the American informed, newspaper articles — and was on the road to Civil War. Operating frequently by night and usually becoming a Southern icon. But the decisiveness that had Abehind enemy lines, these rugged Southern horsemen, enabled him to exert his will so forcefully during the war led by a young Virginian lawyer-turned-soldier, stole did not serve him well in the war’s immediate aftermath. acres of federal livestock, ambushed cavalry columns, Following the surrender at Appomattox, Mosby pro- derailed trains, sent hundreds of prisoners to Richmond claimed that the war was over, the cause was lost, and — even plucked a Union general from his bed — and national life must go on. He would, he announced, help generally gave fits to commanders of regular troops oper- heal the nation, not contribute to its continuing division. ating in northern Virginia. Their leader was a favorite of Settling in Warrenton, Va., where he resumed the prac- Lee, who once exclaimed, “I wish I had a hundred like tice of law, Mosby was not shy about making public this Mosby!” unpopular view. By 1872 he had kindled a friendship with Not so well known, but equally colorful, is Col. Mosby’s Ulysses S. Grant, and soon thereafter turned Republican. subsequent diplomatic career as U.S. consul in Hong Kong His embrace of the party of Lincoln, and his outspoken from 1878 to 1885. The result of machinations by Mosby’s insistence that, for the South to advance, the past must be friends in the Hayes administration, who wished to put forgotten, caused many of his former compatriots to their often uncomfortably forthright and outspoken col- seethe. By the mid-1870s, his young wife having recently league at a distance from the day-to-day politicking of passed away and Southern hostility boiling around him, Washington, Mosby’s appointment to the Foreign Service Mosby closed up his law practice in Warrenton and moved plunged the lawyer-soldier into a different kind of warfare. his now-motherless family to Washington. Mosby proved as effective in this engagement as in his ear- To help ease his distress (and doubtless to distance themselves from a fellow who, uncomfortably for all, Kevin H. Siepel is the author of Rebel: the Life and Times of marched to a different drummer), some of Mosby’s John Singleton Mosby (St. Martin’s Press, 1983; DaCapo Republican friends — notably President Rutherford B. Press, 1997). His writings have appeared in Wild West, Civil Hayes and Ohio Congressman James A. Garfield — con- War, Virginia Cavalcade, Notre Dame University Magazine, spired to arrange an appointment overseas. In December The Christian Science Monitor, Readers Digest, Chicken 1878, therefore, the 45-year-old widower, having placed Soup for the Soul, and elsewhere. his children with family and friends, found himself in San

60 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/JULY-AUGUST 2004 Francisco en route to Hong Kong, “I am in for the war, routine and legal, Bailey’s fee — where he would become the new $10,000 per year for one shipper — U.S. consul. and intend either to was not. Mosby astonished a Macao If both his friends and his enemies shipper by charging him $2.50 for thought they were rid of him for a purge the public service the same service. while, they soon found themselves mistaken. By the following April his of these scoundrels An Augean Stable name had begun to pop up in state- Mosby’s immediate superior at the side newspapers. The story line: or go out myself.” State Department was Assistant “Mosby charges consular corruption.” Secretary of State Frederick W. One of the first things Mosby had — John Mosby Seward, son of Lincoln’s renowned done on arrival was to examine the Secretary of State. Mosby wrote to consular books, and it did not take him long to detect a Seward about his discoveries. He did so nervously, because bad odor. His predecessor, David H. Bailey, had appar- former consul Bailey was a crony of Fred Seward’s cousin ently been bilking the government of many thousands of (and U.S. minister to China), George F. Seward. dollars annually. Just how he had been doing it became Complicating the situation was George Seward’s alleged clear from conversations with American ship captains and involvement in shady speculative transactions in China — in dock workers. In his shipboard examination of emigrants violation of the Burlingame Treaty of 1868, under which to the United States (to ascertain that their emigration was Americans pledged not to meddle in Chinese affairs. voluntary, and not part of the nefarious “coolie traffic”), Seward was, in fact, so strongly suspected of illegal activities Bailey had been charging large fees for his service, then that a congressional committee had recently recommended declaring expenses equal to the fees, and remitting noth- his impeachment, and Bailey, who had been nominated to ing to the government. By this time Mosby knew that a the consul generalship in China following his departure whole shipload of emigrants could be examined very from Hong Kong, was in Washington as a witness in his quickly, and that absolutely no expenses were involved. behalf. It was not a good time for Bailey’s honesty to be Another of the former consul’s lucrative practices had brought into question and, as Mosby knew, it was never a been the certification of opium shipments from Macao to good time to tangle with the Sewards. the United States. While the certification was perfectly Other U.S. diplomats in the Orient had taken the Photograph courtesy Peabody Essex Museum. A painting of Hong Kong Harbor, c. 1870, by an unknown Chinese artist.

JULY-AUGUST 2004/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 61 Sewards on and not survived. John The Press Turns Up the C. Myers, sent to China in 1876 as Pressure consul general, had noticed that Other U.S. diplomats in Back home, the press had begun to George Seward lived above his run with the story of consular corrup- means, and communicated his suspi- the Orient had taken the tion and Mosby’s efforts to stop it. The cions to State. He was promptly sent National Republican noted in Septem- home. G. Wiley Wells, an ex-con- Sewards on and not ber 1879: “The latest revelations in the gressman from Mississippi, had met matter of Bailey … only emphasize a similar fate when he demonstrated survived. the unfortunate position in which the excessive zeal in matters pertaining State Department is placed by its to George Seward. efforts to shield Seward and Bailey.” As Mosby awaited a reply to his The Republican added pointedly: “It letter to Fred Seward, he is very strongly charged that the began to look harder at his department shields Bailey because fellow consuls in the Orient. Minister Seward must stand or fall by Among ship captains, the the former.” name of David B. Sickels, The Hartford Evening Post of Sept. U.S. consul at Bangkok, was 29 suggested that the State Depart- often mentioned pejorative- ment would have to ease up on Mosby. ly. Sickels, in fact, no longer It had come to light that the ex-guer- even lived in Bangkok: he rilla was being censured less for the had moved to Singapore, substance of his charges than for his leaving the consulate under refusal to observe channels of authori- the charge of a former Hong ty, and especially for his new insistence Kong vagrant named Torrey. upon writing directly to President In March 1879, Mosby Hayes. Mosby, argued the Post, could wrote to General T.C.H. not be dismissed for such infractions. Smith, a Hayes intimate, “If Mosby should be turned out urging the president to act because of his activity in the matter,” on the matter. “Nearly all said the paper, “it would incline people the American consulates out to think that he was sacrificed because here have a horrible reputa- of his zeal in pursuit of a corrupt offi- tion,” he explained to Smith. Reproduced by permission of The San Huntington Marino, Library, Calif. cial. … People would honor Mosby The American consuls, he said, were John Singleton Mosby during his for the course he has taken, and, com- a “scaly set,” and a “disgrace to the service in Hong Kong. ing home with a fistful of facts, he country.” He felt “humiliated every would become an exceedingly trou- day,” he wrote, at being obliged to purge the public service of these blesome customer for the Seward deal with them. “If the president scoundrels or go out myself.” family.” does not clean out this Augean sta- Mosby was unlikely to be Not all of Mosby’s growing press ble,” Mosby told Smith, “it will be removed from his post, being far coverage was supportive. He was the subject of congressional investi- more dangerous prowling about ridiculed in a letter published in the gation. Better let his administration congressional corridors than bottled National Republican for having “orga- get the credit of it than the up on Hong Kong Island. But nized himself into a widespread Democratic Party.” efforts were made to silence him, smelling committee,” to sniff through Apparently Fred Seward ignored and this brought the press out. “The all the consular corners of the East. Mosby’s letter: Bailey was con- [new] consul,” noted the China Mail He was accused of trying to make a firmed as consul general in China in July 1879, “has evidently made up reputation out of a “cloud of fragrant and George Seward escaped his mind to place things consular scandal.” It was alleged, according to impeachment. Mosby confided to upon an entirely new platform.” the Cincinnati Commercial of Oct. 2, G. Wiley Wells, according to the Colonel Mosby, said the Mail, was “a 1879, that he had annoyed the presi- New York Sun of Oct. 7, 1879: “I am man amongst men,” and a “consul dent to the point that Hayes had told in for the war, and intend either to among consuls.” him he was “no longer engaged in the

62 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/JULY-AUGUST 2004 partisan ranger business.” He was charges, he explained in a dispatch to “turn” on Fred Seward, and “expose accused of violating “official etiquette” Seward on Oct. 18, 1879, were being him along with the others whom he and of behaving “just as he would in a brought by the master of the Alice C. was trying to protect.” Explained Virginia bar-room,” just as he had ear- Dickerman, an American merchant Mosby: “If he had remained in office lier been accused of bringing the vessel. He had, however, expressed an until Congress met, I would have had “manners of the saddle into the salons opinion of these men, Mosby told him impeached. He saw what was of the diplomats” (in The Press of April Seward, and would gladly repeat it. “I coming, and got out of the way.” 8, 1879). believe,” he told Seward, “that I said Years later Mosby related that after But George Seward remained Sickles [sic] was an idiot and … Torrey he had discovered Fred Seward trying under a cloud, and editorial sentiment … was about as fit to be in the con- to “shield the rascals,” he had written came down largely on Mosby’s side. sular service as … Capt. Kidd. I have privately to Hayes. “Hayes,” he assert- “It is probable,” declared the no apologies to make for having ed in a May 1902 letter to John W. Philadelphia Times on Sept. 26, 1879, expressed this opinion.” Daniel, “discharged him [Seward] “that the case against [Seward] would At the end of October 1879, plead- from the State Department.” have been dropped sure enough but ing overwork and poor health, Fred for the accident of our getting one Seward turned in his resignation. Outreforming the Reformers honest man into a Chinese consulate. “The friends of Mr. Seward,” wrote Mosby continued his agitation for Col. Mosby is that man.” the Cincinnati Gazette, “indignantly reform, now through one of his most At this time Fred Seward decided repel the insinuation thrown out … powerful patrons, Ohio Congress- to press Mosby on the Bangkok issue, that the charges pending against his man James A. Garfield. He pressed asking him to make the charges cousin, the minister to China, influ- Garfield to have President Hayes act against the men at Bangkok more spe- enced his resignation.” Mosby had a immediately on Bangkok. “I regret,” cific. Mosby answered serenely that different take on it, writing to his he told the former Union general in a he personally had preferred no Virginia friend E. M. Spilman in letter dated March 18, 1880, “that the charges against Sickels or Torrey. The January 1880 that he had finally had to president did not take the advice I

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JULY-AUGUST 2004/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 63 gave him when I first came here as all plished, Mosby began to press the scandal would have been avoided President-elect Garfield for more and he would have got great credit for [He] seems to be one of widespread reform. “The State reforming the service.” Department needs overhauling and Fred Seward’s successor was John those restless, inquisitive renovating,” he wrote to Garfield in Hay, a man who would one day write a November. “It above all needs an able memorable chapter in American spirits who feel that they law officer — some of its decisions on diplomacy, but who would prove no law questions would ‘make the angels friend to Mosby. The official attitude have a mission to look weep.’” He hoped to resign shortly, he toward Mosby remained unchanged. added, and enlisted the president- He continued to be treated as a crack- into things, and get at elect’s aid in regaining a “foothold at pot, and to be harassed in subtle ways, the bar.” In particular, he wrote to such as by denial of funds for chair or their true inwardness. Garfield, “I shall ask you to give me boat hire, or by ignoring his requests the position of assistant attorney- for furlough. Petitions for money to — San Francisco Chronicle, general for which many friends urged purchase law books fell upon deaf April 1880 my appointment.” ears, despite similar allowances made to his predecessor. Mosby wrote to Irony and Fulfillment Garfield that Secretary of the Treasury The following summer (1881), John Sherman, in a move smacking of Mosby’s long-term hopes were dashed petty revenge, even removed one of consulate, where, in the words of a by an assassin’s bullet in Washington. Mosby’s sisters from a Civil Service U.S. Navy ship captain quoted in a dis- After Garfield’s death, he stayed on in position. patch from Mosby to John Hay, things the Orient, immersing himself over Garfield assured the Virginian that were going on “that would disgrace a the next four years in the boiling issues despite what he had been hearing, Modoc Indian.” of Chinese immigration to America President Hayes found no fault with Mosby was by now being depicted and the opium trade. He sallied forth Mosby’s conduct. Newspapers all over as a man who outreformed the from time to time on other Far East the country, smelling the blood of a reformers. “Col. Mosby,” remarked issues that he felt merited attention, second Seward in the offing, were, in the San Francisco Chronicle in April from the perceived arrogance of fact, stirring in his behalf. Note was 1880, “seems just now to be a particu- Spanish authorities at Manila to per- taken of a reported disagreement larly sharp thorn in the side of our ceived weaknesses in the distribution between Hayes and Secretary of State mild and virtuous ‘Civil Service of U.S. naval forces in the Pacific. He William M. Evarts over how George reform’ administration. ... [He] seems pushed for an increased American Seward’s inevitable resignation should to be one of those restless, inquisitive involvement in China, arguing (not be handled. Evarts allegedly wanted spirits who feel that they have a mis- unlike George Seward before him) for to hold Seward’s resignation until his sion to look into things, and get at their a ground-floor American role in impeachment should again become true inwardness. Instead of being Chinese railroad-building and other imminent, while Hayes wanted to content to draw his pay, take things internal projects. install a new man in Peking at once. easily, and shut his eyes and ears, … he In late 1881, Ulysses S. Grant “Mr. Evarts,” commented the Wash- keeps a bright lookout, and is always appears to have prodded President ington Post in March 1880, “... seems wanting to understand the working of Chester A. Arthur to name Mosby infatuated with the idea of being the the machinery.” consul general at Shanghai. But special defender ... of all the legally By the spring of 1880, Bailey and Mosby, according to papers in the unconvicted violators of law that dis- Sickels had resigned. President Hayes National Archives, got wind of the grace his department, especially those had, as Mosby told Garfield in May, plan and balked, replying through a bearing the name of Seward.” “at last swept the China coast.” A crop stateside spokesman that he would In the event, the president had his of respectable men now took up sta- prefer something at home, or a first- way, and it was shortly announced that tion in the East. “The president’s new class post in Europe. In 1884, he George F. Seward, after many years of appointments in China,” Mosby wrote received what he considered an even meritorious service, etc., etc., had to Garfield in October, “are all first- greater honor: the powerful Chinese resigned his post in Peking. Mosby rate men.” viceroy Li Hung-chang offered him again set his sights on the Bangkok His immediate objectives accom- command of an army in the field. But

64 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/JULY-AUGUST 2004 because he did not wish to fight California’s new senator and president range-fencing crisis in Colorado and against the French, Mosby also turned of the Southern Pacific Railroad. Nebraska. And, in perhaps the great- down this opportunity, according to a Grant’s plea for the ex-Confederate est irony of his life, the one-time rav- subsequent article in the Brooklyn partisan fighter was not refused, and ager of Union supply trains and rustler Eagle. Mosby, when he stepped onto the pier of Union mules capped his career with In 1885, Democrat Grover Cleve- at San Francisco, found a job awaiting six years as an attorney in the land entered the White House, and him in the legal department of the Department of Justice. Republican Mosby was soon advised Southern Pacific. He would spend the In his retirement years Mosby of his pending replacement. He next 16 years as a railroad lawyer — received a medal from the University dashed off a letter to Grant, request- not the sort of salvation he’d envi- of Virginia (from which he had been ing assistance in getting started back sioned, but, as he later put it, his expelled years before for shooting a home. But in late July, just as he was poverty dictated his circumstances, fellow student in self-defense) and, about to embark for San Francisco, a not his will. subsequently, an invitation to speak on cable arrived announcing Grant’s Disappointed, Mosby had at least campus. He was deeply moved, feel- death. The 51-year-old Mosby sailed landed on his feet, and would spring ing that the greatest injustice of his for the United States with a heavy into action again. At the age of 64 he life had been righted. “I now feel that heart and without a prospect in the was drilling a light cavalry unit in I am a rich man,” he told a friend, world. Oakland, Calif., for service against Mrs. Charles W. Kent, years later, Mosby didn’t know it, but his Spain. (As it turned out, “Mosby’s with “something more valuable than request for assistance had reached Hussars” never saw action.) A little gold.” Grant literally on his deathbed. And later he again burst into print as a John Mosby died in Washington, the dying man had, in his last days, dic- Land Office special agent and person- D.C., at the age of 82, on Memorial tated a telegram to be sent at once to al emissary of President Theodore Day 1916. He is buried in Grant’s friend Leland Stanford, Roosevelt, wading into the volatile Warrenton, Va. ■

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JULY-AUGUST 2004/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 65 IT’S TIME TO WIN THE BATTLE FOR UGANDA’S CHILDREN

A PERVERSE WAR CONTINUES TO DEVOUR THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN EACH YEAR IN UGANDA, PUTTING PRESIDENT MUSEVENI’S INTERNATIONAL REPUTATION AT RISK.

BY MICHAEL ORONA

ore than 120,000 children under people of Uganda have known for far too long continues the age of 18 are reported to have in the current war in the Acholi region in the northern taken up arms in sub-Saharan area of the country. There, in the mid-1980s, the Lord's Africa as of 2003. The majori- Resistance Army launched a brutal war against the ty of these child soldiers are Ugandan government. A quasi-religious insurgency, the between 15 and 18 years of LRA is focused on overthrowing the government of age, but children as young as 7 President Yoweri Museveni and ruling Uganda accord- years old are involved in numerous conflicts. One of the ing to the Ten Commandments and its own pseudo- Mmost perverse of these wars, which continues to devour Christian beliefs. LRA leader Joseph Kony is said to thousands of children each year, is centered in Uganda. receive his military strategies from invisible spiritual Located in East Africa, Uganda is one of the most messengers and is allegedly able to read minds. In 2001, geographically diverse nations in the world. With its the Department of State added the LRA to its list of large mountains, deep verdant forests and open savan- known terrorist groups. nas, there is little wonder why Winston Churchill Ugandan government representatives often refer to bestowed upon it the title, “Pearl of Africa.” After gain- the LRA as the greatest and most sustained threat to the ing independence from the British in 1962, however, the country’s stability. For 18 years this group has been country endured two dictatorial regimes during the involved in raiding villages, killing innocent civilians and 1960s and 1970s — including Idi Amin’s infamous reign kidnapping children to serve as slaves, soldiers and of terror — that threatened to destroy the very fabric of wives. In response, the government has waged a so-far- Uganda’s social structure. unsuccessful military campaign against the LRA. Kony’s Unfortunately, the pattern of violence and strife the brutality is compounded by apparent instability, a factor that clouds the prospects for resolving the dispute. And, Michael Orona is a foreign affairs officer in the State despite appeals from international nongovernmental Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and organizations and the Ugandan government’s own public Labor, where he is responsible for monitoring democracy statements that it seeks a negotiated settlement, Pres. and human rights issues in East, Central and Southern Museveni has shown little commitment to a peaceful Africa. Previously he was employed with the U.S. solution. Department of Labor’s International Child Labor Program, To fully understand this seemingly intractable situa- where he investigated the Chinese Laogai (forced labor sys- tion — the role of the LRA, the response of the tem) and supervised the department’s work on an executive Museveni government, and the prospects for peace — it order regarding employment of children in China’s rural is necessary to review how the group was first estab- fireworks industry. He has a J.D. in international law and a lished and look at the socio-political climate in Uganda at Ph.D. in international development. the time.

66 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/JULY-AUGUST 2004 The Background to Butchery and both governments agreed to end support of the two In 1986, President Yoweri Museveni, leader of the rebel groups. In March 2002, the Sudanese government dominant political party known as “The Movement,” permitted the Ugandan People’s Defense Force to enter deposed the short-lived military junta of Tito Okello. Sudanese territory in pursuit of LRA forces and to rescue Museveni’s victory over Okello produced resentment abducted children. The UPDF initiative came to be known from the Acholi population in the north, who would once as “Operation Iron Fist.” again be ruled by a southern-influenced government. While the military operation resulted in the rescue of For decades the north-south divide resulted in the Acholi many abducted children, it also intensified the military being marginalized and even massacred by previous gov- conflict in northern Uganda between the LRA and government leaders. After Okello’s departure from office, ernment troops, which continues to disrupt every aspect Alice Lakwena organized a of life of the Acholi people, group of ethnic Acholi sup- and, in effect, expanded the porters known as the Holy theater of war. During the mil- Spirit Mobile Force in opposi- A quasi-religious insurgency, itary campaign, the rebels were tion to Museveni’s rule. driven from their four main Lakwena, whose followers con- the LRA is focused on camps on the eastern bank of sidered her a prophet and spir- the White Nile and scattered itual guide, led the HSMF overthrowing President into smaller bands. Eventually against Museveni in a futile the LRA fled deeper into attempt at resistance. Confi- Museveni and ruling according Sudan. In an effort to evade dent of her spiritual powers, Ugandan troops, the rebels she sent her followers into bat- to the Ten Commandments and adopted a slash-and-burn poli- tle armed only with sticks and cy that has destroyed villages anointed with butter oil. its own pseudo-Christian beliefs. and taken the lives of innocent Despite her faith that the civilians on both sides of the lubricant and her divine power Uganda/Sudan border. Observ- would shield members of her ers believe that the LRA is retali- group against bullets, the HSMF were no match for ating against the Sudanese government by attacking govern- Museveni’s well-organized and battle-ready soldiers. ment-controlled villages in the south. With the HSMF nearly wiped out, Lakwena fled to Meanwhile, efforts by the Ugandan government to Kenya. Joseph Kony, Lakwena’s nephew and self-pro- protect internally displaced persons and prevent further claimed “spiritual heir,” gathered what was left of the abductions and killings are seriously inadequate. HSMF and renamed it the Lord’s Resistance Army. Innocent civilians and IDPs continue to be targeted by Under Kony’s leadership a new chapter of violence was both the LRA and Ugandan forces. Large communities launched. The LRA started with small or “soft” targets, have been uprooted and thousands have been forced to but eventually gained enough experience to carry out leave their ancestral lands due to the fighting. In large guerilla-style attacks. In the 1990s, in an effort to response to increased insurgent activity in October 2002, create a climate of fear, the LRA began targeting civil- the government ordered 100,000 individuals to leave ians and abducting children for use as soldiers. Since its their villages within 48 hours and gather in displacement inception, the group has engaged in a systematic cam- camps. paign against the northern areas of Uganda, attacking The government said it would protect individuals who from its military camps within the country and from moved into the camps, but critics claim the facilities are across the border in southern Sudan. merely a ploy by the government to further marginalize Complicating matters further, in 1995 the govern- the population in the north. More than 800,000 IDPs ment of Sudan took up support of the LRA in retaliation have been placed in 12 overcrowded camps in northern for Uganda‘s support of the Sudanese People’s Uganda, where they face acute food shortages and a lack Liberation Army, which had been at war with the of proper medication. The UPDF has failed to provide Sudanese government since 1983. Four years later, in protection to individuals living in the camps: LRA rebels 1999, Sudan and Uganda restored diplomatic relations routinely make their way into them under cover of dark-

JULY-AUGUST 2004/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 67 ness to loot, rape women and Child soldiers are faced with only abduct children. two choices — kill or be killed. Child soldiers Children between 12 and 16 years Child Soldiers of age make up 90 percent of the In 1999, Convention 182 of the are faced with only LRA. The majority of these chil- International Labor Organization dren were captured when they were was adopted to eliminate the worst two choices — quite young: they have been indoc- forms of child labor, including the trinated, trained to fight and have use of child soldiers. The conven- kill or be killed. had to endure a life filled with vio- tion is also the first international lence. The majority of children in treaty to set 18 years of age as the the LRA do not remember living a minimum age for military participa- life free of violence and chaos. tion. NGOs monitoring the situa- Children who do succeed in tion estimate that during the past 17 escaping or have been rescued by years of fighting in Uganda, more children have escaped, the boys who the UPDF are eligible for a U.S than 20,000 children have been are unable to escape are forced to government-funded program aimed abducted by the LRA. The United live as child soldiers, while girls are at rehabilitating and reintegrating Nations reports that currently 10 to held captive as child brides, sex them back into their communities. 20 children are abducted daily in slaves or laborers. This program provides services and northern Uganda. Human Rights Abducted children live in virtual assistance to former child soldiers, Watch estimates that over 4,000 slavery at clandestine LRA camps, including child wives and IDPs, to children were abducted between serving as guards and being forced transition back to a normal commu- June and October 2002 alone. They to participate in the killings of other nity lifestyle. Further, the U.S. is also note that while nearly 8,000 children who attempt to escape. funding a program to expand access to quality education in the wartorn area of the north for children at risk of being exploited as child soldiers and those who have been rescued. Families are usually more willing to accept the males back into the community. The females, who have been raped or forced to be child brides, often have a more difficult time being accepted. There are reports by several NGOs alleging that the UPDF is also involved in recruiting child soldiers, sometimes forcibly, despite Uganda's ratification of Convention 182. Much of the forced recruitment of children is alleged to take place within “protected” villages and camps in northern Uganda, where the children are recruited by government forces as trackers to help locate LRA camps. Human rights monitors in the region report that UPDF personnel offer formerly abducted children financial incentives to join their ranks. The UPDF has publicly declared it would spare no efforts to maintain

68 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/JULY-AUGUST 2004 the safety of innocent civilians, as well as the safe repatriation of abducted children. However, as the The government conflict continues, the government of Uganda has admitted that its of Uganda has forces are unable to protect civilians, and there are reports that child admitted that its forces soldiers have been killed rather than rescued during UPDF-LRA fire- sometimes kill child fights. While the majority of the atroci- soldiers rather than ties have taken place in the Acholi region of the north, the barbarity is rescuing them not confined to this area. The Lango subregion has also experi- from the rebels. enced a tremendous amount of destruction and loss of life. The two areas have a total population of 2.5 million people, about 10 percent of Uganda’s total population. The devastation in the Lango ceed along these lines. Acholi elders region includes killings, abductions, and religious leaders have intermit- looting, internal displacement, and tently taken initiatives and held the loss and destruction of infrastruc- peace talks with the commanders of ture including schools, homes and the LRA, and have tried to bring health facilities. Over 19 schools both parties together through their have been destroyed by the LRA and own initiative, known as the Acholi nearly 20,000 pupils at the primary Religious Leaders Peace Initiative. and secondary levels have had their To many Uganda-watchers, the studies disrupted. Between eight single greatest impediment to and 10 secondary and tertiary institu- achieving peace in northern Uganda tions have been temporarily relocat- is LRA leader Joseph Kony. The ed to other areas due to LRA incur- fact that he defines strategy by “spir- sions. itual” or arcane methods and contin- One of the worst cases of abduc- ues to renege on negotiating tion by the LRA took place in 1996 promises makes him a difficult part- when 150 girls from St. Mary’s ner for achieving peace. In March Aboke school were abducted. Some 2003, according to the government, of the girls were tortured and killed, an attempt to hold peace talks failed according to the testimony of those because the LRA delegation called who were able to escape. The for a new date and fresh demands at majority of the survivors are still the last minute. The LRA insisted severely traumatized. that Ugandan General Salim Saleh attend talks without military escorts. The Prospects for Peace But on a number of occasions After nearly two decades of fight- progress was stopped at the behest ing, a military victory is not in sight. of Pres. Museveni. In 1996, Negotiating a peace agreement may Parliament established a select com- be the only way of bringing the 18- mittee to investigate the war in the year-old conflict in northern north and the possibility of reaching Uganda to an end, and there have a peaceful settlement. A list of rec- been several opportunities to pro- ommendations were developed that

JULY-AUGUST 2004/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 69 included adopting a peaceful ernment must be made aware that its approach to resolving political dif- military operations have only ferences. In the end, the report had If President Museveni increased the devastation. Both little impact on the president’s polit- LRA and Ugandan forces have tar- ical advisers and was not imple- fails to revolve the geted civilians, displaced persons mented. and refugees, but it is the govern- In August 2002, the Acholi conflict, he will only ment that has the direct responsibili- Parliamentary Group in Gulu pre- ty for providing protection for its cit- sented a memorandum to Pres. encourage more izenry. Museveni calling for a cease-fire Since capturing power in 1986, between that UPDF and the LRA. speculation that all he is Pres. Museveni has garnered recog- That October, members of the nition internationally for largely Lango and Acholi parliamentary interested in is punishing putting an end to the human rights groups met with cultural, religious abuses of earlier governments and and district political leaders and the people of northern instituting broad economic reforms security officers stationed in the in consultation with the International municipality of Lira. The goal of the Uganda. Monetary Fund, World Bank and meeting was to discuss a peaceful donor governments. The govern- solution to the war and the implement has also been cited for great mentation of development objec- strides in combating HIV/AIDS and tives. The meeting produced a dec- improving the country’s literacy rate. laration condemning the violence the LRA have been characterized by Pres. Museveni must now step forth and the targeting of civilians. a lack of mobility and professional- and demonstrate statesmanship in However, the momentum that was ism within the UPDF. Human bringing an end to the war wracking gained by this meeting was short- Rights Watch and members of the the northern part of his country and lived as the government refused to Acholi population insist that UPDF involving a large portion of its citi- continue the process and hampered troops are not interested in direct zenry. If he continues to fail to a parliamentary debate on the issue. military engagement with the LRA resolve the conflict, he will only The Ugandan government has and in protecting innocent civilians encourage more speculation that all publicly stated that it will negotiate, from further abductions. These he is interested in is punishing the but has shown little commitment to same groups report that the people of northern Uganda. pursuing talks and has relied instead Ugandan military has instead enlist- The war in Uganda has taken the on military force. The Acholi popu- ed the help of militia groups to do lives of far too many innocent civil- lation and Ugandan human rights the bulk of the fighting. Tribal mili- ians. The U.S., along with the inter- groups argue that Museveni is not tia groups from Teso, known as the national community, must continue truly interested in ending the war in “Arrow Boys,” have taken it upon to urge the Ugandan government to northern Uganda because of the themselves to protect their commu- facilitate an end to the conflict in the direct hardship inflicted on ethnic nities from LRA incursions, and have north and to pressure the govern- groups that supported the previous also been successful at rescuing ment of Sudan to cease any military regime, which Museveni's guerilla abducted children. support of the LRA that may still movement overthrew in 1986. They exist. Donor countries such as the suggest that he is only interested in Proposed Solutions United States have urged and must seeking revenge against northern For nearly two decades, the continue to insist that both sides ethnic groups for their current lack Ugandan government has waged an develop interim arrangements for of political support. In their eyes, unsuccessful war against the LRA improved delivery of humanitarian the rebellion in the north has been rebel group, most of which is made relief to those in the north. Above used to sustain Uganda’s “no-party up of children. Parliamentarians, all, it is vital that the government of democracy” system and convince for- religious leaders and the people Uganda work to improve relations eign leaders of Museveni’s commit- themselves have called for a cease- with the Acholi population by estab- ment to fighting terrorism by waging fire, yet the Museveni-run “Move- lishing a dialogue and allowing for war against the LRA. ment” has been reluctant to negoti- the development of local social and The government’s efforts to fight ate a settlement. The Ugandan gov- political institutions. ■

70 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/JULY-AUGUST 2004 BOOKS

Deys of the importance of determined presi- Parker demonstrates dential leadership like that of George Diplomacy Washington in finally securing the that the checkered freedom of the Algiers hostages. Uncle Sam in Barbary: history of U.S. Lastly, Amb. Parker is right to A Diplomatic History diplomacy in stress that military might is an essen- Richard B. Parker, University Press tial, but not the predominant, compo- of Florida, 2004, $59.95, hardcover, Barbary two nent of foreign policy. Having been 285 pages. centuries ago offers cut loose from British protection fol- lessons for today. lowing the end of the American REVIEWED BY CHARLES DUNBAR Revolution, the United States was unable to protect its shipping. Its Uncle Sam in Barbary marks a tri- generally inept efforts to free the umphant return by the American hostages taken by Algiers in 1785 and scholar-diplomat Richard Parker to his the late 18th and early 19th centuries. 1793 desperately needed the back- old North African stomping grounds. The European powers relied on trib- bone that only the Navy, finally com- Following the publication of his 1984 ute, ransoms and large “gifts,” backed missioned by Congress in 1794, could study on the contemporary politics of as necessary and possible by force, as provide. Stephen Decatur’s defeat of the Maghreb, Ambassador Parker the principal instruments of their the corsair Rais (Captain) Hamidou in absented himself from Barbary to diplomacy in Barbary. So did the 1815 and subsequent show of force write books on the 1967 and 1973 Americans. ended America’s 30-year conflict with Middle East Wars. Now he has Second, the checkered history of Algiers. The threat and even the use of moved on to the Western Mediter- U.S. diplomacy in Barbary offers military might not backed by deter- ranean and back in time to the first lessons entirely relevant to the prob- mined diplomacy — such as the cam- contacts of the young American lems Washington faces today. Some paigns of Commodores Edward republic with the Muslim world. things have changed, to be sure. Preble and John Rodgers on Tripoli The book has three dimensions, Modern communications would con- and before Tunis — are still as coun- each offering insights into the modern ceivably have overcome some of the terproductive today as they were then. Maghreb and the wider Muslim world monumental misunderstandings bet- Beyond the lessons it imparts, and Uncle Sam’s current role therein. ween headquarters and the field that Uncle Sam in Barbary is a really good First, it explains who the “Barbary stymied diplomatic efforts, and today’s read. Parker devotes most of the book pirates” were and why parallels should media would not have permitted the to Algiers, where he was ambassador not be drawn between them and the enslaved hostages in Algiers to lan- for three years in the mid-1970s, and Islamist terrorists who are the major guish for 11 years. Thomas Jefferson’s uses his languages, area knowledge concern of contemporary American willingness to cut the daily subsistence and painstaking research to tell a com- foreign policy. Unlike today’s terror- being paid to the Algiers hostages plicated, tragicomic story from all pos- ists, the warships that seized American from something over six cents per day sible perspectives. His prose is as merchant vessels and made hostages to three as part of a negotiating strate- bright and fluid as it was when I and slaves of their crews sailed under gy would not have played well on the 7 worked for him in Rabat and Algiers, the flags of four states — Morocco, o’clock news. But other things remain and he brings to life Algiers and those Algiers, Tunis and Tripoli — that were the same, most notably the need for a who peopled it — from the deys recognized, if troublesome, members professional diplomatic service with (heads of state) to the horse-trading of the Mediterranean state system in area and linguistic competence, and diplomat manqué John Lamb to

JULY-AUGUST 2004/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 71 B OOKS

James Leander Cathcart and Richard Wilson later sent the brilliant, cocky O’Brien. The latter two were and mercurial Bullitt on a risky mis- (American) captives who insinuated MacMillan’s conclusion sion to Moscow, only to ignore his themselves into the negotiations for report. Bullitt promptly resigned, their release (Cathcart became the may come as a surprise: persuaded a dozen other diplomats dey’s chief clerk!) and later into the to do so, and sent out a press release fledgling American diplomatic service. she defends the hasty about himself. (He would later testi- Like Guinness, Uncle Sam in fy against the Treaty of Versailles in a Barbary is good for you. It is also diplomatic work Senate hearing.) good fun. Among the many other notable done in Paris. figures on the scene were Winston Retired FSO Charles Dunbar teach- Churchill, John Maynard Keynes, es international relations at Boston Lawrence of Arabia (part of the Arab University. He spent 21 years in the delegation) and Ho Chi Minh, who Middle East, seven of them as chargé was a young kitchen assistant at the d’affaires in Afghanistan, ambassas- Yugoslavia) whose troubles haunt us Paris Ritz but submitted a petition dor to Qatar and, later, to Yemen, still. for an independent Vietnam. and most recently as U.N. Secretary- In his foreword to the American Foreign Service readers will find General Kofi Annan’s special repre- edition, Ambassador Richard Hol- particularly instructive MacMillan’s sentative for the referendum in brooke picks up on this theme, calling account of Wilson’s ill-fated campaign Western Sahara. Paris 1919 “a voyage through history.” to get the resulting treaty ratified. By He also recalls joking with his negoti- snubbing the Republican-controlled ating team in the Balkans in 1995 that Senate before he even left for Paris, A Voyage their goal was to undo Woodrow Wilson lost a great opportunity to Wilson’s legacy. make American diplomacy a biparti- through History Author Margaret MacMillan criti- san tradition. Some 75 years later, cally examines the three central fig- another Republican chairman of the Paris 1919: Six Months that ures in the drama: Wilson, British Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Changed the World Prime Minister Lloyd George (her Jesse Helms, would still cite Wilson’s Margaret MacMillan (foreword by great-grandfather) and French treatment of his predecessor, Henry Richard Holbrooke), Random House, Premier Georges Clemenceau. Each Cabot Lodge, with resentment. So 2003, $16.95, paperback, 624 pages. had his blinders: Wilson didn’t know MacMillan’s conclusion may come as there were so many nationalities in a surprise: she defends the hasty REVIEWED BY DAVID CASAVIS the world, George’s sense of geogra- diplomatic work done in Paris, look- phy was poor, and Clemenceau at one ing to subsequent events for the When the candidates for president point dismissively commented, “If I causes of World War II. were asked back in February to name want oil, I will go to the grocery and Despite its catastrophic aftermath, the last book they had read, John buy a bottle.” It is therefore not sur- Paris 1919 is primarily a creation story Kerry cited this volume as a favorite, prising that the negotiators gave so lit- that plunges the reader into the cru- noting that he enjoys reading histories tle thought to the world east and cible of the modern world as it was and found this one particularly pow- south of Germany’s borders. being constructed. Seldom have so erful. Whatever one thinks of the sen- She also moves a large supporting many diplomatic decisions, made by ator’s politics, it is hard to disagree cast on and off the historical stage so few, so quickly affected so many with his assessment. The first full- with aplomb. Wilson left his people. Seemingly unrelated events, scale treatment of the Paris Peace Secretary of State, Robert Lansing, casual decisions and miscalculations Conference in more than 25 years, and the rest of the delegation so all brought on historic consequences, Paris 1919: Six Months that Changed completely in the dark about his and MacMillan’s skillful telling repeat- the World takes us back to those dra- plans that a young Russia expert, edly compels the reader to stop, think, matic and fateful days when much of William Bullitt, personally confront- and weigh what could have been. ■ the modern world was sketched out, ed the president during the voyage to and countries were created (e.g., Iraq, France to obtain information. David Casavis, a regular FSJ book

72 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/JULY-AUGUST 2004 IN MEMORY

Georgia May Acton, 81, retired tions in her memory may be made to home near Harpers Ferry, W. Va. Foreign Service specialist, died April the Flagler Hospital Auxiliary. Ambassador Brown was born in 4 at Flagler Hospital in St. Augustine, Oklahoma. He earned a bachelor’s Fla., after a brief illness. degree from The George Washington The daughter of George C. Acton University in 1960, and a master’s and Laura Dell, Ms. Acton grew up in Jeremy D. Bower, 23, son of degree in Latin American studies from San Angelo, Texas, and Helena, Ark. Foreign Service specialist Joan I. the same institution a year later. He She worked her way through college Bower and her husband Ronald, died joined the Foreign Service in 1963. and became fluent in French and sev- in a car accident in Woodbridge, Va., During a career spanning more eral other languages, graduating from on Dec. 29, 2003. He was buried Jan. than 30 years, Amb. Brown received the University of Wisconsin in 1950. 5 in Westhope, Ohio. the Secretary of State’s Distinguished Ms. Acton joined the Foreign Born in Sylvania, Ohio, Jeremy Service Award, as well as many com- Service that same year. During a 28- lived with his Foreign Service parents, mendations from both the State and year career, she was posted to Cebu, attending elementary school in Abu Defense Departments for his superior Surabaya, Tripoli, Paris, Tunis, Dhabi and Moscow, middle school in service. Prior to his retirement in Phnom Penh, La Paz, Vientiane, Islamabad, and high school in Abu 1999, he served as executive secretary Montevideo and Valetta. An office Dhabi. Jeremy graduated from the of the Accountability Review Board management specialist, she rose to American Community School in Abu looking into the 1998 bombing of U.S. the position of personal secretary to Dhabi in 1999. He attended Owens embassies in Nairobi and Dar es several ambassadors. Friends attest College. Salaam. During the 1990s he also to her love of travel: “Where her job Jeremy was employed as a security served as senior coordinator for the didn’t take her, she traveled for fun — installation technician with RDR Summit of the Americas, where he on the Queen Elizabeth II, the Corp., a Department of State contrac- headed the special staff formed to Concorde, a riverboat up the Inter tor based in Lorton, Va. Just prior to coordinate the U.S. government’s poli- Coastal from Florida to Rhode Island, his death he had completed security cy positions and implement the sum- and more.” installation assignments in Madrid and mit’s Special Action Plan. Following retirement from the Dublin. Before being named ambassador to Foreign Service in 1978, Ms. Acton Jeremy is survived by his parents, Uruguay in 1990, Amb. Brown served moved to St. Augustine. She contin- currently posted in Seoul; a sister, as deputy assistant secretary of ued to correspond regularly with Ralna of Toledo, Ohio; and an aunt, Defense for Inter-American Affairs at more than 250 friends throughout the Marilyn Richard, and uncle, David the Pentagon (1988-1990). He headed world. An enthusiastic patron of the Shively, both of Westhope, Ohio. the Grenada Task Force, which arts, she was a major benefactor of the Contributions in Jeremy Bower’s planned and implemented the military local concert association. Ms. Acton memory can be sent to The National rescue mission in 1983. From 1978 to was also an accomplished cook, and Psoriasis Foundation, which has estab- 1979, he was detailed to the National took great pleasure in entertaining lished a memorial in his honor. Security Council to work on inter- and playing bridge. American affairs. Earlier assignments Ms. Acton did volunteer work for were to Brazil, Uruguay, Mauritius, the Flagler Hospital Auxiliary for 10 Spain and Vietnam. years, and served as its president in Richard Clay Brown, 66, retired In a statement of condolence the early 1990s. She was also a mem- FSO and former ambassador, died Secretary of State Colin Powell paid ber of the Red Hat Society. Dona- April 13 following a heart attack at his tribute to Amb. Brown, citing his many

JULY-AUGUST 2004/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 73 I N M EMORY contributions and the fact that he was ry staff and worked on the creation of John R. Clingerman, 73, retired “popular with and deeply respected by the United Nations charter. In 1956 FSO and former ambassador, died of his State Department colleagues.” he joined the Foreign Service, and was cancer May 29 at his home at Lake of Powell highlighted Amb. Brown’s ser- posted to Asuncion and San Salvador the Woods in Locust Grove, Va. vice with the Accountability Review as an economics officer. Ambassador Clingerman was born Board, the Summit of the Americas Since childhood, books had been a in Donipham County, Kan., on May 9, and the United Nations. He was passion for Mr. Burnett, and in 1963 1931. He earned a bachelor’s degree recalled from retirement to serve as a he retired from government service at Michigan State University in 1953, negotiator with the Netherlands, to pursue a third career as a universi- and while a student met and married Ecuador and El Salvador; as chargé ty librarian. He and his family moved Ruth (Polly) Muilenburg. He served d’affaires in Peru in 2002; and as senior to Los Angeles, where Mr. Burnett overseas in the Army from 1953 to area adviser for the Western earned his Master of Library Science 1955, attaining the rank of first lieu- Hemisphere at the U.N. General degree at the UCLA Library School. tenant. He returned to Michigan Assembly from 2001 through 2003. He first worked at Indiana University, State in 1957 for a master’s degree in In retirement, Amb. Brown pur- and was then appointed director of history. sued interests in classical music and libraries for the new University of Amb. Clingerman joined the opera, played the saxophone, perfect- Wisconsin-Parkside campus in Keno- Foreign Service in 1957. Following ed his pie-making skills and explored sha, Wisc. There, he built an award- stints as training officer and then quiltmaking. He is survived by his wife winning library, with over 400,000 exchange program officer, he was sent of 37 years, Elizabeth Ann Brown of volumes. Following mandatory re- in 1959 as economic and consular offi- Harpers Ferry; a daughter, Tara Jones tirement from the library director- cer to Kathmandu, and in 1962 as eco- of Columbus, Ohio; a son, Justin Brown ship, he taught European history and nomic officer to Leopoldville (Kin- of Washington, D.C.; a niece and a diplomatic relations at Parkside for shasa). He was named principal officer nephew, Lori Ratti of Indianapolis and several years before retiring in 1976. in Stanleyville, now Kisangani, in 1963. Ron Miller of Columbus, who were In retirement, Mr. Burnett and his Between his departure from raised in his home; a sister; and two wife divided their time between Stanleyville in the summer of 1964 and granddaughters. Rhode Island and California. He his assignment to the department as enjoyed walking, reading, volunteer- international relations officer in 1965, ing at local libraries and leading a for- Amb. Clingerman played a key role in eign policy discussion group. He the execution and aftermath of Dragon Philip Mason Burnett, 94, retired wrote letters to enlighten politicians Rouge, a dramatic joint Belgian-U.S. FSO, died Jan. 13, 2003, at the King and newspapers, including, frequent- paracommando operation mounted in James Care Center in Chatham ly, to his favorite newspaper, The New November 1964 to rescue more than Township, N.J. York Times, which had been founded 1,600 American, European, and other Born in Peterborough, N.H., Mr. by his great grandfather, Henry J. international hostages held by Burnett graduated from Yale Univer- Raymond. Mr. Burnett was also a life- Congolese rebels known as the sity in 1930. He continued his studies time member of the Rotary Club, and Simbas. A Joint Chiefs of Staff review at Columbia University, earning a served as alumni representative and of an analysis of the undertaking called master’s degree and then a Ph.D. in class secretary for both St. Mark’s it the first — and in many ways the European history in 1940. Graduate School, in Southborough, Mass., and most complex — multinational hostage work took him to Germany, where he Yale University. operation of the Cold War. did research and learned German. Following the death of his wife of Amb. Clingerman volunteered to His dissertation, Reparation at the 61 years, Esther, in September 2001, be the department’s lead participant Paris Peace Conference, was published Mr. Burnett moved to Westfield, N.J. on the ground during the action and, by Columbia University Press in 1940, He is survived by three daughters, among other exploits, braved rebel with a foreword by John Foster Barbara Kantner of Temple, N.H., fire while accompanying the Belgian Dulles. Elizabeth Reinhardt of Westfield, N.J., commanding officer on his initial After several years of college teach- and Katie Loss of Laguna Beach, entry into Stanleyville’s Simba-domi- ing, Mr. Burnett joined the State Calif.; a sister, Elinor Vaughan, of nated center. He received the Department in 1942. He served as a Exeter, N.H.; eight grandchildren; and department’s Distinguished Honor member of Eleanor Roosevelt’s adviso- one great-grandchild. Award for his extraordinary perfor-

74 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/MAY 2004 I N M EMORY mance and achievements in helping brother, Edgar Clingerman, also of Washington’s view that ‘everything coordinate U.S. Army, Air Force and Michigan. would somehow turn out all right,’ CIA participation in the operation on but saw clearly that we — and Iran the American side. — were in serious trouble even From 1965 to 1966, Amb. before the shah came to the U.S. I Clingerman was on detail to the Elizabeth Ann Swift Cronin, 63, owe her a lot. On Nov. 4, 1979, I was University of Paris-Sorbonne, where retired FSO and a former hostage in outside the second-floor chancery he pursued African studies prior to Iran, died May 7 in a horseback riding door with a gun to my head, and the assignment in July 1966 as deputy accident near her home in Rector- Iranians were threatening to shoot chief of mission in Cotonou. Embassy town, Va. me and the RSO if the door wasn’t Brussels, where he was political officer, Born in Washington, D.C., Mrs. opened. It was clear that no help was his next assignment from 1969 to Cronin was raised in Georgetown and was on the way, and Ann probably 1972. After Brussels, he was in the was an alumna of the Madeira School saved my life by agreeing to open department for two years, successively in McLean, Va. She graduated from that door.” as educational and cultural officer, Radcliffe College in 1962. Then At a May 11 memorial service in career management officer and per- known by her maiden name, Elizabeth Upperville, Va., where Ambassador sonnel placement officer. Then, fol- Ann Swift, she joined the Foreign Parker Borg delivered the eulogy, lowing a year’s study at the Army War Service in 1963, and was posted first to friends and former colleagues paid College, he served as deputy chief of Manila. She returned to State in 1965, tribute to Ms. Swift, “a Foreign Service mission in Lusaka, earning the depart- and was assigned to Jakarta in 1968 as officer of the highest competence and ment’s superior honor award for his a political officer. She studied at dedication,” as fellow hostage work there. Cornell University in 1971 and 1972, Ambassador Bruce Laingen put it. “I Mr. Clingerman was named ambas- and was then assigned to State. In knew Ann as a colleague for only a sador to Lesotho in 1979. Returning to 1979, she was posted to Tehran as short time in Tehran, but [that was Washington in 1981, he held a senior deputy political counselor, and within long] enough to know what a spirited position in human resources until months found herself a hostage to woman she was, a fighter for her con- detailed to the U.S. Information followers of Ayatollah Ruhollah victions, who would often challenge, Agency as area director of its African Khomeini. but always with a smile.” division in 1983. USIA bestowed its With the other U.S. hostages, Ms. By a “quirk of fate,” Amb. Laingen distinguished honor award on him for Swift was freed in January 1981. She recalled, Ann Swift was the ranking his outstanding leadership and man- was assigned to the Center for officer at the embassy when it was agement. He served thereafter as a International Affairs at Harvard stormed by the followers of Ayatollah Senior Foreign Service inspector in the University for the 1981-1982 academic Ruhollah Khomeini on the morning of department until his retirement in year. She then served as a senior con- Nov. 4, 1979. Laingen, then chargé January 1987. sular officer in Athens (1984-1986), d’affaires, and Ms. Swift’s boss had For some 13 years after retirement, Kingston (1986-1989) and London gone to the Foreign Ministry. Just Amb. Clingerman was a member of (1993-1995). From 1989 to 1992, as before being taken hostage, Swift was the faculty of Troy State University and deputy assistant secretary for Overseas able to describe the rapidly deteriorat- taught courses on international rela- Citizens’ Services, she aided family ing security situation at Embassy tions and U.S. foreign policy formula- members of U.S. victims of the hijack- Tehran in a phone call to Assistant tion at U.S. Army and Air Force bases ing by Libyan agents of Pan Am 103 Secretary for Near East Affairs Harold in Germany, the United Kingdom and over Lockerbie, Scotland. She retired Saunders. She courageously refused to the Azores, and psychological warfare from the Foreign Service in 1995. give her captors the combination to an strategies at the John F. Kennedy “I remember Ann well,” recalls embassy safe and endured being blind- Special Warfare Center at Fort Bragg, AFSA President John Limbert, a fel- folded and tied to a chair in terror for N.C. low hostage in Iran. “I was also in her life. Amb. Clingerman’s wife Ruth died the political section, where it was a “She was on the other end of the of cancer in August 2000. He is sur- joy working with her. I regret that telephone wire with me, as I sat in the vived by three sisters, Marion we had only a few months together foreign minister’s office, trying my best Shotwell, Ethel Donn, and Ann as colleagues in Tehran before the to provide leadership, but she was Lauterbach, all of Michigan, and one roof fell in. She would not accept physically where leadership was most

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needed,” Laingen said. “And she pro- Charlotte, Va., and David R. Cronin of After retirement, Mr. Farley was a vided that leadership, working closely Richmond, Va.; and a step-grand- senior fellow at the Brookings Institu- with others of the embassy staff around daughter. tion in Washington, D.C., where he her — and by all accounts providing it studied the effects of U.S. sales of with calm and courageous poise — and nuclear weapons to countries that in a way that was immensely helpful to were currently posing a threat to our me as I pleaded for the help from the Philip Judson Farley, 87, retired security. He was also a visiting scholar Foreign Ministry that might have made FSO, died Jan. 20 in Los Gatos, Calif. at the Center for International a difference but that never came. Born in Berkeley, Calif., on Aug. 6, Security and Arms Control at Stanford “With one exception, I did not see 1916, Mr. Farley graduated from University. or hear from her again until I saw her Campbell High School in 1933, and Deeply philosophical, Mr. Farley come up the aisle in that Algerian air- received his doctorate at the University read and studied ceaselessly. He was craft that would take us to freedom – of California at Berkeley in 1941. the author of the official report, “The still wearing that cheerful smile that Although he began his career as an Effects of Atomic Bombs on was her style,” Laingen recalled. “I did English professor in an East Texas Hiroshima and Nagasaki.” He main- see her once, when she appeared on junior college, he rose to the top of the tained a lifelong love for poetry and Iranian TV a day or two after being U.S. Foreign Service and was centrally music, and, although the operas of taken hostage. At that moment, I still involved in many of the major events in Berlioz were his favorite, he listened to had access to a TV while being held U.S. political history from World War II jazz, chansons francaises, flamenco and hostage in the Foreign Ministry. until the dismantling of the Soviet Beethoven string quartets as well. As “Deeply concerned and very fearful Union. long as he was able, he played Chopin about the fate of my staff, I watched as Mr. Farley served in the U.S. Army waltzes and Scott Joplin songs on the the papal nuncio was allowed into the from 1943 to 1946, before joining the piano he and Mrs. Farley hauled embassy compound to see the War Department as an intelligence around the country and the world dur- hostages. There was Ann, tied hands specialist. From 1947 to 1954 he ing their long marriage. and feet in a chair and facing into a cor- served at the Atomic Energy Commis- He was a familiar and well-loved ner of the room, looking up at the nun- sion. In 1954 he joined the State sight in the town of Los Gatos and the cio and, with a smile on her face, ask- Department as deputy to the special surrounding hills because of his daily ing ‘and who are you?’ assistant to the Secretary of State for walks — rain or shine. He touched “During the next 444 days, that atomic energy affairs. In 1958 he was many hearts, particularly those at the smile of courage on Ann Swift’s face named special assistant to the Secretary Los Gatos Meadows, through his did not leave my memory. Thank God for disarmament and atomic energy, remarkably constant good humor, posi- for her service and blessed be her and in 1961 became special assistant to tive outlook and conscientiousness. memory,” Laingen concluded. the Secretary of State for atomic ener- Mr. Farley’s beloved wife of 63 Ms. Swift and Paul D. Cronin were gy and outer space matters. years, Mildred Pauline Farley, prede- married in 1994 and settled in Sweet After serving as deputy chief of mis- ceased him in December 2001. He is Briar, Va., where Cronin directed the sion in Paris, and political adviser to the survived by three children, Paul Judson riding program at Sweet Briar College. chief of NATO, Mr. Farley was Farley of Soquel Calif., Katherine In 2001 they moved to a farm in appointed deputy permanent repre- Farley Dietrich of Palo Alto, Calif., and Rectortown. Mrs. Cronin was an avid sentative to the NATO Council, with Kenneth Guy Farley of Manassas, Va.; sailor and skier as well as a skilled the personal rank of minister, in 1966. two brothers, David E. Farley of equestrian. She was a member of the In 1967 he was named director of the Forestville, Calif., and Thomas K. board of the Madeira School, a board Political-Military Affairs Bureau in the Farley of Rancho San Diego, Calif.; 11 member of the Goose Creek State Department. He transferred to grandchildren; and two great-grand- Environmental Organization, a mem- the Arms Control and Disarmament daughters. ber of the Orange County Hunt and of Agency in 1969. He served simultane- the Trinity Episcopal Church in ously as deputy director of ACDA and Upperville, Va. alternate chairman of the U.S. delega- Survivors include her husband; tion to the SALT talks with the Soviet John P. Foster, 75, retired USIA two stepsons, Peter F. Cronin of Union until 1973. officer and former broadcaster, died

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May 5 in Washington, D.C., of a brain Amman (1976-1978), Manila (1979- framed his world. tumor. 1983) and Durban (1983-1985). He He is survived by his wife, Jody The son of Ann Catillaz Scanlan and retired in 1985, and settled in Rumney Foster of Haverhill, N.H.; three chil- John H. Foster, he was born in and Haverhill, N.H. He continued dren, Kent Foster of El Dorado Hills, Brooklyn, N.Y., and educated by the working with the State Department’s Calif., James Foster of Aptos, Calif., Marist Brothers at St. Ann’s Academy International Visitors Program and the Mary Claude Foster of Washington, in New York City. Foster graduated Federal Emergency Management D.C.; and seven grandchildren. Me- from Fordham University with a Agency. morial contributions may be sent to: degree in philosophy and pursued post- Mr. Foster was once described as Marist Brothers Retirement Fund, c/o graduate studies at Columbia Univer- “the most reasonable man you’ll ever Brother Hugh Turley, FMS, 4200 sity. He worked at CBS and NBC know ... in the most unorthodox sense West 115 St., Chicago IL 60655. before moving to Maine to open radio of the word.” A master networker, he station WQDY, serving Calais, Maine, was in touch across the globe. Mr. and St. Stephens, New Brunswick. Foster thrived on current affairs and In 1962, Mr. Foster joined the U.S. breaking news, but loved the life of a Charles A.P. Gendreau, 78, Information Agency. He served in country gentleman and the White retired FSO and a founder and first Athens (1962-1963), Tehran (1963- Mountains of his adopted state. To the president of AFSA Upper Midwest, 1964), Kabul (1964-1968), Saigon end, he maintained a magnificent and died April 7 in Brooklyn Park, Minn. (1968-1969), Accra (1969-1970), the mischievous sense of humor as dry as A native of Minnesota, Mr. U.N. Mission in New York (1970- the best martini. He loved his family, Gendreau served with the U.S. Navy 1973), New Delhi (1973-1976), his church and his country, and they as a fighter pilot in the Pacific

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MAY 2004/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 77 I N M EMORY

Theater during World War II. In Mrs. Hillenbrand was born on Nov. Mrs. Hillenbrand is survived by her 1949 he received his bachelor’s 10, 1917, in Tokyo to American mis- husband of nearly 62 years, Martin, degree from the University of sionary parents, who died while she and by her three children; Ruth Minnesota, and served as assistant was still a girl. As the eldest of four Quinet of Seattle, Wash.; David director of the university’s interna- children, she spent much of her youth Hillenbrand of Toronto and Savannah, tional relations center. in caring for her three siblings in Fort Ga.; and John Hillenbrand of Athens, Mr. Gendreau joined the Foreign Valley, Ga. After graduation from Ga. They all remember her for her Service in 1952. He served in Puerto Asbury College in Wilmore, Ky., she adventurous and rebellious spirit, her la Cruz, Mexico City, Venezuela and taught in the Georgia school system for love of travel and fine dining, her gar- Washington, working primarily in a year. In 1941, she departed for den and her dogs, her intense loyalty to Latin American affairs. He was the Burma as a missionary. While in her friends and family, and her gener- State Department’s expert on the Rangoon, she met vice consul Martin ous spirit. She was the loving grand- Falkland Islands during the 1982 war. Hillenbrand, whom she married in mother of Derrick Quinet, Stuart Following retirement Mr. Gend- June 1942. Hillenbrand, and Joseph Hillenbrand. reau settled in Brooklyn Park, Minn., After Japan entered the war, Faith Memorial contributions may be where he was a founding member of Hillenbrand became an ambulance made to the St. Mary’s Hospice, P.O. AFSA Upper Midwest. In a tribute to driver with the St. John’s Ambulance Box 6588, Athens GA 30604. Mr. Gendreau, AFSA Upper Midwest Corps. During the Japanese advance President Malcolm McClean, Secre- on Burma, she left for Calcutta on one tary Brynhild Rowberg and Amb- of the last flying boats to stop at assador Robert A. Flaten said: “Chuck Rangoon. In Calcutta she managed Matthew James Looram Jr., 83, was the first president of AFSA U.S. Army Gen. “Vinegar Joe” retired FSO and former ambassador, Upper Midwest. He wrote editorials Stilwell’s office while he was in Assam died March 16 at his home in Langau, on our behalf, and scheduled our training Chinese forces to liberate Austria. meetings with Minnesota senators Burma. Born in New York City, Amb. and representatives, giving us a pro- Mrs. Hillenbrand accompanied her Looram was educated at the Buckley fessional voice well beyond our num- husband on assignment to numerous School, St. Paul’s School, and graduat- bers. He was also a member of the posts, including Lourenço Marques, ed from Harvard College in 1943. He board of directors of the United Bremen, Washington, D.C., Paris, served in the U.S. Army’s 13th Nations Association of Minnesota. Berlin, Bonn and Budapest, where he Airborne Division from 1943 to 1946, Retirees in the Midwest will miss him served as the first U.S. ambassador to when he was honorably discharged greatly.” the Hungarian People’s Republic. In with the rank of captain, and then Survivors include Mr. Gendreau’s 1972, her husband was assigned to worked briefly for a shipping company. wife of 55 years, Joan; two sons, Brian West Germany as ambassador. Mrs. In 1948 Amb. Looram joined the and John; two daughters, Jennifer Hillenbrand fulfilled her official duties Foreign Service. Following assign- Olson and Suzanne Gendreau; and as hostess with elegance and finesse; ments to Rome (1948-1952) and Paris nine grandchildren. Memorial gifts she took that role seriously, and set an (1952-1955), he served as French desk may be sent to the Community Emer- example that was rarely equaled. officer in Washington (1955-1959). In gency Assistance Program, 6840 78th In 1976, she and her husband 1959 he was posted as consul to Ave N, Brooklyn Park MN 55445, or moved to Paris, France, where they Asmara, and was detailed to the the United Nations Association of lived for six happy years. In 1983, Canadian National Defence College in Minnesota, 2104 Stevens Ave S, Amb. Hillenbrand accepted a position 1962. He returned to Washington as Minneapolis MN 55404. at the University of Georgia, and they desk officer for Angola and Mozam- moved to Athens, where Mrs. bique. He was appointed successively Hillenbrand was active in the deputy director for Central African and University Women’s Club and the for North African affairs. In 1966 he Faith Stewart Hillenbrand, 86, Wednesday Study Club. She spent was named country director for wife of Ambassador Martin J. much of this time traveling with her Northeast African Affairs. In 1969 he Hillenbrand, died May 7 at St. Mary’s husband, including several tours of the was assigned to Benin as ambassador. Hospital in Athens, Ga. great restaurants of France. His last assignment was as ambassador

78 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/JULY-AUGUST 2004 I N M EMORY

to Somalia from 1972 to 1974. son’s disease. became a political officer. He returned Retiring in 1974, Amb. Looram set- Mr. Norbury was born in Little to State in 1963, and was seconded to tled in Langau. His interests included Rock, Ark., on March 28, 1927. the White House in 1965. The follow- drawing and fly fishing. He published Following graduation from the ing year he was posted to Santiago as a privately a memoir of his career titled University of Chicago in 1945, he political officer. In 1969 he was With Malice Toward Some. spent two years in Germany serving assigned to Poznan as principal officer, Amb. Looram is survived by his with the U.S. Army. After receiving a returning to State in 1971. In 1973 he wife, the former Bettina de Rothschild, law degree from the University of was posted to the U.S. Mission to the of Langau; a daughter, Bettina Burr of Chicago in 1952, Mr. Norbury was United Nations. There followed sever- Cambridge, Mass.; a son, Peter A.A. associated with a New York City law al tours of duty at State and a tour in Lloram of Aspen, Colo.; and two firm until joining the Foreign Service Vienna, attached to the U.S. Mission to grandsons. In lieu of flowers donations in 1955. the U.N. agencies headquartered may be made to The Glimmerglass Posted to Quito as an economic there. Opera, Inc., P.O. Box 191, Coopers- officer in 1955, he was transferred to Mr. Norbury retired from the town NY 13326. Brussels in 1957. In 1959, he was Foreign Service in 1982, and he and detailed to the Foreign Service his family returned to their home in Institute for a year to learn Russian, Washington, D.C., where he taught and then studied Soviet affairs at Russian at St. Alban’s School for Boys Joseph B. Norbury, 76, retired Harvard University for another year. for six years. FSO, died March 5 in Washington, In 1961, Mr. Norbury was sent to After retiring a second time, in D.C., of complications from Parkin- Moscow as a consular officer; he later 1988, Mr. Norbury used his skills as a

JULY-AUGUST 2004/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 79 I N M EMORY

linguist to help foreign tourists at the sub-post public affairs officer. After an Pinch may be made to Middlesex White House Tourist Center, the assignment in Washington, he had two Hospital Homecare Hospice, 51 Broad National Portrait Gallery and the tours of duty in New Delhi, first as a Street, Middletown CT 06457, or to Smithsonian Institution Building. program officer and then as PAO, fol- the National Alliance for the Mentally Mr. Norbury is survived by his wife lowed by a tour as PAO in Karachi. Ill (www.nami.org). of 46 years, Marthe Michiels Norbury After another assignment in Washing- of Washington, D.C.; two children, ton, Mr. Pinch participated in The Julie Norbury Webber of Herndon, Executive Seminar in Foreign Va., and Andrew Joseph Norbury of Policy. His final posting was to Janet Sorg Stoltzfus, 73, wife of Washington, D.C.; and a sister, Brasilia, where he served as deputy Ambassador William A. Stoltzfus Jr., Madelon Norbury McDonald of country PAO. died March 5 after an extended illness. Annapolis, Md. During retirement in Berkeley, Born and raised in New Jersey, Memorial contributions may be Calif., Mr. Pinch occasionally worked Janet Stoltzfus was a 1952 graduate of sent in his name to the American as an escort officer and interpreter for Wellesley College and in 1953 of Academy of Neurology Foundation, the International Visitors Program of Trinity College, Dublin. 1080 Montreal Avenue, St. Paul MN the State Department’s Bureau of In 1954 she served as an English 55116 (www.neurofoundation.org). Educational and Cultural Affairs. In teacher at the Beirut College for addition, he and his wife Anita volun- Women in Beirut, Lebanon, where teered for the mentally ill in the Bay she met her husband, William, a area. They supported Bonita House, a Foreign Service officer. They were Edward Thomas (“Tom”) Pinch, facility that provides housing and ser- married in August 1954, and left 76, retired FSO, died of cancer May 1 vices for those suffering from severe immediately for their first Foreign at the home of his son, William, in mental illnesses and addictions. Mr. Service post in Kuwait. Middletown, Conn. Pinch also served as co-chairman of Over the next 28 years in the Mr. Pinch was born in Washington, the Lake Merritt Lodge Support Middle East and Africa, Mrs. Stoltzfus D.C., and spent most of his childhood Committee, an organization of volun- was headmistress and teacher at the in Florida. He received his degree teers who strive to improve life at the English School of Kuwait and the from the School of Government of The lodge for mentally ill tenants. He also American School in Damascus; George Washington University, where served on the board of directors for the founder of the Taiz Cooperative he majored in foreign affairs. He Mental Health Association of Alameda School in Taiz, Yemen; and developer joined the State Department in 1949, County. and head teacher of a “Head Start”- left briefly in 1951 to serve in the U.S. Mr. Pinch will be remembered as a styled program for low-income fami- Army, and returned to the State dedicated Foreign Service officer, a lies in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She also Department a year later. In 1951 he deeply generous, kind-hearted man served as a volunteer coordinator for married Anita Porro. with great compassion for those less an enrichment program for children In 1953, Mr. Pinch joined USIA. fortunate and handicapped in life, and with cerebral palsy managed by the During a 27-year Foreign Service a faithful and loving husband and Kuwait Handicapped Society. career, most of his service was in South father. His first wife of 44 years, Anita, In 1976, Mrs. Stoltzfus moved to Asia. Mr. and Mrs. Pinch developed a preceded him in death in 1996. He Princeton, N.J. She served for 12 years deep and abiding affection for the peo- remarried in 1998. as a faculty member at Princeton Day ples and places of the subcontinent, Survivors include his second wife, School, teaching English and religion and four of their five children were Maria Carroll Pinch of Naples, Fla.; until she retired in 1994. From 1986 to born there. five children from his first marriage, 1990, she lived in London, where she His first overseas posting, in 1954, Thomas Pinch of Mountain View, founded and edited the Ellesmere was to Athens. He next served as assis- Calif., Kathleen Pinch O’Dono- Gazette, a newsletter by and for senior tant information officer in Karachi, and hue of Manassas, Va., William Pinch of citizens. then as executive officer in Bombay. Middletown, Conn., Michael Pinch of She is survived by her husband, There followed a posting to Lucknow, Albuquerque, N.M., and Anthony William, of Princeton, N.J.; two sons, where he served as the North India Pinch of Oakland, Calif.; and 10 grand- William III and Philip; three daugh- press officer and subsequently as the children. Donations in memory of Mr. ters, Winifred S. Host, Susan M.

80 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/JULY-AUGUST 2004 I N M EMORY

Stoltzfus and Rebecca Dineen; a sister, end of the British Mandate in while performing duties for the U.S. Winifred S. Vogt, and six grandchil- Palestine and the establishment of the government. dren. State of Israel. During this hectic In the mid-1950s he spent one year time he was held at gunpoint on two at the Pacific Proving Grounds on the occasions by terrorists, and later was island of Bikini, where he was in wounded by mortar shrapnel, requir- charge of security during the testing of Wayne A. Swedenburg, 78, ing his evacuation to the U.S. and hos- an atomic bomb. He served three retired FSO, died May 16 of prostate pitalization at Bethesda Naval tours of duty in Indochina, first when it cancer at his home in Middleburg, Va. Medical Center. was still a French colony and then in A native of Salina, Kan., and a first- Subsequent postings included the 1960s and 1970s. Mr. Swedenburg generation Swedish-American, Swe- assignments in Europe, the Middle was instrumental in assisting in the denburg served during his high school East, South and Southeast Asia, and escape from communist grasp of sever- years as an officer cadet in the Civil Air Africa. During most of his assign- al longtime U.S.-employed locals Patrol, and joined the U.S. Army Air ments war, insurrection and civil there, and performed a similar self- Corps Reserve. He was called to active unrest prevailed. Mr. Swedenburg appointed mission while serving dur- duty upon graduation from high once reported that he had forgotten ing the 1971 Pakistan-India War, when school, and served as a crew member the number of times he had come the country of Bangladesh was formed of a B-29 during World War II. under sniper fire, but that he could and ethnic rivalries caused so much Swedenburg joined the Foreign recall one instance when he came bloodshed. Mr. Swedenburg received Service in 1948. His first posting was under rocket fire and another when two Superior Honor awards for out- to Jerusalem, where he witnessed the he was strafed by aircraft, both times standing and heroic work in the U.S.

JULY-AUGUST 2004/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 81 I N M EMORY

Foreign Service: the first in 1966 in assador West received his bachelor’s advancement and were a major factor Somalia, and another in 1968 during degree from The Citadel in 1942, and attracting industry to the state. the Pakistan-India War in Dacca (now his law degree magna cum laude from President Carter named West Dhaka). the University of South Carolina in U.S. envoy to Saudi Arabia in 1977. Mr. Swedenburg’s Washington 1948. During World War II, he Amb. West worked to enlist Saudi assignments included service as per- served in the U.S. Army and was hon- support for the Middle East peace sonnel division chief, Foreign Service orably discharged with the rank of process, and was highly regarded by Institute special assistant, and a detail major. In 1954 West was elected to his Foreign Service staff. As as executive director of the Federal the state Senate and, after 12 years of Ambassador Joseph Saloom, eco- Energy Office of the White House in service there, successfully ran for lieu- nomic officer in Saudi Arabia from 1973. He served as chargé d’affaires tenant governor in 1966. In 1970 he 1978 to 1980, recalls: “Amb. West during stints in Saudi Arabia, Yemen was elected governor for a four-year ensured U.S. access to the vital and Equatorial Guinea. In 1980 Mr. term. Saudi petroleum essential to world Swedenburg retired from the Foreign A Democrat, he helped calm racial economic growth and prosperity. Service, but was retained under con- tensions in South Carolina in the Within the embassy, Amb. West was tract by the Department of State until years after highway patrolmen a model of loyalty and support to his 1985, during which time he served opened fire on a civil rights protest at staff at this isolated and difficult primarily as a management trou- the historically black South Carolina post. He was a mentor and model to bleshooter in Africa. State University, killing three students all, and was instrumental in groom- He then returned to his beloved and wounding 20. West appointed ing eight of his subordinates to even- Valley View Farm, a cattle farm, com- blacks to prominent positions and tually become chiefs of their own mercial vineyard and winery in established a commission to ease diplomatic missions. His emphasis Middleburg, where he actively assist- racial tensions. On the commission’s on kindness and devotion to others ed in its operation and management. 25th anniversary in 1997, West said it was multiplied by his influence on Mr. Swedenburg was a strong advo- had sent a message that racial divi- these leaders of the Service, who cate of the growth and development sions had been put aside. “I’d like to were inspired by what they learned of the Commonwealth of Virginia’s think this was a major turning point in from West's example.” wine industry. He was a member of race relations, because it set up com- AFSA President John Limbert, the Virginia Wineries Association, munications where [a problem] could political officer at Embassy Jeddah in Vinifera Wine Growers Association, be addressed before it reached a crisis 1978 and 1979, recalls: “Amb. West’s the Republican Party and the NRA. point,” West said. His efforts earned friendship and support extended to all Mr. Swedenburg leaves his wife of him the enmity of the Ku Klux Klan, in the embassy, without regard to rank 50 years, Juanita, his son Marcum, but his wife Lois’ reputation as a crack or specialty. When not occupied with and granddaughter Jeana, all of pistol shot and her warning to the official diplomatic functions (which Middleburg. An older sister, LaVera Klansmen saw him through this tough he did not enjoy very much), he Swedenburg Larson, resides in period. would invite communicators, secre- Modesto, Calif. In lieu of flowers, As governor, West also saw to the taries, junior officers and their spous- memorial contributions may be made creation of the state’s second medical es to his home to try out a new recipe to the Middleburg Volunteer Fire school at the University of South or a new cook he and Lois were test- Department, P.O. Box 122, Middle- Carolina and encouraged foreign ing. For decades after he left Saudi burg VA 20118. investment, inducing several Euro- Arabia, he stayed in contact with and pean automobile manufacturers to supported the careers of those who establish factories in the state. He had served with him.” considered his most important contri- In retirement, Amb. West encour- John Carl West, 81, a former U.S. bution to the people of South aged the growth of Hilton Head as a ambassador to Saudi Arabia and gov- Carolina to be his role in establishing resort and retirement community. ernor of South Carolina, died March numerous technical/vocational col- He is survived by his wife, Lois, 21 at his home in Hilton Head, S.C, leges. These institutions provided and their three children, Douglas, after a yearlong battle with cancer. South Carolinians significant oppor- Shelton and John Jr., and one grand- A native South Carolinian, Amb- tunity for professional and economic son. ■

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JULY-AUGUST 2004/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 87 REFLECTIONS

You Picked a Fine Time to Leave Me, Lucille

BY JEFF MAZUR

igeria produces lively indige- “You picked a fine time to leave me, nous music, but the airwaves I was 25 years and Lucille. Nof Lagos, Africa’s most popu- 10,000 miles from With four hungry children and a lous city (more than 13 million inhab- crop in the field.” itants), are filled mostly with Ameri- my days growing up I was 25 years and 10,000 miles can R&B and hip-hop songs. from my days growing up amidst the Occasionally you’ll even hear country amidst the dairy dairy farms of Wisconsin, where I first & western music. But it is easiest to farms of Wisconsin. heard Kenny Rogers singing those catch Nigerian music on Sundays, words on the radio. My mind reeled at when the streets are eerily quiet as the contrast between my past and cur- Lagosians attend church services last- rent situations. I started a new chapter ing three hours or more. in my life when I joined the Foreign Lagos is my first Foreign Service matic car park, my driver, almost for- Service, and entered a world that post after a decade practicing law and getting about me being tucked in the couldn’t be more different from that of working on the Hill, and I had been second row of seats of the big my youth and most of my adulthood. I here only a few days when I was tasked Suburban, tuned the radio to a station now lived in sub-Saharan Africa, repre- to be control officer for the visit of a of his liking. Hearing no objection, he sented the United States government, senior Senate staffer. I scheduled three settled into his seat contentedly. At and at that moment was providing a days of meetings and entertainment, first I was distracted by something I safe haven for a diplomatic courier. and hoped the consulate’s drivers knew had brought along to read, but slowly But strangely, I was listening to my their way around the sprawling mega- my mind focused on the distantly Yoruba driver comfortably singing out city because I certainly did not. The familiar tune emanating first from the an old, familiar tune, albeit in an unfa- “staffdel” went smoothly, and on a radio, and then from the driver in a miliar accent: Friday morning marking my second low, coarse voice. I paused and “Ahv hahd sum bahd tahmz. Liv’d week in country I accompanied my looked around. The scenery I saw true sum sahd tahmz. outbound guest to the airport in an through the tinted glass — squat trees But dis tahm yo huhtin’ won’t armored SUV. Another U.S. govern- cropping up from dusty streets amid heel.” ment employee who rode with us had crumbling infrastructure — placed The lyrics had references the dri- trouble with his flight, so to ensure he me in West Africa, as did the look of ver could not have had the slightest wouldn’t be stranded (potentially for the people walking by in both understanding of: a honky-tonk in several hours) in one of Lagos’ infa- Western and colorful traditional Toledo; a long, lonely Midwestern mous traffic jams, called “go slows,” I dress. But then I began to recognize summer; and a broken marriage hold- stayed at the airport until we confirmed the song from my lily-white, all- ing the prospect of a bitter divorce. his departure. American, Midwestern childhood, Yet, that mournful, ironic, broken- As we waited in the airport’s diplo- while the driver — a lanky, dark- hearted lament clearly resonated with skinned young man who spoke mostly him. As did the moment with me. Jeff Mazur’s first tour as an FSO was in pidgin English in addition to one or With a knowing and contented smile Consulate General Lagos. His next two of the many languages of Nigeria drawing across my face, I joined him assignment is to Sao Paulo. The stamp — sang easily and from the heart in the words we both knew: is courtesy of the AAFSW Bookfair along with the refrain, which now reg- “You picked a fine time to leave me, “Stamp Corner.” istered in my mind: Lucille.” ■

88 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/JULY-AUGUST 2004 AFSAAmerican Foreign Service AssociationNE • July-August 2004 WS

FOREIGN AFFAIRS DAY AFSA Welcomes Retirees and This Issue in Brief: NEWS BRIEFS ...... 2 Honors Fallen Colleagues EXTREME DIPLOMACY ...... 3 DAY ON THE HILL...... 4 nother successful Foreign Affairs Day women of the Foreign Service who made AFSA AWARD WINNERS ...... 5 was held May 7 at the State the ultimate sacrifice while serving their VOLUNTEER AWARDS ...... 9 ADepartment, where hundreds of country abroad. Thankfully, no new names AFSA SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS...... 10 retired members of the Foreign Service com- were added to the plaque at this year’s cer- MANAGING A SHORTAGE...... 12 munity were welcomed back. Director emony, but the Secretary reminded those BULLY IN THE PULPIT ...... 13 General W. Robert Pearson and State Continued on page 3 Department Spokesman Richard Boucher spoke at the opening session, the Foreign LIFETIME CONTRIBUTIONS TO AMERICAN DIPLOMACY Service Cup was awarded to Stephen Low, and the Secretary’s Awards for Volunteerism Richard B. Parker mbassador Richard Parker has been selected as the recipient of the 2004 AFSA Award for Lifetime Contributions to AAmerican Diplomacy. (See the interview with Amb. Parker in this issue of the Foreign Service Journal, p. 49.) This award honors a distinguished American who has given many years of service in international affairs and has supported the work of the career Foreign Service. Recipients of the 2003 and 2002 awards were George Shultz and Tom Pickering, respectively. Amb. Parker’s 31-year Foreign Service career (1949-1980) included three ambassadorships, to Algeria, Morocco and Lebanon. He was the first non-native speaker to attain a 4/4 rating in Arabic, indicating full fluency in the spoken and written language, from the Foreign Service Institute.

MIKKELA THOMPSON MIKKELA Following his retirement in 1980, Amb. Parker has remained active in foreign affairs, Acting AFSA President Louise Crane makes remarks making lasting contributions to the field. He spent two years as a diplomat-in-residence and introduces Secretary Powell. at the University of Virginia, among many other teaching positions; served as editor of the Middle East Journal; and was the founding president of the Association for Diplomatic were presented to the winners by Associates Studies and Training, serving there from 1986 to 1989. He has published seven books of the American Foreign Service Worldwide dealing with the Middle East, North Africa and Islam; his latest, Uncle Sam in Barbary: A President Terri Williams. Diplomatic History, was published in April. Following the opening session, Foreign Director General W. Robert Pearson presented the award at the AFSA Award Ceremony Affairs Day participants joined AFSA offi- on June 24 in the Department of State’s Benjamin Franklin Diplomatic Reception Room. cials and staff for the annual AFSA All of this year’s AFSA awards were presented at that ceremony. Articles about the dis- Memorial Plaque Ceremony in the C Street sent award winners and the exemplary performance award winners start on page 5 of this lobby at the site of the memorial plaques. issue of AFSA News. Look for coverage of AFSA member achievement winners and the Secretary Colin Powell presided over the cer- June awards ceremony in the September AFSA News. ▫ emony, which honored the 215 men and AFSANEWSBRIEFS

Retiree Fun in the Sun Event AFSA President Back from Iraq In May, the Foreign Service Retirees Association of Florida host- AFSA welcomes back John Limbert, who returned in late May from a ed a three-day weekend gathering in Key West for Foreign Service 3-month assignment to Iraq. Given his experience and language abilities, retirees and family members. Over 80 people attended, most of we were not surprised he was called for a second short-term assignment them coming from around Florida, with a few from Virginia and in Iraq. He was missed at AFSA headquarters and we’re glad he’s back at Georgia. Programming for the weekend was deliberately kept to the helm. We hope someday he will be at liberty to tell us all exactly a minimum so people could spend most of their time socializing what he and his team were doing in Iraq! and reconnecting with old friends. There was a dinner at which Under Secretary Marc Grossman was scheduled to speak, but Membership at All-Time High because he had to travel out of the country, a replacement was As of early May, AFSA membership had reached an all-time high of found: Washington Times correspondent Nicholas Kralev, who 12,728. Active-duty members account for 68 percent of the total, and recently completed an eight-part series on the Foreign Service for of those, 33 percent are specialists. his paper, addressed the group. FSRA has about 850 members, and meets five times a year in different Florida locations. The group runs three Elderhostel pro- Life in the Foreign Service grams each year, helping educate the public about the Foreign ■ BY BRIAN AGGELER, FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICER Service. The FSRA published a book of Foreign Service stories last year, Serving America Abroad, available through XLibris at www.xlibris.com or (888) 795-4274, ext. 276. Time to Donate to BOOKFAIR AAFSW needs your donations for BOOKFAIR — an annual October event for 44 years. Artwork, books in good condition, stamps and coins are all gratefully accepted. Handicrafts from around the world are especially welcome, as such items are highly popular and sell quickly. To donate: Pick-ups in the Washington area can be arranged by calling Virginia Jones at (202) 223-5796. Donations may be dropped off in the Truman Building at the bookroom, now located in B816, Monday through Friday from noon to 2 p.m. From overseas, donations may be pouched to “IT’S A PERFECTLY FINE EVALUATION, BUT I JUST DON’T KNOW IF the AAFSW BOOKROOM, Room B-816 Main State. IT’S THE KIND OF THING THAT WILL GET YOU PROMOTED....” Briefs • Continued on page 12

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: John W. Limbert (202) 647-8160; Fax: (202) 647-0265 Controller Kalpna Srimal: [email protected] STATE VICE PRESIDENT: Louise K. Crane USAID AFSA OFFICE: Accounting Assistant Steven Tipton: [email protected] (202) 712-1941; Fax: (202) 216-3710 Labor Management USAID VICE PRESIDENT: Bill Carter General Counsel Sharon Papp: [email protected] FCS VICE PRESIDENT: Charles A. Ford 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: Laura Scandurra USAID Senior Labor Management Advisor Douglas Broome: [email protected] RETIREE VICE PRESIDENT: George F. Jones AFSA WEB SITE: www.afsa.org USAID Office Manager Asgeir Sigfusson: [email protected] SECRETARY: F.A. “Tex” Harris AFSA E-MAIL: [email protected] Grievance Attorneys Charles Henderson: [email protected] and Neera Parikh: AFSA NEWS: [email protected] [email protected] TREASURER: Danny Hall FSJ: [email protected] Office Manager Christine Warren: [email protected] STATE REPRESENTATIVES: Pamela Bates, PRESIDENT: [email protected] Law Clerk Marques Peterson: [email protected] Cynthia G. Efird, Scot L. Folensbee, STATE VP: [email protected] Member Services Raymond D. Maxwell, John C. Sullivan, RETIREE VP: [email protected] Director Janet Hedrick: [email protected] Jim Wagner USAID VP:[email protected] Representative Cory Nishi: [email protected] FCS VP: [email protected] Web site & Database Associate Meijing Shan: [email protected] USAID REPRESENTATIVE: Thomas Olson Administrative Assistant Ana Lopez: [email protected] FAS VP: [email protected] FCS REPRESENTATIVE: William Crawford Outreach Programs RETIREE REPRESENTATIVES: Gilbert Sheinbaum, Retiree Liaison Bonnie Brown: [email protected] AFSA News Director of Communications Thomas Switzer: [email protected] David E. Reuther, Theodore S. Wilkinson, III, Editor Shawn Dorman: [email protected] Congressional Affairs Director Ken Nakamura: [email protected] Stanley A. Zuckerman

How to Contact Us: Contact to How (202) 338-4045 x 503; Fax: (202) 338-8244 Corporate Relations/Executive Assistant Austin Tracy: [email protected] IBB REPRESENTATIVE: Alex Belida On the Web: www.afsa.org/news Scholarship Director Lori Dec: [email protected] Professional Issues Coordinator Barbara Berger: [email protected] FAS REPRESENTATIVE: Michael Conlon

2 AFSA NEWS • JULY-AUGUST 2004 Foreign Affairs Day • Continued from page 1 V.P. VOICE: STATE ■ BY LOUISE CRANE Extreme Diplomacy

aghdad is unquestionably the most dangerous place the United States has ever tried to conduct diplomacy. At Bevery other diplomatic post in the world, events we term “tripwires” would have triggered a staff drawdown and even shut- tering the embassy. These “tripwire” events are ignored in Iraq. Part of everyday life in Baghdad for the Foreign Service will

MIKKELA THOMPSON MIKKELA be making the trip from the Green Zone to the Baghdad Military Color Guard at the memorial plaques. International Airport. In the first week of June, four Blackwater security personnel (two Americans, two Poles) were killed while in attendance that “dangerous times lie riding in an armored vehicle those eight miles to the airport. This is the same company ahead … for our Foreign Service, Civil that lost four American employees in Fallujah in April. Clearly, the insurgents in Iraq have Service and Foreign Service National acquired munitions that can penetrate armor. So, one has to ask, what good are armored employees working in more than 200 cars, carryalls, vans and buses for our personnel in Iraq? embassies and consulates around the Contrary to standard procedures elsewhere, the U.S. has decided that Embassy Baghdad world.” will be bigger than almost any other in the world. The Secretary of State has called on In her remarks, AFSA Vice President the Foreign Service to respond to “our number-one priority,” the stabilization and recon- Louise Crane (acting president at the time) struction of Iraq. The Foreign Service has responded magnificently. pointed out that while no new Foreign That response, however, does not diminish in any way the fact that this is “extreme Service names were carved into the mar- diplomacy.” I suppose it was just a matter of time before the current fad for extreme ble plaques this year, four individuals had sports would pass into the conduct of our foreign relations. Yet nothing prepared me died protecting Foreign Service lives. for the contents of the obligatory training every U.S. government employee assigned to Three American employees of a private Iraq undergoes prior to departure. This training includes how to detect improvised explo- security firm died in the Gaza Strip when sive devices; a short exercise on weapons familiarization; lectures on “route analysis” and their car was destroyed by a roadside bomb. practical exercises in surveillance detection. I remember when employees, in prepara- The men were escorting Foreign Service tion for their next assignment, only had to read embassy cable traffic, call on the desk employees traveling to interview Palestin- officers at State, Commerce and DOD, and meet with their counterparts in that coun- ians for Fulbright grants. A Salvadoran try's Washington embassy. soldier was killed outside Najaf, Iraq, in Then there are the instructions in the “Welcome to Baghdad” cable. Employees assigned April. But for their sacrifice, there would to Baghdad first go to Kuwait, where they sign in at the Federal Deployment Center. There have been new Foreign Service names on they are issued their helmet and protective vest. The following day they board C-130 the plaque to honor. aircraft for the trip to Baghdad. They are transported by shuttle bus from the airport to The plaque ceremony was followed the Green Zone. The cable firmly instructs personnel that “helmet and vest must be worn by seminars on regional and global issues during the 20-minute trip.” led by State Department officials. Given By the time the embassy opens, enough shipping containers will probably have been the popularity of the Near Eastern Affairs converted to housing units to give every employee his/her own half-container (though talk last year and the expected increased some may have to double up at first). The containers are fortified on all sides by sand- interest in 2004, the session addressed by bags, but the roofs will peel open like beer cans if hit. Where are the sandbags for the Assistant Secretary of State for Near roofs? Eastern Affairs William Burns was held in A retired Foreign Service officer who was born the same year as Ronald Reagan, 1911, the Dean Acheson Auditorium. His can- and who retired before I joined the Foreign Service 40 years ago, recently wrote to me dor in discussing the current situation in saying something worth repeating: Iraq and elsewhere was much appreciat- “Our State Department people should consistently participate in foreign assignments ed by attendees. to ensure that everyone has a really competent knowledge of what goes on abroad and AFSA hosted a reception for retirees at what should be done about it in benefit of our country. ... How can a president and Congress headquarters in the afternoon, which was know what to do intelligently regarding foreign affairs without the advice of an organi- well attended. Old friends had a chance zation deeply informed in all that goes on abroad and how best to take advantage of it?” to catch up in a relaxed setting. ▫ This explains why we are opening an embassy in Baghdad and why the Foreign Service is flocking to staff it. ▫

JULY-AUGUST 2004 • AFSA NEWS 3 Department’s budget last year, and for DAY ON THE HILL responding to the need to protect “soft targets” in particular, AFSA delegates urged AFSA Takes Retirees to the Hill positive action on the president’s FY05 international affairs funding request and BY SUSAN MAITRA passage of the State Department/foreign assistance authorization bill. The budget articipants in AFSA’s fourth increases in the past three years, they point- annual Day On the Hill took an ed out, have been “catch-up.” Purgent message to their legisla- AFSA delegates also expressed their con- tors: Both military force and diplo- cern over threats to the Federal Employees macy are essential in meeting our Health Benefits Program and began a national security interests abroad. The process of educating lawmakers on the need Congress must give the same strate- to eliminate the pay disparity currently gic priority to foreign relations as to affecting Foreign Service members as they the military, including in funding. THOMPSON MIKKELA serve abroad. AFSA delegations received While legislators and staffers didn’t District of Columbia participated in meet- useful feedback on FS concerns and issues, exactly jump to agree, the group of more ings scheduled at 32 legislative offices. Two and made new contacts for follow-up by than 50 Foreign Service retirees, spouses, senators — Paul Sarbanes, D-Md., and AFSA’s Legislative Affairs department over AFSA staff and AFSA Governing Board offi- John Sununu, R-N.H. — met personally the coming year. cials who made the trip to the Hill on May with AFSA delegations. Two more — Sen. Timed to coincide with the visit of many 6 found a perceptible concern about Judd Gregg, R-N.H., and Sen. Charles State Department retirees to Washington diplomacy and foreign assistance. “Foreign aid is viewed differently now than before 9/11,” is the way Rep. Charles Bass, R-N.H., put it to the AFSA delegation from New Hampshire. “The State budget should be well treated,” Bass said, adding that the prospects for funding were improved by the issues of the day but not MIKKELA THOMPSON MIKKELA by the government’s fiscal situation. This year, AFSA also found more personal responsiveness from legislators. Rep. THOMPSON MIKKELA Frank Wolf, R-Va., warmly welcomed the Clockwise, from left: AFSA & AFSA delegation to Capitol Hill in a room retirees meet with Rep. Wolf; secured by Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va. “There’s meeting with Sen. Sarbanes; getting ready to make the trip to a growing appreciation of the role of Capitol Hill. federal employees in the war on terrorism,” Wolf, chairman of the House Grassley, R-Iowa — were called Appropriations Subcommittee on Com- away from their meetings to the merce, Justice, State and the Judiciary, said. floor to vote on John Despite severe budget constraints and Negroponte’s appointment as extraordinary demands, funding for the ambassador to Iraq. Three con- THOMPSON MIKKELA State Department is expected to increase, gressmen — Charles Bass, R-N.H., Jim for Foreign Affairs Day, Day On the Hill with particular emphasis on security, he Moran, D-Va., and Chris Van Hollen, D- has become one of AFSA’s highest-profile added. Md. — met personally with their AFSA efforts to increase its visibility and secure Davis, a leader in the Republican Party constituents. Retirees met with the aides congressional support for legislative ini- and chairman of the House Government of 13 more senators and 12 congressmen tiatives of greatest importance to the FS. Reform Committee with jurisdiction over representing California, New York, Thanks to the work of AFSA’s Legislative Civil Service and retirement issues, request- Washington, Ohio, Maryland, Iowa, Director Ken Nakamura, Legislative Affairs ed more information on FS retiree con- Virginia and the District of Columbia. Intern Melissa Fitzgerald and Executive cerns. Besides thanking legislators for their sup- Assistant Austin Tracy, this year’s exercise Retirees from nine states and the port in strengthening the State was a great success. ▫

4 AFSA NEWS • JULY-AUGUST 2004 AFSA’S 2004 DISSENT AWARD WINNERS Christian A. Herter Award William R. Rivkin Award FOR A SENIOR-LEVEL FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICER FOR A MID-LEVEL FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICER Ronald Schlicher Keith Mines eith Mines is being honored with the Rivkin Award for his dissenting opinion on Iraq policy. The dissent message that Keith KMines sent on May 7, 2003, titled “Let the U.N. Manage the Political Transition in Iraq,” included the following recommendation: “... It is my judgment that only a U.N. political mission can make of Iraq a functioning, stable democracy. The U.N. brings assets to this project which the United States, even in a broad coalition, could never replicate, including much-needed resources, the staying power to see the transition through, a buffer between Iraq and the United States for the many things that invariably will go wrong, a full range of programs, a neutral political posture, and the Above: Ron Schlicher surrounded by his securi- right people, particularly at the most senior levels.” ty detail immediately after automatic weapons fire is heard nearby in Baqubah, Iraq. Left: Schlicher in a Blackhawk helicopter about to traverse Iraq.

s consul general in Jerusalem from 2000 to 2003, and then as Coalition Provisional Authority provincial coordinator in Iraq, ARonald L. Schlicher has repeatedly dealt with some of the toughest and most politically charged issues facing our government today. He has responded to these issues with “unmatched courage Keith Mines (far left), after a meeting with local and integrity,” says the high-level department official who nominated sheikhs, with Governor Burgis (2nd from right) and him for the Herter Award. Political Advisor Georges Younes (far right), in Schlicher created and ran the CPA’s Office of Provincial Outreach, Ramadi, Iraq. coordinating the efforts of the CPA’s provincial representatives throughout Iraq. His instincts for the political cultures of the region The Mines dissent represents just the kind and understanding of the political realities shaping Iraq today have Mines presiding at of constructive dissent the Rivkin Award was uniquely suited him for this role. His reporting challenged many of the Al Anbar created to honor: Mines possesses the intellec- the assumptions under which the U.S. government had been operat- Business Caucus, tual honesty and integrity to make his views ing, and gave the CPA a new ability to influence Iraqi opinion in a Jan. 11, 2004. known, while working within the system to coordinated way. bring about change. The views and proposals Critically, Schlicher used his network to create a Sunni engage- Mines put forward in his dissent message — sent from Embassy ment strategy designed to deal with an insurgency that has continual- Budapest — were formed based on his previous experience with ly threatened U.S. efforts. Pushing against commonly-held views, he political transitions after military interventions in Grenada, El insisted that a constructive approach that brought key Sunni leaders Salvador, Somalia, Haiti and Afghanistan. The message did not into the transition process was necessary. And he was right. His spur any immediate change of U.S. policy, but dissent messages commitment to offering honest and unvarnished reports of the facts only rarely do. As we see a year later, however, the arguments made and his willingness to advocate positions that may challenge the by Mines were prescient, and some of his proposals have been, accepted wisdom offered a much-needed fresh viewpoint to policy- belatedly, adopted. makers in Iraq and Washington. Undaunted by the fact that his proposals did not hold sway, in Schlicher’s service in Jerusalem — during a highly challenging the best spirit of Foreign Service dedication and professionalism, time when the Palestinian intifada moved from street protests to the Mines was one of the first FSOs to volunteer for duty in Iraq. He systematic application of terrorism — was likewise marked by his served as the Coalition Provisional Authority governance coordina- exceptional reporting and advice, governed by a respectful but direct tor in Al Anbar Province from August 2003 until February 2004. “tell it like it is” manner. He offered Washington a much-needed Mines never let disagreements over policy get in the way of his dose of reality during periods of crisis and intense international scruti- performance. He worked within the framework he was given, ny, such as the first siege of Arafat’s headquarters. As the award nom- always trying to make improvements along the way. ination states, “He demonstrated unmatched intellectual integrity in Reflecting on his dissent, Mines says, “I would hope that the providing a continual flow of advice and information, which fre- recent turnaround of our policies in favor of what I suggested 10 quently challenged long-held assumptions.” painful months ago highlights the danger of shutting out those who Ron Schlicher’s consistent willingness to question the status quo have made a career of working on political transitions in favor of and offer controversial recommendations that challenge long-held those with vivid imaginations.” assumptions in one of the most difficult and dangerous areas of the Keith Mines joined the Foreign Service in 1992. He has served world exemplifies the qualities recognized by the Herter Award. in Tel Aviv, Mogadishu, San Salvador, Port-au-Prince, Budapest, Schlicher joined the Foreign Service in 1982. Prior to Baghdad Kabul, Al Anbar Province of Iraq and Washington. Mines has a and Jerusalem, he served in Washington, Beirut, the Sinai, Cairo, B.A. in history from Brigham Young University and an M.A. from Alexandria, Damascus and Dhahran. He received his undergraduate Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service. He is married with four and law degrees from the University of Tennessee. children.

JULY-AUGUST 2004 • AFSA NEWS 5 AFSA’S 2004 DISSENT AWARD WINNERS The W. Averell Harriman Award The Tex Harris Award FOR A FOREIGN SERVICE JUNIOR OFFICER FOR A FOREIGN SERVICE SPECIALIST Steven Weston Elizabeth “Betsy” Orlando teve Weston was selected to etsy Orlando has stuck her neck out for us so many receive the Harriman Award for times, I am surprised she still has a head attached,” says Shis courage and constructive dis- “Bone of the two people who nominated Orlando for the sent that proved to be instrumental to Tex Harris Award. U.S. embassy successes in Luxembourg Orlando serves in the Foreign Service as a diplomatic courier, on both the policy and management and was based in Frankfurt from 2001 until June 2004. Her col- fronts. leagues recommended her for the Harris Just after Weston arrived in Award for her strong commitment to Luxembourg for his first Foreign Steve Weston and his wife, fairness and her willingness to put her Service tour, as an economic/public Lori, on July 4, 2003. own career on the line to help others. She diplomacy officer, the embassy lost its repeatedly demonstrated the qualities of deputy chief of mission and the political/economic chief. For sever- intellectual courage, initiative and integri- al critical months, Weston found himself in the unusual position of ty that reflect the spirit of constructive acting as the key adviser to the newly-arrived ambassador on a wide dissent. range of issues. He displayed an ability to quickly master complex Armed with extensive knowledge of issues and proved to be a skillful negotiator, creatively and con- the Foreign Affairs Manual and legal Betsy Orlando structively turning many of the ambassador’s ideas into feasible experience working as an attorney, she proposals. As the award nominators point out, Weston earned the has effectively interceded on behalf of colleagues who have expe- confidence of the ambassador by understanding that dissent doesn’t rienced difficulties due to poor management. One illustrative necessarily require saying “no.” example is the story of a courier who worked with Orlando in Typifying his ability to reshape expectations and shape events, Frankfurt. When he transferred to another post, he and a col- Weston was adept at using the visits of high-level U.S. government league at the new post faced abusive behavior from their supervi- visitors to further U.S. interests. As certifying officer for public sor. They sought help through the regular chain of command, diplomacy expenditures, he was repeatedly challenged to find a way and even traveled to Frankfurt to meet with the supervisor’s to support the ambassador’s ambitious public diplomacy initiatives supervisor. Nothing changed, until they approached Orlando for while keeping expenditures within budget. He skillfully succeeded assistance. in these endeavors. After receiving a rather desperate e-mail from her colleague, Even after the arrival of a new DCM and pol/econ chief, Weston’s Orlando went to her supervisor for help, and got none. Defying advice was sought by all the senior officers at post, including the her supervisor, she took the matter further in an effort to help ambassador. He continued to show a willingness to thoughtfully and these faraway couriers. The situation was resolved positively for deftly challenge taskings — not by saying no, but by offering con- the two couriers, but Orlando received an unfavorable evalua- structive alternatives for implementation if possible or, if necessary, by tion. questioning the objectives themselves. Weston’s ability to recognize On another occasion, she fought for the payment of overtime potential problems, envision alternatives and take thoughtful risks to couriers who were being unfairly denied the extra pay. She demonstrates the highest form of constructive dissent. persuaded a supervisor to pay the required overtime. This exam- About winning the award, Weston had this to say: “It is a ple was given by one of her nominators as “merely one of an tremendous honor for me to be selected as recipient of the almost unfathomable number” of instances in which Orlando W. Averell Harriman Award. I hope to continue to live up to the has put herself on the line to help colleagues. Her colleagues principles represented by this prestigious award as I continue my have attested to her resourcefulness and bravery, and her willing- career in public service.” ness to stand up for what she knows is right. Prior to joining the Foreign Service in 2001, Steve Weston Orlando joined the Diplomatic Courier Service in 1992, and worked for six years as a civil servant in both the State Department has traveled to over 160 countries. She has been based in and the Commerce Department. At State, he served in the Bureau Washington, Frankfurt, Bangkok and Helsinki. She was born in of Economic and Bohemia, N.Y., and graduated from Connetquot High School Business Affairs, and Mount Vernon and at Com- College (now George merce, in the Washington International University). She has a Trade Adminis- law degree from the tration. He was University of Akron born and raised in School of Law and is a Los Angeles. He member of the Ohio is married and has State Bar Association. a young son, born She writes poetry, and in Luxembourg. published the book, A Weston with Amb. Peter Terpeluk Jr. (left) and He is headed to Field of Flowers: Poems Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker Shanghai for his and Essays from a (center) at an embassy-organized 9/11 remem- second Foreign Diplomat’s Journeys, brance event on Sept. 11, 2002. Service tour. last year. Orlando in Trevi, Italy.

6 AFSA NEWS • JULY-AUGUST 2004 AFSA’S 2004 EXEMPLARY PERFORMANCE AWARD WINNERS Delavan Award Delavan Award FOR A FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICE MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST FOR A FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICE MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST Jenny A. Jeras Mary Jo Fuhrer erving as management section office management specialist s office manage- in one of the most difficult posts in the world, Embassy ment specialist SKabul, Jenny Jeras is called the “community’s heart and Afor the ambas- soul.” She sits at the “nerve center” of embassy operations, and sador at Embassy with professional competence and unflappable reserve, she is the Luxembourg, Mary Jo key player in coordinating between various units of the embassy Fuhrer provided criti- and in properly routing requests and information. cal assistance to the Faced with the reconstruction of the embassy compound, ambassador and oth- daily security threats and a continual stream of high-level visits ers. Her nearly two from Washington, Jeras has been instrumental in coordinating decades of Foreign the embassy’s many sections. As the post housing coordinator, Service experience was she created a highly efficient operation tailored for the complex an asset to the entire situation. She handled the support for over 100 long-term resi- mission. The ambas- dents of the compound’s shipping-container housing units, and sador, the deputy chief of mission and she ran a 30-bed “hotel” for temporary visitors who were arriv- others at post regularly consulted her on ing and departing many different issues, including issues daily. well outside the realm of “normal” Jeras turned her OMS responsibilities. office into the Above: Mary Jo Fuhrer with “Embassy staffing and resources had embassy publication her husband, Kevin, in 2002. been neglected for so long that this post center, proving her- was simply not equipped to handle a Below: Fuhrer with her father, self highly skilled at full-time, high-energy, results-oriented preparing useful retired SFS officer John ambassador,” according to Fuhrer’s documents. These Fuhrer, in 2003. nominator. “When Fuhrer arrived, included a laminat- post was in a state of disarray.” With ed pocket version of rare skill and grace, she took charge of the front office and quickly the ambassador’s grasped the ambassador’s preferences and earned his trust. She set up mission statement, procedures where they were lacking. She defined how requests for sophisticated meetings with the ambassador would be handled, and chaired an morale-building important weekly scheduling meeting to determine which events certificates of appre- would go on the ambassador’s calendar. She also took responsibility Jenny Jeras, 11 hours into a typically long day ciation and bound for determining what briefing papers were needed by the ambassador at the office in Kabul. briefing books. She and made sure he got what he needed. also took on the The DCM described her as the ambassador’s special assistant, as production of an well as his OMS. She played a vital role in coordinating 15 high-level embassy newsletter, another morale-building publication. In visits, including visits by Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert, another helpful outside-the-job-description activity, Jeras created Attorney General John Ashcroft, Supreme Allied Commander for a functional “gift shop” in her office, where visitors and residents Europe General James Jones, and others. can find souvenirs that they may not be able to shop for on their Fuhrer is an outstanding writer, and regularly reviewed docu- own. ments for substance, style and accuracy. She drafted talking Recognizing that in an environment as potentially isolating as points for the ambassador’s use at the country team briefing for Kabul, an unaccompanied post, the holidays can pose unique Speaker Hastert. challenges and hardships, Jeras organized huge Thanksgiving and While handling numerous tasks, both within and outside her Christmas dinners. These events were held in three sittings each, job description, she created an office environment where every and all 200 attendees at both dinners were brought a bit closer to employee feels welcome. She possesses an infectious positive home because of the holiday spirit and hard work of Jeras and attitude and was credited with doing the most to improve post her team of volunteers. morale. “Fuhrer’s performance, dedication and contributions to Through her strong professionalism and outstanding morale- Embassy Luxembourg have been extraordinary by any measure,” building skills, all the more important at a post dealing with says her nominator. complete reconstruction of the embassy compound, rapid The daughter of a retired Senior Foreign Service officer, expansion of personnel, a dangerous environment and the Fuhrer grew up in Asia and South America. She joined the demands of being a “must visit” post for much of Washington, Foreign Service in 1986 and met her future husband, U.S. Jenny Jeras met and exceeded the criteria for the Delavan Award. Marine Corps 1st Sgt Kevin Hodgkins, at her first post, Lima. Jeras was born in Buffalo and now calls Las Vegas home. She She went on to postings in Nassau, Niamey and Washington. In joined the Foreign Service in 2000. Prior to Kabul, she served in Washington, she has served most recently in the office of the Berlin. under secretary for political affairs, and has also served as OMS to the assistant secretary for East Asia and the Pacific and in the office of performance evaluation. She has a B.B.A. from Marymount University.

JULY-AUGUST 2004 • AFSA NEWS 7 AFSA’S 2004 EXEMPLARY PERFORMANCE AWARD WINNERS Avis Bohlen Award M. Juanita Guess Award FOR A FOREIGN SERVICE FAMILY MEMBER FOR A COMMUNITY LIAISON OFFICER Helene DeJong & Dawn Sewell McKeever Susanne Turner awn McKeever and Helene DeJong are seen as “local s the ambassador put it, follow- heroes” in Uganda, according to their nomination for the ing 9/11, “post morale was in DAvis Bohlen Award. Their activities in expanding literacy Athe dumps.” Many families and library access to underprivileged children throughout cen- had left Bishkek on authorized tral and eastern Uganda will have an impact long after they have departure orders while at the same left post. time the embassy workload had The volunteer activities of McKeever and DeJong included increased tenfold due to the opening coordinating volunteer support from various official and private of a Coalition military base in American entities and the broader American community in Bishkek to support Afghanistan Kampala. They identified underprivileged schools and commu- operations. Community Liaison nities in the Kampala, Wakiso, Nakasongola, Mbale and Pallisa Susanne Turner Officer Susanne Turner was an indis- districts of Uganda and helped the communities establish and pensable member of Embassy equip libraries. They also led workshops to train volunteer Bishkek’s team during this difficult period and can be credited with librarians. Together they coordinated the donation of over playing the key role in pulling the embassy community together. 3,000 books to 10 new libraries established with their support. As a member of the Emergency Action Committee, she was the Once the libraries were established, McKeever and DeJong ral- “voice of reason” that reminded the others on the committee that lied local students, Peace Corps Volunteers and others to help increased security restrictions come at a cost to both morale and the paint the buildings. ability to get work done. Displaying outstanding leadership, imagina- Another activity for which they will long be remembered is tion, initiative and tireless dedication, she worked closely with the their assistance to an alternative Regional Security Office to balance security concerns with opportuni- school for children who cannot ties to participate in activities and trips to boost morale and restore a afford fees in government schools. sense of normalcy to embassy life. They also adopted a slum commu- Both the regional and post medical officers praised Turner’s sup- nity on the outskirts of Kampala, port of families in crisis. She consistently offered critical support dur- and supported a local microenter- ing major medical and family crises that arose at post, including trips prise that fosters the economic out in the middle of the night to support community members in prosperity of single mothers and need or in crisis. “She inspires confidence by her discretion, non- widows. judgmental support and personal warmth,” says the ambassador, McKeever and adding that she “is the person everyone at this mission turns to for Above: DeJong met in Niger unfailing support, honest advice and a sympathetic ear.” Helene where they worked Turner played an instrumental role on the school board, leading DeJong; together at an orphan- the board through a difficult period that included many school staff Right: age, a village community changes. She led the post response to a major increase in the number Dawn school and with the of dependent children at post, from four to 22 in just one year. She Sewell American Women’s also played an important role in facilitating security upgrades at the McKeever Group of Niamey. They school, with the coop- continued working eration of the RSO. together in Kampala to She organized sessions assist disadvantaged women and children; start school and on children’s health community libraries; and train teachers and volunteers how to resources, raising chil- use the libraries. “We consider ourselves to be ‘aunties for dren overseas and first Africa,’” McKeever explains. Through their many volunteer aid for parents and activities, McKeever and DeJong have made a positive contribu- child-care providers in tion to Ugandan society and tangibly improved bilateral rela- both English and tions between the U.S. and Uganda. Russian. Helene DeJong is married to Regional Security Officer Embassy Bishkek Albert DeJong, and is the mother of four daughters. She has a now enjoys very high B.A. from American University and a teaching certificate from morale and a strong the FS Fast Train Program at George Mason University. She sense of community, and her husband have served in New Delhi, Niamey and due in large part to Washington, and will return again to Washington this summer Turner (center) during a visit to Bukhara, Turner’s outstanding upon completing their Kampala tour. Uzbekistan, in Oct. 2003. efforts. Dawn Sewell McKeever is married to Matthew McKeever, Turner was born who is serving as refugee coordinator in Kampala. She is the and raised in mother of three children and the grandmother of one. She Germany, and became a U.S. citizen in 1991. She is married to has a B.A. from Pennsylvania State University. She and her Public Affairs Officer Conrad Turner, who she met while working husband have served in Kingston, Paris, Sydney, Niamey and on the Soviet Refugee Program in Rosslyn, Va., in 1991. In addi- Washington, and will head for Casablanca from Kampala in tion to Bishkek, they have served in Islamabad, Vienna, Moscow the fall. and Minsk. The couple has two daughters.

8 AFSA NEWS • JULY-AUGUST 2004 FOREIGN AFFAIRS DAY Honoring Volunteer Award Winners FSA congratulates the winners of the Associates of the American Foreign AService Worldwide/Secretary of State's Award for Outstanding Volunteerism Abroad. The volunteer awards were created in 1990 by Susan Baker, wife of then Secretary of State James A. Baker III, and the first award was given in May 1991 on Foreign Service Day. The 2004 winners were honored during the opening ses- Winners of the Secretary of State’s Award for Outstanding Volunteerism Abroad, from left: Zina sion of Foreign Affairs Day May 7. AAFSW Lynch, Amy Sebes, Mary Jo Amani and Theresa McGallicher. Not pictured: June Carmichael. President Terri Williams presented the awards. inspire a reading culture in poor, marginal missioner of Dakar’s softball league, manag- The 2004 winners are: areas of Guatemala City and the country- ing and operating the concessions to raise • Mary Jo Amani, Guatemala City, Western side. Safe Passage, a Guatemalan commu- funds for the league and playing an instru- Hemisphere Affairs nity organization working with children liv- mental role in making the West Africa • June Carmichael, Hanoi, East Asian and ing at the city dump, has benefited from regional softball tournament an internation- Pacific Affairs Amani’s teacher-training program to devel- al success. She has also worked to ensure • Zina Lynch, Dakar, African Affairs op a Montessori-like approach for young the sustainability of the projects so that they • Theresa McGallicher, Kathmandu, South children. She started a children’s library and can have a lasting impact on the communi- Asian Affairs brought in trainers to conduct workshops ties after her departure. • Amy Sebes, Tirana, European Affairs with teachers on how to use books effective- Each of these volunteers demonstrated a ly. Most recently she has developed a grant THERESA MCGALLICHER, remarkable commitment to their respective proposal for the construction of a new KATHMANDU building for Safe Passage. communities and showed that one person Theresa McGallicher believes that can make a difference. Others who made introducing the “haves” to the “have-nots” outstanding contributions received honor- JUNE CARMICHAEL, HANOI is a sure way to improve the lives of both. able mention. They are: Because of June Carmichael’s love of As chair of the Education and Training Kathleen Ahern, La Paz museums and 14 years in retailing, she Committee of the Active Women of Sandra W. Bagley, Antanarivo identified a great need in the museum shops Nepal, she conducted site visits to prospec- Jennifer Breiman, Dhaka of Hanoi. She began a series of projects tive and ongoing programs to give out 218 Maxine Brinsfield, Moscow with the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology scholarships and provide skills training to Marguerite M. Davis, Strasbourg presenting lectures on the importance of 64 women. She spent countless hours Charlotte Davnie, Vilnius museum shops, collaborating with the shop online seeking other sources of funding for Deborah T. Delare, Bucharest manager to design and locate vendors to organizations her committee couldn’t sup- Wendy Dwyer, New Delhi produce a VME mug and tote bag, and port. She has raised thousands of dollars Mira M. Hankins, Maputo helped the museum director launch for AWON through her creative fundrais- Maria Pastrana Lujan, Mexico City Vietnam’s first museum membership pro- ing efforts. In addition, she became the Maurice R. Olfus, Port-au-Prince gram. Carmichael also encouraged the unofficial advocate for four orphanages, Angel Rivera, Panama City director to join in the worldwide celebration bringing them donations of books, toys Elaine Saxe, Mexico City of International Museum Day and saw and clothes, as well as bringing in other Lee-Allison Sibley, Calcutta thousands of Vietnamese attend this special volunteers. Judy Snellgrove, Managua free family-activity day, raising awareness of Karen Sprakties, Ashgabat their own rich cultural heritage. AMY SEBES, TIRANA Ron and Sheri Verdonk, Sao Paulo Amy Sebes volunteers well over 40 Patricia and Dave Williams, Colombo ZINA LYNCH, DAKAR hours a week helping trafficking-in-persons Angelena Vernal Young, Ljubljana Zina Lynch is involved with the House victims. With strong determination and of Hope shelter for raped, abused and preg- devotion, relentless advocacy work, an Following are summaries of the activities nant girls in Senegal. She began her entrepreneurial mind and endless energy, of the five winners. involvement by soliciting friends in the U.S. she helps trafficking victims rebuild their for clothes, linens and hygiene items. She lives. At a shelter in Tirana for trafficking MARY JO AMANI, GUATEMALA CITY garnered support from the U.S. Air Force in victims, Sebes established the Association of Since her arrival in Guatemala in July Dakar to raise funds for a new building for Albanian Girls and Women to teach handi- 2001, Mary Jo Amani demonstrated extra- the House of Hope, and enlisted support crafts, the sale of which will provide needed ordinary compassion for disadvantaged from Catholic Relief Services to manage the income. She also works to ensure the vic- youth, dedicating hundreds of hours to fundraising account and to establish a Web tims have a voice in decisions that affect improve the quality of education and to site for the shelter. Lynch is also the com- their lives and well-being. ▫

JULY-AUGUST 2004 • AFSA NEWS 9 2004 AFSA Merit Award Winners

AFSA is proud to announce the 20 Foreign Service cal arts, drama and creative writing. Emily Thielmann high school seniors who were selected for the 22 AFSA was selected as the Art Merit Award winner for her novel Merit Awards. These one-time-only awards totaling excerpt and poem submissions in the creative writing $23,500 were bestowed on May 7. Congratulations to category, and Ann Kidder was selected as the Art Merit these students for their academic and artistic achieve- Award honorable mention winner for her mixed media ments. Winners received $1,500 awards and honor- visual arts submissions. able mention winners received $500 awards. Judges AFSA offers four named scholarships for academ- were members of the Foreign Service community. ic merit, which are awarded to the highest-scoring stu- This year, 55 students competed for the 12 dents each year. The named scholarships are: Associa- Academic Merit Awards. They were judged on grade tion of the American Foreign Service Worldwide point average, SAT scores, essays, letters of recom- Scholarship; John and Priscilla Becker Family mendation, extra-curricular activities and any special Scholarship; John C. Leary Memorial Scholarship; and circumstances. From the Academic Merit Award appli- Donald S. and Maria Giuseppa Spigler Scholarship. cants, a best essay winner (Ryan Fennerty) and a com- For more information on the AFSA Merit Awards munity service winner (Michelle Christensen) were or the AFSA Scholarship Program, or on how to estab- selected. lish a named scholarship, contact Lori Dec at (202) 944- Fifteen students submitted art merit applications 5504 or [email protected]. Please visit our Web site at under one of the following categories: visual arts, musi- www.afsa.org/scholar/index.cfm.

Academic Merit Winners

Art Merit Winner

Colin Campbell: son of Linda Ryan Fennerty: son of Jeffrey Julian: son of Anne Eric Lankenau-Ray: son of and William Campbell (State); Heather and John Fennerty Packer Julian and Dr. Wayne Linda Lankenau (USAID) and graduate of James Madison (State); graduate of Saint Julian (State); graduate of R. Thomas Ray (USAID); grad- High School, Vienna, Va.; Andrew’s College, Dublin, American International School uate of International School of attending Yale University. Ireland; attending Yale of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya; attend- Winner of the John and University. Ryan was also the attending Columbia Univer- ing Brown University. Priscilla Becher Family AFSA Academic Merit sity. Emily Thielmann: daughter of Scholarship. Program’s Best Essay winner. Pam and Gregory Thielmann (State); graduate of HB Woodlawn Secondary Pro- gram, Arlington, Va.; attending Vassar College. Emily was also an AFSA Academic Merit winner, awarded for her novel excerpt and poem.

Nastassia Patin: daughter of Mollie Ruskin: daughter of Jeremy Wickman: son of Halley Wuertz: daughter of Maja and Paul Patin (State); Andrea Cohen and Charles Phyllis and Stephen Wickman June Appel and Robert graduate of Walworth Bar- Rosenfarb (State); graduate of (State); graduate of McLean Wuertz (USAID); graduate of bour American International American School of Johan- High School, McLean, Va.; International School Manila, School in Kfar Shmaryahu, nesburg, Pretoria, South attending University of Manila, Philippines; attending Israel; attending Stanford Africa; attending Pomona Virginia. Winner of the Brown University. University. College. AAFSW Scholarship.

10 AFSA NEWS • JULY-AUGUST 2004 PMA Donation to AFSA Scholarship Fund On the occasion of its 36th anniversary in May, the Public Members Association of the Foreign Service presented a $3,600 scholarship check to AFSA to be awarded under AFSA’s Financial Aid Scholarship Program. This award was given in memory of Dr. Hatten S. Yoder Jr., who served on PMA’s board of directors for many years. His daughter, Karen Wallace, was on hand for the scholarship pre- sentation.

Scholarship winners who attended the May 7 AFSA ceremony. Back row, from far left: State Representative of the AFSA Committee on Education Deborah Odell, FAS Representative of the AFSA Committee Amb. Edward Dillery (cen- on Education Mike Conlon, and AFSA Merit Award winners Michael ter) accepts a check from Young, Colin Campbell, Alexander Snider. Front row, from left: Jeremy PMA Scholarship Chair Wickman, Emily Thielmann, Clarie Lauterbach and Leslie Cole (Financial Nick Frankhouser and Aid Scholarship recipient), Chairman of the AFSA Committee on Karen Wallace. Education Amb. Edward Dillery.

Academic Merit Honorable Mention Winners

Christopher Brill: son of Mary Brill and Ambassador Kenneth Brill; attending Georgetown University.

Bran Mahoney: son of Christopher Mahoney and Carolyn Cohen (APHIS); attending Florida Claire Lauterbach: daughter Alexis Mussomeli: daughter State University. of Steven Lauterbach (State) of Joseph Mussomeli (State) and Marie-Paule Lauterbach and Sharon Mussomeli Matthew Miller: son of Roberta and Lloyd Miller (USAID); attending University of Virginia. (State); graduate of Yorktown (State); graduate of Inter- High School, Arlington, Va.; national School Manila, Gabriele O’Connor: daughter of Mari and Christopher “Mic” O’Connor (State); attend- attending Duke University. Manila, Philippines; attending ing University of York, England. Winner of the Donald S. and Middlebury College. Maria Giuseppa Spigler Caitlin O’Grady: daughter of Deborah Guido-O’Grady (State) and Daniel O’Grady (State); Scholarship. attending University of Virginia. Alexander Snider: son of Penelope Williams (State) and Raymond Snider (State); attending University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Art Merit Honorable Mention Winner

Ann Kidder: daughter of Sungeun Cho and Samuel Kidder (FCS); attending Brown University. Ann won in the visual arts category for her mixed media drawings and sculpture.

Community Service Award Michael Young: son of Barbara Finamore and Michelle Christensen: daughter of Brenda and Brent Christensen (State); attending University Ambassador Stephen Young of Utah. Michelle won for her volunteer work at overseas orphanages. (State); graduate of McLean High School, McLean, Va.; attending Bowdoin College. Winner of the John C. Leary Memorial Scholarship.

JULY-AUGUST 2004 • AFSA NEWS 11 V.P. VOICE: FAS ■ BY LAURA SCANDURRA AFSANEWSBRIEFS Continued from page 3 Managing a Shortage USAA Reconfirms Policy of Membership Denial ne of the major challenges facing the Foreign The ongoing problem with USAA Agricultural Service is the impending shortage of Foreign continues. Since 2002, USAA has OService officers. Over the past several years, the attrition rate for FSOs has significantly exceeded the intake rate. refused to accept new membership Since 1995, 70 FSOs have left the FAS Foreign Service while applications from FS employees of only 39 have joined. Even more worrisome, 20 percent of FCS, FAS and USAID. AFSA has FAS FSOs are eligible to retire immediately and 54 percent been arguing for a change in this will be eligible in five years. new policy, and has tried a number Unlike other foreign affairs agencies, FAS relies on an in- of approaches. Most recently, AFSA house recruitment process to fill our ranks. Civil servants at the GS-11 level and above are eligible to apply after working for USDA for 18 months, 12 of which must facilitated the sending of a letter be with FAS. This system has worked well in that it effectively screens employees from Commerce Department before they apply for the FAS Foreign Service, which helps ensure qualified appli- Secretary Evans to the chairman of cants and provides employees with the opportunity to assess whether or not there USAA. is a good long-term fit with the agency. This minimizes attrition, and allows employ- At its annual board meeting in ees to gain work experience so that they are better prepared to represent U.S. agri- May, USAA reconfirmed their com- cultural interests abroad. mitment not to allow these non- But while the FAS in-house recruiting system has its advantages, few Civil Service employees are showing an interest in the Foreign Service. In 2003, only 11 people State Department Foreign Service applied and eight were accepted. In contrast, last year the Foreign Commercial Service, members to join. AFSA will keep which recruits from the outside, invited 114 applicants to the assessment exam, of pushing until the policy is changed. which, 38 passed and 20 were given conditional offers. Why the limited number of applicants at FAS? The answer could be our own outreach and hiring practices: we advertise and hire for specific job vacancies. While FCS AFSA News the Recruitment Committee screens applicants to ensure that they have the right In April, AFSA FCS sponsored a welcome general skill set for FAS, the selecting official hires a person to fill a particular Civil reception for U.S. and Foreign Service position vacancy. Job advertisements make no mention of the potential to Commercial Service Director General join the Foreign Service. As a result, applicants may not be aware that FAS offers a Rhonda Keenum Newman. Over 20 Foreign Service option. The lengthy process associated with hiring for Civil Service Washington-based members and a few positions, which routinely takes up to six months and, in some cases, up to a year, members on temporary duty in is also problematic. Finally, periodic disruptions caused by hiring freezes send the Washington attended. Recruitment Committee into spells of relative inactivity. After the hiring freeze between AFSA FCS has had a successful mid- 1998 and 2000, the Recruitment Committee almost went dormant. Although it term bargaining session. At AFSA’s didn’t go underground for as long as the 17-year cicadas, the committee did take a request, Commerce management agreed while to revive. to sign on to the State Department What can FAS do to stimulate interest in the Foreign Service? FAS management “Members of Household” policy. In addi- has already taken a number of steps to address some of the recruitment challenges tion, with urging from AFSA, FCS manage- including an initiative to streamline the hiring process and enhanced workforce plan- ment announced in April that all officers ning. In addition, the FAS Recruitment Committee is now led by an FSO. Will these steps achieve results? Should we be doing more? What is being done are now eligible to participate in the to expand outreach? Should we modify our hiring practices so that we can hire American Foreign Service Protective Schedule B employees and employees that are currently working for FAS under a Association open season for the new personal services contract? Should we follow the lead of other foreign affairs agen- Immediate Benefit Plan, a term life insur- cies and recruit from the outside? These are questions that need to be debated. Given ance policy that has been available to the significant percentage of FAS FSOs that are near retirement, this is an increas- State employees since last year. The plan ingly urgent task. We would welcome the opportunity to work with the Recruitment is also being offered to USAID members Committee to achieve the objective of attracting people that have both the right skills as well. Additional information can be and a strong interest in the Foreign Service. ▫ found at http://www.afspa.org.

12 AFSA NEWS • JULY-AUGUST 2004 AFSANEWSBRIEFS V.P. VOICE: USAID ■ BY BILL CARTER AAFSW: FS Community Bully in the Pulpit Resource The Associates of the American ecently, we have seen the damage of the havoc wrought Foreign Service Worldwide, a nonprofit by abuse-of-power issues as they surfaced in many pro- organization serving the Foreign Service Rfessions: in the clergy and in media organizations, at community, continues to add services big corporations and, most recently and graphically, in the for the Foreign Service community. The military. The Foreign Service is not immune, and we all know Web site, www.aafsw.org, features that abuse of power has long been an underaddressed prob- columns written by members of the lem. We could be — and should be — doing better at every community. Kelly Midura, also known level: ambassadors, mission directors, project officers and even as “the cyberspouse,” writes a series on new entry professionals. living frugally in the Foreign Service. Like the military, the Foreign Service is hierarchically structured; we have our own Stephanie Tansey writes an interactive chain of command and it's risky business taking on the boss, even when the boss is column on the art of representation and out of line and damaging the reputation not only of the Foreign Service, but of the entertaining. Patricia Linderman takes United States. Overseas, no FS employee challenges a mission director, an ambas- on relationships in the Foreign Service sador or DCM lightly. Despite all of the dissent awards given by AFSA, it is diffi- in the provocative and popular cult to counteract such behavior, especially in our risk-averse culture. The linger- “Personal and Confidential.” A useful resource on the site is the classified ads, ing fear is always that dissent will be punished. After all, promotions and future assign- which provide a free place for members ments (and the individuals who make those determinations) are never far from an to advertise. officer’s mind. Such an environment is conducive for abuses to be ignored or swept For people without reliable Internet under the lumpy, proverbial carpet. access, AAFSW has also started “tele- I have been the USAID AFSA vice president for about a year. During this time, sessions,” conference calls about key I have had numerous phone calls, visits and meetings about abuses in missions; cer- Foreign Service topics. Recent topics tainly more than enough to convince me that the issue warrants attention. Power have included: building a strong Foreign is an intoxicant and can prove to be so delicious that it is a cup from which it is all Service marriage, relocating, raising kids too easy to drink. Professionalism and maturity can be antidotes to overblown egos, in the Foreign Service and thriving as a but are sometimes in short supply in the management medicine chest. More broad- Foreign Service spouse. For the most ly, agencies have an obligation to provide an abuse-free work environment. recent schedule, check www.aafsw.org Several incidents of abuse come to mind, and I want to shine a spotlight on a or contact the AAFSW office at (202) few in the hope that the “ounce of prevention” theory might work. Actually, I am 362-6514 or [email protected]. hoping for more — the “more” is called courage. I’m hoping we will have the courage AAFSW is in direct communication to make sure that our profession avoids the scandal that has plagued others. with posts through post representatives CASE ONE: There is a mission director who yells and screams at junior officers in over 25 countries, and welcomes about their lack of familiarity with USAID work procedures, yet has failed to assure more volunteers for the post rep positions. For more information on all appropriate mentoring or enough training for them. Subordinates cannot rectify AAFSW has to offer, go to a knowledge gap or training deficiency if their mission director is not willing to assist www.aafsw.org. them by providing opportunities to expand their knowledge base. CASE TWO: There is the always-in-a-hurry project officer who berates and demeans Annuity Overpayment Update the Foreign Service National driver who seems not to know the correct destination As of late May, 26 retirees had come to for a site visit. Yet the officer had failed to inform the motor pool in advance where AFSA asking for assistance in responding he needed to go. Cooperation and respect includes co-workers at all levels and job to department demands for repayment of types. Respect and cordiality need to flow in both directions, not just upward to annuity overpayments. AFSA is working one’s superiors. hard to assist these retirees and to push CASE THREE: There is the junior officer who capriciously dismisses household help. for a more fair and transparent system. If Household help have no AFSA-like organization to defend their rights. Junior offi- you have received an overpayment notice, cers must remember that they represent the U.S. government and the American peo- let AFSA know by contacting Retiree ple. Let’s leave the “Ugly American” stereotype behind as an unfortunate relic of Activities Coordinator Bonnie Brown at the last century. e-mail: [email protected] or by phone: Certainly, more training can be helpful, but maturity, civility and decency are (202) 338-4045, ext. 509. ▫ the real answers, and so is courage. ▫

JULY-AUGUST 2004 • AFSA NEWS 13 CLASSIFIEDS

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14 AFSA NEWS • JULY-AUGUST 2004 CLASSIFIEDS PROPERTY MANAGEMENT GEORGETOWN … CAPITOL HILL … REAL ESTATE WJd MANAGEMENT IS competitively EAST ENd. No down payment — no sweat. priced, of course. However, if you are con- www.EquityFundGroup.com. JOANN PIEKNEY/ PRUdENTIAL CAR- sidering hiring a property management firm, EFRealty e-mail: [email protected]. RUTHERS REALTORS: Complete profes- don’t forget the old saying, “You get what you sional dedication to residential sales in ONE-BEdROOM COTTAGE For Rent. pay for.” All of us at WJD have worked for other Northern Virginia. I provide you with person- Minute walk from rear gate of FSI. Short/long- property management firms in the past, and al attention. Over 22 years’ real estate expe- term. Laundry, parking, skylights, fireplace, we have learned what to do and, more impor- rience and Foreign Service overseas living patio. Kitchenette. $1,500/month. Pets con- experience. JOANN PIEKNEY. tantly, what not to do from our experiences at sidered. 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JULY-AUGUST 2004 • AFSA NEWS 15 CLASSIFIEDS

BLACK MOUNTAIN, NC: 15 min. from Asheville, named 8th most ideal place to live BOOKS PET TRANSPORTATION in USA. Many FSOs retire here — but not just a retirement community. Ideal family The LasT Wor d: by James K. Welsh home full of light, 5 bedrooms, 3 full baths, Jr. Outspoken account of lifetime spanning big custom kitchen, hardwood floors, energy five continents as disciplined youth, naval per- efficient, 2 fireplaces, 3,100 sq. ft. plus 1,800 son, front-office diplomat, adventurous avia- ft. on ground level (above ground) possible tor, budding politician, gentleman farmer, for office, recreation or apt. In county (less ordained Catholic deacon. Two bicultural mar- taxes), close to town and Interstate. riages. $27.00. To purchase: Stimulating community, many cultural and http://www.trafford.com/robots/03-2469.html. intellectual opportunities and recreation, golf, tennis, swimming, hiking, exercise programs. PET MOvING MAdE EASY. Club Pet Plenty of volunteer opportunities, too — come OLd ASIA/ORIENT BOOKS BOUGHT International, is a full-service animal shipper join us for the good life. Gay Currie Fox Real Asian rare books. Fax: (212) 316-3408. who specializes in local, national and inter- Estate, Inc. Tel: (828) 669-8027, P.O. Box E-mail: [email protected] national trips. Club Pet is the ultimate pet-care 308, Black Mountain, NC 28711. boarding facility in the Washington www.gaycurriefox.com THE AAFSW NEEdS your donations for Metropolitan area. Located in Chantilly, Va. E-mail: [email protected] BOOKFAIR -- an October event for 44 years. Club Pet is ABKA-accredited, and licensed by Artwork, books in good condition, stamps and the USDA as well as the TSA as an Indirect coins all gratefully accepted. Handicrafts from Air Carrier. Tel: (703) 471-7818 or (800) 871- NO STATE INCOME TAX enhances gra- post especially welcome as they are popular. 2535. E-mail: [email protected]. cious living in Sarasota, the cultural capital of www.clubpet.com. Florida’s Gulf Coast. Contact former FSO Paul Byrnes, Coldwell Banker residential sales spe- IN THE WASHINGTON AREA: For pick-ups cialist, by e-mail: [email protected], or call: Virginia Jones at (202) 223-5796. IN THE BUSINESS CARDS Toll-Free: (877) 924-9001. DEPARTMENT: Donations drop-off at the BOOKROOM (Rm. B816) Mon-Fri, noon to BUSINESS CARdS printed to State 2:00 P.M., or by appt. Department specifications. 500 cards for as little as $37.00! Herron Printing & Graphics UNIvERSITY PARK SARASOTA/ FROM OvERSEAS: Donations may be (301) 990-3100; or BRAdENTON AREA: Short- or long-term: pouched to: AAFSW BOOKROOM, B816 E-mail: [email protected] Large, elegant, turnkey furnished pool villa with Main State (HST). lake view in golf course community; 2 bdrms, 1 2 /2-baths plus den, fireplace. Near airport and SHOPPING beaches and Sarasota's theaters, shops and MISCELLANEOUS restaurants. Contact: Paulina Kemps or Jennette E. Rossi at Wagner Realty. ON THE GO 4 U: Personal Shopping, LOOKING FOR CAR PARTS? EFM with Concierge Service, Personal Assistant, Event Tel: (941) 953-6000, or toll-free: (888) 691-1245. vast experience in car parts and accessories Planning. Personal shoppers scaled to fit bud- can locate the right item for your needs at the get and needs. Service provided to those VACATION best price and ship to you via APO or pouch. overseas. Tel: (202) 538-7422, or E-mail: Contact me at: rolandoaguilera2003@hotmail [email protected] www.onthego4u.net. JUPITER BEACH, FL: Ocean Front, 3- for information and pricing. 1 bedroom, 2 /2-bath condo available with pool, gym and tennis. Golf courses close by. 110 - 220 vOLT STORE Minimum three months rental. Tel: (703) 960- MULTI-SYSTEM ELECTRONICS 3386. E-mail: [email protected]. SHIPPING PLANNING TO MOvE OvERSEAS? PAL-SECAM-NTSC Tvs, Need a rate to ship your car, household goods, VCRs, AUDIO, CAMCORDER, or other cargo going abroad? Contact: Joseph ADAPTOR, TRANSFORMERS, NORMANdY, FRANCE: Large, comfort- T. Quinn. at SEFCO-Export Management KITCHEN APPLIANCES able farmhouse near D-Day Beaches for Company for rates and advice. Tel: (718) 268- GMS WORLd WIdE PHONES weekly rental. www.laporterouge.net, or e-mail: 6233. Fax: (718) 268-0505. EPORT WORLd ELECTRONICS [email protected]. Visit our Web site at www.sefco-export.com 1719 Connecticut Ave NW (Dupont Circle Metro. Btwn. R & S Sts.) TEL (202) 232-2244 or (800) 513-3907 HOME LEAvE ON SANIBEL: Former NUTRITIONAL SOLUTIONS vITAMINS E-mail: [email protected] FSO offers 2-bedroom, 2-bath condo on ANd THINGS: Herbs, vitamins, homeo- URL: www.eportworld.com Sanibel Island, Florida. Steps from famous pathics, flower remedies, body care, books, NEW LOCATION seashells and pristine beach of this vacation and more! We offer high-quality products that 1030 19TH ST. NW (between K & L Sts.) paradise. Available on monthly and weekly produce dependable health benefits. Visit us Washington, D.C. 20009, basis. Call: (703) 827-0312, or e-mail: at www.yellnutrition.com to question our TEL (202) 464-7600. [email protected] for availability and knowledgeable staff and to place your orders INq UIRE ABOUT OUR PROMOTIONS rates. or call us at: (703) 271-0400. Government & diplomat discounts

16 AFSA NEWS • JULY-AUGUST 2004 CLASSIFIEDS

JULY-AUGUST 2004 • AFSA NEWS 15 CLASSIFIEDS

16 AFSA NEWS • JULY-AUGUST 2004