1 C-C 4_FSJ_10_10_COV:proof 9/13/10 7:28 PM Page C1 THE VERY MODEL OF A MODERN DIPLOMAT ■ SPECIAL CLEANING SERVICES $4.50 / OCTOBER 2010 OREIGN ERVICE FJ O U R N A L STHE MAGAZINE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS PROFESSIONALS IS ANYONE LISTENING? U.S. Government-Funded International Broadcasting 1 C-C 4_FSJ_10_10_COV:proof 9/13/10 7:28 PM Page C2 01-14_FSJ_10_10_FRO:first 9/13/10 10:02 PM Page 1 01-14_FSJ_10_10_FRO:first 9/13/10 10:02 PM Page 2 01-14_FSJ_10_10_FRO:first 9/13/10 10:02 PM Page 3 OREIGN ERVICE FJ O U R N A L S CONTENTS October 2010 Volume 87, No. 10 F OCUS ON U.S.-Funded International Broadcasting KEEPING AMERICA CONNECTED: CHALLENGES FOR THE BBG / 15 Changing technology, tough competition and a shrinking budget: How should the new Broadcasting Board of Governors proceed? By Richard G. Lugar BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT ... / 22 “On the Road,” a USAID-sponsored TV program, was among the most watched in Afghanistan during its first season. By Jeremiah Carew U.S.-FUNDED MEDIA AND THE “SOFT WAR” IN IRAN / 26 Cover illustration by John Craig With its large, tech-savvy population of people under 30, Iran is fertile ground for a social media campaign by U.S. broadcasters. By Robert McMahon AMERICA CALLING: A 21ST-CENTURY MODEL / 31 PRESIDENT’S VIEWS / 5 The BBG should move to consolidate U.S. government-funded Address Mid-Level Gaps to international broadcasting into one multimedia organization. Strengthen Our Institutions By Kim Andrew Elliott By Susan R. Johnson F EATURE SPEAKING OUT / 12 Defining the Ideal Diplomat THE 9TH A-100 CLASS: A SNAPSHOT / 38 By Marc Grossman They came to the Foreign Service from many different places and backgrounds. But all of them were ready for adventure. REFLECTIONS / 76 By Leslie A. Bassett Appeasing the Spirits By Robert Gribbin LETTERS / 7 CYBERNOTES / 9 MARKETPLACE / 14 BOOKS / 54 IN MEMORY / 58 INDEX TO ADVERTISERS / 74 OCTOBER 2010/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 3 01-14_FSJ_10_10_FRO:first 9/22/10 11:14 AM Page 4 OREIGN ERVICE CONTENTS FJ O U R N A L S EWS Editor AFSA N STEVEN ALAN HONLEY Senior Editor SECRETARY CLINTON HAILS AFSA ESSAY CONTEST WINNER / 43 SUSAN B. MAITRA Associate Editor STATE EMPLOYEE WINS WAR COLLEGE WRITING AWARD / 43 SHAWN DORMAN AFSA News Editor NEWS BRIEFS / 44 AMY MCKEEVER Ad & Circulation Manager VP STATE: HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS / 45 ED MILTENBERGER Art Director RAIN AND ETAIN VP FAS: T R / 46 CARYN SUKO SMITH Editorial Intern VP USAID: CONSOLIDATION VS. EQUITY / 47 MOHAMMAD ALHINNAWI AAFSW BOOKFAIR TURNS 50 / 48 Advertising Intern LARISSA FALK ALL FOR LEXIBILITY A C F / 49 EDITORIAL BOARD TED WILKINSON EVENT CALENDAR / 50 Chairman KELLY ADAMS-SMITH CLASSIFIEDS / 50 MAY BAPTISTA JOSEPH BRUNS STEPHEN W. B UCK JULIE GIANELLONI CONNOR MARY E. GLANTZ GEORGE JONES KATE WIEHAGEN LEONARD LYNN ROCHE RACHEL SCHNELLER THE MAGAZINE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS PROFESSIONALS Foreign Service Journal (ISSN 0146-3543), 2101 E Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037-2990 is published monthly with a combined July-August issue by the American Foreign Service Associa- tion (AFSA), a private, nonprofit organization. Material appearing herein represents the opin- ions of the writers and does not necessarily rep- resent the views of the Journal, the Editorial Board or AFSA. Writer queries and submissions are invited, preferably by e-mail. Journal sub- scription: AFSA members – $13 included in an- nual dues; others – $40. For foreign surface mail, add $18 per year; foreign airmail, $36 per year. Periodical postage paid at Washington, D.C., and at additional mailing offices. Indexed by Public Affairs Information Services (PAIS). The Journal is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photos or illustrations. Advertising inquiries are invited. The appearance of advertisements herein does not imply the endorsement of the services or goods offered. TELEPHONE: (202) 338-4045 FAX: (202) 338-8244 or (202) 338-6820 E-MAIL: [email protected] WEB: www.afsa.org; www.fsjournal.org © American Foreign Service Association, 2010. Printed in the U.S.A. Send address changes to: AFSA Attn: Address Change 2101 E Street N.W. Washington DC 20037-2990 Printed on 50-percent recycled paper, of which 10 percent is post-consumer waste. 4 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/OCTOBER 2010 01-14_FSJ_10_10_FRO:first 9/13/10 10:02 PM Page 5 PRESIDENT’S VIEWS Address Mid-Level Gaps to Strengthen Our Institutions BY SUSAN R. JOHNSON Over the past year or so we July, includes language calling and attract talent at the entry level. have heard more and more on the Secretary of State to In the long term, the “agile and flex- talk about mid-level Foreign implement a mid-career pilot ible” institution that the times demand, Service staffing gaps in the program. Briefings on the as Sec. Gates lays out in his May/June State Department and U.S. QDDR process suggest that Foreign Affairs article, “Helping Others Agency for International De- various options along those Defend Themselves: The Future of Se- velopment. The problem has lines are already under con- curity Assistance,” requires offering in- been amply documented in sideration, including a lateral centives to recruit the right people with Government Accountability Office re- entry program, possibly supplemented the right set of expectations, education, ports, discussed in congressional hear- by more contractors. But is this the best talent and temperament to handle the ings, and addressed in the Quadrennial or even a desirable approach? challenges of today’s diplomacy. Diplomacy and Development Review. I would like to suggest a better It also entails well-conceived profes- These concerns are now reflected in course for the “pilot program” called for sional education and training, including language included in House and Senate in the bill. It would give the Secretary exposure to environment, science, tech- authorization and appropriations bills, of State the authority to: (1) bring back nology and health issues (generally as well as in recommendations emerg- good retirees for three to five years; (2) known as ESTH), counterterrorism, ing from the QDDR process. At the use qualified Department of State civil economics and finance, conflict resolu- same time, we have seen bipartisan at- servants more flexibly; and (3) make it tion and stabilization, multilateral diplo- tention, spearheaded by Secretary of easier for Foreign Service personnel to macy and negotiations, program man- State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Sec- move from one foreign affairs agency to agement, budget, strategic planning and retary of Defense Robert Gates, de- another without harming their career complex operations — in addition to voted to the pressing need to strengthen prospects. traditional bilateral diplomacy. our long-neglected foreign affairs agen- This sort of pilot program could start We must change current practices cies, and a new recognition of the im- us on the way to making the Depart- that keep people professionally narrow portance of diplomacy and development ment of State the institutional home of and one-dimensional, through the use as key tools of American foreign policy. a “unified” United States Diplomatic of incentives which develop 3D (strate- How can we close the mid-level Service. That said, this should be seen gic, tactical and operational) thinkers staffing gap in a way which promotes as a temporary expedient, one that who understand the interagency pro- rather than undermines the long-term should be leveraged to strengthen the cess and can tap into expertise on a goal of building strong and effective institution and the professional career case-by-case basis. We should also take civilian foreign affairs agencies? The Foreign Service. Lateral entry would a fresh look at the cone system. In Senate’s Foreign Operations Fiscal Year have the opposite impact. By under- short, it means developing, managing, 2011 appropriations bill, S. 3676, re- mining morale and motivation among recognizing and promoting talent and ported out of committee at the end of career Foreign Service members, and professionalism. failing to address the “experience gap,” I invite you to share your thoughts Susan R. Johnson is the president of the it would actually weaken the ability of on this important issue at President@ American Foreign Service Association. the institution to deal with challenges afsa.org. ■ OCTOBER 2010/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 5 01-14_FSJ_10_10_FRO:first 9/13/10 10:02 PM Page 6 01-14_FSJ_10_10_FRO:first 9/13/10 10:02 PM Page 7 LETTERS Training for the Future eign Service’s “up or out” personnel sys- hired to do instead of getting ready to The Journal deserves high praise tem. His reporting and analysis confirm do it. This is not to say that training is for its May issue, which presented a my belief that it is time for the foreign not necessary — simply that FS train- rich collection of articles on the future affairs agencies to get rid of this system. ing needs are fundamentally different. of our foreign affairs establishment. The U.S. government’s application The problem with the misguided re- The article by Ambassador Edward of military practices to civilian employ- tention of the Foreign Service’s up-or- Marks, “The Next-Generation Depart- ment is based upon a fundamental out system, particularly the time-in- ment of State Project,” broke new misunderstanding. An “up or out” sys- service requirement, is that it forces ground on imaginative and construc- tem makes sense for the military, be- good, competent officers out just when tive ways to reorganize what has sadly cause its job is to fight and win armed they have the most to offer, including the become a sclerotic machine. conflict.