PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION JULY-AUGUST 2014

DIPLOMATIC REPORTING TODAY

IT DESERVED AN OSCAR

A BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR THE FOREIGN SERVICE

FOREIGN July-August 2014 SERVICE Volume 91, No. 7-8

AFSA NEWS FOCUS EMBASSY REPORTING TODAY Gala 90th-Anniversary Celebration / 45 The Art of Political Reporting / 22 State VP Voice: Despite the challenges, reporting from the field—in whatever form it takes— Bidding and 360s / 46 is still the indispensable ingredient of any meaningful foreign policy discussion. USAID VP Voice: FS Benefits–How Do State and USAID Compare? / 47 BY DAN LAWTON AFSA Welcomes New Staff Members / 48 Diplomatic Reporting: Adapting Two New Reps Join AFSA Board / 48 to the Information Age / 26 Speaker Partnership with USC / 49 2014 AFSA Award Winners / 49 While technology enhances brainpower, it is no substitute for the seasoned diplomat’s powers of observation and assessment, argues this veteran consumer Issue Brief: The COM Guidelines / 50 of diplomatic reporting. Expert on Professions Kicks Off New AFSA Forum / 53 BY JOHN C. GANNON The 2014 Kennan Writing Award / 56 2014 Merit Award Winners / 57 A Selection of Views from Practitioners / 31 AFSA Files MSI Implementation Hitting the Ball Dispute / 61 CHRISTOPHER W. BISHOP On the Hill: Who Said It’s All About Congress? / 62 Bring in the Noise–Using Digital Technology to Promote Peace and Security USAID Mission Directors’ DANIEL FENNELL Happy Hour / 63 Inside a U.S. Embassy: Yet The Value-Added of Networking Another Press Run / 63 CHRISTOPHER MARKLEY NYCE Why You Need a Household Inventory / 64 The Three Amigos–South Korea, Colombia and Panama Trade Agreements Federal Benefits Event Draws IVAN RIOS a Full House / 65 Political Reporting: Then and Now–and Looking Ahead COLUMNS KATHRYN HOFFMAN AND SAMUEL C. DOWNING President’s Views / 7 The #Twitterfication of Political and Economic Reporting The New QDDR Offers Hope TRAVIS COBERLY BY ROBERT J. SILVERMAN Letter from the Editor / 8 FEATURES Reporting Matters BY SHAWN DORMAN It Deserved an Oscar / 38 Speaking Out / 17 How to Get Better Ambassadors For those of us in the Foreign Service, “State Department File 649” is our cinematic BY DENNIS JETT showcase, William Lundigan our star, and Virginia Bruce our Best Actress. BY DONALD M. BISHOP Reflections / 81 Spy vs. Spy, Romanian Style BY LUCIANO MANGIAFICO Westgate: The Other Nairobi and the Future of Kenya / 41 DEPARTMENTS In the shock and tragedy of the terrorist attack, the outpouring of charity from Kenyans toward all those affected demonstrated the power of the “Kenyan Spirit.” Letters / 9 Talking Points / 11 BY JOASH OMONDI Books / 66 In Memory / 68 Local Lens / 82 On the cover: (1) In the tiny settlement of Igaliku in southern Greenland, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell (far right), Greenland Home Rule Minister of Foreign Affairs Josef Motzfeldt (cen- MARKETPLACE ter) and Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Møller sign an agreement in August 2004. Assisting Sec. Powell is Foreign Service political officer Dan Lawton (second from right). Photo: FSO Classifieds / 73 Jonathan M. Berger. (2) The DVD cover for the 1949 indie classic movie, “State Department Real Estate / 77 File 649.” (3) Secretary of State John F. Kerry addresses dinner guests at AFSA’s gala celebra- Index to Advertisers / 80 tion for the 90th anniversary of AFSA and the Foreign Service in the State Department’s Ben- jamin Franklin State Dining Room on May 22. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Department of State.

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JULY-AUGUST 2014 5 FOREIGN SERVICE

Editor Shawn Dorman: [email protected]

Managing Editor Susan Brady Maitra: [email protected]

Associate Editor Debra Blome: [email protected] CONTACTS AFSA Headquarters: LABOR MANAGEMENT Ad & Circulation Manager (202) 338-4045; Fax (202) 338-6820 General Counsel Ed Miltenberger: [email protected] State Department AFSA Office: Sharon Papp: [email protected] Art Director (202) 647-8160; Fax (202) 647-0265 Deputy General Counsel Caryn Suko Smith USAID AFSA Office: Zlatana Badrich: [email protected] (202) 712-1941; Fax (202) 216-3710 Labor Management Specialist Editorial Intern FCS AFSA Office: James Yorke: [email protected] Aishwarya Raje (202) 482-9088; Fax (202) 482-9087 Senior Staff Attorney Neera Parikh: [email protected] Advertising Intern GOVERNING BOARD Staff Attorney Camila Rivera Sánchez President: Raeka Safai: [email protected] Robert J. Silverman; [email protected] Contributing Editor Staff Attorney Secretary: Angela Dickey: [email protected] Steven Alan Honley: [email protected] Andrew Large: [email protected] Treasurer: Hon. Charles A. Ford; [email protected] Labor Management Counselor Editorial Board State Vice President: John Long: [email protected] Matthew K. Asada; [email protected] Jim DeHart, Chairman Executive Assistant USAID Vice President: Hon. Gordon S. Brown Lindsey Botts: [email protected] Sharon Wayne; [email protected] Stephen W. Buck USAID Senior Labor Management Adviser FCS Vice President: Ruth Hall Douglas Broome: [email protected] Steve Morrison; [email protected] Maria C. Livingston USAID Staff Assistant FAS Vice President: Richard McKee Chioma Dike: [email protected] Beth Payne David Mergen; [email protected] John G. Rendeiro Jr. Retiree Vice President: MEMBER SERVICES Duncan Walker Lawrence Cohen; lawrencecohenassociates@ Member Services Director Tracy Whittington hotmail.com Janet Hedrick: [email protected] Clayton Bond (AFSA Governing Board liaison) State Representatives: Deputy Director, Member Services and Events Clayton Bond VACANT Ronnie Catipon Coordinator, Retiree Counseling THE MAGAZINE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS Todd Crawford Todd Thurwachter: [email protected] PROFESSIONALS Chuck Fee Associate Coordinator, Retiree Counseling The Foreign Service Journal (ISSN 0146-3543), 2101 E Ken Kero-Mentz and Legislation Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20037-2990 is pub- Ronita Macklin Matthew Sumrak: [email protected] lished monthly, with combined January-February and Elise Mellinger Administrative Assistant and Office Manager July-August issues, by the American Foreign Service Nancy Rios-Brooks Ana Lopez: [email protected] Association (AFSA), a private, nonprofit organization. Material appearing herein represents the opinions of the Sue Saarnio COMMUNICATIONS writers and does not necessarily represent the views of Lillian Wahl-Tuco the Journal, the Editorial Board or AFSA. Writer queries David Zwach Director of Communications and submissions are invited, preferably by e-mail. The USAID Representatives: Kristen Fernekes: [email protected] Journal is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, Andrew Levin Director of New Media photos or illustrations. Advertising inquiries are invited. Ásgeir Sigfússon: [email protected] The appearance of advertisements herein does not imply Jason Singer Publications Manager endorsement of the services or goods offered. Journal FCS Representative: subscription: AFSA member–$20, included in annual Barbara Farrar Shawn Dorman: [email protected] dues; student–$30; institution–$40; others–$50; Single FAS Representative: Mark Petry Online Communications Specialist issue–$4.50. For foreign surface mail, add $18 per year; BBG Representative: Andre de Nesnera Jeff Lau: [email protected] foreign airmail, $36 per year. Periodical postage paid Special Awards and Outreach Coordinator at Washington, D.C., and at additional mailing offices. APHIS Representative: Mark C. Prescott Perri Green: [email protected] Indexed by the Public Affairs Information Services (PAIS). Retiree Representatives: Marshall Adair Speakers Bureau Director Email: [email protected] Hon. David Greenlee Thomas Switzer: [email protected] Phone: (202) 338-4045 F. Allen “Tex” Harris ADVOCACY Fax: (202) 338-8244 Hon. Edward Marks Advocacy Director Web: www.afsa.org/fsj STAFF Javier Cuebas: [email protected] © American Foreign Service Association, 2014 Executive Director Senior Legislative Assistant Ian Houston: [email protected] David Murimi: [email protected] PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. Executive Assistant to the President Professional Issues and Policy Adviser Postmaster: Send address changes to Patrick Bradley: [email protected] Janice Weiner: [email protected] AFSA BUSINESS DEPARTMENT SCHOLARSHIPS Attn: Address Change Director of Finance Scholarship Director 2101 E Street NW Femi Oshobukola: [email protected] Lori Dec: [email protected] Washington DC 20037-2990 Controller Scholarship Assistant Kalpna Srimal: [email protected] Jonathan Crawford: [email protected] Assistant Controller Cory Nishi: [email protected] www.afsa.org

6 JULY-AUGUST 2014 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL PRESIDENT’S VIEWS

The New QDDR Offers Hope

BY ROBERT J. SILVERMAN

arly summertime lulls us with “Vision without execution is hallucination.” expectations of a more relaxed, contemplative period ahead. —Thomas Edison E But summer is also a time for preparations of all kinds. In the spirit of So AFSA decided to fully engage. fundamentally rethink our relationship to preparing for policy reforms, let’s talk Please read the seven papers drafted IT platforms and personnel and focus on about the 2014 Quadrennial Diplomacy by working groups of AFSA members IT personnel as enablers and multipliers and Development Review. and given to the QDDR team at State rather than just as the ‘computer, pouch, Are you still conscious and focused? (and posted at www.afsa.org/qddr). The or radio’ people of the Foreign Service. I, too, used to feel a certain ennui about papers include a few controversial rec- • Public Diplomacy: The practice the State Department’s strategic planning ommendations. of staffing R family leadership posi- exercises. Too often they lacked opera- If you feel strongly about any of the tions with political appointees, with tional relevance for those of us in the issues addressed, my advice is to form their shorter time horizons and focus field or in line offices in Washington. a working group of like-minded AFSA on domestic effects, has not fostered The 2010 QDDR created some new members and write a new paper. AFSA’s long-term strategic planning and has senior positions in Washington and Governing Board will review it and decide delayed innovation. Program priorities moved existing offices under new boxes whether to pass it to State and publicize it. for overseas posts should derive from on the organizational chart, thus add- The main intent of the AFSA papers each mission’s plans, not from generic ing to the top-heavy nature of the State is to elicit interest in the new QDDR as Washington mandates. Ambassadors bureaucracy. a vehicle for reform, and to help focus and country teams are best positioned to The 2010 QDDR process elevated the the QDDR team on concrete reforms of integrate public diplomacy priorities into priority of “engaging beyond the state,” concern to our members. their overall mission objectives. expanding our relations with civil society Several common themes emerge in • Economic Prosperity and Devel- and local publics. the papers. One is a desire to push down opment: Economic and development This was a good idea, but again was the policy process at State to the action policy should be used to advance not translated into much of practical offices in the regional and functional other foreign policy goals; economic value to the career staff. bureaus, which entails paring back the policy must be an integral part of policy The new QDDR process, launched this number of seventh-floor envoys and decision-making in all bureaus. State spring, offers hope. First, the new team in other positions. economic and USAID officers should charge has many years of experience in Another is to empower our folks in the have career tracks that allow them to the federal government and field by improving and expand- progress to senior leadership posi- NGO community, so it knows ing FSI training needed to equip tions in Washington and ambassadorial how to link grand strategic them and by protecting their positions abroad, which will season the objectives to programs and ability to make security deci- policy process with influence from those budgets. Second, the time con- sions. with senior field experience. straint it faces in implementing Here are some teasers from Be well, stay safe and keep in touch, a QDDR in the last two years of the papers: Bob an administration will help it • Technology: It is time to [email protected] n focus on concrete measures in discrete areas of our work. Robert J. Silverman is the president of the American Foreign Service Association.

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JULY-AUGUST 2014 7 LETTER FROM THE EDITOR BY SHAWN DORMAN

UNCLASSIFIED AUDIENCES WITH SHORT ATTENTION Reporting Matters SPANS AND INFORMATION OVERLOAD, AND COPING WITH THE FALLOUT FROM THE UNPRECEDENTED ASSAULT ON THE INTEGRITY OF CLASSIFIED COMMU- NICATIONS—LAWTON BELIEVES THAT “REPORTING FROM THE FIELD IS STILL MRN: 14 FSJ 72956 THE INDISPENSABLE INGREDIENT OF ANY Date/DTG: JUL 13, 2014 / 132301Z JUL 14 MEANINGFUL FOREIGN POLICY DISCUS- SION.” From: AFSAFSJ WASHDC Action: TRIPOLI, AMEMBASSY ROUTINE; MINSK, AMEMBASSY ROUTINE; 7. NEXT, FORMER CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE ALL DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR POSTS COLLECTIVE ROUTINE AGENCY DIRECTOR FOR EUROPEAN ANAL- E.O.: 13526 YSIS JOHN GANNON (PROTECT) HIGH- TAGS: POL, ECON, APER LIGHTS THE WAYS THAT EMBASSY REPORT- Subject: IS ANYONE READING? IS ANYONE THERE? ING IS UTILIZED, OFFERING EXAMPLES FROM HIS OWN EXPERIENCE. A COMPILA- TION OF SHORT PIECES OFFERS PERSPEC- 1. BEGIN SUMMARY: AT ITS BEST, EMBASSY “CLOSED” PART OF THE USSR. BUT IT WAS TIVES ON REPORTING FROM SEVEN FSOS REPORTING IS READ IN THE RIGHT PLACES THE GORBACHEV ERA, AND “CLOSED” IN THE FIELD. A REVIEW OF RAY SMITH’S AT THE RIGHT TIME BY THE RIGHT PEOPLE, DIDN’T NECESSARILY MEAN CLOSED ANY- BOOK, THE CRAFT OF POLITICAL ANALYSIS WHO USE IT TO CONSTRUCT AND CON- MORE. AT THE END OF A LONG DIRT ROAD, FOR DIPLOMATS, HIGHLIGHTS A VALUABLE TEXTUALIZE FOREIGN POLICY. AT ITS BEST, I FOUND THE HOUSE OF THE MAN I WAS PRACTITIONERS GUIDE THAT FEATURES, REPORTING CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. A SEEKING. HE HAD PASSED AWAY THE YEAR AS A CASE STUDY, EMBASSY MOSCOW’S BIPOLAR WORLD HAS BEEN REPLACED BY BEFORE, BUT I FOUND HIS SON. I VISITED PREDICTIONS OF THE FALL OF THE SOVIET A MORE COMPLEX ONE, SATURATED WITH THE GRAVEYARD, SURVEYED THE LOCAL UNION. VAST AMOUNTS OF INFORMATION FLOW- ECONOMY AND LEARNED ABOUT LIFE IN ING AT LIGHTNING SPEED. DOES EMBASSY THE KOMI REPUBLIC. 8. IF YOU ARE STILL READING, LET ME ALSO REPORTING STILL MATTER IN SUCH AN REPORT THAT THE CHIEF-OF-MISSION ENVIRONMENT? DOES ANYONE HAVE 4. I STILL RECALL THE STRANGE EXHILA- QUALIFICATIONS DISCUSSION CONTIN- TIME TO READ BEYOND THE SUMMARY RATION THAT CAME WITH WRITING UES. IN HIS SPEAKING OUT, AMB. DENNIS PARAGRAPH, OR EVEN TO READ THE FULL REPORTING CABLES LONGHAND BACK JETT MAKES THE CASE FOR MEASURING SUMMARY? THIS MONTH WE TRY TO FIND AT THE CONSULATE, RIPPING PAGES OUT COM PERFORMANCE SYSTEMATICALLY. OUT. ARE YOU STILL READING? IS ANYONE OF YELLOW LEGAL PADS TO BE HAND- IN THIS MONTH’S RELAUNCH OF THE THERE? END SUMMARY CARRIED TO FINLAND FOR TYPING AND “AFSA ISSUE BRIEF,” AMB. CHARLIE RAY TRANSMISSION THROUGH EMBASSY LAYS OUT THE EVOLUTION OF THE AFSA 2. LOOKING BACK TO LOOK AHEAD. ON HELSINKI. THE CONSULATE DIDN’T HAVE COM GUIDELINES. IN HIS PRESIDENT’S TEMPORARY ASSIGNMENT TO CONGEN SECURE COMMUNICATIONS AT THAT TIME. VIEWS COLUMN, ROBERT J. SILVERMAN LENINGRAD’S OVERBURDENED CONSULAR WE WROTE ABOUT POLITICS, ECONOMICS, EXPRESSES CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM ABOUT SECTION IN 1989, I WAS TASKED WITH HUMAN RIGHTS AND LIFE BEHIND THE THE NEW QDDR EXERCISE. AND WE OFFER DETERMINING WHETHER A PERSON ON IRON CURTAIN. TWO VIEWS OF THE WESTGATE TRAGEDY “THE LIST” OF REFUSENIKS DENIED PER- IN KENYA, ONE FROM A KENYAN JOUR- MISSION TO EMIGRATE WAS, IN FACT, STILL 5. END USERS AT THE STATE DEPART- NALISM STUDENT, THE OTHER FROM AN ALIVE. THE LIST MATTERED. SECRETARY MENT AND OTHER U.S. AGENCIES SEEMED AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT. OF STATE GEORGE SHULTZ PRESENTED TO HAVE AN INSATIABLE APPETITE FOR IT TO HIS COUNTERPART AT HIGH-LEVEL REPORTING FROM THE SOVIET UNION. 9. BEGIN COMMENT: REPORTING IS ALIVE MEETINGS AS PART OF AN ACTIVE HUMAN ON-THE-GROUND IMMERSION, LEARNING AND WELL. NO MATTER WHERE TECH- RIGHTS CAMPAIGN. UNDER GORBACHEV, AND CONTACT WORK LED TO REPORTING NOLOGY TAKES US, THERE IS NO SUBSTI- ALMOST EVERYONE ON THE LIST WOULD THAT WAS USEFUL, WAS READ IN WASH- TUTE FOR REAL, LIVE, ON-THE-GROUND EVENTUALLY BE ALLOWED TO LEAVE. INGTON, AND IN SOME CASES, COULD REPORTING OFFICERS. SO PUT DOWN THE EVEN INFLUENCE POLICY. BLACKBERRY AND PLEASE READ ON. END 3. I SET OUT BY TRAIN, NOTEBOOK IN COMMENT HAND, TO THE TINY TOWN OF URDOMA, 6. REPORTING TODAY. AIMING TO SHINE REACHABLE THROUGH THE BUSTLING A LIGHT ON THE SUBJECT, FSO DAN 10. MINIMIZE CONSIDERED. REGIONAL CENTER OF SYKTYVKAR. AS LAWTON (PROTECT) LOOKS AT “THE ART” FAR AS ANYONE COULD REMEMBER, NO OF EMBASSY REPORTING. THOUGH HE Drafted By: FSJED: SDORMAN n AMERICAN HAD TRAVELED TO THESE IDENTIFIES MANY CHALLENGES—TRY- PLACES, AS THEY WERE IN AN OFFICIALLY ING TO REACH HARRIED WASHINGTON

8 JULY-AUGUST 2014 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL LETTERS

Promoting Professional of creativity that is crushed union—with spectacularly Discourse over time. Just compare the good results ever since. I have been following with great bright eyes of entry-level FSOs, start tweeting enthusiasm what I see as a new direction officers with the tired cyni- on your social networks for AFSA, and hope you will keep it up. I cism of so many mid-level and writing to The Foreign was initially skeptical of the Chief-of-Mis- and senior-level officers. Service Journal to make sion Guidelines project, thinking it would In any case, I am much that happen. You have just serve to create a rift between the more enthused by an AFSA nothing but your rival- career and political sides of the house. that raises the level of intellec- ries to lose! But in the end it seems to have laid down tual and professional discourse George B. Lambrakis a marker that was both important and than one that just goes after FSO, retired helpful, an initiative that to my mind that third tranche of overseas London, U.K. is much more useful than the kind of comparability pay. Keep it up! sniveling AFSA was engaged in over the Keith W. Mines Thank You, AFSA! previous several years. FSO My son’s university of choice, and of I have also enjoyed Robert J. Silver- Embassy Tel Aviv heart, added my housing (in Europe!) man’s recent President’s Views columns, to my salary in computing his financial starting with the defense of nationbuild- Get Rid of “Up or Out” award package. In fact, all the schools ing and the references to George Ken- I was pleased and flattered that did. nan’s work. In regard to the question of Thomas Longo, writing in your March I will say as a proud mom that my son why the Foreign Service doesn’t seem to issue, found comfort in my December received a wonderful merit scholarship, produce any Ken- 2013 Speaking Out column, “A but we still had a long way to go to meet nans these days, I Plea for Greater Teamwork in the the costs for this small private university. conducted a project Foreign Service.” Though I was not I asked for an appeal, explaining that for the Council on previously aware of Mr. Longo’s the cost of our housing is not added to Emerging National sad experience, I am familiar with my salary; nor do I see it or feel it! My Security Affairs similar outcomes created by the appeal was denied. several years ago up-or-out rules embedded in the This school truly wanted my son as titled “The Search Foreign Service Act of 1980. much as my son wanted to go and was for Mr. X.” The June Despite that history, some FSOs not being difficult. They were just follow- 2008 edition of your may share the viewpoint of Tyler ing the rules set by the Free Application Cybernotes depart- Sparks, whose Speaking Out column for Federal Student Aid, known as FAFSA, ment (now Talking in the April FSJ calls for reviving which is used by the U.S. Department of Points) reported on the Powell Fellows Program. Such Education to determine the “expected that project. efforts to hand-pick young officers for family contribution” to paying for college. I wonder if AFSA might serve as a privileged, fast-track assignments to the I called AFSA and was put in touch venue for searching for that post-con- top may work in the military. But, like with James Yorke. Without hesitation, Mr. tainment national security doctrine that up or out, I don’t think such favoritism is Yorke became a champion for my son. has eluded us for more than two decades appropriate for the much smaller Foreign He wrote a letter to the vice president of now. Perhaps AFSA could run a “Calling Service. When we copy from the military, financial aid at the university, and AFSA Mr./Ms. X” contest in which contestants it is wise to be carefully selective. State VP Matthew Asada signed it. The get two pages to write a “Short Telegram,” So, FSOs unite! If up or out is to be letter clarified how the practice of adding and AFSA publishes them online with a repealed or overhauled, it will require a Foreign Service housing to income is off bit of fanfare. campaign like what we “Young Turks” target. There are a lot of new ideas out there on the 1970 AFSA Governing Board This appeal was approved, and the that are cowed by the system, and a lot orchestrated to turn AFSA into our labor revised award package was outstanding.

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JULY-AUGUST 2014 9 My son can now join the class of 2018 at Foreign Service History his college of choice. Your May issue was first-rate, espe- AFSA does work for us! cially the excellent article by Larry Cohen Patricia J. Howlett and James Lamont on the Rogers Act, “In Office Management Specialist the Beginning: The Rogers Act of 1924.” Embassy The Hague Regarding other May content, I have two comments. Technology and the QDDR First, the article by Robert Hunter, AFSA’s Quadrennial Diplomacy & “Getting State and the Foreign Service Development Review statement on Back in the Game,” is a bit unrealistic. technology is the most progressive Foreign policy is going to be made by the and forward-leaning assessment of the president, who will receive advice from Bureau of Information Resource Man- a lot of people, including the Secretary agement and its people that I can ever of State as the principal, but not the recall hearing from the association—an only, adviser. The top priority of the State organization traditionally more focused Department and the Foreign Service is to on the FS generalist corps. implement the policy. While we can only speculate about Second, I was surprised that you did any actual reforms that might come out not include the whole timeline of impor- of the QDDR exercise, the broad scope tant events in the history of AFSA and of AFSA’s statement on technology was the Foreign Service, which includes the intriguing: “It is time to fundamentally policy changes in the early 1970s initiated rethink our platforms and people and by Under Secretary for Management focus on IT personnel as enablers and William Macomber concerning the role multipliers, and not just as the ‘computer, of wives of Foreign Service employees, pouch or radio’ people.” and the 1976 establishment of grievance This could be quite promising. To all procedures. you “computer, pouch and radio people” I think your readers would enjoy, as out there on the front lines, good luck. you suggest, reading the more compre- Keep enabling and keep multiplying the hensive chronology at www.afsa.org/ power of diplomacy. timeline. I hope that you will add recently Timothy C. Lawson established policies regarding LGBT Senior FSO, retired issues to that timeline. Hua Hin, Thailand Ted Eliot FSO, retired Sonoma, Calif. n

Share your thoughts about this month’s issue. Send your letters to [email protected].

10 JULY-AUGUST 2014 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL TALKING POINTS

Honoring Public and high-level civil rights and Diplomacy’s Best election experts. On her own ffective public diplomacy requires time, Ms. White also started an Estrategic thinking, creativity, commit- “English Speaking Roundtable” ment and sound judgment in the use of that meets twice weekly with Nasar Attia of Courtesy Emerging Artists resources. students to strengthen their Workshop organized Each year the Public Diplomacy language skills and under- by the Phillips Alumni Association recognizes the standing of U.S. society and Collection and the U.S. Department of State at achievements of those PD practitioners, values. the Alhamra Arts Center whether overseas or in Washington, D.C., Despite a highly restricted Naimeh Hadidi of Courtesy in Lahore, Pakistan. who best exemplify these qualities. PDAA’s social and political environ- Naimeh Hadidi (on right) visits in the Aljouf region 17th annual awards dinner, held on May ment, female activists in with a member of the nominees to the Fiscal 4 in Washington, D.C., spotlighted the Saudi Arabia are mobilizing King Abdulaziz Society for Year 2014 International achievements of this year’s six winners. to run in the country’s first Women, whose goal is to Visitors Leadership strengthen the position of The first three recipients worked municipal elections open to Program were female. women in Saudi society. together to create and implement an female candidates and vot- And later this year exceptional multidimensional exchange ers. Cultural Affairs SpecialistNaimeh a group of nine Saudi activists who are program: “Pakistani Voices: A Conversa- Hadidi responded to this opportunity by mobilizing women to run in next year’s tion with The Migration Series.” building a nationwide network to foster municipal council elections will visit the International Information Programs partnerships between the mission and United States to meet with American Bureau officerAttia Nasar, Islamabad these courageous women’s work to battle women who are running for office, man- Public Affairs officerAjani Husbands gender apartheid. aging election campaigns, raising money and Rachel Goldberg from the Phillips “She has almost singlehandedly led and managing media. Collection collaborated to set up speaker U.S. government outreach in hard-to- In Swaziland, more than 92,000 visu- programs and hands-on workshops reach, remote and ultra-conservative ally impaired citizens now have access to involving more than 375 artists, students, areas—places embassy staff would new information technology, thanks to educators and museum professionals ordinarily never be able to access,” Deputy Morrison Mkhonta, director of Embassy across Pakistan. Cultural Attaché Marlo Cross-Durant said Mbabane’s Information Resource Center. This multiyear project uses the arts to in nominating Hadidi. Concerned that few organizations exist in generate positive discussions on U.S.-Pak- Thanks in no small part to her efforts, Swaziland to advocate for their funda- istani relations, and establish a conduit 41 percent of Mission Saudi Arabia’s mental rights, Mr. Mkhonta helped obtain for communication on challenging social resources to purchase issues. technology for translat- In Equatorial Guinea political oppo- ing print materials into nents are routinely arrested and held Braille or audio. without charge, media outlets are severely He also set up a restricted, and websites deemed critical of training center to assist the government are blocked. Undaunted, people trying out these first-tour PAOAshley White found cre- new tools, thereby ative ways to put together high-impact playing a key role in public diplomacy programs on human opening up a world that rights and democracy. had never before been She organized a series of roundtables accessible to people with students, government officials, legal in Swaziland with dis- Courtesy of Morrison Mkhonta Morrison of Courtesy experts and civil society representatives, Morrison Mkhonta conducts a session for trainers for visually abilities. featuring U.S. Ambassador Mark Asquino impaired computer users. The Public Diplo-

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JULY-AUGUST 2014 11 SITE OF THE MONTH: www.one.org

n May 16, 2004, in a ceremony at the Liberty Bell, could see the end O ONE was born. The nongovernmental organization of extreme poverty has brought together American, European and African by 2030. (Last activists, students and faith leaders, musicians, sports year, singer and stars and politicians from left, right and center. Now four activist Bono million strong, ONE members continue to believe that one outlined the road person, coming together with many others, can change to that objective the world. in a TED talk, highlights of which are on the “10 To celebrate its tenth anniversary, the ONE campaign Years Together” site.) has created 10 Years Together, an interactive timeline Michael Elliott, president and chief executive officer of that combines images, video and text documenting the ONE, says: “In our first decade, ONE has brought together organization’s first decade of activism. The production, millions of activists around the world committed to the available on ONE’s homepage, moves from Nelson Man- belief that where you live shouldn’t determine whether you dela’s landmark 2005 “Make Poverty History” speech in live. We are proud that our advocacy has played a part in London’s Trafalgar Square to the 2014 music video, “Cocoa the collective progress that has been made over the years— na Chocolate,” which features 19 of Africa’s top recording from cutting malaria deaths in half in 13 countries in Africa artists urging their leaders to invest in agriculture. to increasing the number of people globally on lifesaving The timeline features an exclusive animated film by HIV/AIDS medications from 300,000 in 2002 to nearly 10 award-winning artists Oliver Jeffers and Mac Premo, million today. Working with partners from all over the world, highlighting the fact that the number of people who live in we have proved that together we are so much stronger than extreme poverty worldwide has been cut in half over the the sum of our parts.” past two decades. If current trends continue, the world —Steven Alan Honley, Contributing Editor

macy Alumni Association is a volunteer, Public Health Workers Laden was suspected to be living. nonprofit membership organization that Will No Longer Be Used When word of the covert effort spread is open to all current and former State for CIA Operations in Pakistan in 2012, legitimate public Department and U.S. Information Agency fter 18 months and in the midst of a health workers providing polio vaccines employees, as well as broadcasting and Aglobal polio health emergency, the were run out of town. At least nine were other public diplomacy professionals White House has responded to a letter killed in December 2012, and more since from the public, academic and private from the deans of 13 schools of public then. Save the Children was compelled by sectors. health urging the U.S. government to stop the government of Pakistan to withdraw PDAA’s mission is to foster under- using public health workers for covert all foreign national staff in September standing, recognition of and support for operations or intelligence gathering. 2012. public diplomacy through educational The January 2013 letter stemmed from Mistrust of public health workers and social activities. the revelation that in its hunt for Osama was not new in the region; the Taliban For more information about the bin Laden, the CIA had recruited a Paki- in Pakistan had opposed vaccine cam- awards ceremony and PDAA‘s activities, stani physician to conduct a fake hepatitis paigns before. But the revelation that please visit www.publicdiplomacy.org. B vaccination campaign in Abbottabad health workers were in fact compromised You’ll also find a complete list of PDAA using local public health workers without sparked a backlash against immunization Alumni Association award winners since their knowledge. The mission, which was workers. 1993 there. apparently not successful, was designed to Public health workers throughout —Steven Alan Honley, collect DNA samples from family mem- the region were threatened, as were the Contributing Editor bers living in the compound where bin legitimate vaccination programs they

12 JULY-AUGUST 2014 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 50 Years Ago

Foreign Service officer should keep his must we have four gradations of sensitiv- “A nose clean and his mouth shut.” ity (leaving out super-grades)? Surely it is I have ignored this excellent advice, with mixed enough to say that a document is “Confi- results, for 18 years and will now do so again. I dential.” … propose the reinstatement of the security clas- I think we have all been somewhat shat- sification “Official Use Only” (but with a simpler tered by the new responsibility of determin- name) and the abolition of the security classifi- ing when a document must be declassified. cations “Limited Official Use” and “Confidential.” (I personally have forgotten to put the “group I also propose that declassification decisions be indicator” on a number of recent cables and centralized. … airgrams.) I fully support the theory. Practi- If you are like me, at least half of the juicy items of gos- cally all of our output is of transitory secrecy, and a good sip you have vouchsafed to Washington have come from deal of it is overclassified to begin with. We need a system your local employees. This is particularly true in the more to downgrade our mistaken prophecies as soon as they are developed countries where the locals tend to have more on proved invalid. the ball. To classify these vignettes as “Unclassified” exposes But in my humble opinion this could well be done by a you to the risk of publication, but to mark them “Limited team of experts at some central point, perhaps by those Official Use” means that the energetic but non-American shadowy characters who receive files retired from Wash- types who wrote them may neither read them, file them nor ington agencies and overseas posts. Why not set up a refer to them. degaussing crew at Foggy Bottom with summary powers? By all means let us reinstate a classification which means, The man-hours thus saved would be considerable and the in effect, “fairly common knowledge but not for publication.” declassification criteria would be more intelligently and To appease the typists and the rubber stamp markers, I consistently applied. would suggest that this classification be titled “USG,” which In making these suggestions I have, of course, glossed would mean that the information would be available to any over a number of problems which would have to be resolved U.S. government employee, whatever his nationality. Such if the classification system is to be simplified. If someone a classification would do much to reassure our first-class could take a stab at it, however, it would be a great boon to locals that they are indeed a part of the U.S. government. us hard-working reporters. Obviously, we cannot entrust to foreigners really sensitive —From “Classification USG” (Department of Dissent) information, even if another foreigner is the source. But why by John Q. Blodgett, FSJ, July 1964.

were implementing. According to various “While political and security agendas may and technical assistance, as well. reports, suspicion of public health workers by necessity induce collateral damage, “Polio, which particularly threatens led thousands of people in Pakistan to we as an open society set boundaries on young children in the most disadvantaged refuse to be vaccinated against polio. these damages, and we believe this sham communities, has been isolated to just A 2013 Scientific American article (“The vaccination campaign exceeded those three countries: Afghanistan, Nigeria and Spies Who Sabotaged Global Health”) boundaries. Pakistan. Now, because of these assassina- noted: “The violation of trust threatens “As an example of the gravity of the tions of vaccination workers, the U.N. has to set back global public health efforts by situation, today we are on the verge of been forced to suspend polio eradication decades.” completely eradicating polio. With your efforts in Pakistan. … The letter from the deans, addressed to leadership, the U.S. is the largest bilateral “Independent of the Geneva Conven- President Barack Obama, and shared with donor to the Global Polio Eradication Ini- tions of 1949, contaminating humanitar- other U.S. officials and the media, stated: tiative and has provided strong direction ian and public health programs with

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JULY-AUGUST 2014 13 Contemporary Quote I think Americans have learned that it’s harder to end wars than it is to begin them. Yet this is how wars end in the 21st century: not through signing ceremonies, but through decisive blows against our adversaries, transitions to elected governments and security forces who take the lead and, ultimately, full responsibility. We remain committed to a sovereign, secure, stable and unified Afghanistan. And toward that end, we will continue to support Afghan-led efforts to promote peace in their coun- AFSA Scholarship try through reconciliation. AFSA.org/Scholar We have to recognize that Afghanistan will not be a perfect place, and it is not America’s responsibility to make it one. The future of Afghanistan must Clements Worldwide be decided by Afghans. But what the United States can do—what we clements.com will do—is secure our interests and help give the Afghans a chance, an opportunity to seek a long-overdue and hard-earned peace. Diplomatic Automobile —President Barack Obama, speaking at the White House on May 27 diplosales.com following his return from Afghanistan. Embassy Risk Management embassyrisk.com covert activities threatens the present workers, I wanted to inform you that The Hirshorn Company participants and future potential of much the Director of the Central Intelligence hirshorn.com/USFS of what we undertake internationally to Agency directed in August 2013 that improve health and provide humanitar- the agency make no operational use of McGrath Real Estate Services ian assistance. As public health academic vaccination programs, which includes homesdatabase.com/jimmc- leaders, we hereby urge you to assure the vaccination workers. grath public that this type of practice will not be “Similarly, the agency will not seek to repeated.” obtain or exploit DNA or other genetic PROMAX Management Inc. In the spring of 2014, the World Health material acquired through such pro- promaxrealtors.com Organization and others reported polio grams. This CIA policy applies worldwide WJD Management outbreaks in at least 10 countries in Asia, and to U.S. and non-U.S. persons alike.” wjdpm.com Africa and the Middle East, the majority CIA Director John Brennan made the in Pakistan. Pakistan’s Ministry of Health, decision, according to CIA spokesman in accordance with WHO guidance, began Todd Ebitz, because he “took seriously requiring all travelers leaving Pakistan to the concerns raised by the public health show proof of polio vaccination on June 1. community. By publicizing this policy, On May 16, the White House our objective it so dispel one canard that responded to the public health school militant groups have used as justification deans and shared the response with the for cowardly attacks against vaccination media. The memo, from Lisa O. Monaco, providers.” Assistant to the President for Homeland —Shawn Dorman, Editor Security and Counterterrorism, says: “The United States strongly supports Changing the the Global Polio Eradication Initiative Voice of America and efforts to end the spread of the polio bill to overhaul the Voice of America virus forever. In response to your January Ahas prompted an intense debate 2013 letter to the president expressing between supporters, who say the changes concern about the safety of vaccination would better equip the broadcast news

14 JULY-AUGUST 2014 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL service to counter Russian disinformation, to policy promotion will undercut any changing the game,” Mr. Isaacson said. and opponents, who say the legislation efforts to keep or build our audience.” “We need to respect Edward R. Murrow’s would turn VOA into an American propa- Still, on rare occasions, that com- legacy while realizing that even he would ganda tool and discredit it. mitment to independence has led to be changing with the new technologies The legislation, which recently passed controversial coverage. For instance, the and threats.” the House Foreign Affairs Committee Heritage Foundation issued a policy brief But D. Jeffrey Hirschberg, a former with bipartisan support, would revise in May charging that “The Persian News member of the Broadcasting Board of VOA’s mission statement to declare Network of the Voice of America has been Governors, called the legislation problem- explicitly that the outlet has a role in sup- documented to show anti-American bias,” atic because, he said, it would fundamen- porting American public diplomacy and Although the potential changes to tally change the way the service operates. the policies of the U.S. government. VOA’s mission have gotten most of the “The VOA has a pure journalistic mission, Founded in 1942 as a part of the Office headlines, the restructuring of U.S. and it always has,” Mr. Hirschberg said. of War Information, the Voice of America international broadcasting may prove to “It doesn’t do messaging or propaganda. was originally tasked with countering be even more significant. The Wall Street Any legislation that alters the journalistic Japanese and Nazi propaganda. In the Journal reports that the bill would create mission would be unfortunate.” 1950s, the broadcaster moved to the State a U.S. International Communications During a recent staff meeting, VOA Department and then the U.S. Informa- Agency, with a full-time chief executive journalists angrily expressed their tion Agency, where it focused on counter- officer, to administer all U.S. government concerns to managers, hinting at a mass ing communist propaganda and, later, news services. exodus if the legislation passes. Dan on broadcasting news to people living USICA would replace the current Robinson, who worked at the service for under repressive regimes. Since 1999, the Broadcasting Board of Governors, a nine- more than two decades before retiring VOA has been overseen by the Broadcast- member board of part-time overseers that this year, says it could even endanger the ing Board of Governors, an autonomous has proved “practically defunct in terms lives of journalists and broadcasters who federal agency. of its capacity to tell a message around work abroad. “Do foreign governments In 1976 President Gerald Ford signed the world,” as then-Secretary of State Hill- now start seeing journalists from VOA as legislation tasking VOA to serve as an ary Rodham Clinton put it in 2013. The agents of U.S. policy, rather than as jour- “accurate, objective and comprehen- proposal reflects longstanding frustration nalists?” he said. “That’s a real concern.” sive” source of news, as opposed to a from members of both parties with the But Helle C. Dale, a senior fellow for propaganda outlet. But Representative BBG, which has been accused of misman- public diplomacy at the Heritage Founda- Ed Royce, R-Calif., who chairs the House agement and drift. tion, insists that fear is absurd. “It’s not Foreign Affairs Committee, alleges that The legislation would also consolidate like people don’t already know,” she said. “While countries like Russia have been Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio “It’s completely funded by the U.S. govern- working 24/7 on their information cam- Free Asia and the Middle East Broadcast- ment, and it’s called the Voice of America. paigns, the VOA has abandoned its mis- ing Networks into a single organization How does this legislation change this sion to effectively promote the policies of called the Freedom News Network, so they reality?” the U.S., even though its charter is clear in can share content and avoid duplicating The full House is expected to take up this regard.” their efforts. the bill this summer; meanwhile, the Sen- The New York Times reports that the Walter Isaacson, a former BBG chair- ate is working on similar legislation. bill has spawned a backlash from journal- man who once headed CNN, sees the —Steven Alan Honley, ists, many of whom work at the news ser- legislation as a way to give VOA a dual Contributing Editor vice once run by Edward R. Murrow. “The mission to clearly present American pol- only thing VOA has left is its reputation, icy, as well as objective news. “Russia has Tracking the built over decades, as a credible news returned to its old Pravda-like disinforma- Well-Being of Youth organization,” says one veteran journalist tion tactics, China and the Arab nations On April 3, the Center for Strategic and at the service who asked not to be named. are creating sophisticated new broadcasts, International Studies held a panel discus- “Changing our focus from straight news and Twitter and social networks are sion in conjunction with the unveiling of

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JULY-AUGUST 2014 15 its brand-new Global Youth Wellbeing Index. Created in partnership with the International Youth Foundation and Hil- ton Worldwide as part of a commitment made at the 2012 Clinton Global Initia- tive, the index is part of CSIS’s Youth, Prosperity and Security Initiative. William Reese, president and CEO of the International Youth Foundation, described one goal of the initiative as reframing the debate about the devel- oping world’s “youth bulge”: nearly 3.5 billion people under the age of 25. Reese believes that too many people view this group as a security threat when they should see it as an “untapped resource.” Kathleen Hicks, director of the International Security Program at CSIS, believes the index will help illuminate the demographic challenges and allow private investors “to see where countries have the potential to improve and to grow.” She also encouraged young people to “buy into the index.” Chris Nassetta, president and CEO of Hilton Worldwide, echoed that sentiment, warning that the initiative “will not succeed without full engagement by youth.” The index tracks 40 indicators across six interconnected domains: citizen par- ticipation, economic opportunity, educa- tion, health, information/communica- tion technology, and safety and security. The index currently covers 30 different countries, which collectively account for about 70 percent of the world’s total youth population. CSIS is working hard to promote their new index through social media as well, starting a #YouthWellbeingIndex trend on Twitter, and launching a new website (www.youthindex.org) with an interac- tive map and a link to the full report of the index. n —Bret Matera, Editorial Intern

16 JULY-AUGUST 2014 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL SPEAKING OUT

How to Get Better Ambassadors

BY DENNIS JETT

hen an ambassador’s con- now costs over a billion dollars. It took the criminality of the Nixon firmation hearing makes In an electoral system so thoroughly administration and the support of Presi- “The Daily Show,” it is not driven by money, asking a president dent Jimmy Carter to bring about the Wbecause it went well. The to cut back on the number of ambas- Foreign Service Act of 1980. So, in the nominees for ambassadorships to Nor- sadorial titles he can bestow on those absence of another major scandal, there way, Hungary and Argentina, all major who played a critical role in getting him is little hope for change coming from the Obama campaign contributors, pro- elected is like suggesting the United legislative branch. vided so many cringe-worthy moments States unilaterally eliminate its nuclear Yet the need for campaign cash when they appeared before the Senate weapons. and the existence of a dysfunctional Foreign Relations Committee earlier this One might look to Congress for Congress do not mean that nothing year that Jon Stewart had more material reform, but members of Congress owe can be done to ensure better qualified than Fox News provides in a month. their jobs, in no small part, to their own ambassadorial nominees. AFSA could There was also a flurry of stories in ability to raise money. In addition, the help bring about modest reform, but its the media about the qualifications (or Senate traditionally gives the president recent efforts are not enough. lack thereof) of these nominees, which wide latitude in selecting the people Take for instance, AFSA’s issuance of raised the hope that higher standards he wants as his envoys. Congressional the “Guidelines for Successful Perfor- might be possible in the future. Presi- opposition to ambassadorial nomina- mance as a Chief of Mission.” A group of dents appoint people as ambassadors tions therefore tends to be ephemeral, retired ambassadors put the guidelines for many reasons, however, and cam- partisan and only rarely related to a lack together. Most of the members of the paign contributions is one of them. Still, of qualifications. group had been career Foreign Service money does not have to speak louder officers, but the group also included sev- than foreign policy credentials. Reform Has Never eral former political appointee ambas- There are some limits on the amount Been Easy sadors who were unlikely challengers of an individual can give to a presidential In the late 19th century, profession- the status quo. While the AFSA Govern- campaign, but thanks to recent Supreme alization began to make a serious dent ing Board approved the guidelines, the Court decisions, these are largely mean- in patronage only after a frustrated job vote was not unanimous. ingless. And supporters of a candidate seeker, who thought he should be chief But even if meaningful guidelines for president can bundle the checks of of mission in Vienna, assassinated Presi- could be drawn up, they alone would do friends without limit for a campaign that dent James Garfield in 1881. little to improve the quality of ambas- sadors. Expecting those who do not meet the criteria to forgo applying for Dennis Jett is a professor of international affairs at Pennsylvania State Univer- the job is the equivalent of thinking that sity. A retired FSO, he served as ambassador to Peru and Mozambique, on the describing virtue will rid the world of National Security Council and on assignments in Argentina, Israel, Malawi and sinners. Liberia. He is the author of three books: Why Peacekeeping Fails, Why American Another AFSA initiative that is not Foreign Policy Fails and a forthcoming book on American ambassadors (all likely to bring about substantial change published by Palgrave Macmillan). He is an occasional contributor to the Journal, whose “So is its Freedom of Information Act You Wanna Be an Ambassador?” was published in November 2012. request for the “certificates of demon-

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JULY-AUGUST 2014 17 If aspiring ambassadors realized that their performance will be measured and that their failures could become very public, they might think twice about buying the job if their only qualification is the size of their checkbook. strated competence” that the Foreign biographic information that any Google Predicting Success Service Act requires the department search would produce. The lack of and Failure send to the Senate for each nominee. foreign policy credentials of the Norway, A bad hearing may not be a good The White House has now agreed to Hungary and Argentina nominees was predictor of who will fail as an ambassa- make those certificates public, thanks obvious, but drew little attention. dor, however. Many will argue that is not to AFSA’s effort. But while that is a small It took the videotape of their hearings the case and insist that knowledge of the step toward greater transparency, the to create the controversy. Recognizing language, history and culture of a coun- certificates of competence will not be that, the State Department has put out a try is essential. But that knowledge, with the smoking gun that proves a nomi- solicitation to hire a contractor to prepare the exception of fluency in the language, nee’s incompetence. nominees for congressional testimony. can be acquired fairly quickly. Moreover, These certificates are, in reality, So the hearings may be less of an obstacle the lack of such knowledge does not one-page summaries of the kind of basic for the incompetent in the future. irrefutably portend failure.

CALLING ALL FS AUTHORS!

The November 2014 Foreign Service Journal will include a list of recently published books by Foreign Service-affiliated authors.

FS authors whose books have been published in 2013 or 2014, and have not been previously featured in the roundup, are invited to send a copy of the book, along with a press release or backgrounder on the book and author, to:

Susan B. Maitra Managing Editor Foreign Service Journal 2101 E St NW Washington DC 20037

Email: [email protected] Deadline for submissions is Sept. 5.

18 JULY-AUGUST 2014 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL If there is any indicator of future ambassadorial success, it is probably more a function of personality and the ability to effectively manage people.

Career officers with extensive them to be highly qualified, qualified or experience can fail as well as politi- unqualified. cal appointees. To test the question of The clearest measure of the perfor- whether there is a measurable difference mance of a judge is how often a higher between the performance of political court overrules his or her decisions. A appointee ambassadors and career recent study found little difference in the ones, I had four graduate students read reversal rates of judges, regardless of the the 139 inspection reports that the ABA categories in which they had been Office of the Inspector General had at placed. An a priori ranking that some that point posted on the IG’s website. deem a true indicator of success may not They included 98 embassies with career work for ambassadors any more than it COMs and 41 political appointees. does with judges. The students were asked to assign In addition, every chief of mission two grades to each ambassador: one for has a career officer for a deputy. The internal mission management and the deficiencies of a COM can be compen- other for external relations. While the sated for if the ambassador is smart average grades for the career officers enough and trusting enough to make were slightly higher for both catego- good use of the DCM. ries, the difference was not statistically If there is any indicator of future significant. ambassadorial success, it is probably The career ambassadors were more more a function of personality and the tightly grouped around the average-to- ability to effectively manage people— good rating, while the political appoin- and that is as true for career COMs as it tees had a flatter and wider distribution. is for the political ones. However, mana- This tends to confirm what many believe gerial skill and personality traits are not based on anecdotal evidence—that readily conveyed by basic biographic political appointees are more likely to be information. either superb or bad ambassadors, with fewer falling in the middle of the range Performance Measures where career officers tend to cluster. But there is an opportunity to make Bad ambassadors, whether career or modest improvement in the way chiefs political, could be avoided if there were of mission are selected. Ambassadors a way to determine in advance what do not have a readily available measure the qualifications for success are. That of performance as judges do, but a visit is not easy, and other professions have by a team from the Inspector General’s tried with little success. The American office results in a detailed evaluation Bar Association does a thorough review of how well an embassy is being run. of the background and experience of Those reports, now on the IG’s website judicial nominees and declares each of with minimal redaction, are available for

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JULY-AUGUST 2014 19 anyone to assess an ambassador as my Instead of this happening only when an Foreign Service. In this case, for instance, students did. embassy comes up for an inspection, an it can either work to improve the quality The problem is that even though the abbreviated PQ could be sent in electroni- of ambassadors and the professionalism law says each post should be inspected cally by everyone at every post every year. of the Foreign Service, or diminish both every five years, inspections occur only With these 360-degree evaluations, by defending all of its members, including about every eight years due to a lack of the IG could quickly identify the embas- the incompetent. resources. This means most ambassadors sies with the most serious problems and Thus far, thanks to the posting of the will come and go without a thorough send a team to do a rapid review. A similar inspection reports on the IG’s website, review of their performance. system could also be used within the State four ambassadors have resigned. They They do, of course, get annual evalua- Department to rate the effectiveness of were all political appointees. tions like every other officer; but those are every bureau and the assistant secretary A system of abbreviated annual PQs written in Washington and are not the best who runs it. And those results could be would have to apply to all embassies, even measure of how well the mission is man- added to the IG’s website. though career ambassadors face bigger aged. And they are never made public. challenges than their political counter- As part of the OIG inspection, every Power and Responsibility parts. Morale problems are typically worse employee at an embassy is required to This system would apply to all ambas- at embassies with hardship and danger fill out a personal questionnaire in which sadors. That could be challenging for pay—posts where political appointees they are asked to rate the work environ- AFSA, because it is both the professional rarely tread. ment and management of the post. association and the labor union of the The Quadrennial Diplomacy and

20 JULY-AUGUST 2014 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL With these 360-degree evaluations, the IG could quickly identify the embassies with the most serious problems.

Development Review declared that the State Department would “empower and hold accountable COMs as chief executive officers of interagency missions.” Power comes with responsibility, however. If the State Department and AFSA support the QDDR goals, they should enhance the ability of the IG and work to ensure that grievance procedures do not allow accountability to be litigated to death. Will that ensure no unqualified person Take AFSA With You! Change your address online, will seek an ambassadorship? No, but visit us at www.afsa.org/address some of those who aspire to become an Or ambassador through bundling campaign Send changes to: cash give little consideration to the risk of AFSA Membership being held accountable in a very public Department way. Like some of my students, they seem 2101 E Street NW to think diplomatic life consists of ignor- Washington, DC 20037 ing parking tickets and attending endless cocktail parties. If aspiring ambassadors realized that their performance will be measured and that their failures could become very public, they might think twice about buy- ing the job if their only qualification is the size of their checkbook and those of their friends. If that happened, American diplomacy Moving? would be strengthened and there would be less material for “The Daily Show.” But it is a standard to which career officers will also have to be willing to hold them- selves. n

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JULY-AUGUST 2014 21 FOCUS EMBASSY REPORTING THE ART OF POLITICAL REPORTING

Despite the challenges, reporting from ur official diplomatic corre- the field—in whatever form it takes— spondence has changed con- siderably since the days of the is still the indispensable ingredient of any quill pen, and even since the meaningful foreign policy discussion. not as distant period of typed dispatches. But as much as the BY DAN LAWTON forms may change, the need for insightful analysis from abroad has not. Foreign policy should be informed and guided by the Oinsights discerned by our diplomats posted overseas, who inject local perspectives into policy debates and decision- making—not made in a vacuum.

Dan Lawton, deputy director of the Office of Southern European Affairs in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, served as political counselor in Athens from 2010 to 2013. Since joining the Foreign Service in 1990, he has also served in Caracas, Copenhagen, Lima, Karachi and Mexico City. The views expressed in this article are his personal opinions and are not intended to represent U.S. government policy.

22 JULY-AUGUST 2014 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL Jonathan M. Berger Jonathan

Yet the challenges to reporting officers in the field today In the tiny fjord village of Igaliku in southern Greenland, U.S. are particularly acute. Technological change strains the nexus Secretary of State Colin Powell (far right), Greenland Home Rule Deputy Premier Josef Motzfeldt (center) and Danish Foreign between form and substance, and overseas posts must com- Minister Per Stig Møller sign an agreement in August 2004, pete for the attention of Washington audiences focused on paving the way for upgrading the early warning radar system their email inboxes. On top of that, the unauthorized online at Thule, the U.S. air base in northern Greenland. Assisting Sec. Powell is Foreign Service political officer Dan Lawton (second publication of purported cables has greatly undermined our from right). interlocutors’ trust. And a work culture that emphasizes lead- For the first time, Greenland was a party to the century-old ership and managerial skills can inadvertently marginalize defense agreement between Denmark and the United States that governs U.S. defense activity on the island. The three parties written communication skills signed two additional documents, one providing for economic and technical cooperation between the United States and Are Cables an Anachronism? Greenland, and another to protect the environment. Remember airgrams? They were typed informative reports from overseas missions sent by diplomatic pouch back to Are reporting and analytical cables going the way of the Washington as a means of alleviating overtaxed telegraphic airgram? systems. Over time, they earned a reputation for containing In 1946, then-Chargé d’Affaires to Moscow George Ken- more information than intended audiences had time to read. nan wrote perhaps the most famous of diplomatic cables, the As telegrams—or “cables,” as they are commonly called— “Long Telegram.” This 8,000-word message sought to explain came to dominate State Department reporting and analysis, the sources of Soviet (mis)behavior while recommending a airgrams were phased out as a form of official communication pragmatic policy of containment. in 1991, almost 50 years after they had been introduced. In his Memoirs, 1925-1950 (Little, Brown and Company,

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JULY-AUGUST 2014 23 1967), Kennan modestly sug- Are reporting and today are so colossal that there is gested that his message had precious little time for delibera- such an enormous influence analytical cables going tion and reflection. Diplomacy because of the receptivity of his the way of the airgram? was once likened to three-dimen- audience. Six months earlier, sional chess, but today the more he argued, it would have been apt simile would be speed chess. received with “raised eyebrows In such an environment, and lips pursed in disapproval.” Six months later, “It would cables that have real impact are likely to have been shared probably have sounded redundant, a sort of preaching to the as an email attachment with someone’s strident exhortation: convinced.” “Read this!” They also most likely mimic email messaging by Kennan’s Washington readers in all likelihood received frontloading conclusions, using ticks or bullets, or employing a batches of cables, delivered to their real (not virtual) inboxes, breezy sentence structure. A snappy subject line always helps, once in the morning and once in the afternoon. Handling and embedded images may attract attention. cables mandated some engagement with these texts, even Even so, how many overtaxed desk officers, working hard if only to glance at the summary paragraphs, or at least the to meet the everyday operational needs of their office, would subject lines, before marking them for shredding. Readers prefer to plead the Fifth Amendment than honestly answer the would annotate noteworthy missives by highlighting sen- frustrated query of a political or economic counselor: “Didn’t tences, scribbling notes in the margins, or sharing them with you read our cable?” colleagues. It is hard to imagine an 8,000-word telegram on any subject A Massive Breach of Confidentiality being read today, let alone having a similar impact. Kennan It’s not just the short attention span of harried Washington himself acknowledged that he divided the telegram into five audiences with which drafting officers must cope, however. sections so it would not appear “so outrageously long.” And They are also working in the wake of an unprecedented assault therein lies an intrinsic tension. Most Washington readers on the integrity of classified communications systems. Diplo- would counsel, “the shorter the better,” while most drafters in mats rely on confidentiality just as much as doctors, lawyers the field bristle at “oversimplifying” for the sake of brevity. and the clergy. That’s why the State Department waits at least Today, Washington readers enjoy the advantages of paper- 30 years before publishing diplomatic correspondence in its less systems, but they also generally devote far more attention Foreign Relations of the United States series. to their email inboxes than their cable queues. Previous experiments in speedier public access fared News Washington can use is often quickly conveyed to tar- badly. William Seward, President Abraham Lincoln’s Sec- get audiences via email in easily digestible form. In contrast, retary of State, opted to print recent letters between his a reporting cable on the same subject is more cumbersome office and American ministers abroad for public inspection. to access, or it may be drowned out by the sheer volume of Seward biographer Walter Stahr quotes the American minis- telegrams that pour in from embassies and consulates daily. It ter (ambassador) to London as complaining that the “rather may even seem duplicative, merely “memorializing” previ- liberal publication of my more confidential dispatches may ously communicated information. stand in the way of my future usefulness at this post” (Seward, Simon & Schuster, 2012). From Action to Reaction Nor is the United States the only country to have its diplo- Foreign Service officers at home and abroad must con- matic correspondence leaked with deleterious consequences. front what Marshall McLuhan, in The Medium Is the Massage: The British Foreign Office once had a storied tradition of An Inventory of Effects (Bantam Books, 1967), had already ambassadors sending valedictory dispatches as they prepared branded a “global village” of “allatonceness.” McLuhan argued to leave their posts. That custom reportedly ended in 2006, in that the speed of communication, which keeps increasing, large part due to the difficulty of keeping the wit, candor and forces us to “shift our stress of attention from action to reac- condescension of departing chiefs of mission confidential. tion.” The illegal transfer of an enormous trove of alleged diplo- The breadth, depth and pace of news and commentary matic cables to WikiLeaks in 2010 posed new challenges for

24 JULY-AUGUST 2014 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL drafting officers. First and The means of communication I recall a Foreign Service foremost, the unauthorized Institute instructor asserting publication of such corre- may change, but the need that, anthropologically speak- spondence seriously dam- for bankable reporting and ing, the Foreign Service is an aged U.S. national security. analysis does not. oral culture. In that vein, the Apart from premature staff assistant regularly brief- revelations, the leaks exposed ing a senior State principal foreign sources of informa- has a distinct advantage over tion to retribution, giving the drafting officer who per- other potential interlocutors pause about the risks of engaging formed the actual on-the-ground analysis. in dialogue with U.S. diplomats. It suddenly became harder to win or retain the trust of foreign contacts, and elliptical refer- Upholding the Value of the Reporting Function ences to sources became more common (e.g., “a veteran party During the 1992 presidential campaign, independent insider told us…”). candidate Ross Perot suggested that ambassadors were relics, The Foreign Service did win some new respect as the akin to “sailing ships,” and that Washington could accom- commentariat extolled the quality of its writing and report- plish its foreign policy goals by simply communicating with ing. Some columnists even opined that the best missives had foreign capitals by phone and fax. Friends of the Foreign a literary quality to them. As Fareed Zakaria wrote in Time, Service rightly responded that there is no substitute for having “When foreigners encounter U.S. diplomats and listen to their diplomats on the spot who build relationships and advocate in bland recitation of policy, they would do well to keep in mind person with foreign governments and publics. that behind the facade lie some very clever minds.” Somewhat lost in the debate was the fact that Perot’s com- This should not have come as a surprise, of course. U.S. dip- ment ignored a vital function of U.S. diplomats abroad: con- lomats have enviable access, speak foreign languages fluently, veying to U.S. policymakers analysis of significant local events. and are steeped in local knowledge. They can also produce A data systems entrepreneur from Texas can be forgiven for clear and purposeful prose. getting that wrong, but we would do well to remind ourselves of that important job from time to time. All Foreign Service The Power of the Pen work is vital, but the reporting function is truly fundamental to Reporting from the field, in whatever form it takes, is still the success of U.S. foreign policy. the indispensable ingredient of any meaningful foreign policy It’s safe to say that the airgram is not coming back, not at a discussion. Our diplomats’ deep understanding of foreign time when the Associated Press is asking its reporters to limit countries and cultures, and ability to discern political and most of their stories to 300-500 words. The cable is still with economic trends that matter to the United States, constitute us, but is becoming ever leaner. Email updates, BlackBerry- our comparative advantage in the U.S. foreign policymaking friendly digests and weekly roundups with cable links are all in community. the ascendancy. Even so, knowledge does not necessarily equal power. While the means of communication may change, the need Foreign Service officers are called on to be versatile, and com- for bankable reporting and analysis does not. This is true munication is only one of the six competencies evaluated for despite the fact that most writing we produce and see is decid- tenure and promotion. Written communication, in turn, is edly temporal. only one of five subcomponents of that particular precept. Still, the best Foreign Service reporting stands the test of Washington readers are besieged by what Joseph Nye calls time. Look again at Kennan’s Long Telegram: “At the bottom of a “paradox of plenty,” such that “attention rather than infor- the Kremlin’s neurotic view of world affairs is traditional and mation becomes the scarce resource.” It has probably long instinctive Russian sense of insecurity.” And then fast forward been true that the time one has to write or read cable traffic is to recent press comments (no cable revelations here) by Presi- inversely proportional to one’s decision-making authority. Nye dent Obama: “Russia is a regional power that is threatening suggests that in such an environment, “Editors and cue-givers some of its immediate neighbors—not out of strength, but out become more in demand.” of weakness.” n

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JULY-AUGUST 2014 25 FOCUS EMBASSY REPORTING

DIPLOMATIC REPORTING: ADAPTING TO THE INFORMATION AGE

While technology enhances brainpower, it is no substitute for the seasoned diplomat’s powers of observation and assessment, argues this veteran consumer of diplomatic reporting.

BY JOHN C. GANNON

s an analyst or manager of gov- and others simply lacked the talent to excel at it. The ideologi- ernment analysts for more than cal bent of powerful policymakers and ambassadors at times 25 years, I acquired a deep appre- suppressed or distorted analysis on important issues. Occa- ciation for diplomatic reporting. sionally, high-quality reports were sadly late in arriving. That does not mean I romanticize That said, I came to respect diplomatic reporting and analy- it, however. U.S. policy formula- sis from the field. It added to my knowledge of the local stage tion, which depends on reli- and its key actors, broadened my perspective on potential able diplomatic reporting, is a outcomes, deepened my understanding of complex issues and hardscrabble business, not an tested my own, sometimes-rigid assumptions—all building ivory-tower pursuit. critical context for the judgments I made. ANot all of the reporting I saw was useful or well-sourced, Accomplished diplomats, who artfully captured ground any more than was the output of other agencies over the same truth while skillfully pegging the story to U.S. interests, always period. Reporting was not a high priority for some embassies, informed, sometimes entertained and often had real impact. They helped to reduce the confusion and uncertainty faced by During a government career spanning a quarter-century, John C. Gan- senior decision-makers and government analysts in Washing- non served as the Central Intelligence Agency’s director of European ton. analysis, deputy director for intelligence and assistant director for analy- sis and production. He also chaired the National Intelligence Council, The Record Is Clear worked in the White House transitional planning office for the Depart- Timely and insightful reporting from U.S. diplomats has ment of Homeland Security and was the staff director of the House Select given meaning to major geopolitical transformations in Latin Committee on Homeland Security. He is now an adjunct professor at America, Europe and Asia, as well as to persistent or escalat- Georgetown University and the executive director of the congressionally ing violence and conflict in the Balkans, the Middle East and directed FBI 9/11 Review Commission. South Asia. More recently, Foreign Service officers have ably

26 JULY-AUGUST 2014 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL tracked and assessed a host of transnational threats rang- because of the centrality of bread-and-butter issues in union- ing from terrorism, weapons proliferation, cyberoperations based parties. and narco-trafficking to natural disasters, organized crime, Embassy reporting, though less confident of the outcome, trafficking in women and children, infectious diseases, global gave me lots of material to make my case in what became a financial crises and climate change. And in today’s intercon- heated debate in Washington during the election campaign. I nected world, the list only grows. was fortunate to have worked closely with the team of Assis- Since the 1980s, diplomats have seen both their workplace tant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Viron and the world they cover turned upside down by the continu- “Pete” Vaky, which provided me with an early example of ing revolution in information technology. Yet the work of the potentiating effect of a collaborative intelligence-policy veteran diplomats and the emergence of a new generation of relationship. I had also been mentored as an analyst by Vaky’s tech-savvy Foreign Service officers have made clear that diplo- distinguished predecessor, John Crimmins. matic reporting is still, fundamentally, a people business. In one contentious briefing on the Hill at which some Technology can increase efficiency, but it still takes brain- members strongly disputed my analysis, Representative Shir- power to produce succinct reports that creatively combine ley Chisholm, D-N.Y., the daughter of West Indian immigrants breadth, depth and clear and the wife of a Jamaican policy relevance. A quick sur- husband, silenced the room vey of some of my own career Since the 1980s, diplomats with her eloquent assessment experiences will reinforce have seen both their of why Seaga was likely to this point. win. He did, with nearly 59 Dominican Republic, workplace and the world they percent of the vote. 1978. On election day, cover turned upside down by Spain, early 1980s: This May 16, Antonio Guzman’s the continuing revolution in is another case where, in my Dominican Revolutionary judgment, a solid record of Party, which had been side- information technology. informative and insightful lined by President Lyndon embassy reporting helped Johnson’s Marines in 1965, sometimes skittish Wash- was perceived to be leading conservative U.S. ally Joaquin ington policymakers get on the right side of history. Spain Balaguer. The pro-Balaguer army began to seize ballot boxes. was still in an unsteady transition to post-Franco democracy. Ambassador Robert Yost’s country team reported the story Right-wing military elements staged an abortive coup in 1981. blow by blow through the night into the early morning hours. The Socialists came to power in October 1982 on an anti-NATO This gave me time to get the details into crack-of-dawn platform and with Basque terrorist assassinations of military, intelligence briefings for the senior national security team, security and political leaders on the rise. and enabled Secretary of State Cyrus Vance to persuade Other factors were involved, but I believe that excellent dip- Balaguer’s government to restore the vote count that made lomatic reporting encouraged broad U.S. government support Guzman the next president. The run-up to this election also for Spain’s fledgling socialist government, for its accession to exposed me to the tensions that can arise between Washing- NATO and the European Union, and for its long fight against a ton’s political biases and reality in the field. Excellent report- major domestic terrorist threat. Credit goes far and wide, but ing reassured U.S. policymakers that fears of Cuban interven- I recall Political Counselor Bob Service’s pithy and punchy tion were not warranted (and, I concluded, may not have been cables as a standard setter. such a big deal back in 1965 when both embassy reporting and Emergence of the European Union, mid-1980s. The policy perspectives set a different tone). transformation of the European Economic Community of the Jamaica, 1980. The charismatic and Castro-friendly incum- mid-1980s into the European Union is a story of consistently bent, Prime Minister Michael Manley, faced a serious electoral outstanding reporting from economic, political and security challenge against the background of a declining economy. officers. As instability on the continent increased during the As someone who had both studied and taught in Jamaica, I 1990s, security issues took on greater importance in what concluded that Manley’s opponent, Edward Seaga, would win became a more interdisciplinary approach to analysis of Euro-

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JULY-AUGUST 2014 27 pean integration. Ambas- During the rapid transformation integrity, internal stability, sador Jim Dobbins’ rich centralized authoritarian reports from Brussels were of postwar Europe in 1989, rule and robust economic always a must-read. countless diplomatic reports growth against the stresses Eastern Europe Trans- contributed to this triumph that would come with forms, 1989. This was the integration into the global most eventful year of my for U.S. policy. economy? How would its career, as the East Euro- military modernization pean communist regimes programs affect stability in began to topple starting Asia? with Poland, followed by Hungary, Czechoslovakia, East Ger- Focused, balanced and forward-looking diplomatic report- many and, finally, Romania in December. In what seemed like ing, in my view, has helped Washington to understand both a breathless sweep, the Warsaw Pact was history! the challenges and the opportunities in China’s rapid rise. The A steady flow of useful diplomatic reporting, exceptional Sino-American relationship has a complex future with varying interagency collaboration and effective leadership from the shades of partnership, competition and rivalry—but hopefully White House—along with the refusal of Soviet leader Mikhail not violent conflict. Gorbachev to resort to violence—minimized the risks dur- A Year of Crises, 1998. The U.S. agenda was upended as ing this rapid transformation of postwar Europe. Countless India conducted a nuclear test in May, and Pakistan followed diplomatic reports contributed to this triumph for U.S. policy. quickly; al-Qaida attacked our embassies in Nairobi and Dar I would single out Ambassador Mark Palmer in Hungary as es Salaam in August; a global financial crisis that started in emblematic of the best. Thailand swept through East Asia, provoking serious economic 1990-1995: Yugoslavia Breaks Up and the Bosnians Go and political turmoil in Indonesia, and eventually walloping to War. After the collapse of communist regimes and the President Boris Yeltsin’s Russia; North Korea tried unsuccess- implosion of the Soviet Union, there was little appetite in the fully to launch a satellite; and Saddam Hussein booted United final years of the Bush 41 administration or in the first years of Nations arms inspectors out of Iraq. the Clinton presidency to intervene in the Balkans’ toxic eth- Foreign Service reporting reduced the uncertainty associ- nic brawl. I saw firsthand how a steady stream of informative ated with all these overlapping events, and enabled policy- and insightful diplomatic reports educated policymakers on makers to scale appropriate responses. It helped them to get a the complex issues, political minefields and increasing risks hold on Yeltsin’s erratic behavior during an unstable period in to broader regional stability of persistent volatility and ethnic the region. It educated U.S. government agencies to the grow- conflict in the former Yugoslavia. ing threat from al-Qaida terrorists. It shed light on the domes- I particularly recall Ambassador Warren Zimmerman’s tic and regional political implications of the global financial thoughtful contributions to the U.S. policy debate on Yugosla- crisis, even though it was a mighty struggle for all of us to get via and his willingness to engage intelligence analysts directly. ahead of this fast-moving curve. On Bosnia, Dick Holbrooke assembled a team of workhorses, including Bob Frasure, Chris Hill, Jim Pardew, Nelson Drew Three Revolutions and Joe Kruzel, who were especially skilled at reporting rapidly All of these episodes occurred against the background changing developments to Washington decision-makers. They of historic geopolitical and technological change that dra- were among the many talented diplomats and policymakers matically affected reporting from the field. Three distinct yet who helped bring about an end to the Bosnian conflict. intersecting revolutions took root in the early 1980s as closed China Rises, early 1990s. Government analysts, like societies began to open up, as both the volume and velocity diplomats, do not always come out of the gate with the right of information flows increased exponentially with the advent answer. But they play great catch-up ball! In the early 1990s, of the Internet, and as the distinction blurred between foreign I remember mixed views on the impact of Deng Xiaoping’s and domestic threats in a borderless world and in cyberspace. measured opening of China to the outside world. How would The first revolution wasgeopolitical . It swept away the this vast country of a billion people maintain its territorial Soviet Union, propelled the rise of China and forced both

28 JULY-AUGUST 2014 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL intelligence analysts and INR makes up for small worked to bring ana- diplomats to confront a lytic production into the new, diffuse global threat numbers in its impressive 21st century. This meant environment in which non- analytic expertise and in its responding to both the state actors—including ter- intimate connection to State’s post–Cold War geopolitical rorists, WMD proliferators transformation and IT- and cybercriminals—oper- indispensable diplomatic driven technology revolu- ated against U.S. interests reporting. tion that were producing across national borders, such churn in our work- including our own. place. The second revolution In 2000, the group pro- involves technology—pri- duced The Strategic Invest- marily information technology, but also the rapidly advancing ment Plan for Intelligence Community Analysis (ADCI/AP biological sciences, nanotechnology, material sciences, neuro- 2000-01), which recommended intelligence agencies invest science and robotics. We have moved in one generation from in recruitment and training, interagency collaboration, use of an environment of information scarcity to information glut, external expertise and aggressive exploitation of open-source and into a world where the United States no longer dominates information. These resources will help counter “a dispersed, technology R&D and is subject, more than ever, to technologi- complex and ‘asymmetric’ threat assessment in which infor- cal surprise. In the late 1970s, it took at least a week for me to mation technology makes everything move faster.” receive newspapers from Latin America and the Caribbean. INR, then headed by Tom Fingar, was ably represented on Today, Washington analysts receive newspapers and media the NIPB panel by Chris Kojm, the future chair of the National reports often before the people in the country of interest. Intelligence Council. INR has always been one of the smallest Governments have less and less capacity to control infor- organizations in the intelligence community, but it punches mation flows, including social media. In recent years, the well above its weight. It makes up for small numbers in its Arab Spring in the Middle East and widespread protests in impressive analytic expertise and in its intimate connection to Brazil and Turkey are cases in point. Meanwhile, international State’s indispensable diplomatic reporting. organized crime groups, terrorists, narcotraffickers and pro- Yet I saw diplomatic reporting as undervalued within the liferators are taking advantage of such technology, bypassing State Department—and even more so on the Hill. State lacked governments or seeking to undermine them to protect their strong legislative advocates, even at a time of growing global illegal activities. threats to national security. The failure to adequately fund the The third revolution relates tohomeland security, which department was a blow to all the agencies that relied on diplo- may not seem appropriate for the diplomat’s agenda but is. matic reporting, including mine. Multiple federal agencies, state and local governments, and Critics have asserted that while U.S. diplomatic reporting “first responders” have a legitimate need for information has a rich and noble tradition in our country, it has suffered about threats that originate abroad, including human traffick- from the advent of the Internet and easy access to valuable ing, refugee flows, migration patterns and infectious diseases. open-source information. Policymakers, the argument went, Looking ahead, diplomatic reporting will be expected to could now mine the Web for the country-specific information advance our understanding of a growing number of such com- they needed and make direct contact with official counterparts plex issues in an increasingly interconnected world. and other valuable foreign sources—all in real time. Embassy political and economic officers, who generally rejected this Responding to Change line, could now be directed to reduce their substantive report- From 1998 to 2001, as the first assistant director of central ing activities and take on more of the embassy’s operational intelligence for analysis and production, I chaired the National duties such as managing congressional delegations. Intelligence Production Board. This critique, which exaggerated both the vulnerability of The NIPB, a working group spanning 11 agencies, including diplomatic reporting and the potential of the Internet, had the State Department’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research, surface appeal for a time. Experienced FSOs and government

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JULY-AUGUST 2014 29 In fact, bountiful Web access to open-source information has the potential to make good diplomatic reporting even better.

analysts in Washington were quick to recognize, however, that while the Internet would narrow the diplomat’s reporting domain, it could not compete with the Foreign Service’s ability to provide policy-relevant insight and invaluable context with regard to local people, events and trends. In fact, bountiful online access to open-source information has the potential to make good diplomatic reporting even better.

Technology Needs Brainpower We cannot minimize the challenges ahead. U.S. diplomats must deal with a world in which everything moves faster, including advances in technology. The State Department will need to invest more in technology to preserve the global edge for diplomacy. IT-driven globalization has already fostered the unprecedented development of interconnected, global networks that move political, cultural, economic, financial, military and environmental information around a shrinking world with unprecedented speed and efficiency. This historic phenomenon of our age will not go away. My core message, however, is that, while technology enhances brainpower, it is no substitute for it. Today a new, tech-savvy generation of Foreign Service officers is entirely comfortable with analytic tools and software applications like time series, clustering, link analysis and visualization. These young diplomats use social media as easily as they brush their teeth. But in the end, it is their talent and passion for crisp, incisive reporting that sustains the State Department’s gold standard for reporting from the field. Technology enables as never before, but cognitive power still makes the critical dif- ference. The advance of technology will only accelerate in the decades ahead. But it can never match the seasoned diplo- mat’s powers of observation and artful precision in assessing complex issues, local developments and trends. n

30 JULY-AUGUST 2014 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL FOCUS EMBASSY REPORTING

STATE DEPARTMENT POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC REPORTING TODAY A SELECTION OF VIEWS FROM PRACTITIONERS

The Journal invited AFSA members to share Hitting the Ball By Christopher W. Bishop their perspectives on this important topic. We Consulate General Osaka-Kobe asked five questions to spur discussion: What is the state of State Department political and A senior officer of the old school—and four-time ambassa- economic reporting today? Can you provide dor—once told me that diplomacy was like playing tennis. “The recent (unclassified) examples of how reporting cable is just the follow-through on the stroke,” he explained. “What affected policy or led to a change in operations? really matters is that you hit the damn ball. You have to go talk to What is the impact of the vast and instanta- people and influence them.” neous flow of information in today’s digital I’ve often thought about this analogy as I reflect on my work age on political and economic reporting (and as a political officer. The very term “reporting officer”—a favorite are embassy reporting methods changing as a State Department catch-all—implies that a political or economic result)? What impediments to reporting—tech- officer’s primary job is to report on conditions in the host country nological, physical access or process—have you to inform and influence the making of U.S. foreign policy. But isn’t encountered, and what would be your proposed influencing host-country policy just as important to U.S. interests, remedy? Do today’s promotion boards give if not more so? too much or too little weight to reporting and Reporting has long been an easy way to judge the “productiv- analysis versus other skills (e.g., management of ity” (if not the success) of a post’s political or economic section. A people and resources)? friend at the American Institute in Taiwan once admitted he kept Here is a selection of the responses we a tally of how many cables Embassy Beijing had sent the previ- received. We thank all those who responded. ous day, so that Taipei could match it the next day. (The fact that —Shawn Dorman, Editor Beijing had twice as many “reporting officers” as Taipei didn’t matter—nor, apparently, did the question of whether either posts’ cables actually influenced policy in Washington.) As a junior officer in Shanghai, I was routinely tasked with writing quarterly cables on the local macroeconomic situation. Even if anyone read them (something I doubted), I knew someone

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JULY-AUGUST 2014 31 in Washington could have written them just as easily as I did from Bring in the Noise: China. Almost all the data was on the Internet, and much of it was Using Digital Technology in English. to Promote Peace and Security The fetishization of reporting at many posts has led to an odd By Daniel Fennell phenomenon. Even as overseas posts are reporting more than Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations, ever—not just by cable, but by email, both official and personal— Washington, D.C. Washington’s attention span is getting shorter. Many desk officers could spend all day doing nothing but reading (or just skimming) Running at full speed on projects at our overseas posts, it’s not all the cables and emails and press summaries and Ops Center easy to break focus and find time to send reports back to Wash- briefs and daily activity reports that pop into their inboxes. “Inbox ington. But like the proverbial tree falling in the forest, an activity management” has become as critical a skill in Washington as in the field needs to make some noise if you want anyone in Wash- drafting a briefing memo, much less running an office. ington to know it struck the ground. The department is drowning in information. But how much Working in the Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Opera- reporting actually gets read? How much ever reaches bureau front tions has impressed on me how field reporting can promote the offices—not to mention the seventh floor? And if it doesn’t get use of new tools to fight conflict and instability. For example, read, how can it influence policy? our team in Honduras helped mount a conference with young We need to get back to technology-savvy participants, basics. State should review international funders and the role of political officers in One of the hidden benefits local government officials to the Foreign Service, to help us of serving in Washington is identify tech-based solutions refocus our work and set expec- for addressing destabilizing tations. (We might start by seeing how field reports that violence in the country with looking at the recent emphasis get into the right hands can the highest murder rate in the on “economic statecraft,” and improve policy and operations. world. how it has revitalized the work This event, called a “Tech- of economic officers.) Senior —Daniel Fennell Camp,” was jointly organized by officers should mentor and CSO, the Office of eDiplomacy train newer officers not just in and Embassy Tegucigalpa. It cable drafting, but in how to identify and engage contacts, and was a new experience for our bureau, but looked like an innova- how to elicit and synthesize information. tive way to address drivers of conflict. We should focus less on producing quantity reporting about Field reporting painted an engaging picture of 13 groups pro- our host countries, and focus more on clear, concise reporting that posing ideas involving digital platforms. Some, like coordinated helps Washington understand those countries. We need to help social media strategies, were free. Others, such as a new com- the department better manage all the information it receives—not puter-based crime-tracking system and a plan to allow anony- just add another cable or email to someone’s inbox. mous incident reporting, won basic funding from an international Good reporting is vital to diplomacy. It provides a record for nongovernmental organization. All of the proposals sprang from others to learn from our successes, and our failures. It can inform, local groups using local expertise to find solutions to citizen secu- advise and even influence the making of policy at the highest lev- rity problems—meeting a central goal for the U.S. mission. els. But diplomacy is more than some kind of glorified journalism. Field reports on the TechCamp, including cables, email and We still have to go talk to people and influence them. We have to even video clips, caught the attention of our bureau leader- hit the damn ball. ship and our Burma engagement team, which believed that a TechCamp would work there, too. That team adopted the basic Since joining the Foreign Service in 2002, Christopher W. Bishop, a elements of the Honduras event, and the Burma version, mounted political officer, has served in Shanghai, Khartoum, Yokohama and in partnership with Embassy Rangoon and the Spirit of America Washington, D.C. In August, he will begin Chinese-language and area foundation, was another success. studies instruction in Taipei at the American Institute in Taiwan. We are now seeking opportunities to set up similar events

32 JULY-AUGUST 2014 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL Daniel Friedman/U.S. Embassy Tegucigalpa Young, tech-savvy participants at a January TechCamp in Honduras discuss digital platforms to address crime and instability. in other countries facing ongoing conflict. Thanks in part to covering, and learning from them. embassy reporting, the Honduras initiative is having even In the best of times we are afforded the luxury of writing greater impact. think-pieces, which rely on multiple sources and offer depth and As a Foreign Service officer moving between field and domes- perspective. Spot reports and shorter writing pieces are by far the tic assignments over the years, I’ve been at both ends of the more common type of reporting, but even in those we strive to reporting pipeline. I’m struck that one of the hidden benefits of include the perspectives from people on the ground with whom serving in Washington is being on the receiving end, and seeing we have talked. how and when field reports from our embassies and diplomatic Why is all this important? I believe that, unlike journalists, posts that get into the right hands can improve policy and opera- reporting officers must be perpetually building our network of tions. With the right audience, making that noise can shape events contacts. That way, when a crisis arises we are in the best pos- and our work around the world. sible position to draw on our relationships to positively affect the outcome. This impact is often focused on our best interests Since entering the Foreign Service in 1999 as a public diplomacy of- as Americans, but just as often promotes the best interests of the ficer, Daniel Fennell has served in Iraq, Colombia, Venezuela, Mexico people of the country in which we are serving. and Canada. In Iraq, he served as the spokesman and public diplo- It is in times of crisis that our network matters most. But that macy chief for a Provincial Reconstruction Team embedded with the network is only as good as our reporting efforts have helped to U.S. First Infantry Division in an active combat zone. He is currently make it. There may be only a few times in our careers when it all completing an assignment in the Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization comes together, but when it does, it makes a huge difference. That Operations as the deputy director of an operations team, and will begin happened to me in Malawi in April 2012, when the sudden death an assignment as the public affairs officer in Accra this summer. of President Bingu Wa Mutharika led to a two-day period of uncer- tainty during which an unconstitutional transition of power—a The Value-Added of Networking coup—almost occurred. By Christopher Markley Nyce Through Ambassador Jeanine Jackson’s immediate engage- Consulate General Basrah ment, we were able to encourage the constitutional transition of power to Vice President Joyce Banda. Our network of reporting Being a reporting officer is interesting, rewarding and impor- contacts made this engagement flow naturally. In May 2014, tant work. I love the pursuit of knowledge and particularly enjoy President Banda competed in an election against Bingu Wa searching out expert contacts on the subject I am responsible for Mutharika’s brother, Peter Mutharika, and lost. Although vote

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JULY-AUGUST 2014 33 Courtesy Embassy Bogota U.S. President Barack Obama and Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos shake hands after a bilateral meeting at the margins of the Summit of the Americas in April 2012 in Cartagena, where they announced the Free Trade Agreement’s date of entry into force. counting was a protracted process, Banda acknowledged her The Three Amigos: defeat, and the rule of law has prevailed. Here is another example, from our consulate general in Basrah, South Korea, Colombia and where I recently completed a year of service as energy officer. One Panama Trade Agreements of our highest priorities is keeping Washington abreast of develop- By Ivan Rios ments in southern Iraq’s energy sector, where exports of more Embassy Windhoek than 2.5 million barrels of oil per day account for 90 percent of the To get the United States out of a deep recession, the Obama country’s total oil production and the vast majority of its national administration used many tools when it took office in 2009. It budget. was a time of high unemployment Having built a wide-ranging net- Unlike journalists, and despair, of bailouts and stimulus work of active contacts in the energy packages. It was a time for the National sector, I was able to influence stake- reporting officers must Export Initiative and international holders both in and out of govern- be perpetually building trade to be added to the policy tool- ment. Our most recent analysis of box. And it was a time when trade southern Iraq’s oil sector summarized our network of contacts. agreements were awaiting congres- an entire year’s worth of field visits and —Christopher Markley Nyce sional ratification, involving the three data collection into a succinct argu- amigos: South Korea, Colombia and ment for Iraq’s need to hire an outside Panama. Economic and political project management firm to meet its ambitious oil expansion reporting, without a doubt, advanced the cause of ratifying those plans. That reporting directly contributed to our leadership’s abil- pacts, which now benefit businesses large and small and people in ity to craft a set of policy recommendations to help stabilize Iraq’s many countries beyond the four signatories. economy and simultaneously ensure a less volatile world market In July 2010, I arrived in Bogota as the new trade officer. I had for oil. the good fortune to be at the right place at the right time. We wanted to do all we could do to persuade Congress to ratify the Since joining the Foreign Service in 2005, Christopher Markley Nyce has trade agreement between Colombia and the United States. But served as an economic officer in London, Managua and Lilongwe. what could we do?

34 JULY-AUGUST 2014 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL Courtesy Embassy Bogota Embassy Bogota Deputy Chief of Mission Perry Holloway, center, during a ceremony celebrating the arrival of the first U.S. motorcycle, a Harley Davidson, imported into Colombia under the Free Trade Agreement signed in 2012.

Among other things, we reported on the billion-dollar market There are far more details and stories about the three amigos, share U.S. agriculture was losing to countries that had free trade and perhaps one day they will be written down. If you ever find agreements in place with Colombia. We monitored trade negotia- yourself, as a reporting officer, wondering whether the cable you tions between Colombia and major competitors including South just drafted and put through the transformation of the clearance Korea, the European Union and China. We also documented trade process would affect policy, just remember the three amigos: the agreements as they entered into force. And we painted a picture of South Korea, Colombia and Panama trade agreements. Bogota’s aggressive trade agenda and the economic losses to U.S. Political and economic reporting does make a difference. exporters if the trade agreement was not ratified. Similar reports went in from South Korea and Panama, but each Ivan Rios is an economic and commercial affairs officer now serving of the three amigos had its own peculiarities. For Colombia, the in Windhoek. He joined the Foreign Service in 2005 and has served in special twist was labor and the labor action plan, and what a twist Mexico City, Recife and Bogota. Prior to that, he held two limited non- it was! We had some superb labor officers—that rare breed that career appointments, in Mexico City and São Paulo. pingpongs between political and economic sections, depending on the roundness of the ball and the size of the racket that hits it. Their Political Reporting: Then and Now— impartial reporting was critical to the cause, covering reactions from the labor sector and events leading to the labor action plan. and Looking Ahead By Kathryn Hoffman and Samuel C. Downing Once the plan was in place, they reported on progress toward Consulate General São Paulo meeting the plan’s targets and continued to report on labor sector positions. These virtuosos had to convey accurate information to The world has changed in the three decades since Mongolian change the old preconceptions about the labor sector in Colombia Airlines stewardesses in black fishnet stockings crossed my desk and present an updated reality of the country to justify ratification in Washington via a cable from the field. That cable described a of the trade agreement. bipolar world, stark and clear, where the gulf between what “we”

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JULY-AUGUST 2014 35 saw and what “they” saw was so great that the contrast yielded do and that we should instead focus, relentlessly, on outreach the deliciously absurd. In that world, State Department cables and conference calls—we treat diplomacy like the kind of war translated faraway events, large and small, obscure and evident, that is won through action at any cost. We forget that writing is into understanding. Narration, local color, interpretation, analy- a tool for thinking, and that we will be better at our jobs if we sis—the tools of the magazine writer, of William Shawn’s New better understand the challenges we are facing. Yorker—produced both excellence and excess. Now that world is The core of diplomacy is the belief that an exchange of ideas gone, and those tools have fallen into disuse. can change the world. As American diplomats, our job is not —Kathryn Hoffman merely to note our own doings, or even new facts, but to draft cables that interpret and help steer events. It is to help shape the For better or worse, the Cold War world offered my colleague world, through the power of our ideas. Kathryn and other American diplomats a natural narrative —Kathryn Hoffman and Samuel C. Downing framework. They wrote to connect local events to the global nar- rative, and to show how they diverged, offering insights the D.C. Kathryn Hoffman is a political officer now serving as the deputy of the desk jockeys could not. There is no clear picture window on the economic/political section of Consulate General São Paulo in Brazil. multipolar world we face as new diplomats. She has previously served in Port au Prince, Khartoum, Kabul, PRT If today’s cables sometimes lack context and interpretation, Nuristan, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, as well as in Washington, D.C. She perhaps that is because today’s world is more complex, Amer- joined the U.S. government in 1987 and the Foreign Service in 2003. ica’s role is harder to define—and crafting big-picture analysis Samuel C. Downing joined the Foreign Service in 2012 as a politi- feels like hubris. But if by oversimplifying we risk misinter- cal officer. He is serving his first tour at Consulate General São Paulo. preting; by confronting complexity without analysis, we beget misunderstanding. The #Twitterfication of Political My history teacher, Ernest May, said when American officials and Economic Reporting bring to a “bewildered, confused, globalizing world a bewilder- By Travis Coberly ing, confusing mélange of policy ideas—trade, the environment, Consulate General Hyderabad growth,” we “strike a hundred notes, but make no melody.” He called for a concise, compelling new foreign policy narrative—a “Give me your analysis on the impact of the terrorist attack on “Capital ‘P’ Policy” to win the world to a more meaningful idea the national elections in 140 characters or fewer.” of American leadership in a “world of diverse cultures on com- No, it hasn’t happened yet—but we are getting there. Instan- mon human ground.” taneous digital communication has created a paradox wherein Perhaps this call also hints at how State Department report- our ability (and desire) to instantly transmit information has ing sometimes comes up short, and how we can fix it. Reading actually diminished our ability to process, understand and use a recent cable on a tiny country’s coming election, I found an that information. In the universe of political and economic unimpeachable primer on the rules of the race, but no hint of reporting, this paradox has manifested itself in the call for how the election might matter beyond those borders. In today’s “shorter” and “even shorter” cables. interconnected world, surely it would. As Foreign Service offi- Admittedly, I have only been with the department for five cers, our job is to explain why. years and I don’t know how things were back in the day, when —Samuel C. Downing everybody had to trudge uphill through the snow both ways just to pound out a cable on the single Wang machine in the office. We could do with more, and more innovative, training in But even in my short tenure, I have noticed that the trend in writing. We could do with less make-work and a streamlined reporting has been toward shorter and shorter cables. Nobody process for mandatory annual reports. But we could also do with has time to read the vast amount of material being produced. a little less modesty. We are America’s frontline foreign affairs Just imagine if George Kennan sent his celebrated “Long professionals. Why not challenge ourselves to contribute to this Telegram” today. Instead of launching Kennan on a path of for- new narrative? eign policy fame, that cable would die an ignominious death by a When we neglect the difficult discipline of regular writing— thousand clicks of the delete button. telling ourselves that cables don’t matter, that an email will We’ve all been there—on both sides. As consumers, much

36 JULY-AUGUST 2014 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL As writers, we spend inordinate amounts of time crafting the perfect summary paragraph because we know that is all that is likely to be read, if it is read at all. —Travis Coberly

as we would like to read the latest cable on mud exports from Southern Elbonia, there are only so many hours in the day. As writers, we spend inordinate amounts of time crafting the perfect summary paragraph because we know that is all that is likely to be read, if it is read at all. Where is the logical endpoint? Even more disconcerting: with the ease of digital communi- cations and access to open sources and social media, will report- ing officers be tweeted out of a job? If the beast can be happily fed on 140 characters at a time, why are we spending millions of dollars to station officers overseas when their reporting won’t be read? Is there a magic formula for producing useful, quality mate- rial without being a burden on an already overloaded audience? Can we, as reporting officers, successfully communicate our product without resorting to top-10 lists with pictures of cats? As a concept, information overload has been around for a long time. Unfortunately for those of us in the Foreign Service, our capability of dealing with information is lagging far behind our ability to produce it. And things will only get worse. We need to find technological and organizational solutions to the issue other than creating a classified Twitter system. We need to train entry-level officers to focus on quality over quantity, and senior-level officers to have the self-discipline to delegate and, yes, put down that BlackBerry once in a while. All of us need to change the ways we process and use information—beyond ask- ing for shorter cables. I would go on, but it appears I have already reached my word limit. n

Travis Coberly, an economic-cone officer, joined the Foreign Service in 2009. He has previously served in Merida and Hyderabad.

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JULY-AUGUST 2014 37 FEATURE It Deserved an Oscar

For those of us in the Foreign Service, “State Department File 649” is our cinematic showcase, William Lundigan our star, and Virginia Bruce our Best Actress.

BY DONALD M. BISHOP

h, the movies! They entertain. They ing of Denzel Washington (“Unstoppable”) or Barbara Stanwyck make us cry, or cheer. They lead us (“Union Pacific”)? Tell lawyer jokes if you will, but who does not down the paths of love, or fear. In front admire Gregory Peck in “To Kill a Mockingbird” and Jimmy Stewart of the big screen our blood runs cold, in “Anatomy of a Murder”? or rushes in anticipation. Once upon a time, Hollywood helped Americans get to know Films introduce us to the regions our diplomatic corps through magnetic, attractive and well- of America and the countries of the tailored actors like William Lundigan and Virginia Bruce. I refer, of world. They take us to places—pris- course, to the stars of that classic film directed by Sam Newfield, ons, courtrooms, airline cockpits, “State Department File 649.” I’m still hoping that Denzel, Kevin, mines, ranches, submarines—we are unlikely ever to visit in real Keanu or Leonardo, paired with Sandra, Angelina, Renee or Lucy, Alife. will star in a similar diplomatic blockbuster. Films also portray and introduce professions, giving visibil- Yes, “Argo” gave us a slice of embassy life and quiet courage, but ity, dignity and, perhaps, adventure to many walks of life. What the hero worked for the CIA. For those of us in the Foreign Service, fisherman does not see something of himself in Spencer Tracy “State Department File 649” is our cinematic showcase, William (in “Captains Courageous”) or George Clooney (in “The Perfect Lundigan our star, and Virginia Bruce our Best Actress. Storm”)? Robin Williams in “Dead Poets Society” and Richard This 1949 indie classic long lay in undeserved obscurity, until Dreyfuss in “Mr. Holland’s Opus” surely make every teacher walk a Alpha Video recently made it—original, unedited, unenhanced, little taller. What American can see a locomotive without think- unrestored—available in its rich, original CineColor on DVD and online. Netflix can send you the film, or you can find it on YouTube Donald M. Bishop, a retired Foreign Service public diplomacy officer, (or publicdomainflicks.com). For those of you in Washington, was a public affairs officer in Bangladesh, Nigeria and China, and twice there’s a copy at the Ralph Bunche Library. served as a foreign policy adviser at the Pentagon. His last assignment Wherever you view it, “State Department 649” deserves pride was in Kabul. of place at the next Foggy Bottom Film Festival. Let’s look, then, at

38 JULY-AUGUST 2014 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL the motion picture, its casting and what makes it such an enduring portrait of the United States Foreign Service.

Dramatis Personae Playing our Foreign Service hero, Ken Seeley, was the handsome William Lundigan (1914- 1975). While studying at Syracuse University Law School, he worked part-time as a radio announcer. A Universal Studios executive heard his voice, and signed him in 1937. His many pre- war screen credits included “Dodge City” (1939), “The Fighting 69th” (1940) and “The Sea Hawk” (1940). In “Santa Fe Trail,” also released in 1940, he joined Ronald Reagan in the cast. During the war, Lundigan enlisted and took his place behind, rather than in front of, the cam- era. He was a Marine Corps combat cameraman in the battles of Peleliu and Okinawa. Return- ing to Hollywood, he starred in “Pinky” (1949), “Love Nest” (1951), “The House on Telegraph Hill” (1951), “I’d Climb the Highest Mountain” (1951), “Inferno” (1953) and many other movies. Like his friend Ronald Reagan, Lundigan leaned conservative in his politics. In the 1964 presidential campaign, he, Walter Brennan, Chill Wills and Efrem Zimbalist Jr. were a celebrity Hollywood foursome supporting the Republican candidate, Barry Goldwater, in his run against President Lyndon Johnson. Playing opposite Lundigan in our Foreign Service blockbuster was Virginia Bruce (1910-1982). As the more cable that the 1949 award for Actor with the Best Makeup did not famous star, she received top billing. She had already played the go to the professional wrestler Henry “Bomber” Kulky, appearing title role in the 1934 version of “Jane Eyre,” and in 1936 she intro- as one of the Mongolian “bandits.” duced the Cole Porter song, “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” in “Born to Dance,” melting Jimmy Stewart’s heart. Her long list of other film Story Line masterpieces includes “The Mighty Barnum” (1934), “The Great The film opens with a stirring narrative introduction, referring Ziegfeld” (1936) and “Pardon My Sarong” (1942), in which she to the Foreign Service as “unsung and unhonored heroes;” “the starred with screen greats Abbott and Costello. Her performances Silent Service that works under the most difficult and danger- in “Adventure in Washington” (1941), “Action in Arabia” (1944) and ous conditions, which require tact, diplomacy and courage;” and “Brazil” (1944) no doubt informed and shaped her work in “State “men and women who have given their health and their lives in Department File 649.” obscurity,” often “tortured, maimed, stricken by disease, disaster Other Hollywood deities appeared in the cast, as well. Jona- and death.” I thought that Navy submariners were “The Silent than Hale surely deserved a statuette for his best-ever portrayal of Service,” but who am I to dispute such plain words of truth, so well “the Director General.” Philip Ahn and Richard Loo were unjustly deserved? From the platen of a scriptwriter, pure inspiration! neglected at the Oscars as Best Oriental Heavies. And it’s inexpli- The film’s nonpareil plot then follows Seeley (Lundigan) as he

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JULY-AUGUST 2014 39 The entire staff of Consulate Mingu consists of a consul, a vice consul, a secretary and a Foreign Service National. appears before the examination board, enters the Foreign Service, simo Chiang Kai-Shek? Communism might have made a credible learns Chinese at the Foreign Service Institute and is assigned to opposing force to the heroic American men and women of the a faraway consulate in postwar north China, “Mingu,” somewhere State Department, but the filmmakers apparently wanted to play near Mongolia. In Washington, he meets Marge Waldon (Bruce), it safe. Not knowing which way the cats were gonna jump in old and they meet again when she visits Mingu as a rover. Peiping, they inserted a stereotypical ‘Mongolian warlord’ figure as There’s trouble up north—but from “bandits,” not communists. the opponent to America’s interests, a ‘Yellow Peril’ threat that was A local strongman, Marshal Yun Usu (Richard Loo) hopes for rec- dated at the time and hasn’t aged well since.” ognition by the government in Nanking, but our brave American Promoting exports is one Foreign Service role that could not diplomats know him to be a smuggler and a power-mad scoundrel. fit in the film, but there is a subtle message on behalf of American When he and his uniformed thugs take over the consulate and products. When the warlord comes, he arrives in a sleek, long kill the loyal Chinese radio operator, Johnny Han (Victor Sen Yun, trailer, obviously made in the USA. Its arrival—with cavalry escort, in one of his most memorable roles), Ken must use his Marine no less—never fails to evoke laughter among 21st-century viewers. veteran’s knowledge of explosives and his Foreign Service courage No doubt that reaction expresses joy at the successful promotion of to foil the warlord’s plan. American vehicles in north China markets. The film closes with Ken’s name being chiseled on the AFSA memorial wall at the State Department. The Enduring Spirit of the Foreign Service Foreign Service viewers of the film may also erupt in laughter Immortal Lines at the bulky tape players in the language course at FSI; gasp at the Alas, none of the lines in Milton Raison’s boffo script have short list of names on the AFSA Memorial Plaque; and wonder become as common as “Make my day” or “I’m shocked, shocked what it was like to serve in one of the consulates in China where to find that gambling is going on here.” But members of the Foreign the entire staff consisted of a consul, a vice consul, a secretary and Service can well appreciate these quotes: a Foreign Service National. All will surely notice the absence of Consul Reither: “I think I’d better inform Washington.” female officers, along with the histrionic portrayal of an exhausted Ken: “I’m just a vice consul, a dime a dozen.” and stressed Foreign Service secretary (played by Barbara Wood- Marge: “This happens to be a post where the clerical work is ell). As Consul Reither says, “I suspect she cries more than is good quite superior.” for her.” And needless to say, the Chinese roles are stereotyped. Colonel Aram: “The marshal is very angry. He has broken your Still, as the film comes to its conclusion, our brave vice consul radio.” confronts the warlord and expresses the spirit of the Foreign Ser- Pay no attention to the crabby review on the Fandango website: vice and America: “I am on the winning side, Marshal. I represent “The characterizations are of the cardboard variety and the dia- an ideology that recognizes the dignity of the individual, that holds logue is straight out of Fu Manchu.” all men to be free and equal under God. You represent murder, rape and slavery in the name of the law. You’re a mad dog that Not a Foreign Policy Primer must and will be destroyed.” I suppose it was asking a lot of “State Department File 649” Admittedly, these flag-waving lines now seem corny and any- to portray Foreign Service heroism and the subtleties of postwar thing but “diplomatic.” The whole tone is dated, oh so 1940s. Yet ... foreign policy. One commentator, Catherine Yronwode, sums up don’t murder, rape and slavery still stalk the world? Don’t “dignity the challenge UCLA professor Yu-Shan Han, the film’s technical of the individual” and “free and equal under God” still express the adviser, faced: best American sentiments, no matter how imperfectly we advance “How many modern viewers will understand the backdrop them? Don’t we still believe in—and represent—these old values? of what the script refers to as “the present crisis”—the fact that, So here’s to you, Virginia! Here’s to you, Bill! And here’s to “State in 1949, this meant the communist takeover of China, with Mao Department File 649!” Surely, Mr. Spielberg, this classic deserves a Tse-tung wresting control from the pro-American Generalis- remake. n

40 JULY-AUGUST 2014 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL FEATURE

WESTGATE: THE OTHER NAIROBI AND THE FUTURE OF KENYA

In the shock and tragedy of the terrorist attack, the outpouring of charity from Kenyans toward all those affected demonstrated the power of the “Kenyan Spirit.”

BY JOASH OMONDI

he upscale Westgate Mall in Nairobi, Kenyan border seemed to add fuel to the fire—though, in truth, Kenya, burst into international head- the kidnappings may have been carried out by any of the cartels lines on Sept. 21, 2013, when uniden- operating from inside Somalia, not necessarily al-Shabaab. tified gunmen launched a three-day It was also often argued that the Kenyan troops were unsea- siege of the shopping center that left soned and inexperienced, and that the military was eager to at least 67 dead and more than 175 demonstrate otherwise. The approval and financial backing of wounded. All attackers were report- Western allies had added momentum to the operation, which was edly killed in the mass shooting, later named “Operation Linda Nchi,” Swahili for “protect the nation.” claimed by the Somalia-based Islamist The official justification was that by invading Somalia we were group Al-Shabaab. protecting ourselves. TWhile people around the world decried the seemingly inexo- Some believed we had a responsibility to help stabilize our rable spread of terrorism, Kenyans were forced to come to terms lawless neighbor. Others saw the invasion as a knee-jerk reaction with its reality in a new way. During the two years leading up to to the kidnapping of a few tourists and foreign aid workers, an “Westgate,” they preferred not to acknowledge the threat of funda- event that didn’t deserve a full-scale military assault. Though most mentalist forces in the region. Kenyans recognized that we were now “in it,” and there was no When Kenyan troops had invaded neighboring Somalia in turning back, they were slow to grasp the implications. October 2011, the public exhibited varied reactions. The process Despite the deadly attacks by al-Shabaab in Kampala the previ- of troop deployment met with little resistance from any of the ous year, which killed 74 and injured many others when a bomb arms of government. A spate of kidnappings of aid workers on the went off in the middle of a crowd, few Kenyans anticipated such an eventuality on their soil. The last attack was the deadly 1998 al- Joash Omondi is a journalism student at the United States International Qaida bombing of the U.S. embassy in Nairobi, the worst terrorist University in Nairobi. attack in our country’s history.

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JULY-AUGUST 2014 41 It wasn’t that we didn’t know we one person was killed, but the fact that it had occurred in the heart of the business district—closer to the “other Nairobi” than ever were in the crosshairs; we just before—set off alarm bells. preferred not to speak about it. As reflected in the Kenyan press, only good news came from Somalia: the terrorists had been decimated and were now on the run, reduced from a rebel faction to a mere insurgency, greatly weakened by the overwhelming force of our troops under the banner of the African Union. The reality of how close jihad had come to our doorstep never fully evaporated from the back of our minds. Yet life went on as if none of the attacks had ever happened. The Consequences of War Unfold It wasn’t that we didn’t know we were in the crosshairs; we just The war gradually made itself felt in Nairobi. The first wave of preferred not to speak about it. terrorist reprisals by al-Shabaab was a series of poorly executed grenade attacks that only killed one or two, but stirred palpable The Bubble Bursts fear. After all, violent attacks once reserved for distant, tiny towns On the afternoon of Sept. 21, 2013, however, that became along the Somali border were now happening in the crown jewel impossible. When gunmen entered Westgate Mall brandishing of East Africa, the most modern and progressive city on this side of heavy weapons and ammunition strapped across their chests, the continent. witnesses are reported to have thought it was an ordinary bank Still, they were confined to impoverished and marginalized robbery. This idea was shattered when the terrorists began indis- sections of the city—far from the rich and middle-class havens of criminately shooting in every direction, killing dozens and leaving the “other Nairobi” located west of Moi Avenue, the road cutting dozens more injured in their path. across the central business district that has become symbolic of the Suddenly, the words “Westgate” and “Nairobi” began trending city’s social divide. East of Moi Avenue is characterized by conges- on Twitter worldwide. Tweets could also be read from desperate tion, dirtier streets and less safe neighborhoods; west of it are tall, survivors trapped inside the mall. Police and ambulance sirens modern buildings housing nongovernmental organizations and could be heard across the city as emergency services rushed to the corporations from all over the world, glamorous night life, mani- scene. The rest of the country watched the events unfold on their cured lawns and, of course, shopping malls. TV screens. As the attacks increased over the next year, security measures We had been warned of this day, but it all seemed unreal. We increased. The guards (“askaris”) who once stood outside the doors were used to a bomb or a grenade going off and seeing footage of of supermarkets and office buildings armed with little more than the destruction afterwards. This time live television confronted us nightsticks and flashlights, added hand-held metal detectors to with the sounds of sporadic gunfire and victims, journalists, police their arsenal. These were meant to deter the potential grenade and emergency medical technicians alike all shouting and ducking attacker through early detection of the device, should it be hidden for cover. in a pocket or a handbag. Each person was to be screened before Nairobi’s cosmopolitan nature became evident in news footage entering a building. showing people of every race and ethnicity running out of the mall. Because the number of people to be screened was very high This may be one of the reasons the event drew so much attention and the procedure was cumbersome, it came to be seen as some- from international news agencies: the fact that along with Kenyans, thing of a formality meant only to give the impression that the people from their own countries may have been trapped in the organization was up to date on security. One could easily tell that mall. the poorly paid security guards had no idea of what, exactly, they Another reason could have been the scene itself. Westgate Mall, were looking for and were powerless to stop an attack in any case. in the leafy, upscale suburb of Westlands (west of Moi Avenue, (Kenyan security guards do not carry guns.) of course), is a popular spot for middle-class and rich Kenyans Meanwhile, the attacks were becoming more sophisticated. and also for the expatriate community of journalists, tourists and In one, at a busy section of Moi Avenue, an improvised explosive employees of the United Nations and numerous other interna- device went off inside a building that housed a number of stalls tional NGOs operating in Nairobi. In many ways, Westgate epito- where shopkeepers sold clothes and mobile phone handsets. Just mizes the “other” Nairobi—an oasis of fine dining, coffee houses

42 JULY-AUGUST 2014 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL Jeff Angote/Nation Media/Gallo Images/Getty Images Images/Getty Media/Gallo Angote/Nation Jeff On Sept. 21, 2013, unidentified gunmen entered Westgate Mall in Nairobi. Firing randomly and taking hostages, the terrorists laid siege to the upscale shopping center for three days, leaving at least 67 dead and more than 175 wounded. Above, officers of the Kenyan Defense Forces during a rescue operation on that day. and world-class shopping, it offered all the excesses of being There was an enormous outpouring of love and support from fortunate enough to be an affluent Nairobian. Few imagined that Kenyans to all those who had been affected by the attack. People this would be ground zero for jihad in Kenya. gave blood, food and clothing, anything that would take our As more news reached the international media, discussion of minds off the news and counteract our feelings of powerlessness. the devastating event took on an interesting twist. Besides calls for Something called “the Kenyan Spirit” was seen in the acts of char- unity and love among Kenyans during this trying time, tweeters ity and giving. International journalists said that in all their years from the rest of the world also began expressing their surprise that spent around the world, they had never been served tea and food there were any shopping malls in Kenya. Yet one would think that a by well-wishers at the scene of any event they were covering. city with four million residents, one of the largest stock exchanges Everyone acknowledged that this was not a normal occur- in Africa and the headquarters of more than 100 major inter- rence. Kenya is a country where the top 10 percent of the popula- national companies and organizations, would have at least one tion earns 44 percent of the country’s income. The poverty rate shopping mall. is between 37 and 42 percent, and 40 percent of the working-age Indeed, the curiosity of this apparently “Western” environment population is unemployed. Nowhere in the country are these seems to have contributed to the massive international news cov- inequalities more extreme than in the capital, where people from erage. It struck home for some with familiar overtones of shootings all over the country come in search of a better life. Two-thirds of in Aurora and Sandy Hook: senseless violence and young lives Nairobians live in “informal settlements,” the shantytowns littered snatched away by gunfire. Westgate, however, was not a result with miles and miles of tin shacks. These informal settlements of weak gun laws or introverted perpetrators who had slipped occupy less than 5 percent of the total landmass. through the cracks of society. Our country was under attack. When you hear about Nairobi being one of the top property markets in the world, you probably won’t be told that a majority The Power of the Kenyan “Spirit” of these developments cater exclusively to high-income earners, After four days of a horribly botched operation by the Kenyan leaving the poor with no chance of ever owning a home. Impres- army to neutralize the attackers came to an end, the effects on sive high-rise apartments overlook slums with some of the lowest our collective psyche were tremendous. Suddenly no one felt living standards in the world. Executives and professionals walk safe anymore. Rich, poor, black, white: when jihad came knock- past beggars and street families on their way to work. ing, everyone was a target. For us, this is simply how it’s always been. Poverty is like a

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JULY-AUGUST 2014 43 Suddenly no one felt safe anymore. Rich, poor, black, white: when jihad came knocking, everyone was a target.

physical feature: a mountain or a stream or a statue that you see every day, and don’t look at twice because it is a fixture that never changes. Even in an Africa that is finally rising, with a middle class that is expanding, nothing is trickling down to those who have made the unfortunate mistake of being born poor. This, it would seem, is a tragedy much vaster and deeper than Westgate. Yet it isn’t treated with the urgency of a national disas- ter. Without downplaying the loss of life, I would suggest that the place where Kenyans responded with charity and togetherness is where we ought to go to bridge the gap between east and west of Moi Avenue. Unfortunately, that doesn’t look to be happening any time soon. Recent times have seen more attacks occur in churches and, even more often, against public service vehicles. With increasing public pressure and tourist numbers dwindling due to perennial travel advisories, the government’s remedy has been a police campaign based on racial profiling of Somalis, both Kenyan and refugee. A worrying trend has also been the assas- sination of radical Muslim clerics in the coastal city of Mombasa, which many claim to be the work of either the police or Kenyan intelligence agencies. A massive investment in the security apparatus has been promised as Kenyans desperately grasp at any sense of normalcy amid all the uncertainty. On the surface, though, nothing seems to have changed since the Westgate attack, and one is left with the sense that there is nothing to stop the next one. Meanwhile, the country continues to endure all the old problems that plagued it before the terror. The only difference is that words like “improvised explosive device” have been added to our vocabu- lary. Terrorism is not the biggest threat facing Kenya. Perhaps the bigger problem is the complacency of a system that is now fail- ing to combat it. Mobilizing the “Kenyan Spirit” to address terror won’t necessarily head off another Westgate. It may, however, be the wellspring that sets us on the path to positive change. n

44 JULY-AUGUST 2014 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL AFSA NEWS THE OFFICIAL RECORD OF THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION

90TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOREIGN SERVICE AFSA Hosts Gala Dinner Celebration CALENDAR July 9 12-2 p.m. On May 22, AFSA hosted a AFSA Governing dinner celebrating 90 years Board Meeting of the U.S. Foreign Service July 24 and AFSA in the Benjamin 2-3:30 p.m. Franklin State Dining Room AFSA Book Notes: at the Department of State. Seriously Not All Right With NBC News Chief Ron Capps Foreign Affairs Correspon- August 4 dent Andrea Mitchell serving 2-3:30 p.m. as the master of ceremo- AFSA Book Notes: nies, the evening’s speakers More Than Just Diplomacy George Gedda included Secretary of State

John Kerry, former Senator SOSA/AFSA JOAQUIN August 6 Former Senator Richard Lugar addresses guests at the gala dinner 12-2 p.m. Richard Lugar, Representa- celebrating the 90th anniversary of the U.S. Foreign Service. In the AFSA Governing Board tive Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) audience, from left, Ambassador John Negroponte, Mary Beth Smedinghoff, Meeting and former Secretary of State former Secretary of State Colin Powell and Secretary of State John F. Kerry. Colin Powell. August 21 Among the 215 District) paid tribute to AFSA 2-3:30 p.m. attendees were many and the Foreign Service. He Writing in the Foreign Service: A Conversation with FSO and current and retired presented a framed copy of Author Matthew Palmer members of the For- House Joint Resolution 406 eign Service; Deputy passed by the State Assembly August 27 Secretaries of State to AFSA officials, which com- 3-4:30 p.m. Adair Lecture at American William Burns and mends AFSA and honors the University: Ambassador Heather Higginbot- Foreign Service on its 90th Thomas Miller tom, and other senior anniversary. officials of the State Opening the dinner pro- September 1 Labor Day: Department, U.S. gram, AFSA President Robert AFSA Offices Closed Agency for Interna- J. Silverman welcomed the tional Development, guests. “Ninety years makes September 3 JOAQUIN SOSA/AFSA JOAQUIN 12-2 p.m. Foreign Commercial Gala attendees included Paula Jakub (left), us a young profession that AFSA Governing Board Service and Foreign chief executive officer of the American has much to be proud of, and Meeting Agricultural Service. Foreign Service Protective Association, can build on its successes as and Joan Clark, a retired FSO. A former The families of ambassador and winner of AFSA’s 2007 we continue to expand and Anne Smedinghoff Lifetime Contributions to American redefine ourselves,” stated and Antoinette Toma- Diplomacy Award, Ms. Clark is one of the Silverman. He dedicated the oldest members of the Foreign Service. sek, two AFSA mem- evening to celebrating the bers who recently Foreign Service’s past—and, died while on duty overseas, itself) were also present. more importantly, to recom- were in attendance. Owing to ticket sales, the mitting to ensure a profes- The youngest (Stephanie dinner event broke even in sional, diverse and effec- Parenti) and oldest members terms of budget cost to AFSA. tive diplomatic service for of the Foreign Service (Joan As guests mingled prior America’s future. Clark, Bruce Laingen and Al to being seated for dinner, Secretary Kerry spoke of an Lukens, each more senior Virginia State Assembly evolving Foreign Service that than the Foreign Service Delegate Alfonso Lopez (49th Continued on page 54

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JULY-AUGUST 2014 45 STATE VP VOICE | BY MATTHEW ASADA AFSA NEWS

Views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the AFSA State VP. Contact: [email protected] | (202) 647-8160 | @matthewasada

Bidding and 360s

The 2015 summer assign- Although regional bureaus MC-level DCM/PO positions performance file; nor should ments cycle has begun, so I will likely continue to control (State 65200). it be used for other assess- want to highlight efforts to assignments, there is some Finally, the Bureaus of ment purposes. improve the assignments interesting work being done Near Eastern Affairs and DCM/PO Assessment process—in particular, the on the development of a South and Central Asian Tool. The Bureau of Human 360-degree evaluation com- matching algorithm. Particu- Affairs continue to refine their Resources’ DCM/PO assess- ponent. larly at the entry level, where joint 360 bidder reference ment tool is a good start. Each year AFSA negotiates assignments are directed, portal, relaunching it this However, it lacks the CA tool’s with the State Department such an approach could save year as the 360 Community professional development the procedures governing the time and prevent sub-optimal Lobbying Center. The center value because the employee assignments season. AFSA’s matches. further simplifies the process does not receive a copy of goal is to ensure a level play- Several years ago, medical for candidates and their the results. AFSA hopes that ing field and maximize the schools successfully intro- references for assignments DAT 2.0 will also include an efficiency and transparency of duced such an algorithm in regional and functional employee feedback mecha- the process for the depart- into the resident-residency bureaus that have opted to nism and, if found success- ment, the individual employee matching process. A Foreign use the single system. ful, will replace rather than and bidders as a whole. Service bidding algorithm While AFSA would like to supplement the existing 360 All employees should have could yield similarly produc- see a more holistic review reference process. a fair shot at positions for tive results. of the assignments process 360 CLC. NEA and which they are qualified. That Even if such an algorithm to address employee and SCA’s effort to optimize is why the process of remov- were to exist, however, posts management concerns, we the existing 360-degree ing positions from the overall and bureaus would still suffer are encouraged by briefings evaluation process with a pool (i.e., linked assignments) from incomplete informa- on CBAT 2.0. CA decided to centralized reference portal is so troubling. tion about an employee’s scrap the traditional 360 in is an improvement over the In addition to meeting the performance and potential. favor of this improved tool. status quo. If you are going to department’s goal of “trying Enter the 360-degree evalu- The beauty of CBAT is that request 360s, why not make to get the right person, with ation and several bureaus’ both management and the them easier for all to collect? the right skills, in the right attempts to address this employee receive the sum- Moreover, it is exciting to see position,” it is important to information deficiency. marized feedback from the the intrabureau cooperation consider the employee’s own CBAT–Another CA Inno- anonymous contributors. on this organic effort. professional development vation. Last year, the Bureau In addition, the tool informs However, it is worth asking and personal concerns in the of Consular Affairs piloted its management’s selection pro- whether the 360 evaluation assignments process. Consular Bidding Assessment cess and the employee’s own process is worth doing at all. Ideally, such a process Tool for officers bidding on professional development. Might there be an altogether would maximize overall senior supervisory positions. AFSA sees value in this better way of improving infor- employee utility, and do so This year it has refined the professional development mation about an employee’s in the most efficient man- tool (CBAT 2.0) and expanded tool and has worked with CA performance and potential, ner possible. However, the participation to all employees to address concerns regard- and providing the employee decentralized decision- bidding on consular positions ing access, data retention and with constructive feedback? making system; the absence overseas (State 65852). use. In our view, access to the In this regard, CBAT 2.0 of a sophisticated matching The Bureau of Human raw data and final product looks promising. We will have program; and the lack of full Resources built its own must be strictly limited, to see how the expanded information about employee deputy chief of mission/ disposed of within the year rollout goes. I’m thinking of preferences, performance principal officer assessment (not retained) and only used bidding on a consular posi- and potential, all contribute tool (called DAT), modeled in the assignments process. tion just to test it out. n to overall system inefficien- on the first-generation CBAT, The CBAT report should not Next month: Promoting cies. and is piloting it this year with become part of the official Diversity in the Foreign Service

46 JULY-AUGUST 2014 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL USAID VP VOICE | BY SHARON WAYNE AFSA NEWS

Views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the AFSA USAID VP. Contact: [email protected] or (202) 712-1631

Foreign Service Benefits Across Agencies: How Do State and USAID Compare?

The 2013-2015 AFSA Govern- next steps will be to monetize ing Board is committed to what it would cost to begin seeking parity in benefits closing these gaps, and push for members of the Foreign for having USAID budget sub- Service across all five foreign missions reflect these needs. affairs agencies. Thanks to all of you who As part of this effort, responded to my request we are creating a benefits to share your experiences comparison document that with inequality in Foreign includes information on Service benefits and poli- benefits and policies from cies between USAID and the the different agencies to illus- State Department. Utilizing trate the disparities. It will be real examples has always

As part of this effort, we are creating a benefits comparison document that includes information on benefits and policies from the different agencies to illustrate the disparities. a “living” document, includ- been the most effective way ing testimonials from FS of telling the USAID story; members, and will be posted I believe that document- on the AFSA website for use ing these inequalities and as a tool to advocate for their effects on individual equality and to track prog- employees is the best way to ress in achieving the goal. advocate for change. The comparison of State As this is meant to be a and USAID, as shown in the living document, please con- accompanying chart, is a tinue to send any comments first step. For space reasons, to [email protected]. The the chart does not include more accurate and complete the personal commentary this chart, the more effective and testimonials that are it will be. It is already advanc- important for making our ing the cause by generating case. Those “live” in the conversation and gaining online document at afsa.org/ management attention and benefitschart. support. The entire package—chart Future articles will take and testimonials—has been a deeper dive into specific shared with USAID’s Office issues and track progress in of Human Resources. The the quest for equality. n

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JULY-AUGUST 2014 47 AFSA NEWS

AFSA Welcomes AFSA National High School New Staff Members Essay Contest Winner

Janice Weiner has joined AFSA’s advocacy Nitisha Baronia department as our new Professional Issues Dougherty Valley High School and Policy Adviser. She comes to AFSA after a San Ramon, California 26-year career at the State Department. As a Foreign Service officer, Janice bookmarked her overseas career in Germany: she began in East Runner-Up Berlin when the Berlin Wall fell, and her final overseas assign- Angelia Miranda ment was as consul general in Düsseldorf. In between, she Homeschooled served two tours in Ankara and had postings in Warsaw, Brus- Kent, Washington sels, Toronto and Mexico City, as well as stints on the German desk and in the Bureau of Legislative Affairs. She won AFSA’s Coverage of Nitisha’s trip to Rivkin Award for constructive dissent in 1995 for her work as human rights officer in Ankara. Originally from Iowa, Janice is Washington, D.C., and her meeting with a graduate of Princeton University and Stanford Law School. Secretary Kerry will appear in a future She has two daughters and a varying number of dogs. issue of AFSA News.

Debra Blome is our new Associate Editor, one of whose tasks will be editing AFSA News. Debbie is an experienced magazine journalist, Two New Members Join writer and editor who also brings the Eligible Family Member perspective to the Journal. She AFSA’s Governing Board has lived in Riyadh, Amman, Tunis, Kuwait and Cairo. Debbie worked for a number of years as an editor for At its June 4 meeting, the AFSA Governing Board appointed the Open Source Center, and more recently as senior project two candidates to fill existing vacancies. AFSA is very pleased editor at the American University in Cairo Press. She has to welcome Ronnie Catipon and Ronita Macklin to the board. also served in a variety of embassy positions, including as an Both are State Department representatives. assistant Community Liaison Office coordinator. A University Ronnie Catipon is a Diplomatic Security Agent with 17 of Michigan graduate, Debbie also holds an MSJ from North- years of Foreign Service experience. He has just finished western University’s Medill School of Journalism. an assignment as the Senior Regional Security Officer at Embassy The Hague. Previous assignments include Manila, Lindsey K. Botts is the new Executive Assis- Tbilisi, Kyiv and two tours in Kabul. He also served on Secre- tant and Office Manager at AFSA’s State tary Madeleine Albright’s security detail. Ronnie is married to Department Labor Management office. a former FSO, and also brings years of experience as an EFM Lindsey is a Washington, D.C., native and prior to joining the Foreign Service. received his undergraduate degree in adver- Ronita Macklin is an Office Management Specialist who tising and marketing communications at the joined the Foreign Service in 2006. She has served in Conakry Fashion Institute of Technology. While at FIT he interned at and Kabul as well as the U.S. Mission to NATO in Brussels. She several fashion magazines, including Esquire, Elle and Vogue. is currently a Post Management Officer in the East Asian and Lindsey then pursued a master’s program in journalism at Pacific Affairs Bureau Executive Office. Ronita also served as Central Saint Martin’s University of the Arts in London. Dur- the AFSA post representative in Conakry, and worked in the ing his three years there, he traveled extensively throughout House of Representatives and on political campaigns before Europe. n entering the Foreign Service. Ronnie and Ronita replace outgoing State Representatives Michael D. Thomas and E. Alex Copher. AFSA thanks Michael and Alex for their stalwart service on the Governing Board. n

48 JULY-AUGUST 2014 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL AFSA NEWS

AFSA Launches Speaker Partnership with USC 2014 AFSA Award Winners

On April 23, AFSA Charles Stuart Kennedy Jr. launched a new Speaker Lifetime Contributions to American Diplomacy Partnership with the School of International Relations at the Univer- Constructive Dissent Awards sity of Southern Califor- nia in Los Angeles. Ambassador Jonathan Addleton Robert English, direc- Christian A. Herter Award for a tor of SIR, opened the Senior Foreign Service Officer event, warmly thanking AFSA for developing this David Holmes important partnership. William R. Rivkin Award for a He expressed USC’s Mid-Level FSO

William O’Bryan W. Averell Harriman Award for an Entry-Level FSO

Nick Pietrowicz F. Allen “Tex” Harris Award for a Foreign Service Specialist

Exemplary Performance Awards

Carol K. Backman Nelson B. Delavan Award for a Above, Ambassador Lynn Pascoe speaking at the USC School of Inter- Foreign Service Office Management Specialist national Relations. Discussions continued after the talk among (left to right) Prof. Jonathan Aronson, Robert English, Amb. Pascoe and students. Mary Kay Cunningham desire to expand the new rela- was attended by some 150 M. Juanita Guess Award for a tionship over the long term. faculty and students from var- Community Liaison Officer Keynoting the event was ious USC departments. They Ambassador Lynn Pascoe, asked numerous thoughtful Kari Osborne who recently served as United questions about the Foreign Avis Bohlen Award for a Nations undersecretary Service. Foreign Service Family Member general for political affairs, Amb. Pascoe empha- overseeing all conflict plan- sized that the United States, ning, and before that spent working through and with the several decades focused on United Nations, must con- Full coverage of AFSA’s June 18 awards ceremony, U.S. security policy toward tinue to build strong shared profiles of the winners and related articles will Asia. values with Asian allies, and appear in the September issue of His talk, “American Diplo- assist local nongovernmental The Foreign Service Journal. macy and Conflict in Asia– organizations with effective Lessons and Opportunities,” Continued on page 65

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JULY-AUGUST 2014 49 AFSA NEWS

ISSUE BRIEF Evolution of the Chief-of-Mission Guidelines BY CHARLES A. RAY

n August 2013, a month after AFSA’s new Governing Board both major political parties. We also reached out to people out- took office, AFSA President Robert J. Silverman asked me to side the working group, many of whose suggestions influenced chair a working group that would formulate a set of guide- the final document. (You’ll find the full text on AFSA’s website; Ilines for successful performance by chiefs of mission. or see the article about the COM Guidelines in the April issue Having served twice as an ambassador during my three- of The Foreign Service Journal.) decade Foreign Service career, I know just how vital it is to We all agreed that keeping the number of criteria to three ensure that each chief of mission is well-qualified to serve or four made for a document that would be relatively easy to as the president’s representative to a foreign government or understand and apply in assessing COM nominees. The chal- multilateral institution. As lenge was to agree on that the face and voice of the Our goal was to produce a resource to list of criteria, and decide United States, he or she inform the process of selecting the leaders whether to prioritize any of sets the tone for opera- of our diplomatic missions around the world. them. tions within the mission. In addition, the guide- Indeed, it is not going too lines needed to be rela- far to say that a chief of mission’s performance can often spell tively simple, and crafted so they could be used to assess any the difference between success and failure of U.S. policy in the nominee, regardless of background. country of assignment, and can affect bilateral and regional My research for preparing the initial draft used the Foreign relations long after the incumbent has left post. Service Act of 1980 as its foundation. However, it turned out With that in mind, our goal was to produce a resource to that a trait I view as essential to success is not listed there; inform the process of selecting the leaders of our diplomatic nor has it ever been formally considered in the ambassado- missions around the world. Earlier this year, after vigorous rial selection process. That is leadership ability. To be sure, debate, the AFSA Governing Board formally adopted the docu- that skill is mentioned in some operational documents, but ment our working group produced. nowhere could I find any indication that it has been part of the Given the sensitivity of the subject, and the magnitude of formal review process for potential nominees. the task, it is understandable that not every AFSA member In addition to managing bilateral relations, the COM must agrees with all our recommendations. (Indeed, the same could lead the country team, ensure the security of mission staff, be said of our committee, and of the AFSA Governing Board.) and manage the mission’s budget and other resources. While The purpose of this Issue Brief is to explain the process we fol- it is true that there are professionals within each diplomatic lowed, in hopes of dispelling any confusion or misconceptions. mission to deal with these issues, the ultimate responsibility for proper management rests with the person at the top. That, The Role of Leadership then, became the central thesis of my draft. To facilitate the development of guidelines that would be widely accepted by everyone involved in the selection process, Achieving Consensus our working group consisted of retired ambassadors from the Bringing 10 former chiefs of mission together was the easy career Foreign Service, as well as non-career appointees from part of the job. Getting that many strong-willed, experienced

Charles A. Ray retired from the Foreign Service in 2012 after a 30-year career that included ambassadorships to Cambodia and Zimbabwe. Ambassador Ray also served as deputy assistant secretary of Defense for prisoners of war/missing personnel affairs, deputy chief of mission in Freetown and consul general in Ho Chi Minh City, among many other assignments. Prior to joining the Foreign Service, Ambassador Ray spent 20 years in the U.S. Army. He is the outgoing chair of AFSA’s Professional- ism and Ethics Committee, and does freelance writing and speaking.

50 JULY-AUGUST 2014 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL AFSA NEWS

individuals to reach consensus on what constitutes a good set fessional FSOs, from the beginning of the republic presidents of performance guidelines was a far more difficult task. have nominated people from the private sector for ambassa- Most of the working group’s activity was conducted via dorial positions. email for the first few months. Drafts, redrafts and comments An even stronger justification for at least some non-career flew back and forth each day as the 10 of us wrestled with appointments is found in Article II, Section 2, of the Constitu- our sometimes strongly diverging views, based on our unique tion of the United States, which says in part: “He shall have experiences as ambassadors. Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to Since many of the arguments were more about process make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present than substance, the outstanding drafting skills of Janice concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Weiner, a recently retired FSO and AFSA staff member who Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other pub- served as the working group secretary, enabled us to reconcile lic Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the Supreme Court, and our differences. all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments During a face-to-face meeting at AFSA headquarters in are not herein otherwise provided for...” December 2013, we formally adopted the guidelines. The The members of our working group never viewed recogni- basis of the document we tion of this reality as contra- forwarded to the AFSA dicting AFSA’s stand in favor Governing Board for approval We believe COM positions are far too of selecting career FSOs as drew mainly on the following important to ignore the need for all ambassadors. Moreover, we sources: the Foreign Service appointees, regardless of background, believe COM positions are Act of 1980; State Depart- to be fully qualified. far too important to ignore ment Office of the Inspector the need for all appointees, General criteria on qualities regardless of background, to of COMs; and our individual experiences. be fully qualified to successfully carry out the nation’s busi- The four guidelines for successful performance as a COM ness. that we identified were: After giving serious consideration to those who advocated • Leadership and interpersonal skills that the COM Guidelines demand that only career diplomats • Understanding of high-level policy and key U.S. interests be selected for service as chief of mission, our working group and values in the host country decided that we should not let the perfect become the enemy • Management skills of the good. We also remain convinced that for the document • Understanding of the host country and international to have any chance of acceptance by all stakeholders in the affairs, and ability to promote U.S. interests. COM nomination process, it had to be relatively simple and These four guidelines are easily understood, and can be universally applicable, and deal with the world as it is. used to assess career and non-career nominees alike, without regard to the background of the individual. Spreading the Word I continue to believe that of these four criteria, leadership Once the AFSA Governing Board approved the document, is the most critical. But after intense discussion, we came to we shared it with senior managers in the Department of State, the consensus that all are equally important. After all, a suc- the U.S. Agency for International Development and other cessful COM has to be knowledgeable about policy issues and foreign affairs agencies. We then presented it to key members have the leadership skills that enable him or her to apply that and staffers in Congress, as well as the White House personnel knowledge effectively. office. We also shared it with other foreign affairs organiza- tions, such as the American Academy of Diplomacy, the Asso- Recognizing Reality ciation of Black American Ambassadors and the Council of Our project was controversial from the beginning. In par- American Ambassadors. The general reaction to the guidelines ticular, some critics object to the involvement of non-career from all these recipients was agreement in principle, and in individuals in the process. some cases strong support. I understand this view, given AFSA’s historically strong posi- When we shared the guidelines with the media, there tion on non-career ambassadors, but still see it as misguided followed a veritable blizzard of press coverage. This was in this context. While I personally believe that the vast majority mostly positive, though some expressed skepticism about of ambassadorial positions should go to qualified, proven pro- how effective the guidelines would be in ensuring successful

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The guidelines are a first step in enhancing the professionalism of the practice of American diplomacy.

performance. Our intent at the outset of the project was to launch it publicly at a time when there were few if any pending nominations, in the hope that it wouldn’t be seen as politically motivated or aimed at any individuals. As luck would have it, however, several ambassadorial nomi- nations drew intense negative media attention in January, and our project got caught up in that flurry of coverage. The plus side, I suppose, is that it ensured our guidelines received more public attention than they might have in a less volatile environment.

Why Not the Best? The Guidelines for Successful Performance as a Chief of Mission were never designed as a cure for every flaw in the ambassadorial nomination process. Nor were they intended to replace existing laws and regulations. They were meant to supplement existing rules, and to be easy to understand and apply to the process of assessing whether those selected to be the president’s representatives abroad are truly up to the job. As such, the guidelines are a first step in enhancing the professionalism of the practice of American diplomacy. We live in a complex world that is in many ways even more dangerous than the age of nuclear standoff that characterized the Cold War. If the United States is to thrive in the 21st century, it is imperative that we effectively use every available instrument of national power, including diplomacy. Toward that end, chiefs of mission, as the leaders of our overseas diplomatic missions, are key to their effective functioning. AFSA is under no illusions that the document will solve all of the problems associated with the COM selection process. Its adoption would, however, bring a greater degree of transpar- ency and consistency to the process, ensuring that all nomi- nees are judged according to a common set of standards. No document, no matter how well-intended, can guarantee success. But, the criteria set out in these guidelines are good determinants of effective performance. They are based upon the collective experiences of the 10 members of the working group, all of whom have served successfully as ambassa- dors—several at more than one post, and in some of our most challenging overseas environments. Still, any set of guidelines can only be effective if those involved in the ambassadorial selection process commit to using them as a uniform set of standards against which to assess nominees. It remains our hope that will turn out to be the case. n

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Expert on Professions Kicks Off New AFSA Forum

On May 29, AFSA welcomed Don Snider, a senior fellow in the Center for the Army Profession and Ethics at West Point and an adjunct research professor at the U.S. Army War College, for a pre- sentation on the concept of what constitutes a profession and how that might inform the professional Foreign Service and the Department of State. Snider’s presentation marked the launch of a new lecture series at AFSA, the Expert Speakers Forum. The new forum has been estab- lished in the spirit of the 90th anniversary of the Rogers ÁSGEIR SIGFÚSSON ÁSGEIR Act. Don Snider speaking at AFSA on May 29. Below, a slide from his presentation lists the differences between a To promote the Foreign profession and a bureaucracy. Service as a profession, AFSA will bring experts on profes- What Makes a sionalism, ethics and leader- Profession? ship to speak. The events will Snider pointed out that all be shared online through there are certain essentials the AFSA website for those to every profession. These who cannot make it to AFSA include a moral founda- headquarters. tion, self-discipline within Through a slide presenta- the profession, the ability to tion and subsequent ques- utilize abstract knowledge tion-and-answer session, in an expert manner and a Mr. Snider gave an excellent career-long education sys- overview of the considerable tem. He mentioned how he research and implementation thought some of the Army’s efforts undertaken to further work might inform other U.S. DON SNIDER the U.S. Army as a profes- government organizations, bureaucratic organizations sion followed his presenta- sion. including the Foreign Service do not. “Professions provide tion. To view Mr. Snider’s Much of this work was and the Department of State. a vital service to the society remarks and the discussion performed at the U.S. Military Snider addressed the which it cannot provide for online, please visit www.afsa. Academy at West Point, the differences between a pro- itself, but must have to flour- org/video. The slides used seat of the Army’s Center for fession and a bureaucracy, ish,” Snider said. “They are during the event are available the Army Profession and Eth- and why we should care therefore granted relative upon request; please email ics, known as CAPE. about those differences. He autonomy in the application [email protected] for a copy. explained that professions of their art and expertise.” —Cecilia Daizovi, offer unique benefits that A dynamic Q-and-A ses- Communications Intern

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2 3 DEPARTMENT OF STATE OF DEPARTMENT 1 4 5 PHOTOS 2 -10 BY JOAQUIN SOSA/AFSA JOAQUIN BY 2 -10 PHOTOS 6 7 8

Gala continued from page 45 has come a long way—from, but in promoting American for AFSA and deep regard for that all of our Foreign Service for example, not having a ideals admired around the the Foreign Service. members and their families single female chief of mission world. “We are working—all of Offering a lively account bring to the job,” he said, to more than 40 today. He us together—to try to create of his personal experience and underscored the impor- recalled that his father, FSO order where there is none, to working with members of the tance of ensuring adequate Richard Kerry, had worked in bring stability out of chaos, Foreign Service in Ukraine in resources for diplomacy. the 1950s for Clifton Whar- to fix what is broken and to 2004, Sen. Lugar praised the “It’s smarter to focus on ton—who, at the time, was make this complicated world “exemplary” performance peace than fighting wars the only African-American just a little bit less compli- of Ambassador John Herbst around the world,” Van Hollen FSO. The Secretary declared cated and a lot more free. during the historic elections stated. His support for Ameri- that the diversity of the And that’s really worth the held at that time. can diplomats’ ability to get United States is what makes effort. Thank you all for being Rep. Van Hollen, whose out of embassy compounds our nation strong, and it is part of it,” said Kerry. father spent 25 years in the and engage foreign publics in increasingly reflected in the Sen. Lugar, a former mem- Foreign Service, shared his a safe manner drew applause. Foreign Service. ber and chairman of the Sen- admiration for American Van Hollen also expressed Sec. Kerry also empha- ate Foreign Relations Commit- diplomats. “Growing up in gratitude for the work of sized that the Foreign Service tee and the winner of AFSA’s the Foreign Service family Sec. Kerry and former Sec. is not only important in 2005 Lifetime Contributions gives you great appreciation Powell. But he noted that maintaining diplomatic rela- to American Diplomacy for the energy, the talent, the their diplomatic accomplish- tions with other countries, Award, conveyed his respect creativity and the dedication ments would not have been

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1) From left, AFSA Deputy Director Peggy Cifrino, principal assistant for Member Benefits and Events to former Secretary of State Colin Kristy Pomes, AFSA President Powell; and Ambassador Ronald Robert J. Silverman, Representative Neumann. Chris Van Holler (D-Md.), Secretary (7) AFSA Governing Board Member of State John F. Kerry, former Clayton Bond and former Director Senator Richard Lugar, NBC News General Ruth A. Davis. Chief Foreign Correspondent (8) Lillian Wahl-Tuco and FSO Andrea Mitchell, AFSA Governing Stephanie Parenti, the youngest Board Member Lillian Wahl-Tuco, member of the Foreign Service. AFSA State VP Matthew Asada (9) Virginia State Assembly Delegate and AFSA Executive Director Ian Alfonso Lopez (49th District), fourth Houston. from left, presents House Joint (2) Ambassador Ryan Crocker and Resolution 406 to AFSA officials. his wife, Christine, with Ambassador From left, Foreign Agricultural Bruce Laingen. Service VP David Mergen, Foreign (3) FSJ Editorial Board Chairman Commercial Service VP Steve Jim DeHart and Lisa DeHart. Morrison, Advocacy Director Javier (4) Jean and F. Allen “Tex” Harris, Cuebas, Alfonso Lopez, Ian Houston, with Senator Lugar. Robert Silverman, Matthew Asada 9 (5) Former Secretary of State and USAID VP Sharon Wayne. Colin Powell. (10) At left, Ambassador William (6) Former Under Secretary of State Harrop and his wife, Ann, with Ted for Political Affairs Marc Grossman; Wilkinson and his wife, Zenia.

Ambassador Thomas J. Miller to Deliver Adair Lecture Ambassador Thomas J. Miller will deliver the 8th annual Adair Memorial Lecture on U.S. Diplomacy on Wednesday, Aug. 27, at 3 p.m. at American University’s Kaye Memorial Chapel. His topic will be “The Link Between Diplomacy and Development.” 10 The public is welcome to attend this special event, which traditionally kicks off the fall semester at A.U.’s School of International Service. possible had it not been for world, he said, attributing Amb. Miller is president and CEO of International Exec- for the devoted FS members that image to the work that utive Service Corps, a nonprofit that focuses on fostering who work tirelessly to put the men and women of the prosperity and stability through private enterprise in more American foreign policy into Foreign Service have done than 130 countries around the world. practice. over the past 90 years. During a distinguished 29-year career at the State Colin Powell concluded Sec. Powell also stated Department, the three-time ambassador served overseas the program by addressing that it is easy for govern- in Thailand, Greece (three times) and Bosnia-Herzegovina, the importance of integrating ment officials to forget that and held important assignments in Washington, D.C. America with the rest of the they work to serve everyday In 2001, President George W. Bush named Miller U.S. world, specifically through Americans, but that no one is ambassador to Greece, where he focused on counter- immigration. “Immigration more aware of the true pur- terrorism, serving through 2004. Earlier, President William reform has got to be one of pose of their tasks than the Clinton had appointed him ambassador to Bosnia-Herze- our highest priorities because members of the U.S. Foreign govina (1999-2001) and Special Cypus Coordinator at the it’s keeping this country Service. “You all have done rank of ambassador (1997-1999). alive,” said Powell, who that in such a magnificent The Adair Lecture series is the result of a partnership believes cultural and racial way,” he told the FS members between AFSA and A.U.’s School of International Service. diversity is the most unique in the audience. n The Marshall P. Adair Family has generously created a per- aspect of the United States. —Editorial Intern Aishwarya petual endowment to sustain the series, named in honor The United States is still Raje and Managing Editor of their parents, Caroline and Ambassador Charles Adair. an inspiration to the entire Susan B. Maitra

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AFSA Bestows the 2014 Kennan Strategic Writing Award

At a June 6 ceremony on the found my inter- crisis management coordina- campus of the National War est in France tor in the Operations Center, College at Fort McNair, AFSA and French and director of the Secretar- President Robert Silverman nuclear policy iat Staff under Secretary of and Commandant Brigadier rekindled,” he State Hillary Rodham Clinton. General Tom Cosentino said. In July, he will begin his announced this year’s win- A political next assignment as director ner of the George F. Kennan officer, Libby’s of orientation at the State overseas assign-

Strategic Writing Award. COLLEGE WAR NATIONAL COURTESY Department’s Foreign Ser- AFSA has long sponsored FSO Mark Libby, center, receiving the 2014 George ments have vice Institute. this award, which recognizes F. Kennan Strategic Writing Award. At left is AFSA included tours in Mr. Libby has a bachelor’s President Robert J. Silverman; Commandant the best paper written by a Brigadier General Tom Cosentino is at right. Warsaw, Nassau, degree from Tufts University State Department employee Nicosia and, and a Certificat d’Etudes at the War College. most recently, Politiques from the Insti- This year’s winner is Libby, who lived and Baghdad, where he served tut des Etudes Politiques Foreign Service Officer Mark as political counselor. He (“Sciences-Po”) in Paris. He Libby, who was nominated studied in France, has also had temporary duty is fluent in Polish and French, for this honor for his essay, has always been assignments in Minsk, Riga and has a working knowledge “Hedging, Cooperation and intrigued by French and Basrah. of Russian, Turkish and Ger- Prestige: British and French His Washington, D.C., man. Nuclear Deterrence (How nuclear policy. assignments have included The winner of the Kennan We Can Stop Worrying & tours as a watchstander in Award receives a certificate Learn to Love These Bombs),” nuclear policy. This class at the State Department Opera- and a prize of $250, which is written as part of a course the National War College, he tions Center, line officer on intended for the purchase of focused on European and said, gave him the perfect the Secretariat Staff under scholarly books. To learn more transatlantic security issues. opportunity to finally explore Secretary of State Colin about the award, please go to Libby, who lived and that interest in depth. “More Powell, deputy director in the www.afsa.org/kennan. n studied in France, has always recently, having worked with Office of Central European —Evan Bulman, Awards been intrigued by French European security issues, I Affairs, deputy director and and Outreach Intern

AFSA Holds First Post Rep Webinar

On April 29, AFSA hosted its first webinar with AFSA post representa- tives from around the world. Presi- dent Robert J. Silverman joined State Vice President Matthew Asada to provide an overview of labor-manage- ment relations, post representative responsibilities, and current AFSA labor management and congressional priorities. A lively discussion followed. ELIZABETH LEE

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AFSA SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM Presenting the 2014 AFSA Merit Award Winners

On May 2, the American Foreign Service Associa- tion Scholarship Fund held its annual merit awards ceremony to announce the recipients of the 2014 AFSA Merit Awards. This year, $48,500 was bestowed on 27 Foreign Service high school seniors for their outstanding achieve- ments in academics and art. Each winner received $2,500, and honorable mentions received $750 to $1,000. (See pp. 58-59 for a listing of the winners.) ÁSGEIR SIGFÚSSON ÁSGEIR Academic merit judges The local winners of the 2014 merit awards at the May 2 ceremony at AFSA. Back row: Benjamin “Phoenix” evaluated 78 students in the Morrison, Frank Keat, Timothy Kostelancik. Front row: Ambassador Lange Schermerhorn, chair of the AFSA following areas: grade point Scholarship Committee; Grace Bachman; Olivia Sullivan; Maya Yu; and AFSA President Robert J. Silverman. average; standardized test scores; high-level courses taken; a Foreign Service- “Red.” Alison Dominguez and Joanna and Robert Martin cial aid scholarship recipients themed essay; student activi- Copeland Smith both won Award (two awards), and the will be announced in August. ties and community service; honorable mention for their Donald S. Spigler Memorial As of this fall, the total aid and special circumstances, if visual arts submissions. and Maria Giuseppa Spigler awarded by the AFSA Schol- any. The judges selected 13 The AFSA Scholarship Award. arship Program to members’ winners, 10 honorable men- Program would also like to In addition to the merit children will increase to tions, one Best Essay (see recognize its merit award awards program, 68 stu- $245,000 annually. This is in p. 60) and one Community named donors. To date, nine dents received need-based, large part due to the contin- Service winner. merit scholarships have been financial aid scholarships ued and generous support of The 16 art merit award established by individuals or for undergraduate educa- AFSA members and individu- applicants submitted work in organizations. tion. AFSA bestowed more als throughout the Foreign one of the following catego- These awards, bestowed than $184,000 during the Service community. ries: visual arts, musical arts, on the highest-scoring stu- 2013-2014 school year, with For more information on performing arts or creative dents, are: the John and Pris- awards ranging from $1,000 the merit awards, applying for writing. The applicants were cilla Becker Family Award, the to $4,000. this benefit of AFSA mem- evaluated on the quality and Turner C. Cameron Jr. Memo- This amount will increase bership or contributing to creativity of their work, dedi- rial Award, the CareFirst to $3,000 to $5,000 for the the AFSA Scholarship Fund, cation to their artistic pursuit BlueCross BlueShield Federal 2014-15 school year. The visit www.afsa.org/scholar and an essay. Employee Program Award recipients of the 2013-2014 or contact Lori Dec at (202) This year’s art merit (two awards), the Embassy financial aid scholarships can 944-5504 or [email protected]. n winner, Rebecca Sarfati, Risk Management Award, be found on the Scholarship —Jonathan Crawford, was chosen for her poem, the John C. and Nancy S. website at: www.afsa.org/ Scholarship Assistant “Regression,” and short story, Leary Memorial Award, the scholar. The 2014-2015 finan-

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AFSA Merit Award Winners

1. Grace Bachman – daughter 7. Natalie Mango – daughter of of Brian Bachman (State) and David Mango (State) and Jenni- Jan Fisher-Bachman; graduat- fer Mango; graduating from the ing from Chantilly High School, American International School Chantilly, Va.; attending Endicott in Vienna, Austria; attending College, majoring in business. Leiden University College in the Recognized as the Embassy Risk Netherlands with an undeclared Management Scholar. major. Recognized as the Joanna and Robert Martin Scholar. 2. Sarah Carlson – daughter of Mark Carlson (State) and 8. Connor McKinney – son of Melinda Carlson; graduating Christopher McKinney (State) 1 5 from Grace International School and Tracy McKinney; graduating in Chiang Mai, Thailand; attend- from George Washington High ing the Wheaton College, major- School in Charleston, W. Va.; ing in education. Recognized as attending the University of the John C. and Nancy S. Leary California at Berkeley, majoring Memorial Scholar. in political science. Recognized as the Joanna and Robert Martin 3. Greer Christensen-Gibbons Scholar. – daughter of Karen Christensen (State) and Thomas Gibbons 9. Benjamin “Phoenix” Mor- (State); graduating from the rison – son of Stephen Mor- John F. Kennedy School in Berlin, rison (FCS) and Carol Fishback; Germany; attending Brown Uni- graduating from St. Anselm’s versity, majoring in history. Abbey School in Washington, D.C.; attending Vassar College, 2 6 4. Amelia Goldrup – daughter majoring in physics. Recognized of Stephen Goldrup (State) and as the John and Priscilla Becker Nicole Price; graduating from Family Scholar. the American Embassy School in New Delhi, India; attending 10. Morgan Pratt – son of Princeton University, majoring in Adrian Pratt (State) and Mar- mathematics. garet Pratt; graduating from the American Embassy School 5. Carsten Haas – son of Peter in New Delhi, India; attending Haas (State) and Amy Haas; the University of North Caro- graduating from the American lina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, School of Bombay in Mumbai, N.C., majoring in mathematics. India; attending Macalester Col- Recognized as the CareFirst lege with an undeclared major. BlueCross BlueShield Federal Employee Program Scholar. 3 7 6. Timothy Kostelancik – son of David Kostelancik (State) and 11. Rebecca Sarfati – daughter Patricia Kostelancik (State); of Linda Daetwyler (State) and graduating from Langley High Mark Sarfati; graduating from School in McLean, Va.; attending the Seoul Foreign School in Middlebury College, majoring Seoul, South Korea; attending in Russian and international & Brown University, majoring in global studies. Recognized as law. Recognized as the CareFirst the Donald S. Spigler Memo- BlueCross BlueShield Federal rial and Maria Giuseppa Spigler Employee Program Scholar and Scholar. the Art Merit Winner for her cre- ative writing submission, which included a poem, “Regression,” and short story, “Red.” 4 8 58 JULY-AUGUST 2014 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL AFSA NEWS

Frank Keat – son of Stephen Maya Yu – daughter of Alan Keat (State) and Josie Keat; Yu (State) and Sharon Yanagi; graduating from West Potomac graduating from Georgetown High School in Alexandria, Va.; Day School in Washington, D.C.; attending the University of Vir- attending the University of ginia, majoring in business. California-Los Angeles, majoring in chemistry. Gracia Luoma-Overstreet – daughter of Charles Luoma- Overstreet (State) and Kristine Art Merit Award Luoma-Overstreet; graduating Winner from the American School of Rebecca Sarfati – see descrip- Warsaw in Warsaw, Poland; tion under the “Academic Merit attending the College of William Award Winners” listing. 9 13 & Mary, majoring in biology. 12. Kathleen Saunders – Daniel Lyng – son of Theo- Art Merit Award daughter of Robert Saunders dore Lyng (State) and Muliani (State) and Wendy Saunders; Lyng; graduating from Jakarta Honorable Mention graduating from Ankara Elemen- International School in Jakarta, Winners tary/High School in Ankara, Indonesia; attending The George Alison Dominguez – daughter Turkey; attending the University Washington University, majoring of Stacy Pearce (State) and Dan- of New Mexico with an unde- in political science. iel Dominguez; graduating from clared major. the American Embassy School in Ashley Miller – daughter of New Delhi, India; attending the 13. Jackson Steger – son of Ste- Daniel Miller (USAID) and Ai University of the Arts London, phen Steger (State) and Stacey Chin Wee; graduating from the majoring in visual art. Steger; graduating from Colegio International School of Manila Franklin Delano Roosevelt in in Taguig, Philippines; attend- Copeland Smith – daughter of Lima, Peru; attending Duke ing Tufts University, majoring in 10 Zeric Smith (USAID) and Heidi University, majoring in biology. literature. Hemming; graduating from Recognized as the Turner C. Northwood High School in Silver Cameron Jr. Scholar. Jordan Rohrlich – son of Paul Spring, Md.; attending Columbia Rohrlich (State) and Susan College Chicago; majoring in Sandler; graduating from Phillips visual art. Academic Merit Exeter Academy in Exeter, N.H.; Award Honorable attending the University of Vir- Mention Winners ginia, majoring in economics. Best Essay Award Winner Easwari Amirthanayagam – Olivia Sullivan – daughter of daughter of Aruna Amirthana- Ellen Kresen Sullivan (State) Natalie Lewis-Vass – daugh- yagam (State) and Vathani and William Sullivan (State); ter of Valerie Vass (State) and Amirthanayagam (USAID); graduating from Thomas Jef- Matthew Conger; graduating graduating from the American ferson High School for Science from the International School Cooperative School in La Paz, and Technology in Alexandria, of Kenya in Nairobi, Kenya; 11 Bolivia; attending Brown Univer- Va.; attending St. Olaf College, attending the University of sity, majoring in psychology. majoring in biology. Massachusetts-Amherst with an undeclared major. Salvatore Capriglione – son of Edgar Thornton IV – son of Pasquale Capriglione (State) and Edgar Thornton (USAID) and Tonya Capriglione; graduating Deborah Thornton; graduat- Community Service from Point Pleasant Beach High ing from Iowa City High School Award Winner School in Point Pleasant Beach, in Iowa City, Iowa; attending Katherine Mauldin – daughter N.J., attending The George Harvard University, majoring in of Jimmy Mauldin (State) and Washington University, majoring engineering. Jennifer Mauldin; graduating in political science. from the American Embassy School in New Delhi, India; attending the University of Ala- bama, majoring in education.

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2014 AFSA MERIT AWARDS— “Security Overseas” [Semi- make things easier for Ameri- BEST ESSAY WINNER nar] I had dismissed just two cans in devastating situa- months earlier. When I walk tions. I became inspired by Westgate into a restaurant, I assess the the Kenyans’ response to the BY NATALIE LEWIS-VASS best escape routes and try to attack, as they descended on sit with a view to the door. I hospitals to give blood for the time my outings so I’m not injured, just a few miles from I have always lived in a safe other places, but on Septem- in crowded places during the ongoing siege. People place. In Vermont, I enjoyed a ber 23rd, that all changed. peak times. I observe my had the choice to hunker nearly Rockwellian childhood. Al-Shabaab attacked surroundings closely, to pick down in fear or to rally and We never locked our house, the Westgate Mall, a place up on anomalies quickly and meet the challenge. Witness- knew our neighbors, had rou- where I went to see movies assess if they are dangerous. ing the response to Westgate tines, close family and shared and sipped coffee with my I am a far cry from the teen has shaped who I am. n a common culture with the friends. A girl from my school I would have been, had we community. Life was simple was killed and one of my stayed in Vermont. Natalie and I never worried about track teammates sustained The Westgate Mall terror- Lewis-Vass is my safety. A world of vio- a gunshot wound. The siege ist attack was terrible, but it the daughter lence, robberies and terrorist dragged on for days and we is also my most memorable of Valerie Vass attacks happened on TV, in feared there would be more Foreign Service experience in (State) and books and articles. Then I attacks. The community positive ways. After resenting Matthew Con- moved to Nairobi. My most was devastated by the hor- my mother for moving me in ger. She graduated from the memorable Foreign Service rific losses and the fear was my senior year, I witnessed International School of Kenya experience was the loss of paralyzing. first-hand how important in Nairobi, and is attending that innocence. This event changed me her work is, as she and her the University of Massachu- My mom had recently almost instantly. Immedi- colleagues spent hours in setts-Amherst with an unde- joined the Foreign Service ately, I began to draw on my hospitals and morgues to clared major in the fall. and I had to change schools in my senior year and relo- cate to Africa. My senior plans, which had included concerts, friends, extracur- ricular activities and a care- fully selected class schedule, were abandoned. Instead, I was moving to a place nicknamed “Nairobbery” and sent to a class called “Security Overseas,” where I was taught what to do if I was kidnapped, held at gun-point or evacuated. While the class was interesting, I thought it was fairly useless informa- tion. I arrived in Nairobi and found my life was quickly similar to Vermont. I made friends, ran track, and had SIGFÚSSON ÁSGEIR From left, Merit Award winner Olivia Sullivan, Representative Christopher Van Hollen (D-Md.), AFSA Scholarship good classes. Nairobi didn’t Director Lori Dec, AFSA President Robert Silverman and AFSA Scholarship Committee Chair Ambassador Lange seem that different from Schermerhorn in conversation following the merit award ceremony.

60 JULY-AUGUST 2014 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL AFSA NEWS

one of those times. AFSA has AFSA Files MSI Implementation Dispute filed an implementation dis- pute on behalf of these 554 AFSA was disappointed to to department-proposed agents, followed by Informa- members, the merits of which learn in May that the State language in the promotion tion Resource Management will ultimately be decided by Department had decided procedural precepts requiring specialists. the Foreign Service Grievance not to confer the monetary the department to pay the The impact of an MSI, Board, if not resolved at the portion of Meritorious Service MSIs “if authorized.” AFSA whether it is a financial step agency level. Increases on the 554 col- understands that phrase to increase or cash payment, Meanwhile, AFSA will leagues who were recom- denote relevant provisions reaches beyond one’s active- continue to work with the mended by last summer’s of law or any budgetary duty career into retirement department in other areas selection boards. requirement imposed by the and the calculation of pension to make it a better, safer and We urged the depart- Office of Management and payments. more rewarding place to serve ment’s senior leadership to Budget/Office of Personnel While AFSA’s preference for all employees. honor our colleagues’ per- Management; the department is to work together with Please email AFSA@state. formance with a monetary disagrees. management to address the gov with any questions or component in accordance State and AFSA had challenges facing the Service, comments. n with the negotiated proce- agreed to the procedural at times it must respectfully —Matthew Asada, dural precepts. Since the precepts following the Feb. 27, disagree and dissent. This is AFSA State VP department has opted not 2013, OMB guidance that lim- to do so, AFSA has filed an ited monetary awards across implementation dispute on the federal government. behalf of the MSI recipients In November 2013, OMB/ AFSA Welcomes TSA and the Service. OPM issued new guidance Pre-Check Expansion For the last 34 years— that authorized the depart- since the Foreign Service Act ment to fund last summer’s AFSA welcomes the State Department’s recent announce- of 1980—peer-constituted MSIs, in addition to other ment about the expansion of Transportation Security selection boards have rec- awards. Administration Pre-Check to employees with Top Secret ognized outstanding perfor- The department acknowl- clearances. Within three days of implementation, more than mance and potential with edges that it has this author- 3,800 department personnel had opted into the program. recommendations for promo- ity, but has chosen not to For the past several years, AFSA has advocated for mea- tions and MSI conferrals. apply it. State is the only sures to make travel—domestic and overseas—easier for its Over time this practice, foreign affairs agency that has members, including it in the Governing Board’s 2013-2015 including a monetary com- not yet paid out its MSIs from strategic plan. AFSA continues to work with its partners and ponent, has become one of 2013. the other foreign affairs agencies to expand employee par- the terms and conditions The Foreign Service ticipation in trusted traveler programs, such as the Customs of employment negotiated personnel system is up-or- and Border Protection’s “Global Entry” program. between State and AFSA in out, with competitive promo- On Global Entry, we are advocating for what is known the form of the promotion tions recommended by peer in industry speak as “risk-based screening,” which would procedural precepts. boards. The MSIs are part enable automatic enrollment for those employees with The State Department and and parcel of this personnel security clearances, and have written to the CBP to that AFSA have agreed to recog- system, and play a key role effect (see http://bit.ly/1ku7Jlo). nize colleagues who were rec- in those specialties in which At the same time, we are seeking a revision to General ommended by the selection promotion opportunities Services Administration guidance on employee reimburse- board for promotion, but for and career advancement are ment for CBP Global Entry fees (see http://bit.ly/1jB9ng2). whom there were no available already limited. We have approached Department of State management promotion opportunities, with The majority of last sum- on both of these items (see http://bit.ly/1lY9XWC). For an MSI instead. mer’s MSI recipients are spe- more on AFSA’s travel facilitation efforts, please see the At the time of the 2013 cialists, with the largest group March State VP column. —M.A. sequester, AFSA agreed being Diplomatic Security

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JULY-AUGUST 2014 61 AFSA NEWS

AFSA ON THE HILL These state and local initiatives are part of AFSA’s efforts to tell your story while Who Said It’s All About Congress? promoting partnerships with BY JAVIER CUEBAS, DIRECTOR OF ADVOCACY locally elected and appointed officials. At the end of the day, it is not always about People sometimes make the enjoy the same guarantees circumstances. Congress. assumption that congression- and rights as their brothers So the first step to Feel free to share your al leaders and their staff will and sisters in uniform? How address the challenges that story and any challenges you disregard state legislatures can this be fixed? affect FS employees is to or your family may be facing. and city councils when More often than not, these tell your stories to elected Send an email to advocacy@ strategizing about public challenges are based on a officials at every level, to afsa.org. We are here to help. policy. The truth is quite the lack of information about the remind them that your job Remember that you are our opposite. Because members reality of the Foreign Service has a positive impact on their greatest asset, and elected of Congress are elected profession by federal, state communities and that you officials know it! officials, many of them pay and local officials. Aware and your family are part of —Javier S. Cuebas, very close attention to local of that reality and commit- those same communities. Director of Advocacy elected officials and commu- ted to effecting positive nity activists when making change through a proactive decisions. approach to public policy, As former Speaker of the the AFSA Advocacy Depart- House Tip O’Neill used to say, ment is working with several “All politics is local.” What AFSA members to help them does that mean for Foreign advocate for themselves, Service employees and their and in some cases we can families? help them get regulations Many of the issues that changed. affect FS employees and Two quick examples come their families are directly from Wisconsin and Virginia. related to local laws and In Wisconsin we are working their interpretation. When with one of our members to it comes to local taxes, promote changes to the state residency, driver’s licenses law that deals with driver’s or plate registration, for licenses, to ensure that FS example, our members often employees on orders receive TRIMBLE CAMERON find themselves in a predica- the same treatment as Foreign Service Park Cleanup ment. military personnel. And in Vir- How many of you know ginia, the General Assembly The Congressional Black Associates, the American or have heard of colleagues recently passed House Joint Foreign Service Association and a local Washington, D.C., who received a bill for taxes Resolution 406 commending flag football group, Routelife, teamed up on Saturday, May they did not owe from a AFSA on its 90th anniversary. 31, to clean up the Foreign Service Park opposite AFSA jurisdiction where they are Both of these initiatives headquarters in downtown Washington. The group of vol- not domiciled? And what are aimed at educating unteers spent the morning picking up trash and restoring about choosing a domicile? elected officials about your the park before congregating at AFSA for networking and I’m sure you’ve all got some reality, the Foreign Service refreshments. stories to tell on that subject. career and life. No matter —David Murimi, AFSA Senior Legislative Assistant and The most common com- how worthy the cause, people Andrew Keyes, Legislative Correspondent, Office of plaint is about equity: Why is are unlikely to support it if Representative Louie Gohmert (R-Tex.) it that FS employees do not they do not know you or your

62 JULY-AUGUST 2014 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL AFSA NEWS

AFSA Hosts USAID Mission Directors’ Happy Hour

On May 15, AFSA hosted the first-ever “Mission Directors’ Happy Hour” during USAID’s Mission Directors Conference at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Va. AFSA President Robert J. Silverman, AFSA USAID Vice President Sharon Wayne and AFSA Executive Director Ian Houston hosted the attendees and shared AFSA’s work, pro- jected plans and accomplishments. In addition, the AFSA officials received informal feedback from mission directors on issues they PHOTOS: CHIOMA DIKE CHIOMA PHOTOS: face in the field and management concerns among Foreign Service officers. These include retirement age, case fairness and balance, medical issues, State/USAID benefit parity, spousal employment and benefits, language training, USAID interest in linked assignments, pet advocacy, international school safety and Senate promotion and tenure holds. AFSA thanks all who attended and participated in the discussion. AFSA also thanks the office of Above, USAID mission directors at a “happy hour” hosted by AFSA on USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah for continual support in aid- May 15. AFSA President Robert J. Silverman, left inset, and AFSA Executive Director Ian Houston and USAID VP Sharon Wayne, right, addressed the ing our efforts to speak for the Foreign Service and improve group. American diplomacy both at home and abroad. —Chioma Dike, AFSA USAID Staff

Inside a U.S. Embassy: Yet Another Print Run By early spring, AFSA had sold and distributed just about all of the first 25,000 copies of the 2011 third edition of our popular introduc- tion to the Foreign Service, Inside a U.S. Embassy: Diplomacy at Work. We ordered a third printing, a run of 5,000 books, in May. All three printings of the third edition have been done by United Book Press, a family owned and operated printing business in Baltimore, Md. The company is committed to environmental sustain- ability and is a member of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative. Staff at UBP are a pleasure to work with—reliable, efficient and quick to get the job done. They even took photos for us. This printing takes the overall print run of all three editions of Inside a U.S. Embassy to more than 110,000 copies. Find out more about the book and how you might use it for Foreign Service outreach at www.afsa.org/inside or write to embas- [email protected]. —Shawn Dorman, Editor TIM DILLI

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JULY-AUGUST 2014 63 AFSA NEWS

Why You Need a Household Inventory

Q: After my packout from inspection turns up any dam- pay to have rectified after tiations with the GSO, speak post, someone from the age, and will enable you to leaving. Large scratches and with your AFSA post rep, who General Services Office came, identify damage that was not cigarette or other burns on may contact the AFSA Labor as required, to do the inven- caused by you or your family. furniture are not fair wear Management Office.n tory of government property, During the checkout and tear either, and are also —James Yorke, Labor and to assess the state of the inspection, make sure that your responsibility. Management Specialist furniture and carpets, etc. you and the GSO’s represen- If you need help in nego- The GSO’s office then sent tative do the walk-through me an enormous bill, claiming together. Compare your that I had damaged the chairs observations with those you Veteran AP Reporter on State— and soiled the carpets. How made on arrival. Make sure “More Than Just Diplomacy” should I proceed? you get a copy of the rough A: This problem arises report, but keep your own list Longtime Associated Press State Department reporter more often than it should, as you go around the house. George Gedda reaches back into his many years at and is really something that If you disagree with the Foggy Bottom and tells stories from his long career. needs attention throughout bill when you get it, ask to His new book, The State Department—More Than your occupancy of the house go through it with the GSO’s Just Diplomacy: The Personalities, Turf Battles, Danger or apartment. You need to be office. There are a number of Zones for Diplomats, Exotic Datelines, Miscast Appoint- aware of what you have and factors that are worth bear- ees, the Laughs—and, Sadly, the Occasional Homicide, is its condition. ing in mind: the latest selection in AFSA’s ongoing Book Notes series. So, as soon as you move • Fair wear and tear is not This event will take place at AFSA headquarters, into your assigned quarters, your responsibility. Things 2101 E St NW, at 2 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 4. RSVP to take an accurate inventory of wear out over time unless [email protected]. Books will be available for sale; all the furniture and fittings, you never walk anywhere on the price is $12 and checks are preferred. including their condition. the carpets or sit on any of This is very important, as it the chairs. gives both you and the GSO a • If you have damaged baseline from which to work. something that needs to be If there are any stains, wear replaced, depreciation should or damage on any furniture, be taken into account. You FSYF Annual Welcome Back Picnic carpets or fittings, be precise should not get charged the about where the damage is cost of a new item to replace The Foreign Service located and its nature. Take a 10-year-old armchair. Youth Foundation’s pictures if you like, and make • Look at any proposed annual welcome sure that they are reliably re-upholstery costs very back picnic will take dated. carefully; and, if necessary, place on Sunday, Next, throughout your compare the proposed costs Sept. 14, at 4 p.m. occupancy, it probably goes with other upholsterers. The location, as in previous years, is Nottoway Park in without saying that you Again, you should not be Vienna, Va. (9610 Courthouse Rd.). This is always among should take care that the fur- charged for fair wear and FSYF’s most popular events each year, and is intended to niture and fittings are treated tear. welcome back families returning from overseas and those well. If any damage occurs, • On the other hand, be families who are new to the Foreign Service. There is no make a note of the extent realistic. Damage and soiling cost associated with attending the picnic, and FSYF mem- of it and when and how it by pets and children do not bership is not a prerequisite. FSYF does ask attendees to occurred. This will ensure count as fair wear and tear bring a side dish or dessert to share. Additional informa- that you are not taken by and are your responsibility tion is available at www.fsyf.org. surprise when the checkout to clean up or repair, or to

64 JULY-AUGUST 2014 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL AFSA NEWS

Federal Benefits Event Draws a Full House ÁSGEIR SIGFÚSSON ÁSGEIR On May 19, AFSA welcomed Paula Jakub of the Ameri- can Foreign Service Protective Association for an encore of her popular seminar, “The Coordination of Medicare and FEHB,” explaining the intricacies of fed- eral benefits. Our members responded strongly, as we had a packed house —more than 110 people attended. A complete recording of the event is available at www. afsa.org/video; for a copy of Ms. Jakub’s PowerPoint presentation, please contact Matt Sumrak at sumrak@ afsa.org.

USC continued from page 49 financial obstacles, the United institution-building. He thinks Nations has been doing bet- that China cannot force the ter in conflict management United States out of the Asian in recent years, mainly due to region. improved management, much If the United States can of which has been fostered by resolve some of its current American diplomats. political divisions, upgrade its In addition, he said, the diplomatic services and enjoy organization is relying more stronger leadership going on capable NGOs, which forward, Pascoe concluded, sometimes operate more effi- it will continue to exert a ciently than the U.N. bureau- vibrant, positive influence on cracy. Pascoe also briefly Asian stability and security for spoke about Foreign Service decades to come. careers, exhorting students Amb. Pascoe also pre- to take the entrance exam as sented a talk to a special soon as convenient. class of some 70 advanced In his closing remarks, students and faculty on English again praised AFSA “The Nexus Between U.S. for developing this valuable Diplomacy and the U.N.” He partnership. n stressed that despite its —Tom Switzer, Speakers daunting global political and Bureau Director

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JULY-AUGUST 2014 65 BOOKS

FS Reporting: Craft, ing ‘fast facts.’ The addresses the fraught question: Context and Practice primary value of a “What does the professional field report, then, diplomat do when he thinks his The Craft of Political is to tell policymak- government’s policies are wrong Analysis for Diplomats ers what they need or counterproductive?” He Raymond F. Smith, Potomac Books, 2011, to know and to sort answers by citing examples of $23.62/paperback, $16.50/Kindle Edition, out what’s important how Embassy Moscow’s reporting 174 pages. from all the other helped reshape U.S. policy over Reviewed by Stephen W. Buck things Washington is time. hearing.” Pursuing the chapter title’s Three years after its publication, retired So how to do metaphor, Smith wisely con- FSO Ray Smith’s The Craft of Political this? This is where cludes: “The best diplomatic Analysis for Diplomats holds up very Smith really shines. professionals, like good sailors, well. He starts with a clear definition of In chapters titled “The know they need both the weather vane political analysis as “the attempt to con- Analyst’s Personal Tool Kit,” “The Analyti- and the compass. The weather vane tells vey an understanding of how authority cal Tools,” “Criteria for Political Report- you the course that you can steer. You and power relations operate and evolve ing: The State Department View” and two cannot sail directly into the wind [i.e., within and between governments and case studies from his own reporting from challenge established policy]. You must between government and society.” Embassy Moscow on the collapse of the choose a course that allows you to keep your boat under control while heading as This book focuses on the practical and is particularly relevant closely as possible towards your desti- for Foreign Service officers. nation. Keeping your internal compass working while the wind is not under your This is not an academic tome, how- Soviet Union, he probes deeply into what control and shifting erratically around ever. It focuses on the practical and is is needed and what works. you is one of the conscientious diplo- particularly relevant for Foreign Service While he occasionally allots more mat’s fundamental personal challenges.” officers. In a foreign affairs universe filled space to theory than I needed, Smith The book’s final chapter, which with organizations pursuing worthy makes very useful points about the discusses the impact of technologi- goals, he reminds the reader that “the importance of clear, concise writing to cal change and the risk of irrelevance, diplomat works with a specific primary attract policymakers’ attention and, in reminds us that the Foreign Service objective in mind: to protect and pro- particular, the importance of sources milieu so many of us operated in years mote his country’s interests…not those of and a real understanding of the culture— ago—reading and assessing clues hidden all mankind.” Accordingly, in the end all political, religious and social—of the host in newspapers in the fashion of Krem- diplomatic reporting needs to answer the country. linologists—is gone. Sometimes CNN question, “What does this mean for my Smith’s research into the criteria cited and other media outlets report what country?” by State awards committees leads him to is happening overseas before the post Smith does a good job of delving into rank the following attributes in descend- knows it has even happened. Moreover, the different purposes of diplomatic ing order of importance: usefulness; Washington can Skype, tweet or email in political analysis “to inform, explain or analytic and interpretive content; sources an instant. influence the universe of Washington and contacts; style; and cultural and Yet this does not eliminate what audiences” for Foreign Service report- linguistic skills. He then excerpts some Edward R. Murrow called “the last three ing. He quotes one colleague as observ- declassified cables that won the Director feet” between a reporter or diplomat and ing, “Embassy reporting must add value General’s Reporting Award, and explains his contact. Equally important, it does to what policymakers learn from news why they won. not eliminate the understanding that can reports; it cannot hope to substitute for His thoughtful penultimate chapter, only come from seasoned reporters who or compete with news organs in report- “The Compass and the Weather Vane,” really knows the country they are in—and

66 JULY-AUGUST 2014 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL the Washington to which they report. In trying to cover so ambitious a list of topics in a short space, Making a comparison to Renaissance Gedda fails to do justice to most of them. craftsmen who spent decades building cathedral doors which might well be completed long after their deaths, Smith concludes that the “craftsman in our field least theoretically interested in a book to “Humor,” “Violence at Uncom- must pursue his work, understanding about the State Department, while offer- mon Venues,” “The State Department: that he does not control the outcome, ing some deeper insights for those who Tales from the Home Office, Iran and contributing what he can, as best he already know the subject, it is George Beyond,” “Central America—Turning can, to a worthy endeavor.” Sage advice, Gedda. Red?”, “Personalities,” “Destinations” and indeed. The good news is that the author “Anecdotes.” Alas, most of the content clearly appreciates the importance of is painfully dated, thin on substance Stephen W. Buck, a retired Senior Foreign diplomacy and respects its practitioners, and contains random material with no Service officer, served at eight posts in the and he makes some useful apparent connection to State or Arab world during his 39-year diplomatic points. But I’d be willing to bet diplomacy. career and was nominated for the Director that members of the Foreign Nor does it help General’s Reporting Award for his economic Service community, and just matters that I see no and, later, political reporting. He has served about anyone else with at evidence that anyone on the Foreign Service Journal Editorial least a passing interest in for- proofread or edited Board since 2003. eign affairs, already know the the book. Virtually vast majority of the informa- every page has sen- Worthy of Its Subject? tion he imparts here. tences with missing or Perhaps the book’s full repeated words, text that The State Department: subtitle is the first sign is riddled with punctua- More Than Just Diplomacy of trouble ahead: More tion and capitalization George Gedda, AuthorHouse, 2014, Than Just Diplomacy: errors, and passages $16.95, paperback, 166 pages. The Personalities, Turf whose meaning is opaque Reviewed by Steven Alan Honley Battles, Danger Zones for at best. Diplomats, Exotic Datelines, Miscast Gedda does share one Longtime readers of The Foreign Service Appointees, the Laughs—and, Sadly, the amusing quip I’d never heard before: Journal will instantly recognize George Occasional Homicide. In trying to cover “Diplomats have to be fast on their feet, Gedda’s name, both for his nearly four so ambitious a list of topics in a short as illustrated by this (possibly apocry- decades as the State Department corre- space, Gedda fails to do justice to most phal) diplomat’s response to his wife spondent for the Associated Press and his of them. upon realizing he had forgotten her frequent articles in the Journal. Review- After a foreword that inexplicably birthday: ‘Honey, how can I remember ing his previous book—Cuba: The Auda- locates State in southwest D.C. rather your birthday when you never seem to cious Revolution (CreateSpace, 2011)—in than northwest, Gedda’s first chapter grow older?’” the March 2012 FSJ, John Maisto hailed it assesses the Secretaries of State he cov- I truly wish I could recommend The as “a great introduction to Cuba for non- ered and traveled with for the Associated State Department: More Than Just Diplo- experts. Yet it is also filled with stories Press. Yet his list omits Edmund Muskie macy. Instead, I encourage you to check and insights for specialists to ponder.” (1980-1981) and Larry Eagleburger out Gedda’s previous book, Cuba: The It appears that Gedda tried to follow (1992-1993). (He does allude to both men Audacious Revolution, which is every- that same middle-of-the-road formula later in the book, but fails to note that thing this one is not. n with his new book, The State Department: Eagleburger is the only career FSO ever to More Than Just Diplomacy. And if anyone ascend to the top of the department.) Steven Alan Honley is the contributing editor can engage a “lay” audience that is at That is followed by sections devoted of The Foreign Service Journal.

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JULY-AUGUST 2014 67 IN MEMORY

n David C. Brooks, 56, a Foreign Award for Outreach, presented to him by After retirement, Ms. Chiles settled in Service officer with the State Department, Secretary of State Colin Powell in 2004. Santa Barbara, where she resumed paint- died on April 2 at Virginia Hospital in Mr. Brooks was also a member of ing—one of her passions—and worked Arlington, Va. Toastmasters, where he competed regu- with various committees at All Saints by Mr. Brooks was born in Middletown, larly and won several awards. the Sea Church. She also contributed her Conn., on March 28, 1958. He graduated He is survived by his wife of 24 years, management experience to the Music from Valley Regional High School in 1976, Nancy Rios-Brooks, also an FSO and a Academy of the West. and received a B.A. and an M.A. from member of the AFSA Governing Board; Colleagues and family members recall Trinity College in Hartford, Conn. their three children, Fernando, Jack and how enriching Ms. Chiles found her work Mr. Brooks was a Fulbright Scholar in Elisabeth; and a brother, Douglas Brooks at USAID, including her interaction with Nicaragua, and earned his doctorate in (and his wife, Catherine) of Vergennes, Vt. colleagues and other stakeholders, and Latin American history from the Univer- how she used the lessons learned to teach sity of Connecticut in 1998. In 2013, he n Lisa Chiles, a retired USAID Foreign her children the virtues of compassion was awarded a master’s degree from the Service officer who held the rank of career and kindness. Army War College. minister, died on May 19 in Santa Barbara, Ms. Chiles is survived by her husband, Prior to joining the Foreign Service Calif. Austin Pullé; her children, Roshani and in 1993, he taught history and coached A native of North Carolina, Ms. Chiles Ananda Julian; her son-in-law, Tom wrestling at the Kingswood Oxford School received a bachelor’s degree from Salem Inwood; and her granddaughter, Evange- in West Hartford, Conn. College in North Carolina, a J.D. from line Inwood. Mr. Brooks began his Foreign Service Emory University and a master’s degree career in public diplomacy with the U.S. in international and comparative law and n Dorothy Green, 94, wife of the late Information Agency and then became a trade from Vrije Universiteit Brussel in USAID FSO Chuck Green, died peacefully political officer at the State Department. Belgium. on April 7 at her home in Malibu, Calif., During his 21-year career, he served as a Prior to joining USAID, Ms. Chiles surrounded by her family. cultural affairs officer in Warsaw, a trade was a trial attorney in the International Born on Aug. 14, 1919, in Canada, Mrs. officer in Caracas, and as a political officer Antitrust Section of the U.S. Department Green grew up in Iowa and moved to Cali- in São Paulo, Lima and Managua. of Justice. fornia after meeting and marrying Chuck He served as deputy chief of mission in During her nearly 30-year career at Green. Unable to attend college during the Luanda prior to returning to Washington, USAID, Ms. Chiles served as legal adviser Depression, she attended Santa Monica D.C., last summer as chief of the State in the Office of the General Counsel in College while raising their two children Department’s Bureau of Educational and Washington, D.C., and as the regional and earned her bachelor’s degree from the Cultural Affairs policy unit. legal adviser in the Philippines, Sri Lanka University of California, Los Angeles. Mr. Brooks was an expert in Latin and Indonesia. She also served as deputy On joining the Foreign Service, Mr. American politics. Colleagues remem- mission director in Bangladesh and as Green served first with the U.S. Informa- ber that he was known for being able to mission director in Pakistan, Cambodia tion Agency and later with the U.S. Agency disarm the most anti-American audiences and Sri Lanka. for International Development. The with engaging talks on American culture— Having previously worked with Ambas- Greens were posted overseas in Colombia especially comic books, which allowed sador Ryan Crocker in Pakistan, she hap- (twice), the Dominican Republic, Peru, him to explain U.S. policy in a context pily agreed to his request that she serve as Vietnam and Indonesia. anyone could understand. acting mission director in Iraq. Mrs. Green was always the first to No audience was beyond the reach of Ms. Chiles was the deputy assistant say yes to a new assignment. As family Mr. Brooks’ enthusiasm, his passion for administrator for USAID’s Asia and Near members recall, she never complained, American culture and the desire to con- East Bureau before serving as the agency’s even when they were assigned to Vietnam nect with people, they recall. Mr. Brooks counselor from May 2008 through July during the war. One of a small number of received many honors during his diplo- 2009. She was a recipient of the Meritori- wives allowed to be in Saigon at that time, matic career, including the Secretary’s ous Presidential Service Award. Mrs. Green worked there for the Internal

68 JULY-AUGUST 2014 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL Revenue Service, whose agents were chas- Marilyn (and son-in-law Larry Jones) At the time of his death, Mr. Lippe was ing war profiteers. of Moorpark, Calif.; four grandchildren; planning to move to New Zealand, where Later she joined the Drug Enforcement and many nieces, nephews, in-laws and his youngest son, Luengo, had settled. His Administration, during a time when large friends around the world. second-oldest son was helping him get amounts of heroin were being shipped ready for the move. Friends and family illegally through Vietnam to the United n Michael J. Lippe, 70, a retired For- members remember Mr. Lippe’s liveliness, States. During their second assignment, in eign Service officer with USAID, died on his humor and his continuing interest in Colombia, she continued to work for the April 28 in Washington, D.C., after a long the world. DEA when that country became a center illness. He is survived by his first wife, Lesego for cocaine and marijuana. The son of an American diplomat, Mr. Lippe, and his second wife, Elizabeth Bel- A true adventurer, she made friends all Lippe was born in Columbus, Ohio, but lamy; four sons: Motaki of North Carolina; over the world. She took packs of teenag- grew up and attended schools in Cuba, Motho and Thapelo, both of Botswana; ers every weekend to the beach in the Singapore, Belgium and England. He and Luengo of New Zealand; seven Dominican Republic; managed to evade graduated from Bethesda-Chevy Chase grandchildren; and a sister, Laurie, and a scooters, cabs, and buses while master- High School and the University of Michi- brother, Stuart. ing driving on the left side of the streets gan. After receiving a J.D. from Harvard in Jakarta; and spoke fluent Spanish and University, he went to Botswana for three n Haynes Richardson Mahoney Jr., Indonesian. years as a Peace Corps Volunteer. 94, a retired Foreign Service officer, died The Greens were among the first Amer- After joining USAID in 1976, Mr. on April 5 in the Mayflower Nursing Home icans to travel to China when it opened to Lippe had tours in Ivory Coast, Kenya in West Yarmouth, Mass. tourism. On her own, Mrs. Green toured and Tunisia, where he was a specialist Born on Feb. 13, 1920, Mr. Mahoney the Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc coun- in urban development and housing, as grew up in Jacksonville, Fla., swimming tries in the 1970s, long before the fall of the well as Washington, D.C. He retired from with the manatees in the St. Johns River Soviet Union when travel was exception- USAID in 1996, but continued to work as a and shipping out one summer on a ally limited. Another of her amazing solo contractor traveling on short-term assign- banana boat to Cuba. In later life, he was adventures was an open-boat voyage up ments to many places outside his primary an avid sailor out of Bass Hole on Cape the Mahakam River in Borneo, where she career specialization in Africa, including Cod. visited the Dyak tribes. Jakarta, Beijing and Prague. Mr. Mahoney worked his way through Mrs. Green was a natural athlete. After several years in Washington, D.C., the University of Florida and then Growing up, she danced tap and ballet, Mr. Lippe relocated to Shepherdstown, attended The George Washington Univer- rode horses, did gymnastics, and enjoyed W. Va. He also provided pro bono legal sity, where he covered international affairs roller and ice skating. She loved tennis and services to political refugees in the Wash- as a part-time journalist for the Washing- swimming, and swam for an hour a day ington, D.C., area. ton Herald. During World War II he served into her mid-80s. She preferred reading, Mr. Lippe was diagnosed with pancre- in France and Germany, then joined the traveling, being with friends and going to atic cancer in 2007. With his doctor, Dung military government and directed the de- the beach to cooking and cleaning. Le, he wrote a book about his experience, nazification of the Bavarian press. Her flexibility and tolerance extended Pancreatic Cancer: A Patient and His In 1949, Mr. Mahoney joined the State to allowing exotic pets, including snakes Doctor Balance Hope and Truth (Johns Department as a press officer posted to and monkeys, to join the household. She Hopkins University Press, 2011). Following Germany. He was assigned to Thailand loved people and invited any and all into the diagnosis, he unexpectedly enjoyed with the U.S. Information Agency in 1953, her home—including many “adopted” six years of mostly pain-free and relatively returning to Washington, D.C., in 1956 to extra kids of all ages along the way. active living, during which he continued work on Asian affairs. In 1959, he was sent Mrs. Green’s husband of 67 years, to travel for pleasure. He was also an avid to Japan as deputy public affairs officer. Chuck, died in 2011. She is survived by her Washington Nationals fan, and continued There he dealt with the anti-American son, Terry (and daughter-in-law JoAnn) to be involved in the well-being of his riots that derailed a planned visit by Presi- of Santa Monica, Calif.; her daughter, children and grandchildren. dent Dwight Eisenhower and pioneered

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JULY-AUGUST 2014 69 American appreciation for sushi. month in Panama helping his father on refugees in 1957. Penniless, Mr. Nagy In 1962, after the Berlin Wall went up, an archaeological dig sponsored by the worked menial jobs until he learned Mr. Mahoney was posted to West Berlin as University of Pennsylvania. And at 18, English and received his U.S. engineering deputy director of Radio in the American he joined the U.S. Navy and taught naval license. Sector, which beamed into communist aviation to pilots during World War II. After gaining recognition in private East Germany. He earned a bachelor’s degree from practice, Mr. Nagy was hired by USAID Topping off his Foreign Service career, the University of Pennsylvania in 1948, in 1969 as a civil engineer. He worked in he served as public affairs counselor in and spent several years in the newspaper South Vietnam on infrastructure devel- Kuala Lumpur, where he handled the business in the Philadelphia area before opment and repaired war damage in media during a kidnapping by the Japa- joining the U.S. Information Agency in the Mekong Delta region. In 1976, he nese Red Army. 1960. was assigned to Haiti to help design and Mr. Mahoney retired in 1976 and Mr. Mason’s overseas postings repair roads and bridges in that severely settled in Cape Cod, where he plunged included tours in Brazil: as a publications underdeveloped nation that experiences into scholarship on the old Cape whaling officer in Rio de Janeiro, as information frequent hurricanes. families, interviewing their descendants, officer in São Paulo, and as branch public After Italy suffered devastating earth- publishing a booklet on the Cape Cod affairs officer in Salvador. He then served quakes in 1980, Mr. Nagy was transferred packets and riding his bicycle to Histori- as cultural affairs officer in La Paz before to Naples to help implement a massive cal Society meetings. returning to Washington. His final assign- U.S. relief program to repair the damaged In his final years, his daughter, Ann ment was as branch public affairs officer infrastructure. He also managed projects Pinkham, lived with him and accompa- in Guayaquil. in other Mediterranean and Middle East- nied him on his naturalist adventures After retirement, Mr. Mason and his ern countries out of Naples. along the Cape’s coastal marshes and the wife, Wendy, settled in Kittery, where they Mr. Nagy retired from the Foreign Atlantic beaches. lived happily for more than 30 years. An Service in 1987, but returned to work for Mr. Mahoney was predeceased by avid reader, thinker, writer and storyteller, USAID under contract in El Salvador after his wife, Catherine M. Mahoney. He is he had a marvelous sense of humor and a that country’s civil war. survived by his daughter, Ann; his son, great interest in politics, art, literature and In 1993 he retired again, but was again Haynes Mahoney III, also a Foreign the environment. called back in 1995—this time to help Service officer, and daughter-in-law He is survived by his wife of 66 years, revive Bosnia’s infrastructure after the Bal- Sossi; five grandchildren: Douglas and Wendy; daughters Wendy, Leslie and kan civil war. He stayed in Sarajevo until Kim Pinkham; and Karina, Dominique Robin; and son John Alden Mason III. 2000, when he retired for the last time and and Colette Mahoney; a great-grandson, returned to Washington after being diag- Alaric; and a sister, Eleanor Mahoney of n Tibor Nagy Sr., 93, a retired FSO nosed with a rare form of blood cancer. Jacksonville, Fla. with USAID, died on April 25 in Washing- Because of his expertise in working in In lieu of flowers, donations may ton, D.C. war zones and areas of devastation, Mr. be made to the Yarmouth Port Library, Born in Budapest, Hungary, on Aug. 14, Nagy earned the nickname “disaster mas- 297 Route 6A, Yarmouth Port MA 02675 1920, Mr. Nagy served as a career engi- ter” among USAID’s engineering corps. (www.yarmouthportlibrary.org). neering officer in the Hungarian Army One of his proudest moments came and participated actively in the country’s in 1998, when he was invited back to n John Alden Mason Jr., 91, a retired brief quest for freedom in 1956. Because Hungary by the post-communist govern- FSO with the U.S. Information Agency, of his anti-Soviet activities, combined with ment to a ceremony in his honor. There died on April 14 in Kittery, Maine. an earlier term of political imprisonment, the Hungarian government nullified Mr. Mr. Mason was born in Illinois. His he knew he would face execution after the Nagy’s 1956 treason conviction and death younger years were full of fascinat- uprising was crushed. sentence, promoted him retroactively ing work and adventure. At age 16, he Instead, he escaped with his young to full colonel and awarded him one of hitchhiked across the country by himself son, Tibor Jr., into Austria, eventually Hungary’s highest honors—“Hero of the with $30 in his pocket. At 17, he spent a arriving in the United States as political Revolution.”

70 JULY-AUGUST 2014 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL The same son who had fled Hungary director of the Interdepartmental Regional ning of the vote in the National Assembly, with him as a little boy and who later Group for the area. Pres. Bhutto asked Mr. Sober to call on became a two-time ambassador, Ambas- His last overseas post was as minister- him so the president could thank him. sador Tibor P. Nagy Jr., accompanied him counselor and deputy chief of mission in Also in 1973, shortly after Palestinian on his return to Budapest, along with his Islamabad from 1969 to 1973. extremists assassinated the American daughter-in-law and grandchildren. During the last two years of this assign- ambassador and his deputy in Khartoum, During his career, Mr. Nagy received ment, when Pakistan was beginning to the Pakistani government stationed a various superior and meritorious honor recover from defeat in a war with India round-the-clock security detail at Mr. awards, as well as citations from Haiti and that had ended with Pakistan’s loss of its Sober’s residence for a period of several Italy. In addition to Hungarian and Eng- eastern wing, which became Bangladesh, weeks after reports of a terrorist plot tar- lish, he was also fluent in Russian, French, he was chargé d’affaires. geting Embassy Islamabad. Italian and Spanish. In 1973, Pakistan President Zulfikar Ali From 1974 to 1978, Mr. Sober served as Mr. Nagy is survived by his son, Tibor Bhutto credited him for helping to bring senior deputy assistant secretary of State Jr., and daughter-in-law, Jane, of Lubbock, competing political elements together for Near Eastern and South Asian affairs. Texas; two grandsons, Stephen and Peter; to achieve unanimous approval by the During this period of intensive peacemak- a granddaughter, Tisza Rutherford; and National Assembly for the new draft con- ing efforts and turmoil in the oil industry great-granddaughters Aliyah, Kalyx, Serey stitution, the country’s first democratically in the Middle East, he frequently acted as and Abbey. endorsed charter, which is still in effect the bureau’s assistant secretary. (though frequently amended). On the eve- After retiring from the Foreign Service n Sidney Sober, 94, a retired Foreign Service officer, died on April 21 at his home in Front Royal, Va. Mr. Sober was born in New York City. He graduated magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, from City College (with a junior year’s study in Paris on a special scholar- ship) and entered U.S. government service in 1940 in Washington, D.C., and then in Bermuda. He served as a deck officer on a U.S. Navy destroyer in the Pacific in the latter months of World War II. During his State Department years, Mr. Sober was assigned to a year’s study at both Northwestern University and the U.S. Army War College, and received a master’s degree in international affairs from The George Washington University. Mr. Sober joined the Foreign Service in 1947. He served in Madagascar, Czecho- slovakia, Iceland, Turkey and India (where he was acting consul general in Bombay during the 1962 Sino-Indian War). In earlier assignments in the Bureau of Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs, Mr. Sober was economic desk officer for South Asia, director of regional affairs and staff

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JULY-AUGUST 2014 71 in 1979, Mr. Sober taught for nine years rogator in Europe during World War II In 2006, the Mexican government as a visiting and distinguished adjunct and a stint as a journalist, Mr. Weintraub awarded him the Order of the Aztec Eagle, professor at American University’s joined the Foreign Service. His first post- the highest decoration the country con- School of International Service. He also ing was as vice consul in Tananarive (now fers on foreigners. chaired South Asian area studies depart- Antananarivo) from 1949 to 1951. Mr. Weintraub also held the Simon ment at the Foreign Service Institute for After serving as a consular and politi- Chair in Political Economy at the Center 16 years. cal officer in Mexico City (1951-1954), he for Strategic and International Studies From 1981 to 2008 he worked part-time returned to Washington, D.C., where he from 1994 to 2011. He wrote more than for the State Department, reviewing offi- worked on Japanese and Korean political 100 articles, books, monographs, chapters cial documents on the Near East, South and economic affairs (1954-1957). He was and commissioned papers, and was also Asia and the U.S. intelligence and foreign then posted to Tokyo as political adviser the author of two mystery novels. policy communities prior to their publica- (1958-1959), and then transferred to Mr. Weintraub was predeceased tion in the department’s series, Foreign Bangkok as economic officer (1959-1961). in 2001 by his wife of 55 years, Gladys Relations of the United States. From 1961 to 1965, Mr. Weintraub Weintraub. He is survived by his wife of 10 Mr. Sober participated in local affairs worked on commercial policy and trade years, Elizabeth Midgley; three children, at his residential community in Bethesda, negotiations in the Economic Bureau, Jeff Weintraub, Marcia Weintraub Plunkett Md., serving as president of the Sumner becoming chief of commercial policy. and Deborah Weintraub Chilewich; five Village Community Association. After He was posted overseas again in 1966, grandchildren; and a great-grandson. n moving to a retirement community in serving simultaneously as economic Prince George’s County, he was president counselor and director of the USAID pro- of the Collington Residents Association. gram in Santiago until 1969. He returned Mr. Sober was a member of the to Washington as deputy assistant secre- American Foreign Service Associa- tary for international finance and devel- tion, Diplomatic and Consular Officers, opment, a position he held until 1974. Retired, the Asia Society and the Middle In 1975, Mr. Weintraub became East Institute. assistant administrator for interagency He enjoyed reading and listening to coordination at USAID. He retired from classical music. As a teenager, he was an the Foreign Service in 1976 to become the avid tennis player and then a member of Dean Rusk Professor of Economics and his college track team. Later, he took up Public Policy at the Lyndon B. Johnson golf and became a devoted duffer. School of Public Affairs of the University Survivors include Elizabeth Holmes of Texas-Austin, a position he held until Sober, his wife of 68 years, and a son, 2011. Stephen, of Woodstock, Va. A daughter Mr. Weintraub was the founding died in 1979. director of the LBJ School’s program in U.S.-Mexican policy studies and played a n Sidney Weintraub, 91, a retired For- significant role in research leading to the eign Service officer, died on April 10 at his North American Free Trade Agreement. vacation home in Cuernavaca, Mexico. He directed a number of policy research Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., in 1922, Mr. projects related to international affairs, Weintraub received his bachelor’s degree including studies of the use of public from the City College of New York and his services by undocumented workers in master’s degree in economics from Yale Texas, the operations of the U.S.-Canada University. In 1966, he obtained a Ph.D. in automotive pact, the impact of tourism economics from American University. on Mexico’s economy, and the impact on After combat service as a tactical inter- Texas of free trade with Mexico.

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UMBRIAN VILLA: Lovely 3BR/3BA stone country house with pool ADVANCING TO MAIN STATE OR FSI? I offer FS personnel 28+ years of located 1-1/2 hour’s drive north of Rome. Contact www.casa-sirena.com experience providing Exclusive Representation. My focused approach to for info and rates. home buying/selling makes the transition easier for you and your family. FS references gladly provided. WHERE TO SPEND HOME LEAVE... Contact Marilyn Cantrell, Associate Broker, licensed in VA and DC. How about by the lake? Charming lakeside cottage in New Hampshire McEnearney Associates for rent year-round by week or month; sleeps five comfortably. Relax on 1320 Old Chain Bridge Rd., Ste. 350 the deck, play on our sandy beach, kayak, swim or bike around seven- McLean VA 22101. mile Highland Lake, or explore the beautiful Monadnock region. Linens Tel: (703) 860-2096. supplied, laundry on site. Rates vary by season; discounts for FSOs and/ Email: [email protected] or longer stay. CONTACT [email protected] for details. Website: www.MarilynCantrell.com n PROPERTY MANAGEMENT WHAT ARE YOUR RETIREMENT/2nd HOME PLANS? We have a large buildable lot below market price for sale on the 15th hole of a Champi- NORTHERN VIRGINIA PROPERTY MANAGEMENT. Are you look- onship Golf Course at The Resort at Glade Springs, W.Va. ing for a competent manager to take care of your home when you go to Ray & Laurie Meininger. post this summer? Based in McLean, Va., Peake Management, Inc. has Email: [email protected] worked with Foreign Service officers for over 30 years. We are active board members of the Foreign Service Youth Foundation and many FOR SALE: Elegant Lakefront Chalet, Lake Lure, NC (near Asheville). In other community organizations. We really care about doing a good job in Golf Resort w/private dock on mountain lake, entertainment decks with renting and managing your home, so we’re always seeking cutting-edge crafted stone outdoor fireplace, screened porches & gazebo-hot tub, technology to improve service to our clients, from innovative market- landscape lighting; furnished (or unfurn.); 3BR, 2BA. Rental options until ing to active online access to your account. We offer a free, copyrighted Sold. $429K. MLS #: WNCRMLS-551559 Keller Williams Realty. Landlord Reference Manual to guide you through the entire preparation, Tel: (828) 980-1535. rental and management process, or just give our office a call to talk to the agent specializing in your area. Peake Management, Inc. is a licensed, Email: [email protected] full-service real estate broker. Website: http://fusion.realtourvision.com/idx/16135 6842 Elm St., Suite 303, McLean VA 22101. Tel: (703) 448-0212. SARASOTA, FLA. PAUL BYRNES, FSO Email: [email protected] retired, and Loretta Friedman, Coldwell Website: www.peakeinc.com Banker, offer vast real estate experience in assisting diplomats. Enjoy gracious living, no n REAL ESTATE state income tax and an exciting market. Tel: (941) 377-8181. LONG-DISTANCE REALTOR will make technology work for you when Email: [email protected] (Paul) or [email protected] (Loretta) you’re ready to buy or sell a home, even from overseas. Foreign Service spouse. Licensed in DC, MD & VA with Real Living at BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOME SERVICES FLORIDA REALTY. Home Properties, 11 Dupont Circle, Tel. (301) 652-0643. If you’re considering retirement in the Sarasota area, contact Mary Lowry Smith, REALTOR® Marian Walsh, Realtor and FSO spouse. Cell: (202) 247-5077. Tel: (941) 483-0803 or Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Website: DCRedLineHomes.com Visit DC Red Line Homes Real Estate on Face Book.

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JULY-AUGUST 2014 75 CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS n HOME REPAIRS n PHARMACY

NOW IS THE TIME to think about getting your home in NORTHERN SHOP IN AN AMERICAN DRUG STORE BY MAIL! VIRGINIA ready to occupy or put on the market. Whether it’s a fresh coat Morgan Pharmacy of paint or a bathroom and/or kitchen remodel, Door2Door Designs will 3001 P St NW do the work for you while you’re away. We specialize in working with Washington DC 20007 Foreign Service and military families living abroad, and have many won- Tel: (202) 337-4100. Fax: (202) 337-4102. derful references from happy families. Contact Nancy Sheehy. Email: [email protected] Tel: (703) 244-3843. Website: www.carepharmacies.com Email: [email protected] Website: www.DOOR2DOORDESIGNS.COM n PET TRANSPORTATION n INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION PET SHIPPING WORLDWIDE: ACTION PET EXPRESS has over 44 years in business. 24-hr. ADOPT WHILE POSTED OVERSEAS! Adopt Abroad, Incorporated was service, operated by a U.S. Army veteran, associate created to assist expatriates with their adoption needs. U.S.-licensed and member AFSA. Contact: Jerry Mishler. Hague-accredited, we conduct adoption home studies and child place- Tel: (681) 252-0266 or (855) 704-6682. ment services, using caseworkers based worldwide. Email: [email protected] Adopt Abroad, Inc. Website: www.actionpetexpress.com 1424 N. 2nd Street, Harrisburg PA 4213 Sonia Ct, Alexandria VA n ADVERTISE YOUR PRODUCT OR SERVICE Tel: (888) 687-3644. Website: www.adopt-abroad.com PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD: $1.45/word (10-word min). Hyperlink $11 in online edition. Bold text 85¢/word. Header or box-shading $11 each. Deadline: Five weeks ahead of publica- tion. Tel: (202) 944-5507. Fax: (202) 338-8244. Email: [email protected]

76 JULY-AUGUST 2014 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL REAL ESTATE & PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JULY-AUGUST 2014 77 REAL ESTATE & PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

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80 JULY-AUGUST 2014 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL REFLECTIONS

for U.S. refugee status travel to other coun- Spy vs. Spy, Romanian Style tries, we came up (in cooperation with Canadian diplomats) with a crazy solution BY LUCIANO MANGIAFICO that worked for months, until Romanian security finally caught on. We had rubber stamps made in Vienna that read: ell before 1977, when I In Romania, consular services often American Embassy Bucharest was assigned to Bucharest involved human rights issues. For This is not a visa to head the embassy’s instance, in 1979 German Chancellor It is not valid for entry consular section, I was Helmut Schmidt signed an agreement to the United States W (Date) already well aware that Securitate, the with Romanian President Nicolae Ceaus- state security service, kept close tabs on all escu that granted about $368 million in After we stamped their passports, we foreigners, both at work and home. They trade credits in exchange for the yearly advised the bearers to take the afternoon also used a medical clinic across the street emigration of some 10,000 to 13,000 ethnic train to Belgrade so that they would arrive from the embassy to observe our visitors Germans. Deviously, however, the Roma- at the border crossing point into Yugo- and intercept communications. nians refused to issue them exit visas to slavia in the middle of the night. Frontier When I arrived, our ambassador was West Germany, but instead indicated the guards who were not fluent in English and Harry G. Barnes Jr., a Foreign Service United States as their destination. sleep-deprived tended to miss seeing the word “not” since it was in much smaller type, or did not understand the signifi- We came up with a crazy solution cance of that disclaimer. that worked for months, until Securitate Either way, they usually assumed the bearer was bound for the United States (or finally caught on. Canada, which employed the same trick for its visas). Instead, the refugees then legend who was famous for having had At first, we issued them tourist visas, made their way to the refugee camp at a shoe bugged by Romanian intelligence assured that German officials would get Traiskirchen, near Vienna. while he was deputy chief of mission in them off the plane in Frankfurt. Alas, a I also played postman for Constantin Bucharest years before. The Bureau of couple of them ended up in New York Rauta, a Romanian intelligence officer Diplomatic Security subsequently exhib- and the Immigration and Naturalization who had defected to the United States ited the shoe during Washington security Service raised Cain about it, so the depart- while on an advance trip for the 1974 briefings to illustrate the lengths to which ment told us to stop doing that. visit of Pres. Ceausescu to Washington, hostile powers would go to obtain intel- Fortunately, State left us a loophole by D.C. Rauta had left behind his young wife ligence. saying nothing about issuing other kinds and child, so I regularly delivered mail As Barnes later recounted, “Dick Davis of visas. So we switched to transit visas, as from him to them, and collected letters (his ambassador at the time) wrote back if the bearers were traveling to Frankfurt she wanted sent to him. She was finally to State: ‘Don’t you think you ought to via New York. In cooperation with West allowed to leave Romania late in 1979, reimburse Harry for the price of new German officials, who closely monitored nearly six years after her husband had shoes?’ The department’s response was, the whereabouts of the “transit passen- defected. ‘We will replace the one shoe.’ He finally gers,” that stratagem worked. The guidance of my superiors and persuaded them to pay for a pair.” To help Romanians who were ineligible colleagues, the trust and camaraderie we developed, and the experience I Luciano Mangiafico, an FSO from 1970 to 1991, is the author of two books, Contemporary gained during my two years in Bucha- American Immigrants (Praeger, 1988) and Italy’s Most Wanted (Potomac Books, 2007). rest all proved invaluable to me, both He has contributed articles to The Foreign Service Journal and the literary journal from a personal and a professional Open Letters Monthly, among other periodicals. standpoint. n

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JULY-AUGUST 2014 81 LOCAL LENS

BY JOSEPH DE MARIA n COSTA RICA

his trail traverses the high-altitude rain forest on Barva Please submit your favorite, recent photograph to be Volcano, in the mountains overlooking San Jose, Costa Rica. featured in Local Lens. Images The top of the mountain is nearly always shrouded in clouds. must be high resolution The trail has been hiked by Boy Scouts of America Troop 43 (at least 300 dpi at 8 x 10”) T and must not be in print from San Jose, which includes many scouts and volunteer dads from elsewhere. Please submit a the embassy. The troop has camped on the mountain twice. n short description of the scene/ event, as well as your name, brief biodata and the type of Joe De Maria, a mid-level consular officer, is completing a three-year camera used, to locallens@ assignment in San Jose. There he volunteers with BSA Troop 43, where afsa.org. his son is a scout. Having previously served in Europe and East Asia, as well as in Washington, D.C., his next assignment will be in the Bureau of Legislative Affairs. He took this photo with a Canon EOS 1100D, Rebel T3 with a EF-S 18-55mm lens.

82 JULY-AUGUST 2014 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL