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The Foreign Service Journal, December 2007

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The Foreign Service Journal, December 2007 WRITE FOR US! USAID’S “MISSION IN EXILE” REMEMBERING DICK SCISSORS SEMIANNUAL SCHOOLS SUPPLEMENT $3.50 / DECEMBER 2007 OREIGN ERVICE FJ O U R N A L S THE MAGAZINE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS PROFESSIONALS COUNTRY TEAMWORK Is State Still Running Embassies? OREIGN ERVICE FJ O U R N A L S CONTENTS December 2007 Volume 84, No. 12 F OCUS ON Country Team Management WHO’SINCHARGE HERE? / 20 The issue of who wields authority over American embassy personnel — notably those who don’t work for the State Department — continues to prompt interagency conflict, as it has for years. By Shawn Zeller CHIEF-OF-MISSION AUTHORITY: A POWERFUL BUT UNDERUSED TOOL / 29 The State Department should capitalize on the presidential mandate given to every COM to strengthen the country team mechanism. By Edward Peck ONE HAND CLAPPING: Cover and inside illustration THE SOUND OF STAFFING THE FOREIGN SERVICE / 33 by Jeff Moores The demands of Iraq and Afghanistan have aggravated an entrenched liability in the Foreign Service: namely, severe understaffing. By Mark Johnsen PRESIDENT’S VIEWS / 5 THE EMBASSY OF THE FUTURE / 38 Professionalism Here is a vision of the new American diplomacy, along with By John K. Naland practical steps to get there. Excerpts from a recent report. SPEAKING OUT / 15 Expeditionary Sidekicks? The Military-Diplomatic Dynamic FS FICTION By Gerald Loftus BURIED / 44 LETTER FROM A great old ceiba tree in the mountains of south-central Cuba holds THE EDITOR / 18 a revelation into the island’s history, humor and people. By Steven Alan Honley By Michael Kelly REFLECTIONS / 96 Buying Potatoes in Havana By Robert Blau F EATURES REMEMBERING USAID’S ROLE IN AFGHANISTAN, 1985-1994 / 48 LETTERS / 7 During a critical decade, USAID successfully operated an interim Afghan “mission in exile.” CYBERNOTES / 12 By Thomas H. Eighmy MARKETPLACE / 14 APPRECIATION / 51 OOKS B / 64 “The Best of AFSA:” Richard Curtis Scissors, 1935-2007 INDEX TO By Susan Maitra ADVERTISERS / 94 DECEMBER 2007/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 3 OREIGN ERVICE CONTENTS FJ O U R N A L S AFSA NEWS Editor STEVEN ALAN HONLEY AFSA-HQ UNDER CONSTRUCTION / 53 Senior Editor DG ANNOUNCES “PRIME CANDIDATES” FOR IRAQ / 53 SUSAN B. MAITRA Associate Editor CALL FOR NOMINATIONS: AFSA DISSENT AND SHAWN DORMAN PERFORMANCE AWARDS / 53 Ad & Cirulation Manager ED MILTENBERGER BRIEFS: APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS / 54 Business Manager STATE VP: IRAQ: THE BLAME GAME / 55 ANDREW KIDD Art Director HO SON IRST USAID VP: W ’ F ? / 56 CARYN SUKO SMITH ISSUE BRIEF: TELLING OUR STORY / 58 Editorial Intern MARC NIELSEN CLASSIFIEDS / 60 Advertising Intern LOES WIERSTRA EDITORIAL BOARD S CHOOLS S UPPLEMENT TED WILKINSON Chairman THE BOARDING SCHOOL OPTION: A TENT FOR A GLOBAL NOMAD / 66 JOSEPH BRUNS For FS families, a boarding school education has much to recommend it. STEPHEN W. B UCK Here is an assessment of the option and tips on how to get the most out of it. JULIE GIANELLONI CONNOR By Pamela Ward JIM DEHART JEFF GIAUQUE SCHOOLS AT A GLANCE / 72 GEORGE JONES Essential data on educational choices. LAURIE KASSMAN YVETTE N. MALCIOLN DAVID MCFARLAND AL PESSIN THE MAGAZINE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS PROFESSIONALS Foreign Service Journal (ISSN 0146-3543), 2101 E Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037-2990 is published monthly with a combined July-August issue by the American Foreign Service Associa- tion (AFSA), a private, nonprofit organization. Material appearing herein represents the opin- ions of the writers and does not necessarily rep- resent the views of the Journal, the Editorial Board or AFSA. Writer queries and submissions are invited, preferably by e-mail. Journal sub- scription: AFSA members – $13 included in annual dues; others – $40. For foreign surface mail, add $18 per year; foreign airmail, $36 per year. Periodical postage paid at Washington, D.C., and at additional mailing offices. Indexed by Public Affairs Information Services (PAIS). The Journal is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photos or illustrations. Advertising inquiries are invited. The appearance of adver- tisements herein does not imply the endorse- ment of the services or goods offered. TELEPHONE: (202) 338-4045 FAX: (202) 338-8244 or (202) 338-6820 E-MAIL: [email protected] WEB: www.afsa.org © American Foreign Service Association, 2007. Printed in the U.S.A. Send address changes to: AFSA Attn: Address Change 2101 E Street N.W. Washington DC 20037-2990 Printed on 50-percent recycled paper, of which 10 percent is post-consumer waste. 4 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2007 PRESIDENT’S VIEWS Professionalism BY JOHN K. NALAND According to the dictionary, Foreign Service has long been leagues. For example, military jour- a profession is “an occupation shortchanged on many of the nals are full of thoughtful essays by requiring advanced education elements that strengthen mid-level officers. In contrast, rela- and training, and involving professionalism. For example: tively few career diplomats publish intellectual skills.” The U.S. • Compared to the ca- articles of professional interest — Foreign Service certainly quali- reer-long continuing educa- despite clearly possessing the neces- fies as a profession. Ours is a tion required of other pro- sary analytical and writing skills. worldwide-available corps of fessions such as doctors, To close that gap, Foreign Service professionals who possess unique lawyers, teachers and military officers, members should consider writing for knowledge, skills and abilities that are Foreign Service members typically professional publications such as the essential to foreign policy develop- race from assignment to assignment Foreign Service Journal and State ment and implementation. with little time for in-service training magazine. The FSJ welcomes sub- One hallmark of any vibrant pro- (see “Training America’s Diplomats,” missions to its “Speaking Out,” “FS fession is self-awareness of strengths October Journal). To close that gap, Know-How” and “FS Heritage” de- and weaknesses. Thus, while AFSA is employees should proactively seek out partments, as well as longer analytical quick to defend the Foreign Service training in order to strengthen cur- pieces on international affairs and against attacks by those who fail to rently needed skills and for general professional issues. (See Steve Hon- understand the role of diplomacy (for professional development. Too often, ley’s “Letter from the Editor” in this example, see the Issue Brief in this we become our own worst enemies by issue for submission guidelines and month’s Journal), we must not shy failing to take advantage of existing the 2008 list of focus topics.) away from constructive criticism by training opportunities. • The Foreign Service has been those who know us well. • Many professions maintain a criticized as being an organization for Consider this recent “tough love” recommended professional reading list which the whole is less than the sum reflection by Ambassador Chas W. as a career development resource. For of the parts. To the extent that is true, Freeman Jr., a retired FSO and example, the U.S. armed forces have it is largely due to underinvestment in, former U.S. ambassador to Saudi such lists, which are typically issued by and undercommitment to, career-long Arabia: “Frankly, our Foreign Service, the senior career officer in each service training, education and professional staffed as it is with very intelligent men (for example, the Army chief of staff). development. While it is a fact that and women, remains decidedly smug The Foreign Service does not. To Foreign Service members face institu- and amateurish in comparison with close that gap, AFSA is currently tional stumbling blocks hindering the self-critical professionalism of our working with others to create a foreign professional development, we must armed forces. There are many affairs professional reading list. Once strive to overcome such obstacles to reasons for this, including lack of it is ready, Foreign Service members take advantage of opportunities to training, professional standards and may use it as a resource for ongoing strengthen our individual and col- mentoring, funding and esprit.” self-development. lective effectiveness. Without agreeing with everything • Members of many professions America is counting on the Foreign he says, it is undeniable that the publish articles analyzing ideas and Service to capably advance vital issues in an effort to further the national interests in a dangerous John K. Naland is the president of the continuing education and develop- world. We must continue to meet that American Foreign Service Association. ment of themselves and their col- professional challenge. I DECEMBER 2007/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 5 J. KIRBY SIMON FOREIGN SERVICE TRUST AN INVITATION TO PROPOSE PROJECTS FOR FUNDING BY THE J. KIRBY SIMON FOREIGN SERVICE TRUST IN 2008 he J. Kirby Simon Foreign Service Trust is a charitable information campaign to combat breast cancer; India, public- T fund established in the memory of J. Kirby Simon, a education video focusing on the deaf community; Indonesia, Foreign Service Officer who died in 1995 while serving vocational training for female leprosy survivors; Ivory Coast, in Taiwan. The Trust is committed to expanding the opportuni- equipment for disabled orphans; Romania, mattresses for dis- ties for professional fulfillment and community service of active abled children; Sierra Leone, therapeutic food for malnourished Foreign Service Officers and Specialists and their families. children; Tajikistan, winter clothing for nursing home residents; The
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