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Web site: www.diplosales.com ♦ Phone: 516-496-1806 ♦ Fax: 516-667-3701 ♦ E-mail: [email protected] CONTENTS April 2000 I Vol. 77, No. 4 COVER FEATURES CRACKS IN CROATIA / 49 Focus ON VIETNAM—25 YEARS LATER “Brotherhood and Unity” was the party line in communist Yugoslavia, but even 30 years ago national tensions were 20 / HEARTS AND MINDS: USAID IN VIETNAM USAID workers in the countryside had some plainly visible. of the hardest jobs in Americas Vietnam mission, By J. Chapman Chester but their story has seldom been told. By Marc Leepson HOUSING RESOURCE DIRECTORY / 56 COVER An FSJ guide to Washington D.C.-area extended-stay hotels and property management firms. COLUMNS PRESIDENT’S VIEWS / 5 Better Prospects for Embassy Security By Marshall P. Adair Page 20 SPEAKING OUT / 16 Why They Stay In 28 / FROM DIPLOMAT TO DISSIDENT By Niels Marquardt A “fallen FSO” recalls his metamorphosis from Vietnam War supporter to State Department dove to POSTCARD FROM ABROAD / 64 whistle-blowing anti-war activist. Mexican Welterweights With Wings By John Marks By Paid Berg 36 / ADVISE AND DISSENT: THE FSO AS PROTESTER FSO protests of the Vietnam War may not have ended DEPARTMENTS U.S. involvement in Indochina, but they did lead to the Open Forum and the Dissent Channel. LETTERS/6 By David T. Jones CLIPPINGS / 12 41 / LEAVING SAIGON: THE LAST DAY BOOKS/54 An FSO who was on one of the last helicopters out recalls the harrowing experience as Americas longest war ended. By Richard S. Thompson Cover and inside illustrations by Ben Fishman Special thanks to the following people for use of their personal Vietnam photos: Harold E. Meinheit, William J. Cunningham, Robert A. Powers, Bill Bach, John R. Campbell, John Marks, Gilbert H. Sheinbaum, Bob Myers, Shep Lawman, Richard Thompson and Joel Rochow. THE MAGAZINE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS PROFESSIONALS OREIGN SERVICE Foreign Service Journal (ISSN 0146-3543), 2101 E Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 200.37-2990 is published J 0 U II \ A L monthly by the American Foreign Service Association, a private, non-profit organization. Material appearing here¬ Editor Editorial Board in represents the opinions of the writers and does not necessarily represent tile views of the Journal, the Editorial BOB GULDIN EDWARD MARKS, Board or AFSA. Writer queries are invited. Journal subscription: AFSA Members - $9.50 included in annual dues; Managing Editor CHAIRMAN KATHLEEN CURRIE others - $40. For foreign surface mail, add $18 per year; foreign airmail, $36 per year. Periodical postage paid at Associate Editor ELIZABETH SPIRO CLARK STEVEN ALAN HONLEY MITCHELL A. COHN Manchester, N.H., and at additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to Foreign Service AI/A. Circulation Manager THEODORE CRAIG Journal, 2101 E Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037-2990. Indexed by Public Affairs Information Service n MILTENBERCEM AFSA NEWS Editor MAUREEN S. DUGAN (PAIS). The Journal is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photos or illustrations. Advertising inquiries RITA COLORITO AURELIUS FERNANDEZ are invited. The appearance of advertisements herein does not imply the endorsement of the services or goods Art Director CAROL A. GIACOMO CARYN |. SUKO offered. FAX: (202) 338-8244 or (202) 338-6820. E-MAIL: [email protected]. WEB: www.afsa.org. TELEPHONE: CAROLINE MEIRS Editorial Intern (202) 338-4045. © American Foreign Service Association, 2000. Printed in the U.S. A. Send address changes AM STOYANOYA WAYNE MOLSTAD Advertising Interns to AFSA Membership, 2101 E Sheet N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037-2990. Printed on 50 percent recycled ARNOLD SCHIFFERDECKER ELIZABETH FISH paper, of which 10 percent is post-consumer waste. 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On Feb. 10, President priority given to protecting Americans Clinton issued a statement stressing a overseas. Secretary Albright and almost twice sustained commitment to maintaining senior State Department manage¬ that for FY2000. a high level of security readiness, allo¬ ment fought hai'd for it. We commend cating $14 billion over the next 10 them for tiieir leadership and their years. We cannot take tins pledge for effectiveness. It will make a differ¬ granted. ence to the safety of thousands of offi¬ It is important to stress that funding cial Americans overseas, and will these investments should not be in enhance the efficacy of our foreign $1.4 billion recommended. competition witii other foreign affairs policy overall. There are important differences responsibilities, but in support of There is still a long way to go. The between the administration and them. I often encounter concern from total request is still more than $300 Congress on funding for infrastructure my Foreign Service colleagues that we million short of what Adm. William work. At the urging of States Foreign will pay for security at the expense of Crowe and the Accountability Review Buildings Office, the administration diplomatic programs; or that we will Boards recommended as an annual has requested advance appropriations emphasize security to the point of appropriation for 10 years. Combined of $3.35 billion over four years begin¬ building fortresses and isolating our¬ with the $800 million shortfall in ning in FY2002. Congress, however, selves. These important concerns must FY2000, we will be almost one year argues that money can only be appro¬ not weaken our determination to behind what Crowe recommended by priated for diat which is executable in enhance security. die end of FY2001. the appropriation year. This difference Ultimately, funding for all parts of We face some important chal¬ must be bridged. the international affairs accounts must lenges. In diis election year, Congress There is also room for improve¬ increase. It is now 41 percent below will by to compress its appropriations ment in State and FBO procedures. the levels of the mid-1980s, and the work into a shorter dian usual season. This building campaign will severely gap between military and non-mili¬ While there is some welcome opti¬ challenge State Department capabili¬ tary spending is still growing. In 1950, mism about surpluses in Congress, ties, particularly when other major pro¬ 39 percent of the national budget there is also a strong political impera¬ jects are added to it. While FBO has went to defense, and 17 percent to tive to cut taxes and tighdy control made substantial improvements in non-military international affairs.