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COVER FEATURES

Focus ON FICTION THERE’S STILL A ROLE FOR LABOR DIPLOMACY / 41 Though the Cold War competition for the soul of the labor 17 / VISA FOR A DREAM movement has ended, support for workers’ rights still makes Kiko was certain that, while his sense as part of U.S. promotion of democracy abroad. documents were not “sincere,” By Edmund McWilliams he certainly was. That and a little Santena would undoubtedly get UNIONS PLAY CATCH-UP AS CORPORATIONS him to Nueva York. GLOBALIZE / 46 Labor movements are forming new alliances from Page 17 By David Searby Alabama to Asia, crossing continents to protect workers’ 21 / MR. FUKUJI interests in multinational corporations. Fukuji Saburo was convinced that his wife, like all women, By Robert Senser was utterly stupid. It took a crisis to show how badly he underestimated her. Do NORTH KOREANS HAVE HUMAN RIGHTS? / 51 By Frances M. Knowles Realpolitik insists that security issues must come first, but sooner or later the West must take up the long-neglected 25 / THE STRANGE JOURNEY OF BECKLES WIT T SON problem of Pyongyang’s abuse of its own people. State’s legal experts decided that “worldwide available” By George Gedda did in fact cover travel into the future, especially if the traveler was an expendable junior officer. COLUMNS

By Kristen J. Heslink PRESIDENT’S VIEWS / 5

29 / THE BONE COLLECTOR The Future is Now Who would have guessed that a terrorist bomb would By John K Naland propel him into the Great Rift Valley, where he would SPEAKING OUT / 13 finally connect with a Kenya that had eluded him before? Can Public Diplomacy Rise from the Ashes? By James Angell By Jamie F. Metzl 36 / THE VISIT POSTCARD FROM ABROAD / 64 “Did I catch you at a bad time or are you just being Moving Transcendence a pain in tire ass?” Jackie asked, breaking through By Deborah Llewellyn the distance and the years spent apart. By June Appel-Wuertz DEPARTMENTS LETTERS/7 CLIPPINGS / 10 BOOKS / 55 INDEX TO ADVERTISERS / 62

Cover and inside illustrations by Rich Grote

THE MAGAZINE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS PROFESSIONALS pOREIGN^ERVICE Foreign Service Journal (ISSN 0146-3543), 2101 E Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037-2990 is published monthly by the American Foreign Service Association, a private, non-profit organization. Material appearing here¬ Editor Editorial Board BOB GULDIN in represents the opinions of the writers and does not necessarily represent the views of the Journal, the Editorial CAROLINE MEIRS, Managing Editor Board or AFSA. Writer queries and submissions are invited, preferably by e-mail. Journal subscription: AFSA CAROLINE BENNER CHAIRMAN Associate Editor LISA BRODEY Members - $9.50 included in annual dues; others - $40. For foreign surface mail, add $18 per year; foreign air¬ STEVEN ALAN HONLEY mail, $36 per year. Periodical postage paid at Manchester, N.H., and at additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Ad & Circulation Manager WES CARRINGTON ED MILTENBERGER ELIZABETH SPIRO CLARK Send address changes to Foreign Service Journal, 2101 E Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037-2990. Indexed AFSA News Editor MAUREEN S. DUGAN by Public Affairs Information Service (PAIS). The Journal is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photos SHAWN DORMAN Art Director JOHN DWYER or illustrations. Advertising inquiries are invited. The appearance of advertisements herein does not imply the CARYN J. SUKO AURELIUS FERNANDEZ Market Development endorsement of the services or goods offered. FAX: (202) .338-8244 or (202) 338-6820. E-MAIL: [email protected]. CAROL A. GIACOMO SUE PARTYKE WEB: www.afsa.org. TELEPHONE: (202) 338-4045. © American Foreign Service Association, 2001. Printed Editorial Intern EDWARD MARKS JOSEPHINE LIU ARNOLD SCHIFFERDECKER in the U.S.A. Send address changes to AFSA Membership, 2101 E Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037- Advertising Intern JACQUETTE MCGHEE WILLIAM WANLUND 2990. Printed on 50 percent recycled paper, of which 10 percent is post-consumer waste.

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4 FOREIGN SERVICE ] O U RN AL/J U LY-AUG U ST 2001 PRESIDENT’S VIEWS The Future is Now

BY JOHN K NALAND

We stand at ted ourselves and our families to a what could be a This is a time Foreign Service career have much at turning point in stake in this debate. We have volun¬ the history of the of both danger teered for a calling requiring certain U.S. Foreign rigorous duties and sacrifices not Service. A num¬ and opportunity routinely faced by other categories ber of trends — of employees. In return, we benefit some positive, for the from some additional safeguards and some negative — are coming togeth¬ Foreign Service. rewards. If a future “reform” ever er to create a unique period of eliminates the features that make us opportunity and danger for our unique, we will inevitably lose the career service. benefits that flow from that unique¬ The opportunity stems from the what shape reform should take. The ness. Bush administration’s clear recogni¬ danger for AFSA and our members The Foreign Service was estab¬ tion that their own success in foreign is that some of those visions do not lished to provide the president with a policy will depend, at least in part, on place the career Foreign Service at dedicated corps of professionals who strengthening the nations diplomatic the core of foreign policy implemen¬ possess keen understanding of the readiness. Under the leadership of tation. affairs, cultures, and languages of Secretary of State Cohn Powell, they Therefore, tire second essential other countries and who are available have moved decisively to seek task of the new AFSA Governing to serve in assignments throughout resources to improve staffing, securi¬ Board is to engage our members in a the world as ordered. We need to ask ty, information technology, facilities, discussion of the future of the ourselves two questions about this and training. Foreign Service. As most readers long-standing role: Is it the right one The top priority of the new AFSA know, the role and function of the for the 21st century? If so, do we cur¬ Governing Board that took office career service is sharply questioned rently have tlie ideal mix of abilities, July 15 is to assist the administration by some observers. Arguably, such outlooks, and organization to carry it in making the case to Congress and questioning is healthy. Any organiza¬ out? To start the discussion, I submit the American people for a sustained tion that fails to adapt to changes in that the answers are “yes” to the first infusion of additional resources. It its operating environment dooms question and “no” to the second. would be difficult to exaggerate the itself to eventual extinction. You will be hearing a great deal need for those resources or the con¬ In fact, our service has changed about these issues in the coming sequences should they not be markedly since its creation in 1924. months. Four former AFSA presi¬ obtained. The Foreign Service Acts of 1946 dents have joined other distin¬ However, money alone cannot fix and 1980 gave us the rank-in-person guished members of the service in all the problems. As innumerable system (essential for rotational ser¬ responding to my invitation to serve blue-ribbon studies have detailed, vice), established the “up or out” on the AFSA Governing Board. This organizational reform is also needed. principle, and restricted career status strong team, guided by your input, There are many different visions of to those who accepted the discipline will push to strengthen the career of worldwide assignment as part of a Foreign Service so that it may con¬ John K. Naland is the president of the distinct Foreign Service. tinue and improve its proud service American Foreign Service Association. That said, we who have commit¬ to our nation. ■

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6 FOREIGN SERVICE J O URN AL/J U LY-AU GV S T 200 1 LETTERS

Slashed Differentials? cent, 37 from 20 to 15 percent, and State was filled by a senior FSO. The State V.P. Voice column by 49 from 25 to 20 percent. That’s not surprising, as filling the John Naland in the April AFSA Seven years later, half of those job with a civil servant would have News perpetuates a myth that will differentials either remain at their meant Jacobson had no position to not die in asserting that “State 1994 levels or have been cut further. return to at the end of her tour. slashed hardship differentials across Fifty-nine of the cuts made in 1994 Marshall Carter-Tripp the board for budgetary reasons.” remain to this day, 21 have been EST Counselor Though there was a proposal to reduced even deeper, and 96 have Embassy Buenos Aires do exactly that, as there were many been restored to previous levels. In cuts discussed during those dire addition, of the 15 posts that were Inexperienced Ambassadors budget times, I can state categorical¬ kept at 25 percent in 1994, two were Marshall Adair reported in his ly that there was no slashing of hard¬ subsequently cut. This makes a April president’s column that with ship differentials for budgetary rea¬ grand total of 95 posts still at or Secretary Powell’s arrival, there is a sons. The Bureau of Administration below their depressed 1994 levels new optimism in the department. It rejected the proposal, and with 96 posts having had their differ¬ is good to know Powell is listening to allowances were never reduced as a entials restored. desk officers and pushing for a bud¬ cost-cutting measure. John Naland get increase. However, our AFSA Patrick F. Kennedy AFSA President president and our new secretary Assistant Secretary for Washington, D.C. seem to be ignoring a key question: Administration Who is Bush appointing to the most Getting the Point senior positions in American diplo¬ John Naland replies: Ambassador John Hamilton macy? Bush’s ambassadorial According to AFSA’s records, the assures us (Letters, April) that appointments are by and large per¬ Department of State indeed slashed Roberta Jacobson, the civil servant sons with no relevant experience in differentials in 1994 for purely bud¬ that he brought to Lima as DCM, is foreign affairs. get reasons. A total of 182 post dif¬ very popular and has gotten high Secretary Powell comes from a ferentials were cut. The 5 percent marks from embassy staff. But that’s career in which there have been no post differential was introduced (a not the point. The outrage over her political appointments for decades. “slash” in itself) and 52 posts were appointment was not because FSOs How can he countenance his admin- cut from 10 percent to 5 percent, 43 thought she was incompetent. It was istration’s continuance of the only were cut from 15 percent to 10 per- a reaction to managements abroga¬ diplomatic spoils system in the tion of a long-standing agreement industrialized world? The Foreign Service Journal with AFSA, and the consequent Powell was appointed by Bush. welcomes your signed letters to the threat that other senior slots abroad AFSA was not. AFSA’s point of view editor. Please send letters via e-mail to might be summarily assigned outside should be that contained in the [email protected], fax to (202) 338- the agreed rules. It’s disappointing Foreign Service Act of 1980: 8244; or mail to the Journal, 2101 E that the ambassador is unable to step American ambassadors should, with St., NW, Washington, D.C., 20037. back and recognize that his action few exceptions, come from the Letters, which are subject to editing was very damaging to the profession career Foreign Service. should include full name, title and he has otherwise so ably served. Peter Bridges post, address and daytime telephone Hamilton also notes that Ambassador, retired number. Jacobson’s office director slot at Arlington, Va.

JULY-AUGUST 2001/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 7 LETT ERS Managed With Pride By

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No More Fat Cats Death by Bureaucracy Corporate There is a crying need for In tire early ’60s when I was on Foreign Service officer ambas¬ loan from the U.S. Information Housing sadors. It is wasteful to train bright Agency to the State Department, I officers only to have them bypassed became aware of the obstacles within 1 & 2 Bedroom Apartments at the top by a fat cat contributor to States administration to implement¬ the party or a loyal politician in need ing education programs within any 1 month to Extended Leases of a job. Secretaiy Powell would reasonable time period. President Furnished & Unfurnished never have stacked the Joint Chiefs Kennedy and many of his successors of Staff with such candidates. The expressed impatience with die slow¬ 2 Convenient Locations: constitution gives the president the ness of the department to provide dre right to choose his envoys, but support they needed. hopefully Powell can defend the Now that USIA has been merged Foreign Service with strong advice into State, information and cultural Park Center on ambassadorial appointments. programs run the risk of being smoth¬ Apartments Solie Reinhardt ered to death in the department s vast Widow of FSO, retired bureaucracy. I hope Secretary Powell 2701 Park Center Drive New York, N.Y. and Deputy Secretary Richard Alexandria, VA 22302 Armitage will seize the opportunity, 888-372-8798 or 703 379-2000 Translation, Please while talk of reform is in the air, to cut E-mail: I joined AFSA when member¬ through the mountains of red tape in [email protected] ship was opened to non-Foreign the department. Service employees after attending Powell was quoted in the press an Elderhostel program. I enjoy recently as saying he would see to it reading the Foreign Service Journal that what used to be USIA would pro¬ The every month. It is an educational duce more than “pamphlets” in the experience about an under-publi¬ future. I cannot believe anyone with Commons cized, but vital, department of our his experience in government was f government. unaware of the great variety of infor¬ However, I do wish you would mation and cultural programs that ° McLean spell out terms and names that are constituted USIA’s operations over¬ 1653 Anderson Road abbreviated in various articles. I seas for more than 45 years. I am McLean, VA 22102 may be a slow learner, but as your going to assume he was misquoted. If 888-236-3144 or 703 356-0500 non-Foreign Service readership not, please, someone brief him imme¬ E-mail: increases, you need to accommo¬ diately! [email protected] date those of us for whom Dorothy Dillon “Statespeak” still needs interpreta¬ Assistant Director tion. for Latin America SPECIAL SERVICES AVAILABLE: Robert G. Morris USIA, retired • Maid Service, Public & Private Toledo, Ohio Washington, D.C. •Transportation, Dry Cleaning • Services, On-site Shopping, The editor responds: Management is More • Gym Memberships and If the DG agrees, we plan on ask¬ If David Newsoms placement of • Much more! ing the EX office in HR to hire a Human Resources (HR), Budgets recently TICed out FSO-Ol as a (FMP), and Foreign Buildings “Managed with Pride” Staff WAE in FY02 to do a TDY at AFSA (FBO) includes only these three Gates, Hudson or FSI to research this problem. But within the purview of an Under & Associates seriously, we will try to do better at Secretaiy for Management, where explaining abbreviations in the do Information Resources Manage¬ EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY future. ment (IRM), Diplomatic Security

8 FOREIGN SERVICE ] O U RN AL/J U LY- AU GU ST 2001 LETTERS

(DS), the Foreign Service Institute • Start a post Web site right now. (NFATC), Medical Services (MED), You already have potential Legislative Affairs (H) ,and Consular Webmasters at post: spouses. It is Affairs (CA) fit in? amazing how much talent is wasted in Mercedes-Benz It is evident that Newsom has been underemployed family members. away from the department for 20 • Lose the hierarchical attitudes years. Would an under secretary for immediately. information technology be too much • Do pro bono work in the U.S. to consider? Circumstances have and at post. Don’t leave all the volun¬ Diplomacy changed. teering to the spouses. Rob Jennings America hates snobs. Americans IRM/C ST/LD/Extemal will never willingly hand over hard- has its Washington, D.C. earned tax money for you to live in Paris unless they think you are there DOS of Reality on their business. In short, you must rewards. The submissions in the May issue step up your public relations and out¬ of the Foreign Service Journal, tided reach. Diplomacy, like charity, begins At American Service Center, your “Salvaging State,” raised the level of at home. Don’t wait for AFSA, diplomatic or official passport* concern to ear-splitting levels. Secretary Powell, or the Senate will allow you to purchase a new Now hear this: If your facilities are Foreign Relations Committee to save crumbling, and your benefits and you. Mercedes-Benz at dramatic clout are disappearing, it is your fault, Mary Temus savings. Contact Erik Granholm, because you have failed to justify your FS spouse our Diplomat and Tourist Sales existence to die American people. Algiers The “good” ambassadorships are Manager. A native of Munich, awarded as post-election prizes, CNN Should’ve Seen This Coming Germany, Erik has been and the Internet are the most influen¬ The United States has been with ASC for 35 years. tial sources of information and policy recently voted off the U.N. Human gamesmanship, and the president Rights Commission. I am alarmed *Applies only while on official business gives a lot of face time to “those other that the sneak diplomatic attack kick¬ or diplomatic assignment. Foreign Service agencies.” But there ing us off die commission allegedly are things you can do now, and they caught Secretary Colin Powell and are relatively light investments of your Foggy Bottom asleep. According to time and money. press reports, the dumbfounded sec¬ Zi[mencan • Start writing a column for your retary claimed he had “43 solid writ¬ hometown or college newspaper. Use ten assurances” of support for the Service Center the “Postcard from Abroad” page as a U.S., yet only 29 voted to keep us on Mercedes. Just Mercedes. guide. You’re writers. It should be a the commission. walk in the park for you. You can Who precisely were the 14 nations 585 N. Glebe Road, change the opinions of Americans, that supposedly assured us of their one town or campus at a time support and then in effect double- Arlington, VA 22203 • Schmooze your elected offi¬ crossed us? Why didn’t the Foreign cials. The Journal conveniently pro¬ Service predict this? How could we 703.525.2100 vided us with a pullout list (AFSA have been so overconfident? News, May). On home leave, drop I hope we can learn some details Telefax: 703.284.2482 by their offices for a friendly visit. about the outcome of what was billed Bring them (inexpensive!) trinkets as a secret vote. Mobile: 703.405.4018 from post. Invite them to visit your Roy A. Flarrell, Jr. www.justmercedes.com home in Conakry (ha ha ha!). Send FSO, retired them holiday cards. Ozona, Texas ■

JULY-AUGUST 2001/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 9 CLIPPINGS

POLITICAL ENVOYS 22, employees. Its www.washdiplomat.com/ ambprofrnt.html, and it fists foreign CAREER OFFICERS 5 ambassadors posted to Washington, along As of early May, President Bush had with photos and official biographies. Most announced 27 ambassadorial appointees entries include links to die country’s U.S. — 22 of whom are people widi ties to the embassy. president and no diplomatic experience, reported Laurence McQuillan in USA Today May 4. Bush has his recent prede¬ ATTENTION GETTER: cessors beat when it comes to the number of political appointees he has named by THE HELMS CENTER that date: Three months into their presi¬ Ever heard of Wingate, N.C.? There’s dencies, Bill Clinton had named 23 no reason you should have: Its a tiny ambassadors, 21 of whom were FSOs; town of strip malls, strip clubs and a Ronald Reagan had named four FSOs out boarded-up Hardees. Then why would “In archaeology' of nine; and George Bush pere had named Margaret Thatcher, Henry Kissinger, the eight FSOs out of 21 ambassadors. Dalai Lama, Kofi Annan and Madeleine you uncover the While die current president has staffed Albright all have made a point of stop¬ some desirable embassies, such as France, ping there? Because, as Jason Zengerle unknown. Spain, and the Bahamas, with political explains in the June 4 New Republic, In diplomacy appointees, he has chosen FSOs to serve Wingate is home to the Jesse Helms in sensitive places like Egypt and Russia. Center. The dignitaries have come, as you cover the As usual, many of the political Zengerle puts it, “to show their appreci¬ appointees are big donors. For example, ation of — or to curry favor with — known. ” the nominee for ambassador to Ireland Helms.” gave $491,100 to the GOP and the nomi¬ The Helms Center, funded by thank¬

— AMBASSADOR nee for the Swedish post gave $367,200 to ful Helms backers such as tobacco com¬ the Republicans. panies, is a $3.3 million structure which THOMAS PH :KERING AFSA president Marshall Adair says he houses the senator’s papers and memen¬ (REPORTED TO BE A is “troubled by the fact that virtually all of tos. It sponsors lecture series at nearby the names are political.” But White House Wingate University, where Helms FA VORITE OBSERVA TIOK officials say they have decided that about attended college, as well as conferences OF ms) 50 embassies out of 162 wall be political and essay-writing contests. posts, a figure which is in keeping with die Jesse Helms is clearly proud of his 30 percent guideline most presidents have work as chairman of the Senate Foreign adhered to. Relations Committee, a post he held until the Senate’s recent shift to Democratic control. An exhibit on NETTING Helms’s January 2000 visit to the U.N. in which he told the international body it AMBASSADORS would need to reform in order to receive The Washington Diplomat, a monthly U.S. funds is prominent. A quote from newspaper, has put together a Web page Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del., on a wall that may be useful to Foreign Service nearby captures Helms’ pleasure at his

10 FOREIGN SERVICE J OU RN AL/J V LY- AU G U S T 2001 CLIPPINGS

accomplishments: “Just as only Nixon But after the U.S. crew was released, could go to China, only Helms could fix Secretary Powell added emphatically, “We the U.N.” Dozens of photographs of should not be fooled by Chinese propa¬ Helms with foreign leaders hang from ganda that says they got an apology. ” Glad the wall below the Biden quote. we cleared diat up.

ABOUT THAT PLANE: AMBASSADORS OPPOSE YEARS AGO REGRETS ONLY U.S. DEATH PENALTY Language maven William Safire in his Nine retired ambassadors widi more April 29 column in The New York Times than 200 years of service in 18 countries Magazine dissected the “diplolingo” con¬ among them are calling for an end to the tortions U.S. officials went through deadi penalty for the mentally handi¬ “Communist men¬ when a damaged U.S. Aries reconnais¬ capped, reported Raymond Bonner in the dacity is being sance plane landed on Chinas Hainan June 10 New York Times. The diplomats exposed by the pro¬ island. registered their complaint in a memo to Before they released the crew, the the Supreme Court in response to die paganda of truth. I t is Chinese wanted an apology, something case of a North Carolina death row inmate on this battlefield of the United States was determined not to who has an IQ of 67. The ambassadors men’s minds that the give- who signed the memo were Thomas Safire notes that the word apology, Pickering, Felix Rohatyn, Morton message of the free when it entered the English language, Abramowitz, Stephen Bosworth, Stuart world, supported by originally meant a speech in ones own Eizenstat, John Komblum, Phyllis Oakley, rising economic defense, and was not “apologetic” at all. J. Stapleton Roy, and Frank Wisner. But that use of the word is largely obso¬ The diplomats argue diat die practice strength and military lete. of executing die retarded opens the U.S. security, is winning “The Chinese,” Safire notes, to “daily and growing criticism from the its battle and proving “demanded not only bao qian, as in international community,” causes diplo¬ “sorry I was late,” but the much graver matic problems, especially with Europe, that man is essential¬ dao qian, a phrase that begins a formal and makes other countries question ly a devotee both of apology.” President George Bush and Americas commitment to human rights. truth and freedom.” Secretary of State Colin Powell offered According to the Times, many FSOs agree regrets at the loss of the pilots life, but with this view but are not at liberty to crit¬ that didn’t cut it for Chinas leaders. icize U.S. polices. — EDITORIAL IN THE Eventually, resolution of the standoff Active-duty FSOs privately revealed AUGUST 1951 FSJ. came with the aid of Chinese-English to the Times that they believe that die linguistic ambiguity. The U.S. said it was death penalty — in general, not just COMMEN TING ON THE “very soriy;” that was translated in a when applied to the retarded — makes it ADVENT OF statement from Ambassador to China harder for the United States to conduct Joseph Prueher using the syllable qian, diplomacy. For example, die Chinese PROPAGANDA AS A NEAT “allowing the Chinese to infer an admis¬ raise the death penalty frequently in ARM OF DIPLOMACY. sion of wrongdoing,” Safire notes. So their diplomatic negotiations with the both sides could claim victory. U.S.

JULY-AUGUST 2001/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 11 CLIPPINGS

U.S.-EU relations are also complicat¬ and embassies, seven of them in sub- ed by the death penalty. Says Rohatyn: Saharan Africa, have been checking job “Foreign “For practically the full four years I was applicants for HIV in Paris [as ambassador], there was not a Cedric Dumont, State’s medical relations are single speech I made where the first or director, encouraged Secretary of State like human second question wasn’t: ‘How can you Cohn Powell to end tire policy of dis¬ people do this? Why do you execute the criminating against HIV-positive appli¬ relations. mentally retarded? Why do you execute cants while the secretary was on his They are minors? Why are there so many minori¬ recent tour of Africa. An unnamed State ties on death row?’ ” official told the Times that “we want to be endless. a good employer. We want to do right by The solution our employees.” HIRING HIV-POSITIVE Despite the change, the department of one problem still will not hire a U.S. citizen who tests usually leads FSNs APPROVED positive for tire virus and restricts the post¬ The State Department will no longer ing abroad of FSOs who become infected to another. " screen foreigners for HIV infection when after becoming State employees. It is not they apply to work in U.S. embassies, clear whether State also plans to eliminate reported Christopher Marquis in the May its HIV screening process for Americans — JAMES BESTOW 31 New York Times. Before, the chiefs of who want to enter the Foreign Service. AMEIIK I A .101 FINALIST mission at each embassy made the deci¬ The change in policy is expected to sion whether or not to screen potential increase insurance costs in many FSNs for the virus. About 22 consulates embassies. ■ Home Suite Home

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12 FOREIGN SERVICE ] O U RN AL/J U LY-AUG U S T 2001 SPEAKING OUT Can Public Diplomacy Rise from the Ashes?

BY JAMIE FREDERIC METZL

Celebrating the merger of the monopolies, populations are more United States Information Agency It has been nearly free to develop, and act upon, their into the Department of State in own ideas in all but the most isolated October 1999, Secretary of State two years since the states. The Al-Jazirah satellite televi¬ Madeleine Albright welcomed USIA-State sion network run out of tiny Qatar in USIAs employees as “co-architects in the Persian Gulf, for example, pro¬ building a vigorous and far-sighted consolidation, vides Arab populations with interpre¬ American foreign policy, with public yet no new vision tations of news events which chal¬ diplomacy at its core; a policy that lenge local leaders and promote pop¬ will lead our nation and the world has been put ular debate. into a new era.” forward for Globalization and the prolifera¬ Nearly two years after the Foreign tion of informadon technology have Affairs Restructuring and Reform Act American also empowered non-state actors like was implemented, these claims have diplomacy non-governmental organizations and yet to be realized. The time has come corporations to play a greater role in to transform diis rhetoric into reality. foreign affairs, often encroaching on traditional government functions. A Match Made in Heaven? Effective NGO coordination to sup¬ Ever since its establishment in centered at the Department of port a global ban on landmines and 1953, USIA has used public out¬ State. to promote the International reach and cultural and educational The State Department, on the Criminal Court, and private sector programs to advance America’s val¬ other hand, knew a lot about policy involvement in the Tokyo G-8 ues and interests and foster dia¬ but understood less about interacting Summit and in the Internet logue around the world. Rut while with non-diplomatic or non-elite Corporation for Assigned Names and USIAs 46 years as an independent populations, and was having a diffi¬ Numbers, an Internet domain name agency allowed it to develop cre¬ cult time reorienting itself to face a regulatory body, are among the most ative programs, including educa¬ decentralizing world. Although the prominent examples of this transfor¬ tional exchanges, jazz tours, and art U.S. rightly criticized government mation. In this new environment, shows, its bureaucratic isolation information monopolies in many states must learn to interact with removed it from the policy process parts of die world, these monopolies other entities as equals. actually made the diplomats job sim¬ Meanwhile, the sources of Jamie E Metzl (JamieMetzl@ pler. Foreign government positions geopolitical power are also chang¬ aol.com) was the National Security were often echoed in their domestic ing. Military might and economic Council’s director for multilateral and media, and so dealing with govern¬ largesse •— attributes on which the humanitarian affairs (1997-1998) and ment officials and a relatively small State Department has traditionally the State Department’s senior coordi¬ number of local elites could have sig¬ focused — are still critical, of nator for international public infor¬ nificant reverberations throughout course. But what political scientists mation (1998-2000). He is currently a these societies. Joseph Nye and Robert Keohane visiting scholar at the Carnegie Now that the Internet and global call “soft power” — the broad- Endowment for International Peace and regional satellite television based ability to encourage other and an international affairs fellow of broadcasts transcend borders and societies to share a common vision the Council on Foreign Relations. challenge government information of the future — is becoming

JULY-AUGUST 2001/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 13 ADVERTISEMENT SPEAKING OUT marketplace connections Direct access to our major advertisers about products and increasingly central to Americas services they promote in the global position. Foreign Service Journal. In light of these global trends, the Not nearly enough has 1999 merger seemed a match made in heaven. USIA would trade its been done to bring Schools independence for greater policy rel¬ American Overseas School evance and the State Department State’s mission into the of Rome www.aosr.org would inherit badly needed new per¬ Delphian School spectives. Because USIA’s mission information age. www.delphian.org White Mountain has always recognized the impor¬ www.whitemountain.org tance of building and presenting a Calvert School credible narrative to explain our www.calvertschool.org country’s actions, its professionals Fountain Valley were well suited to help their State slowly merging into the more reactive www.fvs.edu Foxcroft colleagues adjust to the new reality. culture of dre Department of State. www.foxcroft.org In the nearly two years since reor¬ Idyllwild ganization, however, no new vision Realizing the Vision www.idyllwildarts.org has been put forward for American It is not too late to make the merg¬ Randolph Macon Academy www.rma.edu diplomacy, and not nearly enough er a success. Indeed, the anticipated GOODS & SERVICES has been done to bring States mis¬ confirmation of Charlotte Beers as Avalon Bay sion into the information age. No the new under secretary for public www.execlubdc.com long-term strategic plan has been diplomacy and public affairs will pro¬ Bukkehave adopted that would allow public vide another opportunity to realize www.bukkehave.com diplomacy experts to project future die critical goals of reorganization and Clements International www.clements.com flash points or nascent major issues reinvigorate the Department of State. Diplomatic Auto. Sales and begin the necessary proactive The new under secretary will need www.diplosales.com public diplomacy efforts to stem to take the lead in developing a coor¬ Executive Club Suites potential future crises. Although a dinated national information strategy www. execlu bdc.com Clinton administration presidential that will complement the presidents Harry Jannette International www.jannetteintl.com directive, PDD-68, ordered greater national security strategy and lay out Hirshorn Company, The interagency coordination, not global and regional public diplomacy www.hirshorn.com enough has been done to bring goals and objectives. Laughlin Management together the international informa¬ Furthermore, regional public www.century21laughlin.com Long & Foster tion programs of the various U.S. diplomacy interagency coordination www.simunek.com agencies maintaining overseas pres¬ bodies, as called for in PDD-68, must Oakwood ences. No public diplomacy frame¬ be established and empowered to www.oakwood.com work has been established for more identify die most important future State Plaza challenges and begin using public www.stateplaza.com/sp/index. systematically reaching out to NGOs htm and other non-state actors. diplomacy and other tools to build WJD Management Most importantly, little has been bridges to governments, international www.wjdpm.com done to transform the insular and institutions, and NGOs to address secretive culture of the State them. Department. Instead, the public In diese efforts, a revitalized pub¬ diplomacy professionals of the fonner lic diplomacy must promote global For more information regarding USIA are being slowly swallowed up cultural pluralism and meaningful AFSA branded products, mis¬ by a State Department culture that sharing and exchange across geo¬ sion-related programs and mem¬ rewards those immersed in current graphic, cultural, and technological bership in the American Foreign crises more than those preempting boundaries. Because foreign percep¬ Service Association, log onto future ones. Unfortunately for tions of alleged American hegemonic www.afsa.org. American diplomacy, the more proac¬ designs undermine Americas effec¬ tive culture of tire former USIA is tiveness and leadership overseas, sig-

14 FOREIGN SERVICE J OU RN AL/J V LY-AU GU ST 2001 SPEAKING OUT

nificant money and effort must go being perceived abroad as a tool for ulations could also be demonstrated into promoting international dialogue. greater American cultural dominance, by appointing State Department Enhancing global connectivity to however, the U.S. should also help the spokespeople to give weekly foreign the Internet is one of the major poorest countries and communities affairs briefings in Spanish, Chinese, human rights challenges of our gener¬ put dieir own cultural materials on and Arabic, making such briefings ation because this technology can line and facilitate the building of vir¬ highly usable (and less distortable) by empower underprivileged popula¬ tual bridges between museums, powerful regional satellite television tions to take a much more active role libraries, and other cultural institu¬ networks. Sociologists and pollsters in solving their own problems. tions around the world. Americas should do extensive analysis of how Recognizing this, the U.S. under the young people should be encouraged people around the world receive and Clinton administration made a mod¬ to share their technical expertise with process their news to help America’s est commitment at the 2000 G-8 sum¬ others in the developing world. The spokespeople communicate in ways mit to bridging the global digital Peace Corps has made important target audiences are most likely to divide. This commitment is now flag¬ strides in this direction through its hear. ging and needs to be revived. It is new information technology initia¬ In addition to presenting our clearly in our national interest to help tives. The network hardware compa¬ views in a culturally appropriate and local communities around the world ny Cisco Systems has also set up respectful manner and fostering dia¬ gain the information and access that Internet training academies in almost logue, however, the United States are necessary preconditions for a hundred countries. These types of government and partner NGOs empowerment, sustainable develop¬ public and private efforts must be must work to empower voices of ment and democratization. strongly supported. moderation around the world. To prevent this connectivity from Americas respect for foreign pop¬ Communities tend to rely on local

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JULY-AUGUST 2001/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 15 SPEAKING 0 U T PRINCETON UNIVERSITY |§> Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs Master’s Degree in Public Policy: A One-Year Program for Midcareer Professionals In Cooperation with the Department of State Forfurther information Our M.P.P. program provides rising leaders in the international The United States about State Department and domestic policy arenas an opportunity to expand their eligibility and application organizational skills and intellectual breadth to compete in an procedures, FSOs may increasingly complex global environment government and partner contact HR/CDA/SL/GDT at (202) 647-4523. Civil The John L. Weinberg Fellowship Program. Through a joint NGOs must work to Service employees may program with the Department of State, Princeton offers contact HR/CSP at approximately five fellowships each year to Foreign Service and (202) 663-2144. Civil Service employees nominated by the Department. During empower voices of the academic year, Fellows take courses alongside all other Woodrow Wilson School Woodrow Wilson School graduate students. The rigorous moderation around Master’s Degree in one-year curriculum combines courses in quantitative methods Public Policy and policy analysis with a more specialized seminar chosen from Princeton University among the School's four fields of concentration: international the world. Princeton, NJ 08544-1013 relations, international development, domestic policy, and eco¬ nomics and public policy. Most classes are small seminars taught by faculty from the politics, economics, and other departments of To learn more about the the University. The program is directed by Assistant Dean Robert program, call the Woodrcw Hutchings, a former U.S. ambassador who also teaches in the Wilson School at School's international relations curriculum. (609) 258-4836, news sources before foreign ones in send an email to Qualifications. The State Department has established eligibility most situations. While the United [email protected] criteria for FO-02s and FP-02s and for Civil Service officers at the or visit our website: GS-13 or GS-14 level. Details are available in a series of State States must not attempt to manipu¬ www.wws.princeton.edu/ Department notices or from HR/CDA/SL/CDT and HR/CSP. late the content of these local media degree/mpp.html outlets, we should work with inter¬ national NGOs, international insti¬ tutions like the World Bank, and others to support the development of reliable, independent media out¬ www.afsa.org lets across the globe, even those critical of U.S. policy. Although AFSA Home Foreign Service Journal Students How to Join Harketpla some of this is already being done, particularly by USAID and NGOs For convenient online access to Journal advertisers like the Open Society Institute, it — Go To www.afsa.org must be expanded to a much larger Click on the blue Marketplace tab on the marquee scale. A reinvigorated State Department should take the lead in these efforts. Property Management Schools Ultimately, however, what is need¬ ed is nodiing short of a complete Extended Stay Housing AFSA bookstore transformation of the State Department into a more open and accessible organization that engages Real Estate Cars & 220 Volt Appliances new and old players in international affairs while speaking tire language and utilizing dre tools of the informa¬ tion age. The merger of USIA into Financial & Tax Services Legal Services & Insurance State still provides a spark for this transformation. The State Department must now decide Kindly mention in your communication whether it will let this ember rise with advertisers that you used their link from the from the ashes and light a fire of AFSA web marketplace. badly needed change, or whether it will extinguish it as another casualty of “business as usual.” ■

16 FOREIGN SERVICE J OU RN AL/J U LV-AU GV ST 2001 Focus

VISA FOR A DREAM

iko had been foolish. Already like a Bible jamboree. At one point Kiko had almost the line stretched two blocks jumped up to shout “Hallelujah!” He never asked himself K down the street. The trip that why so many successful graduates of the course were still morning had taken longer than around to provide testimonials. he had expected. He had wait¬ As he stood in line, he practiced for tire interview, ed a half-hour for the guagua, whispering questions and answers. He was the owner of and when it had finally arrived a small shop that sold emergency electricity generators. there was not a seat left. The In the Dominican Republic, every day was an electricity vehicle had crept along, a shove and a grunt always mak¬ emergency. He needed to get to a generator expo in ing room for one more passenger. With rusted sides like Houston, where the latest models would be displayed in a broken zipper, the overstaffed bus had bounced on long, gleaming lines. He had a glossy, color invitation to down the pockmarked highway, for two hours, all the way the expo that had been addressed to him personally at the to Santo Domingo. top of his pile of papers. Just under it in the pile of papers It was 6 a.m. At 8:30 a.m. the was his visa application form. He had doors would open. It would take attached to the application a small hours to get to the shade inside. The photo of himself, where he wore tire coming heat was a rolling wave calm smile of a successful man, a headed his way as the sun slowly man of business. rose over Avenida Cesar Nicholas On tire application, he had listed Penson. He started his mantra. Iris destination as “Houston, Nueva “Positive thinking will get me a visa. York.” One of the trainers had shown Positive thinking will get me a visa.” him tire proper spelling of that great The leitmotif of the training course land, which he had always heard as he had just taken was that every per¬ “Nueva Yol.” It was one of the many son is in control of his own destiny. ways the training was going to pay This information had been a revela¬ for itself. tion for Kiko. Yes, luck played a role, Right on time, the consulate but a person who believed he would doors opened. The line surged for¬ succeed would carry that aura with ward and Kiko’s heart raced as he him, and in the end this belief frantically repeated Iris answers. But would light the way to success. KIKO KNEW IN HIS the surge ended a block from the Kiko had gladly paid the stiff fee HEART THAT HE WAS door. He took a deep breath to relax for the course. The success stories just as a truck passed by, lathering A KNIGHT IN A SHINING were so convincing. Course gradu¬ him in diesel smoke. Kiko felt the BLUE SIH OF ates had paraded into the meeting first beads of sweat on his forehead, hall, describing how the training WRENKLE-FREE ARMOR. the sunbeams already starting to had changed their attitudes and throb down. He unbuttoned his col¬ thus their lives. The training direc¬ BY DAVID SEARBY lar and loosened his thick tie, careful tors eyes shone with bright assur¬ not to undo it since he didn’t know ance; the meeting had been electric how to retie it. He forced himself

JULY-AUGUST 2001/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 17 Focus

Kiko started his mantra. “Positive thinking will get me a visa. Positive thinking will get me a visa. ”

back to his mantra, and then drifted. He thought of what An old man across the street had botdes of dark rum he would do when he got home, when he would walk into arrayed on a table, ready for those who needed a last tlie grocery where Mayra worked and casually mention to minute swig of courage. From a boom box somewhere, a her stone-faced father that he was heading for Nueva merengue pounded a frenetic beat, helping to hide the York. Her father would say that he didn’t believe him. truth diat most of the people tiiere were going absolutely Kiko would flash open his passport ever so briefly like a nowhere. Kiko wished he could move five feet over into cops badge, then slide it back into his pocket. Then he the shade, but he would lose his place. would grab a beer, pass Mayra 50 pesos, and say, “I’ll be He looked behind as the line stretched back. Ahead, back one day for my change.” And Mayra would have to men and an occasional woman all stood in line widi a wait for him. weary, chain gang droop. A busty mulatta in tight jeans “Move it!” A hand shoved him back to reality. There bounced by in two-inch heels, but only one man gave her was a gap in the line ahead and he scrambled forward. a half-hearted wolf-whisde. Suddenly, for the first time, he was close enough to get a By 11:30, Kiko was nearly to the door, a thick, rein¬ good look at the consulate. Looming ahead of him was a forced lump of steel with a bar across it. He looked at a huge, gray, windowless, cement box. Strange antennae, vendor who was pounding slices of plantain flat and then curved wires and shining white satellite dishes sprang throwing them on the sizzling pan. He looked from the from the roof. A ten-foot wall encased the compound. The pan to tire pounding sun overhead, and he prayed for massive red and white striped flag swayed sentry-like, clouds and shade, if only for a few seconds. Bzzzzzzz. He back and forth. He gazed wide-eyed at the heavily guard¬ swatted at the mosquito on his ear, then looked into the ed gateway to America. He fought off a surge of despair consulate parking lot. Inside, drums of trash and pools of by repeating his mantra with special emphasis: “Positive stagnant water lay in a haze of swarming, feasting and thinking WILL get me a visa.” mating insects, like tiny mosquito Club Meds. An hour passed as the sidewalks filled with food ven¬ A silver Mercedes pulled up next to him. He looked dors, shoeshine boys, policemen, visa-fixers, and quick¬ into the tinted black window and saw his reflection. He handed moneychangers. On die fringes of die crowd were was streaked with sweat. He began having doubts about scores of assorted souls with no money, no documents, no the “wrinkle-free” suit that the visa fixer had rented him. hope. They huddled and moved together, a bent-backed The material was hot to the touch and didn’t breathe like old man in rotting sandals next to a 12-year-old girl hold¬ normal cloth. He stripped off tire jacket, reminding him¬ ing her baby, looking toward the consulate with vague self to put it on again before he got to the window. He expectation, scorned by all, witii only the occasional pass¬ smiled into the car window so that he could see Iris new ing Haitian whom they could in turn scorn. They waited gold tooth beam back at him. Such a tooth suggested a out of the conviction diat they were in a special place, a man of means. Like the suit, the new front tooth was one crossroads of power and possibilities. Just down die street of the many major investments in the big day, tire main was die presidents private residence, the peoples hope difference being that he hoped to keep tire tooth. for a better life at home just as the consulate promised a A platinum-blond white woman in an elegant pants way out. They waited for the gates of eidier citadel to fly suit got out of a long, blue sedan, walked up to a grubby open, ready to spring or stumble in either direction, bare¬ man in a T-shirt near tire front of the line, handed him foot Dorothys off to see die elusive Wizard. some money, and took his place. She soon entered the consulate cool, confident, almost bored. Kiko was about to David Searby, an FSO since 1988, has served in Santo make it inside tire door and into the shade when a mus- Domingo, Rome and New York. Fie is currently an assis¬ tached businessman in designer glasses came up to the tant cultural affairs officer in Embassy Mexico City. guard, pressed something into Iris palm, and squeezed

18 FOREIGN SERVICE ] O U RN A L/J U LY- AU C U S T 2001 Focus

past Kiko. Kiko spent another five minutes in the sun. newspaper with tire words “Died tragically in New York,” Finally, the guard nodded him in. He lumbered inside like one of the many casualties who had taken the fast and and waited for the relief, the famous artificial cooling that easy road. Americans and rich people enjoyed. Instead, he was sur¬ As he entered the final turn to the line of vice consuls, rounded by hot, dead air. Two fans churned helplessly, like Kiko went over his story again. It was an ingenious ploy, spoons in desert sand. The walls had only a thin line of by far the best story in the visa fixers spiral binder, the cat¬ bars at the top for vents, where the mosquitoes let them¬ alogue of wished-for lives. Even the rich people hated the selves in and out, rich person style. blackouts, even the gringos. As the consul stamped the The line inside snaked back and forth toward die inter¬ visa into his passport, they would trade jokes about the viewing booths. He saw a diin, wiry woman huddled bad electricity, about the blind president who didn’t give behind a thick glass window. She, he knew, was the vice a damn if everyone else was in the dark. Kiko would give consul he had heard so much about. “Doctora No,” as she him free recommendations on the best generators. He had been dubbed by the visa fixers. She was the toughest had practiced relaxing, smiling, laughing, even what he of all. A shiver went up his spine despite the heat. He would do if he were denied a visa. Don’t get upset, he told turned the comer and said a silent prayer that he would himself. Laugh and smile. Insist pleasandy. But who could not have to plead his case before her. The line suddenly turn down a man who simply wanted to bring light to his picked up speed and he neared die fateful moment when, fellow countrymen? by luck of the draw, a guard would point him toward die Kiko swatted at a mosquito on his hand, splattering his consul who would decide his fate. invitation letter with a tiny drop of blood. A bad omen. In the preceding weeks, he had gone increasingly often Quick. Sleeve of tire jacket. A littie spit. He nervously to services at a tiny Pentecostal church, where he would rubbed away at the spot, careful not to rub too hard. After join with the others waving dieir arms in the air and a few tense moments, he was satisfied. His crown jewel singing. “Ask, and it shall be given. Knock, and the door gleamed again. He looked dreamily at tire rows and rows shall be opened.” But he had also paid a visit to the old of bright, polished machines and wished that he really parish priest from his altar boy days and to the bmja for could go and buy some to bring back home, just to show some Santena charms. Like most Dominicans raised on tiiem to Mayra. Who knows, he thought, maybe one day the national sport, he knew the value of keeping his bases the littie fairy tale he was about to tell would come true. covered. “Next.” The guard waved him on. Now was the time. In the dim light, Kiko squinted to take a final look at his He slipped his jacket on, took a deep breath, said his papers. He had the invitation to the expo in Houston, the mantra one more time, and calmly plunged into battle. deed to 10 acres of land in his home town, a tide to a 1987 His confidence soared and he almost laughed when he Chevy, a bank passbook showing 163,000 pesos in his was waved past Doctora No. He went to the last booth account, a long history of good credit, and even a photo of and turned to meet the consul, smiling. himself as the proud owner standing in front of his store. Nothing could ever have prepared him for that As in the famous merengue song “Visa for a Dream,” his moment. Ahead of him was a lean, muscular, switchblade documents were not “sincere.” But that didn’t matter, of a man with an angular face and a blonde crew cut: The because he knew in his heart that he was. He was the Baron. Kiko had learned about him from the visa fixers, essence of sincerity. His sincerity was his sword and his who had coined the name to refiect his Prussian looks and shield. He was a knight in a shining blue suit of wrinkle- polite but cool, aristocratic style. Kiko sheepishly shuffled free armor. As he neared the fine of booths, he straight¬ up to the booth, laid down his papers, and started grin¬ ened his back, knowing what he would do when he got to ning. The Baron looked him over, focusing briefly on the “Nueva York.” He would work like a dog. His mother rented polyester suit and tiien die gold tooth. Was it Kiko s would be so proud, and she would get to join the line at imagination, or did die Baron’s eyebrow curve up slighdy? the Western Union once a montii to show that she, too, Did diis man understand the high status associated with a had someone in America who cared for her. She would gold tooth and diis fine, special suit? The Baron began die never worry about him getting into the wrong sort of busi¬ questions. ness, never see a funeral announcement of her son in the “What do you do for a living?”

JULY-AUGUST 2001/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 19 Focus

The Baron reached under the bulletproof glass and His new mantra was “Forget how much money you pulled the application from the pile, scribbling “polyester owe.” The worst part had been taking his mother’s money. visa-fixers special” onto tire comments section. Kiko He could hardly meet her eyes as he left. On the way out launched into his explanation of his shop as he slid tire rest of town, he had gone two blocks in tire wrong direction to of the sweat-soaked papers through the gap. The glass steer clear of Mayras house. His shame was an abyss scraped off tire layer of dre bruja’s charm dust, which blew whose depth he had not even begun to explore. He knew directly into dre Baron's face, triggering a brief but violent he would have plenty of time to do so on the long trip east. spasm of sneezes. The Baron regained control, looked for The woman across from him was sobbing softly, hold¬ a second like he was going to chastise Kiko, and wrote ing her knees. Kiko looked away, thankful that her sobs “Jiu-Jiu dust on papers.” He continued the routine. were drowned out by the outboard. The small wooden “What is the purpose of tire trip?” boat was filled with huddled people and plastic garbage Kikos well-rehearsed story flowed. But the Baron did bags, since tire weight of real luggage would have brought not even seem to listen as he saw the expo invitation let¬ them even lower to tire water. No life preservers, because ter, stripped it from the stack of papers, and added it to a any mishaps would best be forgotten. pile of identical letters off to the side. Kiko was shocked. The engine puttered and died. The fat man steering He had assumed his was the only letter of its land in tire the outboard cursed and got up slowly with one hand on world. The Baron shoved the other papers back under the tire throttle bar. He moved the rusted, empty can of gas window — the fake car, land, and bank documents that and then reached over to put the full one in its place. He alone had cost a months wages — without looking at heaved up tire full can, started to swing it over tire empty them. He then branded tire back of Kikos passport with can, then squealed and dropped it as he fell, clutching his some initials and numbers that Kiko didn't understand. back. The full gas can fell hard on its sharp comer, punc¬ “I’m sorry, but you don’t qualify now.” turing tire rotten floor of tire boat like a knife wound, and At first, Kiko did not even hear the words because he water began pulsing in. was concentrating on his lines. But when he did, he Screams. People jumped up and shouted and the boat stopped talking in nrid-sentence, mouth open wade. started rocking. “Someone start the motor!” Kiko looked “I’m sorry, but you don’t qualify now. Next, please.” at the engine and tire maze of wires, switches, and gas The Baron nodded and looked behind Kiko to tire next lines. “We’ve got to get to shore!” In the distance, Kiko applicant. saw a large, sleek motor boat anchored off a white sand Kiko felt not a shred of willpower to fight on. All the beach and a few dots that might be people on deck. He training had flowed out of him, like water from a shattered began waving his arms and yelling. The sobbing woman vase, tire mantra already a long-forgotten echo. He fum¬ began bobbing back and forth wildly, knocking over a lady, bled to pick up his papers and staggered away. who spun violently to regain her balance, triggering a domino chain of falling bodies. The boat started to tip. Kiko sat in the rear of tire yola as it chopped As Kiko fell into the water, he stayed focused on the through the tiny waves. He was lucky. The peo¬ boat in the distance and kept on shouting. He hung onto ple at the front were tunring a pale green and tire capsized boat, but soon tire gentle waves and the peo¬ they were only a few hours into the journey. ple piling on top pushed it under. With all his might, he The boat had left early to avoid shakedowns from kicked and waved his arms in the water, keeping his head police and stayed close to tire coast to calm the nerves of above tire surface to shout at the boat again. Then he this distinctly non-seafaring bunch. The shoreline to the looked around and saw tire others flailing around him and south passed by in slow motion. Even at 8 a.nr., the sun he realized, with a dreamy, disembodied feeling, that was already air orange beacon leading to the Promised from a distance he and the others might look like fish in Land via Puerto Rico. Once again, Kiko reflected, he was a feeding frenzy. A pretty sight for people lounging on a enduring tire hot sun in order to reach America. But deck. He stopped flailing. As he went under, a thought today, with the cool ocean breeze, he would wish for no passed through his mind: how ironic it was that he had clouds to block tire smr, and only hoped that tire placid sea spent his entire life on air island and had never learned would change its mood. how to swim. ■

20 FOREIGN SERVICE ] O U RN AL/J U LY-AU G U S T 2001 Focus

MR. FUKUJI

l i® guy puts me in mind of workplace. “I would be a rich man if I allowed my wife tti Santa Claus,” the consul to take a job, but I believe a womans place is in the T generals secretary remark¬ home, preferably in the kitchen or cleaning the toilet,” ed after laying eyes on Mr. he said. Nobody liked him except, perhaps, the lovely, Fukuji for the first time. soft-spoken, genteel lady who had married him. That was an apt description Mr. Fukuji smiled and showed emotion only when he for him. Though he lacked spoke of his automobile, a dark green foreign-made a white beard, he was fat, right-hand-drive sedan that he had purchased from an had veiy pink cheeks, a prodigious belly and a bulbous English diplomat. He washed and lovingly buffed it red nose. However, no one ever said he was jolly. every Sunday. He never offered a ride to anybody, no He was a walking encyclopedia who could rattle off matter what tire weather. A female consular clerk once export and import figures with lightning speed and spew asked him if he allowed his wife to drive his pride and forth biographical data for all the joy. “Never!” he huffed vehemently. upper-echelon personnel of the “She, like all women, is too stupid to prefecture - the Japanese equiva¬ drive.” lent of a U.S. state — with which American consulate staff conducted ' is wife was not stupid, of business. Ask him how many votes a course. One evening, Dietman — a Japanese legislator — .while Mr. Fukuji was had garnered in the last election driving home after an office party and, voila! — out would pop the at which he had made himself answer. His command of English more loathsome than usual, his was masterful and his interpretation hands left the steering wheel to from Japanese to English was clutch at his chest. Gasping for exemplary. He was the assistant to breath, he slumped against the the economic and political officers door, and the sedan careened of the consulate general and con¬ from one side of the road to the stantly looked over his shoulder for other. Mrs. Fukuji, who was seat¬ any would-be usurper of that pres¬ ed in the left-hand passenger seat, tigious position. FUKUJI SABURO WAS grabbed for the steering wheel But obnoxious? He was that and CONVINCED HIS WIFE, LIKE and prevented the vehicle from more. “Pompous” and “overbear¬ crashing into a cement wall. But, ALL WOMEN, WAS UTTERLY ing” were merely two of a dozen in saving the car, she scraped its STUPID. BUT HE BADLY pejoratives said of him behind his left fender. She squeezed against back. Although he deferred to his UNDERESTIMATED HER. Mr. Fukuji and, with her right leg, superiors, he was contemptuous of kicked her husbands foot off the his fellow Japanese employees, par¬ BY FRANCES M. KNOWLES gas pedal and pressed her own ticularly the distaff side. He said foot on the brake. When the car females had no business in the came to a jerking halt, she secured

JULY-AUGUST 2001/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 21 Focus

She could think of no one in the consulate general who seemed concerned about Mr. FukujVs accident.

the hand brake and turned off the engine. She ran to f ■ "fie consulate staff dutifully wrote notes of sympa¬ the nearby police box and begged for assistance. The thy to the patient. They also contributed yen for a policeman telephoned for an ambulance. Minutes later, M floral arrangement diat was delivered to the hos¬ Mr. Fukuji was driven to a nearby hospital. pital. Mr. Fukuji was not placated. The vehicle, its keys still dangling from the ignition, ‘The consul general has visited me only once,” he com¬ was blocking the street, so the policeman told her to plained to his wife at the end of the first week of his hos¬ move it immediately. Without hesitation, she got pitalization. “And my sister has been the only other behind the wheel, started the motor and, for the first human being to step foot in this place.” time in 15 years, drove. Once she reached home, she “But the consul general has telephoned me eveiy day made arrangements with a neighbor to take care of her to inquire after you,” Mrs. Fukuji said to pacify her hus¬ two children and took a taxi to the hospital. band. ‘Tour two brothers, their wives, your brother-in-law, The consul general was notified the following morn¬ and your nieces and nephews have also called.” ing of the accident and he informed the staff. “Who “Ha! Them!” he snarled, “They’re all waiting to hear cares?” one saucy female whispered to a co-worker, that I’ve died.” He loathed Iris siblings’ spouses, especial¬ who, try as she might, could think of no one in the ly his sisters husband. office who did. Nor was he noticeably fonder of his immediate family. Mrs. Fukuji appeared to care, for she was a faithful Throughout their married fife, he had criticized every sin¬ vigilant, sitting at her husband’s bedside every day from gle meal Mrs. Fukuji had prepared for him. If the xice mid-morning until she left in the afternoon to care for wasn’t overcooked, it was underdone; or the miso soup, of their two children. which he was particularly fond, was either too thick or too “What about my car?” he mumbled when he recog¬ thin. After so many years, his aspersions still wounded her nized her. deeply, but they no longer brought her to tears. “Only minor damage,” she equivocated, recounting Then, as he settled into his chair to read after dinner the events of the fateful evening. He had no memory of each evening, Mr. Fukuji would invariably grumble, “Why it after his collapse. are your children (he never said “our children” when he “If you had any brains, you should have steered it complained of diem) making so much noise?” straight,” he griped. “Then it would have suffered no As his health improved, his wrath only increased. He damage whatsoever.” feared some co-worker might scheme for his position at “I was overwhelmed!” she answered apologetically. the office, and he was convinced that Iris wife had become “Stupid woman!” he rebuked her. a profligate, spending his money recklessly. “I am sorry.” “Are you dousing the lights when nobody is in the He didn’t ask where the car was located, so she did¬ room?” he asked. n’t confess that she had not only driven it to its resting “Of course!” place in the stall under their building, but had added ‘Tou needn’t buy meat for dinner while I’m in this several more scrapes to the dented fender while place. It’s expensive.” maneuvering it through the narrow street that led to “We’ve had none since you’ve been absent,” she reas¬ their apartment house. sured him. “Fish is better for the children anyway. Are they doing their school work properly?’ Frances Knowles accompanied her FSO spouse, Jack, to “Of course.” Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, Sapporo, Okinawa, and “And your daughter, is she practicing the piano as she Wellington. They now live in Alexandria, Va. should? Her lessons cost me dearly.”

22 FOREIGN SERVICE J OU RN AL/J U LY-AU G U ST 2001 Focus

“Every day. Immediately after school.” him circling it in the stall. He laid into her. “You told me there was only minor damage. This Finally, he was discharged from tire hospital with a fender is not only dented, it’s been scraped in several caveat from his doctor: he must not exert himself places! Why didn’t you have it repaired immediately? for the next month. Mrs. Fukujis life became a liv¬ Rust will set in and I’ll have to have the whole thing ing hell. Her neighbor, an aunt to one of the consular replaced. Do you think I’m made of money? Can’t you clerks, blabbed to her niece that Mrs. Fukuji was look¬ use your brain? Of what use was your college education ing haggard. if it didn’t train you to think logically?” “She’s at that man’s beck and call every minute. I So loud was this diatribe, several heads popped out can’t but help hearing him bellowing now that all the of the upstairs windows in the adjacent building. windows are open. And her with two children to see to. “I’m sorry,” she apologized, “but there was no time.” Fukuji-san is such an unpleasant man. If he were my Since he had never inquired how the vehicle had husband, I’d put rat poison in his rice!” found its way back to its stall from the scene of the acci¬ Mr. Fukujis younger sister, the only member of his dent, she thought it expedient to keep mum. She family he could tolerate and who, in turn, could toler¬ helped him climb the flight of stairs to their apartment. ate him, visited the patient. At the threshold he stumbled, staggered to his chair “Aha!” he greeted her, his voice heavy with sarcasm, and collapsed into it. His breathing became erratic, his “You had nothing better to do so you came to see me.” face turned gray, and he pounded his chest. Mrs. While his wife scurried about in the kitchen prepar¬ Fukuji telephoned for an ambulance. ing tea and cakes for the visitor, Mr. Fukuji bemoaned Mr. Fukuji spent four days in the hospital, his wife his situation. his only visitor. “Here I he as though dead and forgotten. I might “Look what has happened to me because you didn’t not even have the same job to go back to when I get on get the dent and scrapes repaired,” he chastised her. my feet because I’m sure some villain or other is “I’m sorry. I’ll see to it.” scheming to replace me.” “Don’t allow the body shop to rob me.” For the next hour he vented his spleen: Life was not “I won’t,” she promised. fair; his siblings had not visited him; his wife was stu¬ The next morning, she rationalized that since her pid; and his children were raucous, showing no concern husband hadn’t actually forbidden her to drive his car, for his delicate health. she would take it to the body shop herself. Two days “Now, now,” his sister mollified him, “the whole later she retrieved the vehicle, driving and parking it family worried when you had your heart attack. After without mishap. seeing how fatigued you became when I saw you in hospital, I took it upon myself to discourage them from Mrs. Fukuji brought her husband back home visiting you.” He scoffed. from the hospital in a taxi, cautioning him to His sister bade him good-bye. At the door she whis¬ climb the stairs slowly. pered to her drooping sister-in-law, a childhood friend. “Stop your nagging,” he barked. “Makiko-san, how do you put up with him? He’s my She settled him in his chair. He was in a foul mood and brother, but I can take him only in small doses.” even his children’s hearty welcome did not thaw him. “I apologize for my husband,” she said, bowing. Nothing his wife did satisfied him: His lunch was tasteless; “The heart attack, you know.” the tea was too strong; and, upon seeing the body shop’s “He should have had a tongue attack!” the feisty repair bill, he exploded. woman retorted. “It’s outrageous! And you paid it?’ “Of course. I thought it was fair.” Despite the care showered on him by his wife, “Fair? You know nothing about fairness. Those people Mr. Fukuji suffered a relapse. Although his are leeches. And you are a stupid woman,” he reproached doctor had prohibited him from over-exerting her, throwing die bill on the floor. himself, one day he descended the stairs to inspect his Mr. Fukujis incessant grumbling took its toll on all the automobile. His wife, returning from shopping, found members of his family. The children were reduced to

JULY-AUGUST 2001/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 23 Focus

speaking in whispers, their mothers admonishing “hush¬ your children how to conduct themselves around sick es” in their ears. They avoided their father who spent all people. You and they have no consideration for me.” day either lolling in his chair or napping. Noise irritated “I’m sorry,” she mumbled, “but they’re only behaving him so they were not allowed to watch television or play as children will.” the radio. One day, he slapped his son’s cheek because tire “Hah! They’re so wild! I was never wild. I sometimes boy josded his arm as he read the newspaper. Another day wonder if they are really mine!” he ranted at his daughter for practicing the piano too An infamous accusation! Mrs. Fukuji gasped. Her face loudly and she wept in her mothers arms. paled. Her eyes filled widi tears. She stifled a sob, staring Mrs. Fukuji hardly spoke a word, for whatever she said after him as he shuffled away to his bedroom. he twisted to make her appear a fool. She felt like a pris¬ The children, dressed for their outing, were told to wait oner in her own home with her husband as warden. outside on the landing. Mrs. Fukuji peeked into die bed¬ Escape seemed an impossibility. room where her husband lay on his bed fast asleep. She made one detour into the kitchen before joining diem. Several weeks later, on a chilly, rainy Sunday in June, On Tuesday, an obituary appeared in the newspaper with the windows of the apartment closed against announcing the death of Fukuji Saburo. An investigation the elements, Mrs. Fukuji asked her husband if he by the police concluded that while his family was absent would mind if she and the children went to the cinema. on Sunday afternoon, Mr. Fukuji, who had been recover¬ “Mind? What a stupid question. With all of you gone I ing from a heart attack, apparentiy had turned on die can take a restful nap for a change. Those children of kitchen stove to use it but had neglected to fully turn off yours are always tramping about. No wonder I’m not the gas jet, and subsequendy had perished by asphyxia¬ recuperating as fast as I should. You’ve neglected to teach tion. “Accidental deatii” was the verdict. ■

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24 FOREIGN SERVICE J O V RN AL/J U LY- AU GU ST 2001 Focus

THE STRANGE JOURNEY OF BECKLES WILLSON

op scientists working in a secret es: a new breed of dog was bom out of their experiment government facility sponsored by and the researchers found that almost every animal they T Microsoft had made an impor¬ sent into time came back thinner, but healthy. (When Bill tant breakthrough — or they Gates heard about the thinning animals, he envisioned a thought they had. While experi¬ new history/tourism/weight-loss industry that would menting with high-speed human make him trillions of dollars.) cloning, hoping to be able to pro¬ Finally, the scientists were ready for a test run with a duce a full-size replica of an adult living, breathing human. But since none of them was will¬ individual in a span of months rather than years, they had ing to be the guinea pig, they put their heads togedier stumbled on an even more exciting find: time travel. and came up widi a brilliant idea. Since the government Being wise people, well versed in the ways of new officially sanctioned their experimentation, they would technologies, tire scientists knew give one of die federal agencies the that the first several versions of their unprecedented chance to let one of new machine were bound to have its employees travel to die future. some unanticipated flaws. So first First, they considered the they tested the prototype with a Department of Defense, thinking robot that had been programmed to that any military man or woman obtain and bring back a newspaper would love to glimpse the weapons from the future. The robot did of the future in order to be better indeed return with scraps of a news¬ prepared for future confiicts. paper dated 10 years in the future. Unfortunately, their inquiries led Alter the researchers tweaked the them to believe that the red tape technology, the robot came back involved in such an operation would intact, but with legs where its arms be insuperable. had been and visa versa. After careful consideration, the When the robots started to scientists concluded tiiat the State return in roughly the same configu¬ Department had the most to gain ration in which they had left, the sci¬ from a trip into die future. By seeing entists moved on to hamsters, dogs DIPLOMACY GETS what the world would be like in the and monkeys. In the process, they TRICKY WHEN YOU future, and by learning what had learned some interesting things. For already happened, they would have CAN VISIT THE FUTURE example, dogs were too easily dis¬ an unparalleled advantage in dealing tracted, often fouling up the experi¬ AND CHANGE widi situations in the present. So, ment by chasing tilings at inoppor¬ THE PAST. after winding through a great deal of tune moments. But none of the bureaucracy, tiiey obtained permis¬ creatures suffered any noticeable ill BY KRISTEN J. HESLINK sion to use a Foreign Service officer effects from the time travel. There as their first time traveler. States were also a couple of happy bonus¬ lawyers went over the language in

JULY-AUGUST 2001/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 25 Focus

the agency’s charter in great detail and determined that in the future, the young staff assistant was instructed to the clause in FSOs’ lining agreements that required them send a request for an appointment to the future secretary to be “worldwide available” gave the State Department of State through the time machine, so things would be the authority to demand that an FSO be available to trav¬ ready for him when he arrived in 30 years. Everyone el to the future. After a great deal of argument, the assumed that the State Department would still be func¬ department decided to send a young staff assistant from tioning in the same manner. Still, no one knew how to the Secretary of States own office, ft was, of course, well track or approve an item for a future Secretary of State, so staffed, so coverage in his absence wouldn’t be a difficul¬ this caused consternation. In addition, Beckles still had to ty. And while the Foreign Service was, in general, short of get everyone to sign off on the memo and at every step in staff and in need of every person, junior officers, the the clearance process, each official wanted to put in his or newest hires, were fairly expendable. Not too much had her two cents by adding issues for Beckles to raise during been spent on their training yet, and there were always his meeting. After three weeks of this process, Beckles thousands of eager people anxious to take the test and finally had an acceptable one-page memo with (our pages become FSOs. of clearances. This went forward — more literally than The seventh floor habitues also decided that they usual. would deny the designated time traveler any overtime pay, Four days later Beckles’ memo came back from the danger pay or per diem. The scientists had assured them future stamped “approved.” The only change was that that if all went as planned, the officer would return the Beckles would have to be satisfied with a meeting with the same day well before close of business and would never under secretary for management, who said he had a spe¬ set foot outside Washington. Grudgingly, the seventh floor cial message for die creators of the time machine. powers did agree that comp time was possible, if the With great anticipation, the intrepid staff assistant junior officer could prove that he or she had spent at least found himself being escorted, blindfolded, to die secret two hours in the future. laboratory. At last, the blindfold was taken away and he The selection panel settled on a second-tour officer found himself face to face with ... an elevator. named Becldes Willson. The 27-year-old FSO was a mild- “We’re just up from here a few floors. We find the mannered looking chap, with gray eyes and light brown machine works best on higher floors,” explained his com¬ hair. He was of average height and weight, and in excel¬ panion, a pleasant and professional looking woman in a lab lent health. Furthermore, he had a very easy-going per¬ coat named Dr. Hough. They stepped on die elevator and sonality. He never complained or sought compensation rode it to die 12th door. There Dr. Hough’s fellow when he had to work late or come in on weekends. But he researchers, Drs. Hastie and Johnson, met them. also had a taste for adventure. An Anglophile, he had been “Ah, Beckles, such a pleasure to meet you!” Dr. assigned to London for his first Foreign Service tour, but Johnson exclaimed. “Such an honor for you to be the first had leapt at the opportunity to transfer to Sarajevo after man in the future!” He paused, “Well, of course diere are only a year. He had then volunteered for three short-term people diere already, you know, but you’ll still be first, assignments that merited danger pay before returning to because you’re going diere now and they won’t be there Washington. As an added bonus, he had degrees in histo¬ till then. You understand,” he finished, somewhat uncon¬ ry and physics. But the clincher was that Beckles was sin¬ vincingly. Beckles got the feeling that Johnson wasn’t gle and had no close living relatives who might sue if quite sure he believed his own words. But then he redect- tilings went wrong. ed that since he had received an assignment and was in order not to waste the limited time he would have going to have to travel in time whether he liked it or not, maybe he didn’t really want to get to know the scientists’ Kristen Heslink, an FSO since 1998, has served in Blinking any better. He suspected he wouldn’t find it a Budapest and as a staff assistant in the Bureau of comfort. European Affairs. She is currently studying at the “Yes, well, jolly good,” he said. “Let’s get on with tins, Foreign Service Institute in preparation for her assign¬ shall we? What do I do here?” (Beckles’ speech patterns ment to Chisinau. had been permanently affected by his time in London.) “All we need you to do is to sit here in this special chair.

26 FOREIGN SERVICE J O U RN AL/J V LY- AU CU ST 2001 Focus

We will attach these electrodes here and here, and give ice-cold slushie) as a tiny starburst danced in front of his you this pill.” Dr. Hastie was attaching wires to other wires eyes. Shaking his head, he looked around and found him¬ on die back of the chair, which he then plugged into a big self in the familiar setting of the C Street lobby of the wall socket. He then began adjusting die straps around State Department building. The decor was surprisingly Beckles s ankles and wrists diat would anchor him to the (or perhaps not so surprisingly) unchanged from that chair. He was tightening the leather around die time trav¬ Beckles had known in the past, with its festive row of flags elers left wrist when Beckles interrupted. of all nations. He tentatively approached the receptionist’s “Excuse me. I thought you initially tested this on desk, and cleared his throat. The guard, an imposing mil¬ robots — how does the pill figure in?” itary type with a severe buzz cut and exceptionally well- “Actually, that’s just a vitamin. Better safe than sorry,” defined muscles, looked up. Dr. Hastie explained. “Hello, I’m Beckles Willson, and I have an appoint¬ “Oh. How does this tiling work? What are the long¬ ment with Under Secretary Smith.” term effects?” “May I see some ID, sir?” asked the guard. Beckles “I’m afraid it’s much too complicated for anyone to handed over his State Department identification. understand who isn’t a specialist in quantum mechanics “I’m afraid this has expired, sir.” and astrophysics. Suffice it to say that in about a minute, “Ah, yes, well, you see, I’m actually here from 2001, I’ll push this button and you’ll be instantly transported to and as you can see, it’s valid then.” die year 2031. If our calculations are correct, you should Beckles spoke a little nervously, because he was wor¬ land in the C Street lobby of the Harry S. Truman ried that he would be immediately escorted to a loony bin. Building, where we assume your meeting will take place. But then he realized that if he was able to come from And if you would do us a favor, please notice how you feel 2001, time travel was most likely commonplace in 2031. during and after transport. Tell us whether you have ini¬ “Of course, sir,” said the guard. “I’ll call tire under sec¬ tial difficulty breathing or seeing or any such thing. Oh, retary’s office and let them know you’re here.” and you may experience some weight loss.” Moments later, an energetic gentleman arrived to “Fantastic,” said Buckles. “ I could stand to lose half a escort Beckles to Iris meeting. As they rode up in the ele¬ stone - I’ve had a few too many of those English fried vator, Beckles’ companion filled him in on the major his¬ breakfasts, you know!” torical events of the past 30 years. “All right, then, this is it!” Dr. Hough said with author¬ ‘We haven’t had a real war since your time, just some ity." On tiie count of thre-e-e-e. One ... two ...” peacekeeping missions here and there. In 2005, Saddam “Wait,” yelled Beckles, panicking. “How do I get Hussein was poisoned. It seems someone got wind of his back?” penchant for contraband sausage and slipped something “Oh, that’s simple!” Dr. Hastie said. He chuckled. “You into one. Now Iraq is one of our closest allies. China was just click your heels together three times and say, ‘There’s troublesome into the teens, but then they underwent a no place like home.’ ” peaceful revolution and became a democracy. You served “You have got to be kidding me!” Beckles relapsed into in Sarajevo, so you know there is never a dull moment in purely American speech. tire Balkans, but there hasn’t been any ethnic violence “We’re quite serious,” Dr. Johnson snapped. anywhere in the region in more than 10 years. We had a ‘Well, we did decide on that because we found it bit of a mess in 2007 when our president, as an April droll,” Dr. Hough elaborated. “But the mechanism is Fool’s joke, applied for U.S. membership in the EU, but voice-activated, so the heel-clicking is optional; just say we got that all worked out. the phrase and you’ll return instantly. But all right, now, “Really, tire world is nice and peaceful right now. But, enough talk. Let’s try this again. One... two... three... go!” of course, that could all change in five minutes. That’s one Beckles had a sensation similar to the one he had expe¬ of the things Under Secretary Smith wants to talk to you rienced when riding a roller coaster poised right before its about.” descent. First he felt a slight jarring in his knees as his feet When they entered the under secretary’s office, hit tiie ground. He wobbled a bit, suffering a brief but Beckles saw a distinguished but frazzled looking gentle¬ intense headache (like the feeling of sucking too fast at an man with gray hair and a moustache. He was sitting at an

JULY-AUGUST 2001/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 27 Focus

ornate desk, reading a stack of papers. When he heard elections changed every day. There’s no regulation. Beckles enter, he stood up and offered his hand. After Every time Congress manages to pass a law, someone introductions were made, Beckles conveyed die greetings goes back and thwarts them. And don’t get me started of Secretary of State Colin Powell. Then the under secre¬ on Palestine! Any of these disputes going back cen¬ tary launched into an impassioned speech. turies offer perfect chances for history buffs to go med¬ “Beckles! A pleasure to meet you. Actually, I know you dle. quite well, but as your older self. You’re currently serving “So I want you to go back and tell those three scien¬ as ambassador to Quebec, but until a few months ago tists to smash their machine and never say a word to you worked right down the hall. Will you get a kick out anyone about it. Secretary of State Tsao and President of knowing that YOU — the older you that is — were Martinez agree with me. I have notes from them in this here! But I guess you —• he — would remember that folder. Of course, by the time you get back, they may anyway — or would you? Oh dear, tiris sort of thing is not have been elected, but Hastie, Johnson and Hough exactly why I need to send a message to those clowns will never know that. Now, get going and stop those sci¬ who started this time travel nonsense! entists! The world as you know it depends upon it!” “But I’m getting ahead of myself. I understand you Beckles gulped, nodded, and took the folder. With come directly from Drs. Hastie, Johnson, and Hough. I one last look around, he solemnly clicked his heels have a little document I want to send back with you for together three times and said the magic woi'ds. Smith them, but first I’d like to give you a brief overview of immediately disappeared and die three scientists were our position on time travel. In a nutshell, we hate it. It before him again. Beckles silendy handed them the has made working — living, really — a nightmare. The folder from Smith. As they excitedly began to read it, current political situation is always changing because he detached the wires and electrodes from himself and some fanatic goes back and changes history. And it has scanned the room for a tool. He grabbed a sledgeham¬ made bureaucratic gridlock worse than ever. People mer and smashed the chair that was the main part of are always skipping meetings, knowing that they can the time machine. just hop in a time machine and go back and attend “What are you doing?” the scientists cried. them later if they have to. Deadlines are completely “It’s a matter of national security,” he explained. ignored because people figure they can always go back “Where are the plans for this thing? I must destroy and do their work earlier. And it’s impossible to track them before you destroy the world!” paper — we often have 12 versions of the same thing “Hmmm. Interesting. The trip seems to have affect¬ surfacing, all of them signed by different people — ed his cognitive abilities,” Dr. Johnson speculated. sometimes by the same person. It’s awfully confusing “It did not affect my brain!” Beckles angrily retort¬ and has almost caused hostilities on a couple of occa¬ ed. “Have you three considered the real ramifications sions when the wrong versions of messages got out to of time travel? You have reduced life to an interactive other countries. Oh, how I miss the old days when we game with alternative endings and far too many play¬ thought memo formats were a problem!” ers. Finality and responsibility have vanished.” He As a staff assistant, Beckles felt simultaneously hor¬ dropped down on his knees. “Please, I’m begging you.” rified and gleeful at the mention of formatting woes, The scientists looked at each other and shrugged. because he had dealt with so many of them himself. “What will Bill say?” mused Dr. Johnson. “He was so But his training in history gave him a keen appreciation excited.” of the horrors Smith described. Imagine a world where “Just tell him it didn’t work on humans. He’ll never it would be potentially fruitful to second-guess oneself! know,” Beckles stated firmly. The array of neuroses that opened up! He shuddered. “Well, you are persuasive. Tell you what,” Dr. Hastie Smith continued, oblivious to all but his oration. “No suggested. “You write us a memo and we’ll think about one cares about doing anything now. They’re all too it.” busy time traveling to study the past or to find out what “Some things never change,” Beckles groaned. happens in the future. We went through a five-year Then, he thought about that, and brightened. “And I period where the outcome of the 2000 presidential think that’s wonderful!” ■

28 FOREIGN SERVICE J O U RN A L/J U LY-AU CV S T 2 001 Focus

THE BONE COLLECTOR

ater, communicator Greg Lance against them by Americans and their foreign policy. remembered that he had been The attack had killed 12 of Greg’s colleagues and L sealing classified pouches in the more than 200 Kenyan civilians. The initial bang had embassy vault when he was come from a hand grenade tossed by the attackers as startled by a small explosion fol¬ they drove a truck full of explosives toward the access lowed by the crack-crack of gate to the underground garage. The terrorists’ strat¬ gunfire. He had been sure it egy was to tail the mail car that made a daily run into was another robbery. He the compound through the gate, then enter the remembers stroking his charcoal beard before going garage and detonate the device. Apparently frustrat¬ to see from the garage opening which Nairobi bank ed at being thwarted by the local security guards, the was getting hit. terrorists threw the grenade, hoping to kill the guards The vault where classified material was stored was and open the gate themselves. When they realized secured behind a five-inch thick that the tenacious Kenyans had metal door located in the subter¬ stymied them, with time running ranean parking garage of the out, they’d panicked, setting the embassy building. After negotiating truck bomb off some distance his lanky frame through the vault from the embassy building. The door, Greg shuffled up the garage glancing blow killed employees entrance ramp 10 feet away, craning inside and outside the embassy, his neck and adjusting his glasses for but the majority of casualties a better view of the firelight amidst were inflicted upon the Kenyans the seedling humanity just outside crowding the street beside the the embassy perimeter. embassy building. This is all Greg now remembers When he regained conscious¬ of what followed: A mammoth ness, Greg was slumped like a explosion hurled him cart-wheel¬ contortionist against the orange ing into something hard. Later he diplomatic bags, his right arm theorized that he was blown back crushed awkwardly behind him, tiirough the vault door into the his legs splayed, his shirt vapor¬ only “soft” items the vault held, AN ACT OF ized by the heat of the blast. He classified diplomatic pouches TERRORISM ACTUALLY moaned instinctively for help, but piled against a rear wall. He knew knew it was in vain; he’d learned MAKES ONE FSO FEEL if he had hit the wall instead of the that silence follows horror. Greg MORE AT HOME IN pouches, he’d be dead. felt a dull ache in his stomach and Later Greg learned details KENYA THAN EVER. lifted his left hand across his body about the explosion. It had been to feel the area. The sticky ooze an attack carried out by a clandes¬ BY JAMES ANGELL welling from his belly told him he tine terrorist group bent on was in serious trouble. He knew revenge for perceived slights then he’d have to save himself.

JULY-AUGUST 2001/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 29 Focus

When he regained consciousness, Greg was slumped like a contortionist against the orange diplomatic bags.

Greg rolled onto his left side. His right ann flopped When the overwhelmed doctors finally got to him, they lifelessly beside him. The pain was excruciating in his bandaged his stomach, which they told him had been upper arm and gut. He pulled himself to his knees, punctured by shrapnel, and set his fractured humerus. then propped his wavering body on his good left arm. Later that night he was loaded onto a C-141 for the He had lost his glasses in the explosion and there was 18-hour flight back to Andrews Air Force Base. From thick dust billowing all around him, so he could only there, it was a short trip by ambulance to Walter Reed make out a vague rectangle of light coming through the Medical Center, where he spent the next month having vault door. Shuffling in the direction of the light, Greg metal plates affixed to his upper right arm and bits of immediately tripped over bomb debris. He steadied shrapnel plucked from his gut. Two months of R&R himself against the doorjamb, then lurched into the followed in Yazoo City, Miss., where he spent time carnage. recuperating with his parents, his ex-wife and his two Greg hobbled to the garage entrance and toward daughters. Greg was one of the lucky ones. daylight through chunks of concrete. His left hand stanched the flow of blood from his abdomen. The Physically sound for the most part, Greg arrived seepage was steady, so he staggered beside the obliter¬ back in Nairobi three months later. He started ated building to where the embassy’s front entrance work again, this time in a temporary embassy and Marine post were located. The short journey was building next to the bucolic expanse of Nairobi National an obstacle course through hell: an incinerated city bus Park. His first weekend back in Kenya, Greg did some¬ filled with dead lay blackened on the side street bor¬ thing he had never done in the two years he had been at dering the perimeter, while hundreds of corpses lit¬ the embassy. He drove his ’86 Chevy pickup alone into tered the area around it. Greg came around what used the Rift Valley. He found the drive from Nairobi over to be the comer of the embassy building and saw an the forested hump of Kikuyu lands and down the cactus information management colleague emerge from what tree-covered escarpment to the parched bottom of the was left of the front entrance. The colleague was guid¬ Rift cleared his mind and gave him perspective, so he ing the wounded through an apocalyptic debris field, made a habit of it. Each weekend after that, Greg loading them into an embassy van, one of the few that donned his black fishing hat and explored the dirt roads the blast had not damaged. She helped Greg to the van of the valley, with Little Richard, Elvis, Fats Domino before he passed out again during the high-speed ride and other greats blaring from the pickups speakers, to the central hospital. sending giraffes, zebras, gazelles and baboons scamper¬ When he woke, Greg was lying on a gurney in a ing for cover in a trail of billowing rock and roll. The crowded hospital corridor next to wounded and dying bones of animals were everywhere, especially along dry people. There was blood everywhere, even smeared on creek beds. But they were never complete. Greg would walls and floors. The acrid smell of burned flesh filled always stop and look for the odd animal bone. Often he the air. Greg doesn’t recall how he ended up in the hos¬ found impala, eland, gazelle and topi skulls with the pital hallway, but remembers being glad to be off the horns still attached. Most of the time, though, it was floor and somewhat removed from the dirge of pain. scattered leg, spine and rib bones he’d toss into his pick¬ up. He would then take these remnants of beings back James Angell, a diplomatic courier since 1993, has to Nairobi with him. served in Washington, Bangkok and Frankfurt. This On one journey he had halted amidst thick acacia summer he will transfer to the Bangkok regional diplo¬ under the bulk of volcanic Mount Lorgunono to matic courier office. observe a family group of elephant cows and calves

30 FOREIGN SERVICE J O V RN AL/J U LY • AU GU ST 2001 Focus

Greg let out a whoop before he hefted the lion ?s skull into his pickup.

feeding, when a slender, barefooted Masai draped in white skull with tufts of tawny mane still attached to it. red cloth emerged from the bush. The Masai, who Its teeth were set in an eternal growl. Elvis was filling grasped three long, thin staffs, introduced himself as the silence with “All Shook Up” as Greg leapt from the Adam. Adam noticed the collection of bones in the pickup and circled the grimacing beast. Adam shouted pickup and offered to show Greg where more com¬ that Greg could take it if he wanted, because a territo¬ plete skeletons might be found, including a lion’s car¬ rial rival had killed it and animal bones were only pro¬ cass. tected in the parks. Greg let out a whoop before heft¬ Greg figured that Adam’s ulterior motive was to get ing the lion’s skull into the back of the pickup with the a ride back to his village, but it turned out that he had¬ rest of his collection. Adam pointed out a few of the n’t been lying about the lion. After they’d bounced and lord of the jungle s leg bones scattered deeper in the scraped the bottom of the pickup for a half hour, head¬ bush. He blamed hyenas for the dismemberment. ing down rocky tracks bordered by contorted cacti, Greg sought out each bone and tossed it into the back Greg was beginning to have doubts about his new¬ of the pickup, where they joined his prized skull. Adam found friend. Then, he saw beside the road a dull, Continued on page 34

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JULY-AUGUST 2001/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 31 INACTION

A Man, A Plan, A Canal

John Bennett was charge and then DCM at the U.S. Embassy in Panama as the time approached for the 1999 withdrawal of U. S. forces from that country and the final handover of the canal, under U.S.-Panamanian treaty. Over the opposition of the U.S. ambassador and Gen Barry McCaffrey (head of Southern Command), Bennett effectively argued that the U.S. should comply with its treaty obligations and not try to renegotiate them. He is shown here (center) with Panamanian Vice President Tomas Altamirano Duque; that’s Gen. McCaffrey in the background. He received the Christian Herter Award June 28.

CLO in the Know

The M. Juanita Guess Award for an outstanding community liaison officer goes to Jeanne H. Weaver, the CLO coordinator in Sofia. Among her many accomplish¬ ments over the past two years has been strengthening the orientation for new arrivals. Here she is creat¬ ing a collage map of Bulgaria showing places to visit.

Putting Nairobi Back Together

When a terrorist’s bomb exploded at Embassy Nairobi Aug. 7, 1998, Charles Slater was essential to getting the embassy up and running again. A financial ma nage¬ ment specialist, Slater worked day and night to allocate emergen cy space for Showing Her Talent embassy personnel, and made sure that surviving Rosalie Kahn, the office manager of the executive office of family members and injured Embassy Santiago, is a woman of many talents. In addition to employees — both U.S. citi¬ being an unflappable professional and a published poet, she has been called “the heart and soul’’ of her post. Case in point: zens and FSNs — got fair Last year, she organized a talent show — the “event of the and prompt compensation for their terrible losses. Slater received the Tex Harris Award for a year” — to assist an FSN family in need. Kalm cajoled the DCM to emcee and 20 other staffers to perform. Here’s Kahn, Foreign Service specialist. The photograph shows Slater with his second from right, showing her stuff. She received the Delavan son Forbes in Kenya at the family’s first reunion after the bombing. Award for outstanding office management specialist.

32 FOREIGN SERVICE j O V RN AL/J U LY- A U G V S T 2001 American Foreign Service Association • July-August 2001

LIFETIME CONTRIBUTIONS TO AMERICAN DIPLOMACY This Issue in Brief. NEWS BRIEFS: Lee H. Hamilton T^NSFERALLOWANCE, Former U.S. Representative Lee H. Hamilton has AND MORE 2,3 been selected to receive AFSA’s award for Lifetime AFSA PRODS STATE TO REFORM 3 Contributions to American Diplomacy. CHALLENGE TO USAID’S SMG 4 Hamilton was slated to receive the award at AFSA’s LOYALTY 4 award ceremony June 28 at noon in the Benjamin AMPUFYING THE RETIREE VOICE 5 Franklin Diplomatic Reception Room at the AFSA AWARD WINNERS 6-10 Department of State. All of this year’s AFSA awards CHRISTIAN A HERTER AWARD 6 were to be presented at the ceremony. (See the inter¬ WltUAM R. RIVKIN AWARD 6 W. AVERELi HARRIMAN AWARD 7 view with Hamilton in the June Foreign Service Journal TEX HARRIS AWARD _ 7 Coverage of other award winners begins on page 6 AVIS BOHIEN AWARD 8 DEtAVAN AWARD 8 This year’s AFSA Award for of AFSA News.) M. JUANITA GUESS AWARD 9 Lee Hamilton is being recognized for his many years AFSA ACHIEVEMENT AWARD 10 Lifetime Contributions to AFSA AWARD RUNNERS-UP 10 of distinguished service in Congress on foreign poli¬ WHATS ON OUR MINDS? 10 American Diplomacy goes cy issues, his continued contributions to foreign affairs CHARGING WINDMILLS 11 as the director of the Woodrow Wilson International to Lee Hamilton, for his Center for Scholars, and his lifetime support for the SCHOLARSHIP AWARD WINNERS 12,13 lifetime support for the work work of the Foreign Service. Hamilton, a Democrat from Indiana, served for 34 years in the House, where of the Foreign Service and he gained a reputation as one of the party’s most THE FOREIGN SERVICE NAME his contributions to foreign thoughtful leaders in the realm of foreign policy. Hamilton also served on two commissions which Powell Responds to affairs during his many recently released reports on reforming the State AFSA Inquiries years in Congress. Department, one chaired by former diplomat and Secretary of Defense Frank Carlucd and the other by AFSA wrote to Secretary Powell on former Senators Gary Hart and Warren Rudman. □ April 4 to request that the name of “The Foreign Service Star,” an award similar to the military’s purple heart for col¬ leagues killed or wounded overseas, not be changed to “The Thomas Jefferson Star.” AFSA argued the new name would not indi¬ cate the “foreign service” nature ofthe honor. The secretary responded in a May 31 letter, noting that the new name was “in no way intended to downplay the hazardous and onerous service faced by those assigned to our Missions abroad.” Even so, the secre¬ tary accepted AFSA’s suggestion that the

Continued on page 5 Director General Davis Sworn In REMINDER: Call for Tales of Courage AFSA welcomes Ambassador Ruth A. Davis, AFSA has invited Foreign Service employees to submit tales of courage. The sworn in on June 1 as the director general of the stories can be of active courage or of the quiet courage of representing Foreign Service and director of human resources. America's interests day in and day out under hardship Ambassador Davis is a 32-year veteran of the circumstances. Don’t be modest We’re interested in Foreign Service. Her recent assignments included all kinds of stories (1990 to today) that illustrate how unique life in the Foreign Service is. director of the Foreign Service Institute (1997-2001), AFSA is planning to publish selected essays in an ambassador to the Republic of Benin (1992-1995), updated version of the book “Inside a U.S. Embassy; and consul general in Barcelona (1987-1991). We How the Foreign Service Works for America,” and look forward to working with her in the coming may also publish selected essays in the Foreign Service Journal. months and years. We seek 600- to 800-word essays. Those selected for publication will be subject to editing. Deadline for submissions is Sept. 1 (extended front Aug. 1). Please send questions and essays to AFSA News editor Shawn Dorman by e- Foreign Affairs Day and mail (preferably) to [email protected] or by mail to Shawn at AFSA, Foreign Service Journal, 2101 E St., N.W., Washington, DC 20037. Legislative Action As you know, the State Department has creat¬ Justice in Embassy Bombing Cases ed a new Foreign Affairs Day, replacing the for¬ AFSA commends the U.S. government team that obtained the convictions of four terrorists who mer Foreign Service Day, to be held Sept. 10. took part in the bombing of the U.S. embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam on Aug. 7,1998. Secretary Powell has expressed the hope that Those bombings claimed the lives of 53 U.S. government employees, contractors and family mem¬ Foreign Service and Civil Service retirees will bers, killed 171 local civilians, and wounded over 4,600 people. AFSA urges Congress to approve the administration’s pending request for $1.3 billion for overseas security. AFSA President Marshall attend and initiate a real dialogue between all Adair said, “Everyone recognizes it is impossible to provide 100 percent protection for our diplo¬ State retirees and the department on issues of matic personnel abroad However, the U.S. government has a responsibility to protect these people concern. If you are interested in attending, you as well as possible, beginning with dedicating sufficient resources to the effort” may call Peter Whaley at 202-663-2383, Lois You Can’t Take it with You Bozilov at 663-3600, or send an e-mail to With the summer transfer season upon us, AFSA urges employees leaving post to earmark the pro¬ [email protected]. ceeds from the sale of automobiles and other property to the AFSA Scholarship Fund or the Fund for AFSA will host an open house at AFSA head¬ American Diplomacy. Both organizations are non-profits and all donations are tax deductible. quarters for all Foreign Affairs Day participants, Regulation 22CFR136 states that profits made from the disposition of personal property abroad must be contributed to a charitable organization. The Scholarship Fund provides merit awards and and plans to offer additional briefings and need-based scholarships to Foreign Service dependents. The AFSA Awards Program, the annual arrange for retirees to visit congressional offices. National High School Essay contest, and Elderhostel programs are just a few examples of the activities AFSA will host a working dinner with AFSA offered under the Fund for American Diplomacy. President John Naland and Legislative Affairs Contributions payable to the AFSA Scholarship Fund or the Fund for American Diplomacy can be Director Ken Nakamura for all members plan¬ sent to AFSA 2101 E Street NW, Washington, DC 20037. The Scholarship Fund’s Federal ID tax number is 23-7045244 and the Fund for American Diplomacy’s number is 52-6078372. ning to go to Capitol Hill the following day.

AFSA News Editor Shawn Dorman Governing Board: Staff. Executive Director Susan Reardon President John K. Naland H (202)3384045 x 503; Business Department State Vice President Louise K. Crane £S [email protected] Controller Kalpna Srimal USAID Vice President Joe Pastic Accounting Assistant Thomasina Johnson Labor Management o Internet Addresses; r FCS Vice President Peter G. Frederick General Counsel: Sharon Papp www.afsa.org (AFSA Web site) FAS Vice President Edwin Porter Labor Management Attorney: Zlatana Badrich S [email protected] (Association) Labor Management Specialist James Yorke Retiree Vice President Robert W. Farrand USAID Labor Management Specialist Douglas Broome ^ [email protected] (President) Secretary: FA “Tex” Harris Grievance Attorneys: Harry Sizer, Tracy Smith ,2 [email protected] (FSJ) Law Clerk: Neera Parikh Treasurer: Thomas D. Boyatt [email protected] (AFSA News) Office Manager Christine Warren State Representatives: John P. Boulanger, George W. Colvin, Member Services Director Janet Hedrick AFSA Headquarters; Lisa S. Kierans, Hugh M. Neighbour Representative: Vacant (202)3384045 FAX: (202) 338-6820 Lynn G. Sever, Hollis S. Summers Administrative Assistant Ana Lopez USAID Representative: Richard Delaney Outreach Programs State Department Office; Retiree Liaison: Ward Thompson FCS Representative: James Joy (202)647-8160 FAX: (202) 647-0265 Director of Communications: Thomas Switzer Retiree Representatives: William C Harrop, David E. Congressional Affairs Director Ken Nakamura Executive Assistant Marc Goldberg USAID Office; Reuther, Richard C. Scissors, Theodore S. Wilkinson, III Scholarship Administrator Lori Dec (202) 712-1941 FAX: (202) 216-3710 Corporate Relations: Tema Razavi

2 AFSA NEWS • JULY-AUGUST 2001 STATE ■ BY LOUISE CRANE AFSA Prods State to Reform Check Out the JO Forum on AFSA Web Site Since returning from overseas I have come to an even Apologies to anyone who might have tried greater appreciation of AFSA’s role. Last fall, I was to enter the JO discussion forum on AFSA’s assigned to the Office of the Historian in the Bureau Web site following our May announcement of Public Affairs. The office was in the process of updating in AFSA News. Because of technical difficul¬ the history of the department, last published in 1981. I was ties, the launch of the forum was delayed. It tasked to write the profile of the Foreign Service at century’s is now up and running in the members-only end, to contrast with one of the Foreign Service in 1900. I “corridors” forum, located at did some research and found that in 2000, the Foreign Service www.afea.org/discussionforum.html. You was indeed far more diverse than it had been in 1900. But can also get there by clicking on any of the what I found astonishing was that for the first 75 years of the 20th century, the Foreign Discussion Forum hotlinks. Sign on by entering the e-mail address that Service did not change much at all. In 1975 it was still over 90 percent white and male, you gave to AFSA when you joined and your just as it had been in 1900. Change only really began in 1976. last name in lower case. AFSA is currently 1976 was the year that FSO Allison Palmer filed a class action suit which addressed working on making entry easier. the issue of sex discrimination in the department. Palmer had originally filed a com¬ plaint with the Foreign Service Grievance AFSA Earning its Keep Board, charging she had been denied assign¬ There is stiff resistance to AFSA tried for 16 months to convince ments and thus promotions based on her State management to raise the miscellaneous gender. After waiting five years for a res¬ change within the department expense portion of the Foreign Transfer olution, she took her complaint to court. Allowance/Home Service Transfer and there is an equally strong Allowance, which had not been raised since The court case took a full two decades to 1983. There has finally been progress. A settle. tendency to guard the status recent cable (State 087814) outlines increases What I learned from this project is that in the allowance, effective May 20. Foreign quo. AFSA is the prod that the greatest changes have not come from Service employees who are transferring will within the department, but have been now receive an additional $150 (singles) or deters the department from $300 (families) to cover expenses. Those imposed from without. It was the courts amounts, by the way, exceed what most that found that despite the 1964 Civil Rights maintaining the status quo. members pay in annual AFSA dues. Act and the 1972 Equal Employment Opportunity Act, there was a persistent pattern of racial and sex discrimination in assign¬ Long-Term Counseling Position ments, awards and promotions. My conclusion is that there is stiff resistance to change Back in March of 1999, AFSA proposed to within the department and there is an equally strong tendency to guard the status quo. management the creation of a special counsel¬ However, the status quo neither serves the interests of the employees nor does it pro¬ ing position in Fluman Resources/Career pel the department into new ways of management. AFSA is the prod that deters the Development and Assignments. The goal was department from maintaining the status quo. to hire someone who could provide a longer- AFSA has proven itself again and again as not just an organization which protects term approach to career counseling. During its members’ interests, but which also enhances the Foreign Service. AFSA has been the subsequent 21 months, AFSA faithfully contacted State about every six weeks to the instigator of many changes in the way the department manages the Foreign Service. check on the status of the effort The endless In January, the change in administrations coincided with the emergence of a broad steps needed to create and fill a new position consensus that the way State handles recruitment, assignments, management, pro¬ were completed on May 21 with the hiring of motions, whatever, is broken. The new administration came in with a reputation for a qualified employee. AFSA looks forward to good management and a mandate for change. AFSA can make significant contri¬ the implementation of the new program. butions to repairing a system that does not expect leaders to lead, does not provide enough training and all too often ignores talent. TSP Open Season AFSA is playing a role in educating the new administration about the Foreign Service. It’s not too late to change your contributions It is not the Civil Service. It is legally different. Recruitment is different, tenure is dif¬ to the Thrift Savings Ran. Open season runs through July 31. The new contribution limit ferent, assignments are different. To lump the two services together ignores reality. is 11 percent of your salary. GototheTSPWeb My goal during my tenure as AFSA’s State vice president is to build on the accom¬ site at www.tsp.gov for more information or to plishments of my predecessor, John Naland. He has done extraordinary service on reallocate future contributions online. Or, call behalf of all State Foreign Service employees, and we are all fortunate to have him as the ThriftUne at (504) 255B777. the new AFSA president. □

JULY-AUGUST 2001 • AFSA NEWS 3 EYE ON GRIEVANCES USAID ■ BY JOE PAST1C Loyalty Challenges to USAID’s Senior My thanks to those who voted for me. I promise to proactively represent the USAID Foreign Service. Management Best wishes to my predecessor Frank Miller, who fought long and hard for us. Congratulations to our new Group administrator, Andrew Natsios, who inspired the theme of ■ BY DOUGLAS P. BROOME, AFSA this message—loyalty. I agree with his emphasis on a “shared SENIOR LABOR MANAGEMENT ADVISOR vision.” A shared vision will foster mutual respect and trust, No foreign affairs agency except which in turn will build loyalty that will encourage the agency USAID has a formally struc¬ and its employees to invest more in each other. tured dual assignments system for At the May 2 employees meeting, the administrator said that his long-sought goal senior officers that systemically divides an was to return to and remain at USAID. This is a clear sign of loyalty. He has already “out-group” from a priestly caste “in¬ recognized the hard work and loyalty of many in the agency. He touched on many group.” USAID’s Senior Management issues of vital concern to the cadre of development professionals. We shall continue Group, or SMG, is a select grouping of as a unique agency. We shall simplify our management systems. We shall affirm a overseas and Washington leadership shared vision. There shall be no intra-agency parochialism. He has asked for our par¬ positions. The SMG functions secretively, ticipation. This is a great beginning. selecting some FS-01 and Senior Foreign I believe that a shared vision of the agency’s role in international development, U.S. Service (SFS) officers into its ranks foreign policy, and program implementation will foster a working environment of while excluding many, creating an offi¬ mutual respect and trust. We will be better able to fit our professional goals to the cially favored cadre in USAID’s upper goals of the agency. It will facili¬ ranks. The negative impact on career tate workforce planning, guide advancement prospects and assignments development of lifetime career We will all gain more by showing for those denied SMG entry has impelled training, and help recruitment and our loyalty towards a strong a number of unhappy employees to retention, which are important complain to the Foreign Service aspects of career development. development agency and a strong Grievance Board. In a 1996 order the FSGB concluded Mutual respect and trust will fos¬ Foreign Service within the agency. ter loyalty. that “the Senior Management Group is The agency with loyal employ¬ the repository of most of the meaning¬ ees can devote more resources on career development and individual training Employees ful SFS positions. For officers ... who in the loyal agency should tailor their careers to match the needs of “their” agency. have not been entered upon its rolls, this Loyalty creates an upward spiral; everyone wins. arcane system presents an opaque, while I would like to suggest some concrete ways that management can address the staffing not impenetrable, barrier.” The board and workload problems while at the same time demonstrating loyalty to its Foreign ruled in a 1997 decision that “the two- Service. First, offset the huge attrition we are now facing (about 100 Foreign Service tiered system of senior assignments ... vacancies in spite of aggressive New Entry Program, or NEP, recruitment) and reduce essentially rendered the employee non¬ the crushing workload caused by understaffing by calling on retired officers to fill appro¬ competitive.” That resulted, the FSGB priate vacancies. Be flexible in granting extensions of time-in-class until new recruits found, in “the agency’s failure to recog¬ can take over. Implement locality pay to encourage officers with an approaching retire¬ nize the employee’s career development ment to serve overseas. Implement tuition loan repayment programs to help recruit needs and its responsibilities to address and retain junior officers. them.” There are actions we can investigate over the longer term. We can rejuvenate work¬ A November 2000 Journal article by force planning and career development. Those now doing workforce planning are John Rosenberg described the SMG tra¬ as overworked as the rest of us. We should give them some help, bring in more ideas, vails of his wife, USAID FSO Helene combine it with career development, and incorporate both into the shared vision. Kaufman. She had challenged the oper¬ There is much AFSA can do, and more we can consider. To be most effective, we ation of the SMG, arguing it was used as need to put concrete proposals on the table for USAID management. Please come a means of denying her equal opportuni¬ forward with ideas. I will call on you to help organize working groups. We wifi all ty to compete for promotion and to avoid gain more by showing our loyalty towards a strong development agency and a strong premature mandatory retirement. The Foreign Service within the agency. □ Continued on page 14

4 AFSA NEWS • JULY-AUGUST 2001 FS Name • Continued from page 1 RETIREE ■ BY ROBERT W. “BILL” FARRAND award instead be called “The Thomas Jefferson Star for Foreign Service.” Amplifying the Retiree Voice In recent months, AFSA has expressed concern about what looked like a campaign In this my first communication with the retired Foreign to strike the words Foreign Service from the Service community, I want to convey warm thanks to department’s lexicon. AFSA disagreed with Ambassador Bill De Pree, who worked tirelessly and effec¬ the renaming of the Foreign Service tively over recent years advancing the specific interests of retirees Lounge to the Employee Services Center. and of the Foreign Service in general. During Bill’s tenure as Other recent concerns have been the retiree vice president, he was ever alert to the need to rouse replacement of “Foreign Service officer” our community to support measures that would enhance the sendee and to oppose those that would harm it. His vision and leadership on how the department might revamp its work¬ The secretary accepted AFSA’s force planning was a signal achievement that resulted in real change. I will try my suggestion that the award instead level best to fill the large shoes Bill De Pree leaves behind. My first order ofbusiness will be to acquaint myself thoroughly with initiatives already be called “The Thomas Jefferson set in place with a view to coaxing them to successful conclusion. At the same time, I Star for Foreign Service.” welcome your thoughts and ideas relevant to representing retiree interests in Washington’s ever-shifting arena Large issues come immediately to mind, over which I know the retired community will be with “International Affairs officer” in offi¬ Retired Foreign Service members come ready to exert its considerable cial documents, changing the name of influence. Some of these Foreign Service Day to Foreign Affairs Day, from all over America, but we are not — issues are: the selection of and the decision by management to rene¬ qualified persons to serve as as retired members — always represented gotiate the 1983 agreement which protects chiefs of mission abroad, overseas Foreign Service jobs for Foreign in every congressional district. I will be the strengthening of the for¬ Service officers. AFSA called on depart¬ eign affairs budget and the aggressive in seeking ways to amplify our ment management to either halt the cam¬ recruitment and retention of paign or forthrightly explain to the Foreign scattered voices to benefit the Foreign top candidates for the service. Service where it is leading. Initially, however, my ener¬ Service, retired and active. On May 11, a coalition of nine organi¬ gies will go to bread-and-but- zations concerned with the future of U.S. ter issues that affect all of us diplomacy sent Secretary Powell a letter in retirement. For example, the question of eliminating restrictions on the earnings of expressing concern, noting that “aban¬ part-time intermittent or temporary (PIT, including When Actually Employed, or WAE) doning the State Department’s best known employees deserves close attention. The same holds true for a host of other dollars- ‘brand name’ runs counter to your efforts and-cents matters currently in various stages of discussion and negotiation. to use the brand concept to strengthen the As a member of the AFSA Governing Board, 1 will have plenty of opportunities constituency for U.S. diplomacy.” to weigh in on all such questions, large and small. I seek your input and your will¬ During a May 31 meeting, Under ingness, occasionally, to give of your time when important controversies are on the Secretary for Management Grant Green table. In this connection, I frilly intend to pursue a suggestion put in my head by Bill told AFSA leadership that the department De Pree to reconstitute die standing committee of retired members that served so well was continuing to examine the other in the past in an advisory and stimulative role. About this, more later. Foreign Service name issues raised by Having recendy returned from 38 months in Bosnia and Herzegovina, I had occa¬ AFSA and others. On June 5, Secretary sion to observe at close quarters the highly professional performance of American diplo¬ Powell sent a letter to AFSA in which he mats and military personnel deployed as part of the civil-military peace operation. It said that “there is no effort to minimize will be no news to most of you that the contingent of U.S. soldiers attracted a steady the role or the importance of the Foreign stream of congressional delegations and visits by ranking administration officials, far Service.” He went on to say, “I appreci¬ more than did the civilian outposts. The reason, of course, is simple: soldiers come from ate your endorsement of reform at the every congressional district in America. State Department. It is needed and it is I’ve learned that while we retired Foreign Service members come from all over coming.” AFSA appreciates the reas¬ America, we are not — as retired members — always represented in every congres¬ surances from the secretary and looks for¬ sional district. That said, John Naland and I will be aggressive in seeking ways to ampli¬ ward to future cooperation. □ fy our scattered voices to benefit the Foreign Service, retired and active. □

JULY-AUGUST 2001 • AFSA NEWS 5 Christian A. Herter Award William R. Rivkin Award FOR A SENIOR-LEVEL FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICER FOR A MID-LEVEL FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICER Ambassador John E. Bennett Edward J. Kulakowski John Bennett, the current consul general in Karachi, was Ed Kulakowski is currently public affairs officer in Bishkek, nominated for his courageous and principled dissent while Kyrgyzstan. During three years in Bishkek, he has also serving in 1995-96 as charge and then DCM at Embassy served as the de facto senior reporting officer in the politi¬ Panama. During his posting to Panama City, the time for with¬ cal/economic section, as acting deputy chief of mission, and as drawal of the U.S. military presence in Panama was drawing near. charge during a critical period. The ambassador and DCM in According to the terms of the 1977 Panama Canal Treaty, owner¬ Bishkek rely on him to bring fresh perspective, wise counsel, ship of the canal would pass from the U.S. to Panama in 1999. and constructive criticism to every issue. At the urging of then Southern Kulakowski’s intellectual courage and integrity were put to Command CINC Gen. Barry the test repeatedly throughout the past year when Kyrgyzstan, McCaffrey, the U.S. government began once touted as the “island of democracy” in Central Asia, suf¬ to consider post-1999 military bases in fered serious backsliding on civil and political rights. Panama. Bennett urged that the U.S. Throughout this turbulent period, Kulakowski provided not change the script His messages to objective and insightful analysis of the deteriorating situation Washington confronting independent voices in Kyrgyzstan, never losing described how sight of core U.S. objectives and never missing an opportunity U.S. interests to advance those objectives. would not be No embassy discussion of political developments or the served by going way forward for U.S. policy was complete without against the spirit Kulakowski, and indeed, those discussions were never held of the treaty. without liim. He has been praised by embassy leadership for The department providing constructive criticism when he disagreed with the did not ambassador, DCM, or with Washington’s guidance. He pro¬ respond. vided criticism in a straightforward manner, never grand- Anew standing. His views won out repeatedly due to the logic and ambassador soundness of his positions. arrived in 1995 Kulakowski’s extraordinary leadership saw the embassy with a strong through one of its most difficult periods, when in August view that the 2000, on his first day acting as charge, four American rock- U.S. should climbers who had been kidnapped by armed militants, were Ambassador Bennett, in his current position as keep troops in released. With no precedent and a primarily junior staff, he consul general in Karachi, handing out prize books Panama flawlessly managed the process of receiving the Americans and beyond the to the top scholars at the Karachi Grammar School. getting them safely home. 1999 deadline. His career has come full circle since he joined USIA in Bennett tried to talk him out of this position, arguing that the ini¬ 1978 as an exhibit guide in Central Asia. After 10 years at the tiative would fail. The ambassador was not swayed, and instead, Voice of America in considered the dissenting view to be a challenge to his authority. Washington, Kulakowski Eventually, Bennett was pushed to curtail, returning to a depart¬ served in Yerevan and Moscow. ment that considered him persona non grata. He will return to Moscow this Just as Bennett predicted, the initiative to retain a U.S. mili¬ summer as the cultural affairs tary presence in Panama failed. Bennett paid a price for going officer. against the common wisdom, and it took several years for him to get his career back on track. He was blacklisted for two suc¬ Kulakowski with Mamadjan cessive bidding cycles, then spent two years at the U.S. Army Akhmedov, the Imam-Khatib of Peacekeeping Institute in Carlisle, Pa hi 1998, he was able to Jalal-Abad Mosque in Kyrgyzstan. return to senior-level work as political adviser to the command¬ ing general of one of three military formations of NATO’s Stabilization Force in Bosnia, a hardship unaccompanied post¬ ing. He is now serving as consul general in Karachi. Bennett was bom in Atlin, British Columbia, Canada and spent his formative years in the Yukon territory, Alaska, California, and Japan. He graduated from Harvard College and served in the U.S. Army from 1965 through 1969. He joined the Foreign Service in 1971, and his postings have included Madrid, Bremen, Guadalajara, and Lagos. In Kampala, he served as DCM during Uganda’s civil war. From 1991 to 1994, he was ambassador to Equatorial Guinea. He is married to the former Barbara (Nidde) W. Nichols, and has two sons, Ian and Seth. He has received numerous honors, including three Superior Honor Awards, and the military’s Superior Civilian Service Award.

6 AFSA NEWS • JULY-AUGUST 2001 The Tex Harris Award FOR A FOREIGN SERVICE SPECIALIST The W. Averell Harriman Charles Slater Charles Slater was completing Award consultations at the Paris FOR A FOREIGN SERVICE JUNIOR OFFICER Financial Management Center on his way to his assign¬ ment as senior financial manage¬ Craig Hall ment officer in Nairobi when the Indonesia’s relations with East Timor and its policies in terrorist bomb exploded at Indonesian West Timor are two of the most sensitive Embassy Nairobi on Aug. 7,1998. issues in U.S.-Indonesia relations. As a first tour junior At the same time, a bomb explod¬ officer, Craig Hall effectively challenged the common wis¬ ed at Embassy Dar es Salaam, dom on Timor with the embassy front office, the State badly injuring Slater’s wife Lizzie, who was assigned there. Under Department, and colleagues at the United Nations Security these circumstances, he traveled immediately to Nairobi to begin Council. Hall’s honesty, energy, and leadership enabled him what was to be round-the-clock work on dealing with the after- to do what is rarely math of the bombing there. done from the field, Slater’s first assignment was to develop a space plan within the and even more rarely USAID building, which had to become the home for die whole done by a first tour chancery, including about 200 employees. Slater worked through junior officer: single- the night to draft a plan. Because of Slater’s force of will and sense handedly influence of fairness, the plan was implemented before final approval was and change U.S. policy possible, and was never questioned. Employees immediately had on a high-profile issue. a space from which to work, and a starting point from which to When Hall arrived rebuild in Jakarta in January Next, Slater was tasked with drafting a complex compensation 2000, he was tasked plan for the families of the deceased. Slater believed the employ¬ with backing up the ees had not just died during work hours, but died because they embassy’s “Mr. East worked for the United States. He determined compensation Timor,” Gary Gray. owed, but also added annual tuition payments for dependents When Gray was posted under 18 and removed the cap on funeral expenses. He sent his to Dili to open the U.S. representative office there in July, funding request to Wasliington. The receiving office balked at the Hall became the embassy’s East Timor action officer. He high number, asking that was also tasked to cover the serious problem of the East the payment be put off Timorese internally displaced persons, or IDPs, in until the next fiscal year. Indonesian West Timor. Gray told us he had never seen Slater strongly and success¬ anyone put into such a demanding position immediately out fully urged that the funding of A-100 class, and said Hall “responded as if he had been in be approved immediately, the service for years.” ultimately enabling more Hall went to West Timor to assess the situation there. expeditious help to the During his visit, pro-Indonesia militias blocked the roads out families while saving the of the city. Fearful local residents evacuated the city by boat. department from the nega¬ Hall analyzed the situation, then authored a cable calling tive publicity that would attention to the unrest in West Timor and clearly calling for have resulted from a delay. foreign humanitarian workers to withdraw. The advice went Slater used whatever unheeded. Shortly thereafter, three foreign United Nations pressure was necessary to staff were murdered by a mob there. Both before and after get the resources Embassy the tragic murders, Hall worked closely with the U.N. Nairobi needed, without Transitional Administration in East Timor to find solutions regard to any career to the IDP problem. advancement price he might pay later as a result of ruffled feathers Hall is not an ostentatious “dissident.” Yet, in his own in Washington. He was aggressive, direct, and guided by two key way he pushed the embassy to reevaluate assumptions about interests: obtaining the resources needed to get the embassy back Timor in the very best spirit of constructive dissent. on its feet, and making sure the U.S. government did the right Hall was bom and raised in Merrit Island, Fla. He has a thing for the people who had lost their loved ones. Before the B.A. in philosophy and religion from Palm Beach Adantic year was over, Slater had brought in $45 million dollars for such College, and a Ph.D. in religious studies from Baylor purposes. And, he not only got the money, but made sure it was University in Waco, Texas. Hall and his wife Meeryung have allocated properly. a daughter, Ana, who is five. He joined the Foreign Service Slater has been awarded two Superior Honor Awards, tiiree in 1999. His first post was Jakarta, and he is currendy in Meritorious Honor Awards, and a Meritorious Service Increase. training for a transfer to the consulate in Surabaya. While serving in the Office of the Inspector General, he met his wife Lizzie during an inspection of the U.S. mission in Zimbabwe, where she was posted. They have one son, Forbes Allan. The family is now serving at Embassy Port Louis, in Mauritius.

JULY-AUGUST 2001 • AFSA NEWS 7 Delavan Award FOR A FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICE MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST Rosalie B. Kahn Rosalie Kahn has been described as the “heart and soul” of Embassy Santiago. She single-handedly lifted morale to new heights and helped build a stronger embassy com¬ munity. Whether dealing with high-level Chilean government contacts, presidential chiefs of staff or secretaries, irate visa applicants, VIP visitors or members of the motor pool, she is thoughtful, helpful, and always responsive. In Santiago, Kahn works in the high-stress environment of a very busy executive office, managing a highly demanding work¬ load. She’s not shy about bringing issues to the attention of the ambassador, deputy chief of mission, or any other responsible officer in the embassy when she sees a need for action. She’s often the inspiration for creative remedies. In just one example, when she sensed that the administrative procedures for han¬ dling representational events at the ambassador’s residence needed improvement, she initiated and led the effort to reshape the guidelines for events there. Kahn is a consummate professional who values a job well FOR A FOREIGN SERVICE FAMILY MEMBER done as highly as the personal relationships that build embassies into communities. She has organized bake sales to help the Carmen Gonzalez-Goldberg Marines raise money for the Marine Ball. She put together an embassy talent show — on her own time — to raise money for It is not every day that a Foreign Service family member gives the family of a Foreign Service National in need. This event, to a local community the way Carmen Gonzalez-Goldberg during which Chileans and Americans joined in song and has. A psychologist by profession, she has volunteered virtu¬ laughter, brought the embassy closer together titan it had been ally full-time at the Nicaraguan National Psychiatric Hospital, in years, and won praise as the best embassy event of the year. donating nearly 2000 hours during the past year in Managua. Kahn personifies what the Delavan Award seeks to recog- She began working in the hospital soon after arriving with her - effectiveness, professionalism and high morale. She is husband in January 2000. also an accomplished author. While in Chile, she has published The mentally ill in Nicaragua’s psychiatric hospitals are usu¬ two books of poetry. One, entitled My Golden Butterfly, is dedi¬ ally cut off from relatives and given few meaningful activities. cated to her adopted son who passed away at age two and a Through her work at the hospital, Gonzalez-Goldberg has half. Her general approach to life is upbeat: “Whatever you do made a difference in the lives of thousands of people — hospi¬ in life, don’t be afraid to express and share the God-given tal patients and their families. She instituted numerous activi¬ uniqueness that is strictly ties, including special Sunday meals to break the monotony, a reading comer, birthday celebrations, a talent show, and fundraising to build a basketball court, all the while providing the more traditional treatments to hospital patients. She humbly notes, “Although my job includes the psychotherapy given to the outpatients and the psychological aspects of help¬ ing those interned in the hospital, I like to organize special events and activities for all of the chronic patients as well.” Gonzalez-Goldberg has been particularly effective in draw¬ ing others into the lives of the patients. She has found people to teach creative dance, clowning, and a weekly relaxation tech¬ nique class. She brought in local musicians. She found local university students to teach soccer, and then organized a soccer tournament. Her contributions send a message of compassion, demon¬ strating concern for some of the most marginalized people in Nicaragua. Whenever an American serves as a catalyst for good works, American interests are served. If ever there was such a catalyst, it is Carmen Gonzalez-Goldberg. Gonzalez-Goldberg has accompanied her husband, Robert, to postings throughout Latin America and in Washington since 1979 when he joined the Foreign Service. They have two daughters, Romy Natalia and Adriana Isabel. Gonzalez- Goldberg has a degree in history from the Catholic University of Asuncion, Paraguay, and a degree in psychology from the Catholic University in Montevideo, Uruguay.

8 AFSA NEWS • JULY-AUGUST 2001 Scholarship Essay M. Juanita Best Essay Guess ■ BY KATHERINE BRILL Award FOR A COMMUNITY The Conflict

UAISON OFFICER As the daughter of a diplomat, Jeanne H. I have often been uprooted and transplanted in foreign soil. Weaver While living in Calcutta, I walked home from church every To truly appreciate Jeanne Weaver’s contribution as CLO coordinator, one must first understand the physical layout Sunday with my father so we of the U.S. mission in Sofia. The CLO is located on the could stop and watch snake Ambassador and 14th floor of a dilapidated office building across town from all charmers. During my three Mrs. Kenneth Brill with other parts of the mission except the health unit. Her office years on the island of Cyprus, I daughter Katherine and son cannot connect to the mission’s computer system, effectively Christopher, in front of the precluding timely communications with other parts of the mis¬ passed through the bullet-rid¬ Ambassador’s residence in sion and with Washington. While this could severely hamper dled walls of a U.N. buffer zone Nicosia, Cyprus, in 1999. the CLO’s key outreach function, Weaver has regarded these to attend art classes in Old and other obstacles as challenges to be creatively overcome. Nicosia. However, of all my experiences abroad, the one that Weaver has proven herself as a community builder. During her first year as CLO, she aggressively expanded CLO programs left the most lasting impression on me involved my own coun¬ and used innovative means to bring in difficult-to-reach parts try. Living in Cyprus during the NATO air strikes on Kosovo, of the community. She completely redesigned the embassy’s I felt the need to defend America’s actions even as I wondered whether my country’s conduct was justifiable. Caught between the distress of my Serbian peers and support for my country’s efforts to halt bloodshed in Kosovo, I gained a new apprecia¬ tion for the complexities of international relations and a desire to learn how to remedy such conflicts. As an American attending a school with a high percentage of Serbian students, I became a symbol of oppression for many of my fellow students. Having always thought of America as the “land of the free and home of the brave," I was disturbed to learn my Serbian classmates viewed my country as a self- appointed global police force using its influence in NATO and Weaver checking out handmade textiles for an art exhibition to be held at the ambassador’s residence. large arsenal to meddle in their country’s affairs. From read¬ ing stories in the International Herald Tribune about the geno¬ moribund orientation and sponsorship program, which has cide of Albanians in Kosovo and failed efforts to reach a polit¬ helped make the transition to post easier for new arrivals. She rewrote and reissued publications — such as the ical settlement with Milosevic, I initially accepted the NATO “Entertainment Guide” and the “Self-Guided Walking Tours” air strikes against Kosovo as a calculated effort to stop Milosevic’s — that serve as valued references for both new arrivals and ethnic cleansing, not considering whether America and its more seasoned Sofia residents. NATO allies had the authority to attempt to remedy a prob¬ Not content with improving services to the American com¬ munity, Weaver reached out to the mission’s Foreign Service lem created by hundreds of years of ethnic strife. Watching a Nationals as well It was her idea to include FSNs and their boy stumble into my English class late, bleary eyed and exhaust¬ families in annual holiday parties held at the ambassador’s resi¬ ed from talking to his grandmother throughout the night to dence, which served to break down barriers and create a sense make sure she had survived the latest round of NATO air strikes, of inclusiveness. Weaver tells us that in her 26 years as a Foreign Service fam¬ I knew I could not justify my country’s actions to my class¬ ily member, “as a wife, mother, artist, embassy activist, teacher, mates. I began to wonder whether I could justify them to myself. board member, scout leader, and CLO, I became who I am Even as I sympathized with my classmates’ distress, 1 was today—a person who has lived in seven countries, met hun¬ confronted with the raw anger of Serbians and Serbian sym¬ dreds of wonderful people, and developed into someone who pathizers when they protested outside the embassy compound knows why CLOs count and what they can do to enhance the quality of life in a mission community.” where I lived. The mobs that daily hurled rocks and vegeta¬ Jeanne Weaver and her husband have raised their four chil¬ bles at our home and burned the American flag included girls dren in Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Continued on page 11 Hungary and Bulgaria.

JULY-AUGUST 2001 • AFSA NEWS 9 FAS ■ BY EDWIN PORTER AFSA Achievement Award: Janice Elmore What’s on Our Minds? Janice Elmore worked tirelessly for AFSA members in Port au Prince during the n a recent informal member survey, I asked Foreign I last year. She met regularly with post Agricultural Service AFSA members what’s on their minds. management to discuss issues of vital interest Not surprisingly, the top concerns are economic. to employees at post. After each of those Specifically, members are dissatisfied with locality pay (or the meetings, she reported back to her members lack thereof while overseas), spousal employment opportu¬ on what had been discussed and what follow¬ nities (lacking) and capital gains taxes (unfortunately, all too up action had been agreed to. She frequently real). forwarded member concerns and comments to AFSA Washington. This input from the field Without a doubt, your top concern is the pay reduction, helped to shape AFSA’s stands on important now nearly 10 percent and expected to rise, that comes with Foreign Service-wide issues. an overseas assignment. AFSA has done the math and is working hard to correct this Active and concerned about the state of situation. Hopefully, Congress will approve virtual locality pay this year. Under vir¬ State, she told us, ‘Throughout my career I tual locality pay, an officer retiring from overseas will receive the same benefits as if have been proud to belong to an organization he/she were retiring from FAS/Washington. To its credit, top FAS management fully that has played such a historic role in supports this concept for its officers. However, virtual pay is only a virtual solution American policy. I began to notice, however, that we were quickly becoming the poor coun¬ to a growing problem. If we wish to recruit and maintain high-quality personnel, we try cousins. Other U.S. agencies take much cannot cut their overseas pay, especially when spouses often suffer a complete income better care of their people overseas. It is up to loss for months, if not longer. During my last overseas tour, all my U.S. private sec¬ us to reverse the trend and to put pressure on tor colleagues received a pay increase — not a decrease — to move. those who can make the changes.” You also expressed concern about capital gains taxes. This is another issue which Elmore entered the Foreign Service in AFSA is working hard to correct, but it is 1980. She’s a political officer who has not yet certain when this assignment penal¬ focussed on law enforcement issues, including police development and narcotics. She has ty will be removed. Again, congressional Without a doubt, your top served in Santo Domingo, Tegucigalpa, San action is required. In the meantime, upon Salvador, Lima, La Paz, Sarajevo and Port au completion of their assignments, officers concern is the pay reduction, Prince. She has been AFSA representative at renting out their homes must either now nearly 10 percent and several posts. □ move back in for at least two years or pay potentially significant capital gains taxes. expected to rise, that comes Outside economic issues, quality of life AFSA Awards Runners-Up with an overseas assignment. concerns are paramount to you. Chief Christian A. Herter Award Michael Lemmon, among these concerns are: Ambassador, Embassy Yerevan • families vs. singles: the impact of life William R. Rivkin Award choices on assignments; Marc Norman, • travel benefits: one trip per year for educational purposes and one per tour (exclud¬ Political Officer, Embassy Warsaw ing R&R posts) are insufficient, especially for families. W. Averell Harriman Award Some officers feel that “family-friendly” issues may be unfairly tilting the more desir¬ Jose Santacana, Vice Consul, Embassy San Salvador able assignments to married couples and in particular, to those with children. Assignment Tex Harris Award policy is covered in our contract (Article 27) and family status is noted under assign¬ Phil A. Whitney, ment policy considerations. I believe it is time we openly discuss this issue. As for Regional Security Officer, travel from posts with no official R&R, several members noted that unlike our pri¬ Embassy Phnom Penh vate sector colleagues, unless we pay, at post we stay. This can be particularly hard Avis Bohlen Award Bonnie Miller, for a spouse who may have sacrificed a career to move. spouse of Ambassador Tom Miller, It was not surprising that no respondents rated Partnership Council issues high Embassy Sarajevo on their list. The agency’s council has been dormant since the change in adminis¬ Delavan Award tration and apparently can remain so as far as FAS AFSA members are concerned. Susan Harville, Office Management Specialist, I will assume my FAS AFSA VP duties full time in July. One of my early goals is Embassy Berlin to improve communications between AFSA and its members. I look forward to dis¬ M. Juanita Guess Award cussing in greater detail the concerns you raised. In the meantime, I will try to remem¬ Regina M. Fitzsimmons, ber, in the words of Benjamin Disraeli, “To be conscious that you are ignorant is a Community Liaison Officer, great step to knowledge.” □ Embassy New Delhi □

10 AFSA NEWS • JULY-AUGUST 2001 FCSM BY PETER FREDERICK Best Essay • Continued from page 9 I played with on the school basketball Charging Windmills team and even people my parents had invited to dinner at our home. Upon This issue of the AFSA News marks the beginning of the returning from a soccer game one term for a new AFSA Governing Board. It is remark¬ Saturday, my family found that hundreds able that two years ago I was the newest and least knowl¬ of people blocked the gate into the com¬ edgeable of all AFSA vice presidents. Now after two years of pound. Retreating to a nearby hard work, endless training sessions and great briefings from McDonald’s, I prayed that chanting pro¬ the AFSA staff, I am the senior VP. The fact that all the other testers who had stopped to buy cheese¬ VPs in the class of ’99 retired or were elected to higher office burgers would not recognize my father has nothing to do with my elevated status. Such is life in the as an embassy official. My sympathy for Foreign Service. the Serbians waned as I pondered if it was As I look forward to the next two years, I feel a bit like Don Quixote seeking guid¬ this kind of belligerent attitude that ance from Sancho as to which challenge to face first. FSOs, FSNs and their domes¬ caused the division between Serbs and tic office colleagues need to continue working together to develop a clearer under¬ Albanians in Kosovo. Yet each tomato standing of each other’s activities and problems. Integration efforts to bring the U.S. pulp I later scraped off my driveway and Foreign Commercial Services together to date have had some success but spawned reminded me how complicated the sit¬ many problems. There must be a better way. The level of friction evident between uation was. I knew that it was fear for the Office of Foreign Service Human Resources, or OFSHR, and the officers it is sup¬ their homeland and loved ones that had posed to serve is disturbing. Neither caused the Serbians to throw these veg¬ The level of friction evident group is without some fault. Officers etables over my garden wall, but also voice their frustrations at certain knew that the Albanians in Kosovo expe¬ between the Office of Foreign Service OFSHR actions, which only serves to rienced similar anxieties. Only upon elevate the level of friction more. We Human Resources and the officers returning to America did I fully under¬ need to develop a less abrasive rela¬ stand why the Serbians harbored such it is supposed to serve is tionship. animosity against NATO and America. FCS has accepted a challenging and disturbing. We need to develop Talking to a Serbian from Kosovo, I dis¬ rewarding mission. Our officers are covered that most Serbians did not sup¬ a less abrasive relationship. among the brightest and best of USG port Milosevic and his policies, but knew employees. Why do we have morale they were powerless to advocate change problems? Officers comment on the as long as he maintained control of the absence of a clear career path, a professional development plan, and realistic career police and army. They also knew that counseling. We need to develop an entrance and exit strategy, to help new officers get outside pressure would not influence off to a good start and provide sound counseling to officers as they reach the end of Milosevic and therefore saw the air strikes their careers. There are communications problems. Headquarters and field person¬ as punishment for actions they did not nel seem to talk past each other when discussing benefits, allowances and regulations. condone and could not stop. Family issues are a growing concern. We need more counseling, mentoring and effec¬ Growing up outside the United tive personnel management. While both headquarters and the field have recognized States challenged me to look at inter¬ and addressed the situation, there is little comfort that the dialogue will lead to some¬ national issues and my country’s role thing of value. in the world from a variety of per¬ FCS alumni are the forgotten few. When a FCS officer retires, Commerce passes spectives — not just those of an his or her “packet” to State, which administers the retirement program. FCS loses con¬ American. My experiences as a “for¬ tact with this potentially valuable resource for ideas, temporary duty assistance, train¬ eigner” taught me not to simplify issues, ers and mentors. State focuses, rightly, on its own retirees, not the newcomers from especially conflicts between people, but Commerce, who were never members of anyone’s A-100 course! instead to examine them and try to find The next two years will be interesting. Management may determine that none of ways to solve them. By majoring in the above issues are negotiable, which may very well be true. However, all of the above international relations and focusing on need to be addressed and discussed. The past two years have been spent negotiating the history behind many of the ongo¬ with management over actions taken that were in our view outside the accepted pol¬ ing conflicts worldwide, I hope to work icy and precepts. I am hopeful that with our new team the need to act as a watchdog to resolve such conflicts. □ will diminish and the opportunities to work together to strengthen the service will increase. □

JULY-AUGUST 2001-AFSA NEWS 11 The American Foreign Service Association and the Associates of the American Foreign Service Worldwide are pleased to announce 2001 the winners of the 2001 Academic and Art Merit Competition. This program is open to Foreign Service high school seniors for their academic and artistic accomplishments. The local winners were pre¬ AFSA/AAFSW sented their awards at a reception May 10. The 60 students who applied for Academic Merit Awards were judged on their grade point averages, SAT scores, essays, letters of rec¬ Academic and Art ommendation, and extracurricular activities. There are 16 Academic Merit Award winners and 7 Academic Honorable Mention winners. Each of the 10 applicants for Art Merit Awards submitted an entry in Merit Award Winners one of the following categories: visual arts, musical arts, drama, dance or creative writing. Jessica Sammis won the Art Merit award for her cello

KATHERINE BRIll - daughter of Mary CLAIRE CONLY - daughter of Shanti FRANCES COWHIG daughter of MATTHEW CRANE son of Nancy and Kenneth (State) Brill; graduate (USAID) and Jonathan (USAID) Jessie and David (State) Cowhig; and Charies (USAID) Crane; graduate of Walt Whitman High School, Conly; graduate of National graduate of the International School, of American Community School, Bethesda, Md.; commended National Cathedral School, Washington, D.C; Beijing; officer in Model United Amman, Jordan; student council Merit Scholar; member of school’s National Merit Scholar, Advanced Nations; National Merit Semi-Finalist; president; 2001 class valedictorian; chapter of Amnesty International; Placement Scholar, editor-in-chief of drummer in a jazz band; four-year participant in Model United Nations; AFfVVAAFSW Best Essay winner, literary magazine, Half-in-Eamest, member of a community service percussionist in school jazz band; had an art exhibition at Glen Echo member of crew team; enjoys piano, club; attending Brown University enjoys working with church youth Park in Maryland; attending Rice scuba diving, and photography; majoring in public policy. group; attending Case Western University in Houston. attending Yale University. Reserve in Cleveland.

MARI ELENA IVORY - daughter of EMILY KIM-daughter of Beth AARON MIRACLE - son of Betty and KELLEY PASTIC - daughter of Carol Misuzu and Hugh (USIA, retired) Cypser (USAID) and Andrew Kim Charlie (AIT Taipei) Miracle; graduate and Joseph (USAID) Pastiq graduate Ivory; graduate of St Johns College (USAID); graduate of Oakton High of Taipei American School, Taiwan; of Chantilly High School, Chantilly, High School, Washington, D.C; cap¬ School, Oakton, Va.; Math Honor president of schools National Honor Va.; Spanish National Honor Society; tain of varsity tennis team; National Society; special interest in photogra¬ Society; captain of varsity volleyball captain of varsity swimming and Honor Society; member of school’s phy, winning first place for photo team and badminton team; member softball teams; AFSA/AAFSW Spanish Club; tutors students and is artistry in “Reflections” contest; of Tri-M Music Honor Society, lead Community Service Award winner, a school peer minister, enjoys play¬ attending University of Virginia trombone in school’s jazz ensemble; participant in Virginia’s Girls State; ing the piano and clarinet; attending majoring in economics and history. attending University of Virginia attending University of Delaware Georgetown University. majoring in biology. majoring in communications.

DAVID BENEFIEL - son of Elizabeth and ASHLEY BOYD - daughter of Diane and Brent AMY CRAWFORD daughter of Susan and Academic Merit Michael (Commercial Service, retired); Benefiel; (International Broadcasting Bureau) Boyd; Paul (USAID) Crawford; graduate of Honorable Mention graduate of Bethesda-Chevy Chase High graduate of Lake Braddock Secondary School, Ticonderoga High School, Ticonderoga, N.Y.; School. Bethesda, Md.; attending Stanford Burke, Va.; attending College of William attending Cornell University. Winners University. and Mary.

12 AFSA NEWS • JULY-AUGUST 2001 submission. AFSA’s Committee on Education, along with volunteers from the foreign affairs community, scored the applicants and deter¬ Art Merit mined the winners. Winners receive $1700 and Honorable Mention winners receive $500. This year’s awards total over $33,000. Winner JESSICA SAMMIS - daughter of Beginning this year, two awards will be bestowed in the names of Elizabeth and John (State) Sammis; Mr. and Mrs. John and Priscilla Becker and Mr. and Mrs. Donald and graduate of Sidwell Friends School, Maria Spigler for their perpetual scholarship donations. Katherine Washington, D.C.; featured soloist in 2001 American Youth Philharmonic Brill received the Becker Award, and also won the essay contest. Her Orchestra; 2001 Honorable Mention essay appears on page 9 of AFSA News. Kelley Pastic received the in National Symphony Orchestra Spigler Award as well as the Community Service Award. For more competition; enjoys cross country and track and field; attending information on the AFSA/AAFSW Merit Competition or the AFSA Northwestern University in Chicago. Financial Aid Scholarship Program, contact Lori Dec at 202-944-5504 or [email protected].

ANTHONY DEUSI son of Leija and CLAIRE DREESEN daughter of NATALIE HAMMINK daughter of ELIZABETH IRWIN daughter of Scott (State) DeUsi; graduate of the Mary and Robert (State) Dreesen; Marie-Eve and William (USAID) Susan and Lee (State) Irwin; gradu¬ Lawrenceville School; Lawrenceville, graduate of the American School, Hammink; graduate of the American ate of the International School, N J.; reporter for school newspaper; Paris; National Merit Scholarship to International School, Tel Aviv; co¬ Islamabad, Pakistan; National Honor president and founder of school’s Rice University; editor-in-chief of president of school's National Honor Society; section editor of school Young Democrats Club; disc jockey school newspaper, member of varsi¬ Society; participant in Model United yearbook; member of volleyball and for school radio station; member of ty cross country team; enjoys history Nations; member of varsity soccer basketball teams; member of drama varsity track and field team; enjoys and travel; attending Rice University. team; attending Brown University club; attending College of William playing the guitar; attending majoring in international relations. and Mary majoring in communica¬ Stanford University. tions.

JESSIE ROSENBERG - daughter of AMY SHELTON - daughter of ZEID STALLA - son of Maureen and LAUREN WOOD - daughter of Cynthia Helene (USAID, retired) and John Elizabeth Turner (former State) and Stanley (USAID) Stalla; graduate of (State) and Robert (State) Wood; Rosenberg; graduate of Henley Middle J. Michael Shelton (State); graduate Colegio Franklin D. Roosevelt, Uma; graduate of American School of The School, Crozet, Va.; finished first year of William P. Cements High School, four-year first trumpet soloist in Hague, The Netherlands; National of college at Mary Baldwin College at Sugadand, Texas; first place in school’s jazz band; member of varsi¬ Merit Commended Scholar; captain age 14; enjoys singing in her college chemistry at school science fair; ty softball, volleyball and basketball of cross-country team; participant in choir and horseback riding; summer Advanced Placement Scholar with teams; 2001 class valedictorian; Model United Nations; member of attendee to MITs Research Science Honors; special interest in theater; attending Princeton University. school choir and band; attending Institute; transferring to Bryn Mawr attending Williams College in Furman University in South Carolina. College in Pennsylvania. Massachusetts.

URSULA JESSEE - daughter of Katyna and KATE RICHE - daughter of Roxanne and JOSEPH SCHIUJNG - son of Joanne and ELIZABETH WANLUND - daughter of Martha David (USAID) Jessee; graduate of South Lakes Christopher (State) Riche; graduate of Rabat John (State) Schilling graduate of Thomas Netherton (State) and William Wanlund High School, Reston, Va.; Wellesley College or American School, Rabat, Morocco; attending Jefferson High School for Science and (State); graduate of George Mason High University of Virginia. College of William and Mary. Technology, Alexandria, Va.; attending School. Falls Church, Va.; attending College of University of Virginia. William and Mary.

JULY-AUGUST 2001 • AFSA NEWS 13 Eye on Grievances • Continued from page 4 transmitted the board’s order, omitting to USAID’s stubborn resistance to imple¬ crux of her complaint was that although she a support declaration. The FSGB rankled menting the FSGB’s decision. had been promoted into the SFS, despite at such contumacy: “There was no rea¬ The Kaufman case established new every reasonable effort on her part there¬ son in our view why she should not have FSGB jurisprudence. Namely, the assign¬ after she kept getting excluded from SMG been restored to the rolls much faster. ... ment process may not be used to place membership by USAID senior career and an individual at a comparative disad¬ political officials. That meant she could not vantage, and if an employee demonstrates The Kaufman case established obtain the necessary leadership assignments disadvantage or harm, the FSGB will fash¬ needed to allow her to compete on an equal new FSGB jurisprudence. ion an appropriate remedy. footing. Thus, she was foreordained for ter¬ Not every USAID employee who has Namely, the assignment mination through selection out or expira¬ challenged the operation of the SMG has tion of time in class. process may not be used to been successful before the FSGB. The cir¬ Kaufman’s initial prospects were cumstances of each case are different, and poor. Legal services of Bridget R. place an individual at a often seemingly small details determine suc¬ Mugane were key to her overwhelming comparative disadvantage. cess or failure. Concerned employees victory. The FSGB ordered its largest should contact the FSGB or AFSA for attorney fee award ever, about $80,000. name-deleted copies of relevant rulings. □ Never before or since has the FSGB jus¬ The agency merely transmitted our tified awarding fees on the basis of agency Decision and conspicuously failed to write Relevant FSGB nilings: bad faith, indicating highly improper a message of any kind of support, let alone Case No. 92-078, 2/22/94 behavior by important agency officials. ‘full support.’ ” Case No. 93-038, 3/29/94 USAID refused to reinstate Kaufman USAID’s personnel office (HR) was not Case No. 95-018,4/26/96 properly for six months, despite the FSGB the main perpetrator of Kaufmans travails. Case No. 95-018, 9/17/96 decision. The board ordered USAID to Although HR participated enthusiastical¬ Case No. 95-018, 2/19/99 “fully support” Kaufman’s request to ly, senior career leaders throughout USAID Case No. 96-007, 2/3/97 Case No. 96-025, 7/16/97 waive reimbursement of pension pay¬ upheld the unfair structural and systemic Case No. 97-074, 5/19/98 ments she received while retired. USAID’s personnel environment that led to Case No. 97-095, 12/8/99 personnel chief, Linda Lion, simply Kaufman’s grievance and major win, and APSACLASSIREDS B ATTORNEY PRACTICING IN areas of FS LEGAL SERVICES GRIEVANCE ATTORNEY (specializing since 1983) Attorney assists FS Officers cor¬ Grievances at State, Commerce, USAID; ATTORNEY WITH 22 years successful rect defective performance appraisals, reverse MSPB; Employment Discrimination actions experience SPECIALIZING FULLTIME IN FS improper tenuring and promotion board deci¬ under Title VII and the Rehabilitation Act; and GRIEVANCES will more than double your sions, secure financial benefits, defend Privacy Act/FOIA litigation. Will write and file chance of winning. 30% of grievants win before against disciplinary actions and obtain relief your claims, complaints, and appeals, repre¬ the Grievance Board; 85% of my clients win. from all forms of discrimination. Free Initial sent you at hearings, and counsel you in chal¬ Only a private attorney can adequately devel¬ Consultation. Call William T. Irelan, Esq. Tel: lenging adverse employment decisions. Offices op and present your case, including necessary (202) 625-1800 Fax: (202)625-1616. in VA and D.C. Call George Elfter at (202) 237- regs, arcane legal doctrines, precedents and E-Mail: [email protected] 2047, Fax (703) 354-8734. E-mail: rules. Call Bridget R. Mugane at Tel. (202) [email protected] 387-4383, Tel. (301) 596-0175. E-mail: [email protected] Free initial consultation. WILL/ESTATE PLANNING by attorney who is a former FSO. Have your will reviewed and updated, or new one prepared: No TAX & FINANCIAL SERVICES charge for initial consultation. ROLAND S. HEARD, CPA ATTORNEY M. Bruce Hirshorn, Boring & Pilger, 307 1091 Chaddwyck Dr., Maple Ave. W, Suite D, Vienna, VA 22180 FORMER FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICER Athens, GA 30606 (703) 281-2161, Fax (703)-281-9464 Tel/Fax (706) 769-8976 NOW PRACTICING LAW IN DC/MD. General E-mail: [email protected] practice; estate planning: wills, trusts, living wills, E-mail: [email protected] • U.S. income tax services powers of attorney; probate administration; PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD: $1.25/word domestic relations; FS grievances. Gregory V. • Many FS & contractor clients (10 word min.) First 3 words Bolded free, add’l Powell; Furey, Doolan & Abell, LLP; 8401 Conn. • Practiced before the IRS bold text$2/word, header, box, shading $10. Ave„ #1100, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, (301) • Financial planning Fax (202) 338-6820 652-6880 fax (301) 652-8972. • American Institute of CPAs, Member e-mail: [email protected] FIRST CONSULTATION FREE

14 AFSA NEWS • JULY-AUGUST 2001 AFSACLASSHEDS

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JULY-AUGUST 2001 • AFSA NEWS 15 AFSACLASSIF1EDS m REAL ESTATE EDITOR WANTED SHIPPING PLANNING TO MOVE OVERSEAS? ACQUISITIONS EDITOR: Well-estab¬ WASHINGTON STATE ISLANDS: Need a rate to ship your car, household goods, lished book publisher in suburban Washington, Spectacular views, wonderful community, cli¬ or other cargo going abroad? Contact SEFCO DC, seeks editor to acquire and develop book mate, boating, hiking. Access Seattle & -Export Management Company for rates and Vancouver, B.C. Former FSO Jan Zehner, projects in international affairs and foreign pol¬ advice. Visit our website at www.sefco- Windermere Real Estate/ Orcas Island, (800) icy. Teaching, research, and/or publishing export.com E-mail: [email protected] 842-5770; Fax (360) 376-5637, P.O. Box 310, experience in subject areas preferred; pro¬ Tel: (718) 268-6233, Fax: (718) 268-0505 Eastsound, WA 98245, fessional contacts essential. Mail or fax Contact Joseph T. Quinn. E-mail: [email protected] resume and salary requirements to D.Jacobs, Brassey's, Inc., 22841 Quicksilver Dr., Dulles, VA 20166; 703-661-1547. No phone calls, FLORIDA please.

NO STATE INCOME TAX enhances gra¬ cious living in Sarasota, the cultural capital of Florida's Gulf Coast. Contact former FSO Paul Byrnes, Arvida Realty sales specialist, through e-mail [email protected] or Toll USIP FELLOWSHIPS Free 877-924-9001. Lovely Sarasota is Paul’s main focus but he can assist anywhere in the State.

UNITED STATES INSTITUTE OF PEACE invites applications for the 2002-2003 Senior SANIBEL-CAPTIVA. A Tropical Paradise MULTI-SYSTEM ELECTRONICS Fellowship competition in the Jennings with a lifestyle unlike any other! If you are PAL-SECAM-NTSC TVs, Randolph Program for International Peace. thinking of buying or selling Real Estate on VCRs, AUDIO, CAMCORDER, The competition is open to citizens of all Sanibel-Captiva (or anywhere in Florida) ADAPTOR, TRANSFORMERS, nations. Women and members of minorities please contact Peggy SLOANE Henward (for¬ KITCHEN APPLIANCES are especially encouraged to apply. All appli¬ E PORT WORLD ELECTRONICS mer FSSO) and let a Top Producer go to work cation materials must be received in our offices for you. Email: [email protected], 1719 Connecticut Ave. N.W. by September 17,2001. Contact the Jennings Washington, D.C. 20009, near Dupont or visit www.Sanibel-Captiva-Flomes.net. My Randolph Program, U.S.I.P., 1200 17th Street, Circle. Between R & S Streets. toll free number at Coldwell Banker McFadden NW, Suite 200,Washington, DC 20036-3011, & Sprawls is 800-741 -4752. Tel. (202) 232-2244, Fax (202)265-2435, USA, phone: 202.429.3886, fax: (800) 513-3907. 202.429.6063, email: [email protected]. E-mail: [email protected] VACATION Price quotations for PVOs, NGOs, USG, FS Discounts for Diplomats. FLORIDA EMBASSY 220 & 110 Volt Products VACATION RENTAL: South Florida TRANSFORMERS, STABILIZERS, Gulf Coast - Marco Island. Anglers Cove resort AAFSW IS COLLECTING donations for OFFICE supply/ furniture, water distillers, on Marco Bay, 16 mi. so of Naples, 50 min. BOOKFAIR 2001 in October. TV/VCR (multisystem 110/220-volt), power from Ft. Myers. Waterfront 2 BR condo over¬ Proceeds are used to support FS student tools, small/ major appliances, food juice & looking Marco Bay, 2 pools, tennis, 5 min. to scholarships (both merit and financial), con¬ beverages, etc. P.O. & credit card orders hon¬ beaches, 3 TVs, HBO, VCR, screened bal¬ fining education loans for adults, the FS Youth ored. Showroom: 5810 Seminary Road, Falls cony. Weekly rentals. Call for brochures (410) Foundation and the FS National Emergency Church, VA 22041 -3010 Tel. (703) 845-0800 604-1254. Relief Fund. Fax (703) 820-9385, E-mail: [email protected] Donations for the ART CORNER, for the E-mail: [email protected] COLLECTORS' CORNER (rare books), and CAPTIVA ISLAND, FL: 1 to 6 bedroom Web site: www.embassy-usa.com regular stamps, books and coins. “Ethnic" beach and bayside vacation rentals. items from post are always very popular. Swimming, shelling, fishing, etc. Walk to shops BOOKS IN THE WASHINGTON AREA: For Pick¬ & restaurants. Call Pat at 1 (800) 547-0127. MUST READS ups: VirginiaJones, Book Room Manager, on www.captiva-island.com FOR OVERSEAS AMERICANS: 202 223 5796. IN THE DEPARTMENT: Book Room, Monday-Friday (12 noon to 2PM) or by appt. The Accidental Diplomat: Dilemmas of the Trailing Spouse VACATION RENTAL (TEL: 202 223 5796). FROM OVERSEAS: Pouched to the Welcome Home: Who Are You? AAFSW Book Room (Room #1524-Main LONGBOAT KEY, FLORIDA Townhouse, State). Careful packing is essential as items large, lovely TK furnished, sleeps 4; 2 baths, For more information, contact are often handled roughly. screened porch; open deck with spa; (har-tru) Aletheia Publications If you are moving or simply sorting things, tennis cts; large pool; 2 minutes from the beach; 845-526-2873 here is one way to lighten the load and sup¬ 20 minutes from the airport (Sarasota) call for [email protected] port the AAFSW at the same time. rates. Leigh: 941-921-4336 or http://members.aol .com/AlelthPub E-mail: [email protected]

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JULY-AUGUST 2001/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 33 Focus

He pulled away from the hut in a cloud of dust, listening to a tape of the Surfaris singing “Wipeout. ”

mentioned he had the tail back at his hut. He told Greg dust as the kids dashed toward the wrapped crystal that he would be happy to offer it to him as a present. miracles, then leapt elatedly as they found and Greg smiled for the first time in months. savored one after another. Called a manyatta, Adam’s home was a one-room When he reached his modest bungalow in suburban stick frame daubed with cattle dung and surrounded Nairobi, Greg carried the lion’s skull to the front porch by a fence of acacia thorn branches to keep out preda¬ and put it in a place of prominence next to his collection tors. Adam’s barefoot children, dressed in rags, ran to of gazelle, topi, eland and warthog skulls. Behind tire row greet them. Maria, Adam’s wife, emerged from the of skulls a menagerie of spine, leg and rib bones leaned smoky darkness of the hut wearing the same red cloth against the house. He added the lion’s mighty femur and as her husband. Hundreds of multicolored beads tibia to this arrangement, then uncoiled the tail and took hung in chokers around her neck while wire triangles it inside, hanging it on die wall beside an assortment of decorated with more beads dangled from her elongat¬ beaded Masai gourds, rongbus and staffs. ed ears. She held a newborn in her arms and smiled broadly at their visitor. She didn’t speak English, but He now had a reason for his rehabilitative Adam translated for her. She offered Greg tea. Greg weekend drives into the Rift. Even when the and Adam sat on a fallen log under the shade of an rainy season arrived, Greg forded torrents in umbrella acacia, sipping the lukewarm liquid. creek beds that had been dry only two weeks earlier to Neighbors stopped by to meet and greet. In the dis¬ watch the increasing numbers of game fill the valley; tance, young boys holding slender staffs moved herds then he would visit his new friends. On these trips, of cattle through the bush as vultures spiraled over¬ Greg always brought small gifts for the family. In head. As the afternoon wore on Greg began to feel the return, Adam gave him fine skulls that had been found body ache that crept in when he’d overdone things. by his cattle-herding sons. He also knew that he should be getting back to It was after a lengthy meander through the bush Nairobi before the carjackers swooped down upon all one Sunday afternoon that Adam told Greg a friend who dared drive the streets of that city after dark. had discovered the complete remains of an elephant, When Greg made a move to leave, Adam entered the skull and all. They could take the pickup only so far, hut’s depths and re-appeared holding the well-pre¬ Adam said, and then they would hike into a rock served tail of a lion. Greg insisted the skull was canyon where poachers had most likely killed the bull. enough, but Adam urged his new friend to take it, as Journeying up the newly green flanks of Mt. long as he returned to visit them again. Lorgunono to an eroded gully of basalt towers, they set Greg assured Adam that he would, then he coiled off on foot into a canyon of crinkled lava flows. After the tail on the passenger’s seat and jumped in beside scrambling for five minutes over frozen magma, they it for the jarring drive home. When he pulled away came upon the elephant carcass. Not only had the from the manyatta in a cloud of dust, a tape of the skull, which was the size of a Volkswagen Beetle, been Surfaris singing “Wipeout” was playing and the Masai picked clean to a blinding white, but it was attached to children waved him goodbye wearing huge smiles. He a skeleton that was complete down to every rib of its remembered that he kept a bag of hard candy in the cavernous cage, with only a few bits of withered skin pickup’s glove compartment. He reached for it, pitch¬ flapping in the breeze. All that was missing were its ing handfuls out the window at the children as he tusks. bumped into the sere landscape. Looking through his Greg circled the monumental creature shaking his rearview mirrors, Greg watched through billowing head, not speaking, while Adam leaned against his

34 FOREIGN SERVICE J O U RN AL/J U LY-AU GU ST 2001 Focus

The bones of an imals were every where, especially along dry creek beds. But they were never complete.

slender staff near the skull, grinning. Adam was the remains to a museum when he left Nairobi so that others first to speak. He told Greg that he could get neigh¬ would be inspired to protect the elephants descendants. bors to help them load the behemoth into the pickup, Greg tried to postpone his departure from Nairobi but since the bones were so huge, they could only do for as long as possible. Since the bombing, it was hard so a few pieces at a time. Adam assured Greg that it to get people to fill jobs at the embassy, so he was eas¬ would take several weekends, but they could get the ily able to keep extending his stay there. And since whole mighty beast back to Nairobi, if he so desired. diplomatic couriers were using Kenya as a hub again, A month later, when the complete jumbo lay splayed he knew there would be a steady supply of donated in the driveway under a basketball net with a faded used shoes and clothing to share with his Masai American flag backboard, left behind by the previous friends. He had almost been killed in Kenya, but Greg tenants, Greg sat on the porch admiring his new addition felt the country’s astonishing wildlife, stunning land¬ to the array of skulls and long bones. He had found the scape and hospitable people reviving him. gunshot that killed the bull behind the right ear of its His future dilemma would be a difficult one: Could massive cranium. He even considered donating the he ever live without them? ■

The Foreign Service Journal’s “Postcard from Abroad”

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JULY-AUGUST 2001/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 35 Focus

THE VISIT

t was three days ago that I called her from dor. We advanced. JFK. I had just arrived from Saudi Arabia, She said, “Don’t mind me.” I where I’ve been living for the last four years. I said, “I won’t.” Delta was putting the final touches on my Then she said, “I know.” trip. The paperwork I’d need to claim my And dien it was over. bags when diey got to New York, via Japan, “Where are you?” she asked. would take about 15 minutes to prepare. I “Delta’s lost baggage office.” decided to fill the time by giving her die as- “Oh, no, not again. Where are they this time?” soon-as-you-get-here phone call she had asked for. “Japan.” The timing seemed right. She visited her doctor on “Ah so. ” Friday afternoons, so, barring some catastrophe, she’d be “I’m not laughing.” home. It was also after 11 a.m., making it a good bet tiiat “When can I see you?” she asked. she’d be up and about or at least “How about now? I could be awake. diere in two or three hours.” As usual, her initial greeting was “Oh sure, that’s just what I need, lukewarm: a simple “hello.” a woman in her eighth month of “Hey, Di, I’m here!” I said. pregnancy who, in the last 24 hours, She said, “Who is this?” has crossed eight time zones with I said, “ It’s Jackie. I’m at the air¬ two toddlers. Don’t be ridiculous. port.” Go to the hotel and call me later, She said, “ Oh, hi.” you jerk.” Silence. I did call her later. And the next It’s at this point I usually try to day, a Tuesday, we spoke five times. say something that will get her past But she continued to put off a face- her initial aloofness, so that we can to-face visit, which, in truth, was get on with, in this case, our five-day never that important to us. Even visit. In recent years, before picking when we lived in die same state we which tack to take, I’ve had to con¬ rarely saw each other. What we did sider her illness. So I hesitated, try¬ do, whenever the whim struck us, ing to perceive some pain or tears in SOME FRIENDSHIPS ARE was talk on die phone. And the her voice. I detected none and pro¬ whim struck us often. SIMPLY MEANT TO BE, AND ceeded as if she had no medical or It’s hard to pinpoint when our NEITHER DISTANCE NOR emotional weaknesses. friendship started, since it really “Did I catch you at a bad time or TIME NOR ANYTHING ELSE began before we met. We first are you just being a pain in the ass?” CAN BREAK THOSE BONDS. lieai'd about each other in the late I asked. ’70s when I took a job designing She laughed, assuring me that online systems for Intel’s upstart BY JUNE APPEL-WUERTZ my intuition was correct; she was computer services division. My ter¬ strong enough to deal with my can¬ ritory was Chicago; she managed

36 FOREIGN SERVICE ]O URNAL/J ULY-A UG US T 2001 Focus

die San Francisco branch. Though our- paths did not cross, spontaneously: ‘What die hell happened to die Sun people who traveled between die two offices told us diat Disk?” our similarities were uncanny. We not only looked alike, Her silence said it all; she had me. And from that day we were told, but I was often mistaken for her on the forward, at 3 p.m. on the dot, we would sit in front of our phone. We were also told that we had identical cocked respective televisions watching the GH gang tumble head, hands-on-hips mannerisms as well as flirtatious, no- tiirough life for one hour. No one who knew us bothered nonsense demeanors and identical caustic wits. But what to call between three and four on weekdays, unless they astonished people the most was the revelation that we yearned to hear the persistent short peep of a busy signal. botii raced die same first-generation Datsmi Z car. She We hadn’t taken the phones off the hook to prevent inter¬ worked in the pits for her husband, while I was always ruptions; they were engaged. We sat, phones cradled on behind the wheel. our shoulders, as we shared our obsessive distraction. I Everyone who knew both of us couldn’t wait for us to would come to cherish that distraction three years later, meet, which we did, two years later, when we were bodi because of its merciful ability to transport us, even for one kicked up to executive row at the corporate headquarters brief hour a day, away from her first confrontation with in New York. When we finally did meet, we found die sto¬ her mortality. ries of our sameness not only true but under-reported. As The first time she was diagnosed witii breast cancer, we shared beliefs about morality, ethics and humor, our she was very, very sick. But she got better and our friend¬ spirits mated. Our friendship grew strong. ship survived, though not so effortlessly now that her In the beginning, we talked mostly about things like future was less certain. But then, six years later, when her politics and religion. Altiiough these topics are known for foot twitched uncontrollably, she learned the cancer had their ability to dissolve mere mortal friendships, they were spread everywhere, even across the spinal cord to her the foundation of ours. Though they continue to be our brain. She was sick again and she never really got better, specialty, we also branched out. though at times she looked like she might improve. It was her idea actually. About a year into our new jobs, About tire time her cancer returned, my gallant hus¬ she decided to get me hooked on “her” afternoon soap band rode in, fulfilling my wildest dreams to live abroad. opera, General Hospital, by force-feeding me the details His white horse was a contract, through the U.S. Treasury of the story line. I pleaded with her to leave me out of that Department, from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Next part of her life, but she refused. At first, die monotony of thing I knew, I was naming our second daughter Riyadh, her detailed monologue day after day was torturous, but I after the Saudi capital. And though Di and I tried to keep stood firm and refused to ask her a single question. Her our 10-year-old friendship up-to-date, the cost was too persistence, however, eventually overran my resolve. great. One call a week, more or less, was all we could It happened during the “Sun Disk” story line. The afford. The cutback proved fatal for my relationship with main characters, Luke and Laura, were risking life and Luke and Laura, and softened my bond with Di. Letters limb to retrieve the Sun Disk, a weapon of mass destruc¬ were not our style, though we did try to write to each tion, from the bad guys at the KGB. Saving die world was other. Writing letters just wasn’t the same as talking. Ours their reward. Di was giving me my daily GH update when was a verbal relationship. Weekly phone calls could fan suddenly she became distracted and went off on a tan¬ smoldering embers of a once profound friendsh i p, but the gent. Normally, I cherished her tangents, but this time I 6,000 miles between us took their toll on our intimacy. found myself waiting impatientiy for her to return to the Even now, though we still give each other best friend sta¬ GH gang. Instead of remaining loyal to Luke and Laura, tus, our relationship is, for me, mostly full of fond memo¬ she abandoned diem for a story about Billy, her florist ries that our weekly conversations summon to life. brodier, and his woes with the Cohen wedding. I erupted But she knew nothing of how I felt, or, for that matter, much else about my life. Somewhere along the line, she June Appel-Wuertz is a writer who has accompanied stopped asking about it in any detail. Eventually I took the her FSO spouse, Bob, to posts in Saudi Arabia, Ghana hint and stopped telling her. My guess is that it became and Egypt. They currently live in Manila with their too painful to hear about a life that had a future, one that children Halley, Aria and Maddy. she would give anything to have in place of her own.

JULY-AUGUST 2001/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 37 Focus

Holding on to our friendship was a heroic effort. But it unbearable. I hinted at disbelief, but she mistook disbelief was not enough. Surely, if we had had more time, we for playfulness. I feared, for tire first time, that my honesty would have talked about her dying. Conversations like would not be welcomed. And what if I was actually able to that, however, take time and circumstances to make them convince her that she was deceiving herself? Would I be come to the surface. They can’t be scheduled for Sunday threatening her well-being, delusional as it was? How can phone calls, even if the calls cost hundreds of dollars each a friendship survive such dishonesty? But, then again, how month. You can’t buy intimacy. And so, instead, our week¬ can it perish in tire sight of such a truth? What right did I ly talks served as one-hour vacations from her house¬ have to force her to face the truth, only to hang up the bound existence. They were respites from her pain, anxi¬ phone and return to nry charmed life 6,000 miles away? I ety and fear: her reality. didn’t have any right. So we continued our weekly chats. Topics of conversa¬ So I decided to play along, drawing on days gone by for tion were hard to come by once Luke and Laura were out the right words to say. We laughed. I was sad. She was — of tlie picture and my life was on the “basically taboo” list. well, I don’t actually know how she was. Hopefully, she We returned to things like politics and religion, but even was better than she would have been if I hadn’t indulged in these arenas, I found myself caught off guard at times her. with what I detected as her newfound political cynicism and religious devotion, views I did not recognize or share. But it hadn’t been necessary to humor her this visit, It was not her unfamiliar cynical tone or her lack of and hopefully she’ll give nre air audience today. sharing that was the main problem. I felt that I should After all, it is Wednesday and I’ll be leaving on tread cautiously so as not to hurt her, and that feeling Friday. I dial. It rings. I hear her pick up the phone, and restrained me. I sensed that I could no longer trust her to then hear it drop. I listen to her distant cursing during the withstand, defend against and, ultimately, mitigate conflict. three minutes it takes for her to retrieve the receiver. I sensed that her self, her strong healthy ego, was gone. “Hello,” she says haltingly. And what an ego it was. It had been one of the great “Hi. What’s going on?” egos I’ve known. I didn’t find it difficult to understand “Hold on,” she manages to say, trying painstakingly to how this fine specimen of an ego was fashioned. It was catch her breath. Nearly a minute passes before she can championed by her sense of self-worth, flattered by the continue to speak. eye-catching appeal of her long, full, curly blond hair, her “There, that’s better. Now, what’s up?” winsome face and her five-foot-four-inch sensual frame. It “Well, what about it? Can I come over?’ was sustained by her good intellect, her penetrating wit ‘Yeah, let’s do it. What time?” and creativity, and reinforced by her unnerving ability to “Great. Let’s see. It’s 10 now. How about 11:30? I’ll see and fearlessly state the truth, especially about herself. bring lunch.” But that woman was nearly gone, and in her place, “An hour and a half to get ready and I’m not even out encased in a frail, faltering body, was a frail, faltering ego. of bed yet. Let’s make it one. ” One day two winters ago, I realized the illness had “Fine. What about lunch?’ nearly destroyed her true self. We were talking about “Me too.” John, who, at different times, had been, for both of us, a “So what should I get?” lover, and who now was a friend. His office was nearby “There’s a new deli on the boulevard that makes great and he visited her frequently. Alter one of his visits, she subs. You’ll want a number six. Get me a number four, no told me in great detail about how he was seducing her. onions, with a side of potato salad. I’ve got Coke but no Though I tried, I could not bring myself to believe her. I diet, so pick some up for yourself. ” could not stretch her words to encompass the facts of her Her directions are, as usual, excellent. By one o’clock I life. I knew too much. I knew that she could not walk, am at the deli, food in hand. I give her a last get-ready call. much less dance around the room. I knew that he was not “Hi. It’s me.” stroking her long tresses destroyed years ago by “Where are you?’ she asks. chemotherapy. I knew that the multiple hip fractures “I’m at the deli. I was just going to head over.” uncovered by her last bone scan would make love-making “Really. Wow. Is it one already?’

38 FOREIGN SERVICE J OURN AL/J U LY- AV G U S T 2001 Focus

‘Tea. Why, do you need more time?” opening the door herself, she calls for me to come in. I’m “Do you mind? I still have all these pills to take, and I disappointed for her. I know how hard she’s worked to need to feed the cats.” prove wrong the doctors who told her that she’d probably “Okay, just tell me what time.” never walk again. But, I’m also calmed by her voice, which “Give me another hour, okay?” seems to say that it’s healthy and that she can’t wait to see “Sure. How about some Dunkin’ Donuts for dessert?” me again. I breathe deeply and enter, relieved to find her “You’re bad,” she says. sitting normally on the couch. I go to another couch to sit. “I know, but which land, Boston Cream or Honey She is wearing a wig and her face is swollen, signals tiiat Glazed?” she is on a new drug protocol. Her signature scoop¬ “Both.” necked blouse no longer reveals the firm feminine pecs or “And coffee?” I say, hoping she will be capable of turn¬ cleavage she was able to regain after the tedious breast ing me down. reconstruction nearly ten years ago. Her contours have “Don’t be ridiculous. We love my coffee. I can take melted away, leaving a hint of frailty accentuated by slight¬ care of it. I’ll see you at two and don’t bother to call first.” ly stooped shoulders. So, here I am standing at her front door trying to pre¬ Since she has spent 11 months in a wheelchair, I should pare for the worst, hoping for the best, not really knowing not be surprised that her once muscular calves have atro¬ what either means precisely. It’s been nearly a year since I phied and are now only slightly larger than her ankles. But last saw her. And that year has been filled with such I am surprised. Her left ankle has still not regained its bizarre medical stories from her that I can’t possibly know color, though the cast is gone. I can see die six-inch scar what to expect. where metal fittings were used to rebuild brittie bones I knock on the door. My anxiety peaks when, instead of diat, unbeknownst to her, had crumbled.

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JULY-AUGUST 2001/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 39 Focus

I was on the phone with her last Thanksgiving when or any of the odier taboo subjects. The first wave of she noticed her misaligned foot and leg. We discussed die uneasiness subsides, and we setde back into our friend¬ foot as you would a warped piece of furniture. It didn’t ship. We chat, and dien chat some more. take long to convince me that diere was somediing seri¬ After about an hour I find that I am being distracted by ously wrong. I fully expected her to get off die phone and a series of seemingly unnecessary movements she is malt¬ call for help. But I didn’t understand. ing. Eventually I realize she is, like an athlete, readying Though die damage would prove to be extraordinary, herself for a gargantuan effort. She is preparing to mount there was no pain. So to her way of thinking, diere was no die metal walker. As she grasps the walker, my eyes are need to rush. Yes, this was a new problem, a big new prob¬ drawn to her hands. I recognize the strong, sinewy, lem, but it was, for her, just one more problem in a long tensed, ready, deliberate hands of an artist, tiiough she line of big new problems. So she didn’t get off die phone, hasn’t thrown a pot in years. She hoists herself up, and but wanted instead to try and figure out how and when then stops. I can see her profile as she crosses in front of die foot became misaligned. me, deliberately placing each footfall. After four arduous She traced it to a fall two weeks earlier. She didn’t steps, she rests. recall being at all concerned about her leg at the dme. Her “Hope you’re ready for that coffee, ” she says, cocking recollection of die incident focused on being “turtled” — her head toward me. her casual label for the two panic-filled hours she spent on Our eyes meld for die first time diis visit. her back unable to right herself — until the postman “You are a pain in die ass, aren’t you?” I say, hands on heaixl her pleas for help. my hips. But die worst (of this incident, at least) seems to be Subde but triumphant smiles crease our cheeks where behind her now. She looks well and we don’t talk about it die tears fall. ■

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40 FOREIGN SERVICE JO URNAL/J ULY-AUG UST 2001 THERE’S STILL A PLACE FOR LAROR DIPLOMACY

THOUGH THE COLD WAR IS OVER, SUPPORT FOR WORKER RIGHTS SHOULD BE A CONTINUING PART OF U.S. DEMOCRACY PROMOTION ABROAD.

BY EDMUND MCWILLIAMS

abor diplomacy, those aspects of U. S. placards of demonstrators in Seatde or along the picket L foreign relations that relate to the pro¬ lines at factory gates around the world — rather than real¬ motion of worker rights and, more ities in both developed and developing countries. broadly, democratic society, was a vital element of a successful U.S. foreign Globalization Challenges Labor policy during the Cold War. At the Globalization is challenging the degree of real interna¬ time, labor offered significant political support to the U.S. tional commitment to defend fundamental worker rights government in its efforts to contain and defeat commu¬ set out in the Universal Declaration. Todays global econ¬ nism. In the years after the omy has created a difficult Cold War, labor diplomacy environment for labor. has been relegated to the “Flexible” labor markets can sidelines by foreign policy Worker rights are still unmet goals — leave workers with fewer makers; at tire same time, the benefits, poorer working fight for worker rights has expressed on the placards of conditions and greater job become even more impor¬ insecurity — and little tant as globalization has pro¬ demonstrators in Seattle or along the recourse to improve their duced new challenges for lot. For example, until workers. It is time to recog¬ picket lines at factory gates around recently in Guatemala, nize that a vibrant labor workers were only allowed diplomacy can be a valuable the world — rather than realities. to strike at non-harvest time, component of U.S. foreign i.e., when most are not work¬ policy once again, this time as ing. Privatization and down¬ it confronts the challenges to sizing, encouraged by inter¬ U.S. interests posed by tire impact of globalization and ris¬ national financial institutions and our own bilateral assis¬ ing ethnic and religious tensions around the world. tance programs, displace workers, leaving many in coun¬ The 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights tries like China, El Salvador, Ghana or Bolivia to adjust to established that worker rights are human rights. It set forth new economic conditions without benefit of social safety several principles: everyone has the right to work in just nets or job retraining. and favorable conditions, to be paid fairly for their work, to New approaches to “modem” industrial relations can form trade unions to protect their interests, and to be pro¬ preclude workers from benefiting from collective repre¬ tected against unemployment. More than a half century sentation by trade unions and can make it more difficult later, these rights are still unmet goals — expressed on the for workers to turn to national labor laws to address their concerns. In both developing and developed countries, Edmund McWilliams is the director for international some businesses are pursuing individual contracts between labor in State’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and the employer and the worker. These contracts do not allow Labor. for collective bargaining. In some countries such as

JULY-AUGUST 2001/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 41 Colombia, employers may also and many other countries, workers encourage workers to join coopera¬ and trade unions have been among tive organizations, which contract Globalization the leading forces pressing for politi¬ with an employer to perform labor, cal and economic liberalization. rather than join unions. These work¬ encourages companies to Democratic trade unions are eco¬ ers are officially recognized as “coop¬ nomic agents because they promote a erative members,” not “workers” and invest in countries where culture of negotiation through collec¬ therefore, may not be eligible for tive bargaining, a process that under¬ labor law protections given to work¬ labor standards mines any tendency to concentrate ers. economic power and wealtir in a soci¬ Furthermore, globalization are lowest. ety. They are also political agents, encourages companies to invest in affording workers a voice in the polit¬ countries where labor standards are ical process, and thereby strengthen- lowest, potentially pushing some ing democratic control of economic countries that embrace higher stan¬ governments. Building on pre-war decision-making. Moreover, at their dards for workers right out of eco¬ alliances between U.S. labor and best, unions function as democratic nomic competition. For example, anti-Nazi and anti-Fascist labor models with transparent internal multinationals will be tempted to movements, many Western post-war mechanisms for electing leaders, transfer operations to China and governments relied on labors back¬ debating policy, and resolving dis¬ Vietnam, who are about to join the ing. Other governments, particularly putes. Unions and their leaders are WTO, because these countries offer Christian Socialist governments, had on the front fines in combating extra- incomparably low wages, party-con¬ large, politically allied labor unions legal paramilitaries and organized trolled trade unions and massive that gave these governments signifi¬ crime (and are often their principal ranks of low- to middle-skill docile cant organized political support victims) in Colombia, Guatemala, workers. Fragile new democracies against communist-backed oppo¬ Zimbabwe and Russia. Trade unions, like Indonesia or even more estab¬ nents. Labor unions played similar with their mass bases and broad lished democracies like the political roles in the developing social agendas for progressive Philippines, which are beginning to world, allying with progressive par¬ change, have bxidged ethnic, reli¬ support worker rights as unionized ties against colonialism and often gious and tribal cleavages in places as workers make their demands heard, providing leaders for these parties disparate as Northern Ireland, the will lose foreign investment and from their own ranks. former Yugoslavia and sub-Saharan export revenue as jobs move to The collapse of the Soviet bloc Africa. places where labor is cheaper. lessened the need for labor as an ally In seeking to reduce the instabili¬ in the formulation of U.S. foreign ty and inequities generated by glob¬ Labor Benefits Foreign Policy policy. By the end of the Cold War, alization, some governments are Globalizations sometimes debili¬ USIA and USAID labor officer slots turning to trade unions as represen¬ tating impact on labor comes at a had largely disappeared, and the tatives of workers and the poor in a time of weakened labor influence in ranks of State labor officers had dialogue about the impact of this U.S. foreign policy. U.S. labors role diminished to slightly more than 30, economic transformation. Trade in U.S. foreign policy and U.S. labor less than half the number of officers unions in many countries are unique¬ diplomacy more generally lost much during the Cold War. ly placed to articulate social as well as of their purpose following the col¬ Yet today, labor could play just as labor concerns responsibly and lapse of communism. significant a role in the formulation coherently. They serve as legitimate During the Cold War, a vigorous and implementation of U.S. foreign interlocutors for the government in a labor diplomacy, implemented by policy as it did during the Cold War. dialogue about issues such as worker State Department labor officers, Many of the goals drat U.S. foreign displacement, growing rural-to- USAID and USIA was critical to U.S. policy seeks to promote — democra¬ urban migration, foreign worker foreign policy. Trade unions and cy, human rights, political stability immigration and other destabilizing workers, here and abroad, rallied to and social and economic develop¬ consequences of globalization. Washingtons call for a struggle ment — are the same ones that labor As proponents of democratiza¬ against communism and offered also embraces. In Poland, Indonesia, tion, healers of societal cleavages, political support to shore up Western South Africa, Brazil, Nigeria, Burma opponents of extralegal forces and as

42 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/JULY-AUG UST 2001 SEVEN MINUTES TO STATE DEPARTMENT U.S. labor diplomacy lost much of its perceived purpose COLUMBIA PLAZA APARTMENTS following the collapse Capital Living With Comfort and Convenience of communism. 5£^icit4UyiC4, 1 M-J. 2 SHORT TERM FURNISHED APARTMENTS AVAILABLE Utilities Included 24 Hour Front Desk Complimentary Voice Mail Garage Parking Available Courtyard Style Plaza Shopping on Site interlocutors for national govern¬ Polished Hardwood Floors Cardkey Entry/Access ments and business seeking to adapt Private Balconies River Views to rapid economic change, trade Huge Walk-In Closets Minutes to Fine Dining unions and workers can be valuable Walk to the Kennedy Center and Georgetown allies for U.S. diplomacy. Minutes to Foggy Bottom Metro Returning Labor to the Fold (202) 293-2000 In recent years, the U.S. has 2400 Virginia Ave., N.W. taken steps to reinvigorate labor Washington, D.C., 20037 diplomacy. At the urging of the ty V- LbdU Co. Department of Labor, the AFL-CIO and others, the number of overseas labor officers was increased in the late 1990s, especially after the American labor movement played a major role in denying President Clinton’s renewal of “fast track” trade negotiation authority. Also at that time, the Department of Labor agreed to an officer exchange with State that provided for the assign¬ ment of Department of Labor offi¬ cers to State labor slots in the field FARA and in Washington. In May 1999, Foreign Affairs Recreation Association State formed an advisory committee FARA Housing Division, on labor diplomacy to analyze how Managed by ECMC U.S. labor diplomacy might be rein¬ 610 Bashford Lane, Alexandria, VA 22314 vigorated. Its September 2000 Ph: (703) 684-1825 Fax: (703) 739-9318 report offered numerous recom¬ We are proud to provide the best hotel values in the Washington, DC mendations aimed at strengthening metropolitan area! You can choose from properties offering studios, the role State s 49 labor officers play one bedroom, 2-bedroom apartments, suites & hotel rooms. in diplomacy. While more than half Our locations have unique proximity to FSI, State Department, the of its recommendations were accept¬ Pentagon, NFATC, National Airport, Old Town , Alexandria, ed, it is as yet unclear how thorough¬ White House and Georgetown ly these recommendations will be implemented. For more information call for features and rates of participating FARA hotels. With this renewed attention to

JULY-AUGUST 2001/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 43 labor diplomacy, the United States awarded grants totaling $4 million to has made some progress in die fight NGOs, business associations, and for workers’ rights. For example, the Many of the goals that the ILO to support specific initia¬ United States has supported efforts tives such as training monitors, to raise labor standards by endorsing U.S. foreign policy seeks building partnerships among work¬ the ILO’s “Declaration of ers and employers and helping Fundamental Principles and Rights to promote, such as workers learn their rights. Projects at Work” (which endorses freedom funded under this initiative are of association, freedom from forced political stability and under way or about to begin in Asia, and compulsory labor, and freedom Central America, Africa and other from discrimination in employment social and economic developing countries. and occupation). America’s support While resistance to improving for labor has encountered strong development, are the worker standards is strong among resistance among developing coun¬ some multinationals, which contend tries that believe that if they raise same ones that labor that the competitive environment in labor standards drey could lose their which they operate will not allow competitive economic advantage. In also embraces. them to raise standards or wages, the absence of a clear global consen¬ increasingly, multinationals have sus on labor standards, low-wage, responded to calls for “corporate low-standard export engines like responsibility” from the U.S., China, Vietnam, and India could incentive for improved worker European governments and con¬ swamp smaller countries whose rights observance, is a potential sumers worldwide. Some firms have labor standards and costs, while not model for the future. Yet there is turned to auditing agencies, NGOs necessarily up to ILO standards, are still a long way to go: There is as yet and business associations to monitor nonetheless higher than those in no clear indication that the U.S. their overseas production, though these powerful competitors. intends to include effective worker company-sponsored audits are not For the United States, imple¬ rights provisions in the discussions able always to provide the kind of menting a successful labor diploma¬ regarding a Free Trade Agreement accounting necessary to identify cy means addressing these concerns. of the Americas. Labor provisions problems and provide for real, last¬ Specifically, the ILO’s Declaration are also absent in the as yet unrati¬ ing reforms. Firms have also discov¬ of Fundamental Principles must be fied U.S.-Vietnam Bilateral Trade ered that improving industrial rela¬ more than hortatory. Because the Agreement. tions means cooperating with trade ILO cannot levy sanctions, the dec¬ U.S. labor diplomacy has encour¬ unions, which have a far deeper laration’s impact on the lives of aged corporate responsibility by understanding of worker rights and workers on factory doors worldwide pushing for improved industrial conditions at individual worker so far has been less than workers relations among businesses, trade sites. have hoped. unions and governments. For exam¬ A Bush administration could The United States should cham¬ ple, State’s Democracy, Human mean less attention to labor diplo¬ pion worker rights in the trade Rights and Labor office administers macy since the Republican Party has agreements it becomes party to. The a fund (worth $3.9 million in FY01) not traditionally shared many of recently signed U.S.-Jordan Free to award grants to support the adop¬ organized labor’s domestic political Trade Agreement is the first U.S. tion of corporate codes of conduct, objectives. There are significant dif¬ trade agreement to include worker and to support proposals to encour¬ ferences between organized labor rights provisions in the main text of age partnerships among NGOs, goals and the early agenda of the the agreement. It is encouraging organized labor and corporate new administration. Organized that other countries have told the alliances to address unacceptable labor has been sharply critical of the U.S. that the agreement with Jordan working conditions in worksites Free Trade Agreement of the is a model that they might like to use overseas. This “Partnership to Americas, faulting it both for as a basis for trade agreements with Eliminate Sweatshops” seeks to end process, which labor contends has them. A U.S.-Cambodian textile sweatshop labor conditions in work¬ excluded civil society, and for con¬ agreement, which accords increased sites abroad that produce for the tent — labor claims that worker quotas for exports to the U.S. as an U.S. market. In 2000, the fund rights and environmental concerns

44 FOREIGN SERVICE ] OVRN AL/j U LY-AU GV ST 2001 are getting short shrift. Labor is concerned that the administration wall pursue expanded trade without concern for worker rights. It would Small School. be easy, labor fears, for the adminis¬ tration to accept the argument against worker rights that many gov¬ Big Outdoors. ernments make, namely that such rights issues belong only in the ILO Traditional College Preparatory and not in the WTO. Coeducational, Grades 9-12 & Post-Graduate On the other hand, the adminis¬ Excellent College Placement tration has spoken of its commit¬ Faculty/Student Ratio 1:4 ment to protecting worker rights. In his remarks to the advisory com¬ Backpacking, Mountain Biking mittee on labor diplomacy on May 9 Paddling & Kayaking, Rock & Ice Climbing at the State Department, Secretary Skiing, Snowboarding, Soccer, Lacrosse Powell noted that “the rights of workers must be protected and sup¬ ported. It is not enough to say ‘lets THE create wealth’ if we don’t care about w HITE MOUNTAIN the Maria Soledads (a poor SCHOOL Honduran worker) — workers around the world who struggle to Bethlehem, New Hampshire pay basic household and child-rear¬ ing costs.” Workers should get “the www. white mo un tain, org lion’s share” of the new wealth cre¬ 1.800.545.7813 ated. “Unless we protect labor we truly won’t be touching (workers),” with efforts to promote free trade and democracy, Powell concluded. The U.S. would benefit from engaging international labor in the pursuit of shared goals such as democratization, political stability and equitable economic and social development. An alliance between the U.S. and labor today would focus on worker rights, including ensuring that economic develop¬ ment is not based on the exploita¬ tion of child labor, forced labor or employment that discriminates against women and minorities, and on economic justice, ensuring that globalization’s benefits flow to all and not simply to the few best placed to profit from it. A revital¬ ized labor diplomacy today would foster democratic freedoms by shoring up fragile democracies, just as the U.S.-labor alliance of the Cold War era did. ■

JUNE 2001/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 45 CAN LABOR CATCH UP WITH GLOBALIZATION?

UNIONS ARE FORMING NEW ALLIANCES ACROSS CONTINENTS

TO PROTECT WORKER RIGHTS IN MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS.

BY ROBERT SENSER

t had the earmarks of a David and Goliath con¬ video, they told Belgian, British, and French labor leaders I frontation. A small local union in the little of worker support for the union and management opposi¬ Alabama town of Sylacauga was taking on a tion to it. “Unions must work together,” Drexel said, “to giant multinational based in Paris. A 28-year-old keep multinationals from destroying us.” Their presenta¬ factory worker who had never crossed the tions were especially effective in France and Great Britain, Atlantic, Keith Fulbright, was flying off to where Imerys has a record of friendly cooperation with Brussels, London, and Paris, on his own vacation time, to unions. At several of the company’s largest plants in line up European support for his unions cause. Britain, union stewards began wearing stickers saying, But die David from Alabama was not aiming to slay this “Stop Imerys Union Busting in the U.S.” Goliadi. Keith Fulb right did go forth armed — with a The participation of an ordinary American worker in a French-subtitled videotape diat portrayed die plight of his solidarity mission to Europe was a new twist on a tech¬ union through the words of a dozen rank-and-file mem¬ nique tiiat has worked well in the United States: bringing bers. One of those members explained the terms of the in rank-and-file workers from Central America to testify at confrontation. ‘AVe aren’t against the company,” he said, college forums and congressional hearings about abuses in “but we all like to be treated fair. I feel like the only way we factories producing for U.S. consumers. Fulbright’s inno¬ can accomplish that is with the union.” vative mission was a turning point in an intensive year-long That union, Local 3516 of the national Paper, Allied- campaign to win support for the unions cause. Industrial, Chemical, and Energy Workers’ Union (PACE) In March last year union dignitaries descended on was fighting for its life. A merger negotiated in Europe in Sylacauga to speak at a large barbecue and rally. One flew 1999 pushed two plants located across die street from each in from Brussels — Fred Higgs, the general secretary of other, one unionized and die otiier not, into the same cor¬ the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine, poration, a leading international producer of industrial and General Workers’ Unions, or ICEM for short, the materials named Imerys. Thanks to this transaction, the “global union” with which PACE is affiliated. Higgs told unionized workers became a minority of the merged work the rally tiiat ICEM, with 20 million members worldwide, force, now totaling 400 workers. Imerys decided that it was putting its full weight behind the workers in Sylacauga. would no longer recognize the union, which had repre¬ He called Imerys a “chameleon corporation” for trying in sented workers at the unionized plant for 29 years; it America what it would not dare attempt in Europe, and argued the union was not qualified to speak for its workers. promised: “We’ll make it so hot for Imerys that they will be Fulbright’s European assignment in January 2000 was looking for a solution.” In a public demonstration of soli¬ to challenge that position. A skilled worker at the non¬ darity, some 250 people, with Higgs in the lead, marched a union plant, he was joined by Joe Drexler, an experienced mile through town before peacefully dispersing at the staffer of Local 3516’s national union. With the help of die Imerys factory gates. Then, in May last year, Drexler and European labor Robert Senser is a former State Department labor attache leaders took their story directly to the annual meeting of who currently edits a Web site, Human Rights for Workers, Imerys shareholders in Paris. Although Sylacauga was not at www.senser.com. on the agenda, it unexpectedly dominated the last half of

46 FOREIGN SERVICE JOU RN AL/J U LY-AUGU ST 2001 the meeting. The shareholders heard presentations from multinational corporations. In short, the lesson for unions the floor that sent a shudder through the audience, is that they, too, must globalize. according to the Paris newspaper Liberation. A French- Unions have not kept pace with todays vast, shifting speaking ICEM representative pointedly asked: “Mr. global production system, comprising 63,000 multination¬ Chairman, why is your company involved in anti-union al parent firms with 690,000 foreign affiliates and thou¬ practices in the United States while at the same time your sands of cross-border mergers and acquisitions a year. company is improving its relations with unions in “We’re 20 years behind,” says Kenneth S. Zinn, ICE M’s Europe?” In response Imerys CEO Patrick Kron North American regional coordinator. Despite that promised that “the company would not campaign against immense lag, he is optimistic about catching up. ‘We the union.” have no choice but to fulfill our obligations to workers and Meanwhile, the labor movement used the power of the the communities where they live.” World Wide Web to communicate the unions message far Happily, the environment for catching up has beyond its own immediate constituency. People far and improved in recent years. The idea that working people wide could read all they wanted to know (in English and everywhere have basic rights is becoming more widely French) about the struggle, accepted than ever, at least in including details of Imerys’ principle. More than 90 years corporate history, excerpts of missionary work by the from a manual Imerys used to “Unions must work together to U.N.’s International Labor train managers on keeping the Organization is finally winning plant “union-free,” and the keep multinationals from some converts among the elite, text of a PACE-ICEM com¬ including the leaders of some plaint filed with the State destroying us.” multinational corporations and Department charging viola¬ some international agencies. tions of the Guidelines for —Union Staffer Joe Drexler In 1998, U.N. Secretary Multinational Enterprises General Kofi Annan convinced adopted by the Organization CEOs of 50 multinational cor¬ for Economic Cooperation porations to join human rights and Development (OECD). organizations and trade unions to embrace a global com¬ The campaign worked. In a secret ballot election con¬ pact in support of worker rights, including freedom of ducted by the National Labor Relations Board on June 22 association and the effective recognition of the right to last year, the union scored a 205 to 181 victory to repre¬ collective bargaining. In his January 2000 swan song after sent Imerys s 400 workers in Sylacauga. three years as chief economist of the World Bank, Joseph Stiglitz delivered an address loaded with ideas considered Lessons from Sylacauga radical for someone with his background in mainstream Adapting to globalization is a crucial challenge facing economics and in the top ranks of an international devel¬ the labor movement around the world, from die small opment organization. His main point: “Labor unions and unions in towns like Sylacauga to global union confedera¬ other genuine forms of popular self-organization are key tions like ICEM. To remain close to their constituents, to democratic economic development.” unions function largely on a geographically limited basis. Modem corporations do not; fliey cut a wide swath across New Initiatives with New Partners multiple political geographies, far beyond the range of tra¬ Recent activism by the labor movement and its allies is ditional union structures. To bridge diat gap for die strug¬ partly responsible for creating this more favorable envi¬ gle in Sylacauga, unions mobilized local, national, and ronment for worker rights, and unions are taking advan¬ international resources within the labor movement itself tage of it by pursuing new arrangements with new part¬ while also pursuing an external campaign by appealing to ners to meet worker needs in the global economy. The Imerys stockholders, the OECD, and the general public major organizations involved in this endeavor are “global via the Web. That pattern comprises the framework of a unions” (such as ICEM), which are international associa¬ larger union plan to cope with globalization, not only by tions of individual national trade unions grouped by indus¬ greatly strengthening their own internal networks across trial or occupational sectors. Now ten in number, the international boundaries but also by reaching outside global unions, traditionally called international trade sec¬ those ranks to enlist the cooperation of non-governmental retariats, have updated their technologies, hired new peo¬ organizations, intergovernmental agencies, and even ple, and restructured themselves to handle a large range

JULY-AUGUST 2001/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 47 of global issues, including world environmental policies. Their size alone (ICEM covers 10 sectors) is AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION bound to impress, and it puts them into a position to pursue labor strategies on a global scale. For TERM LIFE example, ICEM and some other global unions are pressing individ¬ ual multinationals to adopt formal LONG TERM CARE “framework” agreements that 1) set the broad labor policies that cover all the corporations workplaces, Insurance for today- even those without a union and 2) establish procedures for regular and tomorrow meetings between management and union representatives. Take the global framework FOR MORE INFORMATION: AMERICAN agreement signed last July between AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE ICEM and the Freudenberg FOREIGN PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION 1716 N STREET, NW Group, the German-based con¬ SERVICE WASHINGTON, DC 20036-2902 glomerate which makes compo¬ PROTECTIVE (202) 833-4910 - FAX: (202) 833-4918 E MAIL: afspa @ afspa.org nents for odier manufacturers, par¬ ASSOCIATION WEB SITE: www.afspa.org ticularly in the auto, engineering, and footwear industries. The agree¬ ment, covering 30,000 people in 41 countries, commits the corporation to respect the ILO s core labor stan¬ dards in all the worksites of All New Suites, Same Great Prices! Freudenberg and its subsidiaries. Unlike internal codes of conduct adopted by many corporations these days, the Freudenberg-ICEM agreement is fully verifiable by the union. “We see here our future,” says Truus Erkins, a Dutch trade union¬ ist who sits on Freudenberg s European Works Council. In the Starting at future that he foresees, the stan¬ he Virginian Suites has just undergone ♦ Spacious suites a major room renovation. Everything’s with full kitchens $68 dards of European workers will be new, from floor to ceiling.We’ve heard ♦ Pool and exercise eroded by globalization if workers in the suggestions of our loyal guests and facilities the U.S. and elsewhere are denied we’ve responded. ♦ Free local phone calls, on site parking, the protection of a union contract. and cable TV with HBO Now you’re not only staying just minutes Erkins was one of the four members Complimentary Continental from National Airport, the National Foreign ♦ of the Freudenberg European Affairs Training Center, most government Breakfast on weekdays Works Council who visited the U.S. buildings, and Metro—you’re getting a great ♦ Free shuttle to NFATC weekdays price for a brand new suite! at 7:30am, returning at 4:30pm last year to learn about labor condi¬ tions in general and specifically in 1500 Arlington BlvcL, Arlington, VA 22209 Freudenberg s unionized and non- The AJ 703-522-9600 • 800-275-2866 • Fax: 703-525-4462 E-mail: [email protected] unionized facilities in the United Virginian Suites www.virginiansuites.com States. A U.S. industry journal, Rubber b Plastic News, praised

48 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/JULY-AUGUST 2001 The idea that working people everywhere have basic rights is becoming more widely accepted Volvo S80 Sedan than ever, at least in principle. jpom riviiege. Diplomatic Corps • Embassy Personnel • Foreign Service Professionals Military • World Bank • Inter-American Development Bank Freudenberg “for demonstrating a Organization of American States social conscience ... [and] for being Domestic or Foreign • Active or Retired smart.” Contact Dana Martens ICEM also negotiated a frame¬ Diplomatic Sales Director work agreement with Statoil, the e-mail: Norwegian-based oil company, in i- MARTENS 1998. Other global unions have website: ______(ZDZ) 537-3000 made similar arrangements with www.martensvolvo.com FAX (202)537-1826 some employers or employer groups in the international shipping, gar¬ ment, metal, and other sectors, although so far they have reached WASHINGTON • ARLINGTON, VA • CRYSTAL CITY only a tiny number of the worlds “WHEN A GOOD HOTEL Like many fine hotels, we offer cable color multinationals. television with HBO, pool (in season) and IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH. maid service. Crystal Quarters also offers: To cope with globalization, Now you can choose • Queen bed and Queen sleep sofa unions today are negotiating witir between three fully- • 24-hour exercise room - both locations another set of powerful players in equipped, full-service • Inside parking, included the global economy: intergovern¬ residential suites with • Unlimited local telephone use three great locations . • No extra charges for spouse or mental institutions. Unions, who children traditionally have represented work¬ • Ironing board and iron • Fully equipped kitchens er interests to employers and gov¬ • Private Mail Box ernment, now also represent worker • Washer/Dryer Water Park Towers and Crystal Place interests in institutions such as the in each unit World Trade Organization, the Microwave ovens and regular International Monetary Fund, the kitchen ovens • Voice Mail & VCR (upon request) World Bank, and regional multilat¬ eral banks. They are asking those Now compare the cost for the convenience, institutions to follow the precedent service and location you find at Crystal of the OECD, in which labor, like Quarters with what you could spend at hotels that offer only part of our complete business, has a voice through an package. We think you will find Crystal advisory committee. Such a change Quarters is the best value. would enable union representatives • On Metro Rail System to influence policies and projects • Next to Reagon National Airport • Adjacent to Underground Shopping that affect workers’ lives and their TEL: 1-800-332-8501 or 703-671-7505 right to organize and bargain. Some FAX: 703-685-4660 or E-MAIL: [email protected] VISIT OUR SITE ON THE INTERNET AT: www.crystalquarters.com knowledgeable experts, including

JULY-AUGUST 2001/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 49 economist Joseph Stiglitz, agree with leaders (including ICE M’s Higgs) the labor charge that the present joined corporate CEOs in launching policies of international financial Recent activism by the Kofi Annan’s global compact, a institutions often undermine worker group of human rights and environ¬ rights, especially tire right to orga¬ labor movement mental activists objected. They pub¬ nize and bargain. licly criticized the compact as a Promoting worker rights in the is partly responsible sham, a means for corporations to rules that govern the global econo¬ “wrap themselves in the flag of the my has long been a major priority of for creating a more United Nations to ‘bluewash’ their the world union body, the public image while at the same time International Confederation of Free favorable environment avoiding significant changes to their Trade Unions, which groups nation¬ behavior.” al union federations like the AFL- for worker rights. If labors reform strategy fails to CIO, and of global unions such as achieve significant changes fairly ICEM. Historically, they have suc¬ soon, criticism of their efforts, which cessfully concentrated these efforts is still isolated and subdued, will on the International Labor become louder, more radical, and Organization. But their five-decade- perhaps more influential. long, on-and-off effort to match the increasingly pursued in formal or Meanwhile, unions throughout the influence business has in the World informal cooperation with non-gov- world are pursuing a non-radical Trade Organization and its forerun¬ emmental groups which share the strategy to deal with the transforma¬ ner, the General Agreement on goal of making the bureaucracies tions wrought by the global econo¬ Tariffs and Trade, has been an utter more sensitive to the needs of civil my. Will that strategy make a differ¬ failure. society. For example, last year the ence where it counts the most — in Labors efforts at the World Bank Asian Development Bank agreed to the places men and women work, and at the International Monetary a dialogue with a network of trade both in industrialized and develop¬ Fund have done a little better. unions, non-governmental organiza¬ ing nations? During a half-century of existence, tions, and academics from In Sylacauga, the results are the World Bank and IMF, founded, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines mixed. In early February, seven funded, and controlled by govern¬ and Thailand, grouped together as months after the unions election ments, have paid most of their atten¬ the Asian Labor Network on IFIs victory, Imerys and the union tion to governments and the finan¬ (International Financial Institutions). signed a three-year collective bar¬ cial fraternity close to governments. At the end of an open-ended session gaining agreement with pay Only recently have they come to with five network representatives at increases of about 3 percent each grips with the role of civil society, ADB headquarters in May 2000, a year, plus improved benefits. A few the network of private institutions senior official, Ayumi Konishi, weeks later, the two sides came operating in the landscape between expressed warm appreciation for the into conflict after management individuals and the state. The World discussion. He said that the ADB unilaterally adopted two sets of Bank now has civil society specialists welcomes outside input, “especially personnel policies, including on duty in Washington and in about to challenge our assumptions,” and employee guidelines listing 39 75 of its 90 offices in the developing that it needs to engage in “dialogue infractions that would lead to dis¬ world. And according to information on overall issues — we have not charge or lesser penalties. A flurry the bank top officials gave union done this.” of worker grievances followed, as leaders, the bank now does take sev¬ The labor movements strategy of did a complaint from the union to eral core ILO rights — anti-slavery, seeking dialogue with major centers the National Labor Relations anti-child labor, and non-discrimina¬ of global power meets resistance Board that the company wasn’t tion — into account in its activities, from inside the power centers, of playing fair because it failed to but not freedom of association and course, but also from small groups negotiate the policies. Says Keith collective bargaining. on the outside convinced that multi¬ Fulbright, now president of the Despite setbacks, the union cam¬ national corporations and interna¬ Sylacauga union: “It’s a struggle. paign to reform intergovernmental tional agencies are hopelessly But we’re getting an education in institutions is now a high priority, beyond reform. After several union how to cope.” ■

50 FOREIGN SERVICE J O U RN AL/J ULY-AU GU ST 2001 Do NORTH KOREANS HAVE HUMAN RIGHTS?

REALPOLITIK SAYS SECURITY ISSUES COME FIRST, BUT THE WEST MUST SPEAK OUT ON

PYONGYANG’S TERRIBLE ABUSES OF ITS OWN PEOPLE.

BY GEORGE GEDDA

M » ince the United States opened high-level con- Korean prison camps; all had fled the country and settled in tacts with North Korea, there is one key issue South Korea. U.S. officials have found convenient to ignore: One witness, Kang Chul-hwan, said he was imprisoned ■ human rights. If the relationship continues to during the 1980s at age nine with other family members for k W develop, human rights will eventually become the alleged misdeeds of his grandfather. The arrests were S part of the agenda, much as it has with China. consistent with North Korea’s policy of punishing three suc¬ In Chinas case, it was a process that took almost two decades cessive generations of supposed class enemies. “Children in after the initial contacts in 1971. That pattern could well be concentration camps seeking relief from hunger eat anything the same with North Korea — but for now, security issues ... rats, frogs, snakes or earthworms,” Kang said. “Rats are predominate. The goal of U.S. policy is to convince especially favored as a source of meat.” On one occasion, Pyongyang that its interests are not served by a policy of mil¬ Kang said security agents exposed hundreds of dead bodies itary threats and by the development and export of long- when they were bulldozing a hill to plant crops. Inmates were range missiles. North Korea ordered to dig a pit deep has been a major obstacle to enough to dump all the international efforts to curb corpses. From age 16 on, missile proliferation for years. Prisoners were glad to carry corpses, Kangs tasks included carry¬ In contrast to China and ing and burying dead bodies. Cuba, successive U.S. admin¬ since they got an extra ration of He said prisoners competed istrations as well as the for the assignment because Congress have never shown noodles after doing that work. those inmates got extra com much interest in examining noodles for die evening meal. human rights problems in Not long after die hearing, North Korea. That may seem strange in light of North Korea’s the Voice of America decided to do an editorial on human reputation for mass abuse of its citizens, but a lack of solid rights problems in North Korea, using the testimony of Kang information has hampered public debate. The first and only and his colleagues. But the State Department vetoed the ini¬ congressional hearing on the issue did not occur until April tiative on grounds that it could disrupt delicate negotiations 22, 1999. It was convened by Sen. Craig Thomas, R-Wyo., with North Korea that were about to begin. chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations East Asia subcom¬ mittee. It generated little interest. No senators besides A Show for the Secretary of State Thomas showed up, and the media presence was scant. The Fonner Secretary of State Madeleine Albright got a first¬ inattention was unfortunate because the proceedings helped hand look at some of the excesses of the regime during her illuminate just how desperate conditions are. The witnesses ground-breaking visit to North Korea last October. The visit were three former inmates and one fonner guard at North was dominated by talks over the missile issue. But perhaps die most memorable moment occurred about 12 hours after George Gedda, a frequent contributor to the Journal, cov¬ her arrival when she found herself sitting in an outdoor stadi¬ ers the State Department for the Associated Press. um next to North Korea’s supreme leader, Kim Jong-Il.

JULY-AUGUST 2001/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 51 Fox' 70 minutes, Albright and an at 5, 6, 7 o’clock in the morning and at accompanying traveling paiiy that 5, 6, 7, 8 o’clock in tire evening,” he included this reporter witnessed an The VOA planned a says. extraordinary acrobatic and dance “I saw them the whole wintertime exhibition that extolled the virtues of critical editorial on — December, January and February. tlie country’s army, its workers, its It was awfully cold. They were not teachers, its children and, of course, its human rights abuses in allowed to take warm things with leaders. The precision of the thou¬ them. Several times I took care of sands of performers, many dressed in North Korea, but the those girls because tlrey suffered from spectacular costumes, awed tire visit¬ breakdowns.” ing American delegation, not to men¬ State Department There was no letup iir the summer tion die 100,000 or so spectators who eitirei; he says. Girls would often pass packed die stadium. Supplementing vetoed it. out from heat exhaustion. “I gave the performers on die field were thou¬ medical assistance again and again and sands more in a dash card section. At again,” Vollertsen says, adding that as one point, die card section fashioned the October performance date the image of a rocket pointed upward, mrscheduled meeting with Kim that approached, the daily training regi¬ as if in flight. The crowd, filled mostiy day he surprised her, Albiight said, by men lengthened, sometimes lastiirg all with party loyalists, roared their saying, “I want to take you to a show.” day and well into tire night. approval. Under such circumstances, she said, The situation was much the same at Overall, the exhibition was a vivid “It’s a little hai'd to say no.” Kim Il-sung Square where prepara¬ display of the adoration Kim can com¬ The incredible precision of tire per¬ tions for a mass parade were under mand from his controlled masses. It formers obviously required a her¬ way. Like the gymnastics/dance exhi¬ was also a performance that recalled culean effort and raised many ques¬ bition, it, too, was intended as part of the glorification routinely showered tions. For example, were the children tire festivities for the Korea Workers on Stalin arid Mao Tse-Tung during who performed removed from school Party anniversary. Vollertsen recalled their respective heydays. The perfor¬ so tlrey could learn then routines? tire surreal sight of 1 million spent mance was not created specifically for In a society as reclusive as North Pyongyairg residents parading through Albrights visit but ratiier was a reran Korea’s, tire answers to such questions tire streets during a 2 a.m. rehearsal, of a show two weeks earlier initially are virtually impossible for outsiders to aird their collective outrage when, designed as a celebration of the 55th learn. But this time tire regime uirwit- after they were dismissed, the subway anniversary of the founding of the rul¬ tingly let the secrecy veil drop a bit. system was not up to tire task of ing Korea Workers Party. accommodating a mob of that size. Albright was not introduced to the The Good Doctor Not long after Albright’s visit, gatiiering and, indeed, it is doubtful In June 1999, the government Vollertsen decided to speak out that more than a few people there had invited a German doctor, Norbert against tire abuses. He was ordered any idea who she was as she entered Vollertsen, to work in Noitli Korea as out of the country last December aird tire stadium witii Kim at her side. Kim, a volunteer He found tire country to told irever to return. He has since of course, needed no introduction. On be an awful place, one where hospitals been traveliirg extensively, attempting arrival, he was greeted by an exuber¬ lack drags, syringes, disinfectants, to coirvince audiexrces in many coun¬ ant, three-minute standing ovation, electricity or running water and where tries that the suffering iir North Korea coupled with a thunderous full-throat¬ small towns feature ubiquitous fresh must not be allowed to contiirue, that ed roar of approval, and Iris send-off graves bearing the remains of children decisive international action against after the show was much the same. who had starved to death. But noth¬ the regime is imperative. He believes Days after her return to ing, he said, was more ghastly than tire that countless North Koreans will die Washington, Albright acknowledged preparations for the gymnastics/dance before diplomatic efforts to induce in an interview that she was “absolute¬ exhibition that Albright eventually was change in tire country yield results. ly” uncomfortable watching tire per¬ to see in October 2000. Albiight said human rights issues formance. Her mere presence at such As far back as October 1999, were raised during her Pyongyang visit an event raised eyebrows hr some Vollertsen came across young girls but oirly in general terms, and there media circles, but Albiight said she practicing their routines. “I wondered was no discussion of the North’s short¬ was, in effect, ambushed. During an what in the hell tlrey were doing there comings.

52 FOREIGN SERVICE ] O U RN AL/J U LY-AU G U ST 2001 Albrights visit to North Korea was Pyongyang’s retreat from belliger¬ Burmese coast Nov. 29, 1987. followed up six months later with a ence was evident in other ways. It In 1997, three years after taking visit by a European Union delegation established normal diplomatic rela¬ over for his father, Kim’s official biog¬ led by Swedish Prime Minister tions with a number of Western raphy was released, a strange blend of Goeran Persson. The delegation gin¬ European countries and with the fact and fiction which attributes nearly gerly raised the human rights issue but European Union. And, in a dramatic superhuman powers to him. It is not Kim seemed dismissive of their com¬ departure, it has begun releasing offi¬ easy to square these claims with the ments, noting that there were differ¬ cial data about the social and econom¬ comments of Westerners who have ences between Western rights con¬ ic catastrophe that has befallen the spent time with him and who describe cepts and “Asian values.” country over the past decade. In a him as a well-informed man who report presented in May to a behaves normally. A Retreat from Belligerence UNICEF conference in Beijing, The future of U.S. relations witii Realists, of coruse, are aware that Pyongyang conceded tiiat famine and him could well depend on Kim’s will¬ respect for human rights cannot be economic collapse cut the life ingness to give up his missiles, includ¬ imposed on die North Koreans. In the expectancy of North Koreans by more ing missile sales to the Middle East, short tenn, die United States can tiian six years during the 1990s. It said and to accept U.S. verification progress in its relations witii North die mortality rate for children under demands. There is also the issue of Korea only on economic and security age 5 rose during those years from 27 how much Kim will demand in return. issues. On security matters, concern deaths per 1,000 to 48 per 1,000. The He is presumably eager for generous goes beyond the Norths missile and decision to release the data, though economic benefits but Washington nuclear programs, to a more basic not die facts themselves, surprised already has made clear drat assistance question: Can the North can be per¬ analysts. oudays in cash are out of die question. suaded to live in peace with the But Republican skeptics and others South? There is no Washington con¬ want further evidence to be convinced The Bush Team’s Harder Line sensus on these questions. that North Korea is embarked on a The inauguration of George W. Democrats generally have been new path. They note that Pyongyang Bush ushered in a serious re-examina¬ more optimistic than Republicans continues to engage routinely in dis¬ tion of U.S. relations with North about die potential for an early break¬ reputable activities, quite apart from Korea. It was concern over die verifi¬ through, pointing to die highly suc¬ the mistreatment of its own people. As cation issue in particular that prompt¬ cessful summit a year ago between an example, it derives income through ed President Bush to hold off on Kim Jong-Il and South Korean making large quantities of counterfeit resuming missile negotiations where President Kim Dae-jung. In a depar¬ dollars and selling drugs, sometimes Clinton had left them. (Secretary of ture from past practice, the Norths using overseas embassies as trafficking State Colin Powell wanted an immedi¬ Kim generated surprise by referring to centers. ate resumption but was overruled.) his South Korean counterpart as In addition, the North’s overtures Bush ordered a review' of North Korea “president.” to die Soudi in recent years have not policy in March, generating concern in Another source of encouragement included a relaxation of its military some circles that he was squandering has been Pyongyang’s record of com¬ preparedness. Indeed, the Council on away the momentum toward an pliance witii a 1994 agreement witii Foreign Relations said in March tiiat accommodation with Pyongyang that the United States to, in effect, get out Pyongyang “has spent the past two had been built up during the Clinton of the nuclear weapons business. The years building up its capacity to inflict administration. North also has abided by a September damage on South Korea and Japan The Bush team’s skepticism about 1999 pledge not to test long-range with new deployments of artillery, the North was evident in its revived missiles — a concession die Clinton fighter aircraft, special operations use of die term “rogue state” to administration was able to extract just forces and ballistic missiles.” describe the country. The Clinton a year after the North caused shock And questions about Kim Jong-Il administration had dropped die tenn waves in the region by launching a abound. As a top lieutenant years ago a year ago in light of its attempt at missile that sailed over Japan. (The to his father, Kim Il-sung, he is widely accommodation with Pyongyang. North insisted that the rocket firing believed to have been die mastermind Not surprisingly, Kim was put off was an attempt to put an artificial of a terrorist bombing of a South by the more pugnacious attitude in satellite into orbit and didn’t pose any Korean passenger plane tiiat killed Washington after Clinton stepped threat to otiier countries.) 115 people when it crashed off the down. His efforts at reconciliation

JULY-AUGUST 2001/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 53 with the South slowed dramatically North Korea to lay the groundwork for and Pyongyang’s rhetoric toward a resumption of negotiations. Washington recalled an earlier era. An Kim Jong-Il demands Clearly the most controversial item official commentary in late March on the broadened U.S. agenda was the said, “It is the invariable strategy of the extra compensation proposal to ease tensions along tiie U.S. imperialists to stifle (North border with South Korea. The North Korea) by means of war and invade for the delayed maintains what Powell calls a “huge and dominate Asia, taking die whole army” of 1 million near the of Korea as a springboard.” In early nuclear reactors, Demilitarized Zone within easy stink¬ May, Kim told die visiting European ing distance of Seoul — and of the Union delegation tiiat he planned to but the U.S. 37,000 U.S. soldiers stationed in tiie continue missile exports because his South. country needed cash, countering the dismisses the claim. Amid all die concern about the impression he had left witii Clinton nuclear threat and the missile menace, administration officials. it is not surprising that human rights Also in May, North Korea threat¬ issues have taken a back seat. Such a ened to pull out of its 1994 nuclear believed that Bushs combative atti¬ policy is feasible against countries too deal with the United States, saying tude toward Pyongyang was based on weak to fight back (e.g., Cuba and Washington had failed to uphold a desire to deploy a national missile Burma) or where there is an interna¬ terms of die agreement. The North defense. If North Korea were to give tional consensus (e.g., Iraq and had agreed in 1994 to freeze its up its missile program, tiiat would Afghanistan). But tiie United States nuclear program — which U.S. offi¬ remove a key rationale for pursuing often declines to call dictators to cials suspected was being used to NMD, or so the theory goes. The account because they are important make nuclear weapons — in exchange North, after all, is believed to have strategically, a description that certain¬ for two nuclear reactors to be built missiles capable of reaching U.S. terri¬ ly applies to North Korea. mostly with South Korean and tory, although Kim told EU leaders So official comments about die Japanese financing. The two light tiiat he planned to extend the 1999 human rights situation in North Korea water reactors are considered far less test moratorium until 2003. likely will be limited to the few pages useful for making nuclear weapons tiiat tiie State Department’s annual than the plutonium-producing models New Negotiations human rights report devotes to North tiiey are intended to replace. To help Despite these tensions, President Korea. While that report is strongly Pyongyang meet its energy needs dur¬ Bush, after a three-month policy worded, it does little to pressure the ing the interim, the United States review' announced in early June he authorities in Pyongyang to change agreed to provide $100 million in was ready to resume negotiations. The their methods. Indeed, tiie report is heavy fuel each year until the first discussions would be broader than little more than a chronicling of the reactor is on line. those conducted during the Clinton existing situation. But funding and contractual prob¬ era, which were focussed on missiles. It may be that the United States lems, as well as political tensions, have No conditions for opening die talks has little opportunity to do more at delayed completion of the reactor pro¬ would be imposed on North Korea. this time. No doubt, avoiding an ject until 2008, five years after die But Powell made clear that, in addi¬ armed conflict on the Korean penin¬ original target date. Pyongyang has tion to missile controls, talks should sula is a necessary objective (there said die delay entitles it to extra com¬ cover tiie Norths large troop presence could be no greater human rights pensation above the $100 million in near the South Korean border. catastrophe than a second Korean annual fuel deliveries. The complaints Also on the U.S. agenda was die war). Still, the abysmal human, have been dismissed by Charles possibility of easing U.S. sanctions material and political conditions in Kartman, the American who heads tile against North Korea and of providing North Korea should not be put on Korean Peninsula Energy Develop¬ humanitarian assistance. In addition, the back burner forever. The politi¬ ment Organization (KEDO), which is tiie United States would encourage cal traditions, ideals and interests of building the light water reactors. continued efforts between North and the United States — and of tiie West Kartman says the 2003 was a target South Korea toward reconciliation. A more generally — demand action to date, not a contractual date. week after Bushs announcement, low- remedy that terrible and long- Some administration critics level talks were held in New York witii neglected situation. ■

54 FOREIGN SERVICE J OURN AL/J U LY-AU GU S T 2001 BOOKS

TRYING TO HELP Cohen usefully broadens his analysis to consider the root causes of the con- In analyzing African dicts (e.g., clan loyalty and competi¬ Intervening in Africa: tion for water and land) and the Superpower Peacemaking in a conflicts, Cohen involvement of both superpowers and Troubled Continent other regional players. He also Herman J. Cohen, St. Martin’s Press, considers not only the reveals how disagreements within the 2000, $65, hardcover, 228 pages U.S. government over the best way to root causes but the coordinate assistance hampered the REVIEWED BY AJIT JOSHI American response to the resulting involvement of both humanitarian emergencies. In Ambassador Herman J. Cohens Somalia, it would take President Intervening in Africa: Superpower superpowers and other Bush’s personal intervention before Peacemaking in a Troubled Continent Operation Provide Relief could get offers seven case studies of conflicts regional players. going in 1992. As for Sudan, even he attempted to resolve while serving today there still is no clear consensus as assistant secretary for African about how vigorously Washington affairs from 1989-1993. (See also should intervene. “Waging Peace in Africa” by Cohen in every single detail of die transition From those experiences, Cohen the May 2000 FSJ.) ahead of time but concentrated draws seven lessons for those deal¬ In organizing the discussion, instead on completing die disarma¬ ing with conflict in Africa: (1) Cohen draws a helpful distinction ment and encampment of the war¬ Decision-making and willpower at between “mature” wars, primarily riors. Of course, as Cohen notes, it the working level can make a differ¬ those preceding the Bush administra¬ also helped that Washington and ence. (2) The network of U.S. tion (Angola, Ethiopia, Sudan, Moscow worked together to bring embassies in Africa and Europe is a Mozambique), and those that fired up about a peaceful resolution to diat vital element in an activist approach. during his tenure (Liberia, Rwanda, conflict. (3) Coopting the U.S. national secu¬ Somalia). Institutional history was Sadly, Mozambique proved to be rity community is essential. (4) especially important in analyzing an exception. In Rwanda, States Starting early is better than late. (5) appropriate U.S. policy toward the Bureau of African Affairs determined Talk to everybody. (6) Bring in the former group of countries, while die diat die U.S. should not take a leading multilaterals early. (7) Beware of other conflicts primarily required role even as die situation worsened “signature obsession” (i.e., obtaining what was then a relatively new type of dramatically and the French failed to the parties’ assent is really only the intervention: crisis management. intervene. Cohen also acknowledges beginning, not the end, of the peace As his case study of Angola reveals, diat die myopic focus on drafting a process). the U.S. focused on high-level negoti¬ peace agreement (known as the Yet he warns that even these prin¬ ations even diough they produced lit- Arusha protocols after die location ciples only work when there is politi¬ de but frustration and wrangling over where negotiations began in 1994 and cal will and cooperation widiin the details. Yet in Mozambique, a coun¬ continued diereafter) ignored what U.S. government (e.g., among State, try widi a broadly similar history, the lay beneath the violence both in USAID and DOD) and when the U.S. enjoyed success precisely Rwanda and neighboring Burundi. available information about the situa¬ because it did not try to work out In discussing Somalia and Sudan, tion on the ground and the positions

JULY-AUGUST 2001/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 55 B 0 0 A s

of the various parties to tire conflict is He sets the stage for the discus¬ past is prologue,” Newsom observes, clear enough to deal with a volatile sion by describing the main ways in Americans are supposed to remem¬ environment. which imperialism arrived in the non- ber die Alamo, mark the day that will And sometimes, as dris candid European world (mainly by violence), five in infamy, and learn the lessons of account shows us, notiring works. and tiien illustrating how imperialists die Vietnam War. Yet the American administered tiieir domains. As he op-ed debate on foreign policy issues Ajit Joshi, the Africa Bureau team notes, not all colonial regimes were often starts witii pundits convinced leader on conflict, has been ivith harsh, but even the most benign ones that Africa should forget die brutality USAID since 1998. displaced local elites and exploited of colonialism, China should forget its natural and human resources for die century of humiliation, and Korea benefit of a select few. should forget the decades of Japanese World War II paved die way for occupation and domination. COLONIALISM’S almost every colony to seek its inde¬ Newsom reminds us tiiat Foreign LEGACY pendence, botii by weakening die Service officers put history aside at European powers’ ability and desire tiieir peril. In fact, on die front lines to maintain control and by making the of diplomacy — across die table from The Imperial Mantle: The Third World an arena for competition a foreign interlocutor — one gains United States, Decolonization, between tile two superpowers. But, leverage the better one understands and the Third World as Newsom points out, because the the other nations history. David D. Newsom, Indiana Cold War required Washington to That lesson, and many other University Press, 2001, hardback, organize its allies to contain the Soviet insights gained in a lifetime as a prac¬ $35, 256 pages. Union in Europe, die U.S. had to titioner of diplomacy, make The REVIEWED BY DAVID REUTHER moderate its support for decoloniza¬ Imperial Mantle valuable not only to tion. True, when a European ally had the Foreign Service community but to In Iris previous books, Ambassador little room for maneuver, Washington academia and the public at large. David Newsom, a distinguished could more directly pursue an anti¬ retired FSO, has analyzed die relation¬ colonial agenda; for example, David Reuther, a retired FSO, is a ship between diplomacy and human Newsom cites strong American sup¬ regular contributor to the Journal. rights, the role of die media and lobby¬ port for the independence of ists in formulating foreign policy, and Indonesia (where he served) from the die evolution of American diplomatic Netherlands. But in most cases, die practice, among odier subjects. His U.S. could not take a leading role in Two TREES latest volume, The Imperial Mantle: the process, and even found itself The United States, Decolonization, and assuming its own “imperial mantle” in The Baobab and the Mango the Third World, follows in that proud places like Vietnam. And while that Tree: Lessons about tradition, examining how history was part of what it took to win the Development — African and shaped the attitudes of die post-Cold Cold War, he warns that it may also be Asian Contrasts War international community towards die only thing tiiat some countries Nicholas and Scott Thompson, Zed America and die West. remember about America. Books, 2001, $69.95 (hardcover), Newsoms central diesis is that the Drawing on his experiences as an $25.00 (paperback), 224 pages. historical process that has most shaped FSO in many a former colony, the opinions of die non-European Newsom also reminds us tiiat disman¬ REVIEWED BY MAUREEN DUGAN world is colonialism — die “imperial tling colonialism was sometimes high¬ mande” of his tide. He therefore ly destabilizing, tiiough its effects var¬ The Baobab and the Mango Tree: advises tiiat finding “solutions to some ied widely even among neighboring, Lessons about Development — of the most significant foreign policy outwardly similar colonies. He backs African and Asian Contrasts analyzes problems of die United States in die up tiiis observation witii a tour d’hori- the patiis of economic development 21st century will require coming to zon of case studies starting in Asia, taken by two non-Westem countries grips witii die emotions, attitudes and moving through die Middle East and — Ghana (a paradigm for Africa) and disorder of diose nations tiiat, in much into Africa. Thailand (representing Asia). The of die 20tii, were colonies of die West.” In keeping with the idea that “the authors are a fatiier and son duo: Scott

56 FOREIGN SERVICE J O U RN AL/J ULY-AU Gl! S T 2001 BOOKS

Thompson (the director of Southeast self-restraint and focus on the long economic leadership (recent govern¬ Asia Studies at the Fletcher School of term. But die second tree is forever ments have been more responsible Law and Diplomacy) and Nicholas bare because of greed and failure to and responsive to the country’s Thompson (editor of Washington plan. So it is, the authors contend, needs), most Ghanaians today — Monthly). Scott Thompson lived in with countries diat use up all their unlike their Thai counterparts —- are Ghana during the mid-1960s while resources and fail to save or make poorer now than they were at inde¬ doing dissertation research but subse- provision for the next generation. pendence nearly fifty years ago. quendy focused on Asian develop¬ The authors’ diesis is that three The book’s radier breezy tone and ment; he has lived in Thailand. fundamental factors explain the dif¬ paucity of hard data probably will Nicholas Thompson visited both ferences between development in not appeal to specialists in develop¬ countries in 1998 following gradua¬ Ghana and Thailand: historical tra¬ ment issues. But general readers tion from college. jectory (culture, geography, edmic may find it accessible enough to pick Their book, an engaging if patterns, colonial experience, and up more information than they uneven blend of development theo¬ luck); leadership; and the degree of would have garnered from heavy ry and personal observations, openness in society. While in many economic tomes. ■ attempts to explain why Thailand of these areas Thadand had natural has done so much better than Ghana advantages over Ghana from die Maureen Dugan, an FSO since 1985, in terms of most economic and social beginning, Ghana does not lack nat¬ has served in Africa, Latin America, indicators and to see if those lessons ural or human resources, and actual¬ and the Middle East. A member can be applied more generally to ly has more to work with than many of the Journal’s Editorial Board, she other countries. neighboring countries. Yet largely currently works in USAID/ As the Thompsons explain in the due to short-sighted political and Washington. initial chapters, the first part of the book’s title comes from a legend recounted in The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery. In diat Sales, Leasing and Property Management story, a prince tries desperately to rid his tiny planet of baobabs — large trees native to Africa with extremely Stuart and Maury Inc. thick trunks that produce only a few Realtors small, gourd-like fruits and never stop growing as long as they have 1031 Tax deferred exchange specialists room to expand — so they will not ■ Hands on management for over 45 years consume everything in sight. The authors liken die governments of ■ We re not huge, we're selective, we care many developing nations to baobabs, ■ Personalized guidance for all your real estate needs which suck up resources and con¬ ■ Monthly computerized statements strain development without giving ■ Proven, Reliable Contractors much in return. The complementary mango tree Call Susan Bader, Real Estate Investment Specialist, image comes from an old Sanskrit for more information story about two mango trees in a royal courtyard. Once the long has Office: (301) 654-3200 tasted the fruit of the trees, then Fax: (301) 656-6182 anyone else can pick it or take a E-mail: [email protected] branch without restriction. 4833 Bethesda Ave. However, if the people are greedy Suite 200 Bethesda, MD 20814 and take too many mangoes, the tree will stop giving fruit and will wither www.susanbader.com away. One tree remains laden with Visit our web site for references fruit because die people exercise

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rjuisiEVENS I SmJH/1 i’R0i’i:KT) Stevens Property t'jnl MANAGEMENT Management

OFFERS A full service company dedicated to providing you with uncompromising service.

Are [you* • Thinking of renting out a residential

property you own? MANAGEMENT • Moving out of the area and need someone to manage your property while you are away? SERVICES • A first time landlord and need help? MID PLEASURES AND PALACES TOO WE MAY ROAM, BE IT EVER SO HUMBLE, THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME. • An investor looking for a company to John Howard Payne, 1823 • From the opera, Clari, the Maid of Milan manage your residential properties? At Washington Management we: Stevens Property Management, Inc is an • Carefully screen tenants

established company with over 60 years of • Meticulously look after your home 2015 Q Street, N.W. residential property management experience. • Exclusively service residential properties Washington, D.C. 20009 in Maryland, Virginia, and D.C. phone 202/462-7212 For a free management information package, • Personally attend to every detail, and fax 202/332-0798 call or e-mail: • Give you peace of mind (703) 476-8431 [email protected] e-mail [email protected] www.wmsdc.com

60 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/J ULY-AVGU ST 2001 REAL ESTATE

WWW.HOMESDATABASE.COM/SIMUNEK

• CLICK on Homes Prospector • SPECIFY your criteria • RECEIVE daily email updates of all new homes listed for sale with realtors directly from their computerized Multiple Listing Service

The Simunek Team Zorita & Richard Simunek and Tachiea Roland [email protected]

4600 Lee Highway 5101 Wisconsin Ave., NW. Arlington VA 22207 Washington, D.C. 20016

703-284-9365 202-296-4304

I ULY-AUGUST 2001/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 61 REAL ESTATE McGrath Real Estate RHR PROPERTIES Services The Foreign Service Specialists SALES, LEASING & PROPERTY MANAGEMENT Over 20 years of experience representing Foreign Service Officers in the Northern Virginia area. From Nairobi to Tokyo to Recife, ♦ Property management Foreign Service agents trust their homes to ♦ Real estate sales ♦ Consulting services RHR Properties.

Call now to discuss with our professional staff how - Experienced at meeting the needs of we can assist you with any of your Real Estate needs. foreign service agents and their families 425-B Carlisle Drive - Monthly account statements Herndon, VA 20170 - Regular inspections Phone (703) 709-2264 ♦ Fax (703) 709-5230 - Handyman services E-mail: [email protected]

Visit our website at: www.mcgrathrealestate.com Call today to safeguard your most valued asset with a Or if you are searching for firm dedicated to providing you with the best service available a home in Virginia visit: www.homesdatabase.com/jimmcgrath Office (301) 654-1400 Fax (301) 654-1426 4405 East-West Highway #306 Bethesda, Maryland 20814 t=r eg. e-mail: [email protected] Montgomery County, Northwest D.C., and Northern VA

ADVERTISING INDEX When contacting one of our advertisers, kindly mention you sate their advertisement in the Foreign Service Journal. Automobiles Housing Miscella neous Peake Management, Inc. / 60 American Service Center / 9 Avalon Bay / 4 Princeton Press /16 Property Specialists / 59 Bukkehave C2, C4 Columbia Plaza / 43 Profound Simplicity / 33 Prudential Carruthers / 62 D&M Auto / 24 Executive Club Suites / 4 RHR/62 Diplomatic Automobile / 4 Executive Lodging Real Estate and Stevens Property Property Management Don Bever Volvo / 24 Alternatives / 31 Management / 60 Avery Hess / 63 Martens Volvo / 49 Gates & Hudson / 8 Stuart & Maury / 57 Executive Housing State-Side Auto Supply / 33 FARA/43 Washington Management Oakwood / 6 Consultants / 63 Services / 60 Financial and Remington / 40 J.P. Properties / 58 WJD/59 Tax Services Fearrington / 31 The Virginian Suites / 48 MCG Financial Laughlin Management / 58 School Planning / 33 Long & Foster - Insurance White Mountain / 45 State Department Simunek / 61 AFSPA/48 Federal Credit Union / 15 MGMB/63 Clements & Co. / 1 Money Concepts / 30 McGrath/58 Harry Jannette Sun America / 33 Meyerson Group / 59 International / 6 N. VA Homes & The Hirshom Company / C3 1 Property Management / 60 UNIRISC / 39

62 FOREIGN SERVICE J OU RNAL/J U LY-AU CU ST 2001 REAL ESTATE

EXPERT PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

Houses and Apartments

MGMB Inc. Realtors

Foxhall Square 202-362-4480 3301 New Mexico Ave., N.W. Fax: 202-363-8954 Washington, D.C. 20016 E-mail: [email protected] www.mgmb.baweb.com

Your Name: Your New Address:

Your Old Address:

Your Phone/FAX No.: Your E-mail Address:

Send your address correction to: AFSA Attention: Membership 2101 E St. N.W. Washington, D.C. 20037 OR E-mail it to: [email protected]

JULY-AUGUST 2001/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 63 POSTCARD FROM ABROAD Moving Transcendence

BY DEBORAH LLEWELLYN

I once heard of a woman whose the pieces of my life? It’s a daunting newborn baby boy was packed by I can Y do much task. the moving company. Its true the Every time I move, I get to review basket holding the baby was small, about my shipment my life. Moments of deep contempla¬ and perhaps the drape of the yel¬ once it leaves me tion are thrust on me when I touch low flannel blanket concealed the useless but precious objects that have baby’s fuzzy head. To the eyes of but I have silently gathered dust in a drawer — a the men wearing gray World Wide feather from a hike, a sequin from a Packers jumpsuits, it is likely that fine-tuned the costume, a baby tooth removed from the floppy, stuffed animals that mechanics of under a down pillow. They are every¬ filled the basket, one of which was where, and I don’t know what to do brown like his hair, camouflaged packing. with them. the baby. The movers’ focus was When I go into the homes of veiy not on the particular possessions of old people who have passed their this strange, foreign family but on adult life in the same place, I see sim¬ finding a suitable sized box for the ilar precious objects. Eventually an oval-shaped basket. To their relief, heir will pack up these vestiges of the awkward bundle easily slid us the first time we packed our things their lives and put them into a inside a cardboard crate designated to go overseas. Goodwill truck. Unlike them, I am for bed coverlets. " Where are you going?” the young not allowed the comfort of passing When the mother stalled scream¬ packer asked. blindly through my life, willing its ing, the packers quickly found the box ‘We’re moving to Peru.” remnants to the next generation, and slit open the webbed tape with ‘Well, good luck to you,” he said in because every few years I have to exacta blades. That is, they did so a sympathetic drawl. ‘We just had a repackage all those memories. once the mother located the English- client coming home to retire after liv¬ The real issue, in the long run, is speaking foreman sitting out back ing in those foreign countries.” He not how to pack it, but how to look at with a Coca-Cola and hysterically scratched his head, trying to remem¬ it. In some ways, moving is like break¬ described the situation while wringing ber the story as he had heard it, and ing a good china plate. You can pick her hands. The foreman leapt to then continued: “Her stuff made it till up the pieces and glue them back attention (toppling the Coke bottle) the way back to the port at together but the cracks are still there. and demanded that the baffled work¬ Wilmington, North Carolina, when a That’s not what I tell my children, ers find a large, egg-shaped basket. crane picked it up and dropped it in however, because although their life is Fortunately the baby lived and grew the sea, right beside the dock.” broken, it is also continuously up retelling the story. I can’t do much about my ship¬ renewed. They have always found The potential for loss confronted ment once it leaves me but like most new best friends, incomparable of us in the Foreign Service, I have adventures and hidden talents nur¬ Deborah Llewellyn is a writer in fine-tuned the mechanics of packing. tured by caring adults in our adopted Bangladesh. The stamp is courtesy It’s tire emotional part of packing communities. The broken, then of the AAFSW Bookfair “Stamp that’s a little more difficult to harness. mended, plate is a symbol for a fife Comer. ” How do I label, categorize and move well lived. ■

64 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/JULY-AUGUST 2001 If you're about to be stationed

this is your insurance plan.

The "all-risk" AFSA Insurance Plan.

Specifically designed for members of the American Foreign Service Association on active duty abroad.

With the coverage you get under the U.S. Government Claims Act, if your furniture or personal items are lost

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employees to buy private insurance. If you rely solely on the Claims Act, you may not adequately protect

personal articles like jewelry, furs and fine arts. You'll have no coverage if you're not on government business. And, you'll have no coverage for personal liability.

Through the AFSA Plan, your insured possessions will be covered up to the Limit of your choice. You can insure yourself against personal liability, and you'll be covered whether on business or pleasure. Coverage is available at the same low rate, wherever you're assigned, worldwide. Can you afford to travel overseas without this additional low-cost protection?

You have enough to worry about. Let us take care of your insurance. Send for your free brochure with built-in application today. Or, fax or call our AFSA Desk for immediate answers to your questions.

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