PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION MAY 2020 NUCLEAR DIPLOMACY TODAY THE DIPLOMAT AND THE STATE TEX HARRIS, LARGER THAN LIFE –ADVERTISEMENT– FOREIGN SERVICE May 2020 Volume 97, No. 4 Focus on Nuclear Diplomacy BRIAN HUBBLE BRIAN 26 33 37 U.S.-Russian Nuclear Arms Why Nuclear Arms Restoring Nuclear Control Negotiations— Control Matters Diplomacy A Short History Today Urgent action is needed to put the lid An accomplished negotiator puts nuclear In this time of new strains on a new and costly global arms race. arms control in perspective—what it has in great-power relations, By Joseph Cirincione achieved, where it nuclear arms control has failed and what it can do for agreements are an essential 41 our future security. component of national security. From the FSJ Archive By Rose Gottemoeller By Thomas Countryman Arms Control Diplomacy FS Heritage Appreciation 50 F. Allen “Tex” Harris 1938-2020 The Unlucky Consul: Thomas Prentis and the 1902 Martinique 67 Disaster Larger Than Life In 1902, the worst volcanic Feature By Steven Alan Honley disaster of the 20th century took the lives of U.S. Consul Thomas Prentis and his family 44 70 on a Caribbean island. The Foreign Service Remembrances By William Bent Honor Roll U.S. diplomats are on the front lines of America’s engagement with the world. Here is the history of AFSA’s work to pay tribute to the many who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty. By John K. Naland THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | MAY 2020 5 FOREIGN SERVICE Perspectives Departments 10 Letters 7 88 12 Letters-Plus President’s Views Reflections Foreign Service Duty Y2K, What Y2K? 16 Talking Points By Eric Rubin By Lian von Wantoch 77 In Memory 9 81 Books Letter from the Editor Nuclear Diplomacy Matters By Shawn Dorman 22 Marketplace Speaking Out The Diplomat and the State 83 Real Estate By Christopher W. Smith 90 Local Lens 86 Classifieds Egypt By Lori B. John 87 Index to Advertisers AFSA NEWS THE OFFICIAL RECORD OF THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION 57 AFSA and COVID-19 58 State VP Voice—Working for You 57 During This Trying Time 59 USAID VP Voice—Achieving Transparent Promotions by Promoting Transparency 60 Retiree VP Voice—Resilience 60 AFSA Event: Long-Term Care Insurance Alternatives 64 Continuous Domestic Service: 61 Teaching International Affairs: Six-Year Rule Eliminated An AFSA Networking Event 65 Book Notes: Modern Diplomacy in Practice 62 AFSA Welcomes Incoming LNA Class 65 AFSA Voter Registration Guide 63 Foreign Service Journal Chooses New Printer 65 AFSA Meets Representative Fitzpatrick 64 Outreach to Students, Professors 66 2020 Constructive Dissent Awards: and the AFSA Community Call for Nominations On the Cover—Illustration by Brian Hubble. 6 MAY 2020 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL PRESIDENT’S VIEWS Foreign Service Duty BY ERIC RUBIN hile teleworking and Service to join one of the big federal This is who we are and what we do. It’s social distancing for the unions alongside other federal employees. called service. The oath we took when we past month along with so The argument that won the day joined is, I believe, sacred to us all. Wmany of you, I have been was that the Foreign Service is unique. Thinking again about Theodore pulling books off my shelves. One of Its members need representation White’s book, the importance of courage the books I opened was Theodore H. and advocacy, but that has to hap- in the face of adversity is clear. All of us White’s In Search of History. This is the pen in a nonpolitical and nonpartisan must fight for our people, and for our story of a great American journalist who framework. Our members could not profession and what it means. Diplo- witnessed some of the most important adequately be represented within a huge macy is the chief alternative to war. developments of the 20th century. politicized federal union, but also could Reflect on these sobering words White writes passionately about what not rely on management goodwill with- from White: happened to the United States after out someone to advocate for them. And “The ultimate impact of McCarthy on World War II, as the Cold War became that’s where AFSA came in. American diplomacy, and thus on the our focus and McCarthyism took hold in Almost 50 years later, we have a strong world, came many years later, in Vietnam. our political culture. and vibrant association that represents … The purging ended with a State Depart- White’s thesis is that the destruc- more than 80 percent of Foreign Service ment full of junior diplomats, who knew tion of the team of Foreign Service members in six agencies, voluntarily. We their future career was pawn to political Asia experts—who were assailed as have held true to the goal of nonpartisan, passion at home, who knew that prediction apologists for Mao’s China and “fellow nonpolitical representation of our mem- of a Communist victory would be equated travelers” in communism’s relentless bers, and to our dual role as the profes- with hope for a Communist victory, and advance—left the State Department sional association of American diplomats who learned to temper their dispatches desperately unprepared for the coming and as the legally recognized bargaining of observation in the field with what their conflict in Southeast Asia, and con- agent for everyone in the Foreign Service. political superiors wished to hear. tributed directly to the debacle of our I hope the past year has demonstrated “No field-grade American diplomat, engagement in the Vietnam War. AFSA’s value and importance as a bulwark in the long period between 1964 and AFSA is 96 years old this year. We defending our members. We have raised 1975, had the courage flatly to predict started as the professional association of and spent tens of thousands of dollars the potential for disaster in Vietnam. the U.S. Foreign Service, and we remain covering legal bills for members who were Many recognized that potential, but that, fervently. But since 1973 we have subpoenaed as witnesses in the impeach- none dared say it aloud or in print until also been the labor union and official ment hearing. And now, in the midst of the it was too late. They reported what their bargaining agent of the Foreign Service. COVID-19 crisis, we are doing everything political masters wanted to hear.” In 1973, some we can to support our members in Wash- May we consider those words a said that the Foreign ington and in the field who are dealing cautionary tale as we face the challenges Service, as an elite with excruciating challenges. that confront us now. And may we not corps of profession- Our colleagues who have been labor- shy away from our critical role, to stay als, did not need a ing long and hard to bring Americans true to our mission and to tell it like it labor union. Others home in the midst of the pandemic make is, in service to our country and to our advocated for the us proud. This is the Foreign Service. fellow citizens. n Ambassador Eric Rubin is the president of the American Foreign Service Association. THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | MAY 2020 7 FOREIGN SERVICE Editor-in-Chief, Director of Publications Shawn Dorman: [email protected] www.afsa.org Senior Editor Susan Brady Maitra: [email protected] Managing Editor CONTACTS Kathryn Owens: [email protected] AFSA Headquarters: ADVOCACY Associate Editor (202) 338-4045; Fax (202) 338-6820 Director of Advocacy Cameron Woodworth: [email protected] State Department AFSA Office: Kim Greenplate: [email protected] (202) 647-8160; Fax (202) 647-0265 Publications Coordinator USAID AFSA Office: FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION Dmitry Filipoff: [email protected] (202) 712-1941; Fax (202) 216-3710 Director of Finance and Facilities Business Development Manager— FCS AFSA Office: Femi Oshobukola: [email protected] Advertising and Circulation (202) 482-9088; Fax (202) 482-9087 Manager, HR and Operations Molly Long: [email protected] Cory Nishi: [email protected] GOVERNING BOARD Controller Art Director President Kalpna Srimal: [email protected] Caryn Suko Smith Hon. Eric S. Rubin: [email protected] Member Accounts Specialist Editorial Board Secretary Ana Lopez: [email protected] Alexis Ludwig, Chair Ken Kero-Mentz: [email protected] IT and Infrastructure Coordinator Hon. Robert M. Beecroft Treasurer Aleksandar “Pav” Pavlovich: Daniel Crocker Virginia L. Bennett: [email protected] [email protected] Joel Ehrendreich State Vice President Harry Kopp Thomas Yazdgerdi: [email protected] COMMUNICATIONS Jess McTigue USAID Vice President Christopher Teal Director of Communications Jason Singer: [email protected] Joe Tordella Ásgeir Sigfússon: [email protected] FCS Vice President Vivian Walker Manager of Outreach and Internal Hon. Laurence Wohlers Jay Carreiro: [email protected] Communications Dinah Zeltser-Winant FAS Vice President Allan Saunders: [email protected] Michael Riedel: [email protected] Online Communications Manager Retiree Vice President Jeff Lau: [email protected] THE MAGAZINE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS John K. Naland: [email protected] Awards and Scholarships Manager PROFESSIONALS State Representatives Theo Horn: [email protected] The Foreign Service Journal (ISSN 0146-3543), Joshua C. Archibald 2101 E Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20037-2990 is Strategic Messaging Coordinator published monthly, with combined January-February Matthew Dolbow Nadja Ruzica: [email protected] and July-August issues, by the American Foreign Service Holly Kirking Loomis Association (AFSA), a private, nonprofit organization. Kristin Michelle Roberts Material appearing herein represents the opinions of the MEMBERSHIP writers and does not necessarily represent the views of Tamir Waser Director, Programs and Member Engagement the Journal, the Editorial Board or AFSA. Writer queries Lillian Wahl-Tuco Christine Miele: [email protected] and submissions are invited, preferably by email.