Waging War Land Mines

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE April 2002 StateStateMagazine Waging War on Land Mines StateState Magazine April 2002 Contents No. 456 Department of State • United States of America 7 Post of the Month: Tunis 11 COLUMNS Diplomats have come here for two centuries. 2 From the Secretary 11 Office of the Month: Civil Rights Diversity improves the process and product. 6 Direct from the D.G. 14 Land Mines DEPARTMENTS They are Afghanistan’s hidden killers. 3 Letters to the Editor 18 Delegation Visits Air War College 4 In the News Education and training are at forefront. 26 Education & Training 20 Language Immersion Hue hosts intrepid students from Hanoi. 28 Medical Report 23 Supporting ‘Enduring Freedom’ 30 Appointments Political-Military Bureau is behind the scenes. 31 Personnel Actions 25 FSI Launches New Publications 32 Obituaries Training continuums underscore commitment. Photo by Dave Krecke Dave Photo by OCR’s Terrence Edwards and Gracie Minnis in a mock ADR Session. The columns of Capitolano at 7 Dougga, in Tunisia. On the Cover An Afghan searches for land mines near Kabul. Photo by Brennan Linsley/AP Photos Photo by Steve Vidler/PictureQuest Steve Photo by FROM THE SECRETARY SECRETARY COLIN L. POWELL Making Our Case on Capitol Hill t’s that time again, the beginning of the annual We are also asking Congress to keep funding our pro- Icongressional appropriations process. grams to upgrade and enhance our worldwide security Last year, we made a strong case to Congress for the readiness, including money to hire security agents and additional resources we need to strengthen our ability conduct counterterrorism programs. The President’s to conduct the American people’s foreign policy. At my budget request contains money for upgrading the security first appearance in support of the FY 2002 budget, back of our overseas facilities by improving physical in March 2001, I warned the committee that I was going security, correcting serious deficiencies that still exist and to break the mold and focus on the financial condition providing for security-driven construction of new facilities of the Department. The resources challenge for the State at high-risk posts around the world. Department had become a serious impediment to the Finally, the budget requests funds to provide state-of- conduct of the nation’s foreign policy, and we needed to the-art information technology to all of you, wherever you start fixing the problem. Congress heard us and serve. We are asking for resources we need to extend clas- responded with increased funding to begin implement- sified connectivity to every post that requires it and to ing our plans. expand desktop access to the Internet. In February and March of this year, I testified on the All of these initiatives are critical to the conduct of Hill in favor of our new budget request for FY 2003. As I America’s foreign policy. As I told Congress, if I had to put told the committees, this was a budget request to build one of these priorities at the very pinnacle of our efforts, it on our progress over the past year and keep the momen- would be our hiring effort. tum going. We must sustain the strong recruiting program we Last year, I laid out my priorities for improving our began last year. At the same time, we will measure our ability to conduct foreign policy. These are to recruit the progress not simply by the numbers hired, but by how our best people to plug the staffing gap and provide for a new hires enhance the Department’s mission. We want a training float, to give every one of you world-class Department where you can undergo training without seri- training, to provide secure and work-friendly facilities ously jeopardizing your missions or offices; where you and to equip you with the technology you need to do don’t have to fill two or three positions at once; and where your jobs. you have a chance to breathe occasionally. These priorities haven’t changed for 2003. We’ve accom- I think morale here has taken a definite swing upward, plished much together, but we still have much to do. and we want to continue that trend. High morale, com- In our FY 2003 budget, we ask for funding to continue bined with superb training and adequate resources, is the our successful initiatives to recruit, hire, train and deploy key to a first-class offense—and that is what you are, the right workforce. With the money we request, we will America’s first line of offense. be able to bring 399 more foreign affairs professionals on Taking care of you—the great men and women who board. That will put us well on our way to repairing the carry out America’s foreign policy—is as vital a mission in large gap in our personnel structure and, in the process, my view as helping to construct and shape that foreign ease the strain put on you by a decade of too few hires, policy. The budget request reflects President Bush’s com- too many unfilled positions and too little training. mitment, and my commitment, to creating a strong, well- If we are able to hire these 399 people in the coming fis- managed State Department within which all of us can do cal year and then hire a final group of about the same our jobs and have satisfying careers. number in FY 2004, our three-year effort to fix overseas In return, we need your continuing commitment to staffing will be complete. We will then be able to establish using these resources wisely on behalf of the American the training pool that is so important if you are to have people. You have come through magnificently so far. I the time to complete the training you need in your jobs. know you will continue to do so. I 2 State Magazine LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The Mystery Marine through the KID VID program, publi- I was a friend and colleague of cized in your last September issue. hers from 1999 to 2001 in Havana, Ball—Solved Three Gaborone contestants, aged where she was our information When State Magazine 10 to 13, were motivated to plan, management officer. She worked T E T A F S T O E N T M A R E P organize and film aspects of American hard and very successfully through S D T E T A D S November 2001 T E interviewed me for the I U N Marine Ball article community life in Botswana. We an extremely difficult situation. StateM agazine that appeared last showed their 23-scene video one She is greatly missed by both a November, I said evening at the Marine House. large number of friends and the my husband Tom I would appreciate your correcting Foreign Service. one small mistake in your article. and I were posted Craig Tymeson One of the Gaborone winners’ names to Ouagadougou Director ouseeet is properly spelled Julia Lange. H acy M from 1990 to Blair iplom HR/CDA/ML Where Hospitality and D 1993, when he John E. Lange was the PAO and I was U.S. Ambassador the CLO. Gaborone, Botswana The “low-key” Marine Ball I Letters to the Editor referred to was held at Ambassador There is one small mistake in your Letters should not exceed 250 words and should include the writer’s name, address Brynn’s residence, around the pool, obituaries in the February issue. and daytime phone number. Letters will be during the Persian Gulf War when Pamela Marx, who died recently edited for length and clarity. Only signed Americans were not allowed to con- in London, was not retired at the letters will be considered. Names may be gregate in public places. time of her death, as you reported. withheld upon request. You can reach us My apologies if it was unclear that Rather, she was working right up at [email protected]. I was talking about a Marine Ball of until the end. the early 1990s, not last year. Sarah Genton From the Editor Publications Coordinator Family Liaison Office While the U.S. war on terrorism in Afghanistan is the most visible action, another kind of war—against land mines—is being waged methodically and patiently behind the scenes with allies. Corrections Slightly smaller than Texas, Afghanistan is infested with land mines and unexploded ordinance. It experiences about 200 known casualties monthly, but The Overseas Briefing Center and many others go unreported. Through its partnerships with other countries and the Foreign Service Youth Foundation organizations, the United States is leading land mine removal and education deserve great credit for encouraging efforts to reclaim the country for its citizens. Our cover story starts on page 14. young people to produce videos In other behind-the-scenes action, the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs is supporting the war against terrorism in Afghanistan through a Coalition Visit Us on the Web Working Group whose members received personal praise from the man in www.state.gov/m/dghr/statemag charge: Army Gen. Tommy R. Franks, commander in chief of the U.S. Central Command. The group’s support for “Enduring Freedom” starts on page 23. On the domestic front, the energetic Office of Civil Rights is working behind the scenes to reduce the backlog of complaints and, through alter- native dispute resolution, the number of formal complaints filed. The Office of the Month begins on page 11. The United States has been sending diplomats to Tunisia for more than 200 years. Those serving in Tunis now appreciate our strong ties with this moderate Arab nation bordered by sea and desert.

Load more