The Foreign Service Journal, January 2011
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1 C-C 4_FSJ_0111_COV:proof 12/10/10 10:36 AM Page C1 THE SHORES OF TRIPOLI ■ CHINA’S CENTRAL PARK ■ REMEMBERING STEVE LOW $4.50 / JANUARY 2011 OREIGN ERVICE FJ O U R N A L STHE MAGAZINE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS PROFESSIONALS ALL POLITICS IS LOCAL Counterinsurgency Operations in Afghanistan 1 C-C 4_FSJ_0111_COV:proof 12/20/10 1:21 PM Page C2 Pied-à-terre. On demand. Distinctive residences in superb locations, with full kitchens, spacious living rooms and hotel amenities, available by the week or month. We accept government per diem. DISTINCTIVE FLEXIBLE STAY RESIDENCES BEST EXTENDED STAY INC. 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For federal agencies, governments, multilateral banks, and multinational corporations, Tetra Tech provides scientific and industry-leading solutions to tackle the world’s most complex challenges. www.tetratech.com 01-19_FSJ_0111_FRO:first 12/10/10 10:38 AM Page 3 OREIGN ERVICE FJ O U R N A L S CONTENTS January 2011 Volume 88, No. 1 C OVER S TORY MICRODIPLOMACY IN AFGHANISTAN / 20 The experience of a Provincial Reconstruction Team working in Kapisi province shows the great potential of local engagement. By Matthew B. Arnold and Dana D. Deree F EATURES THE U.S. AND LIBYA: NORMALIZATION OF A STORMY RELATIONSHIP / 26 The recent improvement in relations with Tripoli suggests some larger foreign policy lessons. Cover photo by Jim DeHart By David L. Mack A TALE OF TWO PARKS / 30 A retired FSO and native New Yorker takes the measure of a bustling provincial capital in modern China through the prism of Central Park. PRESIDENT’S VIEWS / 5 By Richard L. Jackson Time for the Foreign Service HAITI: STRENGTH AMID DESOLATION / 35 Reserve Corps A year after the Jan. 12, 2010, earthquake, Haiti continues to endure By Susan R. Johnson more than its share of hardships. But efforts to rebuild continue, as well. SPEAKING OUT / 14 By Christopher E. Goldthwait Welcoming the Disabled APPRECIATION / 39 to the Foreign Service A Visionary and Activist for the Foreign Service: By Michael Bricker Stephen Low, 1927-2010 LETTER FROM By Kenneth L. Brown THE EDITOR / 18 By Steven Alan Honley REFLECTIONS / 68 Our Little Secret By Regina Landor LETTERS / 7 CYBERNOTES / 10 MARKETPLACE / 12 BOOKS / 42 INDEX TO ADVERTISERS / 66 JANUARY 2011/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 3 01-19_FSJ_0111_FRO:first 12/10/10 10:38 AM Page 4 OREIGN ERVICE CONTENTS FJ O U R N A L S AFSA NEWS Editor STEVEN ALAN HONLEY Senior Editor AMB. JACK MATLOCK DISCUSSES COLD WAR DISTORTIONS / 49 SUSAN B. MAITRA A Q&A WITH OPM DIRECTOR JOHN BERRY / 49 Associate Editor SHAWN DORMAN NEWS BRIEFS / LETTER FROM THE EDITOR / 50 AFSA News Editor AMY MCKEEVER VP STATE: PROTECTING YOUR RIGHTS WHILE MAINTAINING Ad & Circulation Manager HIGH STANDARDS / 51 ED MILTENBERGER Art Director VP RETIREE: WHAT’S AHEAD IN 2011 / 52 CARYN SUKO SMITH TLG VICE PRESIDENT CELEBRATES 15TH ANNIVERSARY AT STATE / 52 Editorial Intern MOHAMMAD ALHINNAWI VP FCS: THE GOOD AND THE BAD / 53 Advertising Intern LARISSA FALK 2010-2011 AFSA FINANCIAL AID SCHOLARS / 56 EDITORIAL BOARD NEWS BRIEFS / 61 TED WILKINSON Chairman EVENT CALENDAR / CLASSIFIEDS / 62 KELLY ADAMS-SMITH JOSEPH BRUNS STEPHEN W. B UCK JULIE GIANELLONI CONNOR MARY E. GLANTZ GEORGE JONES KATE WIEHAGEN LEONARD LYNN ROCHE RACHEL SCHNELLER JAMES P. S EEVERS THE MAGAZINE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS PROFESSIONALS Foreign Service Journal (ISSN 0146-3543), 2101 E Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037-2990 is published monthly with a combined July-August issue by the American Foreign Service Associa- tion (AFSA), a private, nonprofit organization. Material appearing herein represents the opin- ions of the writers and does not necessarily rep- resent the views of the Journal, the Editorial Board or AFSA. Writer queries and submissions are invited, preferably by e-mail. Journal sub- scription: AFSA members – $13 included in an- nual dues; others – $40. For foreign surface mail, add $18 per year; foreign airmail, $36 per year. Periodical postage paid at Washington, D.C., and at additional mailing offices. Indexed by Public Affairs Information Services (PAIS). The Journal is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photos or illustrations. Advertising inquiries are invited. The appearance of advertisements herein does not imply the endorsement of the services or goods offered. TELEPHONE: (202) 338-4045 FAX: (202) 338-8244 or (202) 338-6820 E-MAIL: [email protected] WEB: www.afsa.org; www.fsjournal.org © American Foreign Service Association, 2011. Printed in the U.S.A. Send address changes to: AFSA Attn: Address Change 2101 E Street N.W. Washington DC 20037-2990 Printed on 50-percent recycled paper, of which 10 percent is post-consumer waste. 4 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/JANUARY 2011 01-19_FSJ_0111_FRO:first 12/10/10 10:38 AM Page 5 PRESIDENT’S VIEWS Time for the Foreign Service Reserve Corps BY SUSAN R. JOHNSON After decades of discus- inspired by it. proaches. There would be no need to sion and little action, it is high The WAE issue has come fund retirement and health insurance time for the Department of up in the context of the costs; moreover, retirees can be paid State and our other civilian staffing gaps at the Depart- less than they were making at retire- foreign affairs agencies to es- ment of State and the U.S. ment — so long as they do not forgo tablish a Foreign Service Agency for International De- their annuity — when called to active “ready reserve” composed of velopment that I have ad- duty. qualified retirees — and pos- dressed in previous columns. A small unit in the Bureau of sibly former Foreign Service person- A recent briefing on the scope of the Human Resources — perhaps called nel with 10 years or more of experi- mid-level staffing gap at State and the the Human Resources Ready Reserve ence. We simply can no longer afford tools available to manage it — as well Office — could be set up to adminis- to deprive ourselves of skills and expe- as some of the responses to my Nov. 23 ter the program. This unit would rience readily available to us. message to members about the Quad- maintain a skills bank with a comput- AFSA has long advocated a cen- rennial Diplomacy and Development erized profile of all retirees who regis- trally managed and operated program Review, in which I recommended using ter for the program and handle the to use our retirees to fill temporary retirees to address the mid-level expe- necessary paperwork. It would cover staffing gaps for two reasons. First, rience gap — inspires me to return to the payroll costs of reserve personnel such a system would be more trans- the issue. through a Working Capital Fund that parent and less susceptible to crony- I have heard from many retirees could bill each bureau for the funds ism than the current When Actually who have served repeatedly on WAE expended on its behalf. The office Employed system, which each State assignments overseas and are now could also work with the Bureau of bureau runs on its own. A unified pro- being dropped from the rolls for cost Diplomatic Security and the Office of gram would also cut administrative reasons, and from others who have Medical Services to simplify processes costs by centralizing, computerizing signed up but never been called. There for keeping security and medical and streamlining the hiring process. is a broad perception that the way the clearances up to date. We should give this program a WAE program is set up and managed All branches of our military main- name that describes its function and distributes opportunities to those best tain reserve or National Guard com- purpose precisely and accurately: the known to bureau executive directors ponents, as outlined in Title 10, Foreign Service Reserve Corps. The and post management officers. Subtitle E. Their purpose is clearly current “When Actually Employed” As one retired FSO noted in a spelled out in the legislation: “to pro- designation is a largely incomprehen- thoughtful memo, a Foreign Service vide trained units and qualified per- sible bureaucratic term. Few outside Ready Reserve corps could fill vacant sons available for active duty at such the Department of State have a clue positions on a short- or longer-term time as national security may re- what “WAE” means, and fewer still are temporary basis, or meet sudden un- quire.” Our civilian foreign affairs anticipated needs. It could provide agencies need a similar reserve ca- Susan R. Johnson is the president of the able and experienced workers at a pacity, and now is the time to make it American Foreign Service Association. fraction of the cost of alternative ap- happen. ■ JANUARY 2011/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 5 01-19_FSJ_0111_FRO:first 12/10/10 10:38 AM Page 6 01-19_FSJ_0111_FRO:first 12/10/10 10:38 AM Page 7 LETTERS China Service Sprouse, Edmund Clubb and John fairs experience could alleviate some of I was pleased to see Hannah Gur- Carter Vincent.