1 C-C 4_FSJ_1210_COV:proof 11/12/10 2:53 PM Page C1

TIME FOR NEW THINKING ■ USAID SUCCESS STORIES ■ A DIFFERENT FEEL

SEMIANNUAL SCHOOLS SUPPLEMENT

$4.50 / DECEMBER 2010 OREIGN ERVICE FJ O U R N A L STHE MAGAZINE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS PROFESSIONALS

ALL HANDS ON DECK The Value of Multilateral Diplomacy 1 C-C 4_FSJ_1210_COV:proof 11/12/10 2:53 PM Page C2 01-15_FSJ_1210_FRO:first 11/12/10 2:56 PM Page 1 01-15_FSJ_1210_FRO:first 11/17/10 4:38 PM Page 2

J. KIRBY SIMON FOREIGN SERVICE TRUST AN INVITATION TO PROPOSE PROJECTS FOR FUNDING BY THE J. KIRBY SIMON FOREIGN SERVICE TRUST IN 2011

he J. Kirby Simon Foreign Service Trust is a charitable fund established in the memory of J. Kirby Simon, a Foreign T Service officer who died in 1995 while serving in Taiwan. The Trust is committed to expanding the opportunities for professional fulfillment and community service of active Foreign Service officers and specialists and their families. The principal activity of the Trust is to support projects that are initiated and carried out on an entirely unofficial, voluntary basis by Foreign Service personnel or members of their families, wherever located. The Trust will also consider projects of the same nature proposed by other U.S. government employees or members of their families, regardless of nationality, who are located at American diplomatic posts abroad. Only the foregoing persons are eligible applicants. In 2010 the Trust made its fourteenth round of awards, approving a total of 60 grants that ranged from $890 to $4,500 (av- eraging $2,444) for a total of $146,687. These grants support the involvement of Foreign Service personnel in the projects de- scribed in the Trust announcement titled “Grants Awarded in 2010” and available at www.kirbysimontrust.org. To indicate the range of Trust grants, the following paragraphs set forth a sampling of projects supported by the Trust in recent years • Education Projects: School supplies for refugee and other conflict-afflicted children and for orphanages; English-language learning materials for high school students; day-care facilities for children of underprivileged women learning marketable skills; specialized education equipment for the disabled; kitchen and other equipment for occupational training programs. • Additional Projects for Young People: Playground and sports training equipment, educational toys, furnishings, house- hold appliances, toilet and shower facilities for special-needs schools and orphanages; cleanups to improve sanitation and cre- ate play spaces; school fees and food for abandoned children; materials for a re-entry program for returning Foreign Service teens. • Health and Safety-Related Projects: Dental care for impoverished children; staff training for crisis shelters; health care equipment, security equipment and improved sanitation for maternity clinics and orphanages; a visual impairment survey among HIV-positive children; rebuilding homes of earthquake victims; photo documentation of murdered women set on fire by hus- bands or in-laws. • Revenue-Producing Projects: Machines and materials for income-generating programs for sick and disadvantaged chil- dren and adults, including abused women, migrant workers, refugees, Roma and victims of sex-trafficking; a cooperative for deaf carpenters. The Trust now invites the submission of proposals for support in 2011. It is anticipated that few of the new grants will ex- ceed the average size of the 2010 awards, and that projects assisted by the Trust will reflect a variety of interests and approaches, as illustrated by the foregoing paragraphs and by the Web site description of 2010 grants. Certain restrictions apply: (a) Funds from the Trust cannot be used to pay salaries or other compensation to U.S. Govern- ment employees or their family members. (b) The Trust does not support projects that have reasonable prospects of obtaining full funding from other sources. (c) The Trust will provide support for a project operated by a charitable or educational organ- ization only where the individual applicant(s) play an active part in initiating and carrying out the project, apart from fundrais- ing. (d) The Trust will support only projects in which each applicant's role is clearly separate from the applicant's official responsibilities. A proposal should include a description of the project, its aims and the role to be played by the applicant(s); a preliminary plan for disseminating the results of the project; a budget; other available funding, if any; and a brief biography of the applicant(s). Proposals should be no longer than five double-spaced pages (exclusive of budget and biographical material). Please follow the application format available at www.kirbysimontrust.org/format_for_proposals.html or by communicating with the Trust (see below). Proposals for projects to be funded during calendar year 2011 must be received by the Trust no later than March 1, 2011. Proposals can be submitted by mail, by fax or (preferably) by e-mail to:

J. Kirby Simon Foreign Service Trust 93 Edgehill Road New Haven, CT 06511 FAX: (203) 432-0063

E-mail: Send to both (1) [email protected] and (2) [email protected]

Further information about the Trust can be found at www.kirbysimontrust.org. 01-15_FSJ_1210_FRO:first 11/17/10 4:38 PM Page 3

OREIGN ERVICE FJ O U R N A L S CONTENTS December 2010 Volume 87, No. 12

F OCUS ON Multilateral Diplomacy

WANTED: EXPERIENCED OFFICERS TO ADDRESS GLOBAL CHALLENGES / 16 Multilateral diplomacy can be very challenging, but it is often the most rewarding work a Foreign Service professional can do. By Glyn T. Davies

WORKING ON MANY FRONTS AT THE AFRICAN UNION / 22 The U.S. mission to the A.U. addresses regional problems and aims to strengthen America’s ties to individual African countries in the process. By Michael A. Battle

Cover illustration by Curtis Parker A DAY AT THE UNHRC / 25 The U.S. is now active in this unusual multilateral forum devoted to finding consensus on human rights issues. By Sarah Ciaccia

THE WAY FORWARD ON NPT DIPLOMACY / 28 PRESIDENT’S VIEWS / 5 For the United States, the latest Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Thinking About the Unthinkable Review Conference was a means to reinvigorate the process. By Susan R. Johnson By Susan F. Burk

SPEAKING OUT / 13 GLOBAL METEOROLOGICAL SERVICESASAPARTNER IN STATECRAFT / 32 U.S. Foreign Economic Improvements in weather forecasting will reduce the cost of emergency Assistance in Perspective foreign assistance and promote secure and stable societies. By Raymond Malley By John L. Hayes

REFLECTIONS / 108 CLIMATE CHANGE NEGOTIATIONS: LESSONS FROM MONTREAL / 35 Working in a Multilateral It was the process that the Montreal Protocol set in motion, Environment: A Different Feel not the agreement itself, that led to success. By Rosemary Motisi By Richard J. Smith

THE ARMS CONTROL AGENDA OF THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION / 39 LETTERS / 6 Current U.S. efforts are intended to restore U.S. moral authority in the world, CYBERNOTES / 9 promote the rule of law and enhance global security. By Edward Ifft MARKETPLACE / 10 IO AND THE ERA OF MULTILATERAL ENGAGEMENT / 45 BOOKS / 65 In this interview, Assistant Secretary for International Organization IN MEMORY / 69 Affairs Esther Brimmer spells out her bureau’s priorities. SCHOOLS AT A GLANCE / 83 By Mark M. Schlachter INDEX TO ADVERTISERS / 106

DECEMBER 2010/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 3 01-15_FSJ_1210_FRO:first 11/17/10 4:38 PM Page 4

OREIGN ERVICE CONTENTS FJ O U R N A L S

S CHOOLS S UPPLEMENT Editor STEVEN ALAN HONLEY Senior Editor ONLINE HIGH SCHOOL COURSES / 73 SUSAN B. MAITRA The growing number and sophistication of online course offerings Associate Editor for high school students make them an important new resource for FS families. SHAWN DORMAN By Kristi Streiffert AFSA News Editor AMY MCKEEVER RANKING COLLEGE RANKINGS: A HANDY GUIDE / 97 Ad & Circulation Manager By Mohammad Alhinnawi ED MILTENBERGER Art Director CARYN SUKO SMITH SCHOOLS AT A GLANCE / 83 Essential data on educational choices. Editorial Intern MOHAMMAD ALHINNAWI Advertising Intern LARISSA FALK

AFSA NEWS EDITORIAL BOARD TED WILKINSON CALL FOR AFSA AWARD NOMINATIONS / 51 Chairman KELLY ADAMS-SMITH TOP DIPLOMATS DISCUSS GERMAN REUNIFICATION / 51 MAY BAPTISTA JOSEPH BRUNS A MOMENT FOR REFLECTION / 52 STEPHEN W. B UCK JULIE GIANELLONI CONNOR NEWS BRIEFS / 52 MARY E. GLANTZ GEORGE JONES TATE ALUING BILITIES ESPITE ISABILITIES VP S : V A , D D / 53 KATE WIEHAGEN LEONARD LYNN ROCHE VP USAID: DEVELOPING YOUR PEOPLE / 54 RACHEL SCHNELLER VP FAS: REVISE THE EXPIRATION DATE / 55 THE MAGAZINE FOR FOREIGN GENT RANGE AND THE OREIGN ERVICE A O F S / 57 AFFAIRS PROFESSIONALS AFSA CONTINUES ITS MINORITY OUTREACH PROGRAM / 58 Foreign Service Journal (ISSN 0146-3543), 2101 E Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037-2990 is published monthly with a combined July-August TOM WICKER ADDRESSES NEW ENGLAND RETIREES / 59 issue by the American Foreign Service Associa- tion (AFSA), a private, nonprofit organization. AFSA INITIATES UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA SPEAKER SERIES / 59 Material appearing herein represents the opin- ions of the writers and does not necessarily rep- FROM BEIJING TO A BUREAU / 60 resent the views of the Journal, the Editorial Board or AFSA. Writer queries and submissions EVENT CALENDAR/CLASSIFIEDS / 62 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, 2010. 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/DECEMBER 2010 01-15_FSJ_1210_FRO:first 11/12/10 2:56 PM Page 5

PRESIDENT’S VIEWS Thinking About the Unthinkable BY SUSAN R. JOHNSON

This month I want to give a are locked … in a vision of Ramo calls for “ceaseless reform shout-out for a 2009 book that the world that is out of date and innovation” to begin immediately still provides provocative per- and inflexible.” Trust that our to develop “a new architecture of fi- spectives on international af- leaders understand or tell the nancial, environmental and national se- fairs and diplomacy: The Age truth about what we are con- curity institutions built with fresh of the Unthinkable – Why the fronting is “leaching away,” language and stocked with new minds.” New World Disorder Con- and “the sum of their miscon- In other words, Ramo is not only, like stantly Surprises Us and ceptions has produced a Nietzsche, pronouncing the demise of What We Can Do About It by Joshua tragic paradox: policies designed to an old order. He is calling on foreign Cooper Ramo. Ramo, who serves as make us safer instead make the world affairs professionals to think in new managing director of Kissinger Associ- more perilous.” ways, to address the gathering chal- ates, was co-chair of the Santa Fe Insti- Ramo worries that the “most likely lenges and to develop a more dynamic tute’s first working group on Complex- course for our future is the most dan- and intense diplomacy. ity and International Affairs and is a co- gerous: minor adjustments to policy You may agree or disagree with founder of the U.S.-China Young Lead- and … incremental changes to institu- these propositions or Ramo’s analysis of ers Forum. tions that are already collapsing.” In his how the world is changing, or why that My intent is not to review his book view, the “only hope of guaranteeing a transformation of existing institutions here, but to use it as a call for each of us human rights and moral decency … is is necessary and inevitable. But the im- to take up his challenge to “think radical new language and thought.” .. portant question he raises is: How can deeply about the forces now violently “In a revolutionary age, with rapid America come out a winner in the new reordering the globe, and to try to change, our architects’ tools are deadly game? change the corporations where we — it is time to put them down” and in- I would like to see new thinking and work.” By this he means thinking about stead to begin to “live and think as gar- new language come from our own redesigning our national security agen- deners.” ranks, as well. AFSA offers a mecha- cies, including the State Department, The author’s background in com- nism for gathering and conveying these on the basis of a different approach plexity theory and international rela- ideas to management in a purposeful from the one we have pursued for the tions underpins his concept of “deep manner. past 50 or 60 years. security.” This is based on “a way of What would be the impact if books Here are a few of his propositions: seeing, thinking and acting that takes like this became a common touchstone We are in a “revolutionary era of sur- the best ideas from the playbook or rev- for A-100 classes or mid-level profes- prise and innovation” and need to learn olutionary forces and combines them sional development courses? The point to think and act like revolutionaries. In- with the demands and responsibilities is not whether any one book defines stead, the “suits working in the NSC or that established power places on us.” “truth” but, rather, whether it provokes the U.S. Army or IBM or Time Warner Deep security “functions like an im- us as professionals to think, debate and mune system — always ready, capable search for it. Susan R. Johnson is the president of the of dealing with the unexpected and as Let me know what you think at American Foreign Service Association. dynamic as the world itself.” [email protected]. ■

DECEMBER 2010/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 5 01-15_FSJ_1210_FRO:first 11/17/10 4:38 PM Page 6

LETTERS

Letting Women Lead many other American institutions, was Now we need to spread recognition When I joined the U.S. Foreign depriving itself of the capabilities of half that diplomacy is a serious profession Service in the mid-1950s, I remember the population. demanding skills in short supply, and thinking the diplomatic career was one When I received my first ambas- declare that the continuing use of am- that would, like medicine, be particu- sadorship in the early 1970s, I chose a bassadorships to reward financial or larly well served by virtues such as em- female officer as deputy chief of mis- other political support — as military ap- pathy and flexibility that were generally sion. The glass ceiling had begun to pointments once were — is a disserv- regarded as feminine. When one new crack, but I still had the feeling I was ice to American foreign policy. If I am female officer assigned to the office in breaking a taboo in the eyes of some of reading the statistics correctly, this ad- which I worked became engaged and my seniors. Happily, the officer I chose ministration has been moving in a con- was reminded of the Foreign Service went on to one of the most successful trary direction. policy that women who married had to careers in Foreign Service history at Ronald Spiers resign, I challenged the rationality of that time. She brought to the position Career Ambassador, retired the policy at the most senior level of a mixture of assets that made a palpable Exeter, N.H. management I could contact. difference to the mission’s success. I was confronted with a stern, ex- Later, when I was serving as chargé Let’s Help Reduce the Deficit plicit rebuttal: women were not the d’affaires in a major embassy, a non-ca- How many of us look with extreme best fit for the rough and tumble of reer woman was appointed as ambas- disdain at the lack of courage displayed diplomacy, and such service was incom- sador. I began to receive condolences up and down and across party lines on patible with their “natural” role as from many colleagues about the prob- Capitol Hill when it comes to address- mothers and wives. The “softer” virtues lems my new subservience would en- ing the structural budget deficit? Re- of women were considered inadequate tail. We did have a rocky start, but that publicans reject anything that smells of to a profession that required toughness was more attributable to her inexperi- a tax increase and insist on unidentified and aggressiveness (attitudes that may ence than to her gender. As time went spending cuts — as long as they don’t account for some of the worst policy on, her presence and perspectives were touch programs favored by their con- misdirections of our era). Women, it to be highly valuable to an important stituents or treasured by their particu- seemed, were testosterone-challenged; relationship. lar states. too conciliatory. The policy was These antediluvian policies are now Democrats want to protect the so- roundly reaffirmed. happily dead and buried. Today, by my cial safety net by taxing the wealthy Only two Foreign Service women count, approximately 30 percent of all but are cowed by their own constitu- had achieved the career pinnacle — career Foreign Service ambassadors ency into rejecting any consideration the rank of Career Ambassador — are women. Of the 12 FSOs promoted of reducing social outlays even for among the almost 40 people who to the rank of career ambassador since those wealthy enough to make do reached that level during the 1900s. the turn of the current century, 25 per- with less. Spinsterhood was apparently the pre- cent have been women. American for- Yet everyone agrees that the cur- requisite for female promotion. The eign policy, I believe, has been well- rent projected deficits are unsustain- Foreign Service, as was the case with so served by this rebalancing. able. So isn’t it time for some of those

6 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2010 01-15_FSJ_1210_FRO:first 11/12/10 2:56 PM Page 7

L ETTERS

constituencies feared by Republicans as a group, we are willing to put on the deductions, and begin a 30-to-50-year and Democrats alike to speak up and table in the great national debate over phase-out of mortgage interest deduc- indicate what sacrifices they are willing tax increases and spending cuts. De- tions altogether. to consider in the national interest? pending on the results, AFSA could be 5. Reconfigure our defense estab- Many of us in the retired or near-re- in a position to take the lead among lishment to what is required to defend tired ranks have lived through a pretty public and private unions in providing the United States, plus a reasonable re- good stretch of U.S. economic history some political cover to those members serve of naval, air and special forces to and, for nearly 30 years, have paid taxes of Congress who are ready to consider project severe but time-limited force in at historically low rates compared to some hard but responsible votes in a the event of truly critical foreign emer- the generation which preceded us. Is concerted effort to resolve our fiscal gencies. it not time for us to accept that we can challenges. 6. Levy an equitable carbon tax on do something to ease the future bur- Here are some suggestions: any product or economic activity with den on our descendants who, at this 1. Abolish the current cut-off thres- high carbon emissions. point, appear to be facing much dim- hold for FICA deductions. 7. Recalculate government pensions mer economic prospects as a result of 2. Eliminate tax exemptions for So- to match the locality pay in effect for the wars waged on credit and social bene- cial Security income. location where we retire. (Why should fits to the elderly that are paid out re- 3. Continue graduated cuts to social a GS-15/10 employee from New York gardless of economic need? security income due to earned income who retires to Mississippi have a higher I propose that AFSA conduct a poll levels even beyond full retirement age. pension than a GS-15/10 employee of its membership to determine what, 4. Put a cap on mortgage interest from Mississippi who stays put?)

DECEMBER 2010/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 7 01-15_FSJ_1210_FRO:first 11/12/10 2:56 PM Page 8

L ETTERS

8. Trade full overseas comparability Remembering Smith Simpson town). He established the annual pay for dramatic reductions in the level The late Smith Simpson (as R. Smith Simpson Debate on Diplomacy and applicability of post differential. Smith Simpson was generally known) between the school’s two debating (My family’s comfort level at non-hard- was a truly exceptional Foreign Service clubs on major international issues. ship and 25-percent differential posts officer. He took an early interest in He was an exceptional individual has been basically the same.) management back when that skill was with a strong sense of purpose and a 9. Develop a two-tier per diem rate not a standard feature of diplomatic ex- lifelong dedication to the Foreign Serv- for overseas TDYs, using the current pertise. A brilliant analyst of what was ice. rate for stays of one week or less at any going on in the countries where he was George High given location but dropping it by half posted, he advocated careful officer FSO, retired after one week (while allowing up to preparation that included instruction in Lake Ridge. Va. the initial rate for fully documented all aspects of diplomacy. claims). One point that the otherwise fine Editor’s Note: An obituary of R. I could go on, but if AFSA takes this obituary that appeared in the Sept. 9 Smith Simpson appears on p. 71 of this up, I’m sure there will be no shortage of Washington Post missed was that after issue. ■ other ideas. The poll could invite ad- moving to his retirement community in ditional suggestions. Charlottesville, Va., Simpson encour- CORRECTION Brent Schaeffer aged his alma mater there, the Univer- Due to an editing error, the listing USAID, retired sity of Virginia, to teach diplomacy (as of the establishment of AFSA’s con- Washington, D.C. he had previously done at George- structive dissent awards in Ambassa- dor Edward Peck’s September Speaking Out column (“Recognizing Those Who Have Made a Differ- AFSA Resource Marketplace ence”) was out of sequence. The first Find the Most-Requested Resources from the of the four to be established was the Overseas Briefing Center Online at www.afsa.org/ads William R. Rivkin Award, followed 1. FSI’s Transition Center by the W. Averell Harriman Award, 2. U.S. Department of State Overseas Briefing Center (OBC) 3. Security Overseas Seminars: PSOS, ASOS, SAA, SOS, SOS the Christian A. Herter Award and 4. Transition Center Training home page for eligible family the F. Allen “Tex” Harris Award. In members and members of household (MOH) addition, Amb. Peck received the 5. International Jobs - Working Overseas Rifkin Award in 1973, not 1974 as er- 6. Country Information (Bidding Resources) roneously stated. 7. Transition Center Courses 8. Preparing to Go Overseas 9. Pets and International Travel 10. Foreign Service Assignment Notebook: What Do I Do Now? 11. U.S. Department of State Career Transition Center (CTC) 12. Personal Post Insights 13. Elementary School Stuff 14. Arrange Medical Clearance and Immunizations 15. High Stress Assignment Outbrief Program Send your Letter to the Editor to [email protected].

8 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2010 01-15_FSJ_1210_FRO:first 11/12/10 2:56 PM Page 9

CYBERNOTES

U.S. Foreign Assistance: 23 donor countries that are members ed in four dimensions, which reflect Quantity, Not Quality of the Development Assistance Com- what it calls “an international consen- On Oct. 5 the Center for Global mittee of the Organization for Eco- sus of what constitutes high-quality Development, which offers “indepen- nomic Cooperation and Development aid”: maximizing efficiency, fostering in- dent research and practical ideas for (www.oecd.org/dac). Collectively, stitutions, reducing burden, and trans- global prosperity” in cooperation with these donors gave aid amounting to parency and learning. Rankings can be the Brookings Institution, released a re- $120 billion in 2009, disbursed through viewed in separate indices and in the port titled “Quality of Official Develop- 156 bilateral and 263 multilateral agen- Quality of Aid Diamond, which makes ment Assistance” (www.cgdev.org/). cies. it possible to quickly compare countries The assessment draws on data from the The study uses 30 indicators group- and agencies across all four dimensions. Although the United States fares Site of the Month: www.meetup.com poorly overall when compared with Meetup.com is the Internet’s equivalent of a community center. It is an online hub other countries and multilateral organ- that lets people create and find groups in their area based on practically any common izations, some agencies rate better than interest or hobby. There are social and professional groups, groups for hikers, bikers, others. The U.S. Agency for Interna- readers, poets and cat lovers. Just plug in your Zip code or city name to see all the tional Development and the Defense different groups meeting in your area. Department get poor marks, but the Because Meetup allows individuals to find, form and join groups with ease, its Millennium Challenge Corporation membership has exploded. The site has more than 7.2 million members who meet in does much better. 79,000 groups located in roughly 45,000 cities worldwide (although activity is mostly Study authors Nancy Birdsall and concentrated in the United States). Registration on the site is free, and each group has Homi Kharas say their goal is to help its own page with detailed information including a member count, the next meetup fill the research gap on what might be date and any membership fees (the majority of clubs are free to join). The interface is called aid agency effectiveness by con- friendly and similar to Facebook in that users create a profile, post a picture, interact centrating on measures over which the with other users on discussion boards and manage their memberships online. official donor agencies have control. Scott Heiferman, Matt Meeker and Peter Kamali started the site in 2001 “to revitalize They express the hope that the report local community and help people around the world self-organize.” A new addition to will be a catalyst for lively debates and, the site is “Meetup Everywhere,” which the creators describe as a way for “organiza- more importantly, for substantial im- tions, companies and movements to enable their fans/followers/customers/audience provements in how aid is provided. to create community about them, everywhere.” For example, Oprah Winfrey put out — Steven Alan Honley, Editor a worldwide call through Meetup Everywhere asking her viewers to band together to support American educational reform. A Turning Point for Nigeria? Those traveling abroad, whether for work, school or leisure can ease their transi- Africa’s largest oil exporter and most tion into a new environment by linking up with one of Meetup.com’s numerous ex- patriate groups, located in major cities across the globe like Buenos Aires, Istanbul, populous country is preparing for an Amsterdam and Seoul. eventful 2011 with elections that may — Mohammad Alhinnawi, Editorial Intern determine whether it remains at peace or erupts in sectarian violence. In an

DECEMBER 2010/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 9 01-15_FSJ_1210_FRO:first 11/12/10 2:56 PM Page 10

C YBERNOTES

WWW.FSJOURNAL.ORG Click on the Marketplace tab on the marquee 50 Years Ago... t is no longer sufficient for a supervisor to state that an officer does AFSA Legacy political or economic work, or is a reporting officer. The expanded afsa.org/CFCFAD.cfm IForeign Service of today embraces such a variety of jobs that almost any position warrants … description in considerable detail. In some of the larger, less AKA Hotel residences conventional Foreign Service offices (and most offices today tend to become larger stay-aka.com and less conventional), exact delineation by the supervisor of what his subordinates are doing could bring out ways in which capacities of different officers could be better American Public University utilized. In some instances, this may result in a frightening increase in efficiency, but apus.edu the risk is worth taking. — Everett K. Melby, “Efficiency Reports,” FSJ, December 1960. Brehm School brehm.org article published in Foreign Affairs money to improve election integrity Clements International (www.foreignaffairs.com) in Sep- through construction of a national voter clements.com tember, former U.S. Ambassador to registry, it seems unlikely that the reg- Nigeria John Campbell explains why istry will be completed by the January Country Day School, Guanacaste some observers are worried about the 2011 election date. At the same time, cdsgte.com country’s future. the country is struggling to keep up with Cort Furniture Following the end of military dicta- growing demand for electricity as the cort1.com torship and a transition to civilian gov- economy is projected to grow by 7 per- ernment in 1998, Campbell says, “An cent in 2010. Equally fragile is Nigeria’s Fox Hill elite consensus formed around an un- shaky peace in the Niger Delta. foxhillseniorcondominium.com written power-sharing agreement, The Niger Delta region contains a which dictated that presidential candi- staggering 80 percent of Nigeria’s oil re- Gifted Youth High School, Stanford University dates would henceforth alternate be- sources, but it has not benefited from epgy.stanford.edu/ohs tween the Christian South and the that wealth. Instead, it has suffered Muslim North — a system designed to from pollution and environmental dis- Hirshorn Company, The avoid presidential contests that could asters linked to oil extraction. hirshorn.com exacerbate hostility between the regions In the February 2007 issue of Na- and religions.” This system held until tional Geographic (www.nationalgeo J. Kirby Simon Trust 2009, when then-President Umary graphic.com), Tom O’Neill found a kirbysimontrust.org Yar’Adua, a northern Muslim, became “sense of relentless crisis” in the Niger Jakarta International School fatally ill but refused to cede power to Delta, which he described in an article jisedu.org his southern Christian vice president, titled “Curse of the Black Gold.” The Goodluck Jonathan. ‘crisis’ stems from Delta residents’ be- SDFCU Yar’Adua died earlier this year and lief that the government has overlooked sdfcu.org was succeeded by Jonathan, but uncer- them, especially in distributing the tainty and dissatisfaction have only country’s oil wealth. Valley Forge vfmac.edu grown. “Nigeria’s Coming Election,” an This longstanding grievance led to editorial in the Aug. 19 edition of The the formation of a separatist Delta WJD Economist (www.economist.com) lists rebel group in 2005, the Movement for wjdpm.com Nigeria’s three biggest problems: elec- the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, toral fraud, a woefully unreliable elec- which launched crippling attacks on the tricity supply and a violent insurgency country’s vulnerable oil infrastructure. in the oil-rich southern [Niger River] After several years of violent conflict, When contacting an advertiser, kindly Delta. the government issued an amnesty for mention the Foreign Service Journal. While the government has allocated militants in 2009. This has temporarily

10 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2010 01-15_FSJ_1210_FRO:first 11/17/10 4:38 PM Page 11

C YBERNOTES

quelled the insurgency, but failed to re- files of every country (and territory) in solve the underlying dispute. the world. For a comprehensive look Some experts take a much more op- at Nigeria, the CIA World Factbook timistic view of the country’s domestic (www.cia.gov) is an excellent and reg- stability, to be sure. On the AllAfrica ularly updated resource. news site (www.allafrica.com), How- — Mohammad Alhinnawi, ard Jeter, a former U.S. ambassador to Editorial Intern Nigeria, and Professor Gwendolyn Mikell of Georgetown University pub- UNESCO Does the Right Thing lished a joint September column titled In the September edition of Cyber- “Nigeria: No North-South Armaged- notes, we reported on the controversy don Over Elections.” over whether the United Nations Ed- Jeter and Mikell do not deny the ucational, Scientific and Cultural Or- high probability of electoral violence ganization would follow through on its and the strain that the upcoming elec- initial acceptance of a proposal by tion will impose on domestic peace. Equatorial Guinean President Teodoro But they criticize those who “reduce Obiang Nguema Mbasogo to establish Nigeria to two monolithic, antagonistic a $3 million fund to bankroll the and inexorably colliding blocs, one UNESCO-Obiang Nguema Mbasogo northern, the other southern. … The International Prize for Research in the political system has always had to con- Life Sciences. Each year the fund tend with potential centrifugal forces, would award $300,000 to be shared by and Nigerians have shown exceptional up to three laureates, with the goal of ingenuity in making those accommo- recognizing individuals or institutions dations that maintain the unity of the conducting “scientific research in the nation. ... When one engages in rigor- life sciences leading to improving the ous political analysis, it is clear that quality of human life.” Nigeria is not inexorably on the brink The prize was scheduled to be of collapse.” awarded for the first time this year, de- One thing all observers agree on is spite strong opposition from many that the run-up to the January election quarters. Archbishop Desmond Tutu, will be critical in addressing a number author Chinua Achebe and Nobel lau- of questions. Does Yar’Adua’s term, reate Wole Soyinka are among 125 which was shortened by illness, entitle African scholars and human rights ac- the Muslim north to extra political rul- tivists who sent a letter to UNESCO ing time? Will the Muslim north’s lead- calling for the prize’s abolition. Pre- ers be able to agree on a single candi- sumably in response to such appeals, date to run against the southern Chris- the organization’s executive board de- tian incumbent, Goodluck Jonathan? cided on Oct. 21 to suspend indefinitely And above all, can the civilian govern- implementation of the program (www. ment ensure fair elections, avoid blood- unesco.org/). shed and prevent a coup by Nigeria’s Although UNESCO Director-Gen- powerful military? eral Irina Bokova was careful to an- For those interested in a brief nounce that the board had reached its primer on Nigeria’s history and econ- decision “by consensus and with respect omy, the BBC News Web site (www. and dignity toward all concerned par- news.bbc.co.uk) features concise pro- ties,” it seems clear that nearly universal

DECEMBER 2010/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 11 01-15_FSJ_1210_FRO:first 11/12/10 2:56 PM Page 12

C YBERNOTES

he Norwegian Nobel Committee, by giving the Peace Prize to a con- Tvicted person in China, shows no respect for the judicial system of China. This is not only disrespect for China’s judicial system but also puts a big question mark on their true intention. … If some people try to change China’s political system in this way and try to stop the Chinese people from moving forward, they are obviously making a mistake. — PRC Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu, reacting to the Oct. 12 announcement that Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo is the winner of the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize; http://news.xinhuanet.com/

condemnation of the idea of cozying up 1986, protects the right of American to a dictator lay behind the move. expatriates to vote in federal elections Even so, the government of Equa- regardless of where they reside. This torial Guinea is putting the best possi- law requires that states and territories ble face on the rebuff. In an Oct. 22 allow members of the United States interview with Science Insider, a mag- Uniformed Services and merchant ma- azine published by the American Asso- rine, their family members and U.S. ciation for the Advancement of Science, citizens residing outside the States to Mba Mokuy Agapito, Obiangs’s adviser register and vote absentee in elections on international organizations, insisted for federal offices. that “We will reach a consensus, be- On Oct. 28, 2009, President Barack cause you can’t have an issue in Obama signed the Military and Over- UNESCO pending forever.” seas Voter Empowerment Act into law. Surprisingly, though, when asked The MOVE Act, as it is known, re- whether his government would still quires states to mail absentee ballots 45 sponsor the prize if Obiang’s name days before Election Day to troops, were removed from it, Agapito said government workers and other Amer- only, “That’s not up to Equatorial icans who want to vote from abroad. Guinea; it’s up to the board to decide if National Association of Secretaries of they want to change their own deci- State President Matt Dunlap declared sion” (http://news.sciencemag.org/). on July 20 that “State and local election Praise for the board’s decision officials across the U.S. are vigorously came quickly. Senator Patrick Leahy, working to ensure that military and D-Vt., told the Washington Post’s Al overseas voters will be able to request Kamen that “Pres. Obiang and his and cast their ballots this November.” family have looted their country while A year later, however, problems ap- its people barely survive.” He added, parently persist in terms of compliance “UNESCO [is] doing the right thing with MOVE. This fall the Justice De- by disassociating itself from this cor- partment has settled lawsuits against rupt, abusive regime” (www.washing Alaska, Colorado, the District of Co- tonpost.com/). lumbia, Guam, Hawaii, North Dakota, — Steven Alan Honley, Editor Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Mis- sissippi, Nevada, Kansas, the U.S. Vir- 2009 Move Act: Still Stuck ? gin Islands, Wisconsin and New York The Uniformed and Overseas Citi- (http://blogs.usdoj.gov/blog/). ■ zens Absentee Voting Act, enacted in — Steven Alan Honley, Editor

12 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2010 01-15_FSJ_1210_FRO:first 11/12/10 2:56 PM Page 13

SPEAKING OUT U.S. Foreign Economic Assistance in Perspective

BY RAYMOND MALLEY

he horrendous earthquake Other countries in which aid from that struck Haiti this past Jan- Foreign aid does the U.S. and others has made huge Tuary and the catastrophic not always “work.” and lasting differences, both econom- flooding that hit Pakistan in the sum- But there is a long ically and politically, include Malaysia, mer are just two examples of natural list of countries in Thailand, India, Mauritius, Botswana, disasters to which the United States Tunisia, Panama, Costa Rica, Chile, and other powers have once again re- which our economic Portugal, Greece, Turkey, the Czech sponded with massive infusions of for- assistance has made Republic and Hungary. eign assistance and expertise. Such a great, lasting When assessing the results of for- situations, as well as the growing prob- difference. eign assistance, it is essential to look at lems of refugee flows, pandemic dis-  the resolution of longstanding prob- eases and global climate change — to lems, not just the economic perform- say nothing of systemic issues like ance of specific countries. A great poverty eradication, economic growth, Take Korea and Taiwan, for exam- example is the control and partial and the promotion of democracy and ple. I worked with those countries at elimination of onchocerciasis (river the rule of law — are increasingly ad- the beginning of my career with the blindness) in much of Africa, a disease dressed through economic assistance. U.S. Agency for International Devel- that had deprived countless people of It is therefore quite unfortunate opment during the 1960s. Their de- their sight over the centuries. The af- that views on this subject are often velopment and financial officials fected countries and the international poorly informed. Indeed, there is a would express amazement and have a development community, including whole school of critics who churn out hearty laugh if I told them today that USAID, teamed up in the 1970s for a tracts and op-eds, and give lectures, our assistance over many years had major long-term effort to understand claiming that foreign aid does not not been effective. and attack this scourge. Because mil- “work.” Yes, it is true there are disap- Exactly the opposite is true. We fi- lions of Africans still have their sight pointments and failures in the foreign nanced technical assistance, machinery who would otherwise have lost it, vi- assistance record of the U.S. and other and raw materials for private-sector brant villages exist and crops are public and private donors. But there manufacturers; funded infrastructure, grown on once-vacant lands. are also numerous achievements. such as power plants, roads, ports and Or consider world population telecommunication facilities; helped growth, the topic of a Speaking Out Success Stories agriculture with fertilizers and seeds; column by Michael Fritz in this past There is a long list of countries in and vigorously promoted health and January’s FSJ. Some 25 to 30 years which economic assistance — from education. These types of assistance ago, demographers were forecasting the U.S. and a wide range of bilateral, helped both countries become the that world population would reach in multilateral and private donors — has prosperous democracies that they are the neighborhood of 16 billion people made a great and lasting positive dif- today. And they long ago became aid by 2050. To address this growing ference. donors themselves. problem, the development assistance

DECEMBER 2010/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 13 01-15_FSJ_1210_FRO:first 11/12/10 2:56 PM Page 14

S PEAKING O UT

community — most notably the World quently use such assistance to support Bank, Scandinavian aid agencies and political and strategic objectives. private groups — mounted complex, If U.S. assistance Smaller bilateral donors and multilat- diverse, long-term population control eral agencies, such as the World Bank programs in collaboration with numer- does not achieve much and the Asian Development Bank, try ous poor countries. Thanks partly to to avoid making programmatic deci- this great effort, today the world’s pop- because of a broader sions on the basis of political objec- ulation in 2050 is forecast to top off at tives. That is why they have limited or about nine billion rather than nearly diplomatic and military no operations in wartorn countries. double that. Doesn’t that constitute a During the Cold War, U.S. military great success? failure, do not fault bases in Pakistan, Turkey, the Philip- Other examples of major problems pines and elsewhere played very im- successfully addressed by foreign aid the aid program and its portant roles. A quid pro quo for use of in many countries that otherwise re- these bases was the provision of bilat- main poor include the reduction of managers. Blame the eral economic assistance to the con- HIV/AIDS rates, the eradication of cerned countries at much higher fund- smallpox, substantial increases in agri- failed policy. ing levels than we would otherwise have cultural crop yields, improvement of provided. I worked on many of these transportation networks, the creation agreements. And we did our best to of clean water and sanitation facilities, channel the monies into useful eco- widespread increases in literacy, ex- not to achieve much poverty reduc- nomic development activities. tension of women’s rights, and suc- tion or economic development in a Most of these activities were suc- cessful stimulation of civic partici- given country, but still be a success if cessful, but others, regrettably, had no pation and democracy. it helps achieve overriding political long-term positive effect. Even so, our In addition, the development com- objectives. bases helped contain the Soviets and munity continually (with varying de- And even if U.S. assistance does win the Cold War. So was our eco- grees of success) provides humanitar- not achieve much because of a nomic aid wasted? In the broader ian and reconstruction assistance to broader diplomatic and military fail- scheme of things, certainly not. the victims of natural disasters and ure, do not fault the aid program and Or consider Egypt — another stark civic conflicts all over the world. In its managers. Blame the failed policy. example of the use of economic assis- addition to Haiti and Pakistan, other Such was the case during the Viet- tance to support a political objective. cases often in the news are Gaza, nam War, where most of our eco- The Camp David accords of 1978 es- Sudan, the Democratic Republic of nomic aid was wasted in the course of tablished peace between Egypt and the Congo, Ethiopia, Somalia, Timor- ultimate policy failure. The current Israel, with the U.S. agreeing to pro- Leste, Bosnia and Kosovo. situations in Afghanistan and Iraq vide substantial economic and military seem to have similarities with Viet- assistance to both countries. Aid in Support of nam. The U.S. and some other NATO For many years thereafter, eco- Political Objectives members are pouring in vast amounts nomic aid to Egypt totaled just under Most critics of foreign aid overlook of economic assistance to support our $1 billion per annum, and that to Israel a key point concerning the use of bi- military effort, but it seems that most a bit over $1 billion. USAID main- lateral foreign economic assistance: of it is not producing economic devel- tained a large mission in Cairo to ne- Such assistance often directly supports opment. We will only see the politi- gotiate and manage a substantial port- major political and strategic objectives cal and strategic results in due course. folio of aid programs and projects. being sought primarily through diplo- It is primarily large countries with In recent years the economic levels matic and military means. Because of major bilateral economic assistance have declined, however. The adminis- this positive reinforcement, it is per- programs — such as the U.S., Britain, tration’s congressional budget justifica- fectly possible for a U.S. aid program France and a few others — that fre- tion for Fiscal Year 2011 requests

14 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2010 01-15_FSJ_1210_FRO:first 11/12/10 2:56 PM Page 15

S PEAKING O UT

$1.558 billion in total aid for Egypt, of So it seems to me that the inefficien- which $250 million is economic sup- cies and waste in the process will re- port and the remainder military. For USAID, which once main. Perhaps the administration does Israel the request is $3 billion, most of not want to approach Congress for it in the form of military assistance. managed or controlled basic reforms on a secondary but con- These are substantial sums of the tentious matter like foreign aid with so taxpayers’ money, to be sure. But our almost all assistance, many more critical issues on its plate. political objective to date has been And anyway, too many interests, in- achieved — there has been peace be- is but a shell of the cluding the State Department itself, tween the two countries for over 30 profit from the existing situation and years. Imagine how the Middle East powerful, independent oppose a more powerful USAID. would look today if Egypt and Israel Accordingly, the approach I laid had continued to be fierce antagonists organization it once was. out in my November 2009 Speaking all these years! Out column, “Merge USAID Fully into State,” remains the only realistic Improving the Efficiency way to improve matters greatly in the of U.S. Foreign Aid trol are overdue. And over the years, foreseeable future. To make that hap- It is well-known that the U.S. for- numerous studies and proposals for pen, the Obama administration could eign economic assistance program is reform have been made by knowl- ask Congress to pass legislation incor- not efficiently organized and adminis- edgeable individuals and groups. Bills porating the rest of USAID, and as tered today, and that this results in have been floated by Senator John many of the other aid spigots as possi- waste (though not nearly as much as Kerry, D-Mass., Senator Richard ble, into State, then combine them to critics claim). USAID, which once Lugar, R-Ind., and Representative form a separate development assis- managed or controlled almost all as- Howard Berman, D-Calif. tance bureau. sistance, is but a shell of the powerful, Foreign aid lobby groups have Finally, that should then be made a independent organization it once was. been very active, as well, such as the specialty (cone) equal to other cones Most of its policy, program and budget Center for Global Development. such as political, economic, adminis- functions have been subsumed within Most of these efforts call for USAID tration, etc. Such legislation should the State Department, and the to be reinvigorated and again put in also ensure that the other federal enti- USAID Administrator is a subordi- control of most or all U.S. economic as- ties involved in disbursing foreign nate of the Secretary of State. sistance programs. But thus far, at economic assistance are closely over- Meanwhile, numerous other aid least, their advocacy has been in vain. seen and coordinated by this new bu- spigots have sprouted. State itself runs Recently the Obama administra- reau. ■ huge programs outside the purview of tion, after long study, announced its USAID. The Millennium Challenge economic development policy. To no Raymond Malley, a former Senior Corporation, the Overseas Private In- one’s surprise, it says that assistance re- Foreign Service officer, spent 23 years vestment Corporation, the Trade and mains a key aspect of U.S. national se- in operational and management posi- Development Agency, and the Peace curity policy, alongside diplomacy and tions with USAID. After retiring in Corps are all involved in development defense. Such assistance must be sub- 1983, he performed numerous con- in some fashion. In addition, the De- stantial, results-oriented and sustain- sulting assignments for the agency partment of Defense and many other able. during the next 20 years. He also had agencies (Agriculture, Treasury, Jus- But disappointingly, the report does a long second career as a senior exec- tice, Health and Human Services, etc.) not call for a reduction in the number utive with a global Korean industrial have their own mini–foreign aid offices of governmental aid spigots and the manufacturing group. He now lec- operating more or less independently strengthening of USAID, although tures, writes and teaches international of State and USAID. there is the usual lip service for affairs at the Institute for Lifelong Ed- Basic reform and centralized con- greater coordination among agencies. ucation at Dartmouth College.

DECEMBER 2010/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 15 16-49_FSJ_1210_FOC:firstlook 11/12/10 2:58 PM Page 16

F OCUS ON M ULTILATERAL D IPLOMACY

WANTED: EXPERIENCED OFFICERS TO ADDRESS GLOBAL CHALLENGES Curtis Parker

MULTILATERAL DIPLOMACY CAN BE VERY CHALLENGING, BUT IT IS OFTEN THE MOST REWARDING WORK A FOREIGN SERVICE PROFESSIONAL CAN DO.

BY GLYN T. DAVIES

erhaps this article should have been titled “Confessions of a Convert to Multilateral Diplo- macy.” Why? My intensive, yearlong immersion in the occasionally frustrating, but increasingly vital, work America does in multilateral organizations convinced me of the importance of the United Nations system and our role in it. Where once it might haveP been argued that multilateral diplomacy was a mere addendum to the pursuit of the “real” business of engaging nation-states bilaterally, now that logic is fraying.

16 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2010 16-49_FSJ_1210_FOC:firstlook 11/12/10 2:58 PM Page 17

F OCUS

With the passing of the Cold War and the brief, heady weapons — the work can be quite technical, requiring of- “unipolar moment,” we now have ample evidence that our ficers to become familiar with both policy and the science most productive path in the 21st century is to retool our underlying it. Those working on the Wassenaar Arrange- institutions and retrain our people to succeed in a world ment on Export Controls for Dual-Use Goods and Tech- where new regional powers are ascendant and are work- nologies, for instance, must get a grip on what distinguishes ing with each other, and with many other nations, to shape civilian commercial use of remotely piloted vehicles or outcomes multilaterally — and not always in line with our laser microphones from their military applications. Why is interests. that Russian or French diplomat objecting to the language For those who opt to try multilateral diplomacy for a proposed for listing a controlled item? If you don’t know tour or two, here’s the silver lining: it is often the most re- the physics underlying the gizmo in question, who makes warding work one can do as a Foreign Service profes- it and what it’s used for (or, better yet, have contacts in the sional. Ask anyone who has worked to sway votes on a interagency community with deep technical background high-profile resolution in a multilateral body. The Rubik’s who can tell you what you need to know), you can’t repre- Cube of national interests, bloc politics, rules, precedent sent Uncle Sam’s interests properly in a negotiation. and personalities creates a diplomatic degree of difficulty Another example of this is U.S. participation in the greater than the task of dealing bilaterally with represen- Preparatory Commission of the Comprehensive Test Ban tatives of a host government, even one riven by divisions Treaty Organization. To be effective, U.S. representatives of religion, language or brittle coalition politics. To ad- must understand the scientific principles underlying the vance an issue in a multilateral context, the emphasis you network of the commission’s monitoring stations. How do will place in your approach to a Central African envoy will the seismic stations work? What the heck is a “noble gas” differ from that to a Central American colleague, or a and why is measuring its incidence in the atmosphere im- Southeast Asian. portant? I’ve come to see the importance of raising our game in Of course, our work entails extensive interaction with the multilateral system during my time in Vienna, serving other U.S. government agencies, where there is a vast as envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency and reservoir of expertise on these issues. In addition to col- United Nations agencies here. Let me briefly describe laborating closely with most of the State Department’s the scope of our work and, through the example of our ef- functional bureaus, we work with the National Aeronautics forts over the last year to counter Iran’s nuclear challenge, and Space Administration and the Department of De- illustrate both the stakes and the rewards of multilateral fense, to shepherd U.S. space policy priorities; with the work. Then I will deliver my pitch to up-and-coming For- Justice Department and Drug Enforcement Administra- eign Service professionals to try multilateral work on for tion, to support efforts to combat organized crime, traf- size. We need you, and you’ll like it. ficking in persons and the illegal drug trade; and with the Department of Energy, the Nuclear Regulatory Commis- Technical Mastery in the sion, the National Labs and other agencies, to shape our Service of National Policy nuclear policy. I had great respect for the Civil Service be- The United States Mission to International Organiza- fore coming to this job, but now I know even better how tions in Vienna, which I head, works with the organizations indispensable are the knowledge and talents of our col- of the U.N. system based in Vienna. There are about a leagues who devote their careers to key subjects. half-dozen of them, and I certainly didn’t know them all Let’s zoom out for a second and look at the broader when fate first tapped me for this job (pop quiz: what do challenge posed to officers considering entering the world IIASA and UNCITRAL do?). But the key issues we han- of multilateral work. The Bureau of International Organ- dle are related to nuclear nonproliferation, arms control, ization Affairs manages the State Department’s missions organized crime, corruption and trafficking in drugs, and to the United Nations, providing the link between the nu- international outer space. merous U.S. government offices that contribute to the While UNVIE’s portfolios support some of the highest multifaceted policies discussed there. From its primary foreign policy priorities — notably, advancing President organs in New York to its subsidiary bodies, like the U.N. Barack Obama’s goal of achieving a world without nuclear Peacebuilding Commission; programs and funds such as

DECEMBER 2010/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 17 16-49_FSJ_1210_FOC:firstlook 11/17/10 7:57 PM Page 18

F OCUS

the World Food Program; and spe- “I’ve come to see the importance That clarion call, and the presi- cialized agencies like the Interna- dent’s vigorous follow-up gave tional Atomic Energy Agency, the of raising our game in the new urgency to the work of those global architecture of the U.N. sys- in the nuclear policy and nonpro- tem is impressively large and multilateral system during liferation fields. His Nuclear Se- spread out. curity Summit in April 2010 was The diversity and scope of the my time in Vienna, serving the largest gathering of heads of system pose a daunting challenge state in the United States since to newcomers. How do the vari- as envoy to the IAEA and the 1945 San Francisco Confer- ous bodies, agencies, commissions ence establishing the United Na- and funds relate to one another, United Nations agencies here.” tions. work together? To which does the The president’s commitment — Amb. Glyn T. Davies, UNVIE United States belong? What are has intensified efforts by Wash- our obligations — legal, financial, ington, UNVIE and others to political — to each? Most impor- support U.S. ratification of the tantly, how can the U.S. work with these various bodies to Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty; to support the creation of successfully address new challenges requiring an interna- an international fuel bank so that countries can access tional response? peaceful power without increasing the risks of prolifera- Working in the U.N. system requires Foreign Service tion; and to ensure that the IAEA has the resources and professionals to internalize the answers to all of these ques- support it needs to accomplish its growing mission. tions. They must also understand that the various United The president’s commitment also quickened U.S. ef- Nations bodies have relationships not only with the State forts to reduce the nuclear threat posed by Iran. Tehran Department, but also with other federal agencies and has failed to demonstrate that its nuclear program is meant American private parties, state agencies and nongovern- exclusively for peaceful purposes. The IAEA Board of mental organizations. An FSO working in the U.N. envi- Governors has affirmed this noncompliance, and the U.N. ronment has the challenge of bringing those disparate Security Council has sought, by imposing sanctions, to per- agendas and perspectives into productive, constructive suade Tehran to work with the international community focus. to end the attendant threat to global security. Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile activities pose a real Making “Atoms for Peace” threat to the security and stability of the Middle East. Its More than a Slogan failure to comply with its treaty obligations and its eight- UNVIE’s work with the International Atomic Energy year game of cat-and-mouse with the IAEA threaten to Agency is our highest-profile account. Our efforts have undercut the nuclear nonproliferation regime and the been supercharged by President Barack Obama’s com- agency’s authority — at precisely the moment we are work- mitment, laid out in his landmark April 2009 Prague ing to strengthen both. speech, to work toward a world without nuclear weapons. Last year, the foreign ministers and other senior repre- sentatives of the United States, along with the United Glyn T. Davies, a career member of the Senior Foreign Kingdom, Germany, France, Russia and China (called Service, has been the U.S. permanent representative to the both the “P5+1” and the “E3+3”) sought to engage Iran International Atomic Energy Agency and the Vienna Of- to convince it to meet its international obligations and fice of the United Nations, with the rank of ambassador, demonstrate that its program is peaceful. As part of our since June 2009. Ambassador Davies previously served as two-track approach, we have coordinated with the inter- principal deputy assistant secretary of State for East Asian national community to apply pressure on Tehran. and Pacific affairs, deputy assistant secretary of State for When Iran failed to respond to our engagement efforts, European affairs and deputy chief of mission in London, Pres. Obama, accepting the Nobel Peace Prize in De- among many other assignments since joining the Foreign cember 2009, explained our logic: “I believe that we must Service in 1980. develop alternatives to violence that are tough enough to

18 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2010 16-49_FSJ_1210_FOC:firstlook 11/12/10 2:58 PM Page 19

F OCUS

actually change behavior — for if we want a lasting peace, ering support for the resolution, including active engage- then the words of the international community must mean ment by the president and Secretary of State Hillary Rod- something. Those regimes that break the rules must be ham Clinton. At UNVIE our officers rallied support held accountable. Sanctions must exact a real price. In- among member-states. As a result, only three countries on transigence must be met with increased pressure — and the 35-nation board voted against the resolution: Cuba, such pressure exists only when the world stands together as Venezuela and Malaysia. The stage was set for the Iran one.” sanctions debate in the United Nations Security Council, The U.S. mission in Vienna played a key role in rallying and eventual passage of UNSCR 1929. the world to stand together to face the challenge posed by Iran’s nuclear noncompliance. In late 2009 the IAEA A Case Study in Engaging Iran: Board of Governors passed a resolution expressing ongoing, The Tehran Research Reactor serious concern that Iran continued to defy IAEA and U.N. As exhilarating as our involvement in efforts to hold Security Council resolutions. This was the first such reso- Iran to account was, mission officers also played a central lution in four years and was prompted, in particular, by the role in a high-profile effort at positive engagement with revelation that Iran was constructing yet another unde- Iran. Last October, the United States supported a pro- clared nuclear facility, an enrichment plant near Qom. The posal by the IAEA to provide fuel for the continued oper- resolution underscored the unity of purpose among IAEA ation of the Tehran Research Reactor, a facility used, member-states and the E3+3, which took the lead in put- among other things, for the production of medical iso- ting the resolution together. topes. An intensive American diplomatic effort went into gath- In June 2009, with the reactor fuel forecast to run out

DECEMBER 2010/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 19 16-49_FSJ_1210_FOC:firstlook 11/12/10 2:58 PM Page 20

F OCUS

at the end of the year, Iran ap- Concerns among some France for fabrication into fuel, proached the IAEA asking for fuel which would be returned to Iran for for the reactor. Officers at UNVIE generalists that a use in the safeguarded TRR reac- reported the request to Washington tor. and recommended we support multilateral tour may not be At the time, this plan would have meeting it to test Iran’s commitment significantly reduced Tehran’s avail- to a civilian-only nuclear program. good for their career are able stockpile of low-enriched ura- The United States came to view nium, which is itself a source of the TRR proposal as a positive step valid, but can be overcome. anxiety in the international com- to help build confidence between munity. It would also have ad- Iran and the international commu- dressed a humanitarian need of the nity. If successful, such a step could put Tehran on the Iranian people, and served as a confidence-building meas- path to compliance with its obligations under Security ure to create an opportunity for further dialogue. Council resolutions and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation But in the end, Iran did not confirm the provisional Treaty, and to the IAEA, and help tackle the more funda- agreement its representatives had made in Vienna. For mental question of its broader nuclear program. almost eight months after the Vienna talks, Tehran twisted UNVIE officers played a key role in shaping our pol- and turned, fulminated and raged, and threw up one spe- icy on the matter. Mission staff met with senior officials cious reason after another why the TRR deal was unac- in Washington and travelled with them to other countries ceptable. That was the context within which we achieved to enlist their support in providing fuel to the reactor. such a strong result in the Board of Governors condemn- Together with our E3+3 partners, the United States ing Iran, and which represented an important prologue delegation (led by Under Secretary for Political Affairs to our success in passing UNSCR 1929. Bill Burns and including current UNVIE Deputy Chief of While the TRR deal was a whole-of-government ef- Mission Robert Wood), informed Iran’s representatives in fort, it was also, to a degree I have rarely seen in the For- Geneva on Oct. 1, 2009, of our willingness to discuss items eign Service, the result of a concerted intellectual, of concern to Tehran as well as our concerns about Iran’s bureaucratic and diplomatic push by a relatively small nuclear program. The Iranian delegation agreed to sit number of officers at a modest-sized mission. Since I was down later that month in Vienna to discuss the TRR pro- new in town when all of this came to a head, I provided posal. relatively little intellectual capital to the exercise; but boy, Three weeks later, four nations met with IAEA offi- did I enjoy being along for the ride! The effort engaged cials and experts to negotiate the terms of the proposal, in- officers in both high policy and meat-and-potatoes multi- cluding detailed technical points like the amount of lateral diplomacy. It required technical mastery of some uranium to be provided and under what terms. Follow- pretty complex nuclear processes. We went toe-to-toe ing three days of talks in Vienna, chaired by then-IAEA with Iran and gave better than we got. Director General Mohamed ElBaradei, the U.S., France, The result? We have built an international consensus Russia and, dramatically, Iran, agreed ad referendum on to put pressure on Tehran to meet its international obli- a project and supply agreement to refuel the Tehran Re- gations, an effort whose scope and importance extends search Reactor. Deputy Secretary of Energy Dan Pone- well beyond the IAEA to include the Security Council and man led our side. A dozen members of the U.S. mission coordinated efforts to apply sanctions on Iran. were involved in the effort. The upshot was an agreement Iran could not refuse The Significance of Global Solutions without putting the lie to its stated commitment to an ex- Despite the growing importance of this work, as the clusively civilian nuclear program. The Russian and Iran nuclear example demonstrates, some Foreign Serv- French ambassadors and I joined together in a proposal, ice generalists take the view that a multilateral tour may which IAEA Director General ElBaradei submitted to not be good for their career. Language training is usually Iran, to send the country’s own available low-enriched not offered. Nor are most multilateral positions at hard- uranium to Russia for further enrichment and then to ship posts, which are generally considered more career-

20 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2010 16-49_FSJ_1210_FOC:firstlook 11/12/10 2:58 PM Page 21

F OCUS

enhancing. And, an officer bidding for an onward assign- gent challenges in international organizations hinges on ment from a “functional” position can have a harder slog the effective practice of multilateral diplomacy by officers than one coming out of a mighty regional bureau. experienced and trained in its challenges and intricacies. These are all real concerns, but we must overcome This has never been truer than now. them. While the learning curve in a multilateral tour is For all these reasons, FSOs should seek out a multi- steep, State Department officers working with interna- lateral tour. Such positions add substantial knowledge and tional organizations develop technical and substantive skills to an officer’s professional repertoire. Moreover, the knowledge that will stand them in good stead as they ad- State Department’s ability to effectively advance U.S. pol- vance in their careers. icy goals hinges on having a diverse cadre of skilled diplo- Officers working in a multilateral setting will draw on mats shepherding its efforts in multilateral fora. skills they’ve learned in bilateral work: establishing good As Pres. Obama declared to the United Nations Gen- working relations with fellow diplomats; discerning who eral Assembly in September 2009: “This cannot solely be has the authority to act alone and who requires instruc- America’s endeavor. Those who used to chastise America tions from a capital; and evaluating the information we for acting alone in the world cannot now stand by and wait gather for reporting and policy recommendations. for America to solve the world’s problems alone. We have But working in multilateral settings requires additional sought — in word and deed — a new era of engagement skills. Deciding what information to share with whom, with the world. And now is the time for all of us to take and when, is a skill of paramount importance. Reporting our share of responsibility for a global response to global on not just one country’s policies and plans, but those of challenges.” ■ many, requires detailed knowledge and intense coordina- tion among numerous contacts, as well as the ability to sum up potentially dozens of country views concisely. Working in a multilateral environment also requires skills that are unique to international organizations. Un- derstanding the rules and mores of a body’s secretariat, and successfully enlisting its assistance, are challenges whose importance is matched only by their difficulty. Routinely coordinating meetings and positions among nu- merous countries, and negotiating with blocs and identi- fying their local leaders and fault lines, are all crucial skills. Mastering U.S. policy on many countries and issues, not just one country or functional topic at a time, requires a high level of expertise and ongoing education. And co- ordinating public statements among many like-minded partners and reaching out to media in third countries to explain policy and garner support requires public diplo- macy staff to think beyond their immediate operating en- vironment and establish contacts all over the world. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton highlighted the significance of global solutions in her January 2009 confirmation testimony: “The best way to advance Amer- ica’s interests in reducing global threats and seizing global opportunities is to design and implement global solu- tions.” The threats posed by nuclear proliferation and nu- clear weapons, terrorism, organized crime and trafficking in persons are global in scope and require considerable coordination to combat. Our success in addressing ur-

DECEMBER 2010/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 21 16-49_FSJ_1210_FOC:firstlook 11/12/10 2:58 PM Page 22

F OCUS ON M ULTILATERAL D IPLOMACY

WORKING ON MANY FRONTS AT THE AFRICAN UNION

THE U.S. MISSION TO THE A.U. ADDRESSES REGIONAL PROBLEMS AND AIMS TO STRENGTHEN AMERICA’S TIES TO INDIVIDUAL AFRICAN COUNTRIES IN THE PROCESS.

BY MICHAEL A. BATTLE

he United States established Joint Task Force for the Horn of Africa and the Africa Com- its mission to the African Union in 2006 to engage more fully mand, our mission is working with the African Union’s Peace in multilateral diplomacy with the 53-nation organization and Security Council to help develop a comprehensive con- headquarteredT in Addis Ababa that seeks to speak with one tinental maritime strategy. voice for the African continent. The mission (hereafter re- USAU has led the effort to have African Union repre- ferred to as USAU) works with the African Union on sentation at U.S.-sponsored maritime conferences and train- transnational issues and can report a number of recent suc- ing operations. We also provide technical assistance and cesses. capacity building in planning and operations. USAU se- cured participation by the African Union Commission and Strengthening Security Cooperation the A.U. Peace and Security Operations Department in an One example of this work is USAU’s effort to address the October conference in Stuttgart, sponsored by the State De- transnational issues inherent in securing the coastlines and partment and AFRICOM. the coastal waterways that have tributaries leading into the Related to maritime security is the issue of drug traffick- interior of African nations. With assets from the Combined ing. Responding to a request from the African Union Com- mission, USAU coordinated a conference in Addis Ababa Michael A. Battle has been the U.S. ambassador to the that brought together State, AFRICOM and the A.U. com- African Union since September 2009. From 2003 to 2009, missions on peace and security, social affairs and political af- Ambassador Battle was president of the Interdenomina- fairs. The conference focused on developing a strategy to tional Theological Center in Atlanta, Ga. Prior to that, address the problems related to drug trafficking from South among many notable achievements, Amb. Battle served as and Central America through Africa en route to Europe. vice president of the American Committee on Africa from 1994 to 1998, participated in 1994 as an observer of the first Promoting Good Governance free election in South Africa, and was liaison between the To strengthen African democratic institutions, USAU Hampton University Ministers’ Conference and the South used funds from the U.S. Agency for International Devel- African Council of Churches. opment to help the A.U. establish a Democracy and Elec-

22 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2010 16-49_FSJ_1210_FOC:firstlook 11/12/10 2:58 PM Page 23

F OCUS

toral Assistance Unit. The DEAU provides training in elec- ment with the A.U. has expanded African engagement with tion processes for election monitors and observers, in addi- the private sector in America and elsewhere. Such efforts tion to tracking the election calendar for the African Union. are more efficient than brokering linkages on a country-by- This direct support strengthens the Union’s capacity and en- country basis. sures the promotion of good governance. There is a pressing need for continental and regional in- The African Union has developed an African Charter on tegration of trade regulations, processes and procedures. Democracy, Elections and Governance which, when rati- One of the difficulties U.S. private business has in doing fied by 15 member-states, will begin promoting democracy, business on the African continent is trying to find ways to elections and good governance on the entire continent. engage in one nation with the opportunity to move supplies USAU and other members of the African Union Partners and products across borders without the heavy and variable Group meet regularly with A.U. member-states to encour- duty fees and the inconsistent laws in neighboring nations. age adoption of the charter and coordinate efforts with the Recognizing this, the African Union has launched an ambi- A.U. commissioner for political affairs. tious plan to achieve continental integration by harmonizing Through engagement with the African Union, the U.S. trade laws over the next 20 years. Agency for International Development is strengthening its The fact that regional integration has not been fully re- own bilateral relationships with individual African nations alized in the continent’s various geographically based eco- while also developing the A.U.’s influence. An excellent ex- nomic communities suggests that it will, in all probability, ample is USAID’s support for the African Union’s campaign take more time than that to achieve full continental inte- to end the high rate of deaths related to maternity and child- gration. By engaging in constructive multilateral diplomacy bearing. with the African Union, the U.S. helps the continent create USAU, USAID and the A.U. signed a landmark agree- a climate more conducive to private-sector investment, pro- ment on this subject at the African Growth and Opportunity ducing the best context for the development of democracy Act Forum in Washington, D.C. This agreement strength- and good governance. ens the capacity of the A.U. commissioner for social affairs, Africa’s long-term future and the interest of the global who carries the health portfolio, to garner the support of in- community both require the continent’s transformation dividual African parliaments to encourage changes in health from a net recipient of international aid into a region where policy and practice, eliminating the senseless deaths of investment benefits all. Africa has rich resources, but they mothers and children. require multilateral investment strategies to develop. When the U.S. government hosted the first high-level talks in Washington in April between senior U.S. officials Utilizing Comparative Advantages and the leadership of the African Union Commission, it not Multilateral diplomacy enables countries to leverage only solidified its evolving relationship with the AUC but their comparative advantages, contributing the skills and re- underscored its commitment to helping the African conti- sources they are best positioned to offer. The African nent. The talks offered the U.S. and Africa a platform to Union’s initiative to create a Pan-African University is based explore areas of mutual interest. on precisely this principle. The idea is not to design a brand- new institution with a new facility, but rather to identify an Fostering Economic Development existing, strong academic institution in each of the five re- The April talks also established a valuable connection be- gions of Africa (north, east, west, south and central) to serve tween the A.U. and the Corporate Council on Africa, an or- as centers of excellence. ganization comprised of private companies with an interest The A.U. plans to bring the five centers — focused on in doing business on the continent. At the A.U. summit in fields like science and technology, the humanities, business Kampala this past July, the CCA signed a memorandum of and industry, and agriculture — under a single administra- understanding to promote American private-sector invest- tion. This will help ensure high standards, resources and ment on the continent, something the A.U. has long sought. uniform development for the overall university system. Sev- The MOU also identifies several projects that will encour- eral partner nations have agreed to assist in this endeavor, age even greater U.S. investment in Africa. lending their support to areas in which they have significant As such successes demonstrate, U.S. diplomatic engage- expertise.

DECEMBER 2010/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 23 16-49_FSJ_1210_FOC:firstlook 11/17/10 7:58 PM Page 24

F OCUS

The development of the Pan- USAID funds helped the Toward that end, in July Assistant African University system will increase Secretary of State for Africa Johnnie opportunities for U.S. academic insti- African Union establish a Carson called a small group meeting on tutions to engage the African Union in Somalia at the Kampala A.U. summit. a multilateral context, sharing their Democracy and Electoral Six African heads of state, the chair of technological, scientific and creative the African Union Commission, and skills. (U.S. land grant academic insti- Assistance Unit. the leadership of the Peace and Secu- tutions are well equipped to assist the rity Council of the African Union all African continent in an agriculture ex- participated in this meeting. The as- plosion that will help feed the world.) As part of this effort, sembly brought together a select group of A.U. member- USAU is working with the A.U. Commission on Education states, partner nations and international organizations to to conduct a study on best practices for establishing a cen- discuss how each could help halt the vicious cycle of vio- tralized administrative system for the proposed university. lence and decline, and stabilize Somalia. The notion of comparative advantage also applies to con- Whether multilateral diplomacy is used to establish part- flict resolution. The nearly 20-year-old crisis in Somalia, for nerships, create broad-based initiatives or resolve conflicts, example, garners tremendous attention from the A.U. and it is a powerful tool that augments established bilateral diplo- partner countries, all of whom know that Somalia’s status as macy. It provides opportunities to apply resources effi- a failed state threatens not only the safety and security of ciently, combining expertise, moral weight and insights. those living there, but the region and the entire world. This, in turn, greatly enhances the odds of success for highly Working multilaterally offers the best prospect of progress. complex agreements. ■

24 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2010 16-49_FSJ_1210_FOC:firstlook 11/12/10 2:58 PM Page 25

F OCUS ON M ULTILATERAL D IPLOMACY

A DAY AT THE U.N. HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

THE U.S. IS NOW ACTIVE IN THIS UNUSUAL MULTILATERAL FORUM DEVOTED TO FINDING CONSENSUS ON HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES.

BY SARAH CIACCIA

he United States joined the of human rights defenders worldwide. United Nations Human Rights Council as a member-state The United States delegation actively supported the re- in 2009 and recently completed its fourth session as a mem- newal of the mandate of the Independent Expert on ber. DuringT the most recent HRC session — Sept. 13 to Human Rights in the Sudan. This is a key tool for the in- Oct. 1 — the U.S. delegation actively negotiated more than ternational community’s continued engagement in Sudan 20 resolutions and supported several major initiatives at the during the run-up to the referenda in early 2011 on council, including establishment of a special rapporteur on whether southern Sudan should remain a part of the coun- the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of associa- try or become independent. tion, renewal of the mandate of the Human Rights Coun- On behalf of the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in cil’s Independent Expert on Human Rights in the Sudan, Geneva, I served as action officer for the resolution, which and creation of an expert working group to address dis- was co-led by Colombia and Mexico, that created the ex- crimination against women in the law and in practice. pert working group on discrimination against women. The U.S. delegation and a cross-regional group of co- Creation of this mechanism, a longstanding goal for many sponsors — Lithuania, the Czech Republic, the Maldives, delegations and nongovernmental organizations, will help Nigeria, Indonesia, Mexico and Argentina — spearheaded the international community highlight and develop best creation of the Office of the Special Rapporteur on Peace- practices to address laws that discriminate against women ful Assembly and Association. This mechanism will pro- worldwide. vide a strong, independent and credible voice to highlight growing threats to assembly, association and civil society, Intense Workdays and will highlight and develop best practices for the pro- Every day of the session brings a mix of meetings, res- tection of those rights. Establishment of this mechanism olution negotiations, briefings and frequent communica- was a top priority for us, and will help to advance the cause tion with colleagues in Washington. The six-hour time difference between Washington, D.C., and Geneva means Sarah Ciaccia, an entry-level FSO, serves as a political of- that delegates have to wake up early to respond to e-mail ficer at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in Geneva. messages and negotiation instructions that have come in

DECEMBER 2010/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 25 16-49_FSJ_1210_FOC:firstlook 11/17/10 7:57 PM Page 26

F OCUS

from the department overnight. The U.S. delegation cial Rapporteur on Human Rights Our team in Geneva includes po- in Cambodia), an expert panel dis- litical officers focused on human actively negotiated more cussion on how the council can bet- rights, legal advisers and a group of ter integrate a gender perspective human rights experts from State than 20 resolutions and into its work, a briefing by the Sec- who have come from Washington to retary General’s Special Represen- assist the delegation during the ses- supported several major tative on Children in Armed Con- sion. In addition, we work closely flict and a half-day discussion on the with colleagues from the Bureau of initiatives at the council. human rights situation in Somalia. International Organizations and the Many of these plenary session re- Bureau of Democracy, Human ports and discussions serve as the Rights and Labor, as well as the State Department Legal basis for the negotiated resolutions that are ultimately Adviser’s office. passed. The official workday begins with a daily morning meet- On Sept. 17 Independent Expert on Human Rights in ing led by our ambassador, Eileen Chamberlain Donahoe, Sudan Justice Mohamed Othman reported that the situa- the U.S. representative to the Human Rights Council. tion there had deteriorated since the April election. Many During the meeting action officers brief the ambassador delegations, including the United States, concluded on the on the status of the various resolutions, and we discuss the basis of this report that continued engagement by the in- statements the delegation will make during that day’s pub- dependent expert was necessary during the period lead- lic plenary sessions. ing up to and following the referenda in January 2011. After the internal meeting, members of the delegation Similarly, the Sept. 20 panel discussion on how the may also meet with colleagues from other delegations in United Nations system addresses discrimination against the Western Europe and Others regional group. Although women highlighted the human rights implications of this there is no common WEOG position on any given issue, issue; a report by the Office of the High Commissioner for this gathering is an opportunity to share information with Human Rights suggested that a mechanism at the council, our European partners and those in other parts of the such as a special rapporteur, independent expert or work- world. ing group, could be a useful way to address this problem. The plenary session generally breaks at 1 p.m. for Seeking Consensus lunch, but the work of the council continues. “Side events” The HRC session and most related meetings take place often take place during the break — brief sessions organ- at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, which was built be- ized by NGOs, delegations or the Office of the High Com- tween 1929 and 1936 to serve as the headquarters of the missioner for Human Rights focused on thematic human League of Nations. Before the start of the plenary session rights issues or country-specific situations. In September at 10 a.m., many delegates, NGO representatives and U.N. the U.S. — together with France, Ireland, Mexico, Colom- staff gather at the Serpentine Bar. This is where much of bia, Uruguay, Timor-Leste and Romania — sponsored a the nuts-and-bolts work of the council takes place, infor- panel discussion on ending violence and criminal sanctions mally, over coffee throughout the day, as delegates meet to on the basis of sexual orientation, which included a pres- negotiate bilaterally. entation by High Commissioner for Human Rights Na- With the 6 p.m. closing of the plenary session, col- vanethem Pillay and a video message from South African leagues from the U.S. delegation return to the mission to Archbishop Desmond Tutu. discuss strategy for the next day and send e-mails and make phone calls to report developments back to our colleagues Many Forms of Negotiation in Washington. The evening is also an opportunity to pre- During the final week of the session, the U.S. worked pare notes from the day, review new resolutions and re- with several other member-states to organize a discussion port texts, and catch up on developments in the news. on the recent outbreak of sexual violence in the Demo- This September’s plenary session included briefings by cratic Republic of the Congo, including a briefing by the various Human Rights Council mechanisms (e.g., the Spe- Secretary General’s Special Representative on Sexual Vio-

26 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2010 16-49_FSJ_1210_FOC:firstlook 11/17/10 7:57 PM Page 27

F OCUS

lence in Conflict, Margot Wallstrom, Much of the nuts-and-bolts states. Negotiations also take place who stopped in Geneva en route to bilaterally and in smaller groups of re- the DRC. This session was an im- work of the council takes gional or like-minded partners. portant opportunity for the council to The session draws civil society address an urgent human rights situ- place informally, over representatives from around the ation in real time. world and is an opportunity for us to Negotiating rounds on resolutions coffee throughout the day. meet with people working on the take place throughout the session. ground on the issues and causes that Often several meetings are necessary we promote in the council. before a resolution can be adopted by consensus or, in the After nearly three weeks, the session concludes with case of those resolutions on which delegations cannot the adoption of resolutions. This year, two new special agree, a delegation may call for a vote. Such resolutions mechanisms — on freedom of association and assembly, must pass by a simple majority to be adopted. and on discrimination against women — were both The delegations that sponsor resolutions host open ne- adopted by consensus. The resolution on the human gotiations during which all interested delegations, and rights situation in Sudan was passed, renewing the inde- often civil society representatives, are able to offer their pendent expert’s mandate for 12 months. views on the elements of a resolution text in an open forum. These results demonstrate the HRC’s ability to act as The sponsor delegations must then balance all contribu- the lead entity within the United Nations to promote and tors’ comments in order to achieve a resolution text that protect human rights throughout the world through a va- hopefully can be adopted by consensus by all member- riety of mechanisms. ■

DECEMBER 2010/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 27 16-49_FSJ_1210_FOC:firstlook 11/12/10 2:58 PM Page 28

F OCUS ON M ULTILATERAL D IPLOMACY

THE WAY FORWARD ON NPT DIPLOMACY

FOR THE UNITED STATES, THE LATEST NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY REVIEW CONFERENCE WAS A MEANS TO REINVIGORATE THE PROCESS.

BY SUSAN F. B URK

little over a year be- Careful Preparations Pay Off fore the 2010 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review It had actually been 10 years since the NPT parties last Conference (hereafter referred to as RevCon), President agreed on a substantive set of conclusions and recom- BarackA Obama affirmed “America’s commitment to seek mendations for strengthening the treaty’s implementation. the peace and security of a world without nuclear As the United States began its preparations for the 2010 weapons,” and pledged that the United States will take con- RevCon, Pres. Obama’s Prague speech clearly defined crete steps to create such a world. He also made clear that U.S. nonproliferation and disarmament priorities, and we multilateral diplomacy is a vital instrument in the pragmatic approached the meeting as an opportunity to advance pursuit of these lofty aims. these priorities. Central to the president’s agenda and his vision for a During the year before the conference, a State-led in- world without nuclear weapons is strengthening the Nu- teragency team mapped out U.S. objectives and a strategy clear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which calls for a conference for achieving them. A key element of that strategy was the of its parties to review the treaty and its operations every pursuit of an intensive program of bilateral and multilateral five years. RevCons are opportunities to strengthen the diplomacy to prepare the way for a conference outcome treaty by identifying measures to advance its aims. Past ses- that would renew and reinvigorate the NPT, producing sions have reached consensus on final documents or deci- broad agreement on an agenda for the future. sions that reflect strong international support for the treaty During that time, American officials raised U.S. NPT and identify steps the parties can take to promote its goals. objectives with their counterparts worldwide. The team working to prepare for the RevCon on a daily basis con- Susan F. Burk has served as the Special Representative of sulted with more than 80 NPT parties in capitals, New the President for Nuclear Nonproliferation since June York City, Geneva and Vienna to share U.S. views and 2009. A career civil servant, Ambassador Burk has held priorities, to learn about their goals for the RevCon, and various positions within the Department of State since to consider ways to work together to ensure a successful 1999, including principal deputy assistant secretary of meeting. State for nonproliferation controls. We worked closely with the conference leadership, es-

28 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2010 16-49_FSJ_1210_FOC:firstlook 11/12/10 2:58 PM Page 29

F OCUS

pecially Philippines Ambassador to Our goal was to identify African and South Pacific nuclear- the United Nations Libran Cabactu- weapon-free zone treaties. lan, who served as the president of areas enjoying broad Finally, Sec. Clinton announced the RevCon. We also participated in a new “Peaceful Uses Initiative” to numerous workshops, symposia, con- agreement that could be enhance the safe application of nu- ferences and other events aimed at clear energy, and techniques to bet- preparing for the session, and met translated into a consensus ter address the myriad humanitar- with foreign officials and representa- ian problems posed by energy tives of intergovernmental and non- at the RevCon. shortages, unsafe water, hunger and governmental organizations. Our disease. She demonstrated the ex- goal was to identify areas enjoying tent of our commitment to this ini- broad agreement that could be translated into a consen- tiative and to fulfilling the NPT’s promise of peaceful sus at the RevCon. nuclear cooperation by committing $50 million to this ef- Our embassies and missions played a vital role, sup- fort, and challenged other countries to match the U.S. porting Washington in this extensive outreach program. commitment, for a total of $100 million over five years. These posts ensured that host governments had accurate In addition, the United States and the other four perma- information about U.S. policies and goals, while keeping nent members of the United Nations Security Council the State Department apprised of relevant developments made clear their shared commitment to strengthening around the world. U.S. missions to multilateral nonpro- the NPT in all its aspects by issuing a joint statement dur- liferation and disarmament fora, particularly the United ing the RevCon’s first week. Nations, the Conference on Disarmament and the Inter- A shared determination on the part of most parties to national Atomic Energy Agency, played important roles. demonstrate support for the NPT and to seek common We also briefed congressional staff on our efforts and es- ground, as well as strong leadership provided by the con- tablished excellent contacts with nongovernmental or- ference officers, led to a successful 2010 RevCon. Par- ganizations and civil society representatives, key ties reached consensus on a substantive final document, stakeholders in our NPT effort. including a forward-looking action plan that included measures in each of the treaty’s three pillars. Intense ne- Reinforcing the Three Pillars of the NPT gotiations, often conducted on the margins, were re- The tempo of U.S. diplomacy increased with the markably successful in reconciling the important and RevCon’s opening on May 3, and remained intense as the often conflicting priorities of the parties. approximately 190 NPT parties met in New York for the At the RevCon’s conclusion, despite the unfortunate next month. The U.S. posture was reinforced by demon- singling out of Israel in the final document, Pres. Obama strable and concrete progress on the president’s Prague welcomed the plan’s “balanced and practical steps that agenda, including release of the new Nuclear Posture Re- will advance nonproliferation, nuclear disarmament and view, which clearly reflected a reduced role for nuclear peaceful uses of nuclear energy, which are critical pillars weapons; the signing of the New START Treaty with of the nonproliferation regime.” He also noted that the Russia; and the successful conclusion of the Nuclear Se- plan reaffirms many aspects of the agenda that he had curity Summit. laid out in Prague in 2009. In her opening statement to the RevCon, Secretary of While the naming of Israel (and the omission of any State Hillary Rodham Clinton provided further evidence reference to Iran’s noncompliance) was lamentable, the of the U.S. commitment to the three pillars of the NPT: United States joined the consensus of the parties because nonproliferation, peaceful uses of nuclear energy and dis- the final document, as a whole, advanced the president’s armament. She announced the U.S. intention to make nonproliferation and disarmament agenda. public the size of its nuclear weapons stockpile and the history of nuclear reductions, which was done later that Building on a Strong Action Plan day. The Secretary also noted the administration’s in- The action plan calls for the resolution of all cases of tention to submit to the U.S. Senate the protocols for the noncompliance with treaty obligations and for strength-

DECEMBER 2010/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 29 16-49_FSJ_1210_FOC:firstlook 11/12/10 2:58 PM Page 30

F OCUS

ening the International Atomic En- A key element of The Way Forward ergy Agency safeguards system The 2010 NPT RevCon Action through universalization of the Ad- U.S. preparations for Plan is widely recognized as a sig- ditional Protocol, which enhances nificant international agreement the agency’s ability to detect clan- the RevCon was intensive that will reinforce the nonprolifera- destine nuclear activities. The doc- tion regime and strengthen the ument also directs parties to ensure diplomacy, both bilateral foundations for further disarma- that the IAEA has “all political, ment. The three main U.S. objec- technical and financial support” and multilateral. tives moving forward will continue needed to meet its responsibilities to be: strengthening IAEA safe- for NPT safeguards. guards, addressing noncompliance The plan’s steps to advance disarmament include a with the treaty’s nonproliferation obligations, and forging commitment by all treaty parties to pursue policies nec- arrangements to accommodate expanded interest in civil essary to establish the conditions for a nuclear-weapon- nuclear power that do not increase the risk of prolifera- free world and to take concrete steps in that direction. tion. Regarding the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, the doc- To act on Pres. Obama’s call to strengthen the IAEA ument encourages all states in a position to do so to make safeguards system and increase the agency’s resources additional contributions to the Peaceful Uses Initiative and authorities in general, the Obama administration has announced by Sec. Clinton and calls for further discus- undertaken a comprehensive review of the IAEA safe- sion of multilateral approaches to the nuclear-fuel cycle. guards system. The United States has begun to imple- It also endorses a regional conference in 2012 to dis- ment the review’s findings by pursuing a strategy of cuss issues relevant to the establishment of a Middle East engagement with states that have not yet concluded an zone free of weapons of mass destruction. As with many additional protocol and by pursuing more robust use of other parts of the action plan, this unprecedented ele- the IAEA’s existing authorities. ment reflects the serious, long-term engagement of par- Efforts to strengthen safeguards will fall short if some ties (e.g., the five permanent members of the U.N. states are permitted to violate their international legal ob- Security Council, the European Union, and Egypt and ligations in pursuit of a nuclear weapons capacity. The other states in the region) in advancing the aims of the United States continues to call for full compliance with 1995 NPT RevCon’s Middle East Resolution. the NPT’s nonproliferation obligations by all parties, and For its part, the United States has long supported cre- will continue to pursue compliance through multilateral ation of a WMD-free zone in the Middle East. But we mechanisms, particularly the United Nations Security have consistently maintained that such a zone can only Council. (This includes the very difficult cases of Iran be achieved in the context of a comprehensive and and North Korea.) All countries with a stake in a robust durable peace in the region, and by full compliance by and credible Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty must join all regional states with their arms control and nonprolif- this effort, and work together to convince violators to re- eration obligations. To be effective, therefore, the pro- turn to full compliance. posed conference must include all states in the Middle Closely related to the problem of noncompliance is East and other relevant countries, and have a broad the concern that a party that has violated its NPT obliga- agenda that encompasses regional security issues. tions might seek to withdraw from the treaty as a way to For the United States, the RevCon was not an end in escape punishment for such violations. While a small itself, but rather an important opportunity to reinvigo- number of RevCon delegations prevented consensus on rate the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and advance actions to combat abuse of the treaty’s withdrawal provi- its objectives. Work on the Prague agenda, including sions, the debate in New York made clear that many par- U.S. efforts to strengthen each of the NPT’s pillars, must ties believe we must address this issue in a collective continue through sustained U.S. leadership, and active manner. Many, including the United States, recognize and constructive participation by parties, in bilateral and that a party that withdraws from the NPT without reme- multilateral fora. dying existing noncompliance must be held accountable

30 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2010 16-49_FSJ_1210_FOC:firstlook 11/17/10 7:58 PM Page 31

F OCUS

for its violations. To do otherwise would devalue the veloping world. The United States and the IAEA are in treaty as an instrument of national and international se- the process of identifying appropriate projects for its first curity. The United States will continue to engage on this year (2011). The United States is also working with in- issue bilaterally and in multilateral fora. ternational partners to raise $50 million over five years Multilateral cooperation, specifically at the IAEA, re- to match the $50 million that United States has already mains central to expanding access to the peaceful uses of committed to the Initiative. nuclear power in a manner that minimizes proliferation The United States was gratified by the results of the risks. The United States looks forward to continuing dis- 2010 RevCon. But it is only the beginning of renewed ef- cussions on multilateral fuel assurances in Vienna, with forts to enhance the authority of the nonproliferation the aim of soon reaching a decision on establishing an regime, so that it continues to be a bulwark against the IAEA fuel bank. Such action would help guarantee states spread of nuclear weapons. possessing or seeking civil nuclear power that they have Formal preparations for the 2015 NPT Review Con- a reliable backup for nuclear fuel supply and do not need ference will not begin until 2012, when a preparatory to develop costly and technically challenging fuel-cycle committee will begin its work. We cannot take a break, facilities. however, from our efforts to consolidate support for the We are collaborating with the International Atomic NPT and the international institutions that sustain it. We Energy Agency to turn the Peaceful Uses Initiative that will continue to work with our partners at the United Na- Sec. Clinton announced at the RevCon into tangible proj- tions, the IAEA, and the Conference on Disarmament ects that will benefit many countries, especially in the de- and elsewhere to carry out the RevCon’s plans. ■

DECEMBER 2010/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 31 16-49_FSJ_1210_FOC:firstlook 11/17/10 7:57 PM Page 32

F OCUS ON M ULTILATERAL D IPLOMACY

GLOBAL METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES AS A PARTNER IN STATECRAFT

IMPROVEMENTS IN WEATHER FORECASTING WILL REDUCE THE COST OF EMERGENCY FOREIGN ASSISTANCE AND PROMOTE SECURE AND STABLE SOCIETIES.

BY JOHN L. HAYES

arlier this year, the Fargo, ration. And the increased accuracy in predicting the tracks N.D., area faced a serious flood threat from the Red River. of hurricanes supports local authorities in making critical This was not unusual, to be sure; it is a recurring part of the decisions such as whether to evacuate an area — preserv- region’sE history. The difference this time was the widen- ing lives and saving money. ing window of preparation time that U.S. National NWS is working with the United Nations World Mete- Weather Service warnings provided for the communities orological Organization to bring about similar results in- along the river. ternationally. Severe weather events and longer-term NWS forecasts in November 2009 alerted the commu- climate changes, such as severe drought, can play a major nity to the potential for major flooding the following March; part in disrupting life quality and, as a result, economic and the NWS update in January 2010 confirmed its probability political stability in developing nations. Moreover, if me- as greater than 90 percent. By the time the river crested at teorological information is not integrated with sound re- 37 feet in March (just one foot shy of the NWS prediction), source management and community protection plans, North Dakota communities had used the two-month ad- development investments to create stable, secure and vance notice to avert disaster by stacking a defensive prosperous societies can be easily lost. perimeter of sandbags along the river. Similarly, the improving NWS capability to forecast Capacity-Building other severe weather in the United States, such as flash Compiling weather observations and producing fore- floods and tornadoes, has widened the window for prepa- casts for high-impact weather events such as flash floods, hurricanes and severe thunderstorms are the foundation of John L. (“Jack”) Hayes is the assistant administrator for effective meteorological services. Also important is train- weather services and the director of the U.S. National ing to increase understanding of user needs and to ensure Weather Service at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric that forecasts and warnings take the needs of decision- Administration. He serves as the permanent representative makers into account and reach the right people at the right of the United States to the United Nations World Meteor- time. ological Organization. Following the Indian Ocean tsunami of Dec. 26, 2004,

32 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2010 16-49_FSJ_1210_FOC:firstlook 11/17/10 7:57 PM Page 33

F OCUS

the WMO and the United Nations Between 1956 and 1965, nology and the NWS, through its Educational, Scientific and Cultural Africa training desk, provided the Organization’s Intergovernmental there were more than 2.6 forecaster training and continues to Oceanographic Commission organ- contribute products for use in the ized an international response. This million deaths caused region. The Republic of South included establishment of a global Africa served as the regional foun- network to collect information by severe weather events; dation through its weather service, needed to deliver early warnings of providing weather forecasts to sup- tsunamis, which threaten coastal between 1996 and 2005, this port meteorological services in the zones worldwide. five developing countries that par- This network now generates number decreased to 220,000. ticipated: Botswana, Madagascar, such alerts for transmission to vir- Mozambique, Tanzania and Zim- tually every country in the world babwe. within minutes of a significant seismic event. The WMO At the conclusion of the project, the participants all has developed similar initiatives aimed at providing early noted significant improvement in their ability to forecast warning for severe weather in Central America and the severe weather and in their warning services delivered to Caribbean, southern Africa and the southwest Pacific, fo- the general public, the media and disaster management cusing on infrastructure, training and outreach to build organizations. As a result, the government of South Africa weather forecasting capacity. agreed to continue its support indefinitely and extend its Sustaining weather observation networks and weather service to all 15 member-states of the South African De- research depends on strong national hydrometeorological velopment Community. A similar regional project has services, but in developing countries such organizations been implemented in the South Pacific, for Fiji, Samoa, usually have limited resources. In these circumstances, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, with the weather serv- WMO support for capacity-building can pay long-term ice of New Zealand serving as the regional base. dividends. Improving a nation’s ability to predict weather While the SWFDP focused on improving the forecast- and warn citizens builds economic value by protecting in- ing of severe weather in a time frame of one to five days, vestments and development assistance. Major disasters, developing countries are also seriously vulnerable to such as 1998’s Hurricane Mitch, can depress the economic longer-range climate changes, such as prolonged drought. growth of a country for many years after the initial impact, Climate research is providing information and tools that leading to political and economic instability and, often, mi- offer the promise to improve agricultural production and gration. the capacity to plan for sustainable agricultural develop- Major challenges to the creation of such capacities in- ment, enabling local farmers to stretch scarce resources clude training and retention of meteorologists, improving for maximum benefit. the ability to deliver services, and upgrading weather ob- WMO members promote water-resource assessments servation and communications technologies. In coordina- and furnish the forecasts and climate information needed tion with donor countries, the WMO facilitates projects to plan water storage, agricultural activities and urban de- that build these capacities and raise the proficiency of par- velopment. The SWFDP projects intend to expand or link ticipants to become full partners in global, collaborative to flash flood forecasting and agricultural services in regions meteorological and environmental initiatives. where heavy rainfall or water shortages have disastrous con- sequences. New projects are now being developed for SWFDP: A Good Example Southeast Asia and Eastern Africa. One example of a highly successful program to improve meteorological services and forecasting capabilities is Water Management and Early Warning WMO’s Severe Weather Forecasting Demonstration Proj- The WMO’s Hydrology and Water Resource Program ect. The initial regional subproject took place from No- assists member-nations in maintaining their systems for ac- vember 2006 through November 2007 in southern Africa. quiring water-related information and for disseminating it The WMO facilitated the acquisition of needed tech- to decision-makers and other stakeholders. The WMO’s

DECEMBER 2010/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 33 16-49_FSJ_1210_FOC:firstlook 11/17/10 7:57 PM Page 34

F OCUS

primary initiative in this area, the Improving a nation’s ability and early response by local authori- World Hydrological Cycle Observ- ties ing System program, supports its to predict weather and warn One WMO program aimed at members, especially in lesser-de- such improvements is the Disaster veloped countries, in establishing citizens builds economic value Risk Reduction program, which accurate, timely and accessible centers on effective communication knowledge for the sustainable de- by protecting investments to the public. The pilot’s primary velopment of freshwater resources. focus is to improve the timeliness A key outcome of these activities is and development assistance. and accuracy of forecasts and facili- improved understanding of how tate rapid public response to warn- water should be managed, distrib- ings of severe weather. Improve- uted and protected. ments in disaster preparation will reduce the cost of emer- In many countries, early warning systems are not an in- gency foreign assistance and support the central foreign pol- tegral part of disaster risk management. Often, disaster icy objective of promoting secure and stable societies. risk management simply means “response and recovery.” The WMO is working to shift focus to the time periods The WMO’s Vital Role prior to severe weather events, paying greater attention to Casualties related to severe weather events have been and investment in preparedness through improved decreasing steadily over the past 50 years as a result of in- weather observations, forecasts and warnings, effective creased knowledge and effective partnerships. During the communications to populations, community preparedness, 10-year period between 1956 and 1965, severe weather caused more than 2.6 million deaths; between 1996 and 2005, this number fell to 220,000. CHANGE OF ADDRESS Improvements in forecasting accuracy have increased the effectiveness of emergency preparedness and re- sponse. Forty years ago, science and technology limited accurate forecasts to about 24 hours, and generally to Moving? weather occurring locally. Since then, scientific research has produced predictive capabilities that enable skillful forecasts five to seven days in advance, and sometimes Take AFSA even beyond. These capabilities are based on the world- wide collection of weather information. Here again, the With You! WMO plays a vital role in facilitating cooperation between Change your address online at: countries to collect and share weather data internationally, www.afsa.org/comment.cfm benefitting not only the local area where the weather is oc- curring, but every country in the world. Or U.S. representation in the WMO includes experts from the U.S. government, academia and the private sector. Send change of address to: The United States administers the WMO’s Voluntary Co- AFSA Membership Department operation Program and coordinates with the Department 2101 E Street NW of State to enable the creation of mutually beneficial work Washington, DC 20037 for both the host nation and the United States. Developing a lesser-developed country’s meteorological services capabilities helps to facilitate a shift in interna- tional investment from relief to rebuilding. In turn, the increased capacity in these nations helps the NWS: The better a country is able to observe and transmit weather data, the better our global models and our forecasts. ■

34 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2010 16-49_FSJ_1210_FOC:firstlook 11/12/10 2:58 PM Page 35

F OCUS ON M ULTILATERAL D IPLOMACY

CLIMATE CHANGE NEGOTIATIONS: LESSONS FROM MONTREAL

IT WAS THE PROCESS THAT THE MONTREAL PROTOCOL SET IN MOTION, NOT THE AGREEMENT ITSELF, THAT LED TO SUCCESS.

BY RICHARD J. SMITH

he 1987 Montreal Protocol production of chlorofluorocarbons, which had been iden- to the Vienna Convention on the Protection of the Ozone tified as the principal cause of ozone layer deterioration. Layer was a pivotal agreement in the history of global en- The agreement also set up a procedure for regularly re- vironmentalT negotiations. What made the negotiation of viewing and revising its provisions at subsequent confer- that agreement such an iconic event? And what useful ences of the parties. These “review and revise” meetings lessons does it hold for climate change negotiators today? led over the following decade to amendments that in- The Montreal Protocol and its amendments addressed creased the number of controlled substances and set ear- the challenge of a deteriorating stratospheric ozone layer lier dates for fully phasing them out. that threatened to expose life on earth to greatly increased and damaging levels of ultraviolet radiation. The protocol The Montreal Protocol initially called for a 50-percent reduction by 1999 in the A number of factors were critical to the success of the Montreal Protocol. Important among them was the lead- Richard J. Smith, a retired Foreign Service officer, was the ership role played by the United States from the begin- principal deputy assistant secretary of State for oceans and ning, well before the start of negotiations on the protocol. international environmental affairs from 1985 until 1994. The United States was among the first to recognize the He is the author of Negotiating Environment and Science: threat posed by CFCs, and took early action, along with An Insider’s View of International Agreements from Drift- some of the Nordic states, to ban their use in most nets to the Space Station (Resources for the Future Press, aerosols. 2009). Smith was the chief U.S. negotiator of the 1990 Secretary of State George Shultz named a chief nego- London Adjustments and Amendments to the Montreal tiator, Richard Benedick, in the summer of 1986, more Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. than a year before the Montreal Protocol was concluded This article draws on a policy brief that Mr. Smith pre- in September 1987. As a result, Benedick, an experienced pared for the Petersen Institute for International Econom- Senior Foreign Service officer, had ample time to shep- ics, which is available at www.piie.com/publications/inter herd the development of the U.S. position through a con- stitial.cfm?ResearchID=1645. tentious interagency process, which he headed.

DECEMBER 2010/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 35 16-49_FSJ_1210_FOC:firstlook 11/17/10 7:57 PM Page 36

F OCUS

During that prenegotiation pe- Thorough preparation for trolled substances. In addition, the riod, he had a constructive dialogue time for bringing down the produc- with the affected domestic indus- Montreal enabled the tion and use of the controlled sub- tries, Congress, environmental non- stances was substantially shortened, governmental organizations and his U.S. to craft a coherent and the total reduction was in- foreign counterparts. For example, creased to a full phase-out. This with strong support from the Envi- negotiating strategy with “review and revise” process has ronmental Protection Agency, Bene- been an essential element in dick used an offsite workshop in significant support among achieving the goal of saving the Leesburg, Va., to help persuade ozone layer. skeptical representatives of con- domestic stakeholders. Another critical factor in the suc- cerned industries that the threat to cess of the protocol was the fact the ozone layer was real and gain that, from the outset, all countries their acceptance of pursuing an international agreement that were parties to the agreement made commitments to deal with it. to reduce the production and use of ozone-depleting sub- Because the preparation was so thorough, the United stances. The developing countries were given an addi- States entered international talks on the Montreal Proto- tional 10 years to meet those commitments, but there was col with a coherent, well-thought-out negotiating strategy no invidious distinction between countries making volun- that had significant support among domestic stakehold- tary pledges and those making mandatory commitments. ers. U.S. negotiators also had substantial support in Con- This created a negotiating climate in which the threat to gress. Then-Senators Al Gore, D-Tenn., and Tim Wirth, the ozone layer was seen as a challenge to all, requiring D-Colo., were among the leaders urging action to pre- every party to contribute to resolving the problem. serve the ozone layer. The negotiators of the Montreal Protocol faced the Perhaps the greatest strength of the Montreal Protocol same argument from developing countries that climate has been its built-in flexibility in accommodating new in- change negotiators now encounter. Why shouldn’t de- formation. The parties established panels on science, en- veloping countries have the same opportunities to develop vironment, technology and economics, and committed using CFCs or carbon-emitting fuels that developed themselves to periodically reconsider the operative pro- countries had enjoyed? Shouldn’t developed countries, visions of the agreement, taking into account the findings who caused the problem, pay the cost of the transition to of those panels. a more sustainable development path? The establishment A synthesis report incorporating the findings of these of the Montreal Protocol Fund and the provision of a panels formed the basis of the negotiation of the adjust- longer timeframe for meeting their commitments were ments and amendments to the protocol that were adopted essential elements in responding to this argument and at the London Conference of the Parties in June 1990. overcoming the reluctance of developing countries, such That report summarized a peer-reviewed process that in- as China and India, to become parties to the agreement. volved the work of more than 500 scientists and other ex- perts. The Kyoto Protocol At the London COP the parties also established the Negotiation of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol to the 1992 Montreal Protocol Fund to assist developing countries in United Nations Framework Convention on Climate transitioning away from CFCs and other ozone-depleting Change was handled differently, with much less satisfac- chemicals. The fund, which operates under the guidance tory results. The chief U.S. negotiator, Under Secretary of an executive committee established by the parties, re- of State for Economic, Business and Agricultural Affairs ceived pledges totaling $2.1 billion during the period 1991 Stuart Eizenstat, was not named until a couple of months to 2005. before the meeting in Kyoto. This left no time for ade- The parties met every couple of years over the follow- quate interagency preparation for the meeting or for suf- ing decade and added more chemicals, including methyl ficient consultation with domestic stakeholders or with chloroform and carbon tetrachloride, to the list of con- Congress. Thus, the U.S. delegation arrived in Kyoto

36 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2010 16-49_FSJ_1210_FOC:firstlook 11/18/10 11:37 AM Page 37

F OCUS

without clear guidance on what, if Our delegation arrived in treal Protocol was initially negoti- any, reduction in American carbon ated, the evidence for human- emissions it could accept. Kyoto without clear guidance caused depletion of the strato- The carbon emission reduction spheric ozone layer was less com- commitments in the protocol were on what, if any, reduction in pelling than the current case for negotiated in Kyoto among the rep- global warming. resentatives of the developed coun- U.S. carbon emissions it Clearly, climate change negotia- tries. Those commitments, which tors face a more complex and far- varied from country to country, could accept. reaching challenge. The phase-out were made more on the basis of po- of CFCs and other ozone-depleting litical bargaining than on an evalu- substances and related infrastruc- ation of what would be required to deal effectively with ture involved major industries such as refrigeration, elec- the threat of global warming. Nor was the question of tronics, firefighting and aerosols, including medical whether all of the countries undertaking those commit- inhalants, and cost billions of dollars. But dealing with ments would, in fact, be able to meet them taken into ac- global warming will require fundamentally restructuring count. our carbon-based societies and taking steps that will af- The European Union, for example, could offset likely fect virtually every aspect of economic activity. shortfalls by some member states with anticipated over- Notwithstanding this significant difference, however, compliance by others in order to meet an overall E.U. goal there are important similarities between the two chal- for carbon emission reductions. In the case of Russia, its lenges, and climate change negotiators would be well ad- post-Soviet economic collapse in the 1990s had already re- vised to reflect on the Montreal Protocol and the lessons duced carbon emissions to a point where overcompliance that can be learned from its negotiation. with targeted reductions from the 1990 base year was as- In that regard, it is encouraging that the Obama ad- sured. But countries like the United States and Canada, ministration moved early to name a capable and experi- which had substantially increased their carbon output enced chief negotiator, Todd Stern. He will need to since 1990, had little or no prospect of achieving their tar- ensure that the United States enters future climate geted emission reductions under the agreement. change negotiations with a clear negotiating strategy that The protocol also contained no specific commitments has adequate support domestically. It usually does not by developing countries to reduce greenhouse gas emis- work for a U.S. administration to lead the development sions. Six months before the meeting, in July 1997, the of domestic policy through international negotiations, as U.S. Senate had put down a marker in the Byrd-Hagel was tried in the case of the Kyoto Protocol. Resolution, passed by a vote of 95 to 0, that any agree- As with the Montreal Protocol, we need to reach an ment without such commitments by developing countries agreement on climate change that creates a process that would be unacceptable. Therefore, it was clear from the will over time move us to a desired result. Only 24 coun- time the deal was struck in Kyoto that there was virtually tries and the European Commission signed the Montreal no chance that the United States would ratify the proto- Protocol in September 1987. These signatories did in- col and become a party to it. clude nearly all the developed countries, which accounted for the vast majority of the global production of CFCs. Global Warming and the Montreal Model However, they did not initially include many of the de- The negotiators of the Montreal Protocol, like those veloping countries with rapidly emerging economies, such now seeking agreement on how to meet the challenge of as India and China. global warming, faced formidable difficulties in dealing In addition, the provisions of the Montreal Protocol for with a problem whose effects, while perhaps tolerable in reducing the production and use of ozone-depleting the short run, were likely to be catastrophic over the long chemicals, as negotiated in 1987, did not go nearly far term in a “business as usual” scenario. Moreover, as with enough. It was only after returning to the table repeatedly climate change, they had to deal with skepticism about over the following decade to revise those terms that the the science involved. In fact, at the time that the Mon- parties were able to do what was necessary to arrest the de-

DECEMBER 2010/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 37 16-49_FSJ_1210_FOC:firstlook 11/17/10 7:57 PM Page 38

F OCUS

terioration of the ozone layer and It may take until about successful result. This is one of the begin the process of rebuilding it. central lessons that climate change During that period, the parties to the 2070 for the ozone layer negotiators can learn from the Mon- protocol increased to several times treal Protocol. the original number of signatories: the to be fully restored and for We won’t get it right the first Montreal Protocol now has more than time. However, we do need to get 190 parties and includes all the mem- the seasonal hole in started, with all the parties to an bers of the United Nations. agreement, developed and develop- Because of the extremely long the ozone layer over ing countries alike, making specific persistence of CFCs in the atmos- contributions to the effort to limit phere, it may take until about 2070 Antarctica to be repaired. carbon emissions. for the ozone layer to be fully re- Whether those undertakings are stored and for the seasonal hole in called “mandatory” or are political the ozone layer over Antarctica to be repaired. However, commitments volunteered by the countries concerned commitments under the protocol have already been met should not be the central concern. Once it is clear on a or exceeded, and some rebuilding of the stratospheric worldwide basis that carbon emissions come at a cost — ozone layer has been detected. and that the cost will increase — the world will be on a It was the process that the Montreal Protocol set in mo- path to a much less carbon-intensive future, and we will tion — not the initial commitments in the agreement itself have begun to address global warming in a meaningful — that enabled us to eventually achieve this remarkably way. ■

38 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2010 16-49_FSJ_1210_FOC:firstlook 11/12/10 2:58 PM Page 39

F OCUS ON M ULTILATERAL D IPLOMACY

THE ARMS CONTROL AGENDA OF THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION

CURRENT U.S. EFFORTS ARE INTENDED TO RESTORE U.S. MORAL AUTHORITY IN THE WORLD, PROMOTE THE RULE OF LAW AND ENHANCE GLOBAL SECURITY.

BY EDWARD IFFT

he Obama administration has view released in April 2010. This is matched by some spe- put forward a bold agenda in arms control, which is par- cific achievements — completion of the New START ticularly noteworthy after the skepticism and reluctance of Treaty, the Nuclear Security Summit held in Washington the GeorgeT W. Bush years. Inspirational rhetoric and pol- in April 2010 and the successful Review Conference of icy pronouncements are seen, for example, in the presi- the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty held in New York dent’s speeches in Prague on April 5, 2009, at the United this past May. Nations on Sept. 23, 2009, and in the Nuclear Posture Re- Admittedly, efforts to resolve the nuclear proliferation problems posed by Iran and North Korea have been dis- Edward Ifft, a retired member of the Senior Executive appointing thus far. Moreover, there is a surprising de- Service, has been involved in negotiating and implement- gree of opposition to the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, ing many of the central arms control agreements of the past whose ratification and entry into force are a high priority 40 years in various positions with the State Department, for the administration. U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, National Indeed, the administration places a high priority on Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the Depart- both bilateral and multilateral consultations regarding ment of Defense. He served on the U.S. delegations to the arms control. For example, Ambassador Susan Burk met negotiations on SALT, TTBT, START and the CTBT, was with representatives of more than 70 foreign governments deputy chief negotiator during 1988 for the START nego- in the run-up to the 2010 NPT RevCon and intensive con- tiations in Geneva and served as a START inspector. sultations continued throughout the three-week meetings. The author of many articles, as well as of chapters in two (For more specifics, see “The Way Forward on NPT books published by the United Nations, Ifft works part-time Diplomacy,” p. 28.) for State and is an adjunct professor in the Security Stud- The U.S. is active in other relevant multilateral fora, as ies Program of the Walsh School of Foreign Service at well, such as the U.N. First Committee, the International Georgetown University. The views expressed here are those Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, the Conference on Dis- of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policies of the armament in Geneva, the Organization for the Preven- U.S. government or Georgetown University. tion of Chemical Weapons in The Hague, the Nuclear

DECEMBER 2010/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 39 16-49_FSJ_1210_FOC:firstlook 11/12/10 2:58 PM Page 40

F OCUS

Suppliers Group and others. The One should not expect nor Russia was in favor of an exten- Obama administration has also re- sion. Negotiating teams led by Assis- sumed participation in the work of instant results on these tant Secretary Rose Gottemoeller and preparing the onsite inspection regime Ambassador Anatoly Antonov worked for the Comprehensive Test Ban complex issues, some very hard in Geneva, but were not Treaty in Vienna, from which the Bush able to finish in time to avoid a gap in administration had withdrawn U.S. of which have been with the legal regime and therefore in no- participation. tifications and onsite inspections. us for decades. They did, however, produce what is The Nuclear Posture Review being called the New START Treaty, The Nuclear Posture Review is a which was signed by Presidents major interagency assessment of U.S. nuclear weapons Obama and Medvedev in Prague on April 8, 2010. This policies that is conducted about every 10 years. (The pre- was the logical next step after START I and is an essential vious one, which was issued only in a classified version, component of overall international security. was conducted in 2002.) The 2010 NPR, in which the White House played a major role, shows some continuity New START Treaty with the past, but also makes some important and inter- The treaty carries over many of the concepts, defini- esting changes to U.S. policy as it relates to arms control. tions and inspection procedures from START I. It reflects It places a high priority on combating nuclear prolifera- the more cooperative and transparent relationship that tion and nuclear terrorism, and reduces the role of nu- exists now between the United States and the Russian clear weapons in U.S. policy. Federation. A major goal of the U.S. was greater flexibil- The document declares that the fundamental role of ity, while the Russians were seeking a less burdensome U.S. nuclear weapons is to deter nuclear attack. It does verification regime. Both these goals were accomplished, not identify that as its sole role, however, as many arms along with some simplifications that both sides wanted. control advocates had urged, although it holds out the New START returns to the idea that constraints on nu- possibility that this could become the case in the future. clear weapons should be effectively verifiable and reduc- It also makes clear that Washington will only use nuclear tions irreversible — principles that the Bush admini- weapons to defend the vital interests of the United States, stration largely abandoned. It is also intended to replace its allies and its partners. the 2002 Moscow Treaty, sometimes known as SORT The NPR also strengthens U.S. Negative Security As- (Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty), which had been surances — pledges by the five Nuclear Non-Prolifera- scheduled to be in force until Dec. 31, 2012. tion Treaty nuclear-weapon states that they will not use The treaty calls for modest, but significant, reductions or threaten to use such weapons against the non–nuclear in both deployed warheads and launchers. There are weapon states except under specified circumstances. three primary ceilings: Note, however, that except for China, the other members • 700 deployed Intercontinental-Range Ballistic Mis- of the P-5 have backed away from the pledges they had siles, Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missiles and heavy made in connection with the 1995 NPT Review Confer- bombers equipped for nuclear armaments; ence and the indefinite extension of the NPT itself. • 1,550 warheads on these deployed systems; and The new policy is that the U.S. will not use, or threaten • 800 deployed and non-deployed ICBM launchers, to use, nuclear weapons against non–nuclear weapon SLBM launchers and heavy bombers equipped for nu- states that are parties to the NPT and in compliance with clear armaments. their nonproliferation obligations. The review does not The purpose of the 800 limit is to provide some flexi- state who is to make such a compliance decision, but long- bility for both sides without undermining the 700 and standing U.S. policy calls for individual states to make that 1,550 ceilings. Thus, up to 100 ICBM and SLBM launch- determination. ers and heavy bombers may be retained without missiles The START I Treaty expired on Dec. 5, 2009, making or warheads, without being counted in the 700 limit. a successor agreement essential, since neither the U.S. Such systems, which were not tallied by the U.S. under

40 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2010 16-49_FSJ_1210_FOC:firstlook 11/17/10 8:54 PM Page 41

F OCUS

SORT, might be used for testing or With arms control front and and heavy bomber be tagged with a training or have had their arma- unique identifier. Criticism of New ment removed, but without being center and quite exciting START on verification grounds is converted or eliminated according thus rather curious: SORT had no to agreed procedures. once again, there are good verification regime at all (beyond na- Comparison with the previous tional technical means, of course), limits is difficult because of changes opportunities for FSOs to yet it was approved, 95-0, by the in the counting rules. A simple Senate. arithmetical comparison with the make these issues part of The Senate Foreign Relations SORT limit of 2,200 deployed war- Committee approved the New heads would indicate about a 30- their career path. START Treaty, 14-4, but it proved percent reduction, but this may be to be surprisingly controversial dur- misleading because of the counting ing the spirited debate. In addition rules employed. The START I approach, which relied on to verification issues, Republican opposition focused on “attribution” of warheads by types of systems, tended to the seemingly innocuous statements in the preamble re- overcount ballistic missile warheads and undercount garding the relationship between strategic offensive and heavy bomber weapons. The U.S. interpreted SORT as defensive arms. The committee report declares that “fur- counting only “operationally deployed nuclear warheads,” ther limitations on the missile defense capabilities of the but the Russians never agreed to this. United States are not in the national security interest of New START basically adopts the SORT rule for bal- the United States.” listic missiles. As far as heavy bombers are concerned, Given that further reductions beyond those in New New START counts each deployed heavy bomber START will almost certainly have to involve some (at least equipped for nuclear armaments as carrying only one war- temporary) resolution of the offense-defense relationship, head — a significant undercounting of the loads these air- complications lie ahead. The SFRC also laid down a craft are capable of carrying. Criticism of this rule by marker that strategic-range systems with conventional some American opponents is curious, given the traditional warheads should not be constrained, setting up another substantial U.S. advantage in heavy bombers. likely future conflict with the Russians. START I could be considered to have been verifica- tion overkill, with 153 notification formats, elaborate ex- Future Reductions changes of information, extensive onsite inspections, There is a widespread expectation, confirmed by the access to missile flight test telemetry, special provisions Nuclear Posture Review, that further deep reductions are for mobile ICBMs and continuous onsite monitoring of on the way. This has been urged by the “Four States- the Votkinsk missile plant in Russia. By contrast, New men” — George Shultz, Bill Perry, Henry Kissinger and START imposes an effective, but not overly burdensome, Sam Nunn — and has led to important studies on how verification regime. The number of onsite inspections is this can be done by the Hoover Institution, Nuclear reduced to 18 per year, with 10 at operational bases and Threat Initiative, Stimson Center, International Institute eight at other locations. This should be sufficient for ef- for Strategic Studies, Carnegie Endowment and others. fective verification. It is thus surprising that the modest reductions under It should also be noted that the number of Russian fa- New START are scheduled to be carried out over seven cilities requiring inspection would be halved, from 70 years, which would take us beyond the end of a second under START I to 35. Access to telemetry is to be re- Obama administration. It is also somewhat puzzling that duced and “discriminatory” provisions related to mobile the treaty itself does not promise further reductions, or ICBMs removed. In addition, there will be significant, even negotiations, aside from a vague reference in the but reduced, exchanges of data and the Votkinsk moni- preamble to “expanding this process in the future, in- toring facility has been closed. cluding to a multilateral approach.” At the same time, a creative new provision to improve A major problem standing in the way of further re- verification is the requirement that each ICBM, SLBM ductions is what to do about anti-ballistic missile systems.

DECEMBER 2010/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 41 16-49_FSJ_1210_FOC:firstlook 11/17/10 7:57 PM Page 42

F OCUS

As noted above, the treaty’s pream- Badly defeated in the System, consisting of 337 facilities ble acknowledges that there is an in about 90 countries, to address offense-defense interrelationship Senate in 1999, the this issue. Four technologies are and says that current strategic de- employed — seismic, radionuclide, fensive arms do not threaten the vi- Comprehensive Test Ban hydroacoustic and infrasound — ability and effectiveness of strategic with data analyzed by experts at the offensive arms (satisfying the Amer- Treaty remains controversial. CTBT Organization in Vienna. icans), while noting that the rela- The system is about 80-percent tionship will become more impor- completed and is already proving to tant as strategic offensive arms are reduced (satisfying the work considerably better than expected, detecting small Russians). These statements are obviously true, but have North Korean tests in 2006 and 2009. raised concerns among conservatives who advocate un- Another traditional concern is the viability of the U.S. constrained ABM systems. nuclear stockpile in the absence of nuclear explosive test- The same can be said of the unilateral statements re- ing. A number of authoritative studies have concluded lated to the ABM issue each side issued. These impose no that the stockpile can be kept safe and reliable, provided legal obligation on either side and merely reflect long- that there is adequate support for stockpile maintenance standing positions, but have been viewed with alarm by and that sufficient scientific and engineering expertise is some on Capitol Hill. Thus the ABM can has been kicked retained. The NPR strongly supports warhead life exten- down the road, but it must be dealt with, probably sooner sion programs and modernization of the relevant infra- rather than later, in future negotiations. structure and significant budgetary increases are being Other issues not dealt with in New START, but loom- provided by the administration. ing ahead on the road to deeper reductions include tacti- A more recent issue concerns whether the absence of cal nuclear weapons; monitoring non-deployed nuclear a definition of a “nuclear explosion” in the treaty is a prob- warheads, including their dismantlement and the dispo- lem. Both U.S. and Russian negotiators have insisted that sition of their fissile material; the much more intrusive there is no misunderstanding regarding the basic legal ob- verification measures that will be needed at low levels; ligation, but debate continues. Light should be shed on how deterrence (including extended deterrence) will op- all these issues by an authoritative study being prepared erate at low levels; and when and how to involve other nu- by the National Academy of Sciences. clear powers in negotiations. These are all fascinating The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty currently has 182 issues being studied in the U.S. government, think-tanks signatories, of which 153 have ratified, including 35 of the and universities, but clearly beyond the scope of this brief 44 states whose ratification is required for entry into force. discussion. With virtually the entire world, including all the other members of NATO, urging U.S. ratification, failure to do The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty so would be a major setback to the U.S. agenda, both for U.S. ratification and entry into force of the Compre- arms control and nonproliferation. hensive Test Ban Treaty is a high priority for the Obama administration, but the agreement is waiting its turn in Promoting Nonproliferation the queue while the focus is on New START. Badly de- Preventing nuclear proliferation is a major goal of the feated in the Senate in 1999, the CTBT remains contro- Obama administration, as has been true for all U.S. ad- versial. ministrations. The hope was that a more respectful and One traditional concern regarding the CTBT is verifi- flexible approach to both Iran and North Korea, coupled cation. While the treaty authorizes highly intrusive chal- with a more ambitious arms control agenda generally, lenge inspections, opponents have zeroed in on evasion would pay dividends in nonproliferation. techniques and the utility of very small tests that might It is still too early to render a judgment, but results to escape detection. date, at least so far as Iran and North Korea are con- Led by the U.S., the world has spent roughly $1 bil- cerned, have been disappointing. This has led to “I told lion constructing an elaborate International Monitoring you so” criticisms from advocates of the more muscular

42 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2010 16-49_FSJ_1210_FOC:firstlook 11/12/10 2:58 PM Page 43

F OCUS

Bush-Cheney approach, even though New START returns to the is the world’s principal forum for that also failed to make much head- multilateral arms control negotia- way. The Obama administration did idea that constraints on tions. Although it has had notable succeed in imposing some new sanc- achievements in the past, it has been tions on Iran through the U.N. Se- nuclear weapons should be essentially paralyzed for over a curity Council, and is likely to seek decade since completing the CTBT support for harsher measures, should effectively verifiable and Treaty. The current blockage is they become necessary. largely due to Pakistan, which is un- The administration is also imple- reductions irreversible. happy over the U.S.-India deal and menting the U.S.-India civil nuclear unenthusiastic about the confer- cooperation agreement, which grants ence’s proposed agenda. New Delhi access to nuclear technology generally reserved The NPT Review Conference’s Final Document urged only for NPT states-parties. The agreement itself contin- the immediate negotiation of a treaty “banning the pro- ues to get mixed reviews worldwide because it is seen by duction of fissile material for use in nuclear weapons or some as expedient for the U.S., but detrimental for non- other nuclear explosive devices.” A Fissile Material Cut- proliferation in general. off Treaty has long been a U.S. priority. At the Nuclear Security Summit this past April, Pres. Moreover, there is a linkage between the FMCT and Obama hosted representatives from 47 countries, including another recommendation of the NPT Revcon: the estab- 38 heads of government. The summit produced a com- lishment of “a subsidiary body to deal with nuclear disar- muniqué and work plan, whose highlights were a renewed mament.” It is not clear how this body will operate or emphasis on countering nuclear terrorism and a pledge to whether it will be able to produce anything of value. Both strengthen nuclear security — in particular, by securing all the Clinton and Bush administrations opposed formal dis- vulnerable fissile materials within four years. A follow-on cussions of disarmament within the CD. meeting of national “sherpas” is planned for October, along with another summit meeting in South Korea in 2012 to Chemical and Biological help sustain the momentum generated by the Washington Weapons Conventions Summit. The Obama administration continues the strong sup- Probably the most important recent nonproliferation port for the Chemical Weapons Convention and Biologi- event was the 2010 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Re- cal Weapons Convention shown by its predecessors. About view Conference held at the United Nations in May. It 60 percent of the world’s 71,000 metric tons of chemical was at least a qualified success, especially when compared weapons have already been eliminated, and more than to the dismal 2005 RevCon. One intriguing outcome was 4,000 inspections have been conducted by the Organiza- an agreement to hold a 2012 conference with the objec- tion for the Prevention of Chemical Weapons in The tive of establishing a zone free of weapons of mass de- Hague, which the U.S. strongly backs. While Washington struction in the Middle East. The United States will be and Moscow are both behind schedule on eliminating one of the sponsors. their respective chemical weapons, both are making good- The success of such a conference, while by no means faith efforts to complete the task. assured, would solve a key aspect of what has been an in- As for the Biological Weapons Convention, the Obama tractable problem for many years. Because it is not a party administration has shown some flexibility in its willingness to the NPT, Israel was not involved in the earlier discus- to consider whether an effective verification regime might sions to hold such a conference. Its attitude toward the be established. Most countries have welcomed this shift idea is problematic, since it has traditionally maintained from the Bush administration’s approach. that a satisfactory Middle East peace settlement must pre- cede negotiations regarding its “nuclear potential.” The Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty The Conference on Disarmament The 1990 Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty — The Conference on Disarmament, based in Geneva, which the North Atlantic Treaty Organization frequently

DECEMBER 2010/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 43 16-49_FSJ_1210_FOC:firstlook 11/12/10 2:58 PM Page 44

F OCUS

hails as the “cornerstone of Euro- Even partial success on the both commercial and international se- pean security” — achieved its goals by curity reasons. The new administra- eliminating more than 80,000 pieces Obama administration’s tion policy declares that “The United of military equipment, conducting States will consider proposals and con- more than 6,000 inspections and es- ambitious agenda would be cepts for arms control measures if they sentially removing the possibility of are equitable, effectively verifiable, surprise attack in Central Europe. an important achievement. and enhance the national security of However, the treaty is under consid- the United States and its allies.” erable stress due to Russia’s “suspen- Washington is now showing a new sion” of its compliance since 2007. flexibility regarding possible constraints on activities in, or The primary issue is Moscow’s displeasure at NATO’s relevant to, space. This impinges on both the security of failure to ratify the Adapted Treaty, which changes the ob- U.S. space assets and the ABM issue. Every year in the ligations to reflect the new reality in Europe since the United Nations, there is an overwhelming vote in favor of breakup of the USSR and the Warsaw Pact. NATO, for its avoiding an arms race in space, with the U.S. frequently part, insists that Russia fulfill promises given at the 1999 Is- being a lonely vote in opposition. tanbul Summit to remove its forces from Moldova and Georgia. The 2008 conflict in the Caucasus and its after- A Daunting Agenda math greatly complicate the situation. The State Department is naturally playing a central role in the administration’s efforts on arms control. Secretary Space Policy of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has assembled a strong The new U.S. National Space Policy, issued on June 28, and dedicated team, including U.N. Ambassador Susan updates Washington’s stance in an area that is critical for Rice, Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security Ellen Tauscher, Assistant Secretary for Verifica- tion, Compliance and Implementation and Chief START Negotiator Rose Gottemoeller, Ambassador to the Con- ference on Disarmament Laura Kennedy, Special Repre- sentative of the President for Nuclear Nonproliferation Ambassador Susan Burk and former NATO Ambassador Victoria Nuland, who is working on CFE issues. At the working level in these areas, with arms control front and center and quite exciting once again, there are good op- portunities for FSOs to make working on international se- curity issues part of their career path. The Obama administration has set itself an ambitious and daunting agenda for arms control and international se- curity. One should not expect instant success on these com- plex issues, some of which have been with us for decades. After all, these noble efforts must compete with two diffi- cult wars, economic distress and huge deficits, a resurgent Russia and a highly partisan atmosphere in Congress. Rather, current U.S. arms control policies should be seen as part of the effort to restore U.S. moral authority in the world, promote and extend the rule of law and strengthen international security through the upholding and extending of international norms. Even partial suc- cess in this effort would be an important achievement in the overall conduct of U.S. foreign policy. ■

44 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2010 16-49_FSJ_1210_FOC:firstlook 11/17/10 7:57 PM Page 45

F OCUS ON M ULTILATERAL D IPLOMACY

IO AND THE ERA OF MULTILATERAL ENGAGEMENT

IN THIS INTERVIEW, ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION AFFAIRS ESTHER BRIMMER SPELLS OUT HER BUREAU’S PRIORITIES.

BY MARK M. SCHLACHTER

President Barack the end of the day, we engage because multilateral diplo- Obama has spoken macy can unlock progress on a host of transnational and Q about the need for global issues. We engage because international organiza- an era of engagement with the: United Nations and other tions, including the United Nations, offer unique oppor- international organizations. Can you describe its out- tunities to advance U.S. goals and objectives. lines and what it is intended to achieve? Consider, for example, nonproliferation, an issue on A. The president’s era of engagement centers on en- which the president has been active and outspoken. Well suring that multilateral diplomacy is core to the overall before being elected president, he recognized that multi- U.S. foreign policy effort. For him and his administration, lateral avenues were crucial to the effective management this means more than just a return to the multilateral table. of nuclear weapons and fissile material. He therefore com- It means a leadership role for the United States wherever mitted the United States to working with other countries and whenever we can advance our national security. At on these issues, and highlighted that commitment by work- ing to bolster the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and Assistant Secretary Esther Brimmer has headed IO since hosting the Nuclear Security Summit, the largest multi- April 2009. Before that, she was deputy director and di- lateral gathering in Washington in recent memory. rector of research at the Center for Transatlantic Relations Similarly, human rights are central to U.S. foreign pol- at the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Stud- icy and a priority in the Obama administration’s return to ies at the Johns Hopkins University. multilateral fora. For that reason, the United States de- Mark M. Schlachter is deputy director of the office of cided to run for a seat on the U.N. Human Rights Council, Public Affairs and Outreach in the Bureau of International which is a flawed body but has important responsibilities. Organization Affairs. A career public diplomacy officer, he We were elected to a seat in May 2009 — not as an end has previously served in Tanzania, Cameroon, Poland, unto itself, but in recognition of the fact that the best way Uganda and South Africa. He interviewed Assistant Sec- to advance human rights priorities, and to improve the retary Brimmer on Oct. 18. council, is by being a leading member of the organization.

DECEMBER 2010/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 45 16-49_FSJ_1210_FOC:firstlook 11/12/10 2:58 PM Page 46

F OCUS

Finally, consider the environment “Multilateral engagement We’ve also added new staff at all and climate change. Like the previ- levels to guide and implement our ex- ous examples, they are challenging is- must, and will, be central panded engagement. You may not sues, none of which is easily or know, for example, that we now have effectively addressed by unilateral or to addressing problems an ambassador to the U.N. Human bilateral action alone. The United Rights Council (Eileen Donahoe), States must play an active role in mul- and advancing our and a new deputy assistant secretary tilateral efforts such as the Copen- (Suzanne Nossel) overseeing our sys- hagen process and the upcoming foreign policy goals.” tem-wide effort to amplify the pro- Cancun conference on global climate motion and protection of human change. — IO A/S Esther Brimmer rights. This evolution will inevitably We are also determined to syner- have significant and lasting implica- gize existing efforts, which is why the tions for the State Department. administration brought together the Major Econom- ies process with the U.N. process, combining the conver- Q: Tell us more about that. What does this era of en- sations with major emitters with the larger conversation gagement mean for the Foreign Service? with the world at large. A. Well, first, I think it’s important to recognize that When you examine the scope and scale of the chal- multilateral diplomacy requires a particular skill set — a lenges the world faces, there is only one possible conclu- skill set not entirely distinct from that employed in our bi- sion: multilateral engagement must, and will, be central lateral missions around the world, but distinct enough to to addressing these problems and advancing our foreign warrant new training opportunities, recognition by pro- policy goals. motion panels and other rewards. IO has a great team of really talented people, and we Q: Given that centrality, does the United States enjoy the benefits of the department’s greatest renew- have the tools and resources it needs to engage as fully able resource: the Foreign Service officer. A growing as you envision? proportion of those officers arrive in IO with multilateral A. I would say that we’re on the right path. With the experience, from assignments spent working with inter- complexity and rapid growth of the multilateral architec- national organizations, negotiating in consensus-based ture, we clearly need to prioritize our engagement; it processes and communicating in the language of the would be entirely too easy to lose focus or squander op- United Nations. portunities. We are determined that this not happen, and It remains our responsibility, however, to ensure that have spent the necessary time contemplating, defining and all IO officers and, hopefully one day, all State Department refining our goals. employees, receive the necessary training and assignment Addressing those goals in a coherent, effective manner possibilities to create and sustain a cadre of seasoned mul- will require a robust and nimble U.S. toolbox. IO is an im- tilateral diplomats. portant part of that toolbox, but it cannot do the job alone. In a world of growing transnational challenges, the De- Q: Would such skills be applicable outside the IO partment of State, as well as the Foreign Service and the family? Civil Service, will have to adapt, evolve and respond. A. Absolutely, and more so every day. Consider just In some important ways, that process is already well the department itself, where a growing number of bu- under way. I made it my early priority to ensure that our reaus, functional and regional, work on multilateral issues small but talented staff could communicate effectively on in multilateral fora. Those fora include such organizations issues and events that often cut across a variety of U.S. pri- as the African Union, the Association of Southeast Asian orities. So, for example, those officers working on issues Nations, the Organization of American States, and the that we can define broadly as “human security” — health, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, to name just a few. development, food and agriculture, etc. — are now more closely linked. Q: And presumably the growth in informal organi-

46 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2010 16-49_FSJ_1210_FOC:firstlook 11/12/10 2:58 PM Page 47

F OCUS

zations — the Group of 8 and Group of 20, for exam- has changed, and the varied and growing number of ac- ple — has implications for our engagement strategy? tors with interest in and influence on international affairs A. That’s correct. While IO spends a considerable is remarkable. amount of its collective energy focused on the United Na- The global economic slowdown provided an interest- tions system, we are sensitive to the fact that there are a ing window into this phenomenon. I’m thinking, in par- large number of other international organizations out ticular, of the important role played by the G-20 in there, both formal and informal. One of our enduring providing a forum in which major economies and major challenges is to give thought to the fullest possible range of developing countries could grapple together with some of such organizations in which we can and perhaps should these serious economic issues. The G-20, like the G-8 and address particular priorities. other ad hoc bodies, has proven to be a powerful vehicle, Part of that equation is doing a better job of tracking with convening power and influence on the larger inter- and understanding nontraditional or ad hoc organizations national agenda. such as the G-8 and G-20, as well as nongovernmental or- ganizations, the private sector, and relations among the Q: You are an outspoken advocate for improved ef- United Nations and regional groups. Among my earliest fectiveness of international organizations as a means of actions was to establish a new office in IO dedicated to advancing U.S. national interests. What does improved doing just that. effectiveness look like? Of course, the Department of State, like other foreign A. The United States has long been active in terms of ministries, was established to guide interaction with other improving the management and oversight of the United governments in a world of nation-states. But the world Nations and other international agencies. Greater trans-

DECEMBER 2010/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 47 16-49_FSJ_1210_FOC:firstlook 11/12/10 2:58 PM Page 48

F OCUS

parency in the workings of interna- “International divided key tasks — shelter, fresh tional organizations and their finan- water, provision of food, provision of cial accounting, and deepening the organizations, including health care and other basic needs — ethics commitments by interna- among its different agencies. tional civil servants who work in the United Nations, Importantly, that division of re- these organizations have been long- sponsibilities has been long-estab- standing efforts. offer unique opportunities lished, so lead U.N. agencies are fully The newest element of that effort cognizant of and prepared for their is looking more systematically at eval- to advance U.S. goals roles in humanitarian crises. For ex- uation. How do these organizations ample, the United Nations Children’s evaluate their own performance? and objectives.” Fund takes the lead on providing How well are they able to look at the fresh water, and the World Food Pro- original objectives of a project or pro- gram handles food and related logis- gram and determine whether those were addressed? The tical support. United States has plenty of expertise in these areas, and we I want to be very clear here. There was no way the in- have offered it to the U.N. to assist in the creation of struc- ternational community could have organized the re- tures for evaluation in particular programs. sponse in Haiti on the scale needed and in the time To support and complement that effort, we in IO es- required, on an ad hoc basis. Those systems must be al- tablished a new effectiveness unit to look at how we can ready in place, and the United Nations provides that cru- improve our own evaluation of certain organizations cial architecture. based on the goals they establish, and how our capacity In a similar vein, its response to Haiti’s security needs might help select organizations incorporate and employ was instructive. Because Haiti already has a significant in- evaluation strategies. ternational peacekeeping presence through the U.N. Sta- bilization Mission, the Security Council was able to take Q: Some have pointed to the U.N. response to the quick and decisive action to strengthen the mission in sup- earthquake in Haiti as evidence of improved effective- port of the humanitarian response. That couldn’t have hap- ness. Would you concur with that view? pened if the world hadn’t invested in Haiti’s security earlier A. I would. Let me begin, however, by acknowledg- by sponsoring and deploying MINUSTAH. ing that the response to the humanitarian crisis in Haiti, Finally, I would note that the United Nations is playing including the United Nations response, had and contin- more than a mere response role. The United States and ues to have its problems. Given the scale of the disaster, much of the international community was well aware that one could hardly expect otherwise. the immediate response in Haiti had to be part of a longer- In that context, consider for a moment the scale of the term effort to help the country build back better. But it response. Clearly, the immediate international reaction was the U.N. that provided the mechanism through which to the earthquake required unique capabilities, many of that longer-term effort could be pledged and coordinated. which were found in the U.S. military, which played a The bottom line is this. We need to continue to invest crucial role in getting aid in quickly, getting the airport in, build and strengthen the sort of response capacity we open, getting the seaports open. To be frank, nobody else saw in play in Haiti — a multilateral capacity that has could have done that. proven effective in response to crises. Organizing and applying the global response required established structures designed to provide comprehen- Q: Clearly, humanitarian crises will be a recurring sive and sustained services. The world community rec- challenge. What other areas would you highlight as ognized this need some years ago, and has invested over emerging multilateral issues over the next 10 years? time in establishing those capabilities through the United A. Well, I think it’s safe to say that some of our current Nations. The U.N. obviously has humanitarian expert- challenges will remain priorities for the foreseeable fu- ise in a range of its agencies, and it quickly deployed that ture. These include climate change, food security and expertise in Haiti using a response cluster system, which global health issues.

48 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2010 16-49_FSJ_1210_FOC:firstlook 11/12/10 2:58 PM Page 49

F OCUS

In addition, let me highlight one longer-term chal- Q: What advice would you offer to Foreign Service lenge that is not yet at the forefront of the global agenda: and Civil Service personnel who are interested in work- urbanization. Consider the fact that for the first time in ing in a multilateral office or mission? human history, more than half of the world’s population A. First, I’m convinced that diplomacy in the 21st now lives in cities. That proportion will continue to rise century will have an increasingly large multilateral com- to about 70 percent by 2050. While we’ve always had ponent. Given that, I firmly believe that our foreign af- cities, we’ve never had this kind of population concen- fairs professionals need to seize all available opp- tration. That has huge implications for environmental ortunities to develop and flex their multilateral muscles. policies, political organization, economic development For Foreign Service officers, those opportunities include and much more. excellent, demanding positions at any of IO’s seven mis- Clearly, there are benefits that stem from urbaniza- sions. tion, sometimes including improved access to education As I’ve previously noted, however, all State Depart- and more varied employment options. But the very real ment bureaus and missions deal with multilateral issues, and potential challenges associated with the rapid pace of and seeking roles that allow you to develop those skills urbanization — crime, economic exploitation, environ- will serve you well throughout your career. I strongly en- mental degradation, public health crises — should courage interested personnel to reach out to someone prompt us to give more thought to how we manage this they know who is already working on multilateral issues phenomenon at the local and national level, and how we to learn more. can best cooperate in multilateral arenas to maximize the benefits and minimize the perils. Q: Thank you, Assistant Secretary Brimmer. ■

DECEMBER 2010/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 49 50-64_FSJ_1210_AN:proof 11/12/10 3:10 PM Page 50 50-64_FSJ_1210_AN:proof 11/17/10 7:56 PM Page 51

AFSAAmerican Foreign ServiceNEWS Association • December 2010 Top Diplomats Discuss 20th Anniversary of German Reunification BY AMY MCKEEVER he memory of Leipzig still brings tears to Ambassador Rozanne Ridgway’s Teyes, even though it has been 21 years since the peaceful demonstrations. The march of tens of thousands of East Ger- mans, carrying candles and daring the Soviet Union to bring out its troops, she says, was a thrilling event. Even more thrilling was that the Soviet Union did not bring out those troops. “And with that, it was very clear that the wall was the next thing to fall,” she said to a crowd of diplomats and academics at the PATRICK BRADLEY American Foreign Service Association Amb. Rozanne Ridgway, journalist Marvin Kalb and former National Security Adviser General Brent Scowcroft (left to right) share their memories of the events surrounding the fall of the Berlin Wall and the reunifi- headquarters on Oct. 28. cation of Germany in an Oct. 28 panel at AFSA headquarters. Continued on page 56

Call for AFSA Award Nominations BY PERRI GREEN, SPECIAL AWARDS AND OUTREACH COORDINATOR

ur Foreign Service currently faces ing colleague for these awards. Anyone sent awards. We pay tribute to those who one of the most challenging peri- may send in a nomination, and the nom- have the professional courage and integri- Oods in its history. It is stretched inee may be a Foreign Service employee of ty to speak out forthrightly, using the thin, serving in increasing numbers of dan- any of the five foreign affairs agencies. appropriate channels. Our past awardees gerous and difficult posts where members have taken a stand for what they believe is are using their skills to promote the nation’s CONSTRUCTIVE DISSENT AWARDS right and have asked the tough questions; vital interests. The arrival of the globalization age has they’ve also offered alternative solutions and That situation makes AFSA’s four- engendered a host of “new connections given the best possible counsel, as Foreign decade-old awards program more relevant and new contradictions among diploma- Service officers have been trained to do. than ever. cy, security and international policy,” Daryl In recent years, AFSA has often not AFSA seeks nominations for our pres- Copeland states in his book, Guerrilla received qualifying nominations in all cat- tigious constructive dissent and exemplary Diplomacy. “Thinking these through egories. Despite that fact, we are convinced performance awards. All the winners leads inexorably to a simple conclusion: the Foreign Service members worldwide con- receive a $2,500 cash prize and are hon- old approaches won’t do.” tinue to practice constructive dissent but ored at a ceremony in late June at the State AFSA honors those who strive for that perhaps these acts go unrecognized Department; the Secretary or Deputy change and don’t just maintain the status and unreported. We therefore encourage Secretary of State typically attends. We urge quo. One way to do so is by nominating all members to think about colleagues who everyone to consider nominating a deserv- them for one of our AFSA constructive dis- Continued on page 58

DECEMBER 2010/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 51 50-64_FSJ_1210_AN:proof 11/12/10 3:10 PM Page 52

A F S A N AFSANEWSBRIEFS E W AFSA Appoints New Governing Board Members S The AFSA Governing Board approved the appointment of two new members at its Oct. 6 meeting. Stephen Morrison joins Vice President Keith Curtis in representing the Foreign Commercial Service on the Governing Board. While he is currently on assignment to the U.S. Export Assistance Center in Baltimore, Morrison was first appointed to the Foreign Service in 1991 and has served in various capacities in Dakar, Paris and Madrid. State Representative Raymond Maxwell, who draws on a U.S. Navy background, became a Foreign Service management officer in 1992. He is the director of the Office of Regional Affairs in the Near Eastern Bureau, but has also served as deputy chief of mission and chargé d’affaires in Damascus and post management officer for East Africa, his all-time favorite job.

A Moment for Reflection BY IAN HOUSTON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

With Thanksgiving just behind us, the holidays approaching, and the Foreign Service Journal year drawing to a close, I have a deep sense of gratitude for the spirit of Welcomes New Editorial volunteerism that permeates AFSA. It is a unique organization for many Board Member reasons, not the least of which is that many of our members voluntarily Foreign Service Journal Editorial Board member step forward to serve on a committee (and sometimes two or three) or a May Baptista tendered her resignation from the board, at an event, etc. Much of our strength and success is built upon board in October to pursue language training at that spirit of service. On behalf of the professional staff that is here to serve our members, FSI for an overseas assignment early next year. please accept my sincere thanks to all those who have volunteered time, Former FSO Jim Seevers, whose nomination the expertise and resources to AFSA over this successful year. I appreciate Governing Board had pre-approved last summer, your example and the opportunity to learn from you. It has been a plea- has agreed to fill the remainder of May’s term, sure working with you this past year and serving AFSA. I am also very which runs through August 2011. Jim currently appreciative of the multiple ways the professional staff has rendered ser- serves as Director of Studies and Training at the vice to advance the mission of AFSA and assist its members. Georgetown University Institute for the Study of Thank you again for the multiple ways you support our association. Diplomacy. The board and Journal staff join in I look forward to implementing our resolutions for the new year, but a thanking May for her service and welcoming Jim. moment of reflective gratitude is always appropriate at this time of year.

Staff: AFSA HEADQUARTERS: (202) 338-4045; Fax: (202) 338-6820 Governing Board: STATE DEPARTMENT AFSA OFFICE: (202) 647-8160; Fax: (202) 647-0265 Executive Director Ian Houston: [email protected] Business Department PRESIDENT: Susan R. Johnson USAID AFSA OFFICE: (202) 712-1941; Fax: (202) 216-3710 Director of Finance Femi Oshobukola: [email protected] STATE VP: Daniel Hirsch FCS AFSA OFFICE: (202) 482-9088; Fax: (202) 482-9087 Controller Kalpna Srimal: [email protected] USAID VP: Francisco Zamora Assistant Controller Cory Nishi: [email protected] FAS VP: Henry Schmick PRESIDENT: [email protected] Labor Management FCS VP: Keith Curtis STATE VP: [email protected] General Counsel Sharon Papp: [email protected] RETIREE VP: Robert Houdek RETIREE VP: [email protected] Deputy General Counsel Zlatana Badrich: [email protected] SECRETARY: F.A. “Tex” Harris USAID VP: [email protected] Labor Management Specialist James Yorke: [email protected] TREASURER: Andrew Winter FAS VP: [email protected] Senior Staff Attorney Neera Parikh: [email protected] STATE REPS: Carleton Bulkin FCS VP: [email protected] Staff Attorney Michael Willats: [email protected] Ako Cromwell Office Manager Christine Warren: [email protected] Mary Glantz AFSA News USAID Senior Labor Management Adviser Douglas Broome: [email protected] Mike Haughey USAID Staff Assistant Patrick Bradley: [email protected] Les Hickman Editor Amy McKeever: [email protected] Member Services Bruce Matthews (202) 338-4045, ext. 516; Fax: (202) 338-8244 Member Services Director Janet Hedrick: [email protected] Raymond Maxwell Member Services Representative Richard Buscemi: [email protected] Joyce Namde Foreign Service Journal Administrative Assistant and Office Manager Ana Lopez: [email protected] Lynn Nelson FSJ: [email protected] Communications, Marketing and Outreach Sharon White Editor Steven Alan Honley: [email protected] Retiree Counseling & Legislation Coordinator Bonnie Brown: [email protected] USAID REPS: Michael Henning Senior Editor Susan Maitra: [email protected] Director of Communications Thomas Switzer: [email protected] Glenn Rogers Associate Editor Shawn Dorman: [email protected] Legislative Director Casey Frary: [email protected] FCS REP: Stephen Morrison Ad & Circulation Manager Ed Miltenberger: [email protected] Executive Assistant to the President Austin Tracy: [email protected] FAS REP: Melinda Sallyards Art Director Caryn Suko Smith: [email protected] Scholarship Director Lori Dec: [email protected] IBB REP: Al Pessin

How to Contact Us: to Contact How Scholarship Program Assistant Jonathan Crawford: [email protected] RETIREE REPS: Janice Bay On the Web Road Scholar Administrator Bernard Alter: [email protected] AFSA WEB SITE: www.afsa.org Robert (Bill) Farrand Marketing & Outreach Manager Asgeir Sigfusson: [email protected] Molly Williamson FSJ: www.afsa.org/fsj and www.fsjournal.org Special Awards & Outreach Coordinator Perri Green: [email protected]

52 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2010 50-64_FSJ_1210_AN:proof 11/12/10 3:10 PM Page 53

A F V.P. VOICE: STATE ■ BY DANIEL HIRSCH S A N E Valuing Abilities, Despite Disabilities W S his year marks the 20th anniversary of the Americans The ADA was written with a spe- with Disabilities Act. In some ways, the State Depart- cific scenario in mind: An employee has a job that does not Tment has made significant strides to increase career change, in a place that does not change, with a specific set options for disabled employees. But there is still more to do. of duties that do not change, and may need an accommo- The ADA requires employers to make reasonable accom- dation to perform those duties. This scenario is typical in modations for qualifying employees to enable them to per- much of private industry, as well as for jobs in the Civil form the essential functions of their jobs. Such accommo- Service. dations might include providing specialized equipment, mod- In the Foreign Service, however, duties and job locations ifying facilities, adjusting work schedules or job duties, and change often. Equally important, an up-or-out personnel sys- supplying readers or sign-language translators, or it might tem requires employees not only to perform their duties, but involve modifying examinations, training materials or poli- to do so competitively enough to be promoted before being cies. A whole range of solutions can enable qualifying indi- selected out for “non-competitive” performance or time-in- viduals with a disability to perform their assigned duties. class. Disabled FS members should be afforded the oppor- State’s Disability and Reasonable Accommodations tunity to advance, on a level playing field, to more senior lev- Division, created in October 2009, assists employees with these els. This implies a fair chance to serve in “promotable” assign- and other accommodations, and liaises with other offices in ments, and to be promoted by boards that give special con- the department to provide travel assistance, expedited ship- sideration to hardship service. ping of required equipment and similar services. Under the While AFSA was successful in inserting wording into the guidance of Under Secretary of State for Management Pat precepts reducing the perceived disadvantages of too many Kennedy and Director General Nancy Powell, a Disability domestic assignments, we still hear too many stories of rescind- Leadership Committee makes and reviews policy. Representa- ed handshakes and enthusiasm waning once the post or office tives from the Bureau of Human Resources and the Office learns of a candidate’s disability. Apart from the employee’s of Medical Services have also met with an employee affilia- talent or experience, there is neither an incentive to accept tion group, the Disability Action Group, to hear their con- a disabled candidate nor a disincentive for refusing one. The cerns. opacity of the assignment system makes it easy to couch a It all looks very good on paper and, in truth, it represents refusal in terms that do not appear to violate any law. a significant continuing effort and improvement over earli- Complicating this is a lack of information and inadequate er times. The reality, however, is not as bright. Some of the training regarding employee rights and responsibilities, as well difficulties are practical: equipment delays; miscommunica- as the roles of MED and HR in these processes. For those tion; questions over funding and ownership of equipment. disabled employees who do not have Class 1 clearances, com- We have seen employees unable to transfer equipment from munications between MED, the Office of Career Development one job to another because the bureau that bought it didn’t and Assignments, posts and employees can muddle distinc- want to let it go, and items returned to Washington because tions between an employee with a disability and one who sim- they were shipped unclassified from one post to another and ply has a Class 2 or 5 clearance. Although MED is current- were then no longer allowable in a controlled access area. ly adding a position to work out such issues with HR, employ- Some problems relate to communication. In order to qual- ees often assume there is greater coordination than actually ify for reasonable accommodations, employees must formally exists. In addition, regulations intended to protect employ- identify themselves as disabled and apply. Some individu- ees’ privacy can hinder understanding of their abilities and als do not do so, perhaps because they incorrectly believe that limitations — and hide from a promotion board the true rea- it is enough for MED or a career development officer to be son for an employee’s reluctance to serve under certain con- in the loop. In a number of recent cases, the department has ditions. sought to justify disputed actions based on an employee’s AFSA recognizes that the issues are complex, but we urge alleged failure to follow proper channels. the department to devote greater attention to complying not But a major set of issues is unique to the Foreign Service, only with the letter but with the spirit of the Americans with and they are the ones we should highlight for our members. Disabilities Act. ❏

DECEMBER 2010/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 53 50-64_FSJ_1210_AN:proof 11/12/10 3:10 PM Page 54

A F S V.P. VOICE: USAID ■ BY FRANCISCO ZAMORA A AFSANEWSBRIEFS AFSA Offers N New Membership E Benefit through W Zipcar Partnership S Developing Your People This fall, AFSA initiated a new partnership with Zipcar, the world’s largest car-sharing and car club service. AFSA members will now be able to take advantage of signifi- cantly discounted annual and rental fees. uch has been said by our leadership A great example of a Under the new partnership, Zipcar’s annu- lately about how we are to create — al fee is reduced from $50 to $25 for AFSA Mor, more accurately, recreate — leader who looked after members, and hourly fees start at $8.25 USAID as the premier development agency. and developed his people rather than around $10; hybrids are avail- There is certainly a need to aim for that able starting at $7 per hour. Weekend rates are slightly higher than weekday rates. lofty status, especially given that the latest fed- was former Secretary of AFSA members are also able to access addi- eral survey on employee satisfaction ranks the State Colin Powell. tional discounted fees and special rates. agency at number 28 among the 34 smaller To make use of this benefit, please visit federal agencies. In addition, the first annu- www.zipcar.com/afsa. You will need a valid al Quality of Official Development Assistance driver’s license from any country, and you assessment made by the Center for Global Development and the Brookings will be required to include your AFSA mem- Institution reports that the U.S. ranks almost dead last in quality of foreign assis- bership number. If you are already a Zipcar tance among 31 donor countries and multilateral agencies, as well as among 152 member, give them a call at 1 (866) 4ZIP- individual development agencies. CAR (404-7227) and select Option 2 for Yes, we have a way to go to be that premier development agency our leader- account assistance, followed by Option 1 for billing. Let the agent know you’d like to be ship wants. But even the recently announced initiative known as “USAID Forward,” added to the American Foreign Service which focuses on seven major reform areas, does not get to the core of our prob- Association Zipcar for Business plan. lem. The most important ingredient — talent management — is conspicuously weak. A number of steps are missing from the plan. These include upgrading mea- Volunteer to be ger entry-level salaries to reasonable levels, equalizing personnel benefits with those an AFSA Post Rep! of the State Department and making a commitment to keep FSOs (who function AFSA relies on members to be its eyes in the “up or out” system) motivated by limiting Foreign Service mid-level hir- and ears overseas, and we hope you will ing. USAID could also create additional Civil and Foreign Service positions to replace consider volunteering to be the AFSA post personal services contractors, and stop the practice of assigning non-Foreign Service representative at your embassy or con- employees to crucial overseas positions such as mission director in the Philippines sulate. Post reps are active-duty Foreign and Namibia or senior development counselor in Rome. All of these Foreign Service Service employees who donate their time positions are now filled by Civil Service employees. to assist fellow employees with manage- ment-related problems and professional A great example of a leader who looked after and developed his people was concerns. They serve as a liaison with former Secretary of State Colin Powell, whom many Foreign Service officers still AFSA and pass on the views of its mem- remember with nostalgia. Sec. Powell made it clear that he valued his employ- bers from all the foreign affairs agencies. ees and advocated successfully for additional positions and training under the We want to have a representative at Diplomatic Readiness Initiative. As for his relationship to USAID, he allowed us every post, but there are a few vacancies. the freedom to run our own policy and budgeting operations. That was before Please check out the list at www.afsa.org/ his replacement, Condoleezza Rice, created the Directorate of Foreign Assistance postreps/replist.cfm and if your post cur- at State, which dismantled USAID’s policy and budgeting function. rently has a vacancy, please consider That was the start of USAID’s downward slide. We are just now beginning to stepping forward. All information on slowly recuperate as some policy and budgeting functions return to us. To com- becoming a post rep can be found at plete the process and really become that premier development agency, however, www.afsa.org/postreps. We encourage we need our leaders to make existing employees feel valued in this process. They active-duty AFSA members from all can do so by genuinely responding to longstanding and legitimate needs. ❏ agencies to consider volunteering.

54 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2010 50-64_FSJ_1210_AN:proof 11/17/10 7:56 PM Page 55

A F V.P. VOICE: FAS ■ BY HENRY SCHMICK S AFSANEWSBRIEFS A Global Disability Movement Awards N Amb. Richard and E Mrs. Sharon Miles W The Global Disability Movement of Revise the Expiration Date S Bulgaria gave Ambassador Richard Miles and his wife Sharon Miles a spot in its and Throw Out the System 2009-2010 Golden Book “for their more than 10 years of support in the diplomatic and international political dialogue con- ge is just a number; old is a state of mind. But still we groom Foreign Service cerning … people with disabilities in managers through years of on-the-job experience, plus a few weeks of class- Bulgaria,” as well as their leadership in room training, only to quickly usher them out once they reach age 65. rights for those with disabilities in the U.S. A In my October column, I reviewed a U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board report Congress. Richard and Sharon Miles moved to that noted the most effective way to improve organizational performance is to improve Bulgaria in 1999 and began to advocate on first-level supervisors. The second part of improving organizational performance behalf of a disabled community that had is to retain those highly skilled supervisors and managers. This month, I will explore little to no voice. Sharon, winner of the mandatory retirement age issue, building on AFSA State VP Daniel Hirsch’s AFSA’s Avis Bohlen Award in 2002, says September column in AFSA News. the laws and public perceptions surround- There is plenty of evidence to suggest that age is, indeed, just a number. Washington ing the disabled in Eastern Europe are Post reporter Josh Tapper noted in an Aug. 10 article that “although adults older “light-years” behind what they are in the than 65 face challenges to body and brain, the 70s and 80s also bring an abundance United States. While there is still plenty of of social and emotional knowledge, qualities scientists are beginning to define as work to be done, Sharon is gratified by the wisdom.” work of Bulgarian nongovernmental orga- Barbara Strauch, deputy science editor at the New York Times, documents these nizations, having watched them blossom over a decade. same findings in her latest book, The Secret Life of the Grown-Up Brain (Viking, 2010). “My work is modest, really,” she says. While the growing scientific research finds that raw processing speed may slow (mean- “But frankly, just a little modest work goes ing names are harder to remember), she writes, an aged brain is better at sizing up a long way in some of these countries.” a situation, acting judiciously, and being wise rather than rash. And, in fact, whom do we call when we have especially difficult diplomatic prob- FSI and the University lems? We call upon the State Department’s top troubleshooters like Special Envoy of Maryland Team Up George Mitchell (77) and Special Representative Stephen Bosworth (71). So much for Foreign Language for the “youth and vigor” argument for the “up and out” personnel system. We need all the wisdom we can find to tackle Middle East peace and understand North Roundtable Korea. The Foreign Service Institute and the As AFSA State VP Daniel Hirsch noted in his September column, many AFSA University of Maryland’s Center for members support raising the age of mandatory retirement (now fixed at 65) to at Advanced Study of Language are teaming least 67, the age at which employees born after 1960 become eligible for full ben- up on Dec. 7 for a conference on how video efits. That small change would probably require some additional tweaks to the other game technology can enhance language variables (time-in-class limits, number of positions in each class, etc.) to ensure that learning. FSI will host a Game Changers Roundtable, where major players in the entry-level officers are not adversely affected. California gaming community will discuss “AFSA thinks that there are a number of sound reasons to consider raising the how gaming can support foreign language age of mandatory Foreign Service retirement beyond 65, including but not limit- skills. Then on Dec. 8, CIA Director ed to the expertise many older employees possess that is badly needed,” AFSA Leon Panetta, Secretary of Education Arne President Susan Johnson recently said. “It’s important to note that only career Duncan, and Under Secretary of State Patrick Foreign Service officers are affected by the mandatory retirement age — not polit- Kennedy will highlight the importance of ical ambassadorial appointees. Why is this?” learning foreign languages as the key speak- While many FS employees are still young at age 65, the Foreign Service Act of ers of the “Foreign Language Summit” at 1946 (when we adopted the Navy’s “up or out” system) has proven outdated. As UMD. Find more information on the pro- it turns 65 next year, it needs significant reform. Throw out the stale water, but gram at www.casl.umd.edu/GameChangers. keep the baby FSOs — meaning all those younger than George Mitchell. ❏

DECEMBER 2010/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 55 50-64_FSJ_1210_AN:proof 11/17/10 7:56 PM Page 56

A

F Reunification • Continued from page 51 S of the Soviet economy. We were A AFSA was proud to host a spe- woefully uninformed about the cial fall program observing the true state of the Soviet military.” 20th anniversary of German When Gorbachev went to N reunification and its effect on East Germany for its 40th anniver- E diplomacy and the Foreign sary, Scowcroft said, U.S. officials W Service. The distinguished par- were watching to see whether he S ticipants in the panel discussion would embrace leader Erich were Ridgway, former ambassador Honecker or step away from to East Germany (1983-1985), and him. It turned out that Gorbachev General Brent Scowcroft, who was did not do either. national security adviser for “But the fact that he didn’t President George H.W. Bush at embrace him, I think, started the the time of the fall of the Berlin Leipzig [march],” Scowcroft said. Wall. Award-winning journalist “And that became overwhelming and former “Meet the Press” for the East Germans. They had host Marvin Kalb moderated the to open the wall.” morning’s discussion. And when it became obvious AFSA President Susan Johnson that Germany would reunify, and Executive Director Ian Scowcroft says, the next question Houston opened the event with was how. Would Germany re- brief remarks before Houston main neutral? Or would it choose introduced Jens Hanefeld, deputy between NATO and the Warsaw

chief of mission of the Embassy of PATRICK BRADLEY Pact? the Federal Republic of Germany. Jens Hanefeld, deputy chief of mission of the Embassy of the Federal Republic Scowcroft described what he Hanefeld, who grew up in Berlin of Germany, delivered opening remarks thanking the United States for its calls a “surreal” meeting during and witnessed the events of Nov. role in German reunification. which Pres. George H.W. Bush 9, 1989, firsthand, offered his gratitude to asked Gorbachev whether the Helsinki the United States for its actions leading to Accords permit countries to join any the reunification of Germany. Other alliance of their choosing. Gorbachev notable audience members included replied in the affirmative, much to the dis- Annette Lantos, wife of late Representative may of his advisers, Scowcroft recalled. Tom Lantos who was chairman of the Gorbachev spent the rest of the meeting House Committee on Foreign Affairs, and filibustering the question but not renounc-

Hungary’s Ambassador Bela Szombati. PATRICK BRADLEY ing his answer, which Scowcroft says was Amb. Rozanne Ridgway (right) chats with AFSA “a real breakthrough.” Politics and Diplomacy President Susan Johnson (center) and an audi- Following that meeting, Pres. Bush Conversation flowed easily among ence member after the event. went to NATO for dinner with German Ridgway, Scowcroft and Kalb, as each rem- Chancellor Helmut Kohl, who laid out his inisced about the behind-the-scenes diplo- hopes for a unified Germany. matic overtures that led to Germany’s “I’m with you. Go for it,” Scowcroft reunification, as well as their own surprise remembers Bush telling Kohl. that it had happened at all. Scowcroft recalled that many in the The Role of Individuals Bush administration, himself included, had Midway through the discussion, Kalb been skeptical of Mikhail Gorbachev’s asked Ridgway and Scowcroft to name intentions, worried they might be lulled some of the characters who drove the into complacency by the sweet-talking PATRICK BRADLEY reunification effort. One notable figure in attendance was Annette president of the Soviet Union. The U.S. Lantos, wife of the late Democratic Representative “It’s hard to overstate the importance had limited insight into the Kremlin, he Tom Lantos, who said “the world became once of personality in this whole thing,” said, which Ridgway later confirmed. more accessible and unified” after the fall of the Scowcroft replied, citing Kohl’s plan for “Looking back on it,” she said, “we were Berlin Wall. “It created a whole new possibili- unification that made it appear more like woefully uninformed about the true state ty,” she added. Germany was reassembling itself rather

56 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2010 50-64_FSJ_1210_AN:proof 11/17/10 7:56 PM Page 57

A F than reunifying. Agent Orange and the Foreign Service S Ridgway commented that the fate of A reunification depended almost wholly on BY BONNIE BROWN, RETIREE COORDINATOR Presidents Reagan, Bush and Gorbachev, and also noted British Prime Minister N Margaret Thatcher’s role. uring the Vietnam War, Foreign Employee’s Compensation Act, which is E But Scowcroft and Ridgway agreed that Service employees served side by administered by the Office of Workers’ W Soviet Union Foreign Minister Eduard Dside with their military counter- Compensation Programs in the Depart- S Shevardnadze was one of the more influ- parts in a joint civilian/military command. ment of Labor. ential players, guiding his boss Gorbachev The Civil Operations and Revolutionary down the path of liberalization. When Development Support program combined The department should inform Shevardnadze left the administration, counterinsurgency and nationbuilding Scowcroft said, Gorbachev became much programs run by the military, U.S. retirees in general about the more resistant to reform. “It was notice- Agency for International Development possibility of Agent Orange–related able, the difference when he left,” Scowcroft and the Central Intelligence Agency said. throughout Vietnam. As a result, civilian illnesses stemming from and military personnel faced the same war- participation in CORDS and provide Is the American Foreign Service zone dangers and hazards. One of these Prepared? was exposure to dioxin, commonly them assistance with any claims. Kalb concluded by asking the two life- known as Agent Orange. long diplomats to assess the Foreign According to the Department of Veter- Any benefits under FECA, however, Service in terms of how it dealt with ans Affairs, about 20 million gallons of the would be less generous than those under German reunification and how it is han- herbicide was sprayed across South the VA program, and the applicants would dling the challenges that face the United Vietnam in an attempt to destroy crops and have to show a causal connection between States today. trees and foliage that concealed enemy their service in Vietnam and their diseases. Ridgway noted that she met many forces. They would also have to prove to the Foreign Service officers who were prepared satisfaction of OWCP that they filed time- for the task during her travels to the new A Presumptive Policy ly applications. Through no fault of Eastern European countries during the The VA presumes that all military per- the applicant, the causal connection 1990s. And it wasn’t just FSOs, she said. sonnel who served in Vietnam were and timeliness may be difficult to demon- “I found spouses picking up part of the exposed to Agent Orange, and federal law strate. effort in a way that was vastly underap- presumes that certain illnesses are a preciated,” she said, recalling a diplomat- result of that exposure. This “presump- Will the Department Step Up? ic reception in Estonia during which the tive policy” simplifies the process of award- We hope that the department, which power cut out. Ridgway found the ambas- ing compensation for these diseases, already forwards FECA applications from sador’s wife in the kitchen, trying to make since the VA forgoes the normal require- its employees to DOL, will make a force- hors d’oeuvres in the dark. Together, ments of proving that an illness began or ful supporting argument that assumptions Ridgway said, teams of spouses helped was worsened during military service. similar to that of the VA should apply to establish relationships with these new However, there was no similar provision Foreign Service employees who partici- countries. for civilian employees in Vietnam. pated in CORDS. Additionally, the But while Ridgway believes Foreign Recently, three retired Foreign Service department should inform retirees in gen- Service officers are doing their jobs employees who served with CORDS in eral about the possibility of Agent Orange– admirably and responding well to crises, Vietnam have reported developing ill- related illnesses stemming from partici- she doubts that it is appreciated. nesses that would have qualified them for pation in CORDS and provide them assis- “We never had enough people, never health care benefits and compensation had tance with any claims. had enough money or resources,” Ridgway they served in the military. Finally, we believe the department said. “And in a post-9/11 world where the should ask for the same level of diagnos- demands are even greater I would say the No Recourse for Civilians tic and health care for civilian employees shortages are monumental.” Because the State Department has no assigned to combat zones as is provided Scowcroft agreed, urging Congress not authority or resources to cover treatment for the military. This would be a timely to starve the State Department. “Most of of these illnesses, the only alternative open way for civilian leaders to show the same our problems in the world are going to be to these former FSOs is an application for commitment to their employees that the dealt with by diplomacy,” he said. ❏ disability benefits under the Federal military does. ❏

DECEMBER 2010/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 57 50-64_FSJ_1210_AN:proof 11/17/10 7:56 PM Page 58

A F S AFSA Continues Its Ekwunife left the office having made A the most of her internship. She met both Minority Internship Program Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton and President Barack Obama during her N BY ASGEIR SIGFUSSON, OUTREACH/MARKETING MANAGER three months in Washington, and said she E was most proud of her work on the U.S.- W kechi Ekwunife is no stranger to the When it comes to smooth India Strategic Dialogue. S Foreign Service or living abroad. When it comes to smooth transitions, N She spent her high school years transitions, Ekwunife is already Ekwunife is already as seasoned as any in Nigeria, away from her family in Los as seasoned as any Foreign Service officer: Her last day at State Angeles, calling it the best decision she coincided with her departure for St. Louis, could have possibly made. In 2009, she Foreign Service officer. where she began her first year at the had a “transformative experience” intern- Washington University of St. Louis Law ing at the U.S. embassy in Ouagadougou. School in August. And this past summer, as the AFSA/ Ekwunife’s SCA colleagues expect Thursday Luncheon Group minority Office of India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, great things from her in the future, and intern, she worked for the Bureau of South Bangladesh, Bhutan and Maldives Affairs, AFSA hopes she will continue to consid- and Central Asian Affairs at the Department where she immersed herself in work er the Foreign Service as her career path. of State. immediately. AFSA would like to thank the Thursday SCA, which coordinates U.S. policy in Ekwunife’s direct supervisor, Deputy Luncheon Group for their continued some of the world’s busiest political hot Office Director Thomas Palaia, found her sponsorship of this internship program. spots, such as Pakistan and Afghanistan, to be an outstanding addition to the staff Particular appreciation goes to Ambass- has hosted the AFSA/TLG minority and could not praise her contributions ador Pamela Bridgewater, the outgoing intern for the past three years. This year highly enough. TLG president, and Stacy D. Williams, the they employed Ekwunife, a recent grad- “She has set the bar very high for next TLG vice president. We look forward to uate of Notre Dame University, in the year’s intern,” Palaia said. continuing this worthy program. ❏

Dissent • Continued from page 51 have taken a stand over the past year and nominate them for one post rep who has been most effective, most visible and most ded- of these prestigious awards. In the short time it takes to write a nom- icated to serving AFSA members at post. ination, you can uphold the best traditions of our Service — what The Delavan Award, for a Foreign Service Office Management some have called “the highest form of patriotism.” Specialist who has made a significant contribution to post or office Dissent awards are offered in four categories. They may be effectiveness and morale beyond the framework of his or her job awarded for speaking out within channels on either foreign pol- responsibilities. icy or management/personnel issues: The M. Juanita Guess Award, for a Community Liaison Officer The F. Allen “Tex” Harris Award for a Foreign Service who has demonstrated outstanding leadership, dedication, initia- Specialist tive or imagination in assisting the families of Americans serving The W. Averell Harriman Award for an entry-level officer at an overseas post. (FS 6–FS 4) The Avis Bohlen Award, for a Foreign Service Eligible Family The William R. Rivkin Award for a mid-level officer (FS 3– Member whose relations with the American and foreign com- FS 1) munities at post have done the most to advance the interests of The Christian A. Herter Award for a member of the Senior the United States. Foreign Service (FE OC–FE CA) NOMINATION PROCEDURES EXEMPLARY PERFORMANCE Details on nomination procedures and guidelines can be found AFSA also offers four annual awards for exemplary performance at www.afsa.org/awards. The deadline for submitting nominations of assigned or voluntary duties at an overseas post that constitutes is Feb. 28, 2011. an extraordinary contribution to effectiveness, professionalism and The AFSA Awards and Plaques Committee, chaired by morale. These awards recognize diplomats and family members Ambassador John Limbert, reviews and vets all nominations. who have gone well above and beyond their official duties. They Any questions may be directed to Perri Green, Coordinator for are: Special Awards and Outreach, at [email protected] or (202) 338-4045, AFSA Post Representative of the Year, which honors the AFSA ext. 521. ❏

58 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2010 50-64_FSJ_1210_AN:proof 11/12/10 3:10 PM Page 59

A F Journalist Tom Wicker Addresses enowned political journalist and S author Tom Wicker was the featured A New England Retiree Fall Meeting Rspeaker at the Foreign Affairs Retirees of New England fall luncheon, held on Sept. BY CHARLES AHLGREN, FARNE PRESIDENT 10 at the Three Stallion Inn in Randolph, N Vt. Wicker, who was the New York Times E Washington, D.C., bureau chief for many W years and now resides in Vermont, spoke S to about 60 FARNE members and guests on “The Presidency and Foreign Policy in the Modern Era.” FARNE is one of a dozen regional for- eign affairs retiree organizations associat- ed with, but not a part of, AFSA. Formed in 1983, it is an informal organization of former foreign affairs professionals and spouses who, following service with one of the U.S. foreign affairs agencies, now live in New England. FARNE provides an opportunity for its members to come together — at three luncheon meetings per year held on a rotating basis among the

TOM PERERA Continued on page 62

to promote possible corporate partner- AFSA Initiates New Speaker Series in ships whereby companies can be encour- Southwest Florida aged to fund AFSA events in return for full attribution and recognition. USF is one BY TOM SWITZER, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS of the fastest-growing universities in FSA kicked off a new pilot speaker ness school faculty and some 10 regional Florida, especially as it pertains to inter- series on American diplomacy co- corporate representatives. national relations and business. AFSA Ahosted by the expanding University A major goal of this new series is to plans several more such partnership pro- of South Florida in Tampa on Oct. 7-8. expand AFSA outreach explaining the crit- grams in Florida and other states in the Our inaugural speaker was career Foreign ical role of the Foreign Service, as well as year ahead. ❏ Service officer and leading China expert Douglas Spelman, who is currently deputy director of the Kissinger Institute on China at the Woodrow Wilson Center for Scholars in Washington, D.C. Spelman discussed economic, political and security aspects of U.S.- China relations with deans, professors and students from four USF faculties, and the regional Confucius Institute on China. The high- light was his masterful talk on doing busi- ness in China at a luncheon hosted by the USF business school dean, in which Spelman discussed the complex chal- lenges involved in successful trading with WALTER ANDRUSYSZYN Chinese companies. His candid remarks Leading China expert Douglas Spelman (left) was the inaugural speaker at AFSA’s new series on American prompted a vigorous dialogue with mem- diplomacy that was co-hosted by the University of South Florida on Oct. 7-8. USF Dean Bob Forsythe bers of the audience, which comprised busi- (center) and AFSA Communications Director Tom Switzer (right) coordinated closely on the program.

DECEMBER 2010/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 59 50-64_FSJ_1210_AN:proof 11/12/10 3:10 PM Page 60

A F S From Beijing to a Bureau A Robertson Fellow with Chinese background aims for Foreign Service future N BY AMY MCKEEVER E he day after Matthew Southerland W fled Beijing, Chinese soldiers driving S Talong the nearby road shot at his home, a diplomatic compound. He was 6 years old. Southerland doesn’t remember all that much from the time, but some images remain: The throngs of people in the streets. Living in Hong Kong with his mother and his sister for two weeks following the crack- down. And the afternoon spent counting bullet holes in the edifice of their apartment complex with his father. Matt’s father, Dan Southerland, was Beijing bureau chief for the Washington Post at the time. He had been in the family’s apartment when shots burst into the MURIEL SOUTHERLAND neighboring buildings in the complex on Matthew Southerland and his father, Dan, pose for a picture in Hangzhou, China, in 1987. Dan Southerland was Beijing bureau chief for the Washington Post at the time. the morning of June 7, 1989. Dan imme- diately called his office in Washington, D.C. some never came back to the internation- Matt Southerland is a member of the “I don’t know what’s going on,” he al school,” Dan said. “The families just inaugural class of Robertson Fellows at the recalls saying, “but listen to this.” decided, that’s it.” University of Maryland School of Public Only much later would Dan figure out But the Southerland family remained in Policy. The fellowship grants full scholar- what had happened. The soldiers seem to Beijing until 1990, when Dan’s stint as ships and internship stipends to a select have taken deliberate aim at the diplomatic bureau chief was up. Years later, Matt group of students in exchange for their compound — and specifically gunned for revisited China several times in pursuit of commitment to work for the federal gov- the homes of military attachés. They appar- his academic studies. And now, with a gen- ernment for at least three of their first five ently didn’t appreciate foreigners observ- erous grant from the Robertson Found- years after graduation. ing their military operations in the middle ation for Government, he hopes to live in “I think it’s really exciting because I real- of the city. its capital once more, this time as a Foreign ly believe in what the fellowship is all Life in Beijing was very confusing for a Service officer. about,” Matt said. “And I think it’s fan- while after the crackdown, Dan tastic they’re supporting stu- says. But in July 1989, when dents and encouraging students things had calmed down and his toward public service with an wife and children had returned to international focus.” Beijing, he went out to investigate. Dan, ever the reporter, needed to A Path to the know how many bullets hit the Foreign Service buildings. So he brought his son Matt didn’t grow up wanting to help him count the hundreds to be a Foreign Service officer. of holes notched by machine Like many children, he once guns and small arms fire. wanted to be an astronaut. And It would be enough to scare when he studied anthropology off anyone from returning to at Georgetown University, he China. And, in fact, it scared off thought more along the lines of MURIEL SOUTHERLAND many. Matthew Southerland (right) visits the Great Wall of China with a friend. His teaching. He even toyed with the “The shocking thing was the family was living in Beijing during the student-led protests and the subsequent idea of becoming a United effect on [Matt’s] friends, because crackdown in Tiananmen Square. Nations peacekeeper. But some-

60 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2010 50-64_FSJ_1210_AN:proof 11/12/10 3:10 PM Page 61

A F where along the way, things changed. brought Matt on a trip to Vietnam in 2005, issues over the past three years as a policy S Dan and Muriel Southerland didn’t let introducing him to an old friend who also research assistant at the RAND Corpora- A their son Matt forget about China when happened to have been a Viet Cong spy. tion, but he was eager to apply what he’d they returned from Beijing and settled into And he always had plenty of advice to offer: learned there to academic study at the a life in Bethesda, Md. They shuttled him Take risks while you’re young. There’s University of Maryland. N to study with a Chinese-language tutor, and more to Asia than China. Think in broad So far, Matt is excited about his inter- E even sent him back to Beijing in 1999 before terms. national security and economic policy grad- W his senior year of high school to stay with Over a recent lunch near Radio Free uate program. His classmates are diverse S old family friends. Asia’s Washington headquarters, Dan — an important factor for a kid who once “I found I really loved learning Chinese couldn’t resist giving his son more advice: attended an international school and has and wanted to keep working at it,” Matt “Everybody in this town has a degree in lived abroad several times since. He’s hop- said. international relations,” he said. “You have ing that he’ll someday be able to put all the So he kept up his language skills at to go beyond that.” skills he’s culled through his years of study- Georgetown, where he spent his junior year ing Chinese language and culture, as well studying abroad in Beijing and reconnect- Becoming Foreign Service Material as the more practical skills of economics and ing to the culture he’d been immersed in Matt is taking his father’s advice. statistics, toward a career in the Foreign as a child. Then, upon graduation in 2005, Though he’s only in the first year of his mas- Service. In fact, he has already applied for Matt moved to Taiwan, where he remained ter’s degree program, he already knows he a summer internship, a requirement of his for nearly two years of further study. wants to serve as a political officer in East fellowship, with the State Department. It was in Taipei, where he found a com- Asia, from Japan and South Korea to “I really appreciate that part of the fel- munity of friends from all over the world, Taiwan. He’s studying a variety of issues lowship is doing an internship in an agency that Matt started thinking seriously about from cross-strait relations and rule of law in the summer,” he said, adding that the joining the Foreign Service. He even took in China, to U.S.-China cooperation on Robertson Foundation helps the fellows the entrance exam there. environmental issues and the challenges of through the process through its great career But conversations with his father may interagency cooperation within the U.S. center. They also provide a stipend for the be one of the most important factors in government. internship, which is no small thing for Matt, Matt’s decision to enter public service. Dan Matt had worked on some of these a first-time homeowner who has been mar- Southerland, now executive editor of ried for slightly more than two years Radio Free Asia, always shared his work to a woman from Taipei. with his son — reams of stories related to There was no Oprah-patented human rights issues and free speech. He “Aha!” moment for Matt in decid- ing the Foreign Service was his dream. But, like most people, it was the events of his life that led him here. Tiananmen. A diversity of friendships. A father who had covered six Secretaries of State as a journalist. “Living abroad inspired me to pursue a career as a U.S. Foreign Service officer,” Matt wrote last year in his application for the University of Maryland graduate program. “As a child, I developed an interest in cul- tures different from my own and a sense of comfort in being overseas. My father has always encouraged me to take risks, travel, learn new lan- COURTESY OF MURIEL SOUTHERLAND guages and interview everyone.”

Matthew Southerland (second row, second from HANBAN, CHINESE BRIDGE right) smiles with his kindergarten classmates in Upon graduating from Georgetown University in 2004, Matt For more information about the Beijing’s Ritan Park. He attended several schools Southerland competed in the Chinese Bridge international fellowship program at the Robertson in China, but his favorite was Beijing International speech contest, performing a musical number in Chinese. He Foundation for Government, please School for its diversity. made it to the final round. visit www.rffg.org. ❏

DECEMBER 2010/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 61 50-64_FSJ_1210_AN:proof 11/12/10 3:10 PM Page 62

A

F Wicker • Continued from page 59 S AFSANEWSBRIEFS A six New England states — in a relaxed and TRANSITION CENTER SCHEDULE OF COURSES convivial atmosphere. for December 2010 - February 2011 Members share experiences and knowl- N edge with friends old and new while enjoy- E Dec. 2 MQ803 Realities of Foreign Service Life ing stimulating speakers and discovering W Dec. 4 MQ802 Communicating Across Cultures new parts of the lovely Northeast. Earlier S Dec. 8-9 MQ107 English Teaching Seminar this year Marshall Goldman, associate direc- Dec. 13-14 MQ911 Security Overseas Seminar tor of the Harvard Russian Research Dec. 20-21 MQ911 Security Overseas Seminar Center, spoke to the association at the Jan. 3-4 MQ911 Security Overseas Seminar Jan. 7 MQ950 High-Stress Assignment Outbrief Wayside Inn in Sudbury, Mass., on the Jan. 12 MQ853 Rental Property Russian petrostate; and retired Ambassador Jan. 19 MQ2030 Singles in the Foreign Service Don Petterson shared his experiences of Jan. 20 MQ703 Post Options for Employment and Training returning to Africa as chargé d’affaires and Jan. 22 MQ116 Protocol ambassador after retirement with the Jan. 24-25 MQ911 Security Overseas Seminar group at the Hanover Inn at Dartmouth. Jan. 27 MQ119 Orientation to State Overseas FARNE warmly welcomes retirees Jan. 28 MQ704 Targeting the Job Market from all foreign affairs agencies. For more Jan. 31-Feb. 1 MQ911 Security Overseas Seminar information, contact FARNE corre- Feb. 2 MQ302 Transition to Washington for Foreign Born Spouses sponding secretary Liz Barnett at barnett Feb. 4 MQ950 High-Stress Assignment Outbrief [email protected]. ❏ Feb. 7-8 MQ911 Security Overseas Seminar Feb. 9 MQ220 Going Overseas Logistics for Adults Charles Ahlgren, a Wisconsin native, discovered Feb. 23 MQ117 Tax Seminar New England when assigned as State Department Feb. 26 MQ116 Protocol representative to the Naval War College. He Feb. 28-March 1 MQ911 Security Overseas Seminar returned to Rhode Island upon his retirement from For further information, e-mail the FSI Transition Center at [email protected]. the Foreign Service in 1997. CLASSIFIEDS LEGAL SERVICES LEGAL SERVICES LEGAL SERVICES

ATTORNEY WITH 30 years’ successful EXPERIENCED ATTORNEYS REPRE- experience SPECIALIZING FULL-TIME IN FS SENTING FS officers in grievances, perfor- GRIEVANCES will more than double your mance, promotion and tenure, financial claims, chance of winning: 30% of grievants win before discrimination and disciplinary actions. We rep- the Grievance Board; 85% of my clients win. resent FS officers at all stages of the proceed- Only a private attorney can adequately devel- ings from an investigation, issuance of proposed op and present your case, including neces- discipline or the initiation of a grievance, sary regs, arcane legal doctrines, precedents through to a hearing before the FSGB. We pro- and rules. ATTORNEYS EXPERIENCED IN REP- vide experienced, timely and knowledgeable Call Bridget R. Mugane at RESENTING FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICERS advice to employees from junior untenured offi- Tel: (301) 596-0175 or (202) 387-4383. and intelligence community mem- cers through the Senior FS, and often work E-mail: [email protected]. bers in civil and criminal investigations, admin- closely with AFSA. Kalijarvi, Chuzi & Newman. Free initial telephone consultation. istrative inquiries, IG issues, grievances, disci- Tel: (202) 331-9260. plinary investigations, and security clearance E-mail: [email protected]. issues. Extensive State Department experience, both as counsel to the IG and in L and in rep- WILLS/ESTATE PLANNING by attorney resenting individual officers. We have handled who is a former FSO. Have your will reviewed successfully some particularly difficult cases PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD: $1.40/ and updated, or new one prepared: No charge confronting Foreign Service and intelligence offi- word (10-word min). First 3 words bolded free, for initial consultation. cers, both before the Foreign Service Grievance additional bold text 85¢/word. Header or box- M. Bruce Hirshorn, Boring & Pilger, P.C. Board and in the federal and local courts. We shading $11 each. 307 Maple Ave. W, Suite D, Vienna, VA 22180. work closely with AFSA when appropriate and Deadline: 5 wks ahead of publication. Tel: (703) 281-2161. Fax: (703) 281-9464. cost effective. Doumar Martin PLLC. Adv. Mgr. Tel: (202) 944-5507. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: (703) 243-3737. Fax (703) 524-7610. Fax: (202) 338-8244. E-mail: [email protected]. E-mail: [email protected]. Web site: www.doumarmartin.com.

62 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2010 50-64_FSJ_1210_AN:proof 11/12/10 3:10 PM Page 63

A F S CLASSIFIEDS A N E TAX & FINANCIAL SERVICES TEMPORARY HOUSING TEMPORARY HOUSING W

PROFESSIONAL TAX RETURN PREP- SHORT-TERM RENTALS FIND PERFECT HOUSING by using S ARATION: Forty years in public tax practice. the free Reservation Service Agency, Arthur A. Granberg, EA, ATA, ATP. Our charges TEMPORARY HOUSING Accommodations 4 U. Tel: (843) 238-2490. are $95 per hour. Most FS returns take 3 to 4 E-mail: [email protected]. hours. Our office is 100 feet from Virginia Web site: www.accommodations4u.net. Square Metro Station. Tax Matters Associates WASHINGTON, D.C. or NFATC TOUR? PC, 3601 North Fairfax Dr., Arlington, VA EXECUTIVE HOUSING CONSULTANTS 22201. Tel: (703) 522-3828. Fax: (703) 522- offers Metropolitan Washington, D.C.’s finest FURNISHED LUXURY APARTMENTS: 5726. E-mail: [email protected]. portfolio of short-term, fully furnished and equipped apartments, townhomes and sin- Short/long-term. Best locations: Dupont Circle, gle-family residences in Maryland, D.C. and Georgetown. Utilities included. All price ranges/ Virginia. sizes. Parking available. ATTORNEY, FORMER FOREIGN SER- In Virginia: “River Place’s Finest” is steps Tel: (202) 296-4989. VICE OFFICER: Extensive experience with tax to Rosslyn Metro and Georgetown, and 15 E-mail: [email protected]. problems unique to the Foreign Service. minutes on Metro bus or State Department Available for consultation, tax planning and shuttle to NFATC. For more info, please call preparation of returns: (301) 951-4111, or visit our Web site at ENJOY YOUR STAY in Washington in his- M. Bruce Hirshorn, Boring & Pilger, P.C. www.executivehousing.com. 307 Maple Ave. W, Suite D, Vienna, VA 22180. toric guest rooms just blocks from the White Tel: (703) 281-2161. House! Rooms available to DACOR mem- bers and their guests, $99/night/single, Fax: (703) 281-9464. PIED-A-TERRE PROPERTIES, LTD: Select E-mail: [email protected]. $109/night/double, all taxes and continental from our unique inventory of completely fur- breakfast (M-F) included. Reservations call: nished & tastefully decorated apartments & (202) 682-0500, ext. 11, email: intern@dacor- townhouses, all located in D.C.’s best in-town FREE TAX CONSULTATION for overseas bacon.org. Visit www.dacorbacon.org. neighborhoods: Dupont, Georgetown, Foggy personnel. We process returns as received, with- out delay. Preparation and representation by Bottom & the West End. Two-month minimum. Enrolled Agents. Federal and all states prepared. Mother-Daughter Owned and Operated. Includes “TAX TRAX” unique mini-financial plan- Tel: (202) 462-0200. ning review with recommendations. Full plan- Fax: (202) 332-1406. CAPITOL HILL, FURNISHED housing: ning available. Get the most from your finan- E-mail: [email protected]. 1-3 blocks to Capitol. Nice places, great loca- cial dollar! Financial Forecasts Inc., Barry B. Web site: www.piedaterredc.com. tion. Well below per diem. Short term OK. GSA De Marr, CFP, EA, 3918 Prosperity Ave. #230, small business and veteran-owned. Fairfax, VA 22031. Tel: (703) 289-1167. Tel: (202) 544-4419. Fax: (703) 289-1178. Web site: www.capitolhillstay.com. E-mail: [email protected]. SERVING FOREIGN SERVICE personnel for 23 years, especially those with PETS. Selection of condos, townhouses and single- ARLINGTON FLATS: 1-BR, 2-BR, and 4- ROLAND S. HEARD, CPA family homes accommodates most breeds and BR flats in a beautiful building 3 blks from • U.S. income tax services sizes. All within a short walk of Metro stations Clarendon Metro. Newly renovated, com- • Practiced before the IRS in Arlington. Fully furnished and equipped 1- pletely furnished, incl. all utilities/internet/ FIRST CONSULTATION FREE 4 bedrooms, within per diem rates. HDTV w/DVR. Parking, maid service, gym, 1091 Chaddwyck Dr. EXECUTIVE LODGING ALTERNATIVES. rental car available. Rates start at $2,500/ Athens, GA 30606 E-mail: [email protected]. month. Per diem OK. Min. 30 days. Cell: (706) 207-8300. Tel: (571) 235-4289. E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]. WWW.ROLANDSHEARDCPA.COM See 2-BR at Web site: www.postlets.com/rts/1909065. EDUCATION ASSESSMENT DC FURNISHED EXTENDED STAY in Penn Quarter/Chinatown. The Lansburgh, 425 8th LEARNING DISABILITY ASSESSMENT. Street, NW. 1-BR and 2-BR apartments w/fully JC CORPORATE RENTAL has beautiful, Reading, writing, math, speed/fluency, exec- equipped kitchens, CAC & heat, high-speed fully furnished apartments with immediate utive functioning, attention. Comparing abili- Internet, digital cable TV w/ HBO, fitness cen- availability in Dupont Circle area. Luxury 2- ty to achievement. Evaluation, diagnosis and ter w/indoor pool, resident business center, 24- recommendations for services and accommo- hour reception desk, full concierge service, bedrooms with 1 bathroom (large marble dations in school and standardized testing (SAT, secure parking available, controlled-entry shower) on 1506 P Street NW. Only 3 blocks ACT, GRE, GMAT, LSAT, etc). Preschool building, 30-day minimum stay. Walk to Metro, to Dupont Circle Metro station (Red Line); through graduate school. Weekend/weekday FBI, DOJ, EPA, IRS, DOE, DHH, U.S. Capitol. across the street from Whole Foods Market, appointments. Office in McLean, Va. Will also Rates within government per diem. Discount banks, restaurants and CVS. Will work with travel to evaluate. Contact: Dr. Suzie Muir. for government, diplomats. Visit our Web site per diem. Ask for Joiner Cruz. Tel: (703) 728-8676. at: www.TheLansburgh.com or call the leasing E-mail: [email protected]. Web site: www.testingld.com. office at (888) 313-6240. Web site: www.jccorporaterentals.com.

DECEMBER 2010/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 63 50-64_FSJ_1210_AN:proof 11/12/10 3:10 PM Page 64

A F S A CLASSIFIEDS N E W REAL ESTATE MORTGAGE AUTOMOTIVE S PROFESSIONAL REAL ESTATE services BUYING OR REFINANCING A HOME? SELLING YOUR VEHICLE? provided by John Kozyn of Coldwell Banker Jeff Stoddard and his team have specialized BUYING A VEHICLE? Residential Brokerage in Arlington. Need to in home finance for FSOs for more than 10 Since 1979, Steve Hart has been assisting buy, sell or rent? My expertise will serve your years. The Stoddard Group is able to provide members of the Foreign Service with their specific needs and time frame. FSO refer- FSO-specific financing and title services in all automotive needs. ences gladly provided. Licensed in VA and 50 states and DC. AUTO BUYING SERVICE DC. Tel: (202) 288-6026. Contact them at (571) 331-0442 or e-mail at BUYS and SELLS E-mail: [email protected]. [email protected]. ALL MAKES AND MODELS Steve Hart, Auto Buying Service Web site: www.cbmove.com/johnkozyn. 2971 Prosperity Ave, Fairfax, VA 22031 VACATION RENTAL Tel: (703) 849-0080. Fax: (703) 849-9248. E-mail: [email protected] HAPPY HOLIDAYS, FOREIGN SERVICE Reduce your stress; use the best. COMMUNITY! Let me help you with all of TWO-BEDROOM CONDOMINIUM at your Virginia real estate needs. David the Sanctuary Resort, Sandbridge Beach, Olinger, GRI (retired FSO). Virginia Beach, VA. Low winter rates. Tel. (703) 864-3196 Tel: (866) 933-4801. E-mail: [email protected]. Web site: www.sanctuaryresortva.com: (search: B-119 “Atlantic Dreamin”)

U.S. AUTOMOBILE PARTS WORLD- WIDE: Express Parts has over 30 years’ expe- HOME IMPROVEMENT SARASOTA, FL. PAUL BYRNES, FSO rience shipping original and aftermarket parts retired, and Loretta Friedman, Coldwell Banker, for U.S. specification vehicles. Give us the year, make, model and serial number of your car and offer vast real estate experience in assisting PETE’S HOME IMPROVEMENT: Full-ser- we will supply the parts you need. diplomats. Enjoy gracious living, no state income vice home improvement and repairs; exteri- Tel: (440) 234-8381. Fax: (440) 234-2660. tax, and a current “buyer’s market.” or & interior painting; kitchen and bath Tel: (941) 377-8181. E-mail: [email protected]. remodeling; custom carpentry/ closets/built- E-mail: [email protected] (Paul) Web site: www.expresspartsinc.com. ins; complete plumbing and electrical; ceram- or [email protected] (Loretta). ic tile installation; screened porches; drywall; basement refinishing. From start to finish, we guarantee customer satisfaction. Licensed SHOPPING and insured. SALE BY OWNER: Last building lot on pris- Call us today for all your needs! SHOP IN AN AMERICAN tine Spofford Lake in New Hampshire, close Tel:(703) 849-0909 DRUG STORE BY MAIL! to Rt. 91. 0.9 acre, 30' waterfront; member- (703) 507-2229. Morgan Pharmacy ship to 20-family tennis club available; no state 3001 P St NW Washington, DC 20007 income tax. $329,000. TRANSPORTATION E-mail: [email protected] Tel: (202) 337-4100. Fax: (202) 337-4102. E-mail: [email protected] www.carepharmacies.com

195 BEAUTIFUL ACRES for sale in Roundup, Mont. Perfect for wildlife viewing EMBASSY 220-VOLT transformers, or hunting: elk, deer, antelope, turkey and office supplies and furniture. 5810 Seminary more! $294,500. Rd., Falls Church, VA 22041. Contact owner Joel Hinz. Tel: (703) 845-0800. E-mail: [email protected]. E-mail: [email protected] or Web site: www.shopembassyusa.com. Web site: www.bigmrealty.com/481- Fishel-Creek-Road-a174341.html CRAVING GROCERIES FROM HOME? We ship non-perishable groceries to you via the PET MOVING MADE EASY. Club Pet Dulles mail-sorting facility or your choice of FOR RENT: Furnished 2-bedroom, 1½-bath International is a full-service animal shipper spe- U.S. shipping facility. townhouse in Palm Coast, Fla. On intercoastal cializing in domestic and international trips. Club www.lowesfoodstogo.com waterway, convenient to Flagler beaches, I- Pet is the ultimate pet-care boarding facility in • Choose the Reynolda Rd store in 95 and major highways, shopping and enter- the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Winston-Salem, N.C. tainment. Short-term $900/month, long-term Tel: (703) 471-7818 or (800) 871-2535. • Choose Delivery $750/month. E-mail: [email protected]. • Pay through PayPal E-mail: [email protected].

64 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2010 65-68_FSJ_1210_BKS:ship 11/12/10 3:01 PM Page 65

BOOKS

An Age-Old Problem The inviolability of the home, pri- Johns’ presentation vacy rights and “fair use” also shaped Piracy: The Intellectual of the dynamic, the argument and affected court cases Property Wars from interdependent view and industry alike. The evolution of an Gutenberg to Gates of piracy and equitable system remains a work in Adrian Johns, University of progress, as new forms of access to in- Chicago Press, 2010, $35/hardcover, intellectual property tellectual property continually emerge. $19.25/Kindle, 626 pages. in today’s world For instance, the role of government constitutes the book’s in copyright and patent enforcement REVIEWED BY DAVID DRINKARD real value. can be traced to the monarchy claim-  ing ownership of all property. And the As soon as the printing press arrived latest debate over Google’s ambition to in England in 1471, unscrupulous in- compile a universal library of works has dividuals falsely claimed authorship of constitutes the book’s real value. its roots in the Enlightenment. and copied legitimate works. Among Piracy is at heart a history book, and al- Bill Gates is mentioned in the the first people to recognize a safer, though it is not a military history, it book’s title for his repeated denuncia- more profitable, form of booty that does document the war waged by in- tions of user groups and shareware didn’t entail the scourges of sea travel, dustries and governments against pi- users who didn’t pay royalties to what these scoundrels became known as pi- rates — whom Daniel Defoe called “a was then Microsoft for copies of his rates long before the term “intellectual reproach to a well-governed nation.” BASIC programming language for Al- property” was invented. But who is a pirate? In 16th- and tair computers. He famously laid down Piracy will be invaluable to anyone 17th-century England, it was someone the law in an Altair Users’ Newsletter wishing to understand the history and who reprinted works on private press- by claiming, “Most of you steal your development of intellectual property, es in “holes” or “corners.” During the software.” In other words, what the Al- and the relationships among industry, 18th and 19th centuries, the concept tair users saw as openness and collabo- government and consumers in creat- expanded to include anyone who ap- ration was now “theft,” pure and ing, using and enforcing property propriated a patent (most likely for the simple. Johns summarizes the debate rights. Author Adrian Johns provides latest weapon), along with the printers as follows: “Gates’ statement would go historical context for the development of books, pamphlets and sheet music down in computer lore as the canoni- of these concepts, along with an excel- who never sought permission, let alone cal declaration of a rift over intellectual lent account of the anti-piracy industry paid royalties. And in 20th-century property and access that would divide (generally known as intellectual prop- England, listening to the BBC at home the digital world from then on.” erty enforcement). without paying a license could make And so ends Piracy. Johns does not This presentation of the dynamic, one a pirate, as could the act of copying aspire to address all aspects of intellec- interdependent view of piracy and in- a record onto a cassette or a movie tual property, but he does explain the tellectual property in today’s world onto a videotape in America. major issues in the field: counterfeit

DECEMBER 2010/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 65 65-68_FSJ_1210_BKS:ship 11/17/10 3:51 PM Page 66

BOOKS

pharmaceuticals, use of the Internet to males were a major element of the de- facilitate commerce and the transfer of fense of Israel. But he also feels pride illicit items, and the ties to organized Chasnoff shows us the that in place of the days of Jewish crime and corruption that surround in- weakness, when anyone could kill tellectual property crimes. Equally human dimensions of a Jews, now true Jewish warriors were useful, he suggests ways governments able and eager to defend their people. can promote innovation without sti- society wrestling with Chasnoff gives us other astute soci- fling creativity. etal observations, as well. The Holo- I should note that this is a scholarly itself, and confirms that caust is no longer sacrosanct in Israel. treatise, intended for those with more Trainees are taught about it, to be sure, than a casual interest in intellectual such tensions can be and one element of the instruction is a property and its role in society. The visit to the Holocaust Museum in author expresses his hope that “read- laced with humor. Jerusalem. But it is far from a deeply ers who make it to the end of this solemn event: the recruits clown book” will view any efforts to combat around and engage in teenage horse- piracy with skepticism if they do not play. Chasnoff concludes it is awesome take into account the complexity of the that 60 years after Hitler, “There are world we inhabit. I sincerely hope and join the army. His father wasn’t now Jews for whom the concept of vic- that many Journal readers will fall into thrilled at the news, glaring as though timhood is so foreign that they can give that camp. “I’d just announced that I was Repub- one another wedgies” during the mu- lican. And Muslim. And gay.” seum visit. David Drinkard is a Foreign Service The bulk of Crybaby Brigade, His Lebanon experience (1997- officer working in the Economic Bu- whose title is derived from the derisive 1998) was during the IDF occupation reau’s Office of Intellectual Property nickname directed at Chasnoff and of a since-surrendered sector of Leb- Enforcement. He has also served in other recruits undergoing basic IDF anon as a buffer zone against Hezbol- Ankara and Tel Aviv. training, is a factual account of military lah rocket attacks. It was a tense, semi- instruction. It covers both basic and combat experience, awaiting attack armored training in the Merkava-3 Bas while constantly patrolling and moni- An Inside View Battle Tank, followed by advanced toring activity with high-tech scanners. combat instruction. For anyone who But the entire military effort appeared The 188th Crybaby Brigade: has ever worn a uniform, the scenarios pointless: making soldiers the target A Skinny Jewish Kid from are familiar: commands to hurry up didn’t reduce Israeli deaths. Chicago Fights Hezbollah and wait; punishing physical training; In Chasnoff’s view, nobody in Israel Joel Chasnoff, Free Press, 2010; baffling and interminable lectures; and has forgotten, let alone forgiven, any $25, hardcover, 269 pages. individuals of dubious abilities pro- wrong done during the many wars and moted to positions of authority. insurgencies since 1947. He identifies REVIEWED BY DAVID T. JONES For the majority of people who the country’s primary problem as reli- have never undergone military service, gious rigidity exercised over much of Joel Chasnoff, an American standup this memoir provides insights into the society by the ultra-Orthodox — a trait comedian and writer, gives us a classic focused frenzy and scatological humor epitomized by their control over defin- coming-of-age rebellion saga in this epitomized by such an experience. At ing who is a Jew. The intense regula- memoir. The self-described “skinny 24, Chasnoff was significantly older tion over such definitions, resulting in Jewish kid” had been entranced since than most recruits, who endured their draconian rules regarding marriage childhood by heroic accounts of the ex- societal rite of passage with a year of and burial, along with the exemption ploits of the Israel Defense Forces. So military service at 18. of the ultra-Orthodox from military after his comedy routine failed to get He offers perspective on the real- service, is increasingly divisive. him gigs, he decided to travel to Israel ization that only slightly civilized young A defining moment for Chasnoff is

66 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2010 65-68_FSJ_1210_BKS:ship 11/12/10 3:01 PM Page 67

BOOKS

U.S. analysts too often view Israel as a combination of ancient history and current political “Gordian knots.”

a pre-marriage meeting with a smug Orthodox rabbi who, with the narrow- est of interpretative parsing, declares that Chasnoff is not a Jew. Chasnoff’s fiancée, who accompanied him to the meeting, memorably excoriates the rabbi. After extracting the fact that the A time of service…a time of need rabbi’s sons did not perform military service, she sneers at his insinuation that Chasnoff is good enough to die for Help for Seniors May Israel, but not good enough to get mar- ried there. One doubts if the rabbi will Be Just a Phone Call Away— ever forget that encounter. U.S. analysts too often view Israel The Senior Living Foundation may be as a combination of ancient history and able to help you or someone you know. current political “Gordian knots.” Some examples of assistance are: They miss the human dimensions of a N Home Health Care society wrestling with itself and the fact that such tensions can be laced with N Adult Day Care & Respite Care humor. Looking back more than a N Prescription Drug Copayments decade at a seminal experience, Chas- N Transportation to Medical Appointments ■ noff does not make that mistake. N Durable Medical Equipment

David T. Jones, a retired Senior FSO, is For more information, please contact the a frequent contributor to the Journal. SENIOR LIVING FOUNDATION OF THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE He is the co-author of Uneasy Neigh- 1716 N Street, NW N Washington, DC 20036-2902 bo(u)rs: Canada, the USA and the Dy- Phone: (202) 887-8170 N Fax: (202) 872-9320 namics of State, Industry and Culture E-Mail: [email protected] N Web Site: www.SLFoundation.org (Wiley, 2007), a study of U.S.-Cana- SPONSORED BY THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION dian relations.

DECEMBER 2010/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 67 65-68_FSJ_1210_BKS:ship 11/12/10 3:01 PM Page 68 69-71_FSJ_1210_MEM:ship 11/12/10 3:02 PM Page 69

IN MEMORY

Nicholas G. Andrews, 85, a re- drews wrote Poland 1980-81: Solidar- Andrews of Shepherstown, W. Va., and tired FSO, died on Aug. 27 at his home ity versus the Party (National Defense Gregory Andrews of Birmingham, in Newport Beach, Calif., of complica- University Press, 1985), a book that is Mich.; and five grandchildren. tions from pneumonia. still often cited by scholars of the pe- Born in 1924, Mr. Andrews spent riod. He retired from the Foreign  his childhood in Bucharest, where his Service as a senior research scholar at father ran the Standard Oil Company’s the National Defense University in Nicole Grace John, 17, the daugh- operations, and at boarding school in 1984. ter of U.S. Ambassador to Thailand England. He interrupted his college Following retirement, Mr. An- Eric John and Mrs. Sophia Yoon John, years to serve in the U.S. Army during drews spent seven years overseeing died on Aug. 27 in New York, N.Y., in World War II. He was stationed in Ro- production of the sections of the De- a tragic accident. mania, where he met his wife, and re- partment of State’s annual Human Nicole was a freshman at Parsons turned after the war a married man. Rights Report to the Congress for The New School for Design. She was After graduating from Princeton Eastern Europe and the former Soviet majoring in fine arts and was an avid University in 1949, Mr. Andrews en- Union. But his great passion during painter and photographer. She was tered the Foreign Service and began a this period was the research and writ- also very active in Habitat for Human- 34-year career as a diplomat. He ing of his second book, Ryland B. An- ity in Thailand, and worked with un- served overseas in West Berlin, Bel- drews in World War I (Chandos Press, derprivileged children. She had grade, Sarajevo, Ankara and Warsaw, 1997). A U.S. Army captain in World accompanied her family on assign- where he was deputy chief of mission. War I and a military intelligence offi- ments to Seoul, Ho Chi Minh City and In Washington, D.C., he served as di- cer, Andrews’ father had died when he Bangkok, as well as Washington, D.C. rector of the Office of Eastern Euro- was just 13. Friends of the John family remember pean Affairs, among other assign- Mr. Andrews was an avid tennis her intelligence, creativity, beauty, ments. Fluent in seven languages, he player well into his 80s, and enjoyed poise and generosity of spirit. served as an interpreter for the 1963 chess and puzzles. He was a member In her memory, Parsons The New meeting between President John of St. John’s Episcopal Church in School for Design has established a Kennedy and Yugoslav President Josip Chevy Chase, Md., the Association for scholarship fund to support deserving Broz Tito. Slavic, East European and Eurasion students in fine arts and photography. During the late 1970s, Mr. Andrews Studies, and the Atlantic Council of In lieu of flowers, the family requests played a role in negotiating the return the United States. In 2000, he and his that any donations people may wish to to Budapest of the Crown of St. wife moved from Chevy Chase to make be made to this memorial schol- Stephen, a Hungarian national treas- Newport Beach, Calif. arship fund, at: The Nicole John Schol- ure that had been held by the U.S. Survivors include his wife of 63 arship Fund, c/o The President’s since World War II. Following his ex- years, Dana Romalo Andrews of New- Office, The New School, 66 West 12th perience in Poland with the Solidarity port Beach; three children, Suzanna Street, New York NY 10011. movement from 1980 to 1981, Mr. An- Andrews of New York City, Benjamin Condolences for the John family

DECEMBER 2010/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 69 69-71_FSJ_1210_MEM:ship 11/12/10 3:02 PM Page 70

I N M EMORY

may be sent in care of the Community elections, she campaigned to encour- sonnel officer responsible for junior of- Liaison Officer: Liz Schuster-Shoaf, age city residents to register to vote. ficers at the department. Box 59/CLO, APO AP 96546. Besides her husband of 62 years, From 1969 to 1971 Mr. Rushing Mrs. Remick is survived by five chil- was chief of the political section in Vi-  dren: Marlin II of Virginia Beach, Va., entiane. He then served as the eco- Marsha Brumgard of Hendersonville, nomic/commercial officer in Monrovia Gwendolyn Louise Remick, 80, N.C., Mark of Manassas, Va., Eric of until 1973, subsequently attending the the wife of retired FSO Marlin W. Fairfax City, Va., and Steven of Purcel- NATO Defense College in Rome as Remick, died on July 28 in Fairfax, Va., lville, Va.; and 10 grandchildren. the only U.S. government civilian. of congestive heart failure. While posted to Copenhagen from Born and raised in Lock Haven,  1974 to 1978 as the political coun- Pa., Mrs. Remick accompanied her selor, he was instrumental in negoti- husband on his overseas assignments Charles E. Rushing, 81, a retired ating the sale of F-16s to the Danish for the U.S. Information Agency in the Senior Foreign Service officer, died of government. Soviet Union (three years), Iran (three complications from Parkinson’s disease Transferred to Dublin, Mr. Rushing years) and Yugoslavia (four years). on Oct. 1 in Reston, Va. served as deputy chief of mission from There she hosted many receptions, Mr. Rushing was born in Cairo, Ill., 1978 to 1982, including one year as lunches and dinners for visiting Amer- and graduated from Augustana Col- chargé d’affaires. He then spent a year ican officials, nongovernmental ex- lege in Rock Island, Ill. In 1954 he re- in Washington as the director of a mul- perts, academicians and performing ceived his J.D. degree from Duke tiagency program at State. artists, as well as meetings with host- University, where he was also associate From 1985 to 1991 he was execu- country officials and other influential editor of the Duke Law Journal. That tive assistant to the U.S. ambassador people. same year, he was admitted to the Dis- to the United Nations in Geneva. Mr. In Moscow, she hosted a party for trict of Columbia Bar. Rushing then served as the political three famous Russian poets, Yevgeny Mr. Rushing served as an intelli- adviser to the commander-in-chief of Yevtushenko, Andre Vozneshensky and gence analyst in the U.S. Army before U.S. and NATO naval forces in the Bela Akhmadulina, in her apartment. entering the Foreign Service in 1956. Atlantic and Caribbean from 1991 to As Yevtushenko noted, it was one of His first overseas assignment was as a 1993, before spending his final year the few times the three of them got to- consular officer in Naples from 1958 to with the State Department as senior gether. Mrs. Remick also witnessed 1960, after which he became the political adviser in the Executive Sec- President Richard Nixon’s historic visit deputy principal officer in Asmara. retariat. to the Soviet Union in 1972. In Teh- From 1961 to 1963 he was a political Mr. Rushing spoke Italian, French ran, she hosted a reception for Wern- officer in Salisbury (now Harare). He and Danish, and was the recipient of her von Braun. then served as an economic officer in numerous State Department perform- Mrs. Remick did volunteer work at Brazzaville before returning to Wash- ance and achievement awards. Includ- each post. In Belgrade she handled ington, D.C., to be the desk officer for ing military service, he served the U.S. the finances of the embassy commis- Congo, Rwanda and Burundi from government for 40 years. sary, among other duties. She was 1965 to 1968. After retiring from the Foreign Ser- present in Belgrade on the historic oc- During this period, Mr. Rushing vice in 1994, he and his wife of 50 casion of the death of Yugoslav Presi- was one of the original members of the years, Maria, traveled, enjoyed the dent Josip Broz Tito in 1980. AFSA reform group dubbed the company of family and friends spread After the couple returned to Wash- “Young Turks” and a contributor to the across the world, and pursued art, his- ington in 1982, Mrs. Remick worked AFSA document, “Toward a Modern tory and music. He was also a sup- for several years as a Fairfax City reg- Diplomacy,” which called for signifi- porter of his alma maters. istrar. In addition to maintaining ac- cant reforms within the Foreign Serv- In addition to his wife, Mr. Rushing curate and up-to-date voter registra- ice. is survived by two sons: Evan of O’Fal- tion records and hiring poll workers for In 1968 he spent a year as the per- lon, Mo., and Alex of London; and four

70 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2010 69-71_FSJ_1210_MEM:ship 11/12/10 3:02 PM Page 71

I N M EMORY

grandchildren: Adam, Natalie, William unprepared for diplomatic work.” He inger, Jewish immigrants from Roma- and Amelia. concluded that, apart from problems nia. He graduated from DeWitt Clin- Contributions in his name may be with the quality of education, the For- ton High School in the Bronx in 1937. made to Capital Hospice or the Parkin- eign Service and State Department Following graduation from The Col- son Research Foundation. had lost its edge in terms of attracting lege of the City of New York in 1941, the best graduates and would there- he enlisted in the United States Army,  fore have to devote attention and re- where he was selected to study Japan- sources to communicating with the ese at Yale University. He was later R. Smith Simpson, 103, a retired educational establishment and the sent to Calcutta and Shanghai, where FSO, died on Sept. 5 at a retirement general public. he prepared for the invasion of Japan. community in Charlottesville, Va. In addition to articles in profes- After the war, Mr. Weininger re- Robert Smith Simpson was born on sional journals, Mr. Simpson wrote a turned to New York. He married An- Nov. 9, 1906, in what is now Arlington book, Anatomy of the State Depart- nette Rose Shor on June 21, 1947. County. He graduated in 1927 from ment (Beacon, 1968), further dis- Their honeymoon was cut short by Mr. the University of Virginia, where he cussing how aspirants to a career in Weininger’s appointment to the For- also received a master’s degree three diplomacy should be trained, assigned eign Service and his immediate assign- years later. In 1931 he graduated from and promoted. ment to Washington, D.C. the Cornell University law school. He During the mid-1970s, Mr. Simp- He was sent to The Hague that also completed all but his dissertation son began a collaboration with Peter F. September, where he was assigned to for a doctorate in international affairs Krogh, a former State Department of- the political section and worked on the at Columbia University. ficial who became dean of the Ed- Marshall Plan. He returned to Wash- After serving as a labor policy ad- mund A. Walsh School of Foreign ington in 1949, and thereafter served viser in the National Recovery Admin- Service at Georgetown University in in Mexico City from 1951 until 1954. istration during the Depression, Mr. 1970. The result was the School of He then transferred to Madrid, where Simpson taught at the University of Foreign Service’s Institute for the he served until resigning from the For- Pennsylvania from 1935 to 1942. Dur- Study of Diplomacy, which focuses on eign Service in 1955. ing World War II, he served in the War diplomatic practice rather than just on Mr. Weininger was then employed Shipping Administration and then as a foreign policy. Mr. Simpson taught as a stockbroker for Merrill Lynch in labor expert in the State Department. night classes at Georgetown University New York, retiring as a vice president In 1945, he joined the Foreign for many years. In 1992, he moved to in 1982. Service, serving in Brussels, Athens, Charlottesville. Mr. Weininger was an avid reader Mexico City, Bombay and Lourenco His wife, Henriette Lanniée, whom of history and literature. He and his Marques (the former name for Ma- he married in 1934, died in 2007. wife loved to travel by car throughout puto), where he was consul general. Mr. Simpson is survived by two the United States and enjoyed return- He retired in 1962 as the Foreign daughters, Margaret Maurin Stunkard ing to Europe for visits. Service deputy examiner. of Bryn Mawr, Pa., and Zelia Broyles Mr. Weininger is survived by his Mr. Simpson is best known for his of Vinton, Va.; three granddaughters; wife, Annette, of Rye; their three chil- forceful advocacy of special training for and five great-grandchildren. dren, Robert Weininger (and his wife, a career in international affairs. Just Nancy) of Phoenix, Ariz., William after retiring, he wrote an article for  Weininger (and his wife, Ellen) of the November 1962 Foreign Service White Plains, N.Y., and Ilene Jaroslaw Journal, “Is the Service Ready for the Arthur David Weininger, 90, a (and her husband, David) of Brooklyn, Sixties? Are We Getting Our Share of former FSO, died on Dec. 1, 2009, in N.Y.; and eight grandchildren. ■ the Best?” In it, Mr. Simpson reported Rye Brook, N.Y. that during his time as deputy exam- Mr. Weininger was born in New Send your In Memory submission iner of applicants for the Foreign Serv- York on June 9, 1920, the son of Betty to [email protected] ice, “the great majority were wholly Singer Weininger and Sigmund Wein-

DECEMBER 2010/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 71 72-104_FSJ_1210_SCH:proof 11/12/10 3:03 PM Page 72

72 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2010 72-104_FSJ_1210_SCH:proof 11/12/10 3:03 PM Page 73

S CHOOLS S UPPLEMENT

ONLINE HIGH SCHOOL COURSES

THE GROWING NUMBER AND SOPHISTICATION OF ONLINE COURSE OFFERINGS FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS MAKE THEM AN IMPORTANT NEW RESOURCE FOR FS FAMILIES.

BY KRISTI STREIFFERT

y the time they get to high school, Study High School. She notes that they would not have Foreign Service teenagers have become faced this problem at their large high school back in some of the most resourceful people in Virginia. the world. But even they can get dis- And FSO Marlene Nice’s daughter, Andi, would have couraged by the enormous educational been unable to continue her Spanish studies in Zagreb challenges they may face. Fortunately, without the online Spanish 4 course from the University of FS families now benefit from technological advances that Nebraska during her sophomore year in high school. FS Bcan help overcome many of the difficulties. students often find it difficult to continue with languages An array of educational issues confront teens in FS fam- when they move from one part of the globe to another, so ilies. They have to deal with inconsistency in curricula due such courses are among the most popular selection for to frequent moves. And, despite the recognized advan- online classes. tages of overseas education, some international schools Part-time online high school class offerings have recent- underperform compared to their American counterparts, ly reached a new level of availability and sophistication, and most have limited class offerings compared to large allowing FS families to jump in and realize immediate ben- U.S. high schools. efits: Online classes can help solve those problems, and stu- • Specialized online teachers are now trained and con- dents don’t even have to leave their international schools, fident in using technology to teach at a distance. activities and friends to take advantage of them. They can • Online educational services are accustomed to serving take individual classes online and receive credit from their students all over the globe. schools (or at least receive transcripts to present to col- • Advances in the way classes are delivered have made leges). them flexible, interesting and interactive. The Linderman family, posted to Guayaquil used an • The U.S. system of regional accreditation is being online computer course to overcome a common logistical extended to online programs, helping to bring them into problem for FS families. “Our son was trying to take two the mainstream and enforce standards. routine courses that happened to be offered during the • Partnerships between online and brick-and-mortar same period and at no other time in our small school,” schools are making it easier to take advantage of Internet- Patricia Linderman reports. He wanted to take Advanced based opportunities. Placement biology, but it conflicted with the schedule for a school-required computer course. So instead he took the Meeting FS Teens’ Needs biology class from the University of Nebraska Independent Online classes offer the great gift of flexibility, both in pacing and timing. Some FS high school students miss out Kristi Streiffert, a Foreign Service spouse, is a freelance writer on summer school classes because of various travel con- from Durango, Colo. She writes about business, education, the straints — moving, home leave, rest and recreation, or environment and travel. family travel may limit their ability to participate in either

DECEMBER 2010/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 73 72-104_FSJ_1210_SCH:proof 11/17/10 7:54 PM Page 74

S CHOOLS S UPPLEMENT

An array of educational issues confront teens in FS families.

a catch-up class or a special-interest class. During the regular school year, students with learning differences (dyslexia, attention deficit disorder or even being gifted) or special situa- tions (raising their own children, par- ticipating in elite-level sports, dealing with difficult medical conditions) may not be able to adhere to the school’s day-to-day schedule. Though these situations can happen to any teen, those who live at posts abroad find them even more challenging. Online courses can meet other needs, too, says Julie Linn, director of international business develop- ment for K¹² International Academy, a private online school that offers a complete and nationally accredited high school program. “A ninth-grad- er working at a sixth-grade math level (but ninth-grade level in everything else), may feel more comfortable, and therefore be more productive, taking a lower-level math class on- line,” she explains. Numerous online schools offer classes at various levels. K¹², for exam- ple, offers four versions of the core courses: basic (for a struggling stu- dent), comprehensive (for an average student), honors and Advanced Place- ment. Some exceptionally motivated stu- dents may not be sufficiently chal- lenged in international schools, where many of their fellow students are struggling with just learning the basics in a second (or additional) lan- guage, for instance. Through online learning, students can access rigorous courses taught by native English speakers. In addition, overseas schools

74 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2010 72-104_FSJ_1210_SCH:proof 11/12/10 3:03 PM Page 75 72-104_FSJ_1210_SCH:proof 11/12/10 3:03 PM Page 76

S CHOOLS S UPPLEMENT

sometimes do not allow advanced stu- Partnerships: dents to take higher-level courses A New Dimension than their age cohort. Students who Advances in the way Perhaps the most exciting new encounter this problem could choose development in education for FS to advance online. classes are delivered teens is the direct partnership be- Teenagers with special interests tween numerous international schools such as business, art or technology have made them flexible, and online education providers, a way often do not have an opportunity at for overseas schools to enhance the overseas posts to pursue these fields interesting and variety and depth of classes they can academically. “Our school is for stu- offer. “K12 started this about two years dents who have a knack for technolo- interactive. ago after visiting with American gy or business, and our certified embassy students in India, where we teachers are highly experienced and picked up on a need for students to passionate about technology. Stu- have extended course options,” says dents can attend either on a full-time Julie Linn. “Today we have partner- or a part-time basis,” says Cathy their feet wet in an intended college ships with 40 schools, resulting in Shoaf, vice president of marketing at major, for instance. 600 course enrollments.” Giant Campus Academy. “A student who has an interest in VHS also partners with 42 schools A growing selection of courses marketing could take our ‘Marketing in 33 countries, says Pape, “to sup- gives FS kids opportunities to pursue and the Internet’ course or an entre- plement in-person courses with passions. Liz Pape, the president preneurship course,” she says. “This online AP, enrichment and core and chief executive officer of Virtual also [might] help students to avoid courses.” VHS has 464 enrollments High School, says that VHS courses wasting years on a major that doesn’t from those international schools for enable international students to get end up being a fit.” this school year, she adds.

76 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2010 72-104_FSJ_1210_SCH:proof 11/12/10 3:04 PM Page 77

S CHOOLS S UPPLEMENT

DECEMBER 2010/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 77 72-104_FSJ_1210_SCH:proof 11/12/10 3:04 PM Page 78

S CHOOLS S UPPLEMENT

The International Baccalaureate the 32 states that K¹² serves). She program has been slow in producing adds that if the particular U.S. school online versions of its highly regarded Teenagers with special system doesn’t allow free attendance and very rigorous courses. But stu- from overseas, the education allow- dents attending an IB World School interests such as ance would cover the charge levied — one of the more than 3,000 for this service. schools in 139 countries that have IB business, art or programs — now have the option of What Are the Classes Like? taking limited online courses. (For a technology often do not What does a typical online class list of IB World Schools, see www. entail? Only a few years ago, classes ibo.org/school/search/index.cfm?nex have an opportunity at were primarily text-based. Teenagers tStart=2.) often felt like FS teen Mazel Fernan- In a related development, many overseas posts to pursue dez, who took math and science American public school systems are online while she was attending the now contracting with online schools these fields academically. International School in Iceland. “On- like K¹² and VHS to provide options line courses were okay, but they were for their students. Families whose just text and not really helpful. It did- children have been in a school system n’t really have the feel of ‘learning;’ it in the U.S. and want to stay with that was just reading. [So] I didn’t really school system even after being posted awaken a school system to the need like it,” she says. She also points to the abroad may be able to do so by taking for this service. Julie Linn says K¹² lack of social interaction as a negative full-time online courses. would be happy to work with Foreign factor. A phone call to the school about Service families who want to stay Though some online classes may residency requirements may even within their public school system (for still lack interactivity, typical online

78 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2010 72-104_FSJ_1210_SCH:proof 11/17/10 7:54 PM Page 79

S CHOOLS S UPPLEMENT

DECEMBER 2010/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 79 72-104_FSJ_1210_SCH:proof 11/12/10 3:04 PM Page 80

S CHOOLS S UPPLEMENT

courses are now more collaborative screen-sharing technology to facili- and varied due to better technology tate interaction among students. and savvy curricula. Some courses Perhaps the most exciting “The courses are designed to pro- are purely asynchronous — students mote rich student-teacher and stu- work according to their own sched- new development in dent-student interaction,” says Julie ule and interact with their teacher Linn. and classmates via e-mail and mes- education for FS teens is Caseloads are similar to brick- sage boards. Others require students and-mortar schools — class sizes to log in at a particular time for live the direct partnership average 200 students. But because presentation of a lesson, which may the content is already established be followed by an online discussion. between international and electronically delivered, teachers Amy Valentine, global develop- can focus much of their time on com- ment manager for K12, says that most schools and online municating with students, assessing classes feature both an online compo- student work, providing individual nent and an offline component. education providers. feedback and offering live office Online, students frequently view hours, Linn explains. video clips, listen to audio recordings, use multimedia tools and engage in Getting Started video gaming with an avatar. Some of ideas, and prepare charts and written Once a family and student decide the text may be dictated to them, and assessments. that online classes are a good idea, they take engaging quizzes to check Other features may include lab they need to choose a provider. for mastery, she explains. Offline, activities, collaboration with other “Choose your online provider with they will have to write essays to students on a group project and live care,” Dr. Jeff Keller, superintendent demonstrate the ability to develop sessions, with the teacher using Continued on page 86

80 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2010 72-104_FSJ_1210_SCH:proof 11/12/10 3:04 PM Page 81

S CHOOLS S UPPLEMENT

DECEMBER 2010/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 81 72-104_FSJ_1210_SCH:proof 11/12/10 3:04 PM Page 82

82 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2010 72-104_FSJ_1210_SCH:proof 11/18/10 10:47 AM Page 83

SCHOOLS AT A GLANCE Go to our Web page at www.fsjournal.org and click on the Marketplace tab for more information.

Annual Tuition, Gender Distribution M/F Room & Board (USD) School Name Page Number Enrollment Percent BoardingPercent International Levels Offered TABS Common ApplicationAccepts/Offers ADD andMiles LD to Int’l AirportInt’l Students OrientationDorms w/E-mailHoliday & Phones Break Coverage

ELEMENTARY/JUNIOR HIGH Fay School 90 450 50/50 25 17 PK-9 Y N 25 Y Y N 47,550 Hampshire Country School 97 25 All boys 100 NA 3-12 N Y 65 NA N N 45,500 Langley School, The 94 498 50/50 NA NA PS-8 Y N 15 NA NA NA 13,440- 26,940 ELEMENTARY/JUNIOR HIGH/SENIOR HIGH St. Andrew’s Episcopal 92 527 56/44 NA 3 PS-12 N Limited 25 Y NA NA Varies School JUNIOR HIGH

Cardigan Mountain School 78 200 All boys 90 40 6-9 Y Limited 130 Y Y Y1 44,100 North Country School 94 92 53/47 88 23 4-9 Y Y 125 N Y/N N 50,750 JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH Grier School 81 246 All girls 95 45 7-12 Y Y 120 Y Y Y 44,500 Shattuck - St. Mary’s School 93 438 61/39 75 26 6-12, PG Y Limited 18 Y Y N 38,450 Stoneleigh-Burnham School 88 140 All girls 70 40 7-12, PG Y Limited 68 Y Y N 46,180 Thomas Jefferson School 87 89 50/50 60 28 7-12, PG Y N 12 Y Y N 36,500 Valley Forge Military 75 300 All boys 99 20 7-12, PG Y Limited 15 Y e-mail Y 38,290 Academy SENIOR HIGH

Darrow School 76 110 55/45 80 25 9-12 Y Y 40 Y Y N 45,6002 Fenster School 95 23 61/39 96 14 9-12, PG Y Y 20 Y Y Y1 34,500 Hebron Academy 93 223 63/37 73 28 9-12, PG Y Y 45 Y Y Y 46,195 Interlochen Arts Academy 80 475 40/60 89 18 9-12, PG N N 16 Y Y N 44,750 Oakwood Friends School 77 170 55/45 45 20 9-12 Y Y 35 Y Y N 39,000 Olney Friends School 96 65 50/50 90 41 9-12 Y Limited 100 Y N N 27,800 Oregon Episcopal School 98 314 50/50 18 15 9-12 Y Limited 20 Y Y Y 42,200 Purnell School 93 110 All girls 98 10 9-12 Y Y 35 Y Y N 49,182 Putney School, The 78 220 44/56 77 18 9-12, PG N Y 95 Y phone Y 28,700- 44,000 St. Mark’s School 91 340 55/45 80 18 9-12 Y N 30 Y Y N 45,100 Storm King School, The 92 135 55/45 75 45 8-12 Y Y 60 Y Y N 38,600 Verde Valley School 92 123 49/51 84 47 9-12 Y Limited 120 Y Y Y 41,400 Wasatch Academy 95 250 55/45 85 45 8-12 Y Y 100 Y Y Y 41,400 White Mountain School, The 89 100 50/50 80 30 9-12, PG Y Y 110 Y Y Y 43,600 SPECIAL NEEDS Benedictine School, The 98 92 73/27 85 5 Ages 5-21 NA Y 60 Y Y N Call Brehm School 82 91 71/29 89 11 6-12 N Y 118 Y Y N 61,900 Chapel Haven 80 250 60/40 60 10 18 years N Y 50 Y Y Y 58,000- + older 84,000 Gow School, The 86 136 All boys 100 27 7-12, PG N Y 20 Y Y N 52,075 Landmark School 96 449 60/40 36 1 2-12 N Y 25 N Y N 45,000- 59,000 OTHER Family Liaison Office/Education Office Page 24 Information and resources for Foreign Service families. www.state.gov/m/dghr/flo/c1958.htm Foreign Service Youth Foundation Page 27 A support network for U.S. For Foreign Service Youth worldwide. Go to www.fsyf.org

Notes: 1Homestay Arranged. 2Tutorial program additional CONTINUED ON PAGE 85 DECEMBER 2010/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 83 72-104_FSJ_1210_SCH:proof 11/12/10 3:04 PM Page 84

84 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2010 72-104_FSJ_1210_SCH:proof 11/18/10 10:47 AM Page 85

SCHOOLS AT A GLANCE Go to our Web page at www.fsjournal.org and click on the Marketplace tab for more information.

Annual Tuition, Gender Distribution M/F Room & Board (USD) School Name Page Number Enrollment Percent BoardingPercent International Levels Offered TABS Common ApplicationAccepts/Offers ADD andMiles LD to Int’l AirportInt’l Students OrientationDorms w/E-mailHoliday & Phones Break Coverage

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 83 MILITARY Marine Military Academy 79 300 All boys 100 18 8-12, PG N Limited 1 Y Y N 33,000 Massanutten Military 97 175 75/25 96 8-12 7-12, PG N Y 82 Y Y N 25,200 Academy OVERSEAS American School of Quito 90 2,116 49/51 NA 2.7 PK-12 NA Y 5.7 Y NA NA 5,670- 8,650 Berlin Brandenburg 77 230 50/50 10 65 9-12 N Y 25 Y Y N 42,0001 International School Carlucci American 81 540 50/50 NA 50 PK-12 N Limited 22 Y NA NA 7,064- International School 16,480 of Lisbon Country Day School, 84 150 50/50 15 80 PK-12 N N 40 Y Y N 29,320 Guanacaste Escuela Campo Alegre 88 580 50/50 NA 80 N-12 NA Limited 20 Y NA N 20,492 International School 92 250 57/43 NA 93 PK-12 N NA NA Y NA NA 15,106- of Berne 29,9533 Jakarta International 72 2,400 50/50 NA 77 K-12 NA Limited 30 Y N N 6,900- School 20,900 John F. Kennedy 96 75 50/50 30 70 K-8 N Limited 90 Y Y N 30,000- International School 53,500 Leysin American School 79 385 48/52 100 75 8-12, PG Y Limited 75 Y Y N 45,000 in Switzerland PTSI International School 87 400 55/45 27 71 K-12 N N 15 Y Y N 26,000 St John’s International 89 905 50/50 NA NA PK-13 Y Y 5 NA NA NA 9,000- School 32,000 St. Stephen’s School 96 250 46/54 16 67 9-12, PG N N 12 NA Y N 41,0301 TASIS The American 91 730 50/50 25 41 PK-12 Y Limited 8 Y Y N 48,0001 School in England POST-SECONDARY Bard College at 102 425 40/60 100 7 A.A., B.A. N Limited 70 Y Y Limited 53,982 Simon’s Rock Bryant University 103 3,606 59/41 85 6 B.A., M.A. N Y 18 Y Y Y 45,248 St. Mary’s University 104 3,893 40/60 55 3.1 B.A., M.A., Ph.D. NA Y 13 Y Y N 32,800 DISTANCE LEARNING

American Public University 101 72,000 70/30 NA 1 A.A., B.A., M.A. N Y NA N NA Y 750-9002 Liberty University Online 99 50,000 49/51 NA 3 3-125 N N NA NA NA NA 2,475- Academy 3,150 EPGY Online 74 296 55/45 NA 13.2 7-12 N NA 20 Y NA NA 2,950- High School at 14,0004 Stanford University Texas Tech University 102 K-12 and accredited HS diploma; Bachelor’s through graduate programs. Visit http://www.de.ttu.edu University of Missouri - 87 Online learning: Grade 3 through university. Accredited HS diploma. Bachelor’s degree completion. Ctr Distance & Ind. Study www.cdis.missouri.edu/global Walden University 100 Walden University serves the higher education needs of working professionals through online advanced degrees.

Notes: 1Dollar value is subject to exchange rate. 2 750 per 3 credits, 900 per 3 grad credits. 3 Depending on age. 4 Financial aid available. 5 Dual enroll/Coll & HS.

DECEMBER 2010/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 85 72-104_FSJ_1210_SCH:proof 11/12/10 3:04 PM Page 86

S CHOOLS S UPPLEMENT

Continued from page 80

at the American School Foundation being honest. The big question is: of Monterrey, advises. “Not all on- How do you know the person taking line providers are created equal.” “Choose your online the final exam is the same person Keller adds, “The program we use who did the work?” (K¹²) is also accredited in the U.S., provider with care,” Like the Mesa Distance Learning so credits earned from the online Program, the University of Nebraska courses do count toward graduation Dr. Jeff Keller, superin- uses proctors to ensure integrity. requirements.” Proctors are required for closed- Experienced Foreign Service par- tendent at the American book tests. Family members cannot ents know that the best international serve in that capacity, but teachers, schools meet stringent standards to School Foundation of counselors, administrators, head receive accreditation from one of librarians and embassy or consulate several regionally based accredita- Monterrey, advises. officials can. tion boards in the United States. A teacher’s knowledge of his or Many online schools receive the her students is another way to same regional accreditation, as well enforce honesty. “I was committed as accreditation by their home state. and online classes. Dr. Doug Barn- to knowing my students, knowing Accreditation matters in assuring ard, director of the Mesa Distance their performance abilities and the quality and transferability of credits Learning Program, says: “We’ve been quality of work they present, and from high school to high school, as doing this for 11 years. I’ve learned reviewing their work during the well as their recognition during the that academic integrity is a big issue. week, which helps ensure their college admission process. Many programs are wide-open for integrity,” says K¹²’s Amy Valentine, Academic integrity presents chal- students to cheat. We have several who was an online teacher for sever- lenges for both traditional schools electronic ways to catch people not Continued on page 90

86 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2010 72-104_FSJ_1210_SCH:proof 11/12/10 3:04 PM Page 87

S CHOOLS S UPPLEMENT

DECEMBER 2010/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 87 72-104_FSJ_1210_SCH:proof 11/17/10 7:54 PM Page 88

S CHOOLS S UPPLEMENT

Is Distance Learning Right for Troubled Teens?

We all know that the teen years can be tumultuous. For Foreign Service families, helping students who have gotten off track can be a very frightening challenge. When students are failing classes, making bad choices in terms of friends, drugs or alcohol, or becoming depressed or anorexic, their futures are at stake. In these worst-case scenarios, signing up for distance learning classes, hoping the student will catch up with their requirements, probably should not be a first response. Instead, experts recommend that parents first seek professional help, sooner rather than later. Intervene before the situation reaches a crisis point. “The one mistake I see parents make is waiting too long to reach out for help and take definitive actions to assist their student,” says Rebecca Grappo, a certified educational planner and founder of RNG International Educational Consultants, LLC. Make an early call to the Family Liaison Office or the Employee Consultation Services (www.state.gov/m/dghr/flo/c23134.htm) and ask for a list of educational consultants who work with struggling teens. “Keeping up with school while struggling with serious problems requires a great deal of commitment and professional expertise,” says Grappo. While distance learning may well be part of a therapeutic plan, she adds, don’t try to go it alone. — Kristi Streiffert

88 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2010 72-104_FSJ_1210_SCH:proof 11/12/10 3:04 PM Page 89

S CHOOLS S UPPLEMENT

DECEMBER 2010/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 89 72-104_FSJ_1210_SCH:proof 11/12/10 3:04 PM Page 90

S CHOOLS S UPPLEMENT

Continued from page 86

al years. “If a student turned in an exam that went way beyond [his or Starting Points her] ability, I knew it.” Here are a variety of online high school programs you might want to consider:

How to Succeed University of Nebraska Independent The Education Program for Gifted Youth Success in online classes requires Study High School (EPGY) at Stanford University more motivation and independence, http://highschool.unl.edu/ http://epgy.stanford.edu/ plus better organizational skills than an in-person school class. Karen K12 International Academy Mesa Distance Learning Program, Bingham, a high school history and www.k12.com/schools-programs/ Mesa Public Schools social studies online teacher with K¹², online-private-school/ www.mdlp.org/ says: “Never be afraid to reach out. As a matter of fact, many students, I Virtual High School found, are likely to share more of www.govhs.org/ Online Resource: themselves — their values, opinions, thoughts — online than if they were Center for Talented Youth at A Parents Guide to Choosing the sitting in a classroom among their the Johns Hopkins University Right Online Program peers. This can be particularly helpful http://cty.jhu.edu/ www.inacol.org/research/promising for shy students or those new to a practices/iNACOL_ParentsGuide.pdf school, who would normally quietly Giant Campus Academy watch from a distance.” (focused on computer science, — Kristi Streiffert Christopher Brown, the high digital arts, and business innovation) school principal at Country Day www.giantcampusacademy.com/ Continued on page 94

90 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2010 72-104_FSJ_1210_SCH:proof 11/12/10 3:04 PM Page 91

S CHOOLS S UPPLEMENT

DECEMBER 2010/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 91 72-104_FSJ_1210_SCH:proof 11/12/10 3:04 PM Page 92

S CHOOLS S UPPLEMENT

92 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2010 72-104_FSJ_1210_SCH:proof 11/12/10 3:04 PM Page 93

S CHOOLS S UPPLEMENT

DECEMBER 2010/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 93 72-104_FSJ_1210_SCH:proof 11/12/10 3:04 PM Page 94

S CHOOLS S UPPLEMENT

Continued from page 90

Online Education Costs Chaput explains. Also, they can reg- ulate how they spend their time Class prices average about Many online schools studying during the day rather than $400 per semester. In some cases, following a bell schedule. But, she classes can be paid for with the receive the same regional stresses, teachers hold live classes Supplemental Education Allowance. frequently, have study halls daily and Check the State Department Web accreditation as brick- are always there for support by e- mail, instant messaging or phone if pages on educational allowances and-mortar schools, as the students need help. and call the Office of Overseas The skills acquired through living Schools and Family Liaison Office to well as accreditation by overseas and moving frequently, such see if you can tap into these funds. as independence, focus and resource- Be sure to coordinate with your their home state. fulness, often make FS teens success- finance officer at post before making ful online students. This bodes well for their future success in higher edu- any final decisions. cation and the workplace, too, where — Kristi Streiffert online training is becoming very com- K12 teacher Lisa Chaput notes mon. As Chaput says, “The age that School in Costa Rica, offers three that “while this is an independent we are living in requires that students suggestions for success: “Develop a experience, there is still full teacher be able to work in an online environ- disciplined schedule for yourself. support, so no student is on their ment. Those who are successful will Ask yourself many questions while own.” The independent part of the have developed a skill set that is taking a course, and have a purpose experience is that the students can invaluable and will help them excel in in taking a course.” ponder a topic longer if they like, and out of the virtual world.” ■

94 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2010 72-104_FSJ_1210_SCH:proof 11/12/10 3:04 PM Page 95

S CHOOLS S UPPLEMENT

DECEMBER 2010/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 95 72-104_FSJ_1210_SCH:proof 11/12/10 3:04 PM Page 96

S CHOOLS S UPPLEMENT

96 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2010 72-104_FSJ_1210_SCH:proof 11/12/10 3:04 PM Page 97

S CHOOLS S UPPLEMENT

RANKING COLLEGE RANKINGS: A HANDY GUIDE

BY MOHAMMAD ALHINNAWI

iven the vast number of colleges and American Universities universities in the United States and the The most popular college rankings are compiled by U.S. importance of higher education, par- News & World Report (www.usnews.com/rankings), which ents and students have long sought releases a special issue every summer dedicated to the topic. resources that can help them choose a The magazine ranks national universities and liberal arts col- school that fits their needs. This is espe- leges based on the SAT scores of incoming students, student- cially true for parents working abroad to-faculty ratios and research output, among other factors. who cannot easily visit prospective schools. Although the vast majority of universities participate in GA variety of private organizations are trying to meet this the rankings by providing data on their students and spend- need by providing college rankings that evaluate schools on ing — mostly for the extra visibility — these same universi- many different criteria, including graduation rates, financial ties have consistently criticized the U.S. News rankings for aid and prestige. Here is an overview of the most well-known having a faulty methodology, which hurts lesser-known college rankings covering U.S. and world universities, as well schools (usually buried deeper in the rankings) and can have as a brief guide to pursuing a degree online. perverse effects.

DECEMBER 2010/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 97 72-104_FSJ_1210_SCH:proof 11/12/10 3:04 PM Page 98

S CHOOLS S UPPLEMENT

“Rankings and guides are best used, if you’re going to use them — at the beginning, when you’re starting your college search.”

— Tom Nichols, assistant director of admissions at the University of Richmond

The rankings certainly have their uses. For instance, the previously obscure George Mason University received a huge spike in interest and donations after U.S. News named it the top “up and coming school” in the country. But critics point out that many schools focus on making changes designed to boost their place on the U.S. News list rather than improving student education. Bill Briggs of MSNBC reports that Clemson University in South Caro- lina artificially inflated faculty salaries and fudged class-size stats to move up in the U.S. News rankings (“Back- lash Builds Against College Rankings,” August 2010). Newsweek’s college rankings (www. education.newsweek.com/choosing-a- school.html) are based on criteria that are similar to U.S. News & World Report. But Newsweek uses different categories to describe them — like best campus, most diverse or most gay- friendly. Problematically, the News- week rankings cover a relatively small number of schools, so they are less use- ful than other assessments. Other rankings emphasize the stu- dent’s perspective. The Princeton Review’s rankings (www.princetonre view.com/college-rankings.aspx) are based primarily on interviews with stu-

98 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2010 72-104_FSJ_1210_SCH:proof 11/12/10 3:04 PM Page 99 72-104_FSJ_1210_SCH:proof 11/12/10 3:04 PM Page 100

S CHOOLS S UPPLEMENT

dents. Along the same lines, College Nicholas, assistant director of admis- Prowler (www.collegeprowler.com) sions for the University of Richmond, features personal evaluations from Other rankings gives this advice on the university’s university students in addition to “Admissions Blog”: advice on the college admissions pro- emphasize the student’s Different college rankings and cess. guidebooks can serve as a great intro- Unique among the pack, Forbes perspective. duction to a range of colleges and uni- (www.forbes.com/lists/2010/94/best- versities. They can give you the colleges-10_Americas-Best-Colleges opportunity to encounter schools you _Rank.html) weighs student debt might not otherwise consider, as well and post-graduation salaries heavily, as quickly learn the basics about a lot producing a list of what it considers of excellent schools (student body size, “best bang for your buck” schools. search (producing cutting-edge schol- public/private, urban/rural, etc.) And ars and conferring doctorates) and ser- this is where, in my opinion, rankings A Very Different Approach vice (encouraging students to give and guides are best used, if you’re One set of college rankings that dif- something back to their country).” going to use them — at the beginning, fers from all of the others is compiled The result emphasizes the social good when you’re starting your college by Washington Monthly (www.wash- provided by America’s universities. search. ingtonmonthly.com/college_guide/toc Interestingly, University of California [However] they probably should _2010.php). The magazine rates campuses have consistently taken the not be consulted extensively in making schools based on “their contribution to top three spots. decisions about where to apply and the public good in three broad cate- With all the different lists and enroll; rather, you should rely on your gories: social mobility (recruiting and assessments of American schools, how own criteria, experiences and feelings graduating low-income students), re- should you use the rankings? Tom to make those choices.

100 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2010 72-104_FSJ_1210_SCH:proof 11/12/10 3:04 PM Page 101

DECEMBER 2010/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 101 72-104_FSJ_1210_SCH:proof 11/17/10 7:54 PM Page 102

S CHOOLS S UPPLEMENT

The International Scene calculates by soliciting peer reviews In the past few years, three promi- from university professors. nent international guides to university A dramatically In a broad sense, the three surveys quality have emerged. The first, put delineate a fairly similar picture. U.S. together by the Shanghai Jiao Tong different set of rankings schools, both private and public, dom- University, is called the Academic inate the list overall, especially in the Ranking of World Universities (www. emphasizes the social top 20 where they are mostly unchal- arwu.org/ARWU2010.jsp). All inter- lenged, except for Oxford University national university rankings have a good provided by and Cambridge University in the heavy bias toward larger schools, but United Kingdom. The University of ARWU especially favors those with America’s colleges Hong Kong and the University of strong science programs; 20 percent of Tokyo usually crack the list in the top its ranking of a school is based on the and universities. 25, and Japan has by far the highest number of staff winning Nobel Prizes number of entries among Asian coun- in Medicine, Chemistry, Physics and tries in the top 100. Economics (as well as Fields Medals Even more interesting than who awarded for achievement in Mathe- makes the list is who doesn’t. For matics). research volume and citations (repre- starters, some major regions of the The Times Higher Education Sup- senting 62 percent of the total score). world do not have a single elite uni- plement (www.timeshighereducation. Finally, QS (www.topuniversities. versity to represent them. Not a single co.uk/world-university-rankings/2010- com/university-rankings/world-uni- Latin American country has a school 2011/top-200.html) assembles the versity-rankings/2010/results) selects in the top 100 worldwide, while South world’s “Top 200” universities in one the world’s top 100 universities on the Africa’s University of Cape Town is list based heavily on each school’s basis of academic reputation, which it number 107 in the Times survey and

102 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2010 72-104_FSJ_1210_SCH:proof 11/12/10 3:04 PM Page 103

DECEMBER 2010/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 103 72-104_FSJ_1210_SCH:proof 11/17/10 7:54 PM Page 104

S CHOOLS S UPPLEMENT

the only African entry. And the that awards bachelors and masters dents should also talk to employers in Middle East has just one entry in the degrees. Still, such an extensive online their field of interest to see if they are top 100: the Hebrew University of offering by a traditional school is rela- receptive to applicants with online Jerusalem, ranked at number 72 by tively uncommon, since most online degrees. ARWU. education is provided by newer for- The next step is to examine a Canada, Australia, Germany, profit universities. school’s loan default and payment France and the smaller Western In “Online Universities: Five Tips rates, because according to Burnsed, European countries make some Before You Pursue a Degree,” pub- “A high default rate or low repayment respectable showings in the top 50, but lished in the October 2010 U.S. News rate should generally raise red flags.” Russia’s only school in the top 100 is & World Report, Brian Burnsed offers Finally, Burnsed recommends Moscow State University (74 in the following advice for students con- looking at student services provided ARWU and 93 in the QS rankings). sidering online education. The first outside the classroom, like academic The gaps between the developed step is to check that an online univer- and financial aid, advising and career and developing world are evidently sity is accredited by searching the counseling. ■ still quite large. China has only one Department of Education’s database school that usually ranks in the top 50 of accredited schools. This is impor- Mohammad Alhinnawi is the Journal’s (Peking University), and Asia’s other tant not only to ensure that the school editorial intern. A recent UCLA grad- giant — India — does not even crack is reputable, but also to make sure that uate, he plans to pursue a career in ARWU’s top 300 list. credits earned there can be trans- foreign affairs. ferred to another institution. Online Education The second step is to talk with stu- Online education has taken off as dents and alumni of online universities more schools create programs to through social networks like Face- Handy Rankings Links attract students who cannot attend tra- book, since they can offer a first-hand ditional courses. For example, Boston account of the online program’s quali- U.S. News & World Report University has a full online program ty. Burnsed says that prospective stu- www.usnews.com/rankings Newsweek www.education.newsweek.com/ choosing-a-school.html

Princeton Review www.princetonreview.com/college- rankings.aspx

College Prowler www.collegeprowler.com

Forbes www.forbes.com/lists/2010/94/best- colleges-10_Americas-Best- Colleges_Rank.html

Washington Monthly www.washingtonmonthly.com/college_ guide/toc_2010.php

Academic Ranking of World Universities www.arwu.org/ARWU2010.jsp

Times Higher Education Supplement www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/ world-university-rankings/2010- 2011/top-200.html

QS www.topuniversities.com/university- rankings/world-university-rankings/ 2010/results

104 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2010 105-108_FSJ_1210_RE:ship 11/12/10 3:05 PM Page 105

REAL ESTATE

Property Specialists, Inc. A professional and personal service tailored to meet your needs in: • Property Management • Tenant Placement • Tax-deferred Exchange • Real Estate Investment Counseling Specializing in PROPERTY MANAGEMENT 4600-D Lee Highway Arlington, Virginia 22207 (703) 525-7010 (703) 247-3350 E-mail: [email protected] Web address: propertyspecialistsinc.com Serving Virginia, Maryland and D.C.

DECEMBER 2010/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 105 105-108_FSJ_1210_RE:ship 11/17/10 4:42 PM Page 106

REAL ESTATE

u REGULAR INSPECTIONS u ENJOY PEACE OF MIND u u u RENTAL SERVICES Who’s taking care of your home while you’re away? REGULAR REPORTS REGULAR REPORTS u

u No one takes care of your home like we do! 24 HOUR ON-CALL SUPPORT

While you’re overseas, we’ll help you manage your home without the hassles. No panicky messages, just regular reports. No unexpected surprises, just peace of mind. rson G Property management is ye rou our full time business. OVER 24 YEARS EXPERIENCE 24 OVER e p, M I Let us take care u e n h c. of the details. u T EXCELLENT REFERENCES

Call us today! (301) 657-3210

6923 Fairfax Road u Bethesda, MD 20814 COORDINATE MAINTENANCE MAINTENANCE COORDINATE email: [email protected] u u u PROPERTY MANAGEMENT FOR FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICERS u

ADVERTISING INDEX When contacting one of our advertisers, kindly mention you saw their advertisement in the Foreign Service Journal.

CLASSIFIED ADS Cort Furniture / Outside Back Cover Berlin Brandenburg International Oakwood Friends School / 77 Classified Ads / 62, 63, 64 Family Liaison Office / 24 School / 77 Olney Friends School / 96 Fox Hill Club and Residences / 38 Brehm School / 82 Oregon Episcopal School / 98 FINANCIAL, LEGAL AND TAX Homewood at the Shenandoah Cardigan Mountain School / 78 Prem International School / 87 SERVICES Valley / 67 Carlucci American International Purnell School / 93 Federal Employee Defense J. Kirby Simon Foreign Service School of Lisbon / 81 Putney School, The / 78 Services / 11 Trust / 2 Chapel Haven / 80 Shattuck-St. Mary’s School / 93 MCG Financial Planning / 47 U.S. Institute of Peace Press / 49 Country Day School Guanacaste / 84 St. Andrew’s Episcopal School / 92 Luxenberg, Johnson & Darrow School / 76 St. John’s International School / 89 Dickens, PC / 31 REAL ESTATE & PROPERTY Education Program for Gifted Youth St. Mark’s School / 91 State Department Federal MANAGEMENT Online High School at Stanford St. Stephen’s School / 96 Credit Union / 19 Cabell Reid, LLC. / 107 University / 74 Stoneleigh-Burnham School / 88 Executive Housing Consultants, Escuela Campo Alegre / 88 Storm King School, The / 92 HOUSING Inc. / 107 Fay School / 90 TASIS, The American School AKA, Flexible Stay Hotel Residences McEnearney Associates / 107 Fenster School / 95 in England / 91 / Inside Front Cover Meyerson Group Inc., The / 106 Gow School, The / 86 Texas Tech University / 102 Attaché Property Management Peake Management, Inc. / 107 Grier School / 81 Thomas Jefferson School / 87 LLC / 21 Property Specialists, Inc. / 105 Hampshire Country School / 97 University of Missouri High CAS/Corporate Apartment Stuart & Maury, Inc. / 105 Hebron Academy / 93 School / 87 Specialists / 31 Washington Management Interlochen Arts Academy / 80 Valley Forge Military Academy / 75 Pied-à-Terre Properties, Ltd. / 49 Services / 106 International School of Berne / 92 Verde Valley School / 92 Remington, The / 47 WJD Management / 105 Jakarta International School / 72 Wasatch Academy / 95 Suite America / 44 John F. Kennedy International White Mountain School, The / 89 ANNOUNCEMENTS School / 96 INSURANCE AFSA Resource Marketplace / 8 Landmark School / 96 POST SECONDARY AFSPA / 67, 68 Change of Address / 34 Langley School, The / 94 EDUCATION Clements International / 1 Foreign Service Youth Leysin American School in American Public University / 101 Hirshorn Company, The / 50 Foundation / 27 Switzerland / 79 Bard College at Simon’s Rock/ 102 Marketplace / 10 Liberty University Online Bryant University / 103 MISCELLANEOUS Academy / 99 St. Mary’s University / 104 AFSA Book Store / 7, 12 EDUCATION Marine Military Academy / 79 Walden University / 100 AFSA Scholarships / American School of Quito / 90 Massanutten Military Academy / 97 Inside Back Cover Benedictine School, The / 98 North Country School / 94

106 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2010 105-108_FSJ_1210_RE:ship 11/12/10 3:05 PM Page 107

REAL ESTATE

Leasing and Management of Exceptional properties in upper Northwest DC, Chevy Chase, Bethesda, Potomac, McLean and Great Falls

DECEMBER 2010/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 107 105-108_FSJ_1210_RE:ship 11/17/10 4:42 PM Page 108

REFLECTIONS

Working in a Multilateral Environment: A Different Feel

BY ROSEMARY MOTISI

orking as an Office Man- other person might be a new employee agement Specialist in a In every performance detailed to the World Health Organi- Wmultilateral setting, I am review I’ve had, the zation office a block away. reminded daily of why I joined the The unfamiliar face might also be- Foreign Service in 2005. I have always phrase “in this busy long to a new Foreign Service em- been keenly interested in foreign af- office” appears — but ployee attempting to navigate our fairs, and this position has afforded me maze of six floors, or one of the several a bird’s-eye view of the inner workings here in Geneva, that interns assigned here each year. Our of our own government, as well as is no exaggeration. local staff take care to get to know us, those of other nations. I am also privy  but the constantly changing cast of to our interactions with the United Na- characters must be a special challenge tions, as well as other important inter- for them. national organizations, many of which our Stateside group is not that familiar Being part of the U.S. Mission to are headquartered here in Geneva. with the negotiations, at least they have the United Nations in Geneva has The issues that are on the table here heard of the Obama administration’s broadened my worldview considerably. are large in scope and generally cov- nuclear nonproliferation efforts. I am a big proponent of win-win solu- ered widely by the press. Moreover, In just about every performance re- tions, but have found achieving them they are often of interest to our less- view I have had during my FS career, to be a much more knotty and hard- foreign-affairs-oriented friends and the phrase “in this busy office” appears. fought process in the multilateral family back in the United States — and Here in Geneva, that is no exaggera- world — mostly because there are so that has been one of the most mean- tion. Due to a staffing gap in the front many stakeholders. ingful parts of this experience for me office, I spent the first several months My appreciation for the sheer com- personally. answering the chargé d’affaires’ phone. plexity of our mission has likewise only Although I was interested in, and Although I did not keep track, I would increased. And it has been a huge ben- quite satisfied with, my work in both my guess that in my first two weeks here I efit for me to be able to share what we former posts — Conakry and Oslo — spoke to more ambassadors or their as- as a nation and a mission are doing here our mission in each was under the radar sistants than I had during my previous with my social network back home. from the perspective of our family and four years in the Foreign Service. The Serving in a multilateral environ- friends in Colorado. For instance, while inquiries were constant, and the re- ment definitely has a different feel to we were posted in Conakry, civil “dis- quests for appointments with, and in- it — one I heartily recommend. ■ turbances” verging on riots rocked vitations to, the chargé were nonstop. Guinea, but the all-consuming news at The visitors we host run the gamut. Rosemary Motisi currently serves as the time in the typical mainstream A stranger you meet in the hallway the Management Section Office Man- American media concerned the tragic might be a high-level guest hosted by agement Specialist at the United death of a celebrity blonde in a foreign one of the four entities housed here in States Mission to the United Nations island paradise. Geneva. On any given day you might in Geneva. Her husband, Dan Mal- How much nicer to be able to share share the elevator or be in the cafete- one, serves there as an Information with them that we are witnesses to the ria line with a U.S. ambassador here Management Specialist. They have New START Treaty process! Even if overseeing a large delegation. Or the also served in Conakry and Oslo.

108 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/DECEMBER 2010 1 C-C 4_FSJ_1210_COV:proof 11/12/10 2:53 PM Page c3 1 C-C 4_FSJ_1210_COV:proof 11/12/10 2:53 PM Page c4