Parsing the Iran Policy Puzzle Stewards of a Vital Institution
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PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION OCTOBER 2017 PARSING THE IRAN POLICY PUZZLE STEWARDS OF A VITAL INSTITUTION FOREIGN SERVICE October 2017 Volume 94, No. 8 Focus on Dealing with Iran 20 20 38 Iran Inside and Out Iran in 2025: 44 This in-depth look at Iran An Optimist’s View provides context and perspective Iran offers a potential path to progress for understanding the controversial in dealing with a volatile Middle East Feature nuclear deal. and the threats emanating from there. By Gary Sick By Dave Schroeder 44 Love in Tiflis, 28 41 Death in Tehran: What the Iran Nuclear From the FSJ Archives: The Tragedy of Deal Says about Making The World of 1953 Alexander Sergeyevich Foreign Policy Today and Iran Griboyedov Doing foreign policy has The United States is a relative This story of power politics, rarely been easy, but several new late-comer to the politics of the warfare and diplomacy in realities contribute to making Middle East, much of which derives 19th-century Iran and the it especially difficult. from European colonialism, Caucasus is a rich slice of history. By Dennis Jett as this retrospective on Iran It is also a cautionary tale that from 1980—already more than transcends its time and place. three decades past—shows. By John Limbert 32 By Roy M. Melbourne Norman Borlaug and Biotechnology Lead a U.S. Ambassador to Iran In this unusual example of the value of soft power, the often-divisive issue of biotechnology enabled the United States and Iran to find common ground. By Kenneth Quinn 41 THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | OCTOBER 2017 5 FOREIGN SERVICE Perspectives 71 Departments Reflections Mercy Is Its Own Reward 7 By Andrea Kormann Lowe 10 Talking Points President’s Views Stewards of a Vital Institution 61 Books By Barbara Stephenson 9 Letter from the Editor Marketplace The Iran Policy Puzzle By Shawn Dorman 65 Classifieds 67 Index to Advertisers 16 Speaking Out 68 Real Estate Decision-Making in 74 Times of Uncertainty Local Lens By Charles Ray Antalya, Turkey By Jen Dinoia AFSA NEWS THE OFFICIAL RECORD OF THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION 49 AFSA Hosts “Redesign” Event 51 USAID VP Voice—USAID’s 50 State VP Voice—Getting the Job Done AFSA Standing Committee (During Chaotic Times) 51 Short-Term Telework on Medevac 51 Harassment in Cuba 52 Where We Stand—The Foreign Service Act, Our “Constitution” 53 A Tense and Thrilling Read: Enemy of the Good 53 AFSA Welcomes New Foreign Service Officers 54 Reaching Out Across the United States 56 GB Members Spell Out Priorities at Retreat 57 AFSA Governing Board Meeting Notes, Aug. 16 57 AFSA Welcomes Pickering and Rangel Fellows 58 Retiree Corner 53 59 AFSA Hails New Staff 60 FSJ Wins Two Silvers at AMP On the Cover: A mosaic of ceramic tiles on the domed ceiling of the pavilion erected over the tomb of Hafez (1315-1390), the beloved Persian poet, in Shiraz, Iran. Photo: DYNAMOSQUITO [CC BY-SA 2.0]/FLICKR. Below, British paratroopers in Hamminkeln, Germany, on March 25, 1945, during Operation Varsity. Credit: IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUMS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM/EN.WIKIPEDIA. 6 OCTOBER 2017 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL PRESIDENT’S VIEWS Stewards of a Vital Institution BY BARBARA STEPHENSON acknowledged in a recent message to We are stakeholders, not mere employees. you that the Foreign Service has hit a rough patch. I find that when I am faced We are the stewards of this great institution. Iwith a rough patch, one of the best ways to get my compass set on true north again the Foreign Service is to help formulate entrusted with an understanding of who so I can navigate through it is to review foreign policy, not merely implement it. It we are. Mentor them to master the art of any foundational documents that might reminds me that we are stakeholders, not providing leadership in policy formulation give me guidance on first principles. mere employees. We are the stewards of so that the core capability of our institu- So it is that, not for the first time, I use this great institution. tion is passed on to the next generation. this column to remind you of who we As a mentor of FSI leadership classes Former Senior FSO Julie Nutter, now are—by quoting Section 101 of the Foreign during the last administration, I heard director of professional policy issues at Service Act of 1980, our foundational well-founded concerns about the pro- AFSA, dedicates her first column to “The legislation. liferation of political appointees and the Foreign Service Act—Our Constitution.” I “The Congress finds that—(1) a career explosion in the size of the National Secu- encourage each of you to read the column Foreign Service, characterized by excel- rity Council. I responded every time by and to read at least the first section of lence and professionalism, is essential in urging members to own their portfolios, the Act itself as a refresher about the the national interest to assist the President lean in, and contribute their best effort fundamentals of our Service and Con- and the Secretary of State in conducting and deep expertise to developing policy gress’ intent in creating a “career Foreign the Foreign Affairs of the United States; … proposals. Service, characterized by excellence and “The objective of this Act is to My consistent advice: Don’t just wait professionalism.” strengthen and improve the Foreign Ser- to receive a tasking; pull your interagency I have always found strength and cour- vice of the United States by— … colleagues together to develop policy age in former Secretary Colin Powell’s “(4) establishing a statutory basis proposals that reinforce America’s global admonition (quoting the late Rear Admi- for participation by the members of the leadership role and make us more secure ral Grace Hopper), that “It is better to ask Foreign Service, through their elected and prosperous at home. for forgiveness than to ask for permission.” representative [AFSA], in the formulation I repeat that advice now. With both the I take this opportunity to point out of personnel policies and procedures;. … size of the NSC and the number of politi- that you do have permission. Secretary “(7) establishing a Senior Foreign Ser- cal appointees now dramatically smaller, Tillerson, upon arrival at the State Depart- vice which is characterized by strong pol- space and time have opened back up for ment Feb. 2, referring to a motto of the icy formulation capabilities, outstanding the career Foreign Service to play the lead- serial Super Bowl champion New England executive leader- ership role in policy formulation intended Patriots, said: “Do your job!” ship qualities and by Congress. I ask you to double down on We owe the American people our best highly developed efforts to do that in your own portfolio. effort to make America safe, secure and functional, foreign For the many of you who supervise prosperous. I don’t need to be a football language and area others, I have a second request. I ask that player to see that the Foreign Service has expertise.” you honor your role as stewards of this what it takes to deliver one diplomatic The Act reminds great institution by instilling in those win after another—even when we find me that the role of whose professional development you are ourselves in a rough patch. n Ambassador Barbara Stephenson is the president of the American Foreign Service Association. THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | OCTOBER 2017 7 FOREIGN SERVICE Editor in Chief, Director of Publications Shawn Dorman: [email protected] www.afsa.org Managing Editor Susan Brady Maitra: [email protected] Associate Editor CONTACTS Gemma Dvorak: [email protected] AFSA Headquarters: BUSINESS DEPARTMENT Publications Coordinator (202) 338-4045; Fax (202) 338-6820 Director of Finance Dmitry Filipoff: [email protected] State Department AFSA Office: Femi Oshobukola: [email protected] (202) 647-8160; Fax (202) 647-0265 Controller Ad & Circulation Manager USAID AFSA Office: Kalpna Srimal: [email protected] Ed Miltenberger: [email protected] (202) 712-1941; Fax (202) 216-3710 Assistant Controller Art Director FCS AFSA Office: Cory Nishi: [email protected] Caryn Suko Smith (202) 482-9088; Fax (202) 482-9087 Advertising Intern LABOR MANAGEMENT GOVERNING BOARD Windy Tay: [email protected] General Counsel President Sharon Papp: [email protected] Editorial Board Hon. Barbara Stephenson: Deputy General Counsel Eric Green, Chair [email protected] Raeka Safai: [email protected] James (Jim) Bever Secretary Senior Staff Attorneys Angela Bond Hon. Tom Boyatt: [email protected] Neera Parikh: [email protected] M. Allyn Brooks-LaSure Treasurer Lawrence Casselle Zlatana Badrich: [email protected] Hon. Earl Anthony ‘Tony’ Wayne: Shawn Kobb Labor Management Counselor [email protected] Suzanne McGuire Colleen Fallon-Lenaghan: John G. Rendeiro Jr. State Vice President [email protected] Priyadarshi “Pri” Sen Ken Kero-Mentz: [email protected] Grievance Counselor Dinah Zeltser-Winant USAID Vice President Jason Snyder: [email protected] Ann Posner: [email protected] Senior Labor Management Advisor FCS Vice President James Yorke: [email protected] THE MAGAZINE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS Daniel Crocker: [email protected] Labor Management Advisor PROFESSIONALS FAS Vice President The Foreign Service Journal (ISSN 0146-3543), Patrick Bradley: [email protected] 2101 E Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20037-2990 is Kimberly Svec Sawatzki: [email protected] Executive Assistant Retiree Vice President published monthly, with combined January-February Jaya Duvvuri: [email protected] and July-August issues, by the American Foreign Service John K. Naland: [email protected] USAID Staff Assistant Association (AFSA), a private, nonprofit organization. State Representatives Material appearing herein represents the opinions of the Christine Rose: [email protected] writers and does not necessarily represent the views of Lawrence Casselle the Journal, the Editorial Board or AFSA.