DOCSLIB.ORG

POST of the MONTH a Group of Students Practice Using Cameras in Preparing Their Personal Documentaries

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
POST of the MONTH a Group of Students Practice Using Cameras in Preparing Their Personal Documentaries U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE StateStateSEPTEMBER 2004 MAGAZINE LUANDA POST OF THE MONTH A group of students practice using cameras in preparing their personal documentaries. IN OUR NEXT ISSUE: Looking through the lens of Romania’s HIV-positive teens State Magazine (ISSN 1099–4165) is published monthly, except bimonthly in July and August, by the U.S. Department of State, 2201 C St., N.W., Washington, DC. Periodicals postage State paid at Washington, D.C., and at additional mailing locations. MAGAZINE Send changes of address to State Magazine,HR/ER/SMG, SA-1, Paul Koscak Room H-236, Washington, DC 20522-0108. You may also ACTING EDITOR-IN-CHIEF e-mail address changes to [email protected]. Dave Krecke State Magazine is published to facilitate communication WRITER/EDITOR between management and employees at home and abroad and Bill Palmer to acquaint employees with developments that may affect WRITER/EDITOR operations or personnel. The magazine is also available to per- David L. Johnston sons interested in working for the Department of State and to ART DIRECTOR the general public. Lauren Bayton INTERN State Magazine is available by subscription through the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS Office, Washington, DC 20402 (telephone [202] 512-1800) or Sylvia Bazala on the web at http://bookstore.gpo.gov. CHAIR For details on submitting articles to State Magazine,request Jo Ellen Powell our guidelines, “Getting Your Story Told,” by e-mail at EXECUTIVE SECRETARY [email protected]; download them from our web site at Kelly Clements www.state.gov;or send your request in writing to State Tom Gallo Magazine, HR/ER/SMG, SA-1, Room H-236, Washington, DC Pam Holliday 20522-0108. The magazine’s phone number is (202) 663-1700. Joe Johnson Deadlines: Sept. 15 for November issue. Tom Krajeski Oct. 15 for December issue. PHOTOGRAPHS: (ABOVE): KARA McDONALD; (OPPOSITE PAGE): PAUL KOSCAK PAUL PHOTOGRAPHS: (ABOVE): KARA McDONALD; (OPPOSITE PAGE): CONTENTS SEPTEMBER 2004 14 TO INSPECT AND SERVE Management Officer Kurt Luertzing, left, and Facilities Manager Scott Willard, right, show inspectors Janet Wilgus and Timothy Wildy some renovated buildings. NUMBER 482 8 POST OF THE MONTH: LUANDA 2 From the Secretary A war-torn nation begins to build a promising future. 3 Letters to the Editor 14 OFFICE OF THE MONTH: OIG The inspectors get a close inspection. 4 In the News 18 EMBASSY TEAM HELPS RESCUE HUNTERS Snowmobiles help response team rescue helicopter crash survivors. 7 Direct from the D.G. 20 LIKE DAUGHTER, LIKE MOTHER 32 Medical Report A daughter inspires her mom to join the Foreign Service. 34 People Like You 22 LANGUAGE IMMERSION ENRICHES ASSIGNMENT New arrivals learn language and culture in historic Zanzibar. 35 Appointments 24 MILITARY COLLEGES PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES At this school, security is the priority subject. 37 Personnel Actions 26 SECURITY FOR SOFT TARGETS 38 Obituaries Prudent moves make our overseas communities safe. 28 WOMEN WAGING PEACE Palestinian and Israeli women search for a role in the peace process. ON THE COVER A young Angolan woman looks out the 30 OVERSEAS CHILDREN SEE EMBASSIES IN ACTION window at a beach near the capital city of Posts celebrate Take Your Child to Work Day. Luanda. Photo by Christopher Dell. FROM THE SECRETARY SECRETARY COLIN L. POWELL Diplomacy in a Democratic Age As autumn arrives, we store away free peoples empathize with each other and with those our summer paraphernalia and fond who yearn to be free. In short, the spread of freedom has memories of vacations and rededi- broadened the awareness that we all live within a global cate ourselves to work. At such human community. moments it’s good to take stock of The policy implications of that awareness are manifest. the broader context of our diplomat- Decades ago communicable diseases were not seen as ic labors. When I do that, what threats to international stability. Failing states in remote strikes me is how much that context has changed in only regions were not thought capable of constituting core a few decades. threats to international security. The repression of It’s not the end of the Cold War to which I refer, but women and minorities within state borders or trafficking more what the end of the Cold War has enabled. We now in persons across those borders, were considered margin- live in an era in which human capital, social trust and al issues when more traditional politico-military threats institutional capacity define national success far more faced us, nuclear arsenals and all. than the sinews of heavy industries and iron-bound war Today we grasp the relationship between repression, machines. We shouldn’t exaggerate change. Contrary to bad governance and the violent reactions they invariably what some claim, military power and economic wealth provoke. We understand better the connection between still count and state sovereignty is not obsolete. But the justice and freedom to the one side, peace and prosperi- entire context of world affairs is shifting and Americans, ty to the other. We see that global security cannot be sep- more than most, should see why. It’s because freedom arated from global ethics, from what President Bush has and democracy are on the rise, on a global scale. called the non-negotiable demands of human dignity. When people gain a real stake in their own societies No nation can truly be safe, or rest content, when tens they begin to care deeply about the political arrange- of millions of people fear the next sunset. So with the ments that affect them. Stakeholder democracy is the President’s leadership we have devised the most generous dominant political trend in the world today, and that is and creative development policies since the Marshall what defines the contemporary formula for national Plan. We lead the global fight against HIV/AIDs. We fight power. The undeniable truth is that democracy enables a against trafficking in persons. We assemble coalitions to society to mobilize its productive assets as no other form stop collapsing governments in Liberia and in Haiti from of government can. wrecking widespread havoc. None of these efforts quali- As physical boundaries become more porous with the fies as a traditional great power’s vital interest. But they spread of the information revolution, the dynamism of are vital to both international security and to American democracy is flowing across boundaries of all kinds like interests in an increasingly democratized diplomatic never before. As it does, political leaders find that they environment. can no longer deal with each other in isolation from the Although our lives as diplomats have become more societies they serve and apart from the principles their complicated, these are complications to be welcomed. people hold dear. People power in a hundred forms, in a Free nations don’t harbor or support mass murderers thousand combinations, is changing the character of and terrorists. Free nations don’t produce concentration international politics. camps, gulags and mass graves for their citizens. This new environment raises new demands on diplo- Democratic publics, their military establishments bound macy. More issues crowd our agendas. Democratic to society under the rule of law, don’t yearn for war. publics, for example, won’t tolerate in silence massive Indeed, the new demands of our age are far overshad- violations of human rights, even those taking place far owed by the benefits that the trend toward freedom and away, in places like Darfur. democracy offers us. Despite the inherent difficulties of But the new demands on diplomacy are arising not an age of rapid and profound change, our glass is more just because citizens are more aware of wrongs to be than half full. Now that summer is over, let us renew our righted, and not just because the threats of terrorism and determination to make all cups overflow with peace, pandemic disease are so obviously transnational. These prosperity, and the true fulfillment of the human spirit. demands stem more fundamentally from the fact that Let us make the most of the opportunities before us. ■ 2 STATE MAGAZINE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Response to Baghdad obtained the information about Diary Letters this, but John Arbogast, the pro- We received many letters about the gram’s coordinator, would have told Baghdad Diary article in the July- you that the tutors come from all August issue of State Magazine. This over the Department. article does not reflect the views of the Department of State. Publication of Michelle Wood those remarks was an error of judg- Information Technology Specialist ment. We profoundly regret any offense that the article may have Getting the Area Right caused and reaffirm our commitment While I enjoyed reading the post Domenick DiPasquale to furthering gender equality in the of the month article on Athens in Retired FSO workplace and opposing sexism in the July-August issue, there is one Reston, VA any form.—The Editor mistake that needs correcting. You list the land mass of Greece at “over Many thanks for the lesson in con- Nice job....but 81,900 square miles,” whereas the version of square kilometers to square I just finished the superb article correct size is in fact 50,942 square miles. We’ll try not to make that error in the June issue on the students miles. I suspect you used the again.—The Editor who were ambassadors for a day. wrong metric conversion factor to The article was very informative but convert the 131,940 square kilome- it was inaccurate in one important ters listed in the CIA World Correction respect. It stated that the only peo- Factbook as the size of Greece.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Congressional Record—Senate S1432
    S1432 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE February 25, 2019 a second staff person to accompany him or letter signed by 58 former national se- nancial Intelligence from 2011 to 2015 and as her on the dais he or she must make a re- curity officials, who served under Re- Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence quest to the Chairman for that purpose. publican and Democratic administra- Agency from 2015 to 2017. RULE 8. COINAGE LEGISLATION l. Eliot A. Cohen served as Counselor of the tions, criticizing President Trump’s U.S. Department of State from 2007 to 2009. At least 67 Senators must cosponsor any declaration of a national emergency to m. Ryan Crocker served as U.S. Ambas- gold medal or commemorative coin bill or build a wall on our southern border be sador to Afghanistan from 2011 to 2012, as resolution before consideration by the Com- printed in the RECORD. U.S. Ambassador to Iraq from 2007 to 2009, as mittee. There being no objection, the mate- U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan from 2004 to EXTRACTS FROM THE STANDING RULES OF THE rial was ordered to be printed in the 2007, as U.S. Ambassador to Syria from 1998 SENATE RECORD, as follows: to 2001, as U.S. Ambassador to Kuwait from RULE XXV, STANDING COMMITTEES 1994 to 1997, and U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon JOINT DECLARATION OF FORMER UNITED from 1990 to 1993. 1. The following standing committees shall STATES GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS be appointed at the commencement of each n. Thomas Donilon served as National Se- We, the undersigned, declare as follows.
    [Show full text]
  • Supplemental Statement Washington, DC 20530 Pursuant to the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, As Amended
    Received by NSD/FARA Registration Unit 05/11 /2018 4:10:50 PM OMB No 1124-0002; Expires May 31,2020 ' I.S. Department of Justice Supplemental Statement Washington, DC 20530 Pursuant to the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended For Six Month Period Ending 3/31/18 (Insert date) I-REGISTRANT 1. (a) Name of Registrant (b) Registration No. The Livingston Group, LLC #6344 (c) Business Address(es) of Registrant 499 S. Capitol Street, SW, Suite 600 Washington, DC 20003 2. Has there been a change in the information previously furnished in connection with the following? (a) If an individual: (1) Residence address(es) Yes □ No □ (2) Citizenship Yes □ No □ (3) Occupation Yes □ No □ (b) If an organization: (1) Name Yes Q No H (2) Ownership or control Yes Q No 0 (3) Branch offices Yes □ No 0 (c) Explain fully all changes, if any, indicated in Items (a) and (b) above. IF THE REGISTRANT IS AN INDIVIDUAL, OMIT RESPONSE TO ITEMS 3,4, AND 5(a), 3. If you have previously filed Exhibit C*1, state whether any changes therein have occurred during this 6 month reporting period. Yes □ No S If yes, have you filed an amendment to the Exhibit C? Yes □ No □ If no, please attach the required amendment. 1 The Exhibit C, for which no printed form is provided, consists of a true'copy of the charter, articles of incorporation, association, and by laws of a registrant that is an organization. (A waiver of the requirement to file an Exhibit C may be obtained for good cause upon written application to the Assistant Attorney General, National Security Division, US.
    [Show full text]
  • Johnnie Carson
    1 Statement of Ambassador Johnnie Carson Assistant Secretary of State Bureau of African Affairs Senate Foreign Relations Committee June 28, 2012 "Economic Statecraft: Embracing Africa’s Market Potential" Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee: Thank you for providing me with the opportunity to address the committee on what I feel is an important and timely topic. The U.S. government is committed to expanding trade and investment in sub-Saharan Africa and the numbers show our commitment. U.S. trade to and from Africa has grown significantly in the past ten years. U.S. exports to sub-Saharan Africa tripled from just under $7 billion U.S. dollars in 2001 to over $21 billion dollars in 2011. As Secretary of State Clinton said at the annual AGOA Forum two weeks ago: “twelve years ago, the United States passed the Africa Growth and Opportunity act because we believed that the countries of Africa had tremendous untapped economic potential that could and should be developed. We shared a vision with many of you of a future in which economic growth in Africa would fuel growth and prosperity worldwide…trade and investment would multiply…and 2 people across the continent would have new opportunities to start their own businesses, earn higher salaries, improve their lives, and lift the fortunes of their families and communities.” In large part, this vision is becoming reality. It is my firm belief that Africa represents the next global economic frontier. Sub-Saharan Africa continues to weather the global economic crisis more successfully than other regions, and is home to six – and soon to be seven – of the ten fastest growing economies in the world.
    [Show full text]
  • DEPARTMENT of STATE 2201 C Street NW., Washington, DC 20520 Phone, 202–647–4000
    DEPARTMENT OF STATE 2201 C Street NW., Washington, DC 20520 Phone, 202±647±4000. Internet, http://www.state.gov/. SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE K. ALBRIGHT Chief of Staff ELAINE K. SHOCAS Executive Assistant ALEJANDRO D. WOLFF Special Assistant to the Secretary and KRISTIE A. KENNEY Executive Secretary of the Department Deputy Assistant Secretary for Equal DEIDRE A. DAVIS Employment Opportunity and Civil Rights Chief of Protocol MARY MEL FRENCH Chairman, Foreign Service Grievance Board THOMAS J. DILAURO Civil Service Ombudsman TED A. BOREK Deputy Secretary of State STROBE TALBOTT Under Secretary for Political Affairs THOMAS R. PICKERING Under Secretary for Economic, Business, and STUART E. EIZENSTAT Agricultural Affairs Under Secretary for Arms Control and JOHN D. HOLUM, Acting International Security Under Secretary for Management BONNIE R. COHEN Under Secretary for Global Affairs FRANK E. LOY Counselor of the Department of State WENDY SHERMAN Assistant Secretary for Administration PATRICK F. KENNEDY Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs MARY A. RYAN Assistant Secretary for Diplomatic Security DAVID G. CARPENTER and Director of the Office of Foreign Missions Chief Financial Officer BERT T. EDWARDS Chief Information Officer and Director of the FERNANDO BURBANO Bureau of Information Resource Management Director General of the Foreign Service and EDWARD W. GNEHM, JR. Director of Personnel Medical Director, Department of State and CEDRIC E. DUMONT the Foreign Service Executive Secretary, Board of the Foreign TED PLOSSER Service Director of the Foreign Service Institute RUTH A. DAVIS Assistant Secretary for Population, Refugee, JULIA V. TAFT and Migration Affairs Inspector General JACQUELYN L. WILLIAMS-BRIDGERS Director, Policy Planning Staff MORTON H.
    [Show full text]
  • Joint Declaration of Former United States Government Officials
    JOINT DECLARATION OF FORMER UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS We, the undersigned, declare as follows: 1. We are former officials in the U.S. government who have worked on national security and homeland security issues from the White House as well as agencies across the Executive Branch. We have served in senior leadership roles in administrations of both major political parties, and collectively we have devoted a great many decades to protecting the security interests of the United States. We have held the highest security clearances, and we have participated in the highest levels of policy deliberations on a broad range of issues. These include: immigration, border security, counterterrorism, military operations, and our nation’s relationship with other countries, including those south of our border. a. Madeleine K. Albright served as Secretary of State from 1997 to 2001. A refugee and naturalized American citizen, she served as U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations from 1993 to 1997. She has also been a member of the Central Intelligence Agency External Advisory Board since 2009 and of the Defense Policy Board since 2011, in which capacities she has received assessments of threats facing the United States. b. Jeremy B. Bash served as Chief of Staff of the U.S. Department of Defense from 2011 to 2013, and as Chief of Staff of the Central Intelligence Agency from 2009 to 2011. c. John B. Bellinger III served as the Legal Adviser to the U.S. Department of State from 2005 to 2009. He previously served as Senior Associate Counsel to the President and Legal Adviser to the National Security Council from 2001 to 2005.
    [Show full text]
  • Telephone Directory
    United States Department of State Telephone Directory This customized report includes the following section(s): Key Officers List (UNCLASSIFIED) 4/1/2008 Provided by The Office of Global Publishing Solutions, A/ISS/GPS Cover UNCLASSIFIED Key Officers of Foreign Service Posts Afghanistan CLO Michelle Olson DAO Brian Moore FMO Robert Gresbrink KABUL (E) Great Massoud Road, APO/FPO APO AE 09806, (VoIP, IMO Randal Meyers US-based) 301-490-1042, Fax No working Fax, INMARSAT Tel 011- IRS Kathy Beck (Resident In Paris) 873-761-837-725, Workweek: Saturday - Thursday 0800-1630, Website: kabul.usembassy.gov ISSO Paul Berry Officer Name DCM OMS Debbie Ash Algeria AMB OMS (Vacant) DHS/ICE Renander, Sonya ECO Fritz Maerkle ALGIERS (E) 5, Chemin Cheikh Bachir Ibrahimi, +213 (770) 08- FM Stephen Tuntland 2000, Fax +213 (21) 60-7335, Workweek: Sat-Wed 08:00-17:00, Website: http://algiers.usembassy.gov HRO Anne Louise Hanson Officer Name MGT John Olson AMB William B. Wood DCM OMS Lina Mendez CON Mai-Thao Nguyenn AMB OMS Lina Mendez DCM Christopher Dell ECO/COM Jeffrey W. Mazur PAO Tom Niblock FM Winston I. Noel GSO Valeria Kayatin MGT Kristi D. Hogan-Lahmar RSO Bruce Mills POL/ECO Mark A. Schapiro AFSA C. John Long AMB Robert S Ford AID Robin Phillips CON Joshua Fischel CLO Monica Ewing DCM Thomas F. Daughton DAO COL Thomas Sweeney PAO Rafik K. Mansour DEA Vince Balbo COM Thomas F. Daughton EEO Tara Bell GSO Ann F. Granatino FAA Chuck Friesenhahn RSO Julie S. Cabus FMO Trent Dabney CLO Mikiko Fischel ICASS Chair Kirk Meyer DAO COL Steven R.
    [Show full text]
  • Telephone Directory
    United States Department of State Telephone Directory This customized report includes the following section(s): Organizational Directory 5/2/2011 Provided by The Office of Global Publishing Solutions, A/ISS/GPS Cover UNCLASSIFIED Organizational Directory United States Department of State 2201 C Street NW, Washington, DC 20520 Office of the Secretary (S) Editor Editor 7516 202-647-1512 The Watch 7516 202-647-1512 Secretary Crisis Management Staff 7516 202-647-7640 Secretary Hillary Clinton 7th Floor 202-647-5291 Emergency and Evacuations Planning 7516 202-647-7640 Office Manager Claire Coleman 7226 202-647-7098 Emergency Relocation 7516 202-647-7640 Counselor and Chief of Staff Cheryl Mills 7226 202-647-5548 Military Representative Lt. Col. Paul Matier 7516 202-647-6097 Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations Huma Abedin 202-647-9572 7226 Office of the Executive Director (S/ES-EX) Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Jacob Sullivan 7226 202-647-9572 Scheduling Lona Valmoro 7226 202-647-9071 Executive Director, Deputy Executive Secretary 202-647-7457 Lewis A. Lukens 7507 Scheduling Linda Dewan 7226 202-647-5733 Deputy Executive Director Mark R. Brandt 7507 202-647-5467 Executive Assistant Joseph Macmanus 7226 202-647-9572 Personnel Officer Cynthia J. Motley 7515 202-647-5638 Special Assistant Laura Lucas 7226 202-647-9573 Budget Officer Reginald J. Green 7515 202-647-9794 Special Assistant Timmy T. Davis 7226 202-647-6822 General Services Officer Dwayne Cline 7519 202-647-9221 Staff Assistant Lauren Jiloty 7226 202-647-5298 Staff Assistant Daniel Fogarty 7226 202-647-9572 Ombudsman for Civil Service Employees (S/CSO) Executive Secretariat (S/ES) Ombudsman Shireen Dodson 7428 202-647-9387 Special Assistant to the Secretary and the Executive 202-647-5301 Secretary of the Department Stephen D.
    [Show full text]
  • Congressional Record United States Th of America PROCEEDINGS and DEBATES of the 110 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION
    E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 110 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION Vol. 153 WASHINGTON, TUESDAY, APRIL 17, 2007 No. 61 House of Representatives The House met at 10:30 a.m. and was have considered three mammoth and On this day that millions of Ameri- called to order by the Speaker pro tem- expensive tax bills in 2001, 2003 and 2004 cans are filing their tax returns and 4 pore (Mr. HOLDEN). that refused to address the alternative million are paying the mutated, unfair f minimum tax inequity. They have alternative minimum tax, it is time to made few modest additions with broad have that critical national debate on DESIGNATION OF SPEAKER PRO benefit like the 10-percent bracket but taxes in honest terms: TEMPORE showered their real attention, their af- Should we tax people who work at The SPEAKER pro tempore laid be- fection, and huge sums of money on jobs more than people whose money fore the House the following commu- those who need help the least. In the works for them? nication from the Speaker: process, the $5.6 trillion surplus inher- Do we care about reducing the ability WASHINGTON, DC, April 17, 2007. ited by this administration has evapo- of some very privileged people to es- I hereby appoint the Honorable TIM rated, to be replaced by $2 trillion more cape taxation? HOLDEN to act as Speaker pro tempore on in additional national debt. What is our priority for tax reform? this day.
    [Show full text]
  • Key Officers at Foreign Service Posts
    United States Department of State Telephone Directory This customized report includes the following section(s): Key Officers List (UNCLASSIFIED) 8/12/2008 Provided by The Office of Global Publishing Solutions, A/ISS/GPS Cover UNCLASSIFIED Key Officers of Foreign Service Posts Afghanistan ISSO Gary Harral KABUL (E) Great Massoud Road, APO/FPO APO AE 09806, (VoIP, Algeria US-based) 301-490-1042, Fax No working Fax, INMARSAT Tel 011- 873-761-837-725, Workweek: Saturday - Thursday 0800-1630, Website: kabul.usembassy.gov ALGIERS (E) 5, Chemin Cheikh Bachir Ibrahimi, +213 (770) 08- Officer Name 2000, Fax +213 (21) 60-7335, Workweek: Sat-Wed 08:00-17:00, Website: http://algiers.usembassy.gov DCM OMS Debbie Ash Officer Name AMB OMS Linda Landers DHS/ICE Sonya Renander DCM OMS Lina Mendez FM Stephen Tuntland AMB OMS Lina Mendez HRO Anne Louise Hanson ECO/COM Jeffrey W. Mazur MGT John Olson FCS Rick Ortiz AMB William B. Wood FM Winston I. Noel CON Mai-Thao Nguyenn MGT Kristi Hogan-Lahmar DCM Christopher Dell POL/ECO Mark A. Schapiro PAO Tom Niblock AMB Robert S Ford GSO Valeria Kayatin CON Joshua Fischel RSO Bruce Mills DCM Thomas F. Daughton AID Michael Yates PAO Rafik K. Mansour DAO COL Richard B. White GSO Ann F. Granatino DEA Vince Balbo RSO Julie S. Cabus EEO Gloria Shields AFSA Jennifer McAlpine FAA David Boulter AGR Michael Fay FMO Simpson, Rick CLO Mikiko Fischel ICASS Chair Kirk Meyer DAO COL Steven R. Drago IMO David Rowles EEO Rafik Mansour ISO Matt Michaud ICASS Chair Mark A. Schapiro ISSO Matt Michaud IMO Linda L Safta POL Sara Rosenberry ISSO Duane M.
    [Show full text]
  • Understanding US Policy in Somalia Current Challenges and Future Options Contents
    Research Paper Paul D. Williams Africa Programme | July 2020 Understanding US Policy in Somalia Current Challenges and Future Options Contents Summary 2 1 Introduction 3 2 What Is the US Mission in Somalia? 7 3 How Is the US Implementing Its Mission in Somalia? 10 4 Is US Policy Working in Somalia? 15 5 What Future for US Engagement in Somalia? 21 About the Author 24 Acknowledgments 24 1 | Chatham House Understanding US Policy in Somalia Summary • The US has real but limited national security interests in stabilizing Somalia. Since 2006, Washington’s principal focus with regard to Somalia has been on reducing the threat posed by al-Shabaab, an Al-Qaeda-affiliated Islamist insurgent group seeking to overthrow the federal government. • Successive US administrations have used military and political means to achieve this objective. Militarily, the US has provided training, equipment and funds to an African Union operation, lent bilateral support to Somalia’s neighbours, helped build elements of the reconstituted Somali National Army (SNA), and conducted military operations, most frequently in the form of airstrikes. Politically, Washington has tried to enable the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) to provide its own security, while implementing diplomatic, humanitarian and development efforts in parallel. • Most US resources have gone into its military efforts, but these have delivered only operational and tactical successes without altering the strategic terrain. The war against al-Shabaab has become a war of attrition. Effectively at a stalemate since at least 2016, neither side is likely to achieve a decisive military victory. • Instead of intensifying airstrikes or simply disengaging, the US will need to put its diplomatic weight into securing two linked negotiated settlements in Somalia.
    [Show full text]
  • Occasional Paper Series from Moi to Kibaki: an Assessment of The
    AFRICAPROGRAM occasional paper series From Moi to Kibaki:An Assessment of the Kenyan Transition No.1 Ambassador Johnnie Carson September 11,2003 Senior Vice President, National Defense University An Introduction from Howard Wolpe: embraced and brought into America’s inner circle As the new Director of the Woodrow Wilson of new African partners. International Center's Africa Program, I am pleased to Despite our sometimes tepid approach toward present the first of a series of “occasional papers” of inter- the government in Nairobi over the last 15 years, est to those concerned with Africa, and with American and our correct criticism of the government’s policy toward Africa. “From Moi to Kibaki: An human rights record, Kenya has been our most sta- Assessment of the Kenyan Transition” provides a ble and reliable partner in the Greater Horn of remarkably clear and incisive analysis by one of the U.S. Africa. More importantly,it has served as a regional Foreign Service's most distinguished Africa specialists.We platform for advancing important U.S. bilateral and felt that Ambassador Johnnie Carson's public lecture multilateral interests. deserved a wider audience, and was an ideal vehicle for Without the use of Kenya’s airports and harbor the first of our series of occasional papers. in Mombasa, the United States would not have been able to provide famine relief to drought rav- ished Somalia between 1988 and 1993 nor massive In my opinion Kenya is the most important coun- emergency and humanitarian assistance to hundreds try in East Africa. However, over much of the last of thousands of Hutu refugees in the eastern Congo decade and a half, Nairobi has not received a great and western Tanzania after the Rwandan genocide deal of serious or sustained attention from senior of 1994.
    [Show full text]
  • 9 Zimbabwe: an African Tragedy
    ZIMBABWE: AN 9 AFRICAN TRAGEDY By Kurt Bassuener, 2008; revised and updated 2010 and 2013; researched by Britt Lake and Taya Weiss, 2007-2008 ota Bene: At the time of publication, Zimbabwe had just completed a general N election. The offcial results gave President Robert Mugabe and his ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) a resounding victory over the opposition MDC, led by Morgan Tsvangirai, in both presidential and parliamentary elections. The results were immediately contested by the MDC, which charged systematic electoral manipulation. Independent domestic observers pointed to irregularities which may have disenfranchised up to a million predominantly urban voters. Democratic governments in the West, but also in Africa, Botswana in particular, cited serious misgivings with the electoral process. There are signs that the country, after a few years of relative peace, might return to violence. It remains unclear what the legal contest of the results and potential unrest will mean for the economic gains and tentative print media freedom which returned under the unity government. The country is likely to remain a continuing crisis point for the world’s democracies, which will need to decide how to calibrate their polices to best assist Zimbabweans back into the democratic fold. INTRODUCTION Zimbabwe’s precipitous decline from peaceful breadbasket to malnourished autocracy has become one of Africa’s most notorious stories of post-colonial state failure. The situation was not always grim; far from it. Upon transition from white- ruled Rhodesia in 1979, the country’s future appeared bright. With plentiful natural resources, a booming agricultural sector, a strong pool of educated human capital and solid government administration, Zimbabwe appeared destined for success.
    [Show full text]