TIPS FOR POLADS I LIFE AFTER THE FS I LETTER FROM HAVANA $3.50 / OCTOBER 2008 OREIGN ERVICE FJ O U R N A L S THE MAGAZINE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS PROFESSIONALS A COMMON MISSION The Peace Corps and the Foreign Service OREIGN ERVICE FJ O U R N A L S CONTENTS October 2008 Volume 85, No. 10 F OCUS ON The Peace Corps THE PEACE CORPS AT MIDDLE AGE / 20 The number of Peace Corps Volunteers has grown significantly in recent years, but is the agency living up to its promise? By Shawn Zeller RESTORING AN AMERICAN ICON FOR THE 21ST CENTURY / 27 The Peace Corps should never be considered an instrument of day-to-day U.S. foreign policy. But it is a significant element of soft power. By James R. Bullington THE SILK ROAD TO WASHINGTON / 34 Cover and inside illustrations by One FSO describes his transition from the Peace Corps to the Foreign Service. Philippe Béha / i2iart.com By James Waterman FROM THE PEACE CORPS TO THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS / 39 PRESIDENT’S VIEWS / 5 FS employees and family members who have served with the Peace Corps A Professional Issue and Foreign Service offer their insights on how the two organizations By John K. Naland compare and contrast. By Steven Alan Honley SPEAKING OUT / 13 Mid-Level Hiring and the War for Talent FS FICTION By Kevin D. Stringer SAMMY AND I / 46 FS KNOW-HOW / 16 Events in Palavaria take an unexpected turn just after prospective embassy Maximizing the Value of the personnel learn its language, in this spoof about the vicissitudes of FSI training. Political Adviser Function By Michael D. Quinlan By John D. Finney and Alphonse F. La Porta F EATURES REFLECTIONS / 88 FROM KHARTOUM TO CONCORD / 52 Earth to Earth, Ashes to Ashes A stint as a politician was never part of my vision for life after the By Jonathan Rickert Foreign Service — and certainly not beginning at age 77. By Don Petterson LETTERS / 6 CYBERNOTES / 9 CUBA AFTER FIDEL / 55 MARKETPLACE / 11 So far, not much has changed since Fidel Castro’s retirement as BOOKS / 71 Cuba’s president. What are the prospects for the next U.S. administration? By George Gedda IN MEMORY / 73 INDEX TO ADVERTISERS / 86 OCTOBER 2008/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 3 OREIGN ERVICE CONTENTS FJ O U R N A L S Editor STEVEN ALAN HONLEY AFSA NEWS Senior Editor SUSAN B. MAITRA Associate Editor FIRST CALL FOR AFSA GOVERNING BOARD NOMINATIONS / 61 SHAWN DORMAN U.S. PRESIDENTIAL TRANSITION AND AFSA / 61 Ad & Circulation Manager ED MILTENBERGER EDITOR’S NOTE: AFSA NEWS CHANGES HANDS / 61 Business Manager ALICIA J. CAMPI NEWS BRIEFS: AGGELER, COMPARABILITY PAY / 62 Art Director CARYN SUKO SMITH VP STATE: THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES Editorial Intern AND THE FOREIGN SERVICE / 63 ARIANA AUSTIN Advertising Intern VP USAID: CAREER FOREIGN SERVICE HANS MULDER UNDER ATTACK FROM INSIDE / 64 EDITORIAL BOARD SLOUCHING TOWARD RETIREMENT? / 65 TED WILKINSON CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: INSIDE A U.S. EMBASSY / 66 Chairman JOSEPH BRUNS RETURNED PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS @ STATE / 67 STEPHEN W. BUCK JULIE GIANELLONI CONNOR ESSAY CONTEST INTRODUCES STUDENTS JIM DEHART TO THE OREIGN ERVICE F S / 68 JEFF GIAUQUE GET SET TO VOTE / 68 GEORGE JONES LAURIE KASSMAN CLASSIFIEDS / 69 YVETTE N. MALCIOLN DAVID MCFARLAND AL PESSIN THE MAGAZINE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS PROFESSIONALS Foreign Service Journal (ISSN 0146-3543), 2101 E Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037-2990 is published monthly with a combined July-August issue by the American Foreign Service Associa- tion (AFSA), a private, nonprofit organization. Material appearing herein represents the opin- ions of the writers and does not necessarily rep- resent the views of the Journal, the Editorial Board or AFSA. Writer queries and submissions are invited, preferably by e-mail. Journal sub- scription: AFSA members – $13 included in annual 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 adver- tisements herein does not imply the endorse- ment 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, 2008. 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/OCTOBER 2008 PRESIDENT’S VIEWS A Professional Issue BY JOHN K. NALAND Earlier this year, the Foreign retary, the administration and the new president get elected and Service Journal polled readers, their appointed leader in share his worldview. Career officials, asking for suggestions on new Iraq.” on the other hand, rise through gov- topics to be covered. One re- • In August 2007, active- ernment ranks based on documented sponse, in particular, caught my duty Colonel Henry J. Fores- performance and demonstrated poten- attention: “How many senior man Jr. cited “the failure of the tial. They then use their years of expe- officers have sold their souls to senior uniformed ranks to rience to provide frank, nonpartisan the devil over Iraq to advance serve as a responsible check advice to political appointees whose their careers?” It is indeed true that, and balance to manifold civilian strate- job it is to make the final decision. until now, that issue has not been gic shortcomings — often hiding behind What is not supposed to happen is addressed in this journal. the principle of political neutrality to for career officials to abandon their However, the same question, as disguise cowardice and careerism.” apolitical orientation by allying them- applied to senior military officers, has • In February 2008, retired Lieu- selves with a politically appointed been the subject of vigorous discussion tenant General John H. Cushman patron in order to obtain a plum posi- in professional military publications called for an investigation of prewar tion ahead of their peers. Career offi- over the past few years. For example, planning to determine if “U.S. four- cials are not supposed to be compliant the Armed Forces Journal (“the leading stars ... [had] forcefully made known yes-men and yes-women who fail to joint service monthly magazine”) has their objections to the defense secre- meet their professional responsibility published numerous articles examining tary and, if necessary, to the president.” to speak up, behind closed doors, whether America’s senior military offi- The unifying theme of these essays about likely negative consequences of cers have fulfilled their duty to offer is that, due to timidity or careerism, pending policy decisions. professional advice to their politically- some senior U.S. military professionals Have these things taken place in appointed civilian superiors, especially failed to provide their political superi- recent years at the State Department? concerning initial operations in Iraq: ors with potentially unwelcome expert Have some senior career officials “sold • In April 2007, active-duty Lieu- assessments. Is the military alone in their souls” over Iraq and other issues tenant Colonel Paul Yingling wrote having senior officers who have failed in order to advance their careers? I that “generals have a responsibility to to stand up for their services, or can the believe that some have. I also believe society to provide policymakers with a same be said of some of our nation’s that it is appropriate for active-duty correct estimate of strategic probabili- senior career diplomats? To answer diplomats, like our uniformed col- ties.” He charged that, as a group, U.S. these questions, we need to put the leagues, to openly discuss this impor- generals had chosen conformity and issue in context. tant professional issue. career advancement over providing By law and tradition, the American I will do so in my November col- their frank, expert views. system of government makes a clear umn — not by looking backward at the • In July 2007, active-duty Lieu- distinction between politically appoint- historical details of Iraq policy formula- tenant Colonel John Mauk argued that ed and career officials. Political ap- tion, but rather by looking forward at “the failure of our generals in Iraq was pointees come and go with the elec- broader issues of enduring importance: a failure to stand up to the defense sec- toral tides. They are not selected What are the professional responsibili- because they are, by some objective ties of senior career officials? What John K. Naland is the president of the measure, the best prepared person for should happen to those who fail to ful- American Foreign Service Association. the job, but rather because they helped fill those responsibilities? I OCTOBER 2008/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 5 LETTERS One of a Kind of a kind in the Foreign Service. As a ment’s “Future of Iraq” project in I was pleased to see the recent pro- fellow southern “Buckeye,” I am shaping U.S. policy? file of Ambassador Thomas D. Boyatt proud to have had the opportunity to Rackmales reminds us of a lesson (“A Tireless Advocate for the Foreign work with an outstanding example of we never seem to learn: In a democ- Service,” July-August). I had the what President Theodore Roosevelt racy (or any other form of govern- honor of working for him while serv- called the “iron fist in a velvet glove.” ment, for that matter), demonizing ing as a Marine security guard in E. Alex Copher dissent ensures that the worst ideas, Bogota from 1981 to 1982.