REMEMBERING ARNIE SCHIFFERDECKER I DIPLOMATIC GAMESMANSHIP $3.50 / MAY 2003 OREIGN ERVICE FJ O U R N A L STHE MAGAZINE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS PROFESSIONALS FROM THE FARM TO THE WORLD The Foreign Agricultural Service NOW AVAILABLE FROM AFSA… The most informative book on the Foreign Service. Here’s what people are saying about Inside a U.S. Embassy: Inside a U.S. Embassy … How the Foreign Service “I’m fascinated by the contents. And I Works for America think that not only members of the (Senate Foreign Relations) Committee Only $12.95* but all Americans will be deeply interested in this.” *PLUS SHIPPING AND HANDLING. — Senator Richard Lugar, Proceeds will be used R-Ind., Chairman of the for AFSA’s public Senate Foreign Relations outreach efforts. Committee “The book deftly illustrates how embassies implement U.S. foreign policy. Moreover it succinctly This book is a describes ... the important role each person performs — from must-read for the ambassador to the human anyone who resources officer. — Senator Tom Daschle, wants to know D-S.D., Senate Minority Leader about the people who work “Readers (of this book) will find an up-to-date, compelling, interesting, in American accurate and highly readable depiction embassies and consulates around the world. of the Foreign Service and our vital role in service to our nation. The profiles and the stories all show the Readers share in the real-life experiences rich diversity of our people, in terms of both their varied backgrounds and the of the Foreign Service: the coups, the wide range of services we perform. As evacuations, the heroics, the hardships and a result, this book clearly advances the image of the State Department and all the everyday challenges and rewards of of us in the Foreign Service.” representing America to the world. — Ruth A. Davis, Director General of the Foreign Service Order your copy today! Go to www.afsa.org/inside or call (847) 364-1222 to place an order by phone. CONTENTS M a y 2 0 0 3 I Volume 80, No. 5 F OCUSON FAS F EATURES 24 / THE FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL SERVICE TODAY APPRECIATION: ARNIE SCHIFFERDECKER, The outlook for the Foreign Agricultural Service is 1935-2003 / 51 generally positive, but there is no shortage of By Susan Maitra issues for it to address. By Bob Guldin PLAYING DIPLOMACY / 55 An FSO and his children get entangled in more than 32 / LIFE IN THE FAS LANE the game of Diplomacy. Precisely because FAS is such a small agency, By Larry Lesser achieving success requires dedication and coordination from all personnel, Foreign and Civil Service alike. By Ed Porter C OLUMNS D EPARTMENTS 36 / AN UNAUTHORIZED HISTORY OF FAS LETTERS / 9 In a tradition dating back to the American Revolution, PRESIDENT’S VIEWS / 5 the Foreign Agricultural Service has dedicated What Next? CYBERNOTES / 12 itself to improving market access for By John K. Naland BOOKS / 6O U.S. agricultural products. INDEX TO LETTER FROM By Allan Mustard ADVERTISERS / 66 THE EDITOR / 7 AFSA NEWS / 44 / HIGH STAKES, Steven Alan Honley CENTER INSERT HIGH HURDLES: SPEAKING OUT / 15 U.S. FARM TRADE POLICY While FAS still carries out its Toward a True “traditional” functions, including Israeli-Palestinian Peace reporting on local agricultural By Max M. Kampelman conditions, its activities are FS FINANCES / 20 increasingly focusing on A Retroactive Windfall trade policy and export for Home Sellers promotion. Page 24 By Edward J. Michal By Eric Trachtenberg REFLECTIONS / 68 By Kathy Uphaus Cover and inside illustrations by Kevin Rechin THE MAGAZINE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS PROFESSIONALS OREIGN ERVICE Foreign Service Journal (ISSN 0146-3543), 2101 E Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037-2990 is published J O U R N A L F S monthly by the American Foreign Service Association, a private, non-profit organization. Material appearing here- Editor Editorial Board STEVEN ALAN HONLEY ARNOLD in represents the opinions of the writers and does not necessarily represent the views of the Journal, the Editorial SCHIFFERDECKER, Associate Editor CHAIRMAN Board or AFSA. Writer queries and submissions are invited, preferably by e-mail. Journal subscription: AFSA SUSAN B. MAITRA Members - $9.50 included in annual dues; others - $40. For foreign surface mail, add $18 per year; foreign air- Business Manager JUDITH BAROODY mail, $36 per year. Periodical postage paid at Washington, D.C., and at additional mailing offices. Postmaster: MIKKELA V. THOMPSON MARK W. BOCCHETTI Send address changes to Foreign Service Journal, 2101 E Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037-2990. Indexed Ad & Circulation Manager ELIZABETH SPIRO CLARK ED MILTENBERGER TATIANA GFOELLER-VOLKOFF by Public Affairs Information Service (PAIS). The Journal is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photos AFSA News Editor CAROL A. GIACOMO or illustrations. Advertising inquiries are invited. The appearance of advertisements herein does not imply the LAURIE KASSMAN SHAWN DORMAN endorsement of the services or goods offered. FAX: (202) 338-8244 or (202) 338-6820. E-MAIL: [email protected]. CAROLINE MEIRS Art Director WEB: www.afsa.org. TELEPHONE: (202) 338-4045. © American Foreign Service Association, 2003. Printed CARYN J. SUKO HOLLIS SUMMERS in the U.S.A. Send address changes to AFSA Membership, 2101 E Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037- Editorial Intern WILLIAM WANLUND STEPHEN E. MATHER TED WILKINSON 2990. Printed on 50 percent recycled paper, of which 10 percent is post-consumer waste. MAY 2003/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 3 Government Solutions Having the highest standards for satellite reliability keeps us among the stars Choose Intelsat for your telecommunications needs As the challenges of the world change, your need for reliable telecommunications remains constant. For almost 40 years Intelsat has provided governments with communications solutions for voice, data, video and imagery. Today those solutions feature truly global coverage and the unmatched reliability of 99.997%. Our experience, technical superiority, flexibility and service make Intelsat the supplier of choice for your communications needs. Contact us at +1 202 415-9875 or via email at [email protected] www.intelsat.com PRESIDENT’S VIEWS What Next? BY JOHN K. NALAND Secretary of should attend training on the care and State Colin Powell feeding of Congress. had remarkable AFSA continues to Outlooks: All the training and success in 2001 and equipment in the world will not 2002 convincing work to make the improve the efficiency of an employee the White House Foreign Service a who finishes drafting a “must-go” mem- and Congress to orandum or telegram at noon only to provide additional better supported, have to wait around until 7 p.m. for his resources for staffing, information tech- more respected, and or her supervisor to begin to review it. nology, and facilities. If, later this year, While mandatory leadership and man- Congress approves the president’s more satisfying agement training should lessen this Fiscal Year 2004 budget at the request- place in which to problem, much work remains to be ed level, then the Foreign Service (at done to get some of our colleagues to least at State) will have finally overcome spend a career. act more efficiently and with more of a the legacy of the 1990s budget cuts that sense of urgency. dangerously eroded our nation’s diplo- Organization: Even two years matic readiness. sional skills front by making the com- into the Diplomatic Readiness While it will take several more years pletion of leadership and management Initiative hiring boom, I still hear for promotions to refill the hollowed- training a prerequisite for promotion from employees who are working out middle ranks and for modern infor- effective in 2006. But much more impossible hours in understaffed mation technology to be fully deployed, needs to be done. offices. As AFSA pointed out in tes- we may soon face the happy prospect of For example, a Senate Foreign timony submitted to the House and having all the physical tools that we Relations Committee staffer expressed Senate Appropriations Committees need to do our vital jobs. But it takes concern to me on the eve of the Iraq in April, the world has changed con- more than people, technology and facil- War that the sum total of training in siderably since the DRI hiring tar- ities to conduct diplomacy. The multilateral diplomacy available to U.S. gets were set three years ago. This Foreign Service also needs the skills, diplomats is one three-day course that is makes it vital for State to update its outlooks and organization required to given just twice a year. Elsewhere, I workforce planning to identify new carry out its mission. would hazard a guess that fewer than staffing needs that the Congress can Skills: Full staffing and modern half of all tenured employees have had then provide resources to address. facilities will not sharply improve the training in basic negotiating skills. More The Foreign Service has gotten effectiveness of an office if its personnel language training could be given to stronger over the past two years, but do not also have the technical, manage- employees at the 3/3 level of proficien- much work remains to be done. As rial, and foreign language skills needed cy whose next assignments will require always, AFSA will continue to work to to do their jobs. The State Department, them to give public speeches or press make the Foreign Service a better sup- with strong support from AFSA, has interviews. More computer training ported, more respected, and more satis- taken a good first step on the profes- could be given to employees who do not fying place in which to spend a career. know how to take full advantage of word This, in turn, serves to make the John K.