AFSA DISSENT AND PERFORMANCE AWARDS INSIDE! $4.50 / JULY-AUGUST 2012 OREIGN ERVICE FJ O U R N A L S THE MAGAZINE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS PROFESSIONALS A LIFETIME OF LEARNING The Foreign Service Institute and FS Training OREIGN ERVICE FJ O U R N A L S CONTENTS July-August 2012 Volume 89, No. 7-8 F OCUS ON FSI/FS Training PURSUING THE ELUSIVE TRAINING FLOAT / 14 Adequate funding is a key piece of the professionalization puzzle, but not the only one. By Shawn Zeller FOSTERING A PROFESSIONAL FOREIGN SERVICE / 21 State and USAID should concentrate on protecting recent staffing gains, not programs, to cope with budget cutbacks. By Ronald E. Neumann Illustration by Torrence Delawie, from the watercolor triptych THE ARMY’S APPROACH TO LEADER DEVELOPMENT / 27 “Memory Places,” one of A look at how the Army’s professional education system develops Ms. Delawie’s entries in AFSA’s leadership skills offers possible lessons for the Foreign Service. 2012 Art Merit Award Competition. By Jeffrey LaMoe and Ted Strickler AT FSI’S HELM: AN INTERVIEW WITH RUTH A. WHITESIDE / 32 The director of the Foreign Service Institute reflects on the training center’s expanding role. PRESIDENT’S VIEWS / 7 By Shawn Zeller Foreign Service Pets: Not a Peripheral Issue By Susan R. Johnson F EATURES REFLECTIONS / 78 My Portable Consciences CELEBRATING INTELLECTUAL COURAGE: By Annie Pforzheimer AFSA’S CONSTRUCTIVE DISSENT AWARDS / 39 Please consider nominating a deserving colleague — or even yourself — for an AFSA dissent award. By John W. Limbert LETTERS / 8 THE NEED FOR LONG-TERM PERSPECTIVES IN FOREIGN POLICY / 42 CYBERNOTES / 10 Successful foreign policymaking needs overarching principles, MARKETPLACE / 13 a vision and a mission statement declaring its purpose. By Jon Elliott BOOKS / 62 IN MEMORY / 65 FS HERITAGE INDEX TO ADVERTISERS / 76 JOEL R. POINSETT: FIRST U.S. ENVOY IN LATIN AMERICA / 46 Though mainly known today for giving his name to a Christmas flower, Joel Poinsett achieved much more. By Luciano Mangiafico JULY-AUGUST 2012/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 5 OREIGN ERVICE CONTENTS FJ O U R N A L S Editor AFSA NEWS STEVEN ALAN HONLEY Senior Editor AFSA PANEL ASSESSES PROSPECTS FOR THE ARAB SPRING / 49 SUSAN B. MAITRA Associate Editor AFSA DISSENT AND PERFORMANCE AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED / 49 SHAWN DORMAN AFSA News Editor NEWS BRIEFS / 50 DONNA AYERST Ad & Circulation Manager VP STATE: INTERNET PORN — DOES STATE KNOW ED MILTENBERGER IT WHEN IT SEES IT? / 51 Art Director CARYN SUKO SMITH VP FCS: COUNTING OUR BLESSINGS / 52 Editorial Intern EVA M.A. MOSS VP RETIREES: SOMETHING NEW AND DIFFERENT / 52 Advertising Intern CLAUDIA GERKEN AFSA AWARD WINNERS’ PROFILES / 53 EDITORIAL BOARD ERIT WARD INNERS JAMES P. S EEVERS 2012 AFSA M A W / 56 Chairman JUDITH BAROODY KENNAN AWARD / 58 WILLIAM D. BENT GORDON S. BROWN CLASSIFIEDS / 59 STEPHEN W. B UCK KATE WIEHAGEN LEONARD RICHARD MCKEE JED MELINE GREGORY L. NAARDEN LYNN ROCHE RACHEL SCHNELLER 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 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 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, 2012. Printed in the U.S.A. POSTMASTER: 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. 6 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL/JULY-AUGUST 2012 PRESIDENT’S VIEWS Foreign Service Pets: Not a Peripheral Issue BY SUSAN R. JOHNSON Following its recent merger came across eloquently and a PetSafe program far from ready for with Continental Airlines, Uni- poignantly in the thousands of global rollout would have pushed many ted Airlines replaced its interna- e-mail letters AFSA members Foreign Service families to the break- tionally oriented, pet-friendly sent to United’s chief executive ing point. United’s waiver and the op- policies with Continental’s U.S.- officer. tion to use other U.S. carriers have specific PetSafe transport pro- Here are a few excerpts: helped somewhat, but we still have a gram. The announcement set “Because our lives are often long way to go. off alarm bells throughout the military uprooted, we rely even more heavily AFSA surveys suggest that close to and Foreign Service pet owner commu- than usual on that which is familiar and 40 percent of Foreign Service members nities because PetSafe imposes unreal- constant to us. The comfort of a pet is have pets. Recognizing their impor- istic requirements, unclear procedures, so important to the mental health and tance to this significant community, we high costs and increased risks for pets well-being of my family members and must continue engaging with airlines, as traveling as “cargo” rather than “excess many Foreign Service families.” “Our well as host countries, to improve their baggage.” pets are part of our families and help laws and regulations concerning the After military protests, United provide the stability and grounding transport of pets. quickly announced a waiver program many of us need.” “So many of us value As a first step, United could revert that exempted DOD personnel on the companionship to help us cope with to its former pet-friendly policies, at transfer orders from certain provisions. a major life change.” “Being thousands least for members of the foreign affairs Following a vigorous advocacy cam- of miles away from my wife while she agencies and the military. In addition, paign led by AFSA, and supported by was alone in a dangerous place, one of our embassies and missions, along State Department engagement with the few comforts I had was knowing with diplomatic colleagues from other United and the U.S. General Services that she had our dog to help protect and countries, can approach host govern- Administration, United extended this comfort her.” “Having pets can some- ments, and local airlines if necessary, waiver to Foreign Service personnel times be the only link to ’normalcy’ in a to develop streamlined procedures traveling on transfer orders. stress-filled environment.” that distinguish clearly between pets This may seem an unimportant issue Even under long-accepted policies, traveling as part of a household and to some, but for Foreign Service pet air travel with pets is complicated, often animals imported or exported for owners, it‘s huge. The companionship anxiety-inducing and expensive. Post- commercial purposes. pets provide is long recognized across 9/11 security measures and proliferat- Pet owners are responsible for their many cultures and throughout human ing health documentation require animal companions, but employers, history. It is as valued to the nomadic ments, which differ from country to governments and airlines all have an in- diplomat (and family) who must pull up country, make traveling with a loved pet terest in recognizing the important role roots and move on every two or three a challenge. In many countries the per- that animal companions play in sup- years as to anyone, and perhaps even tinent laws and regulations are anti- porting well-being and morale, and the more so. The important role pets play quated and subject to arbitrary inter- benefits of common-sense, streamlined in providing emotional support, joy and pretation. laws and regulations for travel with even safety to singles and families alike The high costs and complications of diplomatic and military pets. ■ JULY-AUGUST 2012/FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL 7 LETTERS Standing Up for the fessional training. received by the Army War College. Foreign Service FSI offers an advanced training op- Clayton Chun, chair of the Depart- In the May Journal AFSA Presi- portunity that is located, for the most ment of Distance Education, told me dent Susan Johnson uses her Presi- part, in the ether. Six State Depart- in an e-mail that “Our State Depart- dent’s Views column to make an ment employees annually participate ment students are some of the bright- eloquent pitch that “It’s time for FSOs in the Master of Strategic Studies dis- est and best thinkers at the U.S. Army to stand up for the Foreign Service … tance education program offered by War College. They provide a very to explain who they are and what they the U.S. Army War College. It takes unique and diverse view of the world do.” Her column goes on to note that two years to complete but, with the ex- and national security challenges. I doing so will require leadership from ception of two two-week sessions held only wish that we could have more the State Department itself to make a at Carlisle Barracks, Pa., participants State Department students to share better “case for professional education conduct all their work online. As a our educational program and forge and training, improved assignment graduate of the class of 2012, I highly lasting relationships with our military, policies and clearer criteria for career recommend this program to my State civilian and international students.” advancement.” Department colleagues.