GREAT POWER COMPETITION THE PANDEMIC AND FS KIDS - EDUCATION SUPPLEMENT
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P U B L I S H E D BY T H E A M E R I CA N F O R E I G N S E R V I C E A S S O C I AT I O N JUNE 2021
GREAT POWER COMPETITION
EDUCATION SUPPLEMENT
THE PANDEMIC AND FS KIDS
FOREIGN
SERVICE June 2021 Volume 98, No. 5
Focus on Feature
Great Power Competition Today 43
Whatever Happened
to Microfinance?
A Cautionary Tale
The success or failure of any
development program depends on
a thorough grasp of the context in
which it is being implemented.
By Thomas Dichter
Education
Supplement
21 34 57
Cyber Diplomacy for Hello, Europe— The Impact of
Strategic Competition America Is Back COVID-19 on FS Kids:
Fresh thinking and new approaches The trans-Atlantic agenda
are needed on diplomacy’s goes beyond undoing Trump.
Tips and Thoughts
FS children face unique challenges
newest frontier. Here is a sober look at the issues
in the best of times. How are they
B y E m i l y O. G o l d m a n from a veteran diplomat.
faring during the pandemic?
By Robert E. Hunter
By Rebecca Grappo
26
Countering China’s 39 68
Intimidation of Taiwan GPC—Meaningful What’s New with Special
Why a firm stand against Beijing’s Concept or Misleading Education Allowances?
intimidation and coercion of Taiwan is Construct? The Family Liaison Office talks
both timely and important right now. In this thought piece, two Senior with the Office of Child
B y Ro b e r t S. Wa n g FSOs offer contrasting takes on and Family Programs.
the phrase widely used to frame
By Charlotte Larsen
31 foreign policy today.
Engagement with China:
By Alexis Ludwig and
Kelly Keiderling 64, 66
Was It a Mistake? Education
U.S. expectations may have been
unrealistic, but there is much to
at a Glance
remember and learn from our
previous dealings with Beijing.
By Robert Griffiths
THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JUNE 2021 5
FOREIGN
SERVICE
Perspectives
Departments
7 89 10 Letters
President’s Views Reflections
Let’s Get It Right This Time The Mouse That Roared 13 Talking Points
By Eric Rubin By Jonathan B. Rickert
80 Books
9 90
Letter from the Editor Local Lens
Finding the Safed Dara, Tajikistan
Power Paradigm for Today By Angelique Mahal
By Shawn Dorman
Marketplace
19
Speaking Out 83 Lodging
The Case Against Political
84 Real Estate
Ambassadors
B y Ed w a rd L . Pe c k 87 Classifieds
88 Index to Advertisers
AFSA NEWS THE OFFICIAL RECORD OF THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION
47 AFSA Renovates and Expands 51 AFSA Governing Board Meeting,
Memorial Plaques April 21, 2021
48 State VP Voice—Telework: 52 USAID Office of Security Briefing
Productive and Family Friendly 53 A
FSA Webinar: The Basics of
49 USAID VP Voice—Words of Thanks Long-Term Care and Life Insurance
50 AFSA on the Hill—Seizing the Moment: 54 FSGB 2020 Annual Report:
Expand the U.S. Foreign Service Cases Are Up for the Foreign Service
51 AFSA Editorial Board Welcomes Grievance Board
Two New Members 55 Boosting AFSA’s Social Media
47 51 AFSA Welcomes Franny Raybaud
as Membership Coordinator
Presence
On the Cover—Cover Composition by Caryn Smith, Driven By Design LLC. Ship base photo from iStockphoto.com/Nicholas Free.
Detail images from iStockphoto.com: waves, jatrax; sky, kvv515kvv; various flags, Martin Holverda, ali çoban, RudyBalasko and Creative-Touch.
6 JUNE 2021 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL
PRESIDENT’S VIEWS
Let’s Get It Right This Time
BY ERIC RUBIN
W
hen I joined the We are overdue for a serious debate about
Foreign Service in
1985, near the end of
America’s role in the world.
the last phase of the
Cold War, the United we failed to make crucial decisions about us to think through what role we as Ameri-
States had a relatively clear set of goals our country’s future. cans should play in the world, how much
and a relatively clear purpose in its for- This failure was exacerbated by an we are willing to pay for that role, and what
eign and security policies. understandable desire to reap a “peace the expectations are for other countries
Of course, hazy nostalgia for a dividend” after so many decades devot- who want to share the journey with us.
bygone era of bipartisan consensus on ing much of our national wealth to the We also need to recognize that U.S.
foreign policy is by no means justified. Cold War. global leadership in the 2020s cannot
In the early 1980s, we had only recently That in turn led directly to “doing more be a re-creation of our role in the past.
put the tragic, divisive 20-year U.S. war with less,” “reinventing government,” We need to ramp up our global engage-
in Vietnam and Southeast Asia behind abolishing the U.S. Information Agency ment, this time with the understanding
us, and we found ourselves in an accel- and the Arms Control and Disarmament that, as at home, there is no free lunch
erating nuclear arms race with the Sovi- Agency, and significantly pulling back in world affairs.
ets and a widening global ideological from foreign engagement and commit- AFSA is advocating that Congress
division that would soon lead to proxy ments across the globe. provide more resources for the U.S.
wars on three continents. This was not a complete pullback, of Foreign Service. We cannot keep doing
Our record during that “long twilight course. But in real terms, we began to more with less: We need to do more with
struggle” against tyranny that President cut both our outlays and ambitions to more. We also need to temper our reen-
John F. Kennedy referred to in his 1961 the point that today spending on diplo- gagement with a heavy dose of humility,
inaugural address is not error-free. We macy and foreign assistance is roughly recognizing that our country is going
made many mistakes as a country as we half (in real dollars) what it was at the through a painful period of strife and
battled Soviet communism and its imita- end of the Cold War—all while we are division and that the world has changed.
tors. But there is also much to be proud seeking clear motivating principles and “Because we say so” is no longer a viable
of—including the peaceful outcome of that goals for our foreign policy. talking point, if it ever was.
struggle, which ended mostly on our terms. In the early 1990s, everything seemed We are overdue for a serious debate
I was privileged to be part of the diplo- to be going our way, and it appeared about America’s role in the world and
matic team that helped manage the U.S. likely to continue without much effort or what we need to do to achieve our goals.
response to the breakup of the USSR and investment on our part. The “Washington A clearer sense of national direction
its East European empire. I know from consensus” encouraged us to believe that combined with adequate funding and
personal experi- liberal, free-market democracy was the staffing—and the resulting improvement
ence that those only game in town—and everyone would in morale—would give the Service an
heady days had a now have to follow it. opportunity to end the current decade in a
downside: We were In many respects, things have not gone much stronger place.
so swept up in the our way. I don’t need to lay out all the rea- As always, I welcome your thoughts
euphoria of ending sons why. I do hope, however, that we will and recommendations. Please send them
the Cold War that consider the present time as a chance for to us at member@afsa.org. n
Ambassador Eric Rubin is the president of the American Foreign Service Association.
THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JUNE 2021 7
FOREIGN
CONTACTS
SERVICE
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8 JUNE 2021 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Finding the Power Paradigm for Today
B Y S H AW N D O R M A N
T
he United States emerged to define the U.S. role within it. Is the In the Feature, “Whatever Happened
from the long era of the Cold United States “back at the table” as one to Microfinance? A Cautionary Tale,”
War as the undisputed global of many “great” (and less great) powers, Thomas Dichter looks at how what was
superpower. It was called or does it seek to be, some say need to once a darling of development programs
a “unipolar moment.” The be, at the head of the global table? has done over time.
subsequent decade of drift on the seas of This month’s edition explores aspects In the Education Supplement, educa-
what many referred to as the “New World of current international dynamics tion consultant Rebecca Grappo con-
Order” ended abruptly with the events through the lens of U.S. diplomacy— siders “The Impact of COVID-19 on FS
of Sept. 11, 2001. Within weeks of 9/11, how the U.S. is, or should be, addressing Kids,” pointing to the unique challenges
U.S. national security strategy and foreign central geopolitical issues. they have faced and offering recom-
policy were refocused, launching a new We begin with what is certainly one mendations for parents and for the State
era: the “Global War on Terror.” of the most significant arenas for global Department.
Fifteen years on, it became appar- competition and conflict today—cyber- Recent changes in the Special Needs
ent that nonstate terrorists were not the space. U.S. Cyber Command strategist Education Allowance program are
only important actors on the interna- Emily O. Goldman (who has also served spotlighted in Family Liaison Office
tional scene. The Obama administra- at the National Security Council and in Education and Youth Director Charlotte
tion’s 2015 National Military Strategy State’s Policy Planning Office) offers a Larsen’s interview with the staff of the
included a priority to work to defeat particularly timely take on “Cyber Diplo- Office of Child and Family Programs.
“potential state adversaries … challeng- macy for Strategic Competition.” She In Speaking Out, Ambassador (ret.)
ing international norms.” argues for a more proactive, anticipatory Edward Peck makes “The Case Against
The Trump administration made approach to cyber competition. Political Ambassadors.”
the return of “great power competition” Robert S. Wang, a retired FSO now with FSO (ret.) Jonathan B. Rickert learns
(GPC), acknowledged in 2015, the the Center for Strategic and International about the sensitivities of small coun-
centerpiece of its 2017 National Security Studies and Georgetown University, urges tries in his Reflection, “The Mouse That
Strategy and 2018 National Defense Strat- an unambiguous U.S. policy of support for Roared.”
egy. And by 2019, GPC was dominating Taiwan and its democracy in “Countering In AFSA News, you’ll find photos and
the narrative. China’s Intimidation of Taiwan.” news of the expanded and renovated
Yet scholars, foreign policy experts and Robert Griffiths, who lived and Memorial Plaques honoring members of
diplomats continue to debate whether worked in China for 14 years, asks the the Foreign Service who died in the line
GPC is an adequate construct for U.S. for- provocative question: “Engagement with of duty.
eign policy and national security strategy. China: Was It a Mistake?” In April, the FSJ Editorial Board
Can international relations be reduced to Ambassador (ret.) Robert E. Hunter said goodbye to two wonderful members,
“competition”? What is the goal? What is reviews the importance of the trans- Dinah Zeltser-Winant and Christopher
the strategy? Atlantic partnership in “Hello, Europe— Teal, who both brought insight, ideas and
The discussion America Is Back.” wisdom to our discussions. They will be
involves not only how Finally, two Senior FSOs, Alexis Ludwig missed. We were excited to welcome new
to characterize the and Ambassador Kelly Keiderling, offer members Jane Carpenter-Rock (State)
current international contrasting takes on the concept of “Great and Bronwyn Llewellyn (USAID) in May.
environment but how Power Competition” and its utility today. Please keep in touch. Send responses
to this issue, and new submissions, to
Shawn Dorman is the editor of The Foreign Service Journal. journal@afsa.org. n
THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JUNE 2021 9
LETTERS
The Way We Were doing so they’ll get labeled as “x” and resources to language and other training
Among many FSOs there is a (half) stymie their careers. That is a difficult programs for those already in the Service.
joke by which we note with some wonder question to answer honestly. In my day, the U.S. military pro-
how interesting we all were as individu- Wouldn’t it be nice if we could nourish gram for training foreign attachés was a
als when we joined the Foreign Service those qualities that made us so interest- good example of how to do things right,
X years ago, and how somehow over the ing back when we joined—and those although it did require specialization—in
years we have melded into the same type qualities we see now in our incoming and other words, the opposite of nearly every
of person. entry-level officers, including, or espe- personnel program in the Foreign Service
Keith Mines’ “State’s Influence on cially, officers of color? for the past 50 years.
Foreign Policy: Is This Really as Good as Could we believe that by keeping some Maybe we should take a look at that
It Gets?” (March FSJ) takes it out of the of that, we could actually be a bolder and system.
realm of a joke and poses some serious stronger Foreign Service and ultimately James Schumaker
questions about our culture of conformity more useful to foreign policy and to our FSO, retired
and lack of boldness (and toughness)— country? San Clemente, California
and the extent to which it contributes to Kristin M. Kane
our losing opportunities to lead in foreign Chargé d’affaires On Testing Positive
policy. U.S. Embassy Lisbon for COVID-19
If we have learned anything over the It was the road trip of unintended con-
past handful of years, it is that we should A Note on the Notes sequences. Seven months after arriving in
be speaking up more, not less. Our Ser- Some of the “Notes to the New Admin- our new home of Kyiv, as part of the U.S.
vice has taken a beating, but we are still istration” (March FSJ) were very interest- diplomatic community, our family of six
an incredibly talented group of profes- ing. Others, well... decided to take a break from the monot-
sionals. I was particularly startled by a retired ony of pandemic life in our post-Soviet
The Mines article should be manda- colleague’s suggestion that in addition to neighborhood.
tory reading for all interested in how we passing the written and oral exams, candi- Instead of opting for PCR COVID-19
can seize this window of opportunity— dates should have either a 4/4 in a world tests, international travel, and sunny,
with a president, vice president and language or a 3+/4 in a hard language. warm weather, we decided to simply
Secretary of State who take us seriously My Foreign Service class consisted of drive west for a change of scenery and
and want to build us up. 34 very intelligent and accomplished offi- fresh mountain air. No airports. No flights.
Mr. Mines argues that we should not cers. Maybe five of them would have been Masked up. Exploring our new home.
just be one member at the table of foreign language-qualified. I suspect the situation Several days into the trip, after an
policy decision-making, but the key would be even worse today. afternoon of snow tubing in a park 10
member, leading interagency meetings. My first four overseas hours’ drive from Kyiv, I started having
His overall thesis and “six tours required Serbian, congestion and body aches. A few days
suggestions we could do to Russian and Dari. How later, I lost my sense of taste—a discovery
get out of our own way and many officers come made while I was feeding my 2-year-old
secure a seat at the adult into the Service today M&Ms during the last hour of our drive
table of policy development” knowing any of those home to Kyiv.
also bump up against our languages? Not many, Once home, I took a big spoonful of
goals on diversity, equity I suspect. good old American peanut butter and
and inclusion, in my view. Already know- gave it a try: no taste. That’s when I knew I
I have had bright and ing languages is, of was screwed. And most likely my husband
talented young officers of course, very desir- and four children in my wake.
color ask me if they can truly able. But the real So there I sat. A positive COVID test in
be themselves, try to develop problem, as always, Ukraine. Where health care is not good.
their innovative ideas—or if by is devoting adequate Where hospitals were edging to capacity.
10 JUNE 2021 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNALWhere ventilators were almost for us? How many of
nonexistent. Staring down the my children would
face of a virus that has killed suffer from COVID-19?
millions. And how did I feel? Does the embassy have
Well, that’s complicated. a medical emergency
I was at war with myself. evacuation plan for us
How could I let this happen? should we need oxygen?
How could I have prevented this from There’s a rabbit hole of scary thoughts you
happening? Why us? go down once you test positive, and I was
We had made it almost one full year in it.
through an international move and life in And then, there’s relief. I was so tired.
two countries where the pandemic rages. So tired of dodging this damn virus for
And just that day, one day after a posi- the past year. So terrified that one of us
tive COVID test, the State Department would bring it home. That my kids would
announced it would be vaccinating its not have their masks on properly every
diplomats and their families overseas in single time we undertook an outing. That
short order. Too little, too late. that one chance encounter with an Uber
My feelings ran the gamut. driver or passerby would do us in.
What did I feel most acutely? An over- Well, eventually it did. Now we don’t
whelming sense of shame. A scarlet letter have to worry anymore. Weight lifted. For
will now hang from the door of my home, a while, at least.
the one that has been open—outdoor The feelings of finding out you are
space only, mind you—to my kids’ friends COVID-positive are many and strong.
in our neighborhood bubble through the Some will be shocked by the way I felt;
thick and thin of a frigid Eastern Euro- maybe some will find refuge in feeling or
pean winter. having felt the same way. Some will try to
Now we’re the house that brought preach that I never should have left my
the pandemic into the neighborhood, doorstep. Some may have sympathy.
a once-safe space to now be avoided. So many will come at me; I could only
While we were hardly the first Americans imagine what they’d say.
at the U.S. embassy to test positive, the But have you lived this? Is this your
community will start to gossip about who reality? Paranoia. Add that to the list of
was irresponsible. And this time, the gos- positive COVID-19 emotions. You think
sip will be about us. And then there will others care so much more about your
be shaming. Because that has been the diagnosis than they actually do. n
lot of others who have fallen victim to Loren Braunohler
this unrelenting virus. FS family member
How did I know that would be the Former FSO
reaction? Because I’ve been that person. U.S. Embassy Kyiv
I have judged. And I know that it’s not
right to judge, but deep down, I think it’s
human instinct. And now I’m judging
myself. Hard. So judge away. I expect it. Submit letters
The second wave of emotion? Anxiety. to the editor:
As an expat, you do not want to get really journal@afsa.org
sick in Ukraine. How bad would this get
12 JUNE 2021 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNALTALKING POINTS
State Names First Inclusion at State,” appeared in the Sep-
Chief Diversity Officer tember 2020 FSJ. She recently co-chaired
A cknowledging that the State
Department has much work to do
to develop a more diverse and inclusive
the task force that produced the report
“Transforming State,” released by the
Truman Center in March.
workforce, Secretary of State Antony She is “a diplomat who knows there
Blinken announced on April 12 that are times when you shouldn’t be diplo-
Ambassador (ret.) Gina Abercrombie- matic,” Secretary Blinken said. “She won’t
Winstanley will serve as the State be afraid to tell me where we’re coming
Department’s first chief diversity and up short. And when she does, it’s on us to
inclusion officer. listen and act.”
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
“The truth is this problem is as old “I believe that we, the Department
as the department itself. It’s systemic,” of State, should and can become in
Secretary Blinken said. “It goes deeper the field of inclusion a leader,” Amb.
than any one institution or any one Abercrombie-Winstanley said on April
administration, and it’s perpetuated 12. “Indeed, we have the talent to
Ambassador (ret.) Gina Abercrombie-
by policies, practices and people to this Winstanley delivers remarks at the become the model for diversity, equity
day.” State Department on April 12. and inclusion in the workforce.”
Amb. Abercrombie-Winstanley will “We are at a particular time in
report directly to the Secretary, who leadership, including me—which hasn’t America, and the world is watching us,”
said she will “be entrusted with aligning happened in the past.” she added. “As the Secretary said, we
and advancing diversity and inclusion Amb. Abercrombie-Winstanley, who all share in the responsibility to ensure
efforts across the department. And she’ll joined the Foreign Service in 1985, served that each of us feels that we are not only
do it transparently, in a way that holds as ambassador to Malta from 2012 to having the opportunity to excel, but we
all of us accountable—including senior 2016. Her article, “Creating a Culture of are expected to reach our full potential.”
Nominations and Appointments Career FSO Michele Jeanne Sison, assistant secretary
of State for International Organization Affairs.
T he United States Senate confirmed the nomination of
Wendy Sherman as Deputy Secretary of State by a vote
of 56-42 on April 13. And on April 21, the Senate confirmed
Career FSO (ret.) Gentry O. Smith, assistant secretary
of State for Diplomatic Security.
Political appointee Anne A. Witkowsky, assistant secretary
Samantha Power as USAID Administrator by a vote of 68-26. of State for Conflict and Stabilization Operations and coordina-
President Joe Biden nominated the following people for tor for Reconstruction and Stabilization.
more top State Department positions on April 15: Career FSO Todd Robinson, assistant secretary of State for
Career FSO Marcia Stephens Bloom Bernicat, Director International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.
General of the Foreign Service and the chair of the Board of Political appointee Monica Medina, assistant secretary
the Foreign Service. of State for Oceans and International Environmental and
Political appointee Karen Erika Donfried, assistant Scientific Affairs.
secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs. Career FSO Daniel Kritenbrink, assistant secretary
Career FSO (ret.) Barbara A. Leaf, assistant secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs.
of State for Near Eastern Affairs. Career FSO Rena Bitter, assistant secretary of State for
Career FSO Mary Catherine Phee, assistant secretary of Consular Affairs.
State for African Affairs and member of the Board of Directors On April 15 President Biden also nominated nine career
of the African Development Foundation. members of the Senior Foreign Service to serve as ambassadors.
THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JUNE 2021 13“As public servants representing the
Contemporary Quote United States of America, we are most
effective when we draw on the diverse
We know from history that if and when the Americans retreat and characteristics we each bring to work,” the
retrench, they leave behind a vacuum that will be filled by the bad guys.
groups wrote in a letter to the Secretary.
That’s exactly what we are seeing right now, that’s why with Putin of Russia,
While applauding the Biden adminis-
President Xi Jinping of China, Kim Jong-un of North Korea, Assad of Syria,
tration for its “commitment to strengthen-
are flexing their muscles. They have got more room of maneuver.
I think the Americans must realize, America is destined to lead; you ing diversity, equity, inclusion and racial
cannot escape your fate; a superpower is not going to retire. justice within our workforce,” the affinity
groups made specific requests in 12 areas.
—Former Prime Minister of Denmark and NATO Secretary General
The department should take a more
Anders Fogh Rasmussen, keynote speaker at the Meridian Diplomacy Forum, April 16.
comprehensive approach to diversity data,
they said, publishing a quarterly diversity
Human Rights Report Pompeo called a “proliferation of rights,” analysis by bureau, post, Civil Service and
Released, Commission arguing that reproductive and LGBT+ Foreign Service, grade, ethnicity/race, dis-
Disbanded rights were outside the scope of “founda- ability and gender.
U nveiling the State Department’s
2020 Country Reports on Human
Rights Practices on March 30, Secretary of
tional” rights.
“One of the core principles of human
rights is that they are universal,” Secretary
They also recommend that the depart-
ment hire a third party to conduct exit
interviews of employees who leave the
State Antony Blinken said that the trend Blinken said. “All people are entitled to department.
lines on human rights continue to move these rights, no matter where they’re born, The groups asked the department
in the wrong direction in every region of what they believe, whom they love, or any to “integrate curriculum on managing
the world. other characteristic. Human rights are also workplace flexibilities and leave, supervis-
He cited the “genocide” against co-equal; there is no hierarchy that makes ing remote teams, and how to practice
Muslim Uyghurs in Xinjiang, China; some rights more important than others.” allyship and mentorship into all existing
attacks on and imprisonment of oppos- “Past unbalanced statements that Foreign Service Institute courses on lead-
ing politicians and journalists in places suggest such a hierarchy, including those ership and management.”
like Russia, Uganda and Venezuela; and offered by a recently disbanded State They call on the Bureau of Overseas
arbitrary arrests and beatings of protesters Department advisory committee, do Building Operations to ensure all embas-
in Belarus, Yemen and Burma. not represent a guiding document for sies are accessible to people with disabili-
“All of these alarming trend lines are this administration,” he added. “At my ties and include separate prayer/reflection
being worsened by COVID-19, which auto- confirmation hearing, I promised that and lactation rooms. All housing pools
cratic governments have used as a pretext the Biden-Harris administration would should have at least one accessible hous-
to target their critics and further repress repudiate those unbalanced views. We do ing unit, they say.
human rights,” he said. “Plus, COVID-19 so decisively today.” Noting that about 70 countries do
has disproportionately impacted the indi- not accredit same-sex spouses or family
viduals and groups in our societies who Affinity Groups Spell Out members of LGBT+ diplomats, the groups
were already subject to abuse, to discrimi- Diversity Measures say the department should use diplomatic
nation, to marginalization.”
Secretary Blinken also used his speech
to announce that he was disbanding
S eventeen employee affinity groups
sent a white paper to Secretary of
State Antony Blinken on March 26 making
engagement and other tools to make sure
these families have the same rights as
others.
the Commission on Unalienable Rights, specific recommendations on the “most They also urge the department to
which was established by former Secretary urgent steps” the department should take make sure that all employee evaluations
of State Mike Pompeo. The commission to advance diversity and inclusion. for Foreign Service and Civil Service
sought to reframe U.S. interpretation of AFSA has been in close contact with employees are gender-blind and redact
human rights to move away from what affinity groups about these issues. the employee’s name.
14 JUNE 2021 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNALVaccine Diplomacy globally will Americans be safe for the
F ormer USAID Administrator Gayle
Smith has been appointed as the
State Department’s coordinator for
long term.”
He noted that the United States has
provided vaccines to Canada and Mexico
global COVID-19 response and health and plans to work with global partners to
security. Smith helped lead the American make sure there will be “enough vaccine
response to the Ebola crisis under the for everyone, everywhere.”
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Obama administration. The New York Times reported on April
Announcing her appointment on 26 that the Biden administration would
April 5, Secretary of State Antony Blinken ship as many as 60 million doses of the
said the Biden administration is look- AstraZeneca vaccine to other countries,
ing for ways to share more vaccines with Coordinator for Global COVID-19 Response including India—which the Times says
other countries. and Health Security Gayle Smith. may be experiencing the worst crisis of
The United States faces two chal- any country since the pandemic began.
lenges, Smith said. The first is to shorten “We have a duty to other countries to But some critics say that is not
“the lifespan of a borderless pandemic get the virus under control here in the enough.
that is destroying lives and livelihoods all United States,” Blinken said in announc- U.S. diplomatic staff in India have
over the world.” The second, she added, ing the appointment. “But soon, the been hit hard by the latest outbreak there.
is ensuring “that we can prevent, detect United States will need to step up our Four locally employed staff have died
and respond to those future global health work and rise to the occasion worldwide from COVID-19 in recent months, and
threats we know are coming.” because, again, only by stopping COVID more than 100 people in the embassy
community have tested positive for
the virus, according to multiple media
reports.
Site of the Month: Just Security OIG: Pompeo Violated
justsecurity.org Ethics Rules
F ormer Secretary of State Mike Pom-
peo and his wife, Susan, directed
J
ust Security, founded in 2013
at the Reiss Center on Law and
Security of New York University’s
State Department employees to carry out
tasks of a personal nature for them more
School of Law, bills itself as an editori- than 100 times, violating ethics rules,
ally independent online forum for the the department’s Office of the Inspector
rigorous analysis of law, rights and General said in an April 16 report.
U.S. national security policy. It publishes several articles a week on “key topics” Some of the favors included picking
such as racial justice, immigration, war authorization and the coronavirus, and up personal items, caring for pets, plan-
features “litigation trackers” for both Donald Trump and President Biden. ning events unrelated to the depart-
ment’s mission and mailing personal
The website strives to promote “principled and pragmatic solutions” to
Christmas cards.
national security problems. Its Board of Editors includes individuals with signifi-
The OIG opened the investigation into
cant government experience, civil society attorneys, academics and other lead-
possible ethics violations in 2019 after a
ing voices, and its advisory board features four retired U.S. ambassadors.
whistleblower complaint. In May 2020, the
Just Security offers two email newsletters. Early Edition, sent at the start of
Trump administration fired State Depart-
each business day, features up-to-the-minute news developments at home and
ment Inspector General Steve Linick on
abroad. Today on Just Security, sent at the end of the day, features all content
the recommendation of Pompeo, who
published in the previous 24 hours.
denied the move was retaliatory.
THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JUNE 2021 1550 Years Ago
Embassies and Ambassadors
T raditionally, ambassadorships in many U.S. missions
abroad had been viewed by the party in power as polit-
ical plums with which to reward its most generous cam-
reviewed. This review should
include outstanding employ-
ees of the United States
paign contributors. This practice was hard to defend even Information Agency and the
in the relatively quiet past when our involvement in world Agency for International Development, which, while
affairs was marginal. In a world buffeted by unpredictable closely associated with the State Department, had previ-
new political forces, the choice of ambassadors on this ously been bypassed in regard to ambassadorial appoint-
basis would be totally irresponsible. I had discussed with ments. We needed to place particular emphasis, I thought,
Kennedy the need to strengthen our overseas missions on the younger officers. At that time no one under fifty held
and found that he shared my views. Although Kennedy the rank of career minister or career ambassador. (I once
naturally left the door open to make a few appointments startled President Kennedy by remarking that under the
on personal grounds, he and to some extent even Rusk existing Foreign Service promotional system the highest
agreed that recruiting a new breed of envoy should be at grade he could expect to achieve at his age, forty-three, was
the top of our agenda; I was given primary responsibility an FSO-3, a little more than halfway up the promotional lad-
for recruitment. … der.)
I decided that the abilities of all Foreign Service offi- —Excerpted from an article by the same title by former
cers qualified for ambassadorial posts should be carefully Ambassador Chester Bowles in the June 1971 FSJ.
The OIG recommended that the Office U.S. Troops Will Withdraw States will continue to pay the salaries of
of the Legal Adviser update its guidance from Afghanistan Afghan security forces, support Afghani-
to the Office of the Secretary on the use
of department funds to pay for gifts to
U.S. citizens and the use of department
P resident Joe Biden announced
on April 14 that the United States
will withdraw remaining U.S. troops in
stan’s counterterrorism abilities and pro-
vide substantial development assistance.
Many in Afghanistan expressed anxi-
employees to arrange personal dinners Afghanistan by Sept. 11, two decades ety over the U.S. decision to withdraw.
and entertainment. after the United States went to war there “My views are very pessimistic,” said
It said the Bureau of Diplomatic to root out al-Qaida. Naheed Farid, an Afghan parliament
Security should update its Protection “It’s time to end the forever war,” member who chairs a committee on
Handbook to include examples of what Biden said. “I’m now the fourth United women’s issues and met with Secretary
to do when agents receive inappropriate States president to preside over Ameri- Blinken.
requests for tasks of a personal nature. can troop presence in Afghanistan: two “No matter how you slice it, the
The OIG report also recommended Republicans, two Democrats. I will not withdrawal announcement will be hard
that the Under Secretary of Manage- pass this responsibility on to a fifth.” for many Afghans to accept. There’s no
ment issue guidance on what employees On April 15, Secretary of State Antony way to sugarcoat a policy decision that’s
should do when they are asked to do Blinken met with Afghan President Ashraf quite likely to worsen instability in a
personal tasks for someone. Ghani and other Afghan leaders in Kabul, country that has been at war for 40 years,”
The State Department concurred with and said U.S. support for the wartorn Michael Kugelman, an Afghan scholar at
OIG’s three recommendations. country will continue even after Sept. 11. the Wilson Center, told The Washington
Pompeo blasted the report in a state- “I wanted to demonstrate with my visit Post.
ment. “Every American should fear that the ongoing commitment of the United In testimony before the Senate Intel-
their government can traffic in lies and States,” Secretary Blinken told President ligence Committee on April 14, CIA
deception in order to smear them and ruin Ghani. “The partnership is changing, but Director William Burns said the with-
their reputation because they disagree the partnership itself is enduring.” drawal comes with “significant risk” of a
with their political positions,” he said. Secretary Blinken said the United resurgence of terrorism in the region.
16 JUNE 2021 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNALBiden Recognizes
Armenian Genocide
O n April 24 Joe Biden became the first
U.S. president to officially recognize
the Turkish massacre of Armenians more
than a century ago as genocide, CNN
reported.
“Each year on this day, we remember
the lives of all those who died in the Otto-
man-era Armenian genocide and recom-
mit ourselves to preventing such an atrocity
from ever again occurring,” Biden wrote
in a statement commemorating the 106th
anniversary of the start of the massacre.
“One and a half million Armenians were
deported, massacred or marched to their
deaths in a campaign of extermination.”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip
Erdogan demanded that Biden reverse his
declaration, Reuters reported on April 26,
declaring: “The U.S. president has made
baseless, unjust and untrue remarks
about the sad events that took place in our
geography over a century ago.”
After Biden’s statement, Turkey sum-
moned U.S. Ambassador to Turkey David
Satterfield. In Armenia, meanwhile, it was
officially welcomed as a step toward “the
restoration of truth and historical justice.”
In 1981 President Ronald Reagan made
a passing reference to the Armenian geno-
cide during a statement about the holo-
caust, but it was not followed by a formal
recognition by the U.S. government.
The United States has long seen Turkey as
a critical ally in the Middle East. But relations
have deteriorated in the past several years.
State Department Wins
Disabilities Award
F or the second straight year, CAREERS
& the disABLED Magazine has rec-
ognized the State Department with its
Government Employer of the Year Award.
The magazine announced the award in its
Winter 2020 issue.
THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JUNE 2021 17In acknowledging Americans Confident in will make other countries view the United
the award, the State Biden Foreign Policy States favorably. Nearly two-thirds also
Department said
it is “dedicated to
advancing workforce
A majority of Americans are confident
in President Joe Biden’s handling
of foreign policy as he started his term,
say the United States benefits from par-
ticipating in international organizations
such as the World Health Organization,
diversity” and cited according to a Pew Research Center NATO and the United Nations, and 78
its new Access Center, a 2,400-square- survey released Feb. 24. percent say they want the United States
foot space in Columbia Plaza near the Pew found that 60 percent of Ameri- to share a leadership role in the world.
State’s SA-1 Building in Washington, D.C., can adults have confidence in Biden on The foreign policy priorities for
that opened in 2020. The center offers foreign policy, but this varies sharply by Americans include protecting the jobs
employees with disabilities the chance to party. Among Democrats and Demo- of American workers, reducing the
test cutting-edge assistive technologies. cratic-leaning independents 88 percent spread of infectious diseases and pro-
A February 2020 State Magazine expressed confidence in Biden, com- tecting the United States from terrorist
feature about the center notes that nearly pared to 27 percent of Republicans and attacks, Pew found. n
24 percent of full-time American workers those leaning Republican.
suffer from a disability. At State, people The Pew survey of nearly 2,600 This edition of Talking Points was
with disabilities make up 12.2 percent of Americans also found that 69 percent of compiled by Cameron Woodworth and
the workforce. respondents think Biden’s leadership Shawn Dorman.
A Crucial Time for Diplomacy administration’s emphasis on nominating
HEARD ON THE HILL
This is a crucial time for American diplomacy. knowledgeable and seasoned leaders with
From competition with China and the threat of rich foreign policy experience.
climate change, to record numbers of displaced —Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), chairman
people and backsliding of democracies, the chal- of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, at
lenges our nation faces are daunting. But solving an April 28 nominations hearing.
them is made even more difficult by our nation’s
crumbling infrastructure of diplomacy. First and Rebuild Trust
foremost, the State Department and the Foreign It is also critical that this administration
Service. Although some of the issues at the State recognize the interdependence between
JOSH
Department predated the Trump administration, arms control and nuclear modernization, as
they were made much worse over the last four explicitly codified in the ratification of the
years. In short, I believe we’re facing a generational crisis in new START treaty. Trust must be rebuilt between Congress
American diplomacy. That’s why I began to focus on how we and the executive. To rebuild this trust, the Biden adminis-
can renew U.S. diplomacy by rebuilding our State Depart- tration must commit to a full modernization of the nuclear
ment to meet the challenges of the 21st century. triad and nuclear weapons complex. This is vital to reassure
—U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas), at the our allies who have forgone developing nuclear weapons
Meridian Diplomacy Forum, April 16. and instead rely on our nuclear umbrella that we provide
for them. Dismantling our capabilities while our adversaries
Nominations Hearings build their stockpiles is inherently destabilizing and under-
I have spoken often about the pivotal foreign policy chal- mines international security.
lenges facing our country and the State Department, and —Senator James Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the
this hearing will be no different. If confirmed, both of you Senate Foreign Relations Committee, at an
will confront serious issues and challenges at a department April 28 nominations hearing.
in need of repair and rebuilding. I’m heartened by the Biden
18 JUNE 2021 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNALSPEAKING OUT
The Case Against Political Ambassadors
BY E DWA R D L . P EC K
T
he United States is the only
To expect a nonprofessional to deal
developed nation clinging to a
discredited practice of send- with all this is to fail to understand
ing large numbers of novice what “professional” means.
ambassadors—chosen for their political
donations or because of who rather than
what they know. The following criticism if, as ambassadors must, you are going to coordinate the activities of every Ameri-
of that concept should not in any way direct others who are doing it. can agency present in the country where
be read as ignoring or denigrating the The vast reach of our international they are serving. To do so effectively, they
character, achievements or abilities of concerns, amplified by instant communi- must have sufficient experience to super-
political ambassadors—that is not the cations, has made ambassadors far more vise and support all the agencies in car-
issue. important—not less—than ever before, rying out their responsibilities promptly,
Most countries no longer sell military even if many Americans do not fully properly and efficiently.
rank, having learned that commanders comprehend what the job entails. This requires a solid grounding in the
tend to do better if they know the work. We have significant interests and highly complicated processes by which
The same principle obviously applies to objectives in virtually every country, foreign policies are formulated in Wash-
ambassadors; yet America ignores this including supporting and protecting ington, as well as detailed knowledge
otherwise universal truth. Americans; political and economic and understanding of the mandates and
Lack of training and background in developments; human rights and objectives of the many agencies involved
the complicated processes of advancing democratization; trade promotion; in implementation.
America’s interests abroad is nothing to military and economic assistance; nar- To expect a nonprofessional to deal
be ashamed of, but it clearly disqualifies cotics; science and technology; environ- with all this is to fail to understand what
anyone for an ambassadorship. Want ads ment; visas, refugees and immigration; “professional” means. Organizations
all show why. Except at the entry level, internal stability; regional cooperation spend months training people to serve
every job has one essential requirement: and multilateral affairs; intelligence; capably at the bottom of an organization
experience. and the major management issues of chart, decades for service at the middle
At managerial levels, the fixed staffing, budget and security for U.S. and upper levels. Outsiders cannot pos-
prerequisite to qualify is extensive, missions overseas. sibly serve effectively at the top, despite
job-related experience. The rationale is By law and by presidential directive, their abilities or desire; an apprentice
clear: You must know the work yourself ambassadors are required to direct and ambassador is just that, and most issues
will be handled by those who are familiar
Edward L. Peck, a Foreign Service officer from 1956 to 1989, served as chief of with the work.
mission in Mauritania and Iraq. Other overseas assignments included Sweden, To understand, visualize an absolute
Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt. On retirement, Ambassador Peck served beginner attempting to run a newspa-
as executive secretary of the American Academy of Diplomacy, where for three per, a machine shop, a payroll unit, an
years he prepared assessments of the qualifications of noncareer nominees for architectural firm or the organization
ambassadorships using the background materials nominees sent to the Senate Foreign Relations where you are employed. It simply will
Committee, which shared those materials with the academy. More recently, he has traveled the not work. He or she may have a high level
world on cruise ships giving lectures on topics such as “Thinking About Our World” and “Repre- of intelligence and energy and accom-
senting a Superpower—What American Ambassadors Do, and Why They Should Be Professionals.” plishments in other fields, but all of it is
THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JUNE 2021 19irrelevant. At most, the novice can deal Committee has long since abandoned its
Speaking Out is the Journal’s opinion
competently with only a very small frac- constitutional responsibility. The commit- forum, a place for lively discussion of
tion of an ambassador’s total job; others, tee has also abandoned the requirements issues affecting the U.S. Foreign Service
and American diplomacy. The views
by necessity, have to do all the rest. and restrictions included in the 1980 expressed are those of the author;
Career Foreign Service ambassadors Foreign Service Act written by Congress, their publication here does not imply
endorsement by the American Foreign
are not necessarily more capable, effec- rubber-stamping all but the most egre-
Service Association. Responses are
tive or intelligent than novices, but they gious candidates, knowing that their party welcome; send them to journal@afsa.org.
have one shatteringly compelling and will have its turn.
undeniable advantage: experience. They Other nations welcome political Many large organizations hire outsiders
know the players, the machinery, the ambassadors. Wrong. No government at the top. Right. But only at the strategic
procedures, the cultures, the history. In wants a rank beginner, especially from level—CEO, Secretary of State—never at
short, they know the work. a superpower. Governments seldom the operating level (regional representa-
Political ambassadors, neither capable publicly criticize a nominee, who is tive, plant manager, ambassador). At that
of being engaged in nor necessarily certain to be confirmed; but editorials in level, the person in charge must know the
even aware of many of their nominal Australia, Spain, Italy and Switzerland, what, why and how of the tasks, as well as
responsibilities, seldom find the obliga- to name a few, have blasted nominations the organizations that carry them out.
tions (as they understand them) overly of novices as indicating that we consider There have been some excellent politi-
burdensome. As John Kenneth Galbraith, the job, and therefore the relationship, cal ambassadors. Right. The fact that the
President John F. Kennedy’s ambassador unimportant. Some political appointees statement must be made, however,
to India, said: “There were many, many are famous, or even popular, which has underlines the basic problem: They are
days when, if I didn’t do anything that my nothing whatsoever to do with their hardly ever chosen because of anticipated
staff could do as well or better, I could fin- qualifications or effectiveness. excellent performance. Financial, political
ish my activities in an hour or two.” Walter Political ambassadors can raise issues and social connections are the determin-
Mondale, offered an ambassadorship by directly with the president. Maybe, but is ing forces, not experience or qualifica-
President Bill Clinton, declined, saying: that good? Few of them are close enough tions, producing a vastly larger number of
“I prefer to pay for my own vacations.” to count on getting through, let alone highly marginal performers and far more
Despite the irrefutable logic of relying raise a subject the president may not have than a few genuine embarrassments.
on professionals, the present spoils system been following. Far more important, it is Amateur ambassadors only need a
has supporters. Their ranks inexplicably not in our national interest to have any good embassy staff to do an effective job.
include some FSOs, otherwise proud of ambassador bypass the national security Sophistry. The phrase accurately, pain-
their careers, who do not appear to under- system; nor should the system stand for it. fully, describes a figurehead, whose most
stand the impact on the concept of their Noncareer appointees can provide fresh meaningful contribution is to keep out of
profession of suggesting that amateurs perspectives. Right, but that describes the way. In that case, why bother having
could perform the top jobs just as well. inexperience as a qualification. There is an ambassador at all?
The following arguments in defense no substitute for experience, especially The Cold War is over, but our involve-
of political ambassadors are often put when contentious economic, cultural ment with the rest of the world clearly
forward: or political differences are involved. A is not. As recent experience has shown,
The president can nominate anyone. lack of background in the thorny issues that involvement can suddenly become
True, but the Founding Fathers, in a far of relations and the competing interests profound and complex, and in unexpected
less complicated world, required the Sen- of sovereign nations can make fresh per- places. There is far too much at stake to
ate to consent after considering nomi- spectives irrelevant, or far worse. place the always complicated, significant
nees’ qualifications. In theory, the only The same concept applies in civilian and sometimes critical responsibilities of
criterion would be national interests; but control of the military. Wrong. Civil- ambassadors in the hands of well-meaning
political nominations reflect the impor- ians are never given direct command but unqualified political nominees.
tance of money, friendship and patron- of troops, planes or ships, the military America requires and deserves far
age, and the Senate Foreign Relations equivalent of embassies. better than that. n
20 JUNE 2021 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNALYou can also read
