Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
June 2000
State Magazine
Town Hall
Spotlights Security
In our next issue:
Public Service Recognition Week
State
Magazine
State Magazine (ISSN 1099–4165) is published monthly, except
Carl Goodman bimonthly in July and August, by the U.S. Department of State, 2201
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF C St., N.W., Washington, DC. Periodicals postage paid at Washington,
Dave Krecke DC. POSTMASTER: Send changes of address to State Magazine,
WRITER/EDITOR PER/ER/SMG, SA-1, Room H-236, Washington, DC 20522-0602. State
Magazine is published to facilitate communication between manage-
Kathleen Goldynia
ment and employees at home and abroad and to acquaint employees
ART DIRECTOR
with developments that may affect operations or personnel. The
Isaias Alba IV magazine is also available to persons interested in working for the
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Department of State and to the general public.
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS State Magazine is available by subscription through the
Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office,
James Williams Washington, DC 20402 (telephone [202] 512-1850).
CHAIRMAN For details on submitting articles to State Magazine, request
Sally Light our guidelines, “Getting Your Story Told,” by email at
EXECUTIVE SECRETARY statemagazine@state.gov; download them from our web site at
Janice Burke www.state.gov/www/publications/statemag; or send your request
Frank Coulter in writing to State Magazine, PER/ER/SMG, SA-1, Room H-236,
Washington, DC 20522-0602. The magazine’s phone number is
Cheryl Hess
(202) 663-1700.
Stevenson McIlvaine
Wayne Oshima Deadlines: July 15 for September issue.
August 15 for October issue.
Michael Scanlin
State Magazine
C O L U M N S
16 4 Secretary Holds Town Hall Meeting
We all have a stake in security, Secretary tells employees.
2 From the Secretary
6 Ceremony Honors Bombing Victims 7 Direct From the D.G.
Tree planting in Arlington creates a living memorial.
On the Cover
Secretary Albright focuses
on security.
Photo by Samara Al-Mardi
Digital Diplomacy
in the Information Age
E
very now and again, a memo crosses my desk the strength of our democratic institutions to shape the
that puts a smile on my face. In a recent world- international environment in which technology operates.
wide survey of our missions, most ambassadors That means supporting policies that allow the new digi-
found that our public diplomacy has kept pace tal economy to flourish while protecting citizens’ rights
with the Information Age, taking advantage of innova- and freedoms. It means cooperating with foreign govern-
tions in technology and providing us with valuable new ments to pursue criminals who abuse the web.
foreign policy tools. We must also use the Internet to promote our core for-
As today’s State Department grapples with the oppor- eign policy objectives. And we are already deploying infor-
tunities and uncertainties of an online world, we know mation technology to strengthen our security, to promote
that the Internet will play an important role in 21st cen- democracy and human rights and to expand our trade.
tury diplomacy. That is why we have moved aggressive- Here in Washington, the Nuclear Risk Reduction Center
ly into information technology, creating award-winning uses advanced technology to reduce the risks posed by
web sites, online databases, electronic journals and the weapons of mass destruction. The Bureau of Diplomatic
Washington File. Security uses the web for its Heroes Program, to offer
We have also made great progress on our five-year rewards, disseminate information abroad and bring inter-
plan to build a secure, global communications network. national terrorists and criminals before the bar of justice.
This will provide us with access to the information super- At our missions overseas, we are expanding e-
highway and allow us to network more effectively with commerce by facilitating business-to-business contacts.
other government agencies, international institutions, This is increasingly important to American prosperity in
host governments, nongovernmental organizations and light of projections that by the year 2006 half of the
the general public. American labor force will work in industries that pro-
As one force driving globalization, the Internet has duce or consume information technology products.
given rise to exciting new opportunities. Just consider And yet, for all the wealth and attention the “dotcom”
that when President Clinton took office, the World Wide industry has generated, we cannot forget that while 95
Web barely existed. Today, America’s single largest percent of American schools are now online, half of the
Internet provider delivers more mail each day than the world’s people have never made a phone call. Information
U.S. Postal Service. is the new currency of the global economy and the key to
As a result, the Internet is helping us do things that were information is education. That is why we are using the
once scarcely imaginable. Today, a student in Asia can access Internet to promote economic development for the poorest
the entire catalog of the Library of Congress or receive live countries, to expand micro-credit programs, to support
video feeds from the Space Shuttle. An activist in Africa can distance learning and to share web-based medicine.
link up with organizations protecting the environment or Access to information also leads to personal and political
join a worldwide campaign to prevent HIV/AIDS. empowerment, and the Internet has become a powerful
Of course, the capacity to convey information rapidly new tool for promoting freedom. Our annual human rights
creates new dangers as well. Pornography, propaganda report is now posted for the citizens of all nations to access.
and vicious lies may be transmitted more broadly. And Our embassies are using the web to train journalists, edu-
cyber-crime is a rising threat. While we must wrestle with cate voters and strengthen the institutions of civil society.
these challenges, the way forward is not to reject the new Simply put, information technology can and should
technology, censor legitimate information or try to enhance our diplomacy. We have a long way to go, but we
restrict the Internet’s growth. Instead, we should use our are now taking confident steps in the right direction. We
influence and power to guide the technological forces must always remember, however, that technology simply
that are bringing us closer together. gives us new tools. While these tools may someday revo-
Just as the world’s scientists used American know-how lutionize the way we do business, what matters most is
to create the Internet, we must draw on our values and the quality and creativity of the people who use them. I
2 State Magazine
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
On FSNs: Apoplexy and Auckland and developed close work- Sydney as being the political capital
ing relationships with the media and of Australia prior to Canberra. In
Applause leaders from academia, trade unions fact, Melbourne was the original
I write to inform and government. FSNs have a built- Australian capital prior to the move
s in understanding of local social and to Canberra in the 1920s.
FSN
s of you and your editori-
Role
d
us an
Cha t
are
there xamine
often ir sta
the
lz,
execu rs, de t on
then ic Affai He no nefits
.
cid
be
ly
The
Bu hu cif se
to ree rb Sc d Pa region p the increa
ly p
uttin
g
can read.
posts Ns.
In reau
Bu
1995
, He ian anin the d to rea e to
eral
As
on FS early of East sitions o wanteexperie
po he als and
y, n ness.
the ert sev e mone alizatio ective el office d the 199 r posi-
nc
r in
erra
Canb 8 con-
at
of co ’ eff reg
pe
hope ntinuity iciency ional ng for perso ed a job d can .
nti al
ez, pleme region develop quali and Ms
nn
ice
fie
-
Bureau of Diplomatic Security
ships on behalf of the U.S. govern-
posts rtin
Pos talent . Jobs
the ry Ma s the im an FSN u, she of highlyected, job.”
Ma e, wa to
r job the bu ge gro
rea up ly sel lliant e to
l world reign tim ate
the on of he with w a lar s ultim doing a st ini he cur-
bri tiativ
loca dson
Those FSNs
the Fo fir
und t by versi Working tely dre stley wa t “he’s of this where mmer e
of
onal
the
es aro of ed ou
hD bassi mbers carri tion. immedia lm Ea orts tha luence gapore, the su trativ
Sara S. Em by me being et cu
ts lco
that s. Ma udly rep the inf and Sin on. In adminis lowed
By at U. dg its ate d ne ssi an fol el
ld
singly
bu of did ez pro carrie lbour of mi laced gapore rsonn
I
dit are s an sit rei er de su sit em by an
tra ice ce Na te ha and can po w Fo ati- oth s as con N po
two serve lbourne an FS longtimevacated
lucky enough to
Serv gn Servi ars, Sta ing eri ne
Am ing up It’s dr
am s.
tly th ing
mm
Forei st 10 yeth a tri certain en m. ers ea
, ren , the
Me
ion
wi
ign sition
pa bo g ile op e the es ov posts 1998 r posit y, ass w to a
po
In the ising minatin , wh replac embassi and office last Ma eng Lie officer.
exerc e—eli wo rld s to at rea us
Ns d, Ph el
by orc d the sition of FS al bu abroa ief suit yee rsonn
workf aroun nal po role individu erican st, ch emplo can pe
read, however,
to sen ing ma
cally e decis dget-dr 50,000 accord ent’s Hursonnel.
Th en bu $1 ary,” Pe
oft least sal ploym u of
are costs at without eas Em Burea
It ers the
that’s e of Ov ion in
“and Offic
izing tone of I hope the Department doesn’t limit as reported in your February/March
Sarah Donaldson’s arti- 20
State
Mag
azine
opportunities for FSNs to technical, issue. Maybe they could be parceled
cle, “The Changing Role of financial or personnel positions. out to posts to meet and assist their
FSNs,” in your April issue. colleagues in their glamorous and
Vivienne A. Hutchison
What should have been a celebra- exciting work and information man-
Retired FSN, Sebastopol, Calif.
tion of the success the Department is agement specialists could devote
having filling previously Foreign more time to their own jobs.
Service officer positions with FSNs A Capital Offense Michael Gallaher
was instead spoiled by the implica- In your post feature on Abuja in Information Management Specialist
tion of relief that the whole thing the April issue, you referred to Cairo, Egypt
hadn’t been a complete disaster.
To give you some idea of how an
FSN might feel when reading this
article, try substituting throughout
the word American for FSN. These
sorts of attitudes—that the Depart-
ment is somehow taking a risk with
From the Editor
this program, that the greatest expec- Readers are a publication’s greatest assets. State Magazine’s are
tation we can have of FSNs is medi- no exception.
ocrity (and that anything beyond this To reach and retain readers, publications must change. State Magazine
is a bonus) is both insulting and fly- is no exception.
ing in the face of reality. Recently, State Magazine has changed dramatically from black and
white to full color and expanded its coverage from a focus on the Foreign
Matthew Dumbrell
Service to include coverage of Foreign Service and Civil Service employ-
FSN Economic Specialist
ees, Foreign Service National employees and retirees. In all, we’re talking
U.S. Embassy, Canberra
about some 50,000 potential readers. That’s quite an audience to reach.
A two-person editorial staff needs your help to cover a Department as
I read with interest Sarah
far-flung and as far-reaching as the State Department. To extend our
Donaldson’s article on the changing
reach, we rely heavily on our readers, both overseas and in Washington,
roles of FSNs in the April issue.
for articles. We are glad to work with readers who wish to write for the
Having been an FSN in New Zealand
magazine. Some general guidelines are already available upon request
for 28 years, I applaud the wisdom in
and on our web site listed on the inside front cover.
State’s recognition of FSNs who are
We especially encourage and welcome articles both by and about our
holding jobs traditionally held by
Foreign Service National employees, who outnumber all of our other
Foreign Service members.
employees. And we welcome reflections on life after State from our
I disagree, however, with those
retirees, who number in the thousands.
officers concerned about FSNs lack-
Our audiences may always exceed our reach but they will never
ing network contacts within the
exceed our goal.
Department and field. For 13 years I
directed the USIS American Center in
June 2000 3
I N T H E N E W S
We All Have a
Stake in Security,
Secretary Tells
Employees
e all have a stake in safeguarding our nation’s the first career law enforcement officer ever to lead the
4 State Magazine
“Today, I want to make it clear that I am asking for, and
expect, your full support.”
A culture within the Department that resists paying full
Five Key Elements of Security
attention to security responsibilities is unacceptable, the 1. Security is a core component of the job of each and
Secretary said. Security cannot interfere with job perform-
every State Department employee. I don’t care how skilled
ance because, she said, “security is a core component of
the job of each and every person in this room and those
you are as a diplomat, how brilliant you may be in meetings
listening outside” regardless of your job. “If you are not or how creative you may be as an administrator; if you are
professional about security, you are a failure,” she said. not professional about security, you are a failure.
Secretary Albright commented that much-publicized Every personnel review should include an evaluation of how
security violations have damaged the credibility and rep- well security-related responsibilities are fulfilled. And every
utation of the Department and everyone who works at employee who handles or safeguards classified or sensitive
State. And, she added, they have raised questions within information must attend the Department’s annual security
Congress and the public about our commitment to secu- briefings. Getting security right requires not just a short burst
rity. The Secretary said every personnel review should of attention. It demands a permanent commitment.
include an evaluation of how well security-related
responsibilities are fulfilled and that every employee 2. If you see a violation, do not look the other way. Correct
who handles or safeguards classified or sensitive infor- it, report it and ensure it does not happen again. The vast
mation should attend an annual security briefing. majority of State Department employees already take their
Where you serve should not influence the precautions security duties very seriously. I can’t emphasize this
you take, she observed, because “the imperatives of day- enough. It is the few who neglect or who are casual about
to-day security do not change—whether you live in their duties who create problems for all of us. So this is one
Bethesda or Beijing.” area where we must each be our neighbor’s keeper.
She encouraged employees to follow written proce- 3. Forget that the Cold War ended. Spy novelists may be
dures by citing a personal observation. When she travels,
having trouble thinking up plots, but our nation still has ene-
the Secretary observed that the pilots follow a written
manual before every take-off. “They don’t want to go
mies; our secrets still need protecting; and the threats we face
down, and we don’t want to go down either.” are more varied and less predictable than ever.
“We have been put on notice,” one employee concluded. It 4. Don’t let where you serve affect the precautions you
was a view shared by many attending the town hall meeting. take. It may seem less necessary to go the extra mile for
Before opening the floor for questions, Secretary security here in the Department than in a sensitive overseas
Albright said, “We all have a stake in safeguarding the post, but it is not. The imperatives of day-to-day security do
interests of our nation and in seeing that within our not change whether you live in Bethesda or Beijing.
Department there exists a climate and culture which
5. Don’t rely on memory alone. Develop and follow pro-
ensures that security is a top priority for every employee,
every day.”
cedures. Airline pilots run through a written checklist of
Earlier, she had invoked Jefferson’s admonition: “The safety measures before each flight. We should do the
price of liberty is eternal vigilance.” same before going home.
June 2000 5
I N T H E N E W S
6 State Magazine
DIRECT FROM THE D.G.
EDWARD W. “SKIP” GNEHM JR.
S
ummer is here and I know that many toward reaching that goal. During my tenure
of our Foreign Service colleagues are I have listened carefully to your suggestions
already scheduling their packouts, for making the Department a better place to
making travel arrangements, won- work. I’m proud of what we have accom-
dering how they’ll ship their pets and how plished together, and I want to encourage all
the kids will adjust to their new schools. of you to take full advantage of the many
After three fascinating and challenging opportunities our system offers for career
years as director general, I, too, will be join- Moving On with advancement.
ing this summer’s seasonal migration.
I can honestly say that this assignment has
Deep Appreciation of One of my goals has been to bring a sense
professionalism back to the ranks of the
been unlike anything I have done in my career Civil Service and Foreign Service and
Foreign Service career. Yes, there has been to give greater recognition to the contribu-
that day now and then when I would gladly have tions of our Foreign Service National employees. In coop-
exchanged portfolios with any of you, but then there eration with Ambassador Ruth Davis and her dedicated
were all those other days—days when I felt we were real- staff at the Foreign Service Institute, we have succeeded
ly making a positive difference in people’s lives. in making our personnel system more responsive to the
As I prepare to move on, I would like to express my training needs of our workforce. I am also proud of our
deep appreciation to the Secretary for asking me to serve new language incentive initiatives and the programs we
as director general. I also want to extend a very special have introduced to develop the next generation of the
thanks to the dedicated Foreign Service and Civil Service Senior Executive Service. The willingness of AFSA and
employees of the Bureau of Personnel who have sup- AFGE to support our many pilot programs including the
ported my efforts to improve our system and who have AEP exam, 360 degree reviews, MSI stretches and PD
proposed and implemented so many excellent sugges- conversions has also demonstrated an openness to inno-
tions of their own. vation and partnership that is impressive and heartening.
During my tour, I have been privileged to meet with I don’t think there is a better place to work than the
many of you overseas and in Washington and to see first- Department of State if personal growth, discovery and
hand the truly heroic jobs you are doing in representing adventure are to your liking. We must never forget that
America to the world. At every post visited, I’ve we are public servants, entrusted by the American people
observed dedicated men and women accomplishing with the responsibility to represent their interests abroad,
much and justly proud of what they are doing—despite and we must never let the American people forget that
limited resources and a burgeoning workload. And our diplomats are America’s first lines of defense.
everywhere, I saw families sharing experiences and hard- The importance of our work is crystallized in this
ships and contributing in the workplace. quote about WWI from John Keegan: “(It) was a tragic
The courage and resourcefulness of those who experi- and unnecessary conflict. Unnecessary because the train
enced the bombings in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam was a of events that led to its outbreak might have been broken
striking tribute to all for which we stand. I wish that more at any point during the five weeks of crisis that preceded
Americans could appreciate as much as we do the efforts the first clash of arms, had prudence or common good-
of those brave colleagues and the many others working will found a voice.” The voice he refers to is ours—the
diligently to establish peace in the Balkans, the Middle voice of diplomacy.
East and Africa, who staff bare-bones missions in the Countless conflicts have been prevented in the past
newly independent states and who leave their families and many in the future will be avoided because experi-
behind to serve unaccompanied tours in Beirut, Algiers, enced diplomats with the language and area skills and
Monrovia or Pristina. the communications, security and logistical backup were
We all have an obligation to make the State Department able to appeal to the “prudence and common goodwill”
into the kind of organization we would like to see leading of our friends and our adversaries. All of you, friends and
America’s foreign policy into the 21st century. Last year’s colleagues, have my admiration and esteem. It has truly
merger with ACDA and USIA was a significant step been a privilege serving you. I
June 2000 7
Bahrain The U.S. Embassy,
Manama, Bahrain.
Land of Immortality
By Ian F. Dunn The bustling island community offers a study in con-
trasts: wooden dhows ply the Gulf waters against the
backdrop of a large, modern port and U.S. Navy vessels;
S
ince its days as Dilmun back in 2300 BC, Bahrain the muezzin’s call to prayer echoes through a city boast-
has been an oasis on the Persian Gulf, attracting ing a world-class telecommunications infrastructure;
travelers to its enchanted shores for millennia and shoppers roam the quaint back alleys of the
with its peaceful way of life and plentiful fresh Manama or Muharraq souks not far from the modern,
water. Sumerian poems in the Gilgamesh epic Westernized Seef Mall.
describe Dilmun as a land of immortals and an eternal Because of its strategic location, Bahrain has been sub-
paradise for sages and heroes. Approximately 172,000 ject to foreign rule throughout its long history. In ancient
burial mounds, some 5,000 years old, are scattered across times the island was part of the Phoenician trade empire.
the landscape in silent tribute to Dilmun, one of the old- Later, it came under Assyrian influence. In more recent
est civilizations on the Gulf. times the country was controlled by the Portuguese in the
A small island-state tucked along Saudi Arabia’s east- 16th century, by the Persians in the 17th and 18th cen-
ern coastline, Bahrain has been known for centuries for turies and by the British until Bahrain declared its inde-
the friendly welcome its people extend to visitors from pendence, in 1971.
around the world. It is a devout Islamic country that has The Al Khalifa ruling family has governed Bahrain since
comfortably embraced a number of Western practices. 1783 when Ahmed the Conqueror drove out the remaining
8 State Magazine
Persian garrison on the islands. The current emir, that one should have stayed inside. Merely walking to
Shaikh Hamad Al Khalifa, ascended to power the car can be an ordeal. The winters are relatively mild
upon the recent death of his father, Shaikh Isa Al and quite enjoyable. What rain Bahrain does receive—
Khalifa, who had ruled since 1961. In some about four inches annually—arrives in late winter.
respects, Bahrain is a family-run enterprise. The Despite Bahrain’s relatively small size, few expatriates
ruling family occupies many ministerial posi- complain of “island fever” because of the cultural and
tions, led by the emir’s son, the crown prince and social activities available. The bustling discotheques and
his uncle, the prime minister. There is no legisla- quality restaurants, famous throughout the region, attract
ture, but a consultative council considers and visitors from neighboring countries. The Bahrain National
votes on some issues. Museum presents the country’s history through a won-
Bahrain evokes comparison with Singapore derful collection of artifacts and displays. The Bait Al
or Hong Kong. It is a small island-state that has Quran Museum holds an unrivaled collection of Quranic
developed a modern economy on the strength items and literature. Bahrain also offers the tourist and
of its geo-strategic location, educated citizens resident alike a wildlife park, a variety of historic forts,
and warm openness to foreigners. Bereft of sig- mosques, resort facilities and an array of shopping areas.
nificant natural resources and with a native In spite of the heat, Bahrain offers a wonderful way of
population of only about 400,000, Bahrain’s life for the American community of approximately 3,000,
economy for centuries was based on its position about half of whom are associated with the U.S. military.
as a regional trading post between the west and Most Americans live in housing compounds that include
India. Travelers were drawn to the freshwater pools, tennis courts, recreation rooms and exercise facili-
springs that gave Bahrain—Arabic for “two ties. Western-style shopping malls, grocery stores and
seas”—its name. Pearling, fishing, date farming cinemas coexist with traditional Arabic bazaars and
and traditional crafts such as pottery and basket farmers’ markets. Roads are well maintained and marked
weaving were the primary economic staples. in English. Traffic jams are rare.
Prior to the discovery of oil, Bahrain was the Most dependent children attend the Department of
richest country in the Gulf on the strength of its Defense Dependent Schools, affiliated with the Bahrain
pearling industry, which was devastated by the School, which offers an American curriculum and the
large-scale introduction of cultivated pearls in International Baccalaureate program. Fully two-thirds
the 1930s. Natural Bahraini pearls are still val- of the school’s 900 students (and growing) in grades K-
ued for their quality. 12 are non-Americans from about 45 countries. There
Bahrain’s economic fortunes—and those of are several Bahraini schools as well as British, French
the world—changed on June 2, 1932, when the and Japanese international schools. Child care facilities
first oil discovered in the region was found in are available.
Bahrain. The discovery of the Bahrain Field by
the Standard Oil Co. of California led to
oil exploration in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait
and Qatar. In the decades that followed, Bahrain’s
economy became more dependent on petroleum
and its by-products. Bahrain’s oil reserves are very
A local rug merchant displays
small, however, and the country’s prudent eco- his wares in Manama.
nomic planners have diversified into the alu-
minum, banking and telecommunications sectors.
Bahrain is actually an archipelago of 33 islands
—only three of which are inhabited—with a total
land mass approximately 3.5 times that of
Washington, D.C. The majority of the land is
desert. The landscape is so harsh and desolate, in
fact, that in the 1970s the government deemed it
more feasible to accommodate the growing pop-
ulation by expanding onto reclaimed land at the
northern end of the main island rather than tam-
ing lands to the south.
To the uninitiated, the weather can be literally
breathtaking in the summer. The humidity level
tends to be particularly high from July to
September, driving the “discomfort index” to
almost unbearable levels. Under these condi-
tions, eyeglasses steam up instantly—a sure sign
Photo by Ian Dunn
June 2000 9
ubiquitous, made from chicken, beef or lamb.
Indian, Mediterranean and Chinese foods are
widely available.
The United States has always enjoyed warm
relations with Bahrain. The American Mission
Hospital, founded in 1902, was the first mod-
ern medical facility in the region. The U.S.
Navy recently celebrated the 50th anniversary
of its presence in Bahrain. The U.S. Naval
Central Command and the Fifth Fleet are
headquartered in Bahrain, and the administra-
tive support unit is undergoing a burst of con-
struction to expand its facilities. The ambassa-
dor and his staff enjoy easy access to all levels
of the government and excellent rapport with
all segments of Bahraini society. I
The Bab al Bahrain, gateway to the Manama souk. Deputy Chief of Mission Joseph Mussomeli and his wife Sharon with Isaac
and Alexis before the Manama skyline, modern and ancient.
The Bahrainis themselves, however, are probably the
country’s greatest attraction. They are warm, friendly,
humble and hospitable to strangers, characteristics culti-
vated over centuries as a regional trading post. They are
also very generous with their time and possessions. It is
not unusual for a rug or jewelry vendor to take a new
customer out for lunch. Tea, coffee and sweets are rou-
tinely offered to visitors.
Bahrain’s history as a way station between East and West
has led to a diverse offering of cuisines. Local fare includes
(a local type of grouper), a dessert called umm ali and the
10 State Magazine
Bureau of the Month:
Prayers at Jerusalem’s
Bureau of
Western Wall.
F
rom Marakesh to Mashad, across the south- region that relies heavily on U.S. diplomatic leadership.
ern shores of the Mediterranean to the oil- Exercising this leadership requires a delicate combination
laden sands of Iraq and Iran, and from the of crisis management, the shaping of policies and programs
Caspian Sea to the Gulf of Aden, the Middle to deal with underlying core issues and reinforcing new
East stretches across some of the most con- tendencies in broadening political participation.
tested territory in the world. It is home to Arabs, Iranians, NEA is a leadership bureau. Bureau employees—both
Israelis, Kurds, Berbers and dozens of smaller groups. It in the field and in Washington—are intimately engaged
harbors some of the world’s most valuable resources and in the formulation and execution of U.S. foreign policy
its most intractable conflicts. It lies at the intersection of initiatives that include facilitating the Middle East peace
Europe, Africa and Asia, incorporating elements of all process, countering the threat from Saddam Hussein,
three. Still, it remains culturally unique. ensuring stability in the oil-rich Gulf, fighting terrorism,
Few areas of the world combine such political and selling American products and promoting democratic
strategic importance with the chronic instability of the values and religious tolerance.
Near East. For over four decades, successive U.S. NEA works closely with the President’s Special Middle
Administrations have set a peaceful resolution of the East Coordinator on the full range of issues included in
Arab-Israeli conflict and secure access to the energy the Middle East peace negotiations involving Israel, the
resources of the Persian Gulf among their top foreign pol- Palestinians, Lebanon and Syria. The bureau leads the
icy objectives. Advancing vital U.S. political and econom- multilateral steering groups associated with the peace
ic interests in the Middle East is complicated by a legacy process, regional economic institutions and the
of ethnic conflicts, border disputes, economic dislocations, Palestinian donor coordination process. NEA staff lead
ecological disruptions and human rights abuses—all of discussions of regional issues with Russian, European
which have contributed to terrorism and violence. Union and Japanese partners, galvanizing support for
June 2000 11
U.S.-Iraq policies with all United Nations
Security Council members as well as with
Arab friends. The bureau also takes the
lead in interagency deliberations on Iran
and Libya policies.
Furthering the Middle East peace
process continues to dominate America’s
diplomatic agenda, just as it has for every
U.S. Administration since President
Truman’s. The rationale for vigorous U.S.
engagement in peace process diplomacy
remains the same: the U.S. commitment to
the security of the state of Israel and the Ambassador Dennis Ross, special
recognition of the risks of broader regional Middle East coordinator, is greet-
instability if the process were to falter. With ed by Israeli Minister for Regional
more than 20 years of Israeli peace with Cooperation Shimon Peres in
Egypt and more than five years of peace January 1999.
with Jordan to build on, U.S. emphasis con-
tinues to be on assisting the Israelis and Photo courtesy of David Staples
Palestinians to implement existing agree-
ments and conclude an agreement on permanent status
issues. While the risk of a superpower conflict stemming with the Gulf Cooperation Council states and safeguarding
from Arab-Israeli tensions my have receded, the underly- world access to the substantial energy resources from that
ing justification for U.S. engagement has not. area. NEA countries account for more than 75 percent of
U.S. engagement in the Near East is also critical to limit- proven world oil reserves. Since Saddam Hussein’s inva-
ing opportunities for the growth of radical regimes and fur- sion of Kuwait in 1990, the bureau has coordinated closely
ther proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in an with the Defense Department on an enhanced forward
already heavily militarized region with a number of fragile presence for U.S. military assets, and regional diplomacy is
governments. America seeks regional stability in the heavily oriented toward ensuring that those assets support
Persian Gulf as a vehicle for bolstering close partnerships our overall security priorities.
12 State Magazine
Daniel Kurtzer, center, U.S. Ambassador to
Countering the threat that Iraq under the Arab Republic of Egypt, and Mrs. Kurtzer
visit a U.S. Agency for International
Saddam Hussein poses to regional stabili- Development education project in Port Said.
ty and to worldwide nonproliferation
policies is a critical priority. NEA has man-
aged this threat using diplomacy backed
by the credible use of force, pending a
change of regime in Baghdad. This
includes mobilizing a wide array of diplo-
matic resources in Washington, the United
Nations in New York and posts around
the world to rally support for the U.S. con-
tainment and regime change effort. The
Gulf States are not like NATO—every new
deployment or coalition operation
requires extensive diplomatic coordina-
tion at senior levels. Efforts also include
closer engagement with Iraqis, both inside
and outside the country, who seek Iraq’s
reintegration into the family of nations.
Achieving change in Iranian practices
that violate international norms remains a
key goal. The bureau seeks to convince Iran
to alter its practices on terrorism and to
abandon its search for weapons of mass
North Africa has suffered economic dislocation and
destruction and the means of delivering them. At the same
political tension as its countries make the difficult transi-
time, the bureau works to rally consensus among friends
tion toward more open, democratic governance. U.S.
and allies to deny WMD capabilities or the financial
policies aim to bolster the efforts of moderate, construc-
resources that might enable Iran to buy these capabilities.
tive governments in Morocco and Tunisia and reinforce
NEA will continue its advocacy of government-to-govern-
change in Algeria. The bureau has begun an initiative in
ment dialogue with Iran while facilitating people-to-people
North Africa that gives new coherence to this approach
exchanges to foster an environment for such a dialogue.
and in FY 2000 will inaugurate a cutting-edge program to
support private sector trade—not a traditional aid pro-
NEA Peace Process and Regional Affairs office members enjoy a picnic and
gram—that will enhance investment opportunities and
cherry blossoms at the Jefferson Memorial. From left are Eric Carlson, Lee
Litzenberger, Jane Zimmerman, Robert Krantz and Randolph Fleitman. build civil institutions. The importance
of this effort to long-term stability and
U.S. business far exceeds its costs.
The bureau’s economic and democracy
programs are mutually reinforcing as
NEA faces the challenge of addressing
critical global issues and proving that U.S.
support for democracy is substantial.
Ambassadors and officers in the field are
also actively engaged in helping to sell
American products, which creates
American jobs. While the bureau seeks to
enhance private sector development and a
better investment climate to address root
causes of societal instability, it is also
developing civil society in a region that
often lacks institutions for peaceful transi-
tion of leadership, freedom of expression
or respect for women’s rights. More
broadly, the bureau has been encouraging
the region to address environmental
issues such as limited water resources and
environmental degradation through the
Middle East peace process multilateral
working groups. NEA also supports a
Photo courtesy of Randolph Fleitman
June 2000 13
Photo courtesy of David Schwartz
Iraq Desk Officer David Schwartz, left, and Iraq Officer David Bame, second from right, with Kurdistan Democratic party militia, standing next to an Iraqi tank
destroyed in battle against the Kurds of Northern Iraq.
comprehensive relationship with the regional societies and recent round of Middle East peace talks in Shepherdstown,
cultures through an array of exchange, cultural, informa- W.Va., NEA’s people show leadership, energy and creativ-
tion and other public diplomacy programs. ity in tackling the task at hand.
Change is coming to the Middle East in the area of lead- The challenges of working hard on important political
ership as well. In the last year and a half, a new generation issues are certainly not the only attractions drawing
has assumed the thrones in Jordan and Morocco. In Iran, employees and their families to repeat assignments in
more than 60 percent of the population is under the age of NEA. Crucible of the three great monotheistic religions,
24. The force of this demographic was clearly felt in the par- the region fascinates people interested in experiencing its
liamentary elections of February, when the people voted historic and cultural richness. NEA posts offer diverse
overwhelmingly for policies of internal reform and greater opportunities for exploring, from the Roman ruins of
openness to the outside world. NEA is keenly aware that Meknes, Morocco, and the centuries-old spice, rug and
these changes will have important implications for our poli- jewelry souks of Damascus, Syria, to the modern shop-
cies and our relationships with the states of the region. ping centers of Dubai and the world-class scuba diving of
The legacy of strong, vigorous U.S. leadership in the Sharm El-Sheik, Egypt. For employees with children, sev-
Middle East has entailed substantial commitments of for- eral NEA posts such as Amman, Cairo, Rabat and Tel
eign assistance resources over the past several decades. Aviv have outstanding American high schools whose
With more than $5 billion in annual security and econom- graduates enter the best universities in the United States.
ic assistance traditionally earmarked for Israel and Egypt, Many in the bureau invest two years in learning Arabic
the region receives some 40 percent of America’s world- and remain in NEA for most of their careers. In addition
wide foreign assistance budget. Less frequently men- to the traditional language-designated consular, econom-
tioned is the fact that supporting all of our remaining ic, political and public diplomacy jobs, NEA offers some
Middle East foreign assistance absorbs a tiny percentage Arabic-designated administrative and office manage-
of the worldwide total—less than 3 percent. Furthermore, ment specialist positions as well. Arabic study and other
the U.S. diplomatic complement—in a region where shared experiences in this exotic region contribute to the
ambassadors and their staffs remain the primary inter- feeling of family in the “mother bureau.” The bureau is
locutors across the full gamut of diplomatic and commer- making a special effort to attract Arab-Americans, Civil
cial issues—is the second smallest of any regional bureau. Service employees for hard-to-fill Foreign Service posi-
NEA has a domestic staff of 132 talented Civil Service tions and other new recruits to increase diversity and
and Foreign Service employees working with 19 overseas bring varied viewpoints to its work. I
posts. With relatively few people to accomplish so much,
the bureau understandably devotes significant attention to
developing its personnel. NEA staff has earned a well- The author is director of public affairs for the NEA Bureau.
deserved reputation for doing what it takes to get the job Margaret Schmidt, deputy director of NEA public affairs, and
done. Whether putting together a ministerial meeting of David Staples, public affairs specialist, also contributed to
the Multilateral Steering Group in Moscow or hosting the this article.
14 State Magazine
Charging Into the
21st Century
By Ralph Hamilton was only the beginning. Once the first terminal was run-
ning smoothly, the mission installed approximately two
more each month until, within a year, the program was
hether you’re vacationing in Acapulco or
W
extended not only to all the consulates in Mexico, but to
Cancun, such a trip would likely require the the far-flung consular agencies. This last move was in
magic of plastic, the credit card. Oddly enough some ways the most innovative. Consular management
these ubiquitous plastic plates represent best was convinced that extending the program to the con-
practices for consular operations throughout Mexico. sular agencies was a must. Lower collections at the con-
Consular customers now can say “charge it” for their sular agencies would be more than offset by better cus-
consular fees at the U.S. Embassy, at each of the nine con- tomer service to a clientele most likely traveling with
sulates and at all 10 consular agencies. little cash after heeding the call not to leave home with-
What began as a pilot program in 1996 is now available out a credit card. At the same time, consular agents
at more than 40 locations throughout the world, half of would benefit from less cash on hand.
them in Mexico. The Treasury Department approved Mexico’s Financial Management Office has even
Consular Affairs’ test program to determine whether con- installed a terminal at the embassy’s cashier window to
sular fees could be collected via credit card. The first accept employee payment for those pesky telephone
point of sale terminal was installed in London. That suc- bills, overweight shipping costs and other miscella-
cessful pilot deployment was followed by installations in neous bills.
Frankfurt and Montreal. Progress was slow and technical Credit card payment has the tangible benefit of improved
difficulties and obstacles delayed widespread expansion fee accountability and internal controls. Just as important,
of the program for several years. but definitely intangible, is the priceless smile on a cus-
It was not until June 1999 that the program got a shot tomer’s face when asked, “Will that be cash or charge?” I
in the arm. With the strong support of consular managers
in Mexico City and the hard work of the Financial
Management Center at the post, the embassy had its first The author, financial management officer in Mexico City, will
terminal up and running in the passport section. That assume his new assignment as FMO in Dhaka in August.
June 2000 15
The swearing-in ceremony for the
27 members of the Foreign
Service Class of 1950.
By Dave Krecke
T
he year 2000 may mean a new millennium for
Fifty Years
many Americans, but it’s the golden anniversary
for members of the Foreign Service’s basic train-
ing class of 1950.
A close-knit group of 27 young men and their families,
of
they were dispatched to West Germany as “Resident
Officers” to spearhead the transition from U.S. military to
civilian occupation. All had served in World War II as
military officers in various branches and theaters of serv-
ice. Two in the group—downed pilots captured by the
16 State Magazine
gather they do, every New Year’s Eve since the 1950s and
for special occasions in between.
After a brief period of training in Frankfurt, the officers
In a class by themselves
fanned out to assignments as representatives of the U.S. Robert J. Barnard Earl Lubensky
High Commission in communities throughout the Emerson M. Brown Kenneth W. Martindale
American Sector, encouraging citizens of the war-torn Charles T. Butler Harry I. Odell
nation to adopt democratic practices at the local level. William A. Chapin Robert L. Ouverson
They worked with schools and community organiza- Jonathon “Jock” Dean Frederick H. Sacksteder
tions, showed re-education films, selected promising Robert W. Dean Stanley D. Schiff
Germans for familiarization trips to the United States and Adolph “Spike” Dubs Talcott W. Seelye
set up town hall meetings where German citizens—for Warrick E. Elrod John P. Shaw
the first time in their lives—could question the decisions Richard T. Foose Matthew D. Smith
of government officials. The program’s ambitious goal Emmett B. Ford Thomas C. Stave
was to create a new German political system, one in John D. Gough Lee T. Stull
which the state would be accountable to its citizens. Thomas F. Hoctor Malcolm Thompson
Always visible as the only Americans in most of their Walter E. Jenkins Arthur T. Tienken
communities, the officers and their families were expect- Francis Xavier Lambert
ed to serve as role models, teaching democracy through
their own examples. So important was this
aspect of the program that no bachelors were
supposed to be sent to Germany. So, while mar-
ried members of the class were playing poker
on the troopship, a handful of their colleagues
were getting married to fulfill what they under-
stood to be the program’s final requirement.
These men flew with their new brides to
Europe, joining the group in Frankfurt. For the
happily married members of this cohort, the
year 2000 is also the year they celebrate their
golden wedding anniversaries.
June 2000 17
The Korean War broke out a few months after
the group arrived in Germany. Fearing the
A view of the war damage in Kassel,
Soviets might take advantage of the thinly still evident in 1950 when this photo
deployed U.S. troops in the west by invading the was taken.
allied sectors from the east, the United States dra-
matically increased its military presence there.
Some in the group facilitated the arrival of these
troops in their communities, locating quarters
where GIs could be billeted and creating a wel-
come environment among local residents.
Fortunately, there was no invasion.
Many remember Germany’s high unemploy-
ment rate at the time, a condition worsened by
the presence of thousands of ethnic-German
refugees fleeing neighboring lands no longer in
German territory. Tensions ran high as local resi-
dents, already suffering under austere postwar
deprivation, were required to open their homes Photo by Earl Lubensky
to refugee families. Using funds U.S. High Commissioner
John McCloy had raised from wealthy American donors, stricken places when they had seen them last had been
several officers supported orphanages, youth centers and transformed in the intervening years into thriving, pros-
other worthy causes in their towns. perous communities with no evidence of war damage.
In 1990, the class celebrated its 40th anniversary in Mayors and local officials welcomed the visitors
Dinkelsbühl in the southern German state of Bavaria. warmly. One class member, who had served in the town
When the reunion was over, many returned with their of Buchen in what is now the state of Baden-
wives for the first time to their previous stations. The Württemberg, made a special effort to visit the orphan-
towns they remembered as struggling, almost poverty- age run by a Catholic priest, his closest German friend.
European Youth Week in Fritzlar, the American Sector of Germany, an activity sponsored
by a resident officer of the class of 1950 as part of the effort to bring European young
people together in the postwar period.
Photo by Earl Lubensky
18 State Magazine
Did this brief, two-year pro-
gram have a major impact
on the democratization of
Germany? Different members
of the class give different
answers. Some confess that by
the early 1950s the Germans
were already well on their way
to establishing a democratic
state, largely on their own.
Others say that one of the most
important roles they played
was identifying promising
German democrats who would
lead the country in the future.
Whatever the answer to that
Photo by Stan Schiff
June 2000 19
LifeCare
New Resource Referral Service Debuts at State
By Sydnee Tyson The service’s web site has information on various topics
to help people manage their lives. The site offers a data-
base on programs and providers in communities around
emember the Ghostbusters’ motto: “Who ya gonna
R
the country, useful for those interested in doing their own
call?” Fortunately, most of us don’t have to worry research. If employees prefer, LifeCare will research care
about finding help for spectral infestation. We face providers in the locality where they need the help (any-
other kinds of challenges and dilemmas in our where in the United States) and will refer them to centers
daily work and family lives, though, and that is that meet their individual needs, fit their pocketbooks
when we need to know who to call for help. and have current vacancies.
What do you do, for example, when Workers at the Department of Justice
your child care provider says she’s who have been using this service for
moving? Where do you turn to find more than a year report that LifeCare is
hot meals on wheels for a house- saving them 15 to 30 hours of telephone
bound, elderly aunt in Pittsburgh? research for each problem solved.
What are your options as a parent This employee assistance program
when the quality of your children’s will not replace the Department’s
schools are at issue? Employee Consultation Service, the
The Department has now made Family Liaison Office, the Overseas
available a new resource to all perma- Briefing Center or the Office of Over-
nent American employees, Civil seas Schools. These offices will contin-
Service and Foreign Service, to help ue to support employees assigned
find solutions and services when they overseas and those working in the
need help balancing their daily lives. Department. LifeCare is, however, a
LifeCare.com, a leading provider of new way to get information quickly.
information, counseling and referral LifeCare can be a resource for informa-
service on dependent care and other tion on international adoption, testing
personal issues, has begun offering and assessment of special needs chil-
help on a 24-hour, 7-days-a-week dren, tutoring and enrichment pro-
basis to all eligible employees at State. grams, academic planning strategies
Access to their service, called for college-bound students, nursing
LifeCare, is easy and even available homes, long-term care insurance, sup-
for those serving overseas. Employees port groups in an employee’s home
seeking expert guidance on child care community, legal and financial con-
issues—finding a child care center in cerns of the elderly and much more.
any U.S. locality; a summer camp for Using LifeCare will be up to each
three weeks in July in Wisconsin or Arizona; or emer- employee. It will be voluntary and confidential. While the
gency backup care when the regular care provider is sud- Department will track the total number of calls and the
denly unavailable—can contact LifeCare by toll-free topics of greatest concern to employees, there will be no
phone, by e-mail or via their web site, http://www.life- reports to the Department of individual requests for help.
care.net. All prospective users need to understand how the
LifeCare’s experienced counselors will help employees company protects the data it collects whenever someone
understand what programs or services exist to help them asks for assistance. LifeCare obligates all of its counselors
meet their personal and professional obligations. The to follow the same ethical rules governing confidentiality
counselors can provide educational materials on a wide that health care providers follow when they learn sensi-
variety of issues, from prenatal planning to finding good tive private information about individuals. In some cases,
schools to locating adequate care for an elderly parent. the counselors may refer a client to a State Department
20 State Magazine
office for direct assistance, but the decision to contact the This new resource referral service is being announced indi-
Department resource rests with the individual. While it is vidually to each eligible employee in a special mailing that
important for counselors to know a client’s history of explains how to contact LifeCare. Permanent employees of
contact with LifeCare, this information may not be the Department, full-time or part-time, who do not receive a
shared. The company, which has many years of experi- letter announcing the service by the end of July should e-mail
ence with other federal agencies, complies with all Dependent Care Coordinator Sydnee Tyson in the Bureau of
Privacy Act requirements for the protection of records. It Personnel, Office of Employee Relations tysonsl@state.gov.
does not share any individual’s information with the The service is not available to part-time/intermittent/tempo-
Department and will destroy all data collected on rary workers, to contractors or to Foreign Service National
Department employees once the contract ends. employees at this time. The pilot program will run from May
Employees who choose to use the service should keep 2000 to September 2001 to help the Department determine
in mind that there are always some security aspects to the whether it can deliver what it promises.
methods of communication with LifeCare. Phone calls Now we know who we’re gonna call: LifeCare. I
are fast and easy to make, though possibly more expen-
sive and easily monitored abroad. E-mail is also easy and The author is the dependent care coordinator in the Work/Life
generally accessible from any computer at work or at Programs division of the Office of Employee Relations.
home that has Internet access.
E-mail should never be regarded as private communi-
cation, however, and employees should remember that
Department systems administrators can and do review e-
Using LifeCare Services
mail messages. Abroad, outsiders also may monitor e-
mail from private computers. Computer experts in the
Department say a good rule of thumb is to avoid putting
anything in an e-mail that you would not want to see on
the front page of the newspaper. Accessing LifeCare serv-
ices via their web site is easy from the United States (by
following the directions in the box at right) but may not
be as easy from an overseas location, depending on the
country’s infrastructure. While the web site offers some
integrated security features, it should not be regarded as
completely protected.
In all cases, employees will have to make individual
There are three ways an eligible employee can access
choices based on their needs and requirements. The
LifeCare services:
Department recommends that employees who wish to
M Telephone: •(800) 873-4636 •(800) 873-1322 (TDD)
use LifeCare overseas first consult with the regional secu-
LifeCare specialists are available 24 hours a day to
rity officer for advice on the relative security of the three
assist you. When you call, you will be asked to identify
methods of communication.
yourself as a State Department employee by providing
your name and the month and day of your birth.
M e-mail: lifecarespecialist@dcclifecare.com
A LifeCare specialist will respond to your question on
the next business day.
M LifeCare Net: Online version of LifeCare services
From Work:
1. On a Rich Internet Access (RIA) network terminal,
enter the URL: http://www.life-care.net
2. Follow the login instructions as indicated
Outside Work:
1. Enter the URL: http://www.life-care.net
2. A pop-up window will appear. Enter the Username
and Password as indicated below.
username: “state” (all lowercase)
password: “department” (all lowercase)
(Note: The username and password are case sensitive.)
3. Click “OK” and follow the login instructions
as indicated.
Author, right, confers with If you are having trouble accessing or using the site,
LifeCare representative. please call the LifeCare.Net help desk at (888) 604-9565.
Photo by Carl Goodman
June 2000 21
Asbestos Exists
but it’s under control
By Rudy Marrazzo Asbestos can be found around boilers, furnaces, pipes
and ductwork for heating systems. The only way to know
whether asbestos is present is to have the material tested in
hanks to the Department’s state-of-the-art asbestos
T
a laboratory. The older the property, the more likely
control program, the risk of asbestos exposure and asbestos will be present. Asbestos can be found in vinyl
possible adverse health effects among State floor coverings, acoustical ceiling tiles and exterior siding
employees and their family members in domestic and roofing. From these findings, a property-specific
and overseas properties is minimal. asbestos management plan indicates what immediate
The mere mention of the word asbestos conjures up remedial measures are necessary. The plan specifies the
images of cancer-causing fibers invisible to the naked location of all asbestos to be managed in place and outlines
eye. Do some Department properties and residences an operation and maintenance program. Key elements of
contain asbestos? Is somebody surveying these proper- the plan include informing workers and building occu-
ties to ensure your safety? Are potential exposure risk pants of the location of the asbestos and explaining how to
conditions under control? The answer to all of these avoid disturbing the material. Constant surveillance
questions is yes. ensures the material remains in good condition, and prop-
The program dedicated to asbestos control is the er work practices minimize fiber release during activities
Asbestos Risk Management Program or ARMP. In 1982, that could disturb the asbestos. Custodial and mainte-
State began developing a strategy to assess the possible nance staff who work around the material must be trained
danger of asbestos to employees and their family mem- in asbestos care and management.
bers. There was no federal mandate to implement such Because asbestos can be safely managed in place and
a program, but the assistant secretary for improper removal creates a much greater hazard, the
Administration, nevertheless, considered it a serious Department does not undertake removal of the material
issue requiring a comprehensive control program.
Department officials, with help from the Continued on page 24
Environmental Protection Agency, the Johns
Hopkins School of Public Health and the Defense
Department, designed an inspection and abate-
ment approach for properties where asbestos was
most expected to exist. As asbestos control tech-
nologies advanced in the ensuing years, the
Department adopted a policy that if materials
containing asbestos are left in good condition,
protected from damage and safely removed
when necessary, the risk to personnel is minimal.
The essence of the Department’s ARMP is to
survey properties to determine if asbestos is pres-
ent; if there is a risk for fiber release, to act imme-
diately to remove or contain it. If there is no imme-
diate fiber release risk, the plan suggests in-place
management to ensure that the material is not dis-
turbed unless absolutely necessary (as with reno-
vations). If the asbestos must be disturbed, appro-
priate control measures must be taken to protect
workers, employees and the environment from A “negative pressure” room sealed in
plastic sheeting to contain possible
exposure. Asbestos must be removed before reno- asbestos fibers.
vation work begins.
22 State Magazine
Waiter, Waiter, Please
Bring Us Some Ice!
By Holidae Vig frozen water that runs
from the tap? How can
Jennings
it be a vacation in the
heat of summer without
O
n an exhaust- ice? These obsessive
ingly hot and thoughts about ice are
humid day, I exclusively North
sat at a cafe in American. I’ve traveled
Budapest and to many of the world’s
ordered iced tea—“lots of ice, “hot” spots: the
please.” My drink arrived Caribbean, Latin
with one swirling half-melt- America, Europe and
ed ice cube atop my tea with the former Soviet
sliced lemon. Union. Ice doesn’t mean
“lce?” I politely appealed to the same to the resi-
my waiter. I received a look of dents of those places.
bewilderment. “We have no On this trip to
service of ice, madam,” the Budapest, thankfully,
waiter sheepishly reported. my husband and I
The warm liquid slid down were staying in an
my parched throat as I apartment six stories
leisurely gazed at the tourists above the Danube. The
strolling down this walking river below shimmered
street in Budapest. I ordered a the reflections of the
second round and wondered, surrounding city. The
“What is this obsession I have inspiring views of this
with ice?” restored masterpiece
It is an American obses- called Budapest sum-
sion, ours and ours alone: moned this visitor to
Americans want ice. explore, and when I
Crushed, blocked, cubed, returned to the apart-
shaved or slushed, we have ment, I could make my
ice. We buy ice by the bag or own ice.
block, 24 hours a day. Ice is One day, my hus-
dispensed automatically band and I spent hours
from our refrigerator doors, on what we call “the
crushed or cubed. Hotels and poor man’s sight-seeing
motels have an unlimited with our tea, our soda pop, our tour,” a day on the
supply of ice. From their public ice liquor and our water. We order ice to trams, buses and metro. We jumped
machines, we fill the hotel-provided cool our coffee or our soup. from cable car to cable car admiring
buckets—and sometimes our cooler Sometimes we just want ice—by the city’s rich history. Around 9 in the
chests (in case we need more later) itself—to chew, suck and swallow. evening, the summer day had dark-
—with ice. We determine the European hotels will eventually ened and the streets were quiet.
amount of ice we want at the self- deliver a requested ice-filled bucket Our last stop was for dinner, at an
serve counters at fast-food and via room service, at room service indoor-outdoor cafe around the cor-
buffet-style restaurants. We want ice prices. How can they charge for ner from the apartment. This cafe
June 2000 23
was as relaxing as the evening was In my husband’s absence, the
warm. Friends and businessmen headwaiter once again apologized as Asbestos Continued from page 22
gathered around patio tables, styl- he delivered our slender glasses of
ishly decorated with candles and tall tea. I reported that my husband was unless it’s absolutely necessary—
wrought iron centerpieces that sec- bringing ice from our nearby home. and then only under the strictest
onded as napkin holders. The menu, “OK.” His surprised tone sounded controls, as mandated by
written in Hungarian, German and as if he were saying, “Are you Department policy and federal law.
(somewhat) English, was as inviting crazy?” Back at the bar, the head- You may have seen sections of
as the jazz sounds played by the gui- waiter reported my husband’s quest. your workplace encased in plastic
tarist in the back corner of the room With the sound of gentle laughter, sheeting with ominous asbestos
—not a gypsy or a troubadour— just the bartender glanced at me and we signs and wondered what was going
a musician of talent and passion. shared this amusing episode, all of on. The signs warn that the carefully
My husband asked the waiter for us savoring the spirit of difference. controlled process to contain
“two iced teas and one extra cup of The ice arrived in a ziplock bag, asbestos fibers is under way. While
ice.” We won the first round, pour- clutched in my husband’s hand, the plastic acts as a physical barrier,
ing our tea into the much smaller unnoticed by the other patrons. The the enclosed area is under negative
cup filled with ice. Mixing the warm teas had waited. He slid the ice into pressure through use of fan-filter
tea again and again over the frozen the small empty glass centered on systems to keep the fibers contained.
cubes, the tea eventually chilled. our table. Pouring, stirring and mix- Should a leak occur, this negative
Pouring the tea back into the larger ing, my husband produced our pressure ensures that the air will
glasses, we split the ice remains. We thirst-quenching iced teas. The left- flow into (rather than out of) the
ordered a sample of menu offerings over ice was good-naturedly kept in enclosure, thus containing any fibers
and asked for a second round of iced the bartender’s fridge. within the space. Inside the enclo-
tea. Our waiter left with our order. The evening melted with wondrous sure, the use of wet removal meth-
A few minutes later, a serious- tastes, smells and sounds of this so for- ods and other procedures greatly
looking headwaiter approached our eign place, enjoyed with the comforts reduce airborne fibers and ensure
table. “I’m sorry, sir. We don’t have of our American iced tea. When we the safety and health of the build-
ice.” Well, ice was being served from left, our ice remained behind as a ing’s occupants.
the bar but we could see that the token to remember us by—a memory Injuries occur when one inhales
small cubes were already melting as that surely lasted longer than our the microscopic asbestos fibers in
they dropped into each glass. One huge ice cubes in the ziplock bag. the air. The more you inhale, the
cube per drink appeared to be the Ice is as American as apple pie. Why greater the risk. Mesothelioma
standard fare, and we Americans can’t they understand that I’m anxious (chest lining tumor), lung cancer
could put a damper on the evening’s without my daily 32-ounce, 89-cent, and asbestosis (an emphysema-like
supply. We apologized for our crushed-ice dose of Americana? I’m condition) are diseases caused by
request. We were sorry they didn’t an American in Europe in the sum- asbestos. But these diseases occur
understand our fixation with ice. mertime. I primarily in people exposed to
When I looked back at the bar, the greater concentrations of asbestos
attractive, dark-haired woman bar- dust than the ordinary person
tender smiled her apology. The author, a former Foreign Service would encounter in a lifetime.
My husband had the solution: officer now teaching high school Airborne measurements of homes
Walk around the corner to our apart- English and journalism in California, and commercial buildings with
ment, gather some large American- wrote the article after spending the asbestos in them typically reveal
size ice cubes from our freezer, put summer in Budapest with her husband, fiber levels little different from
them in an American ziplock bag Robert C. Jennings, a Foreign Service those in urban outdoor air, which
and bring them to our table. officer currently posted in Frankfurt. contains asbestos dust from auto
brake linings, building demolitions
and other sources.
Rest assured, there is an effective
Thrift Savings Plan Open Season and efficient asbestos control program
in place in the Department, managed
The Thrift Savings Plan open season, May 15 to July 31, is your chance to by knowledgeable, concerned profes-
start or change contributions to your TSP account. You can also change the sionals vigilant in providing a safe
way your future payroll contributions are invested in the three TSP funds: and healthful work place. I
the Government Securities Investment (G) Fund; the Fixed Income Index
Investment (F) Fund; or the Common Stock Index Investment (C) Fund.
For more information, visit the TSP home page at: http://www.tsp.gov. The author is a consultant with the
Office of Safety, Health and
Environmental Management.
24 State Magazine
The American Presence Post:
A Commercial Enterprise
By Wayne Bush ers. “We are operating in a
new Europe, with a structure
Courtyard of the
essentially designed for the Lyon City Hall.
S
hortly after becoming ambas- diplomatic, political and eco-
sador to France in 1997, Felix nomic needs of the Cold War
Rohatyn sought to realign the era. The classical ‘big
embassy’s resources to reflect embassy’ structure is today
changing social, political and eco- akin to concentrating on
nomic realities. mainframe computers in the
The former New York investment age of the Internet and
banker identified regionalization the PC.”
and globalization as current forces in American companies have
international affairs. Instead of responded to globalization
working through national capitals, by setting out to increase
European regions are linking them- their market share world-
selves directly to the global econo- wide and have succeeded in
my. The ambassador found these creating a uniquely entrepre-
trends well under way in France. neurial culture in the vast
Seeking maximum commercial and majority of American enter-
economic advantage, major U.S. prises. The ambassador chal-
firms are increasingly bypassing lenged his staff to apply sim-
Paris and heading directly for the ilar principles to increase the
provinces. For example, Toulouse, American presence through-
the heart of Europe’s aerospace out French regions with
industry, hosts U.S. businesses sup- existing resources.
plying up to 30 percent of the com- By putting Foreign Service
ponents for Airbus aircraft. officers in direct contact with
France’s second largest city, Lyon, regional leaders—especially
has become a regional center for both the politically powerful
high-tech and biotech, with more French mayors—and media
than 100 U.S. firms. Lyon anchors an throughout the country, the
economic region extending from United States would stand a
Barcelona to Geneva north into better chance of getting its
Germany and south across the Alps views across. It also would Photo courtesy of U.S. Consulate, Lyon
to Turin in northern Italy. Moreover, bring the U.S. Mission closer
the introduction of the single to its customers—U.S. citizens and
European currency (the Euro) in businesses throughout the country. outreach, promoting U.S. economic
2000, accompanied by the prospect of The timing of the ambassador’s and commercial interests and provid-
increasing cross-border capital flows challenge coincided with a ing limited U.S. citizens consular serv-
and rising productivity throughout Department initiative (one of the rec- ices, forgoing traditional political and
the Euro zone, promises to accelerate ommendations of the Overseas economic reporting. The APP team
the process of globalization and inte- Presence Advisory Panel) to seek quickly concluded that the key ele-
gration in France and Europe. ways to reestablish a limited U.S. ment would be simplicity. Making the
“These days, we hear a great deal presence in areas where American new post affordable would mean
about the impact of globalization on interests are vital but narrow. eliminating costly classified and pro-
business structure. We hear relatively The France country team settled on prietary communications systems.
little about the impact of globaliza- Lyon as the site for the first of what The APP would rely instead on
tion on our diplomatic structure,” the would become known as American advances in communications technol-
ambassador told a recent gathering Presence Posts or APPs. APPs would ogy—commercial e-mail, Internet
of U.S. and European business lead- focus tightly on public diplomacy and access and video teleconferencing—to
June 2000 25
Ken Cohen, left, chairman of San Diego-based Synbiotics
Corp., shows the firm’s new European headquarters to the
mayor of Lyon, Mr. Barre, third from righ; U.S. Consul Stuart
Dwyer, rear; and local politicians and businessmen.
maximize effectiveness at a fraction of resemble a small commercial enter- other reductions, were applied to
the cost of a traditional post. prise, procuring needed supplies and recurring costs for utilities, phones
The core APP staff would be an services locally with a purchase card. and supplies for Lyon. Residential
American officer and locally Larger administrative functions rent saved by moving the officer out
engaged program/office and con- would be performed by the embassy. of Paris was enough to pay for near-
sular assistants. A former U.S. Providing resources for the APP ly all of the office and residential rent
Information Service Foreign Service meant restructuring in Paris to offset in Lyon, where costs are lower.
National employee already stationed costs and positions. For example, an For 12 months, the embassy
in Lyon would fill one of the posi- economics officer position was worked closely with the Department
tions. The post would occupy care- moved from Paris to Lyon, and a to shepherd the APP pilot project
fully chosen commercial office space speechwriter position in Paris was through the State and congressional
upgraded to meet stringent State abolished to fund the new FSN posi- approval process. When Secretary
Department security standards. tions in Lyon. Savings from a new Albright inaugurated the Lyon APP in
Administratively, the APP would telephone service contract, among December 1998, she and the new post
were welcomed with enthusiasm by
Mayor Raymond Barre (the former
Paris Personnel Officer Mary Regan confers via prime minister of France), the people
video-teleconference with Rennes American of Lyon and by American companies
Presence Post Chief Maureen Cormack and in the area. APP Lyon quickly began
Consular/Cultural Assistant Marion Salvanet. generating return on the Depart-
ment’s investment by helping to
launch a biotechnology partnership
between Lyon and San Diego, receiv-
ing prized media coverage of U.S.
views on agriculture-related trade
issues (a hot-button issue for French
consumers) and providing conven-
ient consular services to U.S. citizens.
Observers soon recognized the
value of the experimental post.
Business Week reported in December
1999 that the APP initiative is “win-
ning praise even from traditional
State Department critics such as
Senator Jesse Helms.” The initiative
has strong backing from the
Photo courtesy of U.S Embassy, Paris
26 State Magazine
Administration and Congress, which American officer must be motivated, explaining the American position in
have approved the creation of four creative, self-directed and constantly interviews and speeches—all in
more APPs in France. APPs have now alert to opportunities to advance the a world where support for the
been opened in Toulouse and Rennes, post’s objectives. United States. is very often based on
to be followed by Bordeaux and Lille “Maybe the most important poten- public opinion.”
by the end of the year. tial benefit of the APPs will be the The Overseas Presence Advisory
In staffing the new APPs, the U.S. opportunity to create a cadre of what Panel endorsed the APP concept,
Embassy in Paris has drawn talent might be called ‘diplomatic entrepre- stating, “The institutions that per-
from throughout the foreign affairs neurs,’” Ambassador Rohatyn said. formed so admirably throughout the
agencies. A Foreign Commercial “These officers, at an early stage in 20th century are ill-designed for the
Service officer heads the APP in their careers, will be dealing with the 21st. America will be ill-served
Toulouse, and a former USIS officer is CEOs of American companies in unless its overseas posts are trans-
assigned to Rennes, home to France’s their area; with mayors and prefects; formed to meet today’s demands
largest circulation daily, Ouest France. with local organizations and clubs. and those of the future.” I
All agree that entrepreneurship is the They will be learning important
fundamental ingredient of a success- management skills, dealing with The author is the administrative coun-
ful American Presence Post. The sole issues of public diplomacy and selor in the U.S. Embassy in Paris.
S
itting at the confluence of the Rhone and Saone tecture outside of Florence.
rivers, Lyon’s strategic location was first appreci- Accounting for over 10 percent of French GDP, the
ated by Caesar’s lieutenant Mantius Plancus, who Rhone-Alps region has established itself as a driving force
founded the colony of Lugdunum in 43 BC. Over across industry sectors. And its fledgling cross-border
two millennia the fortunes of the city have ebbed and economic and political ties with northern Italy, Catalonia
flowed. Lyon’s role as a commercial center took off in the and Switzerland are helping to position it as an important
14th century with the help of a generation of bankers pivot for doing business in southern Europe. U.S. busi-
seeking shelter from the disputes riving the Italian city- nesses as diverse as Hewlett-Packard, Scotts lawn care,
states. By the 16th century Lyon had become the center of solar manufacturer Matrix and Sunbeam have made the
European banking, with exchange rates between region home for key European operations. With a dense
fabric of small and medium-sized businesses,
the climate offers strong potential for smaller
U.S. firms as well. Little wonder that U.S. com-
panies account for the bulk of foreign invest-
ment and some 40,000 jobs in the region. U.S.
exports to Rhone-Alps amount to some $2 bil-
lion annually.
But for all that glitters here, the culinary
cognoscenti still know Lyon for its stars of the
Michelin variety. Home to master chefs Paul
Bocuse and Pierre Orsi and a short ride away
from three-star restaurants Troisgros of Roanne
and Blanc in Bourg-en-Bresse, Lyon probably
has more fine restaurants per capita than any-
Photo by Dominique Barrier
June 2000 27
STATE OF THE ARTS
Upcoming Performances
N June 21: The Manny Bobenreith Sextet
N June 28: The City Dance Ensemble with Ludovic Jolivet,
East Auditorium
N July 12: Washington Tango Trio
N July 26: Czech Orchestra with conductor James Brooks
and violinist Jorge Saade-Schaff
T
he State of the Arts Cultural Series and the
Sarnoff, director and founder of Arts for the Aging,
Foreign Affairs Recreation Association began the
described her organization’s work with the elderly—for
new year with classical guitarist Christopher
whom music is both stimulating and enhancing. Silky-
Dunn, whose performance included pieces from
voiced Nancy Paris Hines, back by popular demand for
the late 1500s to the 20th century. Mr. Dunn’s playing of
her third appearance, sang a jazz selection and show-
Fantasie, by John Dowland, and Introduction and Caprice
cased three senior citizens in native African attire. She
op.2, by Giulio Regondi, exhibited great sensitivity. He
concluded her program by singing I Came Here To Sing the
closed his performance with compositions by Augustin
Blues, composed by friend John Heigh of Waldorf, Md.
Barrios Mangore and received a standing ovation.
The Alley Cats, a popular men’s a cappella singing
To celebrate 10 years of noontime performances, for-
group from Yale University, opened their concert with
mer Senator Charles Percy of Illinois was special guest.
Sally in our Alley, their theme song. The 17-man group,
Mr. Percy shared personal stories of how the violin
following a tradition begun in 1943, offered a high level
brought his parents together and of his own love
of humor and energy to a captivated audience. Their
of music.
repertoire ranged from barbershop and traditional bal-
To showcase young talent, violinist Rebecca Azhdam,
lads to show tunes and popular songs by Cole Porter, the
10, took center stage and accompanied by her sister Bita
King Singers, Duke Ellington and the Drifters. The audi-
played Paginini’s Sonata passionately. In a show of
ence demanded an encore and got it.
Department talent, Frank Foster limbered up his voice
and the audience with Butterfly Kisses, and Bill Carlson
played a lively Joplin rag, The Chrysanthemum. The The author is a computer specialist in the Executive Secretariat.
28 State Magazine
People Like You
Helping Out at Miriam’s Kitchen
Most mornings, Sherri Kraham shows up for
work at the Iraq Desk in the Bureau of Near
Eastern Affairs. But at least one Monday a
month, she joins State Department and other
volunteers preparing and serving breakfast from
6 to 8 a.m. at Miriam’s Kitchen, a food program
located in the Western Presbyterian Church at
2401 Virginia Ave., near Main State.
Powered entirely by volunteers, the program
serves a warm breakfast to more than 180
homeless men and women each weekday
morning year-round. Miriam’s offers art and
creative writing workshops and daily
Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. There’s also a
library, a resume clinic, and tax, podiatry and
legal assistance.
Photo by Dave Krecke
for lunch-time jog. annual ten-mile race for charity is the highlight of her yearlong
training. To stay in shape, she runs two miles every other day
near her Arlington, Va., home. What keeps her running? “There’s
a great feeling of satisfaction and confidence.” That’s what.
June 2000 29
Courses: National Foreign Affairs Training Center
30 State Magazine
Program July Aug. Length Program July Aug. Length
Prof. Sem. for FS Office Mgt. Specialist PK 302 — 7 2W TDY Security Overseas Seminar MQ 913 10, 24 7, 28 1D
Office Mgt. 2000 PK 330 — 21 2W Youth Security Overseas Seminar MQ 914 11, 18, 25 1, 8, 15, 29 1D
Regulations/Allowances/Finances MQ 104 — 1 3D
Political Training DCM/Principal Off., Role of Spouse MQ 110 17 — 3D
INL Orientation PP 218 17 — 1W Explaining America MQ 115 — 12 1D
Labor Officer Skills PL 103 10 — 3W Young Diplomats Day MQ 250 10, 24 7 1D
Labor Rights PL 104 14 — 1D Communicating Across Cultures MQ 802 29 — 1D
Multilateral Diplomacy PP 211 — 2 3D Realities of Foreign Service Life MQ 803 21 — 1D
Political Tradecraft PP 202 3 — 3W Promoting U.S. Wines MQ 856 19 — 1D
Political-Military Affairs PP 505 17 — 3D
Career Transition Center
Economic & Commercial Training Retirement Planning Seminar RV 101 24 — 1W
Resource Reporting Officer Training PE 103 10 — 2W Job Search Program RV 102 31 — 9W
Economic Tradecraft PE 124 3 — 2W Financial & Estate Planning RV 103 26 — 1W
Commercial Tradecraft PE 125 17 — 1W Annuities and Benefits & Social Security RV 104 25 — 1D
Petroleum & Gas Industry PE 127 31 — 1W
Aviation Policy & Negotiation PE 130 17 — 3D Information Management Training
Trade Dispute PE 134 31 — 2D Microsoft Project PS 180 10, 31 21 3D
Trade & Project Finance PE 135 19 — 3D PC/Windows NT 4.0 Fundamentals PS 201 17, 31 15, 28 2D
Coal & Power Technology PE 137 24 — 1W Access 97 Intro. PS 250 12, 17 2, 21 2D
Political/Economic Tradecraft PG 140 24 — 3W Access 97 Intermediate PS 251 26 9 2D
Economic Issues PE 285 10 — 3W Excel 97 Intro. PS 270 10, 19 9, 30 2D
Senior Communication Course PE 290 6 — 2D Excel 97 Intermediate PS 271 19, 27 — 2D
Internet Concepts PS 218 11, 25 8, 25 1D
Overseas Briefing Center Internet Concepts PS 318 13, 27 10 1D
SOS: Security Overseas Seminar MQ 911 10, 24 7, 28 2D PowerPoint 97 Intro. PS 240 10, 17, 26 7, 28 2D
Adv. Security Overseas Seminar MQ 912 18 1, 15 1D PowerPoint 97 Intermediate PS 241 10 10 2D
Word 97 for Windows, Intro. PS 232 19 2, 16, 30 2D
Word 98 for Windows, Intermediate PS 233 24 23 2D
Computer training CableXpress Client PS 284 10, 12, 17, 20 8, 16 22, 30 1D
at FSI. 25, 27
CableXpress Administration PS 285 24, 31 14, 28 4D
Inform. Res. Mgt. Orien. for IM Specialist PS 380 12 — 3D
CLOUT Administration PS 291 — 7 2D
MS Outlook PS 298 14, 24 18 1D
CA Systems for IMS PS 310 31 14, 28 1W
IRM Specific Orientation PS 380 12 — 3D
ALMA O’View—PC/Windows PS 501 10, 24 7, 21 1D
ALMA O’View—Word PS 502 11, 25 8, 22 1.5 D
ALMA O’View—Client Network PS 503 12, 26 9, 23 0.5 D
ALMA O’View—Excel PS 505 13, 27 10, 24 1D
ALMA O’View—PowerPoint PS 506 14, 28 11, 25 1D
PERSONNEL ACTIONS
Civil Service Retirements Foreign Service Retirements
Campbell, Daniel S., Information Management Bolton, W. A. Peter, Applications Branch Manalo, Kathleen Helen, London
Customer Center Davidson, William Craig, Miscellaneous (Noc) Maratos, Daniel C., Near East, South Asia Division
Davis, Laura G., Diplomatic Courier Services Edwards, Anne Hepburn, Senior Level Division Mills Jr., William B., Havana
De Lacy-Egan, Teresa, Health Care Services Gonzalez, Antonio J., Miscellaneous (Noc) Paolini-Huff, Deborah M., Executive Director
Houck, Frank S., Multilateral Nuclear Affairs Harrington-Aydin, Noel A., Vancouver, B.C. Plotkin, Lawrence I., Eur. Public Diplomacy
Ke, Sinclair Hsueh Hang, Press Outreach Johnston Jr., Warren E., Multi-Media Production Segal, Jack David, Natl. Security Council
Osberg, Gloria T., Travel Advance Section Division Svengsouk, Thavanh, Dakar
Phillips, William M., Facilities Security Division Kimble,Melinda L., Dep. Asst. Sec. Intl. Finance Topka, Jeanne E., Ottawa, Ontario
Slager, James Robert, Design and Construction & Development Winter, Andrew Jan, Administrative Affairs,
Division Leibengood, Paul C., European Region New York
Young, Phyllis A., Press Relations
June 2000 31
O B I T U A R I E S
32 State Magazine
Department of State, USA
Bureau of Personnel Periodicals
Washington, DC 20520 Postage and Fees Paid
Department of State
Official Business ISSN 1099–4165
Penalty for Private Use