The Foreign Service Journal, January-February 2017

34 JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2017 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL decades of handing out many of these key diplomatic positions to individuals with no foreign affairs experience or qualifications whatsoever, often auctioning the cushiest ambassadorial posts off to top campaign contributors. Being an effective ambassador is a serious, difficult job: ambassadors have to oversee large, multiagency embassies that manage complex relationships with foreign governments. If you are serious about defending U.S. interests in a danger- ous world, put all of our country’s ambas- sadorships back in the hands of our career diplomats—the Senior Foreign Service officers who have spent decades acquiring expertise on a wide range of international issues, mastering foreign languages, immersing themselves in foreign cultures and developing the skills necessary to negotiate effectively with foreign officials. We are the only government in the world that routinely sends out inexperienced novice appointees as our most senior repre- sentatives. They have a steep learning curve and must be guided every step of the way by their staffs, the people of the Foreign Service who are assigned to their embassies. Allies and enemies alike rarely take seriously these appointees, who often do care- less damage to U.S. foreign policy. It is time for a courageous administration to end this shame- ful form of political corruption. Steven Kashkett FSO Washington, D.C. We Achieve Quietly Like those in military service, we and our families make great sacrifices for the U.S. government because we believe that we can avoid costly and dangerous conflicts by achieving agree- ments, keeping up good relations, ultimately striving for peace. Our efforts and often our achievements are quiet—we never have and probably never will get the attention or praise the mili- tary gets. But we’re still just as dedicated. Kristin M. Kane FSO U.S. Embassy Brasilia, Brazil A Bridge to the World Our security and prosperity depend on the world around us, and our diplomats are a bridge between the United States and the world—promoting our foreign policy, developing peaceful solutions in unstable situations that affect U.S. interests, under- standing and shaping foreign perceptions of the United States, and generating the understanding and good will that form the bedrock of stable, strategic partnerships with all nations. Jeff Weinshenker FSO Arlington, Virginia We Are the Face of America Abroad The Foreign Service has often been the first face of America the rest of the world sees—whether it is at a time of crisis through humanitarian assistance, applying for a visa to visit this incred- ible country, or forming partnerships with other countries to achieve larger-than-life objectives such as elimination of extreme poverty. Every day, members of the Foreign Service demonstrate abroad what America means: diversity, equality, democracy, excellence and shared prosperity. The Foreign Service must be allowed to continue to rep- resent all of America with integrity and objectivity, which are core values of leadership. Because the world faces increasingly complex diplomatic and development challenges, with a wide range of stakeholders, a diverse cadre of professional diplomats must continue to serve in many different ways to find common ground and viable solutions. We are needed on the ground to connect with diverse people of host countries and in various institutions to help shape policies. To effectively achieve the nation’s objectives, the U.S. Foreign Service must be a model of diversity and mutual respect for the rest of the global community. Regina Jun USAID FSO U.S. Embassy Managua, Nicaragua We Offer Honest and Clear Reporting The Foreign Service is America’s experienced voice with an open tradition of implementing America’s foreign policy objectives abroad. The men and women who are selected to be Foreign Service officers are highly competent and loyal to the president