The Foreign Service Journal, January-February 2019

36 JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2019 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL O ften the best diplomatic work leaves no trace because it is achieved behind the scenes, through partnership and shared effort—and an insistence on giving all credit to others. Which is why, when we began planning this special issue six months ago, we put out a call to active-duty and retired members of the Foreign Service, solicit- ing their best stories about practicing economic diplomacy— “from the smallest success no one outside post would ever hear about, to the biggest, headline-grabbing accomplishment.” This collection, selected from the many submissions we received, illustrates the critical, everyday work of the U.S. Foreign Service around the world on behalf of the United States in the realm of eco- nomic and commercial diplomacy. Our thanks to all who shared their experiences. —The Editors ECONOMIC DIPLOMACYWORKS FOCUS Bob Taylor works with an employee in Cameroon to fine-tune the settings for cutting ebony. FromGuitars toGold: