The Foreign Service Journal, January 2003

generally met with: “Why should I drive many miles to talk to 12 companies from only one country when I can go to a fair where there are thousands of exhibitors from all over the world with the same products, and I can actually see them in operation?” Devoting staff and other resources to promote such missions under those cir- cumstances was so obviously of marginal value that one would assume it to have been a non-issue. Not so, for there was bureaucratic turf at stake! Ultimately a compromise was found: the mission visited the fair. FCS Germany was already doing this on its own; we called it our Corporate Executive Office Program, but bringing Washington into the act kept bureaucratic feathers there unruffled. If I Had It to Do Over Again… In a recent column AFSA FCS Vice President Peter Frederick broached the subject of a return of the com- mercial function to State. This is not as heretical as it may seem. (My ego allows me to believe that I carried enough DOC water to permit consid- eration of such a prospect.) The responsibilities of FCS have been gone from State for only 22 years, less time than they resided there. And certainly nothing in my State experi- ence suggested any lack of concern in promoting American business abroad. Moreover, State has always held responsibility for commercial work in those coun- tries where there is no FCS, and continues to handle retirement and other personnel matters as well as admin- istrative issues abroad. But State would, of course, have to want it and be willing to take on the campaign in Washington hallways that it would involve. A recombination could benefit users of U.S. govern- ment commercial services by bringing a broader per- spective to counseling sessions and trade program devel- F O C U S J A N U A R Y 2 0 0 3 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 49 An operational feature that I missed most from State was the “strong” country desk. SERVING THOSE WHO SERVE AMERICA S I NCE 1 9 7 1 2001 represents our 31 st year helping to maintain America’s fleet of vehicles throughout the world. All of us at D & M consider it an honor to have worked with all of you through these years. We are aware of the importance of your official and private vehicles, forklifts, generators, tools and equipment. We look forward to continuing this service in a professional manner. We are here to help, just ask! Gary Vlahov www.dmauto.com (516) 822-6662; FAX: (516) 822-5020; E-mail: info@dmauto.com Gilmore 4-c ad to come from ED