The Foreign Service Journal, February 2006

T HE M AGAZINE F OR F OREIGN A FFAIRS P ROFESSIONALS Foreign Service Journal (ISSN 0146-3543), 2101 E Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037-2990 is published monthly with a combined July/August issue by the American Foreign Service Association, a private, non-profit organization. Material appearing herein represents the opinions of the writers and does not necessarily represent the views of the Journal, the Editorial Board or AFSA. Writer queries and submissions are invited, preferably by e-mail. Journal subscription: AFSAMembers - $13 included in annual dues; others - $40. For foreign surface mail, add $18 per year; foreign airmail, $36 per year. Periodical postage paid at Washington, D.C., and at additional mail- ing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to Foreign Service Journal , 2101 E Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037-2990. Indexed by Public Affairs Information Service (PAIS). The Journal is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photos or illustrations. Advertising inquiries are invited. The appearance of advertisements herein does not imply the endorsement of the services or goods offered. FAX: (202) 338-8244 or (202) 338-6820. E-MAIL: journal@afsa.org . WEB: www.afsa.org . TELEPHONE: (202) 338-4045. © American Foreign Service Association, 2005. Printed in the U.S.A. Send address changes to AFSA Membership, 2101 E Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037-2990. Printed on 50-percent recycled paper, of which 10 percent is post-consumer waste. J O U R N A L OREIGN ERVICE S F Editor S TEVEN A LAN H ONLEY Senior Editor S USAN B. M AITRA Associate Editor S HAWN D ORMAN Ad & Circulation Manager E D M ILTENBERGER Business Manager M IKKELA V. T HOMPSON Art Director C ARYN S UKO S MITH Editorial Interns D ANIEL Z USSMAN C AITLIN S TUART Advertising Intern W ILLEM H OFSTEDE Editorial Board T ED W ILKINSON , C HAIRMAN K ENT C. B ROKENSHIRE S TEPHEN W. B UCK A NTHONY S. C HAN L ILLIAN DE V ALCOURT -A YALA J OSH G LAZEROFF W ILLIAM W. J ORDAN L AURIE K ASSMAN J OYCE W. N AMDE K AY W EBB M AYFIELD C HRISTOPHER L. T EAL F OCUS ON S EC . R ICE ’ S F IRST Y EAR 17 / T RANSFORMATIONAL D IPLOMACY : A W ORK IN P ROGRESS For many at State, Condoleezza Rice’s focus on policy has come at the expense of management. By Shawn Zeller 29/ A NYWHERE , A NYTIME D IPLOMACY Changes in institutional culture and an improved IT infrastructure will help realize Secretary Rice’s vision. By Peter S. Gadzinski 33 / P EACEBUILDING : A N EW N ATIONAL S ECURITY I MPERATIVE Despite Sec. Rice’s support, the Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization has not gotten off to a strong start. By Peter H. Gantz 39 / M C K INSEY R EDUX : W HAT I T G ETS R IGHT AND W RONG The McKinsey and Company management consulting firm’s latest report, “Winning the Next Phase of the War for Talent,” generally gives State high marks. But much more remains to be done. By Louise K. Crane C ONTENTS F e b r u a r y 2 0 0 6 Vo l ume 8 3 , No . 2 F EATURE L IFE A FTER THE FS: M ORE R ETIREES S PEAK U P / 45 Retirees share stories and advice about retirement from the Foreign Service. By Susan Maitra Cover and inside illustration by Darren Gygi C O L U M N S P RESIDENT ’ S V IEWS / 5 Transformational Diplomacy Takes Shape, but Basic Questions Remain By J. Anthony Holmes S PEAKING O UT / 14 It’s Not Who You Know, It’s Where You Serve By John Allen Quintus R EFLECTIONS / 68 Exceeding One’s Grasp, Marine-Style By William V. Roebuck D E P A R T M E N T S L ETTERS / 6 C YBERNOTES / 10 M ARKETPLACE / 12 B OOKS / 59 I NDEX TO A DVERTISERS / 66 AFSA T AX G UIDE / C ENTER I NSERT F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 6 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 3 As this issue of the Foreign Service Journal went to press, Secretary of State Rice was scheduled to deliver a major speech on Jan. 18 elaborating her vision of “trans- formational diplomacy” and what it means for the Department of State. For AFSA’s response to the Secre- tary’s proposals, please consult the AFSA Web site at www.afsa.org.