The Foreign Service Journal, February 2006

Museum here in Dhaka held a ceremony to commemorate his pass- ing. Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr. delivered a moving speech in which he noted that Blood, too, was a vic- tim of the war (because of the treat- ment he received under Nixon and Kissinger). But the State Depart- ment benefited because Blood’s cables effectively established the Dissent Channel. I have long believed that Embassy Dhaka should do more to recognize Blood’s work. Originally, I submitted my Appreciation to the embassy newsletter, but it was rejected on the grounds that it was politically too sen- sitive to publish. Feeling very much imbued with the spirit of Archer Blood (and not wanting to take “no” for an answer), I submitted my piece to the FSJ and was delighted when it was accepted. My wife, Michelle Jones, who is deputy director of the American Center here, then seized the initia- tive. With support from Amb. Thomas (before he left Dhaka this past summer), Michelle diligently and doggedly sought approval to have the American Center Library named after Blood. Chargé Judith Chammas and other senior officers here have played a vital role in sup- port of this initiative. I say vital, because the idea was not without its detractors. Bangladesh won its Liberation War on Dec. 16, 1971. Each year, Victory Week is celebrated with relish here. This year — perhaps for the first time — Americans were able to proudly participate in the weeklong series of events, because on Dec. 13, 2005, the Archer K. Blood American Center Library was dedicated during a ceremony held on a beautiful sunny afternoon on the library’s front lawn. The dedication was attended by dozens of former war heroes and senior dignitaries. Archer Blood’s wife, Margaret, his son, Peter, and his daughter, Shireen, were in atten- dance. It was a wonderful event, one that seemed to help right past wrongs. The embassy asked me to deliver a lunchtime seminar on Blood. (In some small way, I have become the Blood expert here.) Churlishly, I insisted that the embassy newsletter publish my once-rejected Apprecia- tion before I would agree to partici- pate. They did so without a peep of protest, and I delivered a talk titled “Blood Lines: Writings on Archer K. Blood.” Thus, my own small (very small) wrong was righted too. Infinitely more significantly, Vic- tory Week 2005 was a high point for bilateral relations. Bangladeshis have always quietly and politely resented America’s opposition to their inde- pendence and the Nixon administra- tion’s implicit acquiescence in the genocidal atrocities committed by Pakistan that saw perhaps three mil- lion people slaughtered and 10 mil- lion flee to India. But this year, by recognizing that Blood was correct and the Nixon administration was wrong, the U.S. has issued some- thing akin to a mea culpa. The peo- ple of Bangladesh recognize that and deeply appreciate it. In the current geopolitical environment, these small high points of good-feeling and affec- tion between America and a Muslim democracy like Bangladesh should be noted, dwelled upon and cher- ished. Archer Blood’s widow and two of his four children spent a hectic but enjoyable few days in Dhaka during Victory Week 2005. In a touching gesture, the embassy allowed the family to stay at the ambassador’s residence. On their last evening in Dhaka, they hosted a small recep- tion for Library of Congress staffers. Watching Margaret Blood elegantly host the event that night, with her characteristic grace and aplomb, I saw she was every inch an ambas- sador’s wife, and I felt quite satisfied that an error had been corrected. Douglas Kerr Dhaka Standing Up for the Service Bravo to AFSA President J. Anthony Holmes for his December 2005 column, “The Foreign Service as a Political Foil.” Secretary Rice’s response to his request to defend the Service was dis- appointing. However, since she has taken a leading role in the conduct of foreign relations and has regular opportunities for interaction with the media, perhaps there will yet be opportunities for her to correct the record informally with reporters and other public figures who don’t take the time to understand the work of the career service. Her predecessor’s willingness to stand up for the Foreign Service in public forums was among many notable acts of caring about the dedi- cated people who have served all administrations loyally and well. Such acts distinguished his tenure. R.T. (Ted) Curran FSO, retired Frankfort, Mich. Another First Woman Thanks for your informative article on women in the Foreign Service (“Breaking Through Diplomacy’s Glass Ceiling,” October 2005). While a PIT at Embassy Kathmandu from 1991 to 1992, I worked for Ambassador Julia Chang Bloch. Amb. Bloch immigrated to the U.S. from China at the age of 10, and continues to pursue a ground-break- ing career in both public and private service. Although I can’t say unequivocal- ly that she was the first Asian- American ambassador, I believe that 8 F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 6 L E T T E R S