The Foreign Service Journal, February 2007

a story put out by the U.S. government will go unchallenged is still driving a Kaiser and using Burma Shave. All nations have national interests and all will do their best to accentuate the positive in every yarn they spin. That’s why God gave us adjectives. Thank- fully, he also gave us a free will and a skeptical mind. One of public diplomacy’s most important programs is the Interna- tional Visitors Program, probably the best way to acquaint emerging leaders with the U.S. While abroad, I recom- mended many contacts to the pro- gram. Now, as president of a U.S.- based IV council, I have seen the enor- mous good will this program gener- ates. It is a true success story that deserves to be told more often. Other government programs should work as well. So how do we design a better sys- tem for promoting the U.S. that takes advantage of her citizens at home and the FSOs overseas? We start by exploring the possibilities, together. Good things are bound to happen when good people come together. It’s never too late to admit you can do bet- ter; it’s just hard, that’s all. Stephan Helgesen FSO, retired President, Albuquerque Council for International Visitors Tijeras, N.M. A Call for Due Process I am a Civil Service employee, but my concern is common to all State Department employees. I served two tours overseas on hard-to-fill assign- ments, so I have seen both sides. I would like to raise a serious issue and ask for the opinion of Journal readers. I am concerned that 12 FAM 550 is ignored. That has been my experi- ence, and I would like to know if it is a common one, or if it is an exception. In my case, during three years over- L E T T E R S 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 7