The Foreign Service Journal, February 2009

them to do their jobs efficiently and effectively. Overwhelming numbers of responses to these questions leave no doubt that most consider it a fundamental part of the Secretary’s job to fight for re- sources for American diplomacy. Our opinion poll revealed strong sentiment over professional issues. A whopping 98 percent of respondents agreed that “Foreign Service members, especially senior officers, have a duty to provide frank, constructive advice to the political leadership behind closed doors on foreign policy issues and on management issues impacting the Foreign Service — even if that advice is not welcomed by the su- perior.” Hundreds of comments indicated that people do not be- lieve this has been the case in re- cent years and are concerned over the lack of open discussion of pol- icy issues. Finally, a very strong majority (76 percent) believe AFSA should oppose unqualified politi- cal-appointee ambassadors. On a positive note, there ap- pears to be a reversal in our mem- bers’ thinking about their long- term prospects in the Foreign Serv- ice. While last year’s poll indicated F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 9 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 41 A F S A N E W S Survey • Continued from page 39 Some 71 percent believe that people should be allowed to extend in an overseas or domestic assignment to enable a son or daughter to finish the senior year of high school. Article and charts continue on page 42