The Foreign Service Journal, March 2003

M A R C H 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 3 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 by the American Foreign Service Association, a private, non-profit organization. Material appearing here- in 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: AFSA Members - $9.50 included in annual dues; others - $40. For foreign surface mail, add $18 per year; foreign air- mail, $36 per year. Periodical postage paid at Washington, D.C., and at additional mailing 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. TE LEPHONE: (202) 338-4045. © American Foreign Service Association, 2003. 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 Associate Editor S USAN B. M AITRA Business Manager M IKKELA V. T HOMPSON Ad & Circulation Manager E D M ILTENBERGER AFSA News Editor S HAWN D ORMAN Art Director C ARYN J. S UKO Editorial Intern S TEPHEN E. M ATHER Advertising Intern C HEUK -T ING H O Editorial Board A RNOLD S CHIFFERDECKER , C HAIRMAN J UDITH B AROODY M ARK W. B OCCHETTI E LIZABETH S PIRO C LARK T ATIANA G FOELLER -V OLKOFF C AROL A. G IACOMO L AURIE K ASSMAN C AROLINE M EIRS H OLLIS S UMMERS W ILLIAM W ANLUND T ED W ILKINSON F O C U S : S E C R E T A R Y P O W E L L 19 / F ROM H IGH H OPES TO D ISENCHANTMENT Plans to upgrade U.S.-Mexico relations crumbled with the Twin Towers. Secretary Powell has had to manage the fallout. By Jose Carreno 22 / C ONFIDENCE W ITHOUT A RROGANCE The U.S.-Russia relationship has become a partnership, and the chemistry between Colin Powell and Igor Ivanov has everything to do with it. By Andrei Sitov 25 / P OWELL AND THE A RAB W ORLD : A N ORTH A FRICAN V IEW Whatever Colin Powell’s personal convictions are, his standing in the Arab world is not high. Nor is it likely to improve anytime soon. By Bechir Chourou 29 / C ONSIDERING C OLIN P OWELL AND A FRICA Secretary Powell gets credit for the changed tone and unexpected engagement with Africa. But Africans remain unsure of U.S. goals. By Charles Cobb Jr. 33 / P OWELL AND THE M IDDLE E AST : A V OICE OF M ODERATION ? The Arab world views Powell as a dove among the many hawks in the Bush administration, but a weak figure. By Khaled Abdulkareem 37 / T HE A NTIDOTE F OR E UROPEAN D OUBTS & W ORRIES As Europe adjusts to the post-Cold War world, and a U.S. foreign policy that alternately troubles and baffles, Powell has been a reassuring figure. By Giampiero Gramaglia C ONTENTS Ma r c h 2 0 0 3 Vo l ume 8 0 , No . 3 A MERICA N EEDS P OWELL ’ S M ODERATION / 41 Secretary of State Colin Powell’s insistence on the priority of diplomacy is appreciated in Turkey. By Deniz Arslan Enginsoy S ECRETARY P OWELL : A N A MERICAN S AMURAI ? / 44 In the mind of many Japanese, Colin Powell resembles Kambei, the central character in Kurosawa’s film “Seven Samurai.” By Hiro Aida F E A T U R E R ECALLING P AST C RISES & E VACUATIONS : P ART II / 47 AFSA members and their families share more experiences related to evacuations and life at posts located in danger zones. By Steven Alan Honley C O L U M N S P RESIDENT ’ S V IEWS / 5 AFSA’s Goals for 2003 By John K. Naland S PEAKING O UT / 11 Anti-Nepotism Waivers: Let Them Bake Cake By Gina Wills FS F INANCES / 15 Long-Term Care Insurance By Stephen H. Thompson R EFLECTIONS / 64 By Terry Abrams Cover illustration by Zachary Pullen D E P A R T M E N T S L ETTERS / 7 C YBERNOTES / 8 B OOKS / 54 I NDEX TO A DVERTISERS / 62 FSJ G UIDE TO E XTENDED S TAY H OUSING / 63 AFSA N EWS / C ENTER I NSERT