The Foreign Service Journal, March 2015

Our diplomacy is at work with respect to Iran, where, for the first time in a decade, we’ve halted the progress of its nuclear program and reduced its stockpile of nuclear material. Between now and this spring, we have a chance to negotiate a comprehensive agreement that prevents a nuclear-armed Iran; secures America and our allies—including Israel; while avoiding yet another Middle East conflict. There are no guarantees that nego- tiations will succeed, and I keep all options on the table to prevent a nuclear Iran. But new sanctions passed by this Congress, at this moment in time, will all but guarantee that diplomacy fails—alienating America from its allies; and ensuring that Iran starts up its nuclear program again. It doesn’t make sense. That is why I will veto any new sanctions bill that threatens to undo this progress. The American people expect us to only go to war as a last resort, and I intend to stay true to that wisdom. —President Barack Obama , State of the Union Address, Jan. 20. 14 MARCH 2015 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL The Foreign Service on the Small Screen W ith the CBS series “Madame Secretary” renewed for a second season, and a whole host of programing in development in which the Foreign Ser- vice plays a role (see Talking Points in the November 2014 FSJ ), diplomacy is a hot topic in Hollywood. In fact, this summer HBO will premiere a new half-hour dark comedy series, “The Brink,” in which the Foreign Service features prominently. In “The Brink” a rogue general seizes control of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons, and it is up to three “disparate and desperate men” to save the planet from World War III. Tim Robbins plays U.S. Secretary of State Walter Larson; Jack Black portrays Alex Talbot, who HBO describes as “a lowly Foreign Service officer;” and Pablo Schreiber takes the role of Zeke Tilson, “an ace Navy fighter pilot.” HBO ordered the series immediately after viewing the pilot and will produce 10 episodes. With HBO doing the produc- ing, the quality of the show is likely to be top shelf. It remains to be seen how audiences will feel about the series, of course, but the pre-season press seems to make one thing clear: in Hollywood’s opinion, the Foreign Service is the CIA’s neglected stepchild. In USA Today Jack Black described his character—that “lowly” Foreign Service officer—as “a wannabe CIA dude, a bit of a doofus, a bit of a stoner.” Ouch. —Debra Blome, Associate Editor 2014: Not the Year for Children T he year 2014 was particularly devastating for many of the world’s children. According to a report from UNI- CEF, those living in conflict areas such as Contemporary Quote TALKING POINTS the Central African Republic, Iraq, South Sudan, Palestine, Syria and Ukraine suf- fered atrocities ranging from kidnapping, torture and rape to child slavery and other crimes. The report, “The State of the World’s Children in Numbers,” contains a number of dramatic statistics. For instance, of the 2.2 billion children globally, “an estimated 230 million children live in countries and areas affected by armed conflicts.” In Gaza, 538 children were killed as a result of the 50-day Israeli-Palestinian conflict during the summer. There were 1.7 million Syrian children living as refu- gees. At least 5 million children aged 3 to 17 were unable to return to school follow- ing the Ebola outbreak. In a Dec. 8 New York Times article, UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake commented: “Never in recent memory have so many children been subjected to such unspeakable brutality.” The report notes, “Data do not, of themselves, change the world. What mat- ters most is that decision-makers use the data to make positive change.” UNICEF is conducting campaigns targeted at treating malnutrition, administering polio vaccines, improving access to safe drinking water, getting children back into school and providing safe learning spaces. The full 2014 report can be down- loaded at www.unicef.org/sowc2014/ numbers. —Brittany DeLong, Assistant Editor SIGAR: Information on Afghan Security Forces Now Classified I n late January, Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruc- tion John F. Sopko released the latest quarterly report on the status of the U.S. reconstruction effort in Afghanistan, cov - ering October through December 2014. The report zeros in on the “still-elusive goal” of coordinating aid to Afghanistan as the United States and NATO scale down and reorient their activity in what they have termed the “Decade of Trans- formation” (2015-2024). SIGAR has launched a project to iden-