The Foreign Service Journal, March 2020

16 MARCH 2020 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL A Bipartisan Effort to Support Diplomacy I n 2017, Senator [Dan] Sullivan [R-Alaska] and I co-founded the Foreign Service Cau- cus to support our diplomats, a bipartisan start toward turning the tide. This week, we have taken additional steps forward with the pas- sage of paid parental leave for federal employ- ees, and we will pass a well-deserved pay raise shortly. There is so much more we can do. Senators can start right now and take per- sonal responsibility for ushering in a new era of respect for all of our public servants. I ask my colleagues on both sides of the Capitol to stop the insults, stop the verbal assaults, and stop questioning the patriotism of these fine Americans. We can fight over programs; we can fight over budgets; but let’s not speak ill of civilians who serve. Let’s not hurl the term “bureaucrat” as a slur. Let’s not call people in certain government agencies “scum.” Let’s disagree with wit- nesses without questioning their patriotism —Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Senate floor speech, Dec. 18. Dedicated Patriots My parents worked for the embassy in New Delhi when I was born, and I can tell you that the people who serve our nation around the world as part of the Foreign Service, our intelligence agen- cies and DOD [Department of Defense] are some of the most incredibly dedicated patriots I have ever seen . —Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Col.), interview on MSNBC, Jan. 17. Heard on the Hill JOSH R estoring American leadership both at home and around the world begins with rebuilding the State Department and expanding our budget for foreign assistance. … Whatever issue we face, whether it’s conflict in Syria or Ebola pandemics in Africa or Zika in South America, our response is more effective if we use the tools of diplomacy and work with our allies. In my first one hundred days as president, I will launch an effort to rebuild and restore our diplomatic corps. That begins with immedi- ately depoliticizing foreign policymaking and ensuring that the State Department and international agencies receive sufficient funding. —Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), at an event at the Council on Foreign Relations, Dec. 11, 2019. ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL rights in Lebanon—but those are long- established rights that have been denied to these groups, he added. Picking and choosing human rights gives “a green light” to the enemies of human rights, Roth said. “The Saudi Arabias, Chinas and Russias of the world want to pick and choose the rights they like. They’ll be more likely to do that if the U.S. is also selective on rights.” Ms. Orentlicher, who served as deputy for the Office of War Crimes Issues at State from 2009 to 2011, told the commission that the United States had developed bipartisan consensus about human rights in the 1980s. “I saw early on how robust U.S. support could make a huge difference on human rights for women and others,” she said. But she worries that the consensus is now “under severe stress.” With the decrease of U.S. leadership on human rights, America now signals ambiva- lence and worse in its commitment to human rights, she said. Some of the most dangerous emerg- ing threats come from private actors, she pointed out, adding that social media’s amplification of the messages of bad actors needs urgent attention. Ms. Orentlicher encouraged the State Department to continue promoting human rights and urged the department to ensure that all employees are literate on human rights issues. She was “cheered” to see Secretary Pompeo’s support for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, she said, adding that it is urgent that the United States reanimate its commitment to the UDHR.