The Foreign Service Journal, April 2007

of a communist-governed/allied coun- try … at the first opportunity.” The context — a discussion of exclusively “romantically or sexually intimate rela- tionships,” including marriage — makes it abundantly clear that the term “any relationship” here refers only to a “romantically and sexually intimate relationship.” But because the instruction does not say “Report any romantically or sexually intimate relationship (not only continuing relationships),” it gives rise to the possibility of over-broad inter- pretation on the part of DS. The pur- pose of the CRR is to articulate depart- ment policy and inform employees of their responsibilities. The goal should not be “strategic ambiguity,” but surgi- cal precision. Solution: Ensure that every term and provision of the CRR is as precise and clear as possible . The contact reporting re- quirements are extremely poorly organized. For example, the 3 FAM provision (cited in full above) that a reportable relationship with a commu- nist national “will preclude continued security clearance” and “assignment to sensitive duties/posts,” and will trigger a “full investigation,” is buried in an obscure subsection of 3 FAM innocu- ously titled “Initial Counseling” — fully three pages removed from the requirement to report communist relationships at the first opportunity. This passage, which outlines the seri- ous, even career-ending, measures the department will take in such cases, ought to be immediately adjacent to the requirement at issue. Solution: Organize the FAM CRR more logically. Finally, the FAM omits an entire class of reporting require- ments; namely, those pertaining to holders of sensitive compartment- ed information clearances. The only enumeration of SCI-specific CRR is the 2004 State Department A P R I L 2 0 0 7 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 17 S P E A K I N G O U T A time of service…a time of need Help for Seniors May Be Just a Phone Call Away— Home Health Care Adult Day Care & Respite Care Prescription Drug Copayments Transportation to Medical Appointments Durable Medical Equipment For more information, please contact the SENIOR LIVING FOUNDATION OF THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE 1716 N Street, NW Washington, DC 20036-2902 Phone: (202) 887-8170 Fax: (202) 872-9320 E-Mail: info@SLFoundation.org Web Site: www.SLFoundation.org The Senior Living Foundation may be able to help you or someone you know. Some examples of assistance are: SPONSORED BY THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION