The Foreign Service Journal, May 2007

M A Y 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 5 There aren’t many things that unite every living former Secretary of State, pundits and academics, Republicans and Democrats, as well as AFSA and State Department manage- ment. One thing that does is the “United States Diplomacy Center,” the museum of American diplomacy that currently has a staff of seven working on plans, over $1.0 mil- lion in dedicated private funding sit- ting in the bank, and 20,000 square feet of vacant prime space in the newly renovated east wing of the Main State building, all just waiting to be used. And waiting, and waiting, and waiting ... During his first week formally on the job in February 2001, Secretary Colin Powell signed a Statement of Support committing the State Department to provide staff, space, and security for the museum. Even earlier, at the department’s request, a nonprofit foundation was formed and quickly raised $1.3 million of the esti- mated $25 million needed for the project, funds donated by founda- tions and State Department retirees. A quarter of this sum was spent more than two years ago on an impressive design concept by renowned muse- um designers and architects. Plans call for the center to be integrated with the snazzy new auditorium and meeting rooms already being used at the 21st Street entrance. In short, this project has all the makings of a real winner. Virtually everyone inter- ested recognizes that our nation is woefully ignorant of the history of American diplo- macy, the challenges it has overcome, its meager cost relative to the savings gained from wars avoided, and the monu- mental contributions it has made to our national security. As recent politi- cal discourse reflects, the importance of diplomacy to our national interests has never been greater. Nor has the relevance of this project. It would be a welcome addition to our public affairs program. And it could become an important element of our long- standing efforts to build a domestic political constituency that will advo- cate for greater U.S. involvement in the world and a larger role and ade- quate funding for the diplomatic com- ponent of that engagement. I was particularly pleased recently to hear some good news that I thought augured well for the center. Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns (one of the early backers of the idea) told AFSA that, in response to concerns expressed by recent hires about how useful some U.S. diplo- matic history context would be in their orientation process, he had worked with FSI and the Historian’s office to develop a three-day U.S. diplomatic history module to be included in future A-100 courses. The synergy this could create with the center seems obvious. There have also been worrying omens. It is widely known that sever- al attempts to take over the space set aside for the center have been fought off — for now. But how long can this prime space remain safe when bureaus are clamoring for more room and a new foreign assistance empire has been created and many staff shift- ed over from USAID? Already, details have come out about plans to kick out the long-time occupants of the 1200 “service corridor,” such as the FLO offices, the travel and trans- portation people, AFSA, AFGE, and even the Employee Services Center (aka the Foreign Service Lounge) to create new office space. “All the key people in the depart- ment support the diplomacy center,” I’ve been repeatedly told. “It’s like apple pie and motherhood.” Even Secretary Rice supports it, they say, and she was very impressed six months ago by the design concept presentation. When I discussed the center with her in late 2005 and again last summer, she was indeed support- ive, but she also had some concerns. Those issues have now been address- ed, I’m told. But nothing happens — and no one can explain why. As the Bush administration heads down the home stretch and the Secretary’s staff ponders her legacy, it seems to me that having her break the logjam and get the diplomacy center project moving is a no-brainer. She would join an illustrious group of pre- decessors who have lined up behind this project. Both AFSA and I hope she will do the right thing, and quickly, lest the loss of momentum so far prove fatal. P RESIDENT ’ S V IEWS An Over-Ripe Opportunity Needs Attention Now B Y J. A NTHONY H OLMES J. Anthony Holmes is the president of the American Foreign Service Association.