The Foreign Service Journal, May 2013

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | MAY 2013 9 long lines and have just minutes to make the critical decision of whether to issue or deny a visa. They need all their senses to judge applicants and their veracity. Similarly, the installation of bul- letproof glass turned consular officers into almost literally faceless bureaucrats when dealing with their fellow citizens. My own recent visit to a consular section with those abominable windows was a cold, impersonal encounter. Surely that is hardly the image we would like to project to our citizens. Security is extremely important, of course, but it must not be the only factor considered. We go abroad to accomplish a mission, and we must carry it out even if it entails some unavoidable risk. Robert W. Maule Senior FSO, retired Poulsbo, Wash . Thanks for the Insights Susan Johnson’s February President’s Views column, “Institutional Restructur- ing and Reform: A Strategic Perspective,” was terrific and insightful, delivering a message that needs to be heard. I hope that our “strategic” thinkers read it and work toward appropriate change. While I am at it, I also appreciate the February Talking Points item, “Learning from Benghazi.” Thank you for your service to us. Tim Bashor FSO Zabul Province, Qalat Provincial Reconstruction Team Afghanistan Beware of Private Clubs For nearly 20 years, I was a proud member of Diplomats and Consular Officers, Retired, a private club of our profession. Then on June 21, 2012, my membership was terminated by the unanimous vote of the DACOR Executive Committee. In seeking to rectify the situation, I sought a hearing, at the very least, to ascertain the reason for such adverse action. Alas, even that request was denied, leaving me without even a shred of my civil rights. As I approach the first anniversary of my expulsion, I want to caution other col- leagues about the perils of private clubs. Once you are a member, forget about due process, not to mention your civil rights. I am ashamed and shamed beyond grief. Thomas R. Hutson FSO, retired Red Cloud, Neb . Is Outsourcing Bad? I was disappointed in the article on outsourcing in your February 2013 issue (“The Hidden Costs of Outsourc- ing Diplomacy and Development,” by Allison Stanger). Ms. Stanger makes a lot of assumptions without providing any expla- nations or justifica- tions for them. First, she states that both State and USAID have expanded the use of outsourcing as a response to “a decade of opera- tions in post-conflict environments.” But when comparing 2000 and 2010 contract levels, she does not distinguish between outsourcing activities in normal versus conflict environments. So it is impossible to know whether the increases reflect “surge” responses to the conflicts or a broader trend. Per the table provided, USAID increased its contracts from $535.8 million to $5.6 billion over that period. But how much of the increase related to