The Foreign Service Journal, June 2006

J U N E 2 0 0 6 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 25 was the first USAID officer to return to Pakistan in 2002, in the wake of 9/11, when Secretary of State Colin Powell instructed the agency to reopen the U.S. foreign assistance program after an eight-year hiatus. I will never forget my first day back (I had served in Pakistan from 1991-1994). After the country team meet- ing, the regional security officer introduced himself and told me he was strongly opposed to USAID’s return. “Give me any trouble,” he warned, “and you’ll be on the first plane out of here.” It was only weeks after the attack on the Protestant F O C U S O N T H E F U T U R E O F U S A I D S ERVING IN H IGH -T HREAT P OSTS I T HE RULES GOVERNING A CCOUNTABILITY R EVIEW B OARDS HAVEN ’ T CHANGED MUCH SINCE 9/11. I T IS TIME TO RE - EXAMINE THEM . B Y M ARK W ARD Phil Bliss