The Foreign Service Journal, June 2006

T HE M AGAZINE F OR F OREIGN A FFAIRS P ROFESSIONALS Foreign Service Journal (ISSN 0146-3543), 2101 E Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037-2990 is published monthly with a combined July/August issue by the American Foreign Service Association, a private, non-profit organization. Material appearing herein represents the opinions of the writers and does not necessarily represent the views of the Journal, the Editorial Board or AFSA. Writer queries and submissions are invited, preferably by e-mail. Journal subscription: AFSAMembers - $13 included in annual dues; others - $40. For foreign surface mail, add $18 per year; foreign airmail, $36 per year. Periodical postage paid at Washington, D.C., and at additional mail- ing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to Foreign Service Journal , 2101 E Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037-2990. Indexed by Public Affairs Information Service (PAIS). The Journal is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photos or illustrations. Advertising inquiries are invited. The appearance of advertisements herein does not imply the endorsement of the services or goods offered. FAX: (202) 338-8244 or (202) 338-6820. E-MAIL: journal@afsa.org. WEB: www.afsa.org. TELEPHONE: (202) 338-4045. © American Foreign Service Association, 2006. Printed in the U.S.A. Send address changes to AFSA Membership, 2101 E Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037-2990. Printed on 50-percent recycled paper, of which 10 percent is post-consumer waste. J O U R N A L OREIGN ERVICE S F Editor S TEVEN A LAN H ONLEY Senior Editor S USAN B. M AITRA Associate Editor S HAWN D ORMAN Ad & Circulation Manager E D M ILTENBERGER Business Manager M IKKELA V. T HOMPSON Art Director C ARYN S UKO S MITH Editorial Intern S HAWN G UAN Advertising Intern M IHO K URISHIMA Editorial Board T ED W ILKINSON , C HAIRMAN K ENT C. B ROKENSHIRE S TEPHEN W. B UCK A NTHONY S. C HAN L ILLIAN DE V ALCOURT -A YALA J OSH G LAZEROFF W ILLIAM W. J ORDAN L AURIE K ASSMAN J OYCE W. N AMDE K AY W EBB M AYFIELD C HRISTOPHER L. T EAL F O C U S O N T H E F U T U R E O F U S A I D 19 / USAID IN THE P OST -9/11 W ORLD Reforms are realigning the agency’s policies and operations to match today’s strategic and developmental challenges. By Andrew Natsios 25 / S ERVING IN H IGH -T HREAT P OSTS The rules governing Accountability Review Boards have not changed much since 9/11. It is time to re-examine them. By Mark Ward 28 / F OREIGN A ID P OLICY : O LD W INE IN N EW B OTTLES ? A shift to fostering institutional change, rather than providing direct aid, will meet bureaucratic resistance. By Thomas Dichter 35 / USAID IN 2006: B AND -A IDS , N OT D EVELOPMENT Economic growth is too important to consign to a residual category of the budget. By James W. Fox 41 / C ROSSING THE G ENDER D IVIDE IN D ISASTER R ELIEF The Foreign Service and relief agencies need to address gender equity in disaster assistance programs. By Roxane Richter F E A T U R E S 48 / A N I NTERVIEW WITH D IRECTOR G ENERAL W. R OBERT P EARSON In a valedictory interview, the former DG reflects on the success of the Diplomatic Readiness Initiative and the challenges of transformational diplomacy. By George Gedda 56 / H UMAN R IGHTS R EPORT FOR THE H UN E MPIRE , A.D. 451 The following report is submitted a mere 15 centuries after the events it describes … By Donald A. Roberts C ONTENTS J u n e 2 0 0 6 Vo l ume 8 3 , No . 6 S C H O O L S S U P P L E M E N T T AKING A G AP Y EAR / 62 Time off can give students an opportunity to plan for the future and clarify what they want to do. By Ingrid Ahlgren S CHOOLS AT A G LANCE / 72 Essential data on educational choices. FAQ: E DUCATING S PECIAL N EEDS C HILDREN O VERSEAS / 78 Education is a challenge for FS families. But for those whose children have special needs, it can be overwhelming. By Francesca Kelly Cover and inside illustrations by Phil Bliss C O L U M N S P RESIDENT ’ S V IEWS / 5 Foreign Assistance: Transformational Diplomacy’s Key Missing Ingredient By J. Anthony Holmes S PEAKING O UT / 14 Iranian Nuclear Weapons: Advantage or Liability? By George B. Lambrakis R EFLECTIONS / 100 When Suits Came Back to Managua By Brian Rudert D E P A R T M E N T S L ETTERS / 6 C YBERNOTES / 10 M ARKETPLACE / 12 B OOKS / 60 I NDEX T O A DVERTISERS / 98 AFSA N EWS / C ENTER I NSERT 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 3