The Foreign Service Journal, June 2006

added” that isn’t going to be available from some other source. In order to do that, people in embassies are going to have to go out and get sources and information and insights that are not simply replicas of what you could research on the key- board by Googling the item. And if you’re going to influence audiences, you’re actually going to have to physi- cally go after them. My own experi- ence is that there is no substitute for a real live person in front of an audience listening to their concerns, answering their questions. Ninety-eight percent of the world wants to know what the United States is like, what we think about things, what are Americans real- ly like. And there is enormous poten- tial for Americans being out there doing that. I think the new emphasis on public diplomacy as much as anything has to be an emphasis on people, young Americans who are out in front of audiences around the world, talking about things that matter to us and obviously to them. That’s a strategic approach. That means a decades-long effort. [Having been in Turkey], I know what can make a difference. It’s not documentaries and films, slick brochures, no matter how brilliant: it is having serious conversations with people. FSJ: Explain the rationale behind Virtual Presence Posts. WRP: We want to be seen by a local community as being present. When I was in Turkey, we had reading rooms where American materials were available but where an American officer didn’t have to be available. We had places where terminals were avail- able, maybe even staffed by an official from the local American Chamber of Commerce. [At] a Virtual Presence Post we create an Internet site avail- able to anyone hitting the site. [For instance, in Russia] you’ve got your virtual site somewhere in Siberia and your webmaster in Moscow. It’s tai- lored for local conditions. When someone goes to that city’s Web site, what they see are the attractions, the industrial opportunities, the local gov- ernment. If you’re interested in study- ing in the U.S. or finding more about the U.S., that material is on that same Web page. Currently, there are 29 Vir- tual Presence Posts. We could even- tually have up to 50. FSJ: The department has also been trying to expand its diplomatic reach by opening up small missions outside capital cities. How does that work? WRP: These are American Pre- sence Posts. In Paris, for example, we took a person from our own staff at the embassy and sent him to Toulouse. The officer was a fluent French speak- er who was in contact daily with local authorities and VIPs. We have an 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 51 SERVING THOSE WHO SERVE AMERICA S I NCE 1 9 7 1 2006 represents our 36 th year helping to maintain America’s fleet of vehicles throughout the world. All of us at D & M consider it an honor to have worked with all of you through these years. We are aware of the importance of your official and private vehicles, forklifts, generators, tools and equipment. We look forward to continuing this service in a professional manner. We are here to help, just ask! Gary Vlahov www.dmauto.com (516) 822-6662; FAX: (516) 822-5020; E-mail: info@dmauto.com