The Foreign Service Journal, June 2006

that 90 percent prosper and ensuring a world safe for American values. Secretary Powell restored our base, righting a decades-old deficit. Secre- tary Rice correctly has launched trans- formational diplomacy, and we have a great deal of work ahead. FSJ: Some skeptics contend that transformational diplomacy is basical- ly a buzzword for what the Foreign Service was already doing before Secretary Rice coined it. In what ways is it truly a new concept? WRP: Yes, for years the Foreign Service has done many of the things Sec. Rice has mentioned. Those who work in these areas deserve great credit. But there are two key differ- ences: first, it was not our priority as a diplomatic service and, secondly, we did not have the resources to carry out a transformation. So it is a new depar- ture because the Secretary has high- lighted its critical importance with a major initiative and has worked hard to create a plan to achieve this end, including finding the resources to move ahead. I hope those who have already been doing some of these things will be delighted to see their interests at the top of the list now. FSJ: What are your own plans for life after the Foreign Service? WRP: In the retirement course, we’re taught that retirement begins the best period of our lives. We have great experience plus control of our own schedule and priorities for the first time in our lives. So I want to make good use in the private sector of my diplomatic, legal and trouble- shooting experience, volunteer in my community to help others, and do all those projects I’ve been putting off for years. In a perfect world, that will include writing and getting my golf handicap down to single digits. It’s a very exciting time, and I’m looking forward to it. Thank you for letting me speak to our AFSA colleagues. 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 55