The Foreign Service Journal, July-August 2003

J U LY- A U G U S T 2 0 0 3 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 3 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 by the American Foreign Service Association, a private, non-profit organization. Material appearing here- in 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: AFSA Members - $9.50 included in annual dues; others - $40. For foreign surface mail, add $18 per year; foreign air- mail, $36 per year. Periodical postage paid at Washington, D.C., and at additional mailing 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. TE LEPHONE: (202) 338-4045. © American Foreign Service Association, 2003. 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. Editor S TEVEN A LAN H ONLEY Associate Editor S USAN B. M AITRA Business Manager M IKKELA V. T HOMPSON Ad & Circulation Manager E D M ILTENBERGER AFSA News Editor S HAWN D ORMAN Art Director C ARYN J. S UKO Editorial Intern A STER G RAHN Advertising Interns C HARLES O DENZ J ESSICA B ARNOSKI Editorial Board J UDITH B AROODY , C HAIRMAN M ARK W. B OCCHETTI E LIZABETH S PIRO C LARK T ATIANA G FOELLER -V OLKOFF C AROL A. G IACOMO L AURIE K ASSMAN C AROLINE M EIRS H OLLIS S UMMERS W ILLIAM W ANLUND T ED W ILKINSON F OCUS ON F OREIGN S ERVICE F ICTION 16 / I NDIGO AND P EPPER S OUP An enterprising FS wife challenges the presumption of hardship in Lagos and her husband’s cynicism. By Patricia L. Sharpe 21 / D EATH OF A P UBLIC S ERVANT Eric Fleet was a very annoying man. But who disliked him enough to kill him? By Nancy Nelson 28 / F RANK G OES FOR B AROQUE An upwardly mobile junior officer in a backwater post discovers the secret to success. By Hanscom Smith 31 / A C OUNSELOR IN R OME An FSO has an unexpectedly fulfilling second tour in the Eternal City. By Peter Bridges 36 / T HROUGH THE G LASS A Russian girl contemplates more than just marriage as she applies for a visa. By Donna Gorman 41 / N ITA AND THE F IRST N OBLE E IGHTFOLD P ATH Mrs. Ambassador gets mixed up in a well- intentioned scheme with bizarre consequences. Nita, her enlightened cook, tells the story. By David McAuley C ONTENTS J u l y - A u g u s t 2 0 0 3 ■ Vo l ume 8 0 , No . 7 - 8 F E A T U R E S S TILL T ELLING T HEIR S TORIES : T HE ADST O RAL H ISTORY P ROGRAM / 48 The Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training is preparing to go online with its ever-growing collection of oral histories. Here are some excerpts. By Kenneth L. Brown and Veda Engel R EMEMBERING USIA / 57 This year marks the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Information Agency’s founding. A retired USIA officer recalls the agency’s many accomplishments. By Wilson Dizard Jr. T O A NITA K ILLED BY THE B ANDITS / 62 This poem is based on a true story. By Gordon King C APITALISM AND THE M EXICAN P OOR / 64 Until USAID and other international development agencies learn how the lives of the working poor really function, their aid and loans won’t benefit those who need help the most. By James Olsen D E P A R T M E N T S L ETTERS / 7 C YBERNOTES / 10 B OOKS / 69 I NDEX TO A DVERTISERS / 74 AFSA N EWS / C ENTER I NSERT C O L U M N S P RESIDENT ’ S V IEWS / 5 Voice of the Foreign Service By John K. Naland S PEAKING O UT / 13 Strengthen Diplomacy for the War on Terror By Sen. Richard G. Lugar R EFLECTIONS / 76 By John J. St. John Cover and inside illustrations by Janet Cleland Page 16