The Foreign Service Journal, July-August 2003

cheekbone which was clearly not an anatomical feature. It was a hole that, to me at least, was obviously caused by a pathological process. With all the experts and scientists who were sitting there looking at it, not one of them had noticed it. I took a look and said, “What the hell is that hole doing there?” They said, “What hole?” I said, “See that hole over there? You don’t have a number by that one and that’s not an anatomical hole.” They said, “Really? What do you know about it?” I said, “Well, in my younger days I not only was a dentist, but I happen to have specialized in oral pathology and was a diplomate of the American Board of Pathology. Come and take a look at this skull.” We took a closer look at the skull and, sure enough, it became apparent to everyone that this was most likely to be a pathological hole, not an anatomical feature. I am skip- ping over a lot of details. After sever- al days of discussing and weighing the options, they asked me to do the pathology work together with a Brazilian specialist and try to establish that this hole really was a pathological abnormality and not an anatomical feature. W hile ambassador to Chile from 1988 to 1991, Tony Gillespie helped alleviate Chilean ire when cyanide was discovered in a shipment of grapes, and fruit imports into the U.S. were halted. This incident presented me and our embassy with a challenge which was not unique but not often paralleled in the Foreign Service. It was really something, because it colored and con- tinues to color, to some degree, U.S. and Chilean relations. This incident probably cost the Chileans something in the neighborhood of $350 million, which is not inconsequential. In any event, in seven days we got the exports of fruit to the United States going again. I must say that the U.S. and Chilean governments worked together to this end. The inci- dent completely changed the relation- 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 51 “At least 600 journalists came to cover the opening of the Vietnam peace talks. And I was working with them a week after I got off the plane.” — Amb. Frances Cook MCG FINANCIAL PLANNING Former State Department Employee Stationed Overseas Understands Unique Financial Situation of Foreign Service Services Include: Retirement Planning Tax Preparation and Strategies Analysis: Insurance and Investments Lump Sum Retirement Options MARY CORNELIA GINN 4630 Montgomery Avenue, Suite 220 Bethesda, Maryland 20814 Phone: (301) 951-9160 Fax: (703) 938-2278 E-mail: mcgfin@erols.com S ECURITIES OFFERED THROUGH N ATHAN & L EWIS S ECURITIES , I NC ., M EMBER NASD & SIPC. MCG F INANCIAL P LANNING AND N ATHAN & L EWIS ARE NOT AFFILIATED ENTITIES . Interim Accommodations for Corporate and Government Markets Apartments, Townhouses & Single Family Homes “FOR THE EXECUTIVE ON THE MOVE” ❈ finder5@IX.netcom.com Locations throughout Northern Virginia and D.C. Units fully furnished, equipped and accessorized Many “Walk to Metro” locations Pet Friendly 5105-L Backlick Road, Annandale, Virginia Tel: (703) 354-4070 Fax: (703) 642-3619 Executive Lodging Alternatives