The Foreign Service Journal, July-August 2004

J U LY- A U G U S T 2 0 0 4 / 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 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. W EB: www.afsa.org or www.fsjournal.org. TE L: (202) 338-4045. © American Foreign Service Association, 2004. 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 K RISTOFER L OFGREN Editorial Board J UDITH B AROODY , C HAIRMAN M ARK W. B OCCHETTI S TEPHEN W. B UCK P ATI C HAPLIN T ATIANA C. G FOELLER C AROL A. G IACOMO W ILLIAM W. J ORDAN L AURIE K ASSMAN H OLLIS S UMMERS B ILL W ANLUND T ED W ILKINSON F OCUS ON F ORE IGN S ERV I CE F I CT ION 20 / S TRANGE D AY A man recognizes the rhythm of life and death in a rainstorm in Africa. By Michael E. Kelly 23 / T HE V ERDERER A centuries-old affront drives a political officer to plan a meticulous revenge. By John D. Boyll 26 / A WAKENING As the slow, creaky wheels of an African emergency turn, an American health worker comes to terms with the reality of her own loss. By Rachel Herr 32 / B LESSED A RE THE P EACEMAKERS An early education in peacemaking in Brooklyn lasts a lifetime. By Francis Xavier Cunningham 38 / T HE K EEPER Negotiating a peace with Rose Williams’ loyal cat is Conrad Campbell’s greatest challenge. By Ricky Rood 45 / T HE G ULSHAN R EGATTA A young man finds that fate plays a role — even in an arranged marriage. By Mary Cameron Kilgour C ONTENTS J u l y - A u g u s t 2 0 0 4 Vo l ume 8 1 , No . 7 - 8 F E A T U R E S AFSA A WARD W INNERS IN A CTION / 44 Photos and citations for some of this year’s winners. By Shawn Dorman A N FS “R ENAISSANCE M AN ”: R ICHARD B. P ARKER / 49 Three-time Ambassador Richard Parker was a Foreign Service officer for 31 years, and since retirement has continued to write and teach. Last month, AFSA honored Parker for a lifetime of contributions to American diplomacy. By Steven Alan Honley R EBEL R AIDER AS D IPLOMAT : J OHN M OSBY IN C HINA / 60 As U.S. consul in Hong Kong, the colorful Confederate guerrilla leader greatly improved the United States’ reputation in China. By Kevin H. Siepel I T ’ S T IME TO W IN THE B ATTLE FOR U GANDA ’ S C HILDREN / 66 A perverse war continues to devour thousands of chil- dren each year in Uganda, putting President Museveni’s international reputation at risk. By Michael Orona Cover and inside illustrations by Donald Mulligan C O L U M N S P RESIDENT ’ S V IEWS / 5 Creative Writing: A Talent for All Seasons By John Limbert S PEAKING O UT / 17 A Tribute to the Senior Seminar By William Stedman R EFLECTIONS / 88 By Jeff Mazur D E P A R T M E N T S L ETTERS / 6 C YBERNOTES / 14 B OOKS / 71 I N M EMORY / 73 I NDEX TO A DVERTISERS / 86 AFSA N EWS / C ENTER I NSERT See p. 44