The Foreign Service Journal, July-August 2005

countries to support the real coalition of the willing,” said Simonyi. “We have to be grateful for the men and women who are on the ground fighting.” The event was organized by the United Service Organizations of Metropolitan Washington. A lifelong lover of music, especial- ly rock ‘n’ roll, Simyoni grew up in communist Hungary. He credits rock music — which he listened to on for- bidden radio stations such as Radio Free Europe and Radio Luxembourg —with helping to bring about the end of communism in Europe. “Rock ‘n’ roll was our bridge to the free world,” Simonyi says. Simonyi played guitar in several Hungarian blues and rock bands, including Locomotive GT, one of the best-known groups of the time. In 1999, as Hungary’s ambassador to NATO, he teamed up with his American counterpart, drummer Alexander “Sandy” Vershbow, who is now U.S. ambassador to Russia, to form the band Combined Joint Task Force. Simonyi helped form The Coalition of the Willing shortly after arriving in Washington in 2002. Vershbow plays with the band when- ever he’s in town. Regular band mem- bers include guitarist Lincoln Bloomfield, a former assistant secre- tary of state for political-military affairs; Daniel Poneman, special assis- tant to the president from 1993 through 1996, who is now a principal at the Scowcroft Group; and Jeff “Skunk” Baxter, formerly of Steely Dan and the Doobie Brothers. At the Walter Reed concert, Bob McNally was on drums and Jim Ehinger played the keyboard. Visa Reform: Academic, Science Groups Push for More Improvement Led by the Association of American Universities and the American Assoc- iation for the Advancement of Science, a group of 40 academic, science and engineering associations on May 18 issued six recommendations for reduc- ing or eliminating barriers to issuing visas to international students, scholars and researchers put in place following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks ( www. a a u . e d u / h ome l a n d / 0 5 V i s a StatementPR.pdf ). “W hile intended to correct weaknesses exposed by the attacks,” the group states, “the changes proved to be significant barriers for legitimate travelers and created a mis- perception that these visitors were no longer welcome here.” Noting that progress had been made on visa reform during the past year (the same groups issued a series of recommendations a year ago, a number of which have been imple- mented), the group states: “Consider- able barriers remain that continue to fuel the misperception that our coun- try does not welcome these interna- tional visitors, who contribute im- mensely to our nation’s economy, national security, and higher educa- tion and scientific enterprises.” Indeed, a February Government Accountability Office report on the Visas Mantis program — the security review procedure involving multiple U.S. government agencies that is used when an applicant requires a Security Advisory Opinion — reported that J U LY- A U G U S T 2 0 0 5 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 11 C YBERNOTES 50 Years Ago... There’s a saying in the theater that “everyone wants to play Hamlet,” which might as well be parodied in the Foreign Service as “everyone wants to do political reporting in Western Europe.” However, no one can play Hamlet as Shakespeare intended unless he has had a long theatrical career of acting less difficult roles and slowly acquiring the experience and maturity … to play the truly “great” roles. In this process, he finds that there are many other great roles besides Hamlet. — Nancy L. Snider, “Assignment to Arahas,” FSJ , July 1955. T The U.S. continues to suffer terrible embarrassment and a blow to our reputation … because of reports concerning abuses of prisoners in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo. — Former President Jimmy Carter, at a human rights conference at The Carter Center in Atlanta, June 8, http://abcnews.go.com/US/ wireStory?id=828159.