The Foreign Service Journal, July-August 2006

J U L Y - A UGU S T 2 0 0 6 / F OR E I GN S E R V I C E J OU R N A L 71 A F S A N E W S W hile serving as political counselor in Panama City, Richard Sacks sent a Dissent Channel message to the State Department that called attention to the negative effect that poor treatment of PanamanianMuslims at U.S. ports of entry was having on the U.S. image in Panama. For his intel- lectual courage and constructive dissent, he was selected for the 2006 Rivkin Award. He challenged and ultimately influenced the Department of Homeland Security’s passenger-screening proce- dures as well as the embassy’s approach to engagement with Panama’s Muslim community. Since the 9/11 attacks, foreignMuslims traveling to the U.S. have come under greater scrutiny. Members of Panama’s Muslim com- munity have faced numerous difficulties, including having their visas revoked, being incarcerated or being voluntarily deported as a result of information in various U.S. government databas- es. Sacks identified the problems faced by the Panamanian Muslims at U.S. ports of entry as a major factor influencing their negative attitude toward the U.S. Sacks researched both individ- ual claims of harassment and ad- mission procedures. The Dissent Channel message he sent called attention to this problem and urged changes in the procedures. Despite vocal opposition from some members of the country team—who argued that the mission’s primary concern should be U.S. homeland security, not the alienation of Panama’s Muslims —Sacks continued to push for recognition of this prob- lem. He formulated several strategies to deal with it, such as expanding outreach to Panama’s Muslim community (including first-time invitations to functions hosted by the ambassador), and fostering a greater willingness to address the larger immigration issues that have been raised. None of this would have been possi- ble without his courageous actions in challenging the status quo and persisting in efforts to find other solutions. Sacks says he was “a bit stunned, but very happy” on winning the Rivkin award. “It is a great honor. But more importantly, the award helps AFSA focus attention on issues and problems that the department might otherwise prefer to ignore,” Sacks stated. “My dissent criticized widespread mistreatment of Panamanian Muslims at U.S. ports of entry in the context of the threat from jihadist ter- rorism, and questioned how those practices make Americans more secure or enhance the image of the United States abroad, or make win- ning the struggle against Islamic total- itarianismmore likely. Also, by hold- ing constructive dissent in the highest regard, AFSAmaintains an important standard. If I may quote one of my colleagues, is not the right to dissent at the very core of the freedomwe espouse for all?” Prior to joining the Foreign Service in 1989, Sacks worked as a journalist for the Associated Press and as World Bank publica- tions editor. He co-authored Paraguay: The Personalist Legacy (Westview Press, 1991), with Riordan Roett. Sacks has served in Seoul, Hanoi, Casablanca, Mexico City (twice) and Washington, D.C. He heads back to the U.S. this summer for a Washington assignment. William R. Rivkin Award FOR A MID-LEVEL FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICER Richard S. Sacks AFSA’S 2006 DISSENT AWARD WINNERS Sacks with Public Affairs Director of Colón Islamic Cultural Center Luis Ibrahim at the Arab community school. From left: Sacks at Panama Ports with his mother Dorothy Sacks, FSN Ceci Carrasco and sons Jared and Gershom. Embassy Panama City country team with Sheik Halim at the Colón mosque. Sacks is sixth from right.