The Foreign Service Journal, July-August 2010

icanDiplomacy e-zine ( www.unc.edu/ depts/diplomat ). Honoring Public Diplomacy Practitioners The Public Diplomacy Alumni As- sociation (formerly known as the U.S. Information Agency Alumni Associa- tion) annually recognizes individuals or teams who conduct imaginative and successful outreach. This year, 20 nominations by senior State PD offi- cers, both overseas and in the depart- ment, produced four winners, who were honored at a May 16 dinner in Washington, D.C. Seven locally engaged staff of the public diplomacy section inN’Djamena were collectively honored for pursuing the embassy’s outreach to the local Muslim/Arab community under dire conditions. Their contacts revealed an incipient uprising within the Muslim community against moderates, which the Chadian government was able to neutralize. During a May 2009 inva- sion by Sudanese rebels, American em- ployees were evacuated, but the Chad- ian staff successfully put on a journal- ismworkshop, processed International Visitor Leadership Program applica- tions, and advanced the Fulbright and other exchange programs. The PDAA recognized Alistair Bas- key, assistant cultural affairs officer and director of America House in East Jerusalem, for significantly advancing exchange programs in the diplomatic minefield of Israel and the Palestine Territories. Using fluent Arabic and basic Hebrew, Baskey won the respect of the Israelis controlling the border crossing at the Gaza Strip as he arranged for, and escorted, exchange students to get their U.S. visas and then cross the Allenby Bridge en route to the U.S. Baskey interviews all candidates and initiates the difficult vetting proce- dures. Last year 200 Palestinians participated in U.S. government ex- changes, with more expected this year. He has also pursued efforts to promote amity between Israeli and Palestinian institutions. His “A-Plus” programwill enable dozens of Gazans, funded by the U.S., to study at Palestinian univer- sities. Shanghai Public Affairs Officer Tom Cooney drew praise for being the “main engine” of American participa- tion in Shanghai Expo 2010, an unpar- alleled public diplomacy opportunity to reach more Chinese citizens than the entire U.S. China mission will see in 10 years. Although a 1994 law prohibiting the use of U.S. government funds for world expos has made the U.S. a no- show in past decades, Cooney success- fully argued the case for U.S. parti- cipation, encouraging the department to authorize a private-sector organiza- tion to manage it. After Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s personal commit- ment galvanized the private sector, Cooney guided the project through ground breaking to a successful launch. More than 200,000 visitors a week are now enjoying the spirit of America por- trayed in the U.S. pavilion. (For more background, see the February edition of Cybernotes.) Aaron David Snipe, public diplo- macy officer for the Provincial Recon- struction Team in Muthanna province, Iraq, was honored for reaching out to the area’s most inaccessible audience: women. Coordinating with a local non- governmental organization, he organ- ized an art exhibit by local female artists, which he then arranged for U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker to attend, generating national media coverage. “Colors of Warka” toured three CHANGE OF ADDRESS Moving? Take AFSA With You! Change your address online at: www.afsa.org/comment.cfm Or Send change of address to: AFSA Membership Department 2101 E Street NW Washington, DC 20037 10 F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L / J U LY- A U G U S T 2 0 1 0 C Y B E R N O T E S 50 Years Ago... W hen will the State Department recognize the new possibilities and start spending at least 1 percent of its impressive budget for basic research in its own field? The department always seems to know all the answers and to have them instantly ready for the press. Answers to the world’s problems come quickly to those who have prejudices, but we need answers that result from deep thinking. — Oskar Morgenstern, “Brass Hats and Striped Pants,” FSJ , July 1960.