The Foreign Service Journal, July-August 2023

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JULY-AUGUST 2023 65 AFSA NEWS Senate Recognizes Foreign Service Day AFSA would like to thank the Senate Foreign Service Caucus co-chairs, Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), for introducing a Senate resolu- tion celebrating May 5, 2023, as Foreign Service Day. The resolution, S. Res. 199, was approved by the full Sen- ate the day before Foreign Service Day. This year marks the fourth year in a row that the resolution has been introduced and passed in the Senate—a pattern AFSA hopes will continue. “America’s Foreign Ser- vice officers do so much for our country, often with little fanfare or recognition,” said Sen. Sullivan in a joint press release. “They are tasked with promoting America’s interests, strengthening national security, and assist- U.S. citizens abroad,” Sen. Van Hollen added. “The work they do is essential to our standing on the world stage, and we are deeply grateful for the sac- rifice they and their families make. This bipartisan resolu- tion recognizes the critical importance of their service to our nation and underscores why we must continue work- ing to support our diplomatic corps.” n ing U.S. citizens in the far corners of the globe. Today, we salute the courageous, dedicated members of the U.S. Foreign Service, and mark this vital diplomatic corps’ 99th anniversary.” “Day in and day out, our Foreign Service professionals work tirelessly to strengthen America’s diplomatic relation- ships, promote our values, and provide vital assistance to AFSA Co-Hosts Book Launch Event On May 17, AFSA joined the Center for Maritime Strategy in co-sponsoring the launch event for the book, Boots and Suits: Historical Cases and Contemporary Lessons in Mili- tary Diplomacy (Marine Corps University Press, 2023). Held at the Navy League National Headquarters in Virginia, the event brought together retired and active- duty members of the military and the Foreign Service, policy-focused nongovern- mental organizations, and academics to celebrate the book’s release. Welcome remarks were offered by Admiral (ret.) James G. Foggo III, dean of the Center for Maritime Strategy. Guests then heard from AFSA President Eric Rubin and Ambassador (ret.) Philip Kosnett, editor of the book and former career diplomat. In his remarks, Ambas- sador Rubin spoke of the long history of collaboration between the U.S. military and the diplomatic corps in facing and ending conflicts. “Where once our agencies didn’t communicate well with each other, we’re now in a much better place,” he said. A cultural exchange between military and civil- ian agencies was critical to foreign policy after 9/11, he pointed out, particularly as more than one quarter of American diplomats served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Amb. Kosnett described the book as “a blueprint, a textbook for a whole of government approach to deterring war or bringing it to a rapid and successful conclusion.” Written by a team of scholars, military officers, and diplomats, including several AFSA members, the book offers insights into military diplomacy and civil-military cooperation by examining little-known historical events, such as the Ottoman Empire’s efforts to negotiate access to Western military technology, the Con- federacy’s attempt to gain European support during the American Civil War, and U.S. strategy in the 1970s to build influence in the Persian Gulf through arms sales. Other chapters analyze contemporary issues, such as the evolution of U.S. and NATO policy on assistance to Ukraine, while a “Lessons Learned” section details the experiences of military officers and muddy-boots diplomats in Iraq, Afghani- stan, and Haiti. A full review of Boots and Suits will appear in the Sep- tember issue of the FSJ . n Amb. (ret.) Philip Kosnett. AFSA/JULIAWOHLERS AFSA co-hosted the book launch event. AFSA/ÁSGEIRSIGFÚSSON