The Foreign Service Journal, September 2003

4 AFSA NEWS • SEPTEMBER 2003 JOHN NALAND HONORED BY GLIFAA AFSA Advocacy Praised at Open Forum J ohn Naland, president of AFSA for the 2001-2003 term, was presented with the second annual Gays and Lesbians in Foreign Affairs Agencies Award during a June 16 Secretary’sOpen Forum event in theDeanAcheson Auditoriumat the StateDepartment. The award, given to Amb. James Hormel last year, is intended to rec- ognize individuals “who through their actions have most helped the cause of equality for gay and lesbian foreign affairs person- nel and their families.” Naland was chosen for his role “as a strong and principled advocate for equal treatment,” according to GLIFAA President Robert Gilchrist. On behalf of the organization, both Gilchrist and for- mer GLIFAA President Bryan Dalton expressed their appreciation for Naland’s efforts. Dalton noted that the consistent advocacy byNaland and AFSA hadmea- surably “improved the lives of gay and les- bian employees.” Naland responded that hewas proud to have played a role in moving thedepartment towardequal treat- ment of all employees, but added, “You’re rewarding me for doing my job. It’s AFSA’s job to standup for the rights of its members.” The keynote speaker at the event was Judy Shepard, executive director of the MatthewShepardFoundation,whobegan speaking out against hate after her son Matthewwasmurdered inananti-gayhate crime at the age of 21. Matthewhad lived and studiedoverseas, was fluent inArabic and German, and had long dreamed of joining the U.S. Foreign Service. ▫ Here are some excerpts from the debate that the article has spurred: AmbassadorThomasBoyatt,National Public RadioMorning Edition, June 27: “Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich does not seemto understand the foreign policy-making process. U.S. diplomats are responsible for reporting to Washington developments in the countries to which they are assigned. They recommend policies they believewill serve the national interests of the U.S. Washington decision-makers, includ- ing the president and the Secretary of State, must synthesize that input with other information at their disposal and then determine how best to proceed. Instructions go to posts, policy is imple- mented, feedback is again reported and the policy process continues. Key to the entire undertaking is honest, unvarnished advice. Unfortunately, Mr. Gingrich appears to view foreign policy assessment byU.S. diplomats as disloyalty to the pres- ident when those assessments differ fromMr. Gingrich’s own views.” Under Secretary for Management Grant Green, “Transforming the Department of State,” Washington Times , July 6: “I have no idea what prompts those such as former Rep. Newt Gingrich to go after the people at State; maybe the pres- ident and Secretary of State proved too difficult as targets. I knowour peoplewell, both Foreign and Civil Service. But I don’t recognize the people portrayed in Mr. Gingrich’s attacks on State. In fact, his remarks are an insult to the thousands of brave Americans serving their coun- try in very dangerous places, and to the memory of the hundreds of our diplo- mats who have given their lives in the ser- vice of America — and those who, God forbid, will give them in the future. They’re some of the finest people I’ve ever known.” Richard C. Holbrooke, “State Department Scapegoats,” Washington Post , July 1: “Gingrich takes an astonishing swing at the State Department, writing: ‘We can no longer accept a culture that props up dictators, coddles the corrupt, and ignores secret police forces.’ “If one accepts Gingrich’s central argu- ment, his real target should be the White House, even the president, for being unable to make State and Defense work from a single script, especially in public. “While Gingrich refuses to offer any praise to the Foreign Service, a higher per- centage of career Foreign Service officers have died in the service of their country since the end of the Vietnam War than of military personnel. Where Gingrich sees State Department insubordination, I see a dedicated group of men and women serving their nation. Gingrich’s key recommendation is to make State ‘a more effective communicator of U.S. val- ues around the world, place it more directly under the control of the president, and enable it to promote freedom and combat tyranny.’ The great majority of FSOs would like nothing better than to be able to do just that — but they need better training, a better personnel system and far more resources. “WhenGingrich calls for a 40 percent funding increase for the Foreign Service, he is on firm ground. But instead of blaming State, he should join forces with Powell to demand of the White House and Congress more funds for the non- military portions of our national securi- ty budget. Bringing Gingrich into this never-ending struggle would be valuable, although as speaker (and before), he reg- ularly supported the deep cuts Congress made in the State Department’s budget. “I would say toNewt:Welcome to the right side of this long-running battle. But if you want to make a serious contribu- tion, be prepared to take on some of your friends in theWhiteHouse andCongress to help get the funding and reforms you advocate, instead of inventing enemies in the State Department.” Holbrooke, appearingwithGingrich on Fox News Sunday , July 6: “Newt has said very clearly in his arti- cles that the State Department is unwill- Gingrich • Continued from page 1 Continued on page 10 From left: John Naland, Former GLIFAA President Bryan Dalton and current GLIFAA President Robert Gilchrist.