The Foreign Service Journal, September 2013

18 SEPTEMBER 2013 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL Ambassador John W. Limbert, who chairs AFSA’s Awards and Plaques Committee, recounts the distinguished history of the program and explains its importance in our leadoff article, “Honoring the Best Among Us: AFSA’s Dissent Awards” (p. 20). Allow me to call special attention to his concluding remarks: “So why dissent? Because as professionals, we have goals beyond advancing our careers. We have a conscience, and care about our country’s fortunes and about the fate of our Service. We also have a duty to point out misguided policies— be they in Iraq or elsewhere—and to propose a constructive alternative. “We are also the people on the ground with the training, knowledge, judgment and experience to advise the president and the Secretary of State. We owe it to our country to use what we know and to give our honest views, even when they AFSA President Susan Johnson presides at the June 27 AFSA Awards Ceremony. Donna Ayerst We hope our coverage will spark continued debate and dialogue about dissent, and inspire greater participation in AFSA’s awards program.