The Foreign Service Journal, September 2013

8 SEPTEMBER 2013 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL LETTERS Respect Foreign Service Sacrifices As the widow of Larry Foley, the USAID executive officer gunned down in Jordan by terrorists looking for an American target in 2002, I welcomed Vice President Joe Biden’s remarks at the AFSA Memorial Plaque cer- emony on May 3. The vice president declared that FSOs should receive the same respect that we give our military personnel, because they contribute so much to our national security and prog- ress—without carrying weapons. It has long troubled me that, unlike the situation with military personnel killed in the line of duty, the sacrifices of Foreign Service personnel are pub- licly overlooked after the initial news reports. For those who might wonder why a memorial plaque is justified sim- ply because U.S. government employees are serving overseas at the time of their deaths, my husband Larry’s murder is a case in point. Even in those countries where we are not hated, our local employees some- times can’t tell their families about the source of their income for fear of retali- ation. Anyone working for the United States may be targeted by extremists in any country, just because we’re Ameri- can. No amount of security, training or lifestyle adjustment can entirely guaran- tee that this won’t happen. Yet Foreign Service personnel continue to make the decision to serve their country, despite the risks. Virginia Foley Guerneville, Calif. Diversity Management Thank you for the May issue of The Foreign Service Journal , which high- lighted diversity issues in the Foreign Service. The Diversity Man- agement and Outreach Sec- tion of the State Department’s Office of Civil Rights was pleased to see several articles by members of employee affin- ity groups, as well as the other thoughtful articles in that issue. The Diversity Management and Out- reach Section contributes to the State Department’s mission in a number of ways. Our commemorative events recognize the contributions of a wide array of individuals and groups, and are often organized in cooperation with the department’s employee affinity groups. These events have featured such distin- guished speakers as Gwen Ifill, Donna Brazile, Debra Lee, Cokie Roberts and Dolores Huerta. In addition to managing the spe- cial emphasis programs and providing structure for and liaising with employee affinity groups, DMO prepares a variety of reports for Congress, the White House, the Equal Employment Oppor- tunity Commission and other institu- tions. It also conducts quantitative and qualitative work-force analysis. Our goal is to eradicate barriers to equal employment opportunity at State. As part of that mission, DMO deter- mines whether the department is meet- ing its diversity goals, and identifies impediments that still exist for under- represented segments of the population at all levels. DMO also coordinates the annual Equal Employment Opportunity award given each year by the director general. We welcome ideas and suggestions. Please contact us at Diversity@state.gov. John M. Robinson Chief Diversity Officer and Director, Office of Civil Rights Washington, D.C. The Complexity of Professional Ethics Congratulations to the editors and contributors who put together your July- August issue. The authors all did a great job of address- ing professional ethics, a most timely and relevant subject, in a fair-minded, judicious and courageous manner. While I enjoyed Robert William Dry’s take on “Loyalty: The Hallmark of the Professional Diplomat,” I find myself dissenting from him (and Sir Peter Marshall) in my reading of Shakespeare. Considering the cases of not-for-profit spies for the Soviets, such as the Rosenbergs, I, too, reflected upon Polonius’ advice to his son in “Hamlet” as I joined the military and, later, the Foreign Service. Yes, be true to yourself, but do not put your idiosyncratic and perhaps self-deluded sense of right above sworn obligations and the law. Dissent and resignation are every Foreign Service member’s right, but first ask yourself this: “Am I putting others at risk? Could I be mistaken?” That’s my advice for diplomats, leakers and would-be sui- cide bombers alike. That said, rulers, like citizens, must follow the law—and be seen to do so. Domestic surveillance needs to be reined in, security classifications revisited, and selective leaks replaced by more transparency. I’m glad the leadership of the American Foreign Service Association is engaged on these complex issues. As for the bad press that has dogged diplomacy, which retired Ambassador Edward Marks discusses in his lead article, “Ethics for the Professional Diplomat,” the efforts he and his team have made to rectify that situation