The Foreign Service Journal, September 2019

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2019 21 about what the authors view as a burgeoning anti-American alliance by Russia and China, and sees an urgent need for cooperation with Russia in key areas—especially in the realm of nuclear weapons. Study Shows Impact on Cuba Diplomats’ Brains T he source of alleged sonic attacks against U.S. diplomats in Cuba remains a mystery, but a new University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine study of 40 patients showed variations in brain structure compared to healthy subjects, CNN reported on July 25. “There were group differences all over the brain,” study author Ragini Verma, professor of radiology and neurosurgery at the Perelman School of Medicine, told CNN. “Especially in an area called the cerebellum, which is also implicated in the kind of clinical symptoms that most of these patients were demonstrating, which is balance, eye movement, dizzi- ness, etcetera.” Study authors note that they did not have access to earlier MRI scans of the patients to compare the results, and say that the clinical importance of the find- ings remains unclear. “It certainly does not resemble the imaging presentation of traumatic brain injury or concussion, although the [patients] present with clinical symptoms which are concussion-like,” Verma said. “It says something happened, and we need to look further, and that’s about it.” Abolishing Positions in Embassies? I n June, the Trump administration sent instructions to chiefs of mission to abolish long-term vacant positions. The instructions read: “To enhance accountability and efficiency, the President now requires all agencies to submit requests to the COM to abolish positions that have been vacant for at least two years. These requests must be submitted in accor- dance with existing procedures outlined in NSDD-38. The COMmust decide to approve or disapprove the request based on the President’s priorities and consul- tations with the requesting agency.” n This edition of Talking Points was compiled by Cameron Woodworth, Dmitry Filipoff, Steve Honley and Shawn Dorman. In this space, we will share notable comments from presidential candidates that relate to the Foreign Service. I don’t spend my time at fancy closed-door fundraisers trading favors for money, and I’ll appoint only the most qualified person for the job. In a Warren administration, I pledge not to give ambassadorial posts to wealthy donors or bundlers. Period. —Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), who unveiled a new foreign affairs campa ign document, “Revitalizing Diplomacy: A 21st Century Foreign Service,” June 28. ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL Clements Worldwide clements.com AFSPA afspa.org BMT Hirshorn Foreign Service foreignservice.bmtc.com Federal Employees Defense Services secure.fedsprotection.com Carrington Financial Planning carringtonfp.com Patriot’s Colony riversideonline.com/ patriotscolony Property Specialists, Inc. propertyspecialistsinc.com Per Diem Suites perdiemsuites.com WJD Management wjdpm.com Chambers Theory chamberstheory.com