The Foreign Service Journal, October 2007

12 F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L / O C T O B E R 2 0 0 7 from Bayside would be charged to go for cancer treatment at a Manhattan hospital,” Josh Bienstock, spokeman for the Committee to Keep NYC Congestion Tax Free, told the Post ( www.nypost.com ) . — Susan Brady Maitra Terrorism Index: Losing the War A recent survey of more than 100 of the top U.S. foreign policy experts — men and women who have staffed America’s national security apparatus over the past 50 years — found that 91 percent believe the world is becoming more dangerous for the U.S., up 10 percent from February. Fully 84 percent do not believe the U.S. is winning the war on terror, a 9-percent jump since February. These findings are part of the third Terrorism Index produced by the Center for American Progress and Carnegie Endowment for Interna- tional Peace, who teamed up to launch the semiannual survey in July 2006. The stature and experience of the expert participants, and the fact that they range from liberal to conser- vative, give weight to the results. Eighty percent have served in the U.S. government — more than 50 percent in the executive branch, 32 percent in the military and 21 percent in the intelligence community. Although the main government agencies with national security responsibilities were deemed to have improved their ability to do the job, nearly all of the government’s foreign policy efforts came in for heavy criticism, none more so than the Iraq War. Nearly all (92 percent) of the participating experts said the war in Iraq negatively affects U.S. national security, an increase of five percentage points from February. Significantly, negative perceptions of the war in Iraq are shared across the political spectrum, with 84 percent of those who describe themselves as con- servative taking a dim view of the war’s impact. Published in the September-Octo- ber issue of Foreign Policy , the complete Terrorism Index survey and results are also available online at ( www.americanprogress.org/issues /2007/08/terrorism_index.html ). — Susan Brady Maitra Staffing Gaps and Language Shortfalls: No End in Sight Though some progress has been made since implementation of the Diplomatic Readiness Initiative in 2002, significant staffing problems continue to compromise the State Department’s ability to function effectively. These are the findings of the latest Government Accountability Office study (GAO-07-1154T) of human capital issues at the depart- ment, released Aug. 1. State’s staffing shortfall was the subject of a hearing that same day before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Govern- mental Affairs’ Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Manage- ment, the Federal Work Force, and the District of Columbia. The need for a greater American presence within the U.N. agencies was also on the committee’s agenda. In addition to convenor Sen. Daniel K. Akaka, D-Hawaii, and GAO representatives, the subcommittee heard testimony from AFSA Presi- dent John Naland (see AFSA News , p. 65), Foreign Affairs Council President Thomas Boyatt, and Deborah Der- rick, executive director of the United Nation’s Better World Campaign. State Department officials included acting Director General of the Foreign Service Heather Hodges and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Organizations James Warlick. All testimony on the broad staffing issue was in agreement on the pro- blem definition: although the $200- million DRI effort brought some 1,100 new Foreign Service personnel online to make up for staff shortages caused by the budget-cutting of the 1990s and to establish a crisis- response capability and training float, these new officers have been absorbed by the demand for per- sonnel in Iraq and Afghanistan that began to soar in 2003. In his opening statement, Sen. Abaka cited Amb. Boyatt and the FAC report to underline the fact that in the first two years of Secretary of State Rice’s tenure, no new resources were secured to address this problem. As a result, State officials told the GAO, more than 1,000 new positions are needed now to support foreign- language training needs and respond to crises and changing priorities. Yet, according to Hodges’ testimony, the department’s FY 2008 budget request asks for only 254. GAO Director of International Affairs and Trade Jess Ford noted that State had not yet fully implemented its earlier recommendation to con- sider an assignment system that allows for longer tours and consecutive assignments in certain countries to hone critical language skills. The GAO report is the latest in a series of reports on State’s staffing problems that the agency began in 2002. It concludes that until the department has a sufficient level and mix of staffing and language resources to fill all of the gaps, its ability to carry out foreign policy objectives and critical mission functions will continue to be compromised. The hearing agenda and all testimony, including the complete GAO report, are accessible online at http://hsgac.senate.gov/index. cfm . — Susan Brady Maitra C Y B E R N O T E S