The Foreign Service Journal, October 2011

India and Afghanistan and the thorny issue of Pakistan’s nuclear program, the authors identify three main factors that influence the country’s approach to its negotiations with the U.S.: Islamabad’s perception of its own place in the world; its culture; and the structure of its govern- ment, particularly its divided authority and the outsized role that the military has historically played. The book offers insights not only into Pakistan’s ne- gotiating style and methods, but also the reasons behind the foreign policy objectives it pursues with the U.S. The authors interviewed U.S. and Pakistani officials to docu- ment their understanding of the factors that have influ- enced both and to gain perspectives from both sides of the table. Teresita Schaffer served as U.S. ambassador to Sri Lanka (1992-1995) and as an economic officer in Pak- istan, as well as at posts in Israel and India. From 1998 to 2010, she directed the South Asia program at the Cen- ter for Strategic and International Studies. Howard Schaffer served as U.S. ambassador to Bangladesh (1984- 1987), and as political counselor in New Delhi (1977- 1979) and Islamabad (1974-1977). He is now a professor at Georgetown University’s Institute for the Study of Diplomacy. Both Schaffers served as deputy assistant secretary of State for South Asian affairs at different times. The Craft of Political Analysis for Diplomats Raymond F. Smith, Potomac Books, 2011, $30, paperback, 176 pages. Most existing literature on the practice of diplomacy is either confined to the memoirs of re- tired diplomats or presented through the macro-lens of inter- national relations theory. With notable exceptions, like George Kennan’s famous Long Telegram and subsequent “X Article” or, more recently, the release of thousands of previously classified cables on Wikileaks, the often re- markably astute political analysis done by American diplomats abroad rarely receives attention from the pub- lic at large. In The Craft of Political Analysis for Diplomats , Ray- mond F. Smith takes a fresh approach, explaining the context in which embassy reportage is produced and of- fering a guide to the behind-the-scenes work that makes it possible. Drawing on a practitioner’s understanding of the elements of good political analysis, Smith details what the Foreign Service professional or candidate or the in- terested layman should understand about crafting polit- ical analysis, including assessing the intended audience and making best use of intellectual and analytical tools of the trade. Smith cites cautionary tales about what can happen when analysis deviates from official policy, and the danger of political analysis becoming irrelevant. Selected for the ASDST DACOR Diplomats and Diplomacy Series, The Craft of Political Analysis for Diplomats is a much-needed contribution to a body of literature that has largely neglected the practical aspects of the trade. Raymond F. Smith is a retired Senior Foreign Service officer. Among many positions overseas and in Wash- ington, D.C., he served as minister counselor for politi- cal affairs in Moscow and as director of the Office of Russian, Central Asian, Caucasus and Eastern European Affairs and the Bureau of Intelligence and Research at the State Department. He lives in Dallas, Texas. High-Value Target: Countering Al Qaeda in Yemen Edmund Hull, Potomac Books, 2011, $18.15, hardcover, 162 pages. High-Value Target tells the story of counterterrorism in Yemen through the eyes of FSO Edmund Hull, who was sent as U.S. ambassa- dor to the Republic of Yemen shortly after the 9/11 attacks. Ambassador Hull chronologically recounts the story of the troubles — and triumphs — of U.S. counterterrorism policy there. During a Book Notes event at AFSA on May 16, Amb. Hull said he had written the book hoping that, in part, readers would take away how much his team in Sanaa ac- complished from late 2001 to 2004 despite having few re- sources at their disposal. One theme that runs through the book concerns the new roles that the State Depart- ment has taken on in the wake of the 9/11 attacks and the resources (or lack thereof) State has been provided to meet these new challenges. Another important takeaway from High-Value Target, a book in the ADST-DACOR Diplomats and Diplomacy Series, is the way in which Amb. Hull and his team 26 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 1 1 C OVER S TORY