The Foreign Service Journal, October 2011

O n Friday, Sept. 9, three veteran diplomats—Ambassador Barbara Bodine, Ambassador W. Robert Pearsonand formerUSAIDAdministrator Andrew Natsios — came to AFSA head- quarters todiscuss the implications of Sept. 11, 2001, for diplomacy anddevelopment. Before the discussion got under way, the assembly observed amoment of silence to honor those who were lost or injured in the attacks. Reading fromtheSeptember issueof the Foreign Service Journal , moderator Amb. Bodine citedcommentsmadeby the 104th A-100 class, which convened on Sept. 10, 2001. Lookingback to that tragicday,many recalled feelings of shock, horror and dis- belief, aswell as concern for the career they hadonly just embarkedupon. But onSept. 12, 2001, every member of their class showed up for training, knowing that the world had changed the day before—and most likely, so had their jobs. In summarizing the changes the foreign affairs agencies have had to grapple with since 9/11, the panel identified several key challenges todiplomacy anddevelopment today. First, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and other security challenges have made it harder for Foreign Service employees to do their jobs. Second, bud- get cuts byCongress are having long-term consequences for all agencies. Finally, fail- ure to adequately train new FS personnel is shortsighted and harmful. Amb. Pearson recalled that at the onset of the IraqWar, theStateDepartment and USAID were being given nei- thermissions nor resources. FSoffi- cers were ignored. Since then, for- mer Secretary of Defense Robert Gates pushedhard for civilianpart- ners to have a revitalized role, but much remains to be done in that regard. Security concerns datingback to the 1988bombing of our embassies in East Africa and ongoing threats since 9/11have required the depart- ment to “build walls,” literally and figura- tively, aroundourdiplomaticmissions. The “fortress embassy” approach has changed how diplomacy and development works. Amb. Pearson emphasized that Congress needs to understand that “we cannot do our jobs if we are risk-averse.” Natsios noted that as a result of secu- rity directives, USAID uses more con- tractors in foreign countries because they have greater access and freedomofmove- ment than FS employees do. During the question-and-answer session, AFSA GoverningBoardmemberMatthewAsada asserted that officers should be allowed to assess the risks in order to get their job done. The 9/11 attacks brought about anum- ber of changes atUSAID. Natsios, whowas USAIDAdministrator at the time, recalled the immediate need to improve e-mail security for classified documents. Similarly, the agency increased the level of vetting and screening of its 1,500 imple- menting partners, to ensureU.S. assistance goes to organizations with which USAID shares objectives and values. This was a highly controversial idea that initially metmuch resistance, but remains inplace today. In addition, USAID recognized the value of “branding” its programs, adding the slogan “From the American People” to its logo, and in Palestine alone, recog- nition of USAID went from 5 percent to 55 percent of people queried. The panelists concurred on the fol- lowing points: The department needs to minimize staff in large European embassies and move FS personnel to critical areas, such as fragile states and emerging democ- racies. Despite hits to public diplo- macy, it is important and will grow with the new people coming in. Whilediplomacy, development and defense have distinctmissions, they need tobe as complementaryaspos- sible, not conflictual. Finally, more A F S A N E W S 68 F OR E I GN S E R V I C E J OU R N A L / OC T OB E R 2 0 1 1 Ten Years after 9/11: Diplomacy and Development BY DONNA AYERST (left to right) AFSA President Susan Johnson, Andrew Natsios, AFSA Executive Director Ian Houston, Amb. Barbara Bodine and Amb. Robert Pearson. Former USAID Administrator Andrew Natsios makes a point. Amb. Robert Pearson discusses changes in the FS since 9/11. Amb. Barbara Bodine answers a question. PHOTOS BY DONNA AYERST