The Foreign Service Journal, October 2018

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | OCTOBER 2018 17 W e note with deep sadness the death by assassina- tion of John Gordon Mein, Ambassador to Guate- mala, long a distinguished Foreign Service officer, for years a reader of these pages, and ever a stout champion of those who have elected to follow the often dangerous and troubled career of serving their country in foreign lands. His example and his advice will be sorely missed in the try- ing months to come. And we cannot escape the conclusion that the coming months and years will surely be trying for members of the Foreign Service. … But all this, difficult as it is, nevertheless is no cause for despair. Anyone who joined the Foreign Service for a life of ease and quiet chose the wrong profession. The overwhelming majority of our Foreign Service people are people of good will and competence, persons with affection and loyalty to their own country who are at the same time interested in learning of the ways of others, professionals who go about their different tasks with skill, common sense and perspective. Quality is demanded of these persons who are charged with nothing less than car- rying out the intentions and purposes of the United States beyond its borders. … In a recent speech in Finland, George Kennan said it all simply and succinctly: ‘It has sometimes fallen to me, as a private scholar and commenta- tor on world events, to take a critical attitude towards one or another of the policies of my government. Our tradition, as you know, permits this. But I have never lost my faith in the basic goodwill and generos- ity of my people in their approach to the other people of this world, or in the decency of the motives and purposes by which American statesmanship has been inspired. And I can give it to you as my conviction, at this sad and anxious moment, that my people will always be ready, however great the intervening discouragements and disappointments to take up anew the search for hopeful and constructive solutions to world problems.’ … So our task remains; the challenge beckons. In responding with energy, intelligence and good faith, we will honor the memory of Ambassador Mein and will show ourselves to be deserving inheritors of a worthy tradition. —From an editorial with the same title remembering Ambassador John Gordon Mein (assassinated in Guate- mala on Aug. 28, 1968, the first U.S. ambassador to be assassinated while serving in office), FSJ , October 1968. 50 Years Ago BBG: New Name— Same Mission O n Aug. 23, the Broadcasting Board of Governors announced that, effective immediately, it would be rebranded as the U.S. Agency for Global Media. The chief executive officer and direc- tor of the new entity, John Lansing, stated: “The term ‘broadcast- ing’ does not accurately describe what we do. The new name reflects our modernization and forward momentum while honoring our enduring mission to inform, engage and connect people around the world in support of freedom and democracy.” The name change followed research and consultation with agency staff and leadership, Congress and the Trump administration. The newly named USAGM encom- passes the Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (Television and Radio Martí), Radio Free Asia, and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks. According to USAGM, these net- works “collectively reach an undupli- cated weekly audience of 278 million people in 100 countries and in 59 languages.” Congressional Research Service Releases Report on Human Trafficking O n July 19 the Congressional Research Service published a report, “Trans- national Crime Issue: Human Trafficking, ” covering both legislative work on the issue and the State Department’s role in ending trafficking. As part of the Library of Congress, the Congressional Research Service provides nonpartisan policy and legal analysis to members of both the House and the Senate. As the report notes, the State Depart- ment leads federal efforts to combat