The Foreign Service Journal, October 2021

12 OCTOBER 2021 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL minds and pens to this important mes- sage. Otherwise, I shall have to try to prepare a less informed one myself. George B. Lambrakis FSO (ret.) Paris, France Focus on Diversity at State A year ago, your commitment to publishing a running series of articles on race at the State Department was absolutely central to galvanizing broader awareness of the scale of racism in the building, and when leadership was failing to deal with its own backsliding and the national mood in the wake of George Floyd’s murder. This year’s July-August edition on diversity and inclusion was a helpful distillation of where things stand now, and provides valuable perspectives on how the department can continue to move forward on race, inclusion and diversity. Congratulations for your sustained focus and advocacy. P. Michael McKinley Ambassador, retired Washington, D.C. Big and Little Power Politics The June Reflection by Jonathan Rickert, “The Mouse That Roared, ” is a nice illustration of big and little power politics and sensitivities. How natural it is that many of our international friends must feel those resentments. And no wonder that we feel the lack of gratitude for all we do. But that’s why we employ diplomats, isn’t it? The story describes a phenomenon that many a Foreign Service officer must experience for basic train- ing. The author handled it more graciously and deftly than I ever would have, had I been in his shoes. Scott R. Schoenfeld Lawyer, retired Washington, D.C . Monitoring Ambassadors I read with interest Ed Peck’s June Speaking Out column (“The Case Against Political Ambassadors”). I am a long-ago-retired FSO who served as ambassador to Lux- embourg. My appointment as the first nonpolitical appointee to that country in 20 years was the result of the Luxembourg prime minister’s specific request to the Secretary of State that a career diplomat be appointed. Ambassador Peck has made a strong case against the appoint- ment of political ambassadors, but I have long been convinced that political ambassadors will always be with us. Some 25 years ago I wrote an article in the Christian Science Monitor , “If Ambassadors Perform Poorly, Who’ll Tell the President?” My argument was that since political ambassadors are a fact of life, why not at least have a system for monitoring their performance. My main points were these: 1. Devise a method for replacing ambassadors who are not performing well—whether career or noncareer—to make American embassies more effec- tive. 2. Though the State Department inspector general’s office reports on the performance of ambassadors, my impression is that while reports critical of noncareer chiefs of mission may reach the level of the Secretary of State, they rarely, if ever, find their way to the president. Is the Secretary going to tell the president that a close friend or impor- tant supporter should be removed? 3. Presidents have no way of knowing in advance whether the individuals they wish to appoint as ambassadors will do a good job, and the Senate is rarely willing to withhold its consent even if there is concern about the nominee’s qualifications. 4. Presidents could monitor the performance of their personal represen- tatives by appointing their own inspec- tors, who would report only on chiefs of mission, career and noncareer, and only to the president. They could collect information from a wide variety of sources, including the State IG but also through random visits. An alert visitor can learn a surprising amount about an ambassador’s reputa- tion in a few days on the ground. Then the president would know when an ambassador was a liability. The country is well served by the vast majority of its ambassadors. But, as in any other field, there are a few who should not be where they are. In a high-level position in Washington, that fact would soon become obvious. In a foreign capital, far away from daily contact with other officials and the press, that is often not the case. There is a way for presidents to find out about such cases—if they care. James G. Lowenstein Ambassador, retired Washington, D.C.