The Foreign Service Journal, December 2007

F O C U S O N C o u n t r y Te a m M a n a g e m e n t W HO ’ S IN C HARGE H ERE ? / 20 The issue of who wields authority over American embassy personnel — notably those who don’t work for the State Department — continues to prompt interagency conflict, as it has for years. By Shawn Zeller C HIEF - OF -M ISSION A UTHORITY : A P OWERFUL BUT U NDERUSED T OOL / 29 The State Department should capitalize on the presidential mandate given to every COM to strengthen the country team mechanism. By Edward Peck O NE H AND C LAPPING : T HE S OUND OF S TAFFING THE F OREIGN S ERVICE / 33 The demands of Iraq and Afghanistan have aggravated an entrenched liability in the Foreign Service: namely, severe understaffing. By Mark Johnsen T HE E MBASSY OF THE F UTURE / 38 Here is a vision of the new American diplomacy, along with practical steps to get there. Excerpts from a recent report. F S F I C T I O N B URIED / 44 A great old ceiba tree in the mountains of south-central Cuba holds a revelation into the island’s history, humor and people. By Michael Kelly F E A T U R E S R EMEMBERING USAID’ S R OLE IN A FGHANISTAN , 1985-1994 / 48 During a critical decade, USAID successfully operated an interim Afghan “mission in exile.” By Thomas H. Eighmy A PPRECIATION / 51 “The Best of AFSA:” Richard Curtis Scissors, 1935-2007 By Susan Maitra C ONTENTS December 2007 Volume 84, No. 12 Cover and inside illustration by Jeff Moores P RESIDENT ’ S V IEWS / 5 Professionalism By John K. Naland S PEAKING O UT / 15 Expeditionary Sidekicks? The Military-Diplomatic Dynamic By Gerald Loftus L ETTER FROM THE E DITOR / 18 By Steven Alan Honley R EFLECTIONS / 96 Buying Potatoes in Havana By Robert Blau L ETTERS / 7 C YBERNOTES / 12 M ARKETPLACE / 14 B OOKS / 64 I NDEX TO A DVERTISERS / 94 D E C E M B E R 2 0 0 7 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 3 J O U R N A L OREIGN ERVICE S F