The Foreign Service Journal, December 2008

D E C E M B E R 2 0 0 8 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 53 ear Colleagues: The new administration will face multiple, critical foreign chal- lenges with inadequate diplomatic personnel and resources to carry out policy effectively. To lead the way in presenting detailed recommendations tied to specific analysis, we are very pleased to present “A Foreign Affairs Budget for the Future.” This study examines key elements of the resource crisis in America’s ability to conduct its international programs and policies, consid- ers the 21st-century challenges for American diplomacy, and proposes a budget that would provide the financial and human capacity to address those fundamental tasks that make such a vital contribution to international peace, development and security and to the promotion of U.S. interests globally. The American Academy of Diplomacy, with vital sup- port from the Una Chapman Cox Foundation, launched this project in 2007 and named Ambassador Thomas Boyatt as project chairman. The Academy turned to the Stimson Center to conduct research and draft the report. To guide key directions of the research, the Academy organized, under the leadership of former Under Secretary of State Thomas Pickering, an Advisory Group and a Red Team, comprised of distinguished members of the Academy and senior former policymak- ers from outside its ranks. Their participation in a series of meetings and feedback was critical in establishing the key assumptions for the study. The Stimson team was led by former U.S. Agency for International Develop- ment Budget Director Richard Nygard. Former Office of Management and Budget official Gordon Adams, now a Distinguished Fellow at Stimson, was a key adviser to the project. This study is intended to provide solutions for, and stimulate a needed conversation about, the urgent need to provide the necessary funding for our nation’s foreign F O C U S O N I D E A S F O R T H E N E W A DM I N I S T R AT I O N A F OREIGN A FFAIRS B UDGET FOR THE 21 ST C ENTURY A HIGH - LEVEL REPORT PRESENTS DETAILED RECOMMENDATIONS ADDRESSING THE CRISIS IN DIPLOMATIC READINESS . D The report “A Foreign Affairs Budget for the Future: Fixing the Crisis in Diplomatic Readiness” was prepared by a project team from the American Academy of Diplomacy and the Stimson Center, with support from the Una Chapman Cox Foundation and released on Oct. 17. AFSA President John Naland served on the 18-person advisory group that provided guidance in the drafting of the report. Here we have excerpted the letter of transmit- tal, foreword, summary of recommendations, overview of the problem and individual recommendations from the report. The complete document, including the full list of contributors and advisers, is available online at www. academyofdiplomacy.org/programs/fab_project.html.