The Foreign Service Journal, December 2011

20 F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L / D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 1 GHWB: Probably both. We did “pause” at the beginning of my administration as we were assessing our policy and where we ultimately wanted to move our relations, and no doubt some of our initiatives and decisions were influenced by current events. But we knew we wanted to help make our world safer, and to help the peoples of Central and Eastern Europe escape the tyrannies of the past and gain their freedom and rights. Many of our objectives were codified in official U.S. policy, so we had a road map of sorts to guide us as we charted our way through the tur- bulent straits of global change. FSJ: Do you recall your immediate reaction to the August 1991 coup attempt against Gorbachev? GHWB: My first reaction was one of concern for a friend — for President Gorbachev and his family. FSJ: What is your impression of U.S.-Russian relations today, 20 years after the Soviet Union dissolved? Have you been surprised in any way by the course of subsequent develop- ments? GHWB: See my comment above about the “old guy card.” I will leave this weighty question for those who still grapple with these serious issues on a more regular basis than yours truly. FSJ: Do you have any advice for policymakers in Washington or diplo- mats in the field today, particularly those dealing with Russia and the countries of the former Soviet Union? GHWB: No advice, but rather a word of profound gratitude for those who serve our country and the cause of freedom with honor and integrity. We face many difficult and even deadly challenges in our world today, but when I see the patriotism, courage and ability that our Foreign Service men and women, like Ryan Crocker, demonstrate on a daily basis — well, let’s just say my optimism in our future is undiminished. FSJ: Thank you very much for taking the time to speak with us, President Bush . When I see the patriotism, courage and ability that our Foreign Service men and women demonstrate on a daily basis — well, let’s just say my optimism in our future is undiminished.