The Foreign Service Journal, December 2011

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E-mail: mbhirshorn@boringandpilger.com ATTORNEYs ExPERIENcEd IN REPREsENTINg FOREIgN sERvIcE OFFIcERs and intelligence community members in civil and criminal investigations, administrative inquiries, IG issues, griev- ances, disciplinary investigations, and security clearance issues. Extensive State Department experience, both as counsel to the IGand in L and in representing individual officers. We have handled suc- cessfully some particularly difficult cases confronting Foreign Service and intelligence officers, both before the Foreign Service Grievance Board and in the federal and local courts. We work closely with AFSA when appropriate and cost effective. Doumar Martin PLLC. Tel: (703) 243-3737. Fax (703) 524-7610. E-mail: rmartin@doumarmartin.com Web site: www.doumarmartin.com ExPERIENcEd ATTORNEYs REPREsENTINg Fs OFFIcERs in grievances, performance, promotion and tenure, financial claims, discrimination and disciplinary actions. We represent FS officers at all stages of the proceedings from an investigation, issuance of proposed discipline or the initiation of a grievance, through to a hear- ing before the FSGB. We provide experienced, timely and knowl- edgeable advice to employees from junior untenured officers through the Senior FS, and often work closely with AFSA. Kalijarvi, Chuzi & Newman. Tel: (202) 331-9260. E-mail: attorneys@kcnlaw.com 70 F OR E I GN S E R V I C E J OU R N A L / DE C EMB E R 2 0 1 1 A F S A N E W S CLOs • Continued from page 70 Fromthe“great games”ofRussiaandGreat Britain, to theSoviet invasionandAmerica’s intervention, nearly every war in the region failed to go as planned. More recently, Tomsen suggests, U.S. policy in Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks faileddue both to early neglect (the switch in focus once theU.S. invaded Iraq in2003) and a lackof understanding of the region’s history. Tomsennotes that during the first half of the 20th century, whenAfghanistanwas free of pressure fromits neighbors or other outside forces, it enjoyedpeace, significant economic development and moderniza- tion — powerful evidence of the capaci- ty of Afghans tomanage their own affairs. The Way Ahead Inoffering a strategy for theway ahead, Tomsen identifies three major tasks. First, we must refrain from getting involved inwhat he calls theAfghanpolit- ical “cauldron.” Foreigners, he says, can only penetrate the first or second layer of theAfghanpoliticalmentality, whereas “the most crucial decisions aremade at the fifth or sixth level.” Second, he calls for accelerating “Afghanization” anddecreasingAmerican visibility to reduce the moderate majori- ty’s hostility to American principles. Finally, Tomsen insists, the U.S. must decouple its Afghanistan policy from Pakistan and persuade Islamabad to change its policy of harboringmultiple ter- rorist organizations that exploit the bor- der between the countries, prolong thewar and act as a fountainhead for the spread of fundamentalist terror throughout the region and the world. The lively Q&A session that followed concludedwithAmb. Tomsen expressing optimismthat if changes take place in our approach toAfghanistan, we can, indeed, see promising results in the future. Book Notes events are made possible by donations to the Fund for American Diplomacy, AFSA’s 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Formore information, and to make a secure online contribution, please visit www.afsa.org/fad. Book Notes • Continued from page 67 CLASSIFIEDS ance on education options for a special needs child; facilitatingworkshops on fam- ilymember employment; participating in their post’s country team; and coordinat- ing events and activities aimed at facilitat- ing adaptation to post or celebrating sea- sonal holidays. In between, CLOs devel- op programs, disperse information and administer guidance designed to bring about robust morale at post. CLOs have the ability to transform a post froma bleakoutpost to anassignment richwithadventure, discovery andpersonal growth. They support individuals having a hard time coping with isolation, home- sickness or the Foreign Service lifestyle. They gauge the concerns of the commu- nity and alert post management to those concerns. In short, CLOs make a difference by bringing people together, advocating on their behalf, offering solutions and man- aging expectations. It’s not an easy job, but it is an important one. Nominations for theM. Juanita Guess Award for an outstanding Community LiaisonOffice Coordinator will be accept- ed through Feb. 29, 2012. For informa- tion on nomination procedures, please see www.afsa.org/performance_awards. aspx. Tomsen suggests that U.S. policy in Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks failed due both to early neglect and a lack of understanding of the region’s history.