The Foreign Service Journal, December 2012

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | DECEMBER 2012 31 responsibility to constantly improve, to reduce the risks our people face, and make sure they have the resources they need to do those jobs we expect from them.” The ship of State is slow to turn, and it is clear that forti- fied embassies will remain the norm, at least for the near future. So it is our responsi- bility as diplomatic profes- sionals to make additional efforts to get out from embassies and to engage the people of the world—especially in the very places where security is tight. Above all, we must continue to build the bonds of trust between the United States and other countries. As we saw with the communist terrorism of the Cold War, the best way to counter such threats is through concerted cooperation between law enforcement and intelli- gence professionals around the world to investigate, target and prosecute violent fringe groups to the fullest extent of the law. Toward that end, it falls on us as diplomats to help and encourage countries to disrupt the root causes of this violence. One day—and I hope it comes soon—we can then begin to dismantle the barricades and take down the barbed wire, to make our embassies anew the symbols of trust, democracy and freedom the world over. To return to Jefferson, nothing but good can come from the exchange of ideas, especially in places where people do not always agree with us. We must not let anything get in the way of this extraordinary mission. n We should pursue a multifaceted approach to security, recognizing that all protective measures have costs and benefits, and none are infallible or universally applicable.