http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/site/index/ en U.S. Department of State 2008-11-18T17:36:00-05:00
I finally got the names of the U.S. Officials in Pakistan. Ma'am Anne Patterson (not Peterson as I had written)the Ambassador, and Mr. Bryan Hunt (not Bryndt as I had written) the Principal Officer in Lahore. I had Ma'am Kay Anske's name right. My apologies to these officials. Yes, I repeat once again these three officials are really going a backbreaking job and deserve praises. Just wanted to correct myself.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/fso_america_safer/ Thu Jan 31, 2008
Looks like the group had a good time and was able to promote the Foreign Service as well as give back to a community in need. Manual labor at a domestic location, I wonder what the FSO's in WHA will do next?]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/fso_america_safer/ Thu Jan 24, 2008
I shouldn't have forgotten to mention the current officials connected with the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Pakistan but it's not easy to type online and remember everything one wishes to say.

Ma'am Anne Peterson, the U.S. Ambassador, Ma'am Kay Anske, the U.S. Consul General in Karachi and Mr.Bryndt, the U.S. Consul General in Lahore (I'm not so sure if I got the last name right because I have translated it from Urdu language). These officials have shown great courage and have been very active in visiting places and organization, untouched previously, showing the good side of America. These three officials definitely deserve praises for doing a very good job for their country.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/fso_america_safer/ Tue Jan 22, 2008
Yes, they definitely help. I closely observed Ma'am Nancy Powell & Mr. Crocker and they not only did a good job but also showed a lot of courage. Mr. Nicholas Burns is leaving due to personal reasons and he too contributed. Ma'am Karen Hughes continues to do a good job in creating harmony, and Mr. Richard Boucher, just as his predecessor Ma'am Christina Rocca, leaves no stone unturned in pushing the governments of different nations to respect human rights, Dr, Richard Armitage used to win the respect of the masses with his mighty handshake and now Ma'am Condoleezza Rice charms the world with her charming smile. The masses do take note of these things and turn America-friendly. No, everybody doesn't hate America and it's a result of these hardworking people in the State Department within and without America.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/fso_america_safer/ Mon Jan 21, 2008
In the past, as may occur again today, FSOs are asked to directly/indirectly support development or redevelopment efforts in high-risk areas. All too often, performance in such roles has been poor due to insufficient training as regards language(s), customs, cultures, and religion(s). In addition, instruction in indigenous social, economic, and political factors may be poor. Technical skills required are often lacking --as is safety or survival training needed to avoid harm, and sustain the effort(s). When any or all of this happens, it is usually due to a failure at the policy and personnel levels where assignments are made without due consideration of qualifications of those being assigned. It is simply not enough to want to do good, you must have the qualifications to do so.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/fso_america_safer/ Sat Jan 19, 2008
During five decades of work in 42 developing nations, I observed that individual FSOs do achieve some positive results that benefit most of those they serve. When and where failures occur, it is almost always due to decisions made by U.S. policy makers who fail to fully understand the customs, culture, traditions, desires/ goals, language, and history of those we seek to help in the developed and developing worlds. All too often, U.S. policy makers have an "aura" of ignorance, arrogance, greed, and corruption. In recent years, these policy makers failed to consider lessons learned and they often make the same mistakes over-and-over. When individual FSOs fail, it is generally a result of "failed" leadership. Even with all these problems considered, some FSOs have made significant contributions benefiting all. With the advent of qualified and dedicated leaders, they could do even more to help achieve peace and well-being, worldwide.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/fso_america_safer/ Sat Jan 19, 2008
From the photo, 63.6% of the FSO corps is obese, so a few hours with shovel and sandbag is a good idea. Commitment to one's own physical conditioning is a prerequisite to a commitment to America. It pays to be physically fit for when the time arrives to climb onto the embassy roof for evacuation by helicopter.

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More lame P.R. from the State Dept. Well, there is some change going on, ooohhh nooo, not in U.S. Foreign Policy or the effectiveness of it and neither in the State of Affairs of the Middle East, those been the same for 40 years, they are the hallmark of the State Dept obsolescence, incompetence of the low achievers that runs it and most likely will remain unchanged, one Burn out another Burn in is the rule at State.

But Cheers... A change is made the sloppy paint jobs seen in all those Iraqi photos, evidence of the great progress the surge made were replaced with the shovel and sand buckets in Escondido, California.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/fso_america_safer/ Fri Jan 18, 2008