This article reflects on the recent visit to Reno by Ambassador Edward Rowell, who participated in a World Affairs Council Special Event, hosted by the Northern Nevada International Center.
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Reno, 22 Jan. 2009 – NNIC / As part of the World Affairs Council Speakers Series, Ambassador Edward Rowell visited the Reno area and spoke with high school students at McQueen High School and Sageridge Private School as well as addressed UNR students and the general public at the Wells Fargo Auditorium, Matheson-IGT Knowledge Center on the UNR Campus.
Ambassador Rowell spent 38 years in the U.S. Foreign Service. He served as Ambassador to Bolivia, Luxembourg, and Portugal as well as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs. He also had postings in Argentina, Brazil, and Honduras.
Rowell is on the boards of directors for the Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training, the American Academy of Diplomacy (Chair, Audit Committee), and Diplomatic and Consular Officers, Retried (DACOR – Vice President). Ambassador Rowell addressed and discussed the Crisis in American Diplomacy and what resources, fiscal and human, would be necessary for the US Foreign Service to be strengthened and reinvigorated so as to be globally engaged in what the USA Today calls the New Era at ‘State.’
At his presentation at the Matheson-IGT Knowledge Center on the UNR Campus, Ambassador Rowell spoke about what he called “DoD creep,” in which traditional and historical tasks that were in the past handled by the diplomatic corps and foreign service officers were now being tasked to front line military commanders and troops. He stated that although he had a great respect for the Armed Forces and their courage and diligence, they were not the appropriate tools to use in
diplomatic situations.
Citing situations involving national and regional reconstruction of infrastructure and social institutions, a combat Marine or soldier, may not be the right tool to use. The Ambassador pointed to the sublime nuance implied when a Tribal Leader is negotiating the building of a new school with a Marine in full combat gear and body armor with an automatic rifle slung across his chest, and negotiating with a foreign service office in civilian clothing. Additionally, to field an American soldier, with support and equipment, is a very expensive endeavor.
Ambassador Rowell noted that these “cut backs” in personnel were initiated during the “peace dividend” cuts during the Reagan years, and over the decades since has been exacerbated by the increase of new embassies and consulates in the newly independent states that came out of the Soviet collapse of the 1990′s and the conflicts of the post 9/11 world. While newly independent states in Central Asia, South East and Central Europe as well as a few in Africa, increased demand for posts and personnel, staffing remained largely flat in the subsequent administration after Reagan, which included both Republican and Democratic administrations.
Ambassador Rowell proposed a 3.3 Billion (USD) budget to increase staffing in badly needed foreign service posts and programs to strengthen and fix America’s lagging diplomatic corps, and to provide it with the necessary tools and personnel to carry out President Obama’s vision of a promised overhaul of foreign policy; renewed emphasis on diplomacy; and the “new dawn of American leadership.”