Now, not Later! Capture the Lessons Learned!
Friday, April 18th 2014
In a previous commentary, I said it is important for the Foreign Service and for the Public Diplomacy cone to formally capture the lessons of Iraq and Afghanistan (in particular) and expeditionary diplomacy (in general), even as the extraordinary demands that characterized the last decade ease.
First, it is wishful thinking to imagine that after the withdrawal of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, Public Diplomacy will "return to normal." The international environment is volatile, and Public Diplomacy is sure to receive unexpected taskings and face extraordinary challenges in the “post-war” environment. It’s not hard to imagine circumstances that would again require a “surge.”
Second, during the two wars the Foreign Service developed close relationships with the armed forces. We should consolidate and build upon those relationships rather than allow them to dissipate. Two of the major elements of national power are “diplomatic” and “military.” Because the Foreign Service and the armed forces will continue to be associated across the full continuum from conflict prevention to hostilities, the United States will need more, not less, alignment of these two elements of national power. We thus need to capture the “case studies” of civ-mil cooperation – positive and negative -- over the last decade.
Third, short tours in specific places affected all of our visions, and it’s natural to generalize that what was right and what was wrong at “my post” represented the whole. “Lessons learned” can help all of us see the bigger pictures.
Fourth, what self-respecting profession shakes off more than a decade of war with no self-examination of the experience?
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A Minister-Counselor in the State Department's Senior Foreign Service when he finished his federal career, Donald M. Bishop was recently elected as President of the Public Diplomacy Council. He is a trainer, speaker, and mentor in Public Diplomacy and Communication. He also speaks on history and leadership.
...click authors name for more infoAuthor: Donald M. Bishop
