After the fall of Somalia’s dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991, a civil war broke out between warlords. In the…
Somalia — From Great Hope to Failed State
While today the mention of Somalia may conjure up images of a destitute nation run by warlords, such was not…
From Nation-Building to Black Hawk Down: U.S. Peacekeeping in Somalia
Somalia has become synonymous with well-meaning but ill-fated humanitarian intervention. Live television footage of American soldiers being dragged in the…
Evacuating Somalia
Codename: Operation Eastern Exit. In January 1991, violence due to the Somali Civil War had escalated so much that Ambassador…
Arkansas
Contributions by Arkansans in the Foreign Service People born, raised, or educated in Arkansas have made important contributions to America’s…
Louisiana
Contributions by Louisianans in the Foreign Service People born, raised, or educated in Louisiana have made important contributions to America’s…
Why Nation-Building Matters: Political Consolidation, Building Security Forces, and Economic Development in Failed and Fragile States
No one likes nation-building. The public dismisses it. Politicians criticize it. The traditional military disdains it, and civilian agencies lack…
The Incidental Oriental Secretary and Other Tales of Foreign Service
Dick Jackson captures the humor and sheer incongruity of working across cultures in an international career spanning diplomacy and education.…
Afghanistan Project-Patricia Haslach
Ambassador Patricia Haslach Oral Histories of U.S. Diplomacy in Afghanistan, 2001–2021 Interviewed by: Robin Matthewman Initial interview date: August 30,…
Afghanistan Project-Barnett Rubin
Barnett Rubin Oral Histories of U.S. Diplomacy in Afghanistan, 2001–2021 Interviewed by: Robin Matthewman Initial interview date: May 15, 2023…