American Diplomat

Agnes Schneider, would-be opera singer, saver of lives, confiscator of passports. She was a living expression of an incredible period of history, from World War I to the Cold War. Savior or villain, or both? Lindsay Henderson, consular history expert, shares. See also her article on this topic in the Foreign Service Journal, Jan/Feb 2022 edition.

Working your way up to an ambasssadorship is such a slog, if you can just buy the honorific instead. Ambassador Dennis Jett, author of a recent article by the same name as this episode, illuminates. Bonus question: Which embassy is the most expensive to buy? See also Jett's newly revised book, American Ambassadors: A guide for Aspiring Diplomats.

Dick Hoagland, Central Asia expert, is back to help us understand recent violence in Kazakhstan. Was the populace upset about rising fuel prices, or was there an internecine power struggle? Or both? What is the US interest in this ambiguous and evolving situation?

Bernie Aronson, who led the US effort to end wars in El Salvador and Colombia, shares insight on resolving the most intense geopolitical conflicts: "You should never forget that they are human beings and they can be moved as human beings."

Are we talking about Chile or the US, or any of a number of other countries worldwide? Deb Derrick recounts recent unrest in Santiago, and we ask ourselves, how similar to this are events in our own country? Today we are forced to remember the events of last year on this day, January 6, 2021. Do we care enough about our democracy to save it?

Ambassador Dick Hoagland, having served many years in Russia and former Soviet republics, has had ample opportunity to consider the high-stakes drinking game of vodka diplomacy. Bottoms up and happy New Year!

Jeffrey Franca, drummer for DC's world music icon Thievery Corporation - the band that generously allows us to use its music to open our show each week - brings us on the journey he took to become a musician. He shares with us the value of unity, love and positivity in his work, which is influenced by musical styles found worldwide. We'll be back next week with an original show on vodka diplomacy. See you then!

General Ben Freakley, in charge of the eastern region of Afghanistan during the war, urges us to remain focused and do the right thing for those who remain in danger in Afghanistan. He calls for a whole of government approach and implores the American people: It's our time to serve.

Ambassador Dan Foote departed the State Department over a crisis of conscience relating to recent events in Haiti. Why, and what actually happened from his perspective?

The Zambian government has no love for its country's LGBTQ community. When repressions go simply too far to ignore any longer Ambassador Dan Foote speaks up, and for political reasons on both continents is forced to return home. Any regrets? Of course not. LGBTQ rights are human rights and everyone on earth deserves those.