,*APT] #b 
,! ,EMBASSY 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,C>NE ,ROSS 

,TEXT 3 

#b4 ,! ,E,M,B,A,S,S,Y 

,BONN #a#i#i#b-#i#e 

,MY FIR/ FULL PO/+ AS A DIPLOMAT WAS TO ,G]MANY & ITS !N CAPITAL1 ,BONN4 ,! ,BRITI% EMBASSY 9 ,BONN WAS AN UGLY CONCRETE BLOCK ON ! MA9 ROAD CONNECT+ ! CITY & ITS SUBURB1 ,BAD ,GODESB]G4 ,EV]Y?+ AB\T IT WAS GRAY -- ! C>PETS1 ! WALLS1 ! FACES ( ! PEOPLE WORK+ !RE4 ,MY (FICE OV]LOOK$ ! (T5-RA9SWEPT C> P>K4 ,IF ,I CRAN$ MY NECK1 ,I C\LD SEE ! ROAD BESIDE ! EMBASSY :]E C>S SP$ BETWE5 ,BONN & ,BAD ,GODESB]G4 

,MY TITLE WAS ,SECOND ,SECRET>Y 7,POLITICAL71 A JUNIOR DIPLOMAT1 AN EMBASSY WORKHORSE4 ,! EMBASSY HAD A L>GE /AFF ( DIPLOMATS1 :OSE WORK WAS DIVID$ 9TO MANY SECTIONS4 ,MY JOB WAS TO REPORT ON ,G]MAN =EIGN POLICY4 ,TO DO ?IS1 ,I W\LD GET 9TO MY C> OR RIDE ! TRAM TO ! ,AUSW>TIGES ,AMT1 ! ,G]MAN =EIGN M9I/RY1 OR1 OCCASIONALLY1 ! ,F$]AL ,*ANCELL]Y 7:]E ! ,*ANCELLOR & HIS /AFF HAD (FICES74 ,ONCE !RE1 ,I W\LD WALK ! LONG CORRIDORS UNTIL ,I F\ND ! DESK (FIC] ,I WAS LOOK+ = & ,I W\LD ASK HIM :AT ,G]MAN POLICY WAS ON C\NTRY X4 ,AFT] TAK+ A FEW NOTES ,I W\LD RETURN TO ! EMBASSY & COMPOSE A TELEGRAM OR LETT] SUMM>IZ+ :AT ,I HAD BE5 TOLD4 ,?AT WAS IT4 

,ONCE ,I HAD REALIZ$ ! ESS5TIAL SIMPLICITY ( ?IS TASK1 ,I TRI$ TO MAKE IT MORE 9T]E/+4 ,I W\LD SEEK \T ,BUNDE/AG MEMB]S TO TALK TO2 ,I W\LD CULTIVATE J\RNALI/S4 ,I EV5 P>TICIPAT$ 9 TRA9+ C\RSES ) Y\NG ,G]MAN DIPLOMATS4 ,ALL ! BETT] TO UND]/& :AT WAS GO+ ON 9 ,G]MAN =EIGN POLICY1 9 !ORY2 BUT 9 PRACTICE MY MOTIVE WAS TO ESCAPE ! 9CR$IBLE BOR$OM ( MY JOB4 ,= ! ,=EIGN ,(FICE 9 ,LONDON1 KN[N 9 ! S]VICE SIMPLY AS 0,LONDON01 WAS NOT 9 ! LEA/ 9T]E/$ 9 ! ?\<TS ( ! M9OR P>LIAM5T>IANS :O W]E WILL+ TO TALK TO JUNIOR DIPLOMATS1 & EV5 LESS ! 9SI<TS ( ,G]MAN J\RNALI/S4 ,!Y DIDN'T WANT TO UND]/& ,G]MANY1 !Y JU/ WANT$ TO KN[ :AT IT WAS DO+4 ,& 9DE$ IT IS MU* MORE ! JOB ( EMBASSIES TO DO ! UND]/&+ 9 ORD] ?AT !IR HOME C\NTRIES WILL HAVE A BETT] S5SE ( :AT ! T>GET C\NTRY IS DO+4 ,?AT'S P>T ( ! PO9T ( EMBASSIES4 

,MY BEAT WAS ! WORLD \TSIDE ,EUROPE4 ,MY FRI5D ,J4 COV]$ 0,EUROPE01 :I* 9 ?OSE DAYS 9CLUD$ ! =M] ,SOVIET ,UNION BUT NOT ,TURKEY 7?AT WAS M9E74 ,G]MAN =EIGN POLICY 9 ! RE/ ( ! WORLD WAS1 & /ILL IS1 MO/LY R\T9E3 ! PURSUIT ( ITS 09T]E/S0 9 ,ASIA1 ,AFRICA & ! ,AM]ICAS4 ,ALMO/ 9V>IABLY1 ?IS MEANT TRADE4 ,FROM ,TURKEY TO ,*9A1 ?IS WAS ! ABID+ ,G]MAN 9T]E/4 ,!RE WAS ONLY ONE 9T]E/ ?AT CAME CLOSE 9 IMPORTANCE TO TRADE3 NAMELY IMMIGRANTS & H[ TO /OP !M COM+ TO ,G]MANY4 

0,LONDON0 WAS MOD]ATELY 9T]E/$ 9 ,G]MAN ,*9ESE POLICY 7AT LEA/ ! DEP>TM5T 9 ,LONDON ONCE REPLI$ TO MY LETT]S74 ,TRADE ) ! ,*9ESE RE/$ L>GELY ON ! DEGREE ( FAVOR GRANT$ BY ! ,*9ESE GOV]NM5T1 P>TICUL>LY 9 ! CASE ( L>GE 5G9E]+ CONTRACTS4 ,SO (FICIAL VISITS TO ,*9A1 = EXAMPLE BY ,*ANCELLOR ,KOHL1 9VOLV$ LOTS ( SYCOPHANCY TO ! GOV]NM5T1 ! SIGNATURE ( L>GE CONTRACTS 7= NEW RAIL SY/EMS = 9/ANCE71 & A BIT ( LIP-S]VICE TO HUMAN RI<TS4 ,I WAS DISPROPORTIONATELY CURI\S AB\T ?IS LA/ ASPECT1 S9CE ?IS WAS :AT ,I ?\<T MO/ IMPORTANT AB\T ,*9A1 SO ,I W\LD ALWAYS GIVE IT P>TICUL> ATT5TION 9 MY REPORTS 7USUALLY TO EMPHASIZE H[ LITTLE ATT5TION ! ,G]MANS HAD GIV5 IT 9 !IR EX*ANGES ) ! ,*9ESE74 ,LONDON WAS ( C\RSE MU* MORE 9T]E/$ 9 ! CONTRACTS & H[ LITTLE LIP-S]VICE IT TOO C\LD GET AWAY )3 9DE$1 ,I WAS TOLD ?AT ! VALUE ( MY REPORTS WAS 9 HELP+ ,LONDON CALIBRATE ! ,BRITI% APPROA* ) ?AT ( ! ,G]MANS4 

,I DON'T ?9K ?AT ANYONE ,I SPOKE TO EI!R 9 ,BONN OR 9 ,LONDON WAS ESPECIALLY PLEAS$ ?AT ?IS WAS ! MANN] & FOCUS ( \R RELATION%IP ) ! ,*9ESE4 ,! ,G]MAN (FICIALS TALK$ AB\T IT ) A RESIGN$ AIR1 ?AT ?IS WAS JU/ ! WAY ?+S W]E4 ,! DESK (FIC] = ,*9A 9 ,LONDON & ,I1 MEAN:ILE1 5JOY$ AN IRONIC TO & FRO1 GLOSS+ OV] ! 0REALPOLITIK0 ) HUMOR4 ,HIS TRUE LOVE WAS >T4 ,NONE ( US REALLY ?\<T ( QUE/ION+ ! DIRECTION ( \R POLICY4 ,WE JU/ ACCEPT$ ?AT TRADE1 NOT RI<TS1 %\LD TAKE PRIORITY4 ,?IS WAS :AT =EIGN POLICY WAS AB\T4 

,BUT ! ?+ ?AT MO/ GRIPP$ ! ,G]MAN GOV]NM5T1 :I* !IR (FICIALS W\LD CONFESS TO ME 9 QUIET MOM5TS1 WAS ! RISK ?AT ,*9A W\LD DIS9TEGRATE 7) A SMACK ( PRET5SE1 !Y CALL$ IT C5TRIFUGALISM71 LAUN*+ A MASSIVE WAVE ( IMMIGRANTS T[>DS ,EUROPE & ABOVE ALL1 !Y FE>$1 T[>DS ,G]MANY4 ,:5 ,I FIR/ HE>D IT1 ?IS REVELATION A/ONI%$ ME S9CE IT HAD NOT OCCURR$ TO ME1 NOR DID !RE SEEM MU* RISK ( IT4 ,BUT IT MADE S5SE 9 ! ,G]MANY ( #a#i#i#b1 :I* ?AT YE> HAD RECEIV$ NE>LY A MILLION ASYLUM-SEEK]S 7,ASYLANT51 AS !Y W]E KN[N D]OGATORILY71 MO/ ( !M FROM ,EA/]N ,EUROPE &1 ABOVE ALL1 FROM ! DIS9TEGRAT+ /ATES ( ! ,BALKANS4 

,MY 9TRODUCTION TO ,G]MANY WAS OV] A MON? ( :AT IS ACCURATELY CALL$ 0IMM]SION0 ) A FAMILY NE> ,MUN/]4 ,= FIVE SUFFOCAT+ WEEKS1 ,I /AY$ ) A ,G]MAN FAMILY 9 ORD] TO CEM5T MY LANGUAGE SKILLS4 ,MY ,G]MAN C]TA9LY IMPROV$1 & SO DID MY UND]/&+ ( ,G]MANS1 AT LEA/ SOME ( !M4 ,NI<T AFT] NI<T ON ! TELEVISION NEWS1 WE W\LD WAT* PICTURES ( TRAUMATIZ$ ,BOSNIAN REFUGEES ESCAP+ ! W>7S74 ,ON ONE OCCASION A TRA9 FILL$ ) REFUGEES HAD BE5 /UCK ON ONE ( ,G]MANY'S EA/]N BORD]S4 ,! PEOPLE ON BO>D HAD BE5 TRAPP$ ON ! TRA9 = DAYS & W]E V]Y CLE>LY 9 DESP]ATION & AGONY1 !IR FACES AN UNPLEASANT E*O ( E>LI] G5OCIDAL W>S4 ,ONE ( MY HO/S TURN$ TO ! O!R1 0,MORE BLOODY 7V]DAMMTE7 ,ASYLANT5 COM+ TO TAKE \R MONEY40 ,MY DAYS W\LD BE FILL$ ) :AT W]E SUPPOS$ TO BE ,G]MAN LESSONS1 :I* 9 A WAY !Y W]E3 DIDACTIC LECTURES FROM ! FA!R ON H[ UNFAIRLY ,G]MANY HAD BE5 TREAT$ 7!RE W]E W> CRIMES ON BO? SIDES DUR+ ! W> ETC474 ,EV]Y EV5+1 ! MO!R W\LD RETURN FROM H] M$ICAL PRACTICE TO REGALE US ) 9CESSANT COMPLA9TS AB\T ! APPALL+ & UNTRU/WOR?Y BEHAVIOR ( ! ,BOSNIAN GIRL :OM %E HAD FOOLI%LY EMPLOY$4 ,TO ESCAPE1 ,I SMOK$ 9 ! G>D5 7TO 5ORM\S DISAPPROVAL7 & TAU<T MYSELF TO JUGGLE4 

,BUT 9 SOME WAYS ?AT FAMILY WAS MORE CONNECT$ TO ! REALITY ( :AT WAS GO+ ON 9 ! ,BALKANS ?AN WE W]E 9 ,BONN4 ,AT LEA/ !Y HAD SOME CONTACT ) REAL ,BOSNIANS4 ,9 ,BONN1 LIKE ALL ! O!R DIPLOMATS 9 ! EMBASSY1 ,I HAD QUICKLY TO LE>N TO DEF5D ,BRITI% POLICY OV] ! BREAKUP ( ,YUGOSLAVIA FROM ! CRITICISMS ( MANY ,G]MAN (FICIALS & J\RNALI/S4 ,AT ?AT TIME 79 ! E>LY #a#i#iS71 & 9DE$ ?R\<\T ! W>1 ! 0,BRITI%0 VIEW1 :I* WAS 9 FACT ! VIEW ( A FEW M9I/]S & KEY (FICIALS1 BUT :I* WE W]E ALL REQUIR$ TO UPHOLD1 WAS ?AT ! ,YUGOSLAV W>S W]E A CIVIL W>1 DRIV5 BY E?NIC HATR$S4 ,UNWILL+ TO 9T]V5E TO /OP IT1 WE PRES5T$ ! MURD]\S KILL+ AS 9EVITABLE & UNPREV5TABLE4 ,ALL WE C\LD DO 9 SU* CIRCUM/ANCES1 WE >GU$1 WAS PROVIDE HUMANIT>IAN AID 7:I* ,BRITI% TROOPS1 AS P>T ( ,U,N,P,R,(,O,R1 BRAVELY & PR(ESSIONALLY DID7 & PREV5T ANY 9FL[ ( >MS ?R\< AN EMB>GO4 

,I DID NOT UND]/& ! ,BALKANS4 ,BUT ?IS DID NOT PREV5T ME OR ANYONE ELSE 9 ! EMBASSY FROM REPEAT+ ! ANALYSIS SET \T ABOVE4 ,9DE$1 ?AT IS :AT WE W]E TOLD TO DO4 ,ON ! W> 9 =M] ,YUGOSLAVIA1 AS ON ANY CONTROV]SIAL ISSUE1 0,LONDON0 W\LD S5D \T REGUL> 0L9ES-TO-TAKE01 SETT+ \T 9 SUCC9CT & WELL-CRAFT$ BULLET PO9TS :AT 0WE0 ?\<T4 ,I W\LD READ !SE1 LE>N !M & DEPLOY !M AU?ORITATIVELY :5EV] A ,G]MAN 9T]LOCUTOR W\LD >GUE ?AT WE W]E /&+ BY :ILE G5OCIDE WAS P]PETRAT$1 OR ?AT WE W]E PREV5T+ ! ,BOSNIAKS FROM DEF5D+ !MSELVES BY D5Y+ !M >MS4 ,I BELIEV$ ?OSE L9ES-TO-TAKE1 :I* HELP$ :5 ,I HAD TO USE !M4 ,I DID NOT /OP BELIEV+ !M UNTIL ,I ACTUALLY W5T TO ,BOSNIA MANY YE>S LAT]4 

,IF ! L9ES-TO-TAKE FAIL$ TO DO ! TRICK1 AS !Y USUALLY DID1 WE W\LD RESORT TO CRITICIZ+ ! ,G]MANS OR ! ,AM]ICANS4 ,= ( C\RSE ! ,G]MANS1 CLAIM+ ?AT !IR CON/ITUTION DID NOT ALL[ IT 7:I* IT !N DID NOT71 W]E UNABLE TO 9T]V5E TO /OP ! ,S]BS4 ,& ! ,AM]ICANS1 WELL1 ?AT'S A /ORY BETT] TOLD BY O!RS4.<#f.> ,IT IS HUMAN NATURE ?AT :5 Y\ >E ON WEAK GR\ND Y\ SEEK TO UND]M9E Y\R ATTACK]1 RA!R ?AN EXAM9E ! GR\ND ON :I* Y\ >E /&+4 ,ONCE A POSITION HAS BE5 TAK5 ON AN ISSUE -- = EXAMPLE ?AT ! W>S 9 ,YUGOSLAVIA W]E A 0CIVIL W>0 -- ALL ANALYSIS BECOMES SUBORN$ TO ?AT META-ANALYSIS4 ,GR\P?9K1 9 ?IS CASE AS 9 O!RS1 NOT ONLY RUL$ BUT WAS 5C\RAG$4 ,IF WE BELIEV$ 9 A NICE1 TIDY1 ORD]$ WORLD ( /ATES1 AS ,BRITI% (FICIALS MO/ EMPHATICALLY DID1 !N ! BREAKUP ( A /ATE WAS A ,BAD ,?+ & MU/ BE 0CONTA9$04 ,BRITI% POLICY SEEM$ LOGICAL1 & ! FACTS C\LD1 IF WE *OSE1 BE MADE TO FIT \R VIEWS 7TELEGRAMS FROM \R PO/S 9 ! REGION1 P>TICUL>LY ,BELGRADE1.<#g.> DID JU/ ?AT74 ,IF Y\ SEE ONE GR\P FI<T+ ANO!R 9SIDE ! BORD]S ( A /ATE & Y\ BELIEVE 9 ! PRIMACY ( ! /ATE AS ! ORGANIZ+ UNIT ( 09T]NATIONAL AFFAIRS01 Y\ WILL T5D TO SEE ?AT CONFLICT AS A 0CIVIL W>04 ,Y\ CAN DISREG>D ! N[ UND5IABLE FACT ?AT ?IS W> WAS DELIB]ATELY 9ITIAT$ BY ONE GR\P AGA9/ ANO!R1 :]E ! FIR/ GR\P US$ ! EXTANT MA*9]Y ( GOV]NM5T1 9 P>TICUL> ! >MY1 TO REMOVE & (T5 ANNIHILATE ! O!R4 ,?AT WE MAY HAVE BE5 5TIRELY WRONG NEV] SEEM$ TO OCCUR TO US4 ,TO ?IS DAY Y\ MAY /ILL MEET S5IOR ,BRITI% (FICIALS :O WILL REPEAT ! 0CIVIL W>1 ANCI5T E?NIC HATR$S0 ANALYSIS1 ,SREBR5ICA NOT)/&+4 ,*>GE !M ) \R 9ACTION & !Y WILL1 ) KNEE-J]K C]TA9TY1 IMM$IATELY BLAME ! ,AM]ICANS 7= NOT BOMB+ SOON]7 OR ! ,G]MANS 7= RECOGNIZ+ ,CROATIA TOO SOON7 & USUALLY BO?4 ,9 EXTREME CASES !Y WILL EV5 BLAME ! ,BOSNIAKS1 PRESUMABLY = SOMEH[ 9/IGAT+ !IR [N ANNIHILATION4 ,NOT = A MOM5T WILL !Y CONC$E ?AT 0WE0 MI<T HAVE BE5 WRONG4 

,MY >EA ( RESPONSIBILITY COV]$ O!R1 EV5 BLOODI] EV5TS4 ,ONE DAY 7& ONLY ONCE7 ,I WAS ASK$ BY ,LONDON TO F9D \T :AT 0,G]MANY0 ?\<T AB\T ! KILL+S 9 ,RW&A4 ,FOLL[+ A R\T9E EXPLANATION FROM ! ,AUSW>TIGES ,AMT DESK (FIC] ON :Y ! KILL+S W]E 9EVITABLE & IMPOSSIBLE TO PREV5T -- & ( C\RSE ,I UND]/OOD1 HE ADD$1 ?AT ,G]MANY ITSELF C\LD NOT POSSIBLY DO ANY?+ ?ANKS TO ITS CON/ITUTIONAL POSITION -- ,I WAS TREAT$ TO ! DESK (FIC]'S [N MORE P]SONAL ANALYSIS ( :Y ! KILL+ WAS SO WIDESPREAD4 ,Y\ SEE1 HE SAID1 !RE'S JU/ NOT 5\< ROOM = ALL ( !M 9 ?AT LITTLE C\NTRY 7HE ASK$ CONDESC5D+LY IF ,I HAD BE5 TO ,RW&A7 & !Y MU/ KILL EA* O!R LIKE RATS 9 A CAGE4 

,DESPITE ! FACT ?AT ! WOR/ KILL+ 9 ,EUROPE S9CE ! ,SECOND ,WORLD ,W> WAS GO+ ON JU/ A C\PLE ( H\RS' FLI<T FROM :]E WE SAT1 ! W> 9 EX-,YUGOSLAVIA IMP+$ LITTLE ON \R CONSCI\SNESSES 7,RW&A WAS B>ELY SPOK5 (74 ,BO? ! ,BRITI% & ,G]MAN GOV]NM5TS W]E MU* MORE PREOCCUPI$ ) 0,EUROPE0 OR RA!R ! ,EUROPEAN ,UNION1 & ! T$I\S BATTLES OV] ?+S LIKE ,QUALIFI$ ,MAJORITY ,VOT+ ON MILK PACKAG+ DIRECTIVES4 ,! EMBASSY HAD AN 5TIRE TEAM TO COV] SU* CRUCIAL QUE/IONS4 

,DESPITE ITS SOMETIMES VIVID BUT AB/RACT CONT5T ( G5OCIDE & HUMAN RI<TS1 ! DAY-TO-DAY REALITY ( MY LIFE 9 ,BONN WAS DULL BEYOND WORDS4 ,NOT = NO?+ DID ,JOHN LE ,C>RE1 :O ONCE S]V$ 9 ! EMBASSY1 DESCRIBE ! T[N AS 0HALF ! SIZE ( ,*ICAGO CEMET]Y & TWICE AS DEAD04 ,I ACT$ 9 A C\PLE ( LOCAL AMATEUR DRAMATIC PRODUCTIONS 7DON'T ASK74 ,OCCASIONALLY ,I W\LD DRIVE V]Y FA/ ALONG ! AUTOBAHN TO ,COLOGNE1 !RE TO SEEK EXCITEM5T 7,I DIDN'T F9D ANY74 ,I KEPT A DI>Y1 DETAIL+ ! AGONIZ$1 SPASMODIC BUT SEEM+LY 9EVITABLE COLLAPSE ( MY RELATION%IP ) MY GIRLFRI5D :O HAD /AY$ 9 ,LONDON4 ,I HAD A FEW FRI5DS 9 ,BONN :O1 9 ! MANN] ( ?OSE :O BECOME FRI5DS 9 DISMAL CIRCUM/ANCES1 W]E GOOD ONES4 ,BUT MY DAYS W]E GRAY & LONELY1 ALL 9 ALL4 

,RECOGNIZ+ ! LIMITS ( MY (FICIAL DUTIES & P]HAPS1 ?\< HE DID NOT M5TION IT1 MY MELAN*OLIC ASPECT1 MY BOSS1 AN 5LI<T5$ S\L1 5C\RAG$ ME TO PURSUE :AT ,I ?\<T 9T]E/+4 ,?IS WAS AN UNUSUAL ATTITUDE = A ,=EIGN ,(FICE MANAG] BUT HE WAS & IS A S+UL> MAN4 ,I DECID$ TO 9VE/IGATE ! M9ORITIES 9 ,G]MANY1 ! \TSID]S4 ,WORK+ ON & (F AS MY REGUL> DUTIES ALL[$1 ,I SP5T MON?S ON ! TASK & EV5TUALLY PRODUC$ A WEI<TY PAP] :I* ,I PR\DLY DISPAT*$ TO ,LONDON4 ,P]HAPS IT WAS ! ,MUN/] FAMILY :O HAD 9SPIR$ ME1 BUT ,I WAS FASC9AT$ BY ! MANY MILLIONS ( PEOPLE :O LIV$ 9 ,G]MANY BUT W]E NOT ,G]MANS1 & 9 P>TICUL> BY ?OSE :O LIV$ !RE = MANY G5]ATIONS BUT W]E /ILL NOT CONSID]$ ,G]MANS1 CULTURALLY IF NOT LEGALLY4 ,G]MAN RESID5CE LAW HAS S9CE *ANG$1 BUT AT ?AT TIME1 OV] SIX MILLION 0=EIGN]S0 W]E LIV+ 9 ,G]MANY )\T CITIZ5%IP4 

,I WILL NOT REPEAT ! CONT5TS ( ! PAP]1 MU* AS ,I 5JOY$ PREP>+ & WRIT+ IT4 ,ITS SIGNIFICANCE TO MY /ORY IS ?IS4 ,MY RESE>*ES L$ ME TO SOME ( ! MO/ OPPRESS$ PEOPLE 9 ,G]MANY1 & P]HAPS 9 ,EUROPE 7) ! EXCEPTION ( ! ,BALKANS71 AT ?AT TIME4 ,! ,ROMA & ,S9TI PEOPLES 7ALMO/ UNIV]SALLY KN[N 9 ,G]MANY AS ,ZIGEUN]1 OR GYPSIES1 ! ,5GLI% WORD DOES NOT HAVE ! SAME D]OGATORY OV]TONES AS ! ,G]MAN7 W]E1 & ,I SUSPECT /ILL >E1 R\T9ELY DISCRIM9AT$ AGA9/4 ,I VISIT$ A COMMUNITY 9 :AT C\LD ONLY BE DESCRIB$ AS A <ETTO1 = IT WAS A DILAPIDAT$ H\S+ E/ATE1 SET 9 AN 9DU/RIAL ZONE ON ! \TSKIRTS ( ,HAMBURG4 ,! *EMICAL POLLUTION FROM SURR\ND+ FACTORIES WAS SO BAD ?AT ! LOCAL C\NCIL W\LD NOT ALL[ 0ORD9>Y0 H\S+1 BUT ?IS WAS :]E ! ,ROMA HAD BE5 H\S$4 ,! E/ATE WAS SURR\ND$ BY B>B$ WIRE1 ) A K9D ( S5TRY BOX1 OCCUPI$ BY A POLICEMAN1 AT ! 5TRANCE4 ,! CONDITIONS 9SIDE ! E/ATE -- ! DIRT & OV]CR[D+ -- W]E DISGU/+4 ,! LOCAL ,ROMA LEAD] TOLD ME ?AT AMBULANCES W\LD NOT ATT5D EM]G5CY CALLS AT ! E/ATE4 ,! 9HABITANTS W]E B>R$ FROM ALL ! LOCAL %OPS4 

,BUT ! RELEVANCE ( ?IS DEPRESS+ /ORY IS ?AT ?IS WAS ! MO/ POT5T & MOV+ EXP]I5CE ( MY TIME 9 ,G]MANY4 ,I WAS %OCK$4 ,I TRI$ TO CONVEY ! EXP]I5CE 9 MY PAP] BACK TO ,LONDON1 BUT C\LD NOT4 ,NEI!R BY EMPLOY+ A SUB-,ORWELLIAN J\RNALESE NOR ! DRI] VOCABUL>Y ( A DIPLOMATIC DISPAT* C\LD ,I CAPTURE ! FULL P[] ( :AT ,I HAD SE54 ,I DEVELOP$1 ) MY BOSS'S HELP1 A !ORY ( M9ORITIES 9 ,G]MANY1.<#h.> P>TLY BECAUSE ,I S\<T AN ORD]1 AN EXPLANATORY SY/EM1 TO UND]/& ! MESSY HUMAN REALITY ,I HAD WITNESS$ & ALSO 9 ORD] TO F9D T]MS 7WORDS LIKE CITIZ5%IP1 ID5TITY & RI<TS7 MORE PALATABLE TO ! DISC\RSE ( DIPLOMACY1 :]E ( C\RSE AB/RACTIONS >E MU* MORE COM=TABLY CONSUM$ ?AN CRUD]1 MORE COLOR$ REPRES5TATIONS ( REALITY4 ,IT IS SIMPLY NOT DONE TO WRITE TO ,LONDON ?AT PEOPLE >E BE+ SCREW$ 9 ,HAMBURG1 ,BOSNIA OR ANY:]E ELSE4 

,MOREOV]1 S9CE ! CONDITION ( ! ,ROMA & 9DE$ O!R M9ORITIES 9 ,G]MANY DID NOT FALL UND] ! RUBRIC ( ,BRITA9'S 09T]E/S0 !RE1 ! REPORT WAS NOT PLAC$ ON ! NORMAL *ANNELS ( ! EMBASSY'S COMMUNICATION ) 0,LONDON01 NAMELY ! CLASSIFI$ & 5CRYPT$ TELEGRAMS ?AT W\LD BE CIRCULAT$ ON RECEIPT TO (FICIALS ACROSS ,:ITEHALL 9 MANY DIFF]5T GOV]NM5T (FICES4 ,IT WAS 9/EAD S5T BACK 9 ! 0BAG04 ,?IS WAS \R WEEKLY DIPLOMATIC BAG TO ,LONDON1 :I* CONTA9$ EV]Y?+ DEEM$ LEA/ URG5T1 A MEANS ( TRANSPORTATION ALMO/ GU>ANTE$ TO DET] ! RECIPI5T FROM READ+ ! CONT5TS4 ,UNLIKE ! TELEGRAMS COPI$ 9 !IR HUNDR$S TO NUM]\S DEP>TM5TS 9 ! GOV]NM5T1 IT WAS S5T 9 A S+LE 5VELOPE TO ! ,G]MANY ,DESK ,(FIC] 9 :AT WAS !N KN[N AS ! ,WE/]N ,EUROPEAN ,DEP>TM5T4 ,I NEV] RECEIV$ A REPLY1 OR EV5 AN ACKN[L$GM5T ( RECEIPT4 ,NOR DID ,I REALLY EXPECT ONE1 BECAUSE SU* MATT]S >E NOT REALLY :AT =EIGN POLICY1 & ! ,BONN EMBASSY1 WAS 0AB\T01 NAMELY ! H>D /UFF LIKE ,E,U GOV]NANCE1 ! FUTURE ( ,N,A,T,O1 TRADE NEGOTIATIONS & :AT 0WE0 C\LDN'T DO AB\T ,BOSNIA4 ,IT WAS C]TA9LY NOT \R BUS9ESS TO COMM5T ON ! 9T]NAL AFFAIRS ( AN ALLY 7WE ONLY DO ?AT TO POOR C\NTRIES74 ,! DESP]ATE CONDITION ( AN OPPRESS$ M9ORITY WAS REG>D$1 EV5 BY ME1 ALMO/ AS A HOBBY1 A ?+ AP>T FROM ! CORE4 

,AF<ANI/AN1 ,SPR+ #bb 

,A ?UND]+ ,C-#a#c ,H]CULES IS SWOOP+ ?R\< ! M\NTA9S4 ,JU/ BEH9D ! PILOTS1 ,I CLAMB] ON TO A SMALL PLAT=M & POKE MY HEAD UP 9TO A SMALL1 P]SPEX DOME JU/ L>GE 5\< TO ACCOMMODATE MY %\LD]S4 

,PURE EXHIL>ATION4 ,I LOOK \T FROM ! TOP ( ! FUSELAGE ) A PANORAMIC VIEW ( ! AIRCRAFT1 TO ! RE> ITS F9 CUTT+ ?R\< ! WISPY CL\D1 TO EI!R SIDE ITS HUGE1 /OLID W+S & BELL[+ 5G9ES4 ,I TURN =W>DS1 & WE BREAK ?R\< ! CL\DS1 SKIPP+ %>P M\NTA9 PEAKS & DIV+ /EEPLY OV] AN IMM5SE PLA94 ,IT IS LIKE ! DANG]\S PLEASURE ( A *ILD /ICK+ HIS HEAD ?R\< ! SUN-RO( ( A SPE$+ C>1 BUT ?IS IS A HUGE AIRCRAFT & WE >E FIVE ?\S& FEET ABOVE ! GR\ND1 RO>+ OV] ! ,H9DU ,KU%1 DIV+ D[N T[>DS ,BAGRAM4 

,AF<ANI/AN4 ,IT WAS P]HAPS APPROPRIATE ?AT ?IS %\LD BE MY LA/ DIPLOMATIC PO/+1 A BRIEF SOJ\RN FROM MY P]MAN5T PO/ 9 ,NEW ,YORK4 ,AS A TE5AG] ,I HAD /UCK A COLLECTION ( PO/C>DS TO ! WALL BY MY B$4 ,ONE1 A WELL-KN[N PHOTOGRAPH1 %[$ A MUJAHIDE5 FI<T] KNEEL+ ON A PRAY] MAT 9 ! ,AF<AN M\NTA9S1 HIS H&S RAIS$ 9 SUPPLICATION TO ,ALLAH1 A ,KALA%NIKOV BY HIS SIDE4 ,]IC ,NEWBY'S ,A ,%ORT ,WALK 9 ! ,H9DU ,KU% HAD BE5 ONE ( MY FAVORITE BOOKS2 ,AHM$ ,%AH ,MASOOD'S ROMANTIC /RUGGLE AGA9/ ! HELICOPT] GUN%IPS & BOMB]S ( ! ,SOVIET ,UNION MY FAVORITE W>4 

,I HAD LOBBI$ H>D TO BE PO/$ TO ,KABUL :5 ,BRITA9 REOP5$ ITS EMBASSY AFT] ! ,TALIBAN FELL4 ,MY QUALIFICATIONS W]E SCANT3 ?AT ,I HAD 0DONE0 ,AF<ANI/AN ON ! ,U,N ,SECURITY ,C\NCIL1 = 9/ANCE BY NEGOTIAT+ ! ,SECURITY ,C\NCIL M&ATE = ! ,9T]NATIONAL ,SECURITY ,ASSI/ANCE ,=CE :I* N[ HELP$ POLICE ,KABUL4 ,BUT ONLY A V]Y FEW ,BRITI% DIPLOMATS HAD EV5 SET FOOT 9 ,AF<ANI/AN 9 ! LONG YE>S S9CE ! ,SOVIET 9VASION4 ,FEW] /ILL KNEW ANY?+ ( ! LOCAL LANGUAGES4 ,& SO IT WAS ?AT 9 ,M>* #bb ,I F\ND MYSELF 9 ! EMBASSY1 BE+ S]V$ TEA 9 ! G>D5 BY ! ANCI5T RETA9]1 :O HAD LOYALLY T5D$ ! G>D5S & BUILD+S ?R\<\T ,BRITA9'S LONG ABS5CE4 

,! =M] ,BRITI% EMBASSY WAS N[ A RU91 A ONCE GR& BUT N[ DECAY+ NEO-CLASSICAL AMBASSADORIAL RESID5CE SET 9 A L>GE E/ATE LITT]$ ) ! BURNT-\T H\SES ( ! L[]-RANK+ DIPLOMATS1 !IR /YLE ?AT ( SUBURBAN ,SURREY -- MOCK ,TUDOR 9 ! ,AF<AN HILLS1 A HOME FROM HOME = ! >*ETYPAL ,BROMLEY MAN ( ! ,BRITI% CIVIL S]VICE4 ,BUT ! EMBASSY SITE N[ BELONG$ TO ,PAKI/AN1 & ,BRITA9 WAS OBLIG$ TO OCCUPY A SMALL CORN] ( ITS =M] E/ATE1 A GA!R+ ( CRAMP$1 L[-RISE BUILD+S :I* HAD ONCE H\S$ ! EMBASSY HOSPITAL4 

,! EMBASSY TEAM -- ! AMBASSADOR1 ! DIPLOMATS1 ! SUPPORT /AFF & ! MANY SOLDI]S :O PROTECT$ US -- %>$ A FEW SMALL ROOMS4 ,\R MA9 (FICE WAS A T9Y DRAW+ ROOM & ! CORRIDOR \TSIDE4 ,WE ATE TOGE!R 9 A LONG D9+ ROOM1 US+ ! BE-CRE/$ CROCK]Y & CUTL]Y ?AT ! EMBASSY'S RETA9] HAD MANAG$ TO SAVE ?R\< ! LONG YE>S ( ,BRITA9'S ABS5CE 7HE HAD HIDD5 ! SILV] C&LE/ICKS TOO BUT !SE HAD BE5 /OL51 TO HIS GREAT DI/RESS1 BY AN E>LY VISITOR FROM ,BRITA9'S ,SPECIAL ,AIR ,S]VICE74 ,BACON1 EGGS & CORNFLAKES 9 ! MORN+2 BEEF & ROA/ POTATOES = SUPP]4 ,TEA :5EV] Y\ WANT$ IT4 ,! /AFF1 COOP$ UP 9 ! EMBASSY = MO/ ( ! TIME1 TALK$ ( :AT !Y KNEW3 ! LATE/ SOCC] GAMES 9 ! ,PREMI]%IP1 TELEVISION SOAPS4 ,9 ! EV5+S WE SOMETIMES PLAY$ GAMES 7,TRIVIAL ,PURSUIT1 *>ADES7 & DRANK BE] & :ISKEY FL[N 9 AT 5ORM\S EXP5SE BY ! ,ROYAL ,AIR ,=CE4 ,AFT] F\R COSMOPOLITAN YE>S 9 ,NEW ,YORK1 IT FELT LIKE BE+ TRAPP$ 9 A RA!R /UFFY HOTEL 9 ,WEYM\?4 

,AF<ANI/AN LURK$ BEH9D ! HI< WALLS ?AT PROTECT$ US FROM 0\TSIDE04 ,! WALLS W]E TOPP$ ) COILS ( RAZOR WIRE & SACK-CLO? NETT+1 ! LATT] TO TRAP ! ROCKET-PROPELL$ GR5ADES ?AT W]E FE>$ AS ! GREATE/ ?REAT TO \R SAFETY4 ,MY JOB AS ! POLITICAL (FIC] 9 ! EMBASSY WAS TO REPORT TO ,LONDON ON POLITICAL DEVELOPM5TS 9 ! C\NTRY4 ,BE=E ! PO/+1 ,I HAD VISIONS ( SITT+ 9 CR[D$ TEA-%OPS 9 ,KABUL *ATT+ AB\T POLITICS ) ! LOCALS4 ,9/EAD1 ON >RIV+1 ,I LE>N$ ?AT WE W]E ONLY ALL[$ BEYOND ! WALLS ( ! EMBASSY 9SIDE AN >MOR$ ,L& ,ROV] ) AN ESCORT ( AT LEA/ TWO MEMB]S ( \R CLOSE PROTECTION 7,C,P7 TEAM4 ,APPO9TM5TS HAD TO BE MADE DAYS 9 ADVANCE 9 ORD] TO ALL[ ! ,C,P TEAM TO RECONNOIT] ! SITE BE=E \R VISIT4 ,?IS WAS A FRU/RAT+ & TIME-CONSUM+ PROCESS1 9VOLV+ 5DLESS FAIL$ TELEPHONE CALLS TO ! FEW ,KABULIS :O [N$ SATELLITE PHONES OR S5D+ \T \R LOCAL 0FIX]0 TO SET UP ! MEET+4 ,ONCE ! MEET+ WAS >RANG$ & ! RECONNAISSANCE COMPLETE1 WE W\LD ROLL UP 9 \R LUMB]+ :ITE ,L& ,ROV]1 ! BODYGU>DS W\LD HOP \T1 MA*9E GUNS AT ! READY1 & ,I W\LD EM]GE 9 MY GRAY SUIT1 NOTEBOOK 9 H&1 9T]PRET] AT MY SIDE1 BRI<T-EY$ & READY TO LE>N :AT WAS 0REALLY0 GO+ ON 9 ,AF<ANI/AN4 

,NATURALLY1 ?IS WAS NOT ! BE/ WAY TO DETECT ! COMPLEX & P[]FUL =CES SWEEP+ ?AT C\NTRY4 ,! ,AF<ANS ,I MET W]E GU>D$LY FRI5DLY1 & ) >M$ M5 AT MY SIDE IT WAS NO SURPRISE ?AT !Y G5]ALLY TOLD ME :AT WE WANT$ TO HE>4 ,!Y W]E PLEAS$ ! ,TALIBAN HAD GONE & GRATEFUL = \R HELP 7!Y W]E POLITE 5\< NOT TO PO9T \T ?AT ! ,TALIBS' DEFEAT WAS L>GELY ! ,AM]ICANS' DO+74 ,!Y WANT$ PEACE1 /ABILITY & -- M5TION$ LESS (T5 -- DEMOCRACY4 

,I SP5T A LOT ( MY TIME TALK+ TO ! IMPRESSIVE ,AF<ANS & ,U,N /AFF :O W]E WORK+ TO PREP>E ! ,LOYA ,JIRGA1 ! GA!R+ ( REPRES5TATIVE GR\PS ( ,AF<ANS FROM >\ND ! C\NTRY ?AT WAS TO *OOSE A NEW GOV]NM5T 70DEMOCRACY ,AF<AN /YLE0 AS SOME ( MY COLLEAGUES *OSE TO CALL IT74 ,! ,U,N1 UN5CUMB]$ BY ! /R+5T SECURITY PRECAUTIONS ?AT SO LIMIT$ \R WORK1 WAS MU* BETT] 9=M$ ?AN WE W]E1 & MOREOV] EMPLOY$ SOME ( ! MORE SKILL$ & EXP]I5C$ ,AF<AN 0H&S0 9 ! 9T]NATIONAL COMMUNITY 7SEV]AL W]E FLU5T 9 ,PA%TUN & ,D>I74 ,DESP]ATE TO GET SOME K9D ( ORI5TATION 9 ?IS UNFAMILI> C\NTRY1 ,I S\<T \T ALL ! FACTIONS ,I C\LD ID5TIFY ON ! POLITICAL L&SCAPE & TRI$ TO TALK TO !M ALL4 

,I MADE A FEW TRIPS >\ND ! C\NTRY TO MEET LOCAL LEAD]S4 ,:5 ! ,PRIME ,M9I/]'S ,SPECIAL ,REPRES5TATIVE VISIT$ ,AF<ANI/AN1 ,I ACCOMPANI$ HIM TO CALL ON ! BE>-LIKE ,G5]AL ,DO/UM 9 ,MAZ>I-,%>IF & ! DELPHIC ,ISMAIL ,KHAN 9 ,H]AT4 ,BUT MY EF=TS TO GET \T ( ,KABUL ON MY [N W]E ?W>T$ BY ! FACT ?AT WE C\LD ONLY TRAVEL BY AIR 7! ROADS W]E TOO DANG]\S7 & !N ONLY 9 ,ROYAL ,AIR ,=CE PLANES 7:I* W]E USUALLY EMPLOY$ 9 MORE MILIT>Y DUTIES7 & ONCE AN ESCORT ( ,ROYAL ,M>9ES 7TO GU>D ! AIRCRAFT & US ON ! GR\ND ON >RIVAL7 HAD BE5 >RANG$4 ,?IS ,I MANAG$ ONLY ONCE1 BY GOAD+ A RELUCTANT MEMB] ( ! ,BRITI% MILIT>Y TO ALL[ ME TO PIGGY-BACK ON HIS [N VISIT TO ! BEAUTIFUL & REMOTE T[N ( ,BAMIYAN 7SITE ( ! FAM\SLY DE/ROY$ ,BUDDHAS74 

,HI< 9 ! M\NTA9S1 WE RODE F\R-:EEL DRIVES B\NC+ D[N DIRT TRACKS & /EEP VALLEYS1 !N SAT = H\RS1 CROSS-LEGG$1 AT A FEA/ ( LAMB & RICE DISCUSS+ ! FUTURE ( ,AF<ANI/AN ) ,K>IM ,KHALILI1 ! LEAD] ( ! ,HAZ>A SECT3 

,ME 7?R\< 9T]PRET]73 0,TELL ME1 ,MR ,KHALILI1 :AT DO Y\ ?9K >E ! PROSPECTS = ! ,LOYA ,JIRGA80 

,TO GET HOME1 \R SQUAD UNFURL$ A SMALL P>ABOLIC ANT5NA ON ! RO( ( !IR ,L&CRUIS] & CALL$ D[N \R ,C-#a#c TO ,BAMIYAN'S DIRT AIR/RIP1 :]E IT B>REL$ 91 RO>+ & SPITT+ GRAVEL FROM ITS :EELS4 

,! M\NTA9S W]E V]Y BEAUTIFUL2 ! PEOPLE PICTURESQUE4 ,! LI<T HAD A WOND]FUL1 LIMPID QUALITY4 ,BUT :E!R !SE IMAGES HAD MU*1 OR ANY?+1 TO DO ) ! REAL ,AF<ANI/AN1 REMA9S A MY/]Y TO ME4 ,I SPOKE NO LOCAL LANGUAGES 7!RE WAS ONLY ONE P]SON 9 ! EMBASSY -- ! 9T]PRET] -- :O DID74 ,ALL MY CONV]SATIONS W]E ?US LIMIT$ TO /ILT$1 SOME:AT IMP]SONAL EX*ANGES4 ,! MO/ RESONANT IMAGE ( MY TIME !RE IS LOOK+ \T AT ! PEOPLE ( ,KABUL1 BU/L+ & ALIVE1 ?R\< ! COLD1 ?ICK >MOR$ GLASS ( ! ,C,P ,L& ,ROV]4 

,H[EV]1 ?IS SEP>ATION DID NOT PREV5T ME FROM WRIT+ NICE1 CLE> TELEGRAMS 7DIVID$1 AS ! ,=EIGN ,(FICE PRACTICE DICTAT$1 9TO ,SUMM>Y1 ,DETAIL & ,COMM5T7 9=M+ 0,LONDON0 :AT WAS GO+ ON 9 ,AF<ANI/AN4 ,MY MISSIVES COV]$ SU* DIV]SE TOPICS AS ! PROSPECTS = ! ,LOYA ,JIRGA1 ! FUTURE ( ! ,HAZ>AS1 & ! CELEBRATIONS 9 ,KABUL = ! ,NEW ,YE> 7,NAWRUZ7 FE/IVAL4 ,I TRI$ TO SAY ?AT ,I DIDN'T REALLY KN[ :AT WAS GO+ ON 7,I REPEAT$LY M5TION$ ! RE/RICTIONS ON \R WORK1 L+UI/IC & O!RWISE71 BUT ,I WAS BE+ PAID TO PRODUCE A PRODUCT1 & PRODUCE IT ,I DID4 ,& ,I DID FEEL ?AT !RE WAS ONE MESSAGE ?AT WAS WOR? GETT+ ACROSS4 ,?IS WAS ! ONE ?+ ?AT EV]Y ,AF<AN ,I MET1 ) ! EXCEPTION ( ! SO-CALL$ W>LORDS !MSELVES 7,DO/UM1 ,I%MAIL ,KHAN ET AL471 TOLD ME & ?IS WAS ?AT !Y WANT$ TO BE FREE ( ! W>LORDS4 ,!Y WANT$ 0SECURITY04 

,! ,U,N SAID IT TOO1 ! ,U,S ,AMBASSADOR SAID IT1 AS DID M9E1 SO DID ! MILIT>Y M5 ,I MET FROM \R [N =CES1 & SO DID ALL ! J\RNALI/S4 ,MY [N CONF9EM5T TO ,KABUL & PROTECTION BY ! ,C,P TEAM C>RI$ ! SAME MESSAGE4 ,! C\NTRY WAS NOT SAFE4 ,I,S,A,F PROVID$ A MODICUM ( SECURITY 9 ,KABUL BUT \TSIDE IT !RE WAS CONSID]ABLE AN>*Y1 ONLY MOD]AT$ 9 LIMIT$ >EAS BY ! AUTOCRATIC & OCCASIONALLY TYRANNICAL RULE ( ! REGIONAL BIG M51 SU* AS ,DO/UM & ,ISMAIL ,KHAN4 ,MO/ /RIK+ ( ALL W]E ! MESSAGES C>RI$ TO ! ORGANIZ]S ( ! ,LOYA ,JIRGA BY 9NUM]ABLE DELEGATIONS FROM ! REGIONS3 !Y WANT$ SECURITY2 & !Y WANT$ ,I,S,A,F DEPLOY$ ACROSS ! :OLE C\NTRY TO PROVIDE IT4 ,& AL?\< ?IS ( C\RSE WAS ! ONE ?+ ?AT EV]YONE DEC5T & S5SIBLE !RE SAID V]Y CLE>LY1 IT WAS ! ONE ?+ ?AT 0WE0 -- ! ,U,K & ,U,S GOV]NM5TS -- W]E NOT PREP>$ TO GIVE !M4 

,:AT ! CAMPAIGN TO OV]?R[ ! ,TALIBAN WAS AB\T1 ( C\RSE1 WAS NOT ! ,AF<ANS' SECURITY BUT \R [N1 AS DEF9$ BY US4 ,! REASON :Y ! SMILES ( WELCOME ON ! ,AF<ANS' FACES W]E NOT AS W>M AS !Y MI<T HAVE BE5 WAS ?AT !Y KNEW P]FECTLY WELL ?AT1 BUT = #i_/#a#a1 ,OSAMA B9 ,LAD5 & ALL ! RE/1 !Y W\LD /ILL BE LANGUI%+1 =GOTT51 UND] ! RULE ( ! ,TALIBAN4 ,\R PROTE/ATIONS1 FROM ! ,PRIME ,M9I/] D[NW>D1 ?AT WE W\LD NOT AGA9 =SAKE ,AF<ANI/AN1 W]E MET ) SKEPTICISM4 

,:ILE ,I WAS AT ! EMBASSY1 ,I SL[LY BECAME AW>E ?AT !RE WAS A DIFF]5T N>RATIVE BE+ PLAY$ \T BY ! V>I\S P[]S 9 ,AF<ANI/AN1 ONE ?AT H>DLY FEATUR$ 9 ! TELEGRAMS ,I OR MY ,AMBASSADOR WROTE1 ONE ?AT HAD NO?+ TO DO ) BUILD+ DEMOCRACY1 ! ,LOYA ,JIRGA OR ANY?+ SO NOBLE4 .<#i.> 

,AFT] A :ILE1 ,I REALIZ$ ?AT :ILE ,I WAS RUNN+ >\ND 5C\RAG+ & CAJOL+ POLITICIANS TO 5GAGE 9 ! ,LOYA ,JIRGA PROCESS1 ! PURPOSE ( :I* WAS 9 P>T TO TAKE P[] BACK FROM ! W>LORDS1 O!RS W]E RUNN+ >\ND DOL+ \T BRIBES TO BUY LOYALTY AMONG ?OSE V]Y SAME W>LORDS4 ,!IR PURPOSE1 SO !Y CLAIM$1 WAS TO TRACK D[N ! T]RORI/S1 ,AL-,QA$A & ! REMNANT ,TALIBAN OR 0,A,Q,T0 AS !Y W]E KN[N4 ,AL?\< IT TOOK ME A :ILE TO COTTON ON1 ?IS WAS & HAD BE5 = SOME TIME AN OP5 SECRET AMONG ! 9T]NATIONAL COMMUNITY 9 ,KABUL 79 FACT1 ,I ?9K IT WAS SOMEONE FROM ! ,U,N :O FIR/ TOLD ME AB\T IT74 ,9DE$1 IT WAS SOME?+ ( A JOKE AMONG ! MORE CYNICAL OBS]V]S ?AT ! ,AF<ANS1 )9 ! GOV]NM5T AS WELL AS ! REGIONAL W>-LORDS1 W]E 5C\RAG+ A BIDD+ W> BETWE5 ! =EIGN P[]S 9VOLV$ 9 ,AF<ANI/AN -- ! ,U,S1 ,U,K1 ,RUSSIA1 ,PAKI/AN & ,IRAN1 TO />T ) -- TO EXTRACT ! MO/ CA%4 ,IT WAS WIDELY BELIEV$ ?AT SOME 9 ! GOV]NM5T W]E TAK+ MONEY FROM ALL ( !M 7& :O C\LD BLAME !M874 

,IT IS NOT H>D TO SEE ! CONTRADICTIONS4 ,9 ! EMBASSY1 \R V]SION ( REALITY W5T LIKE ?IS3 WE FAVOR$ A PROCESS 7! ,LOYA ,JIRGA7 LEAD+ TO A DEMOCRACY BAS$ >\ND A C5TRALIZ$ SY/EM ( GOV]NM5T1 ) ! C5T] SUPREME OV] ! REGIONS & PEOPLE LIKE ?AT NICE ,MR ,K>ZAI 7:O HAPP5S =TUNATELY TO SPEAK A LANGUAGE WE CAN UND]/&7 9 *>GE ( ! :OLE ?+4 ,\R ACTIVITIES & \R REPORTS W]E ?US DIRECT$ T[>DS ?IS 5D4 ,! ,U,N TOO1 :I* HELP$ RUN ! 9T]IM ADM9I/RATION & ! ,LOYA ,JIRGA PROCESS1 WAS WORK+ T[>DS ?IS AIM4.<#a.> 

,BUT MEAN:ILE A DIFF]5T /RATEGY WAS BE+ PLAY$ \T1 (T5 5TIRELY UNKN[N TO US4 ,9 !ORY IT WAS A COMPLEM5T>Y /RATEGY1 BUT :AT HAS HAPP5$ S9CE SUGGE/S O!RWISE4 ,?IS WAS TO BUY (F ! SUPPORT ( ! REGIONAL P[]BROK]S 9 ORD] TO W9 !IR COOP]ATION 9 ! W> AGA9/ ! 0,A,Q,T04 ,A FUR!R GOAL WAS ADD$1 :I* RE9=C$ ! CONTRADICTIONS4 ,%ORTLY AFT] ! ,TALIBAN FELL1 SOMEONE 9 ! ,BRITI% GOV]NM5T REMEMB]$ ?AT ,AF<ANI/AN WAS ! S\RCE ( MU* ( ! H]O9 ?AT 5D$ UP 9 ,BRITA94 ,SO ! PLAN WAS HAT*$ TO REMOVE ?IS SUPPLY AT A /ROKE BY PAY+ ! F>M]S 9 ! POPPY-GR[+ >EAS 7O!RWISE KN[N AS MO/ ( ,AF<ANI/AN7 TO PL[ 9 ?AT YE>'S CROPS4 

,?IS OCCUPI$ MANY ( ! /AFF ( ! EMBASSY1 & SEV]AL (FIC]S W]E DRAFT$ 9 ESPECIALLY = ! TASK4 ,VA/ AM\NTS ( CA% W]E DI%$ \T TO ! V>I\S REGIONAL LEAD]S TO PAY (F 0!IR0 F>M]S TO DE/ROY !IR CROPS4 

,! RESULT ( !SE /RATEGIES SOON BECAME CLE>4 ,9 #b#b1 ACCORD+ TO ! ,U,N ,DRUG ,CONTROL ,PROGRAM1 ! H]O9 CROP 9 ,AF<ANI/AN WAS T5 TIMES BIGG] ?AN IT HAD BE5 9 #b#a1 :5 ! C\NTRY WAS = MO/ ( ! TIME UND] ,TALIBAN CONTROL 7! ,TALIBAN W]E1 ) SOME EXCEPTIONS1 L>GELY HO/ILE TO DRUG PRODUCTION 9 >EAS UND] !IR CONTROL74 ,MEAN:ILE1 ! PROCESS ( POLITICAL /ABILIZATION HAS FALT]$1 IT SEEMS BECAUSE ( TWO MA9 FACTORS3 ! P]SI/5T 9SECURITY & 9/ABILITY \TSIDE ,KABUL & ! CONT9U+ 9TRANSIG5CE ( ! REGIONAL W>LORDS 9 C$+ REAL CONTROL TO ! C5TRAL ADM9I/RATION4 ,9DE$1 BY #bf SOME ANALY/S W]E >GU+ ?AT ! W>LORDS1 & ! DRUG RUNN]S1 W]E N[ RUNN+ ! C5TRAL GOV]NM5T3 A N>CO-/ATE WAS 9 ! PROCESS ( CREATION4 

,H[ ! W> AGA9/ T]RORISM -- 0,A,Q,T0 -- IS GO+ ,I DO NOT KN[1 BUT OV] ! F\R YE>S S9CE ! ALLI$ 9VASION !RE HAVE CONT9U$ TO BE BLOODY SKIRMI%ES 9 ! S\? & >EAS BORD]+ ,PAKI/AN1 :]E ! REMNANT ,TALIBAN 7IF ?AT IS :O !Y REALLY >E7 >E /RONGE/4 ,! SIGNS1 EV5 9 E>LY #b#b1 SOON AFT] ! ,TALIBAN HAD SO PRECIPITATELY COLLAPS$1 W]E 9AUSPICI\S4 ,TWICE ,I VISIT$ ,BAGRAM AIRBASE1 :]E MU* ( ! ,BRITI% MILIT>Y W]E !N /ATION$4 ,A S5IOR ,BRITI% (FIC] !RE VOIC$ HIS FE> ?AT ! /RATEGY ?AT ! ALLIES 7HIS POLITE WAY ( 9DICAT+ ! ,AM]ICANS7 W]E ADOPT+ W\LD P]PETUATE ! V]Y PROBLEM IT WAS DESIGN$ TO SOLVE4 ,HE GAVE AN EXAMPLE4 

,A]IAL RECONNAISSANCE HAD PHOTOGRAPH$ AN 5CAMPM5T CLOSE TO ! ,PAKI/AN BORD] :I* BORE SUSPICI\S SIGNS ?AT IT MI<T BE AN ,A,Q,T BASE4 ,!RE APPE>$ TO BE CIRCUL> PITS1 P]HAPS = MORT>S OR SMALL >TILL]Y1 CAM\FLAG$ TRUCKS & TR5*ES4 ,A ,BRITI% PATROL WAS S5T TO 9VE/IGATE4 ,FIR/1 IT OBS]V$ ! CAMP FROM ! HILLTOPS ABOVE1 BUT C\LD NOT TELL :AT WAS GO+ ON4 ,SO !Y BOLDLY DECID$ TO DESC5D TO F9D \T MORE4 ,ON 5T]+ ! VILLAGE1 :I* IT TURN$ \T TO BE1 !Y REALIZ$ ?AT ! SETTLEM5T WAS NOT ,A,Q,T BUT A CAMP ( NOMADS1 ! ,KU*I1 AS !Y >E KN[N 9 ,AF<ANI/AN4 ,! 0GUN PITS0 W]E CIRCLES MADE 9 ! GRASS BY GOATS TI$ TO /AKES4 ,! 0TR5*ES0 W]E DRA9AGE DIT*ES & ! 0CAM\FLAG$ TRUCKS0 W]E RAGG$ OLD T5TS4 ,! PATROL WAS GREET$ ) A FRI5DLY WELCOME1 & !Y W5T ON !IR WAY AFT] >RANG+ = AN AIRDROP ( 0,H,R0 7HUMANIT>IAN RELIEF74 

,HAD 0\R ALLIES0 FIR/ RECEIV$ ! 9=MATION ( ?IS 5CAMPM5T1 >GU$ ! (FIC]1 !Y W\LD HAVE BOMB$ IT FLAT4 ,AS HE SPOKE1 ,A-#a ,W>?OG GR\ND ATTACK AIRCRAFT TAXI$ ALONG ! RUNWAY BEH9D HIM & BLA/$ 9TO ! AIR = ANO!R MISSION4 7,! 9CID5TS ( ACCID5TAL BOMB+S ( CIVILIANS 9 ,AF<ANI/AN HAVE BE5 FREQU5T S9CE !N4 ,= EXAMPLE1 9 ,MAY #bf OV] A DOZ5 CIVILIANS W]E REPORT$LY KILL$ :5 !IR VILLAGE WAS /RUCK BY ALLI$ BOMBS47 ,! (FIC] >GU$ ?AT ! 0ALLI$0 GOAL WAS TO KILL AS MANY ,A,Q,T AS POSSIBLE1 NOT TO W9 OV] ! LOCAL POPULATION4 ,AT ! SAME TIME1 !RE W]E PL5TY ( PEOPLE1 HE >GU$1 NOT ONLY 9 ,AF<ANI/AN BUT ALSO FROM ! SURR\ND+ C\NTRIES1 :O W]E DELI<T$ TO COME TO FI<T ! ,AM]ICANS4 ,?US A CYCLE W\LD BE E/ABLI%$ & P]PETUAT$4 

,9 ,JUNE #b#f1 OV] #b#b1 ,U,S & ,BRITI% COMBAT TROOPS REMA9 DEPLOY$ 9 ,AF<ANI/AN TO FI<T ! 0,A,Q,T04 

----------------- 

,! ?ICK SCRE5 ( 0>MOR PLAT+0 & BODYGU>DS ?AT SEP>AT$ US FROM ! REALITY ( ,AF<ANI/AN WAS UNUSUAL1 BUT 9 ITS WAY SYMPTOMATIC ( ! SEP>ATION ( ! EMBASSY FROM ITS SURR\ND+S4 ,IT SUCCESSFULLY ALL[$ US TO PROJECT \R [N N>RATIVE ON TO :AT WAS 0REALLY0 GO+ ON1 EV5 IF ! CONSI/5T MESSAGE FROM ! ,AF<ANS :O BROKE ?R\< \R SCRE5 WAS A CLE> ONE4 

,:AT ,I EXP]I5C$ 9 ,KABUL & ,BONN HAS E*OES ( O!R EPISODES ( DIPLOMATIC HI/ORY4 ,! !N ,BRITI% AMBASSADOR C&IDLY ADMITT$ ! FAILURE ( HIS EMBASSY 9 ,TEHRAN TO DETECT ! RUMBL+S ( FRU/RATION & REVOLT :I* L$ TO ! OV]?R[ ( ! ,%AH 9 #a#i#g#i4 ,WE W]E DI/RACT$1 HE CONFESS$4 ,:AT ! WORK ( HIS EMBASSY HAD BE5 0AB\T0 WAS MAXIMIZ+ SALES TO ! FRI5DLY & PRO-WE/]N ,%AH1 :E!R ( TANKS OR *EMICAL PLANTS4 

,EV5 9 C\NTRIES V]Y SIMIL> TO \R [N1 LIKE ,G]MANY1 !RE IS AN 9EVITABLE T5D5CY = ! DIPLOMAT TO GRAVITATE T[>DS ?OSE LIKE US2 ?OSE :O SPEAK \R LANGUAGE1 OR %>E \R VALUES4 ,= !Y >E 9EVITABLY EASI] TO F9D -- 9DE$ !Y MAY SEEK US \T4 ,!Y MAY BECOME \R FRI5DS 7AS ! ,%AH & MANY ( HIS M9I/]S BECAME ( ! ,BRITI% AMBASSADOR71 & COME TO COMPRISE \R UND]/&+ & MEMORY ( :AT ,G]MANY1 OR ,IRAN1 OR ,AF<ANI/AN IS4 

7,9 ,AF<ANI/AN1 ! DIPLOMATS1 ,U,N /AFF]S1 ,N,G,OS & J\RNALI/S =M$ A L>GE GR\P ( EXPATRIATES :O SOCIALIZ$ & GOSSIP$ TOGE!R4 ,IT WAS TOO UNSAFE &1 FRANKLY1 ALI5 TO SOCIALIZE ) ! ,AF<ANS4 ,! J\RNALI/S LOOK$ TO ! DIPLOMATS = 9=MATION1 & WE DID ! SAME TO !M4 ,?US A CIRCLE WAS =M$1 :]E WE W]E ABLE TO CONFIRM \R *OS5 N>RATIVES ( :AT WAS 0REALLY0 GO+ ON4 ,!RE W]E SOME GREAT J\RNALI/S & 9T]NATIONAL WORK]S :O REJECT$ ! TEMPTATIONS ( ?IS CIRCLE ( AFFIRMATION1 & S\<T \T ! FACTS ON !IR [N1 BUT !Y1 REGRETTABLY1 SEEM$ TO BE ! EXCEPTION47 

,! GOOD DIPLOMAT WILL RESI/ ?IS T5D5CY1 BUT IT IS DIFFICULT1 EV5 = ! MO/ DILIG5T4 ,AS ! SCRE5 ( SECURITY >\ND ,U,S1 ,BRITI% & O!R WE/]N EMBASSIES GR[S EV] ?ICK]1 IT WILL BECOME EV5 H>D] = ! DIPLOMAT TO LOCATE & MEET 0REAL PEOPLE03 MY DREAM ( SITT+ 9 TEA-H\SES 9 ,KABUL ) 0ORD9>Y0 ,AF<ANS REMA9$ A FANTASY4 ,IT WAS EASI] = ME TO MEET !M 9 ,NEW ,YORK4 

,BUT ?IS RE/RICTION WILL NOT PREV5T ! EMBASSY FROM PRODUC+ DETAIL$ REPORTS ON :AT IS GO+ ON 9 ITS HO/ C\NTRY1 JU/ AS ,I DUTIFULLY REPORT$ FROM 9SIDE ! F5CE 9 ! EMBASSY 9 ,KABUL4 ,! LOCAL GOV]NM5T WILL /ILL SPEAK TO US FROM 9SIDE ITS F5CE & ?US ! UTILITY ( EMBASSIES1 GOV]NM5T SPEAK+ TO GOV]NM5T1 IS 9 ?IS N>R[ S5SE PRES]V$4 

,AMBASSADORS & DIPLOMATS MOREOV] T5D TO EMPHASIZE !IR 9TIMATE RELATIONS ) ! LOCAL AU?ORITIES1 AS A M>K ( H[ WELL !Y >E DO+ !IR JOB4 ,:5 ,I WAS A DIPLOMAT1 AMBASSADORS TOOK GREAT C>E TO RELAY TO ,LONDON DETAIL$ ACC\NTS ( EV]Y MUTT] & H9T ( !IR LATE-NI<T CONV]SATION OR R\ND ( GOLF ) ! ,PRESID5T OR ,PRIME ,M9I/]4 ,USUALLY1 !SE ACC\NTS W\LD BE GIV5 A HI< CLASSIFICATION & RE/RICT$ CIRCULATION1 9 ORD] TO UND]L9E ! UNUSUAL ACCESS ! DIPLOMAT HAS SECUR$ 7EV5 IF ! 9=MATION CONTA9$ IS BANAL74 ,!Y >E (T5 SPIC$ ) LITTLE P]SONAL DETAILS 7! ,PRESID5T'S FAVORITE :ISKEY2 HIS FONDNESS = ! ,BRITI% ROYAL FAMILY ETC47 9 ORD] TO DEMON/RATE ! 9TIMACY & UNIQU5ESS ( ! EX*ANGE4 ,! PRODUCT ( SU* BEHAVIOR IS TO RE9=CE ! S5SE ?AT DIPLOMACY (F]S A R>EFI$ & UNIQUE LEVEL ( COMMUNICATION1 :]E ONE ELITE TALKS TO ANO!R1 ELEVAT$ FROM ! CACOPHON\S HORDES B5EA?4 

,?IS REMA9S ONE S]VICE ?AT EMBASSIES CAN P]=M = !IR GOV]NM5TS4 

,FROM 3 ,!,AN>*I/,LIBR>Y4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
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