US State Department cables from places I have served plus items from my time as a UN peacekeeper. To increase public awareness of how diplomacy and peacekeeping are (were) actually done. All cables cleared by USG FOIA procedure. Cables are mostly those sent under my name from my posts but also others in which I was directly involved. UN documents and other items will also include occasional notes and background. Most recent in series on top with cables under the new series of UN documents.
Friday, March 6, 2015
03 Khartoum 1091
Note: Cardinal Wako was the target of a failed assassination attempt in Khartoum on October 14, 2010.
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
Jounral Entry for December 12, 2003
Just got back from the Kenyan National Day reception. Picked up
some useful info, a lot of rumor and saw from only a few feet the
infamous Hasan Al Turabi. Chatted with my colleagues from Kenya, Uganda
and Ethiopia and also Egyptian intelligence. At the end, I
complemented the Kenyan Ambassador for not doing a speech. He looked
crestfallen as he told me he had prepared a speech, a long one, but
had been been prevailed upon not to deliver it since no one would
listen. I suggested he email it to me and he assured me that he
already had. I love these Africans, the real ones I mean.
The
young kittens appear to be growing increasingly comfortable with
their possession of my front yard and patio. Moma guards them
carefully and they are so cute that during Happy Hour here, several
people gave serious thought to stealing one or the other. But they
seem to have already decided that I am of little account and need not
pay me much heed.
Got
warm enough here this week to return to AC. But not bad. Started
work on my Xmas puzzle. It'll be here when I return.*
*Note: I would be leaving later in the month for home leave.
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Friday, February 13, 2015
Journal Entry for December 10, 2003
Just back from a British reception. (Last night it was German.)
Spent a good deal of it talking about Darfur with colleagues. We are
all growing concerned about the conflict there. The government is
using the same tactics of bombing civilians and arming militias that
they used in the south. We westerners have been holding back from
confronting the government because of the peace process with the SPLM
but the west is getting bad and escalating. UN estimates 600,000
displaced and another 400,000 affected by the war, such as not having
food because they could not plant or harvest this year. We have been
reporting this but have not been alarmist. We're thinking that maybe
we now need to sound some alarms or risk having stood by during
genocide.
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Back to Sudan: 03 Khartoum 1049 plus journal entry
From my December
8 journal entry:
Well, on top of the historic visit of the (Christian/animist) SPLM
to Khartoum now unfolding, Franklin Graham (son of Billy) is here to
give out Xmas gifts. The Christians have landed. Just came back
from dinner in his honor given by the (Islamic) government. Rev.
Graham gave a very nice speech at dinner showing faith, cultural
sensitivity and understanding. Very sincere man. I told him that I
saw his father preach in Madison Square Garden many years ago. He
said his father will give his last "talk" there next year.
(Must mean he is retiring, not ascending.) Tomorrow morn, I go with
him to the airport to see the big Russian plane deliver the presents.
So far no one has asked me to actually pray.
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
Cuban Interlude Three: Some Photos
These are photos from my 1983 trip to Cuba discussed in my previous posting. They include views of Havana (including street scenes), the Moncada (check out the bullet holes), and the interior.
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