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.
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
Friday, May 29, 2015
Journal Entry for February 23, 2004: A French reception
It don't take much to satisfy one's deepest longings in Khartoum.
One is alcohol and the other is, how shall we say, company. Well,
turns out that the French can be depended upon for one (and, for the
record, who really needs the other). Went to the French Ambassador's
residence this evening and scored big time. Only the second place in
all of Sudan that has gin PLUS white vermouth at the same location at
the same time. And to boot, olives! Taught the southern Sudanese
bartenders how to mix a dry martini -- okay, it took two tries but
both were worth it -- and then went over to the table with olives --
black will do -- and plunked two in. Had a GREAT time. At the end
of the evening, told the ambassador that he could invite me any time
he had the mixings of a martini. He said, like James Bond? I said,
yes, just like James Bond.
On
the way home, spoke to the Nile expedition dude. He said he'd be
happy to have me accompany them when they leave Khartoum later this
week. Two days on the Nile till we reach Merowe. We'll get to pass
over the Sixth Cataract too. Thanks to the martinis, and therefore
the French, I agreed.
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
04 Khartoum 0175 - Meeting with Darfur Tribe Leaders (plus journal entry)
Journal Entry for Feb 20:
Didn't write last night cause I was too tired. High point of day was
speaking with five senior Darfurians representing the rebels and
non-Arab tribes. Making policy as I go fully aware of the many
crosscutting forces working right now. Cautioned them to focus on
immediate agenda take up EU offer to meet. Of course, as of now the
GOS my be pulling plug on that.
Labels:
cable,
conflict,
Darfur,
diplomacy,
Fur,
human rights,
jinjaweed,
Maseleit,
rebels,
Sudan,
tribal,
Zaghawa
Friday, May 15, 2015
Journal Entry for February 18, 2004: Deep Inside Normal Khartoum "Diplomacy:
Ended the day at the British ambassador's residence, meeting
with him, the Dutch Charge and the UN Special Representative (a
Norwegian). I was sipping some fine scotch as we compared notes and
talked about serious Sudan stuff. It was approaching six and, as
usual, we had all probably had almost nothing to eat since breakfast.
Often don't have time to eat. We therefore made quick work of the
cashews and chips that had been provided with the drinks. The
Ambassador's wife offered her husband to refill the bowls. He,
understanding we'd make a meal of any choice snack foods he set out
in front of us, sensibly, if quietly, declined his wife's offer. We
kept drinking and talking but eventually I gave in and thought I'd
try one of the wrapped things in the bowl in the center of the small
table in front of us. Unwrapped it and since it looked soft, popped
it into my mouth. I immediately realized that it was not soft but,
in fact, hard as steel. It may never have been soft but clearly had
also been in that bowl for some time. Because it is what diplomats
do, I soldiered on as best I could. It was too big to discreetly get
rid of anywhere. I thought of letting it slip into my drink but
realized that could not pass unnoticed. I had no napkin. So I
downed some more scotch in the hope of dissolving it and eventually
ground it down to swallowing size. Needless to say, I did not
contribute much to the conversation during this period.
The
Ambassador noted my situation. An attentive host, he made a mental
note to get rid of the wrapped stuff at first opportunity. However,
the UN Special Representative did not notice. After my ordeal was
finally over and I could speak again, he reached for a wrapped thing.
The Ambassador, torn by a sense of responsibility and also
embarrassment, mumbled a warning about it being "hard candy"
but took no further action. The Norwegian popped it into his mouth
just as his phone rang. He got up and wandered into the hall to
talk. A few moments latter, I got up to leave. Said goodbyes and
went into the hall where I stuck out my hand to the Norwegian. By
the rules of diplomacy, he had no choice. He had to shake my hand
too. One of his hands was holding his phone so he stuck out the
other. In the middle of his palm was his discarded hard candy thing.
It was there in the middle as our hands clasped. Fortunately, he
was re-wrapped by this time. It's these moments that make this all
bearable.
Friday, May 8, 2015
Saturday, May 2, 2015
04 Khartoum 0162 -- EU Pressing on Darfur, Meeting Rebels
Labels:
cable,
conflict,
Darfur,
diplomacy,
Dutch,
El Fasher,
El Geneina,
EU,
human rights,
hunger,
jinjaweed,
Kutum,
rebels,
Sudan,
UK,
US
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
04 Khartoum 0161 -- Washington delegation travels to Darfur (plus note from journal)
Journal entry for January 15: I
can hardly remember how I started the day, some meeting at the UN, I
believe. I had two there today and then ended up at the UN rep's for
dinner. (He is being canned, in part because USAID doesn't like
him.) In between, I had Ken Bacon to my house for a meeting with him
and his staff. He was press spokesman for the Pentagon under
Clinton.... We had a good chat; he is CEO of some refugee-related NGO, maybe a
Demo front organization. I sought to put out a balanced, nuanced
picture of reality here. He seemed to buy it.
Mikie
(Mckinley) and Mike (Ranneberger) come back tomorrow for one more day of trying to
micro-manage my embassy and me. I sent a few cables this weekend
that may take some of the wind from USAID's sails as they try to
parley seeing burning villages into a declaration of war against the
thugs we happen to be working with now. But tomorrow I plan to sleep
in and find some time to open my present.
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
Journal Entries for February 13 & 14, 2004:
February 13: The house is empty again and I'm fading already. It was an exciting few days. Between USAID and State fighting it out and at the same time trying to end two wars, there were moments of interest. Was fun watching McKinley operating. He can't stand to see a moment go by without launching a bureaucratic or policy-oriented action of some sort. Compared to him, I am a watcher and I draw lines that he fudges with ease. Though to be fair to myself, I have been doing pretty well here with the little info that filters to me from DC. Armed with the information gleaned from my visitors and their "elephant love-making," I believe we can stay a bit ahead of the home office. The next two months will tell if the peace process will work out or not. After that, US domestic politics, the elections and the coming of a new Assistant Secretary from USAID will pull the rug out from under a balanced approach to Sudan. I alerted my CT guys here to beef up cooperation so we can create some countervailing facts on the ground.
I plan to sleep in tomorrow and then do nothing. Even closed the Embassy comms so no one has an excuse to work.
February 14: Meant to do nothing but spent most of the day working on getting government people to understand that my visitors in Darfur did not get arrested and to let them know they will have big political problems with the US if they don't move quickly to stop the violence. Finally did get to relax with dinner of stuffed peppers from the food stash left by James. Then went out onto my patio for a martini, which I am hoping will depress my system somewhat. Running on adrenalin and 5 hours sleep, I need to come down a bit.
I plan to sleep in tomorrow and then do nothing. Even closed the Embassy comms so no one has an excuse to work.
February 14: Meant to do nothing but spent most of the day working on getting government people to understand that my visitors in Darfur did not get arrested and to let them know they will have big political problems with the US if they don't move quickly to stop the violence. Finally did get to relax with dinner of stuffed peppers from the food stash left by James. Then went out onto my patio for a martini, which I am hoping will depress my system somewhat. Running on adrenalin and 5 hours sleep, I need to come down a bit.
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Saturday, April 11, 2015
Journal Entry for January 31: Visit to Sufi Mosque
Last evening I
went to a Sufi mosque in Omdurman to watch part of their worship
service. The Sheikh of the Summaniyya sect invited me when I first
met him last year. The Sufis are a major tradition in Islam going
back several hundred years. There are many Sufi “schools”, or
sects, each founded by a particular sheikh (teacher). Sufi sects are
various disciplines of worship usually seeking some sort of mystical
(or inner) union with God (Allah). Some achieve this through music
and dance. The “whirling dervishes” come from those Sufi sects
that find mystical transport through dance. Sufism is popular in
Sudan and fits the mostly gentle and tolerant approach of the
Sudanese people. Sufism is pretty much the exact opposite of
Islamist extremism.
The
three largest sects in Sudan – the Mahdiyya,
Khatmiyya and Summaniyya – are Sufi. Sheikh
Hassan Qaribullah invited me to attend part of the prayer ceremony
that actually started in the early afternoon and went on until late
night. I arrived at 5:30 as they started the chanting phase and left
– after a cup of tea with the Sheikh’s son – as they went into
quiet prayer and discussion.
The
ceremony took place outside of the Mosque on a street closed for the
event on every Friday. The ground was spread with carpets and I took
my shoes off to enter. Carpets were hung also on the fences and
walls. Younger men were on one side and the sect’s elders on the
other. They were chanting and bowing when I got there. Summaniyya
is popular in Islamic Africa and I can see why. The chanting and
movement was very African. The men did not dance in the sense of
moving around but they did in place every dance step I’d ever seen
in Africa or from Africa. There was even a brief moment I thought I
was watching a long line of The Four Tops. The rhythm was African and
there was even a touch of blues and jazz. The Sheikh or one of the
elders led the chants – invocations of Allah – using microphones
to be sure to encourage others in the neighborhood to join them. One
of the younger men also had a mike to emphasize the various
vocalizations they made along with their movements. There was no
music per se but it was quite hypnotic and though I sat there for
almost two hours, I didn’t want it to end. But at sunset, an elder
called evening prayer and – after the Sheikh formally thanked me
for attending -- I was invited inside for tea. Everyone was very
nice and quite pleased the American Charge attended their prayers.
They were also anxious to tell me that they are not political and
like America. They don’t understand why America doesn’t like
Sudan. I assured them that while we had problems with the
fundamentalist government of the 90’s, we want better relations
now. It was a very pleasant and moving evening.
Ascending....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)