March 2013

A World of News and Perspective

■ INSIDE: LUXURY LIVING SPECIAL SECTION

LIVING L U X U R Y

■ VOLUME 20, NUMBER 3

■ A Special Section of The Washington Diplomat

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■ WWW.WASHDIPLOMAT.COM

UNITED STATES

■ MARCH 2013 Model of CityCenterDC

APT to

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Americans Love Their Hate-Hate Relationship to Taxes

■ March 2013

March 2013

Luxury Flats Make D.C. Comeback

by Karin Zeitvogel

Not that long ago, the U Street neighborhood was a whorl of dilapidated shops, the odd famous fast-food place, and lots of low-rise, low-rent apartment blocks.

Today, towering glass edifices rise from city blocks that used to be occupied by strip malls — towering, at least by the standards of D.C., where buildings are subject to height restrictions (see “Tall Ambitions: Officials Eye Curtailing D.C.’s Height Restrictions” in the September 2012 issue). Doormen sit behind desks inside buildings where residents work out on treadmills, sip complimentary coffee, or play video games on the X-Box in the communal lounge.

LUXURY LIVING

Continued on next page

The Washington Diplomat

Page 25

Filling out a U.S. tax return is a rite of passage mired in a level of convolution that’s probably unparalleled anywhere else in the world. But then again, even though Americans think they pay the most taxes in the world, they actually fall in the middle range — and they might be surprised to see who pays more. PAGE 8

UNITED STATES

Big-Time Donors Nab Top-Notch Diplomatic Postings How much does it cost to land a cushy diplomatic posting over­ seas, like the U.S. ambassadorship to London? A new academic paper tries to quantify the con­ nection between political contri­ butions and ambassadorial picks.

Their conclusion: The top spots don’t come cheaply. PAGE 10

culture

Italian Dolce Vita Livens Up U.S. Cities “The Year of Italian Culture” will bring more than 180 events to over 40 U.S. cities to celebrate an enduring friendship. PAGE 34

AfRICA

Kenya Chooses

But will it choose its next president peacefully, or will the linchpin East African nation descend into violence like it did five years ago? Kenya’s ambassador insists his countrymen are doing everything they can to prevent another bout of ethnic bloodletting. PAGE 13

PEOPLE OF WORLD INFLUENCE

DIPLOMATIC SPOUSES

Is North Africa World’s Newest Terrorist Hotbed?

Egyptian Wife Writing Her Own Destiny

Vicki Huddleston, America’s former envoy to Mali, warns that the recent upheaval in Mali is just a harbinger of things to come in North Africa. PAGE 6

She’s a dentist, mother and the wife of Egypt’s new am­ bassador who also finds time for her passion: writing and running her website. PAGE 36

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The Washington Diplomat

March 2013

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The Washington Diplomat

March 2013

CONTENTS THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT

March 2013

25

16 Dulles International Airport

[ news ] 6

8

CityCenterDC

Washington National Opera

21

38

22

ECONOmICS

13

dIPLOmaCY

For more than a century, U.S. presidents have used cushy diplomatic appointments to reward donors, political operatives and other allies — a proud yet dubious tradition continued by President Obama.

[ luxury living ]

16

CONdOS aNd aParTmENTS The Washington area is among the wealthiest, wellemployed and fastest-growing regions in the country, and all those hard-working, well-heeled newcomers need roofs over their heads — preferably nice ones.

34

35

COvEr: Photo taken at the Kenyan Residence by Lawrence Ruggeri.

36

dIPLOmaTIC SPOuSES As she and her husband represent a nation in the midst of a historic and uncertain transition, Egypt’s Amani Amin also remains devoted to her popular website, Arab World Books.

ThEaTEr In his last work “Hughie,” Eugene O’Neill allowed a smidgen of humor to seep through his melancholy-colored glasses to create a portrait study of a man both despicable and pitiable.

40

arT Reagan National Airport is home to busy travelers, security screenings and … a beautiful selection of Latin art.

42

dINING With the opening of Ambar, Ivan Iricanin has finally realized his dream to give Washington diners a chance to sample the cuisine of his native Serbia.

44

FILm rEvIEWS Israeli director Dror Moreh’s remarkable documentary “The Gatekeepers” brings out into the open what had previously remained largely hidden in the shadows.

45

FILm FESTIvaLS As the debate over climate change heats up again at the start of President Obama’s second term, an eye-opening environmental institution returns just in time to the nation’s capital.

EvENTS As part of its “Year of Italian Culture,” Italian Ambassador Claudio Bisogniero is opening his doors and lending his name to some of the city’s biggest social events.

ThE rOTuNda

In John Kerry’s confirmation hearing, the public got the reasoned debate it deserved — in the Chuck Hagel hearing, it got what it’s come to expect in lieu.

FESTIvaLS

[ culture ]

Rome has declared 2013 to be “The Year of Italian Culture,” staging more than 180 events in over 40 major U.S. cities in an effort to highlight a legacy of achievement that has endured and evolved over time.

aIrLINES Dulles International Airport, which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, expects to serve a record 24 million passengers in 2013 — driven in part by a business boom in the oil-rich Persian Gulf.

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25

COvEr PrOFILE: KENYa It’s been five years since Kenya was gripped by electionrelated violence that plunged East Africa’s most stable democracy into a nightmare of ethnic barbarism — a nightmare Kenya’s ambassador says his country is determined not to repeat.

39

mEdICaL

OPEra It’s almost spring and soon the birds will be singing — and so will the acclaimed sopranos, mezzo-sopranos, contraltos, tenors and basses of the Washington National Opera.

Sports and fitness practices from other countries expose people to other cultures through movement, music and cherished tradition.

Americans have a hate/hate relationship with taxes, but how much do they really pay compared to the rest of the world?

10

INSIdE ThE ChambEr The US-Taiwan Business Council gingerly navigates an “unofficial” relationship in which economic ties have flourished in a zone of political ambiguity.

PEOPLE OF WOrLd INFLuENCE If Mali becomes the world’s next major breeding ground for terrorists, U.S. officials can’t say former Ambassador Vicki Huddleston didn’t warn them.

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CINEma LISTING EvENTS LISTING dIPLOmaTIC SPOTLIGhT WOrLd hOLIdaYS / aPPOINTmENTS CLaSSIFIEdS rEaL ESTaTE CLaSSIFIEdS

P.O. Box 1345 • Silver Spring, MD 20915-1345 • Phone: (301) 933-3552 • Fax: (301) 949-0065 • E-mail: news@washdiplomat.com • Web: www.washdiplomat.com Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Victor Shiblie director of Operations Fuad Shiblie managing Editor Anna Gawel News Editor Larry Luxner Contributing Writers Michael Coleman, Audrey Hoffer, Rachel G. Hunt, Stephanie Kanowitz, Luke Jerod Kummer, Sean Lyngaas, Ky N. Nguyen, Gail Scott, Dave Seminara, Gina Shaw, Gary Tischler, Lisa Troshinsky, Karin Zeitvogel Photographers Jessica Latos, Lawrence Ruggeri account managers Chris Smith, Patrick Thomas Graphic designer Cari Bambach The Washington Diplomat is published monthly by The Washington Diplomat, Inc. The newspaper is distributed free of charge at several locations throughout the Washington, D.C. area. We do offer subscriptions for home delivery. Subscription rates are $25 for 12 issues and $45 for 24 issues. Call Fuad Shiblie for past issues. If your organization employs many people from the international community you may qualify for free bulk delivery. To see if you qualify you must contact Fuad Shiblie.

The Washington Diplomat assumes no responsibility for the safe keeping or return of unsolicited manuscripts, photographs, artwork or other material. The information contained in this publication is in no way to be construed as a recommendation by the Publisher of any kind or nature whatsoever, nor as a recommendation of any industry standard, nor as an endorsement of any product or service, nor as an opinion or certification regarding the accuracy of any such information.

March 2013

The Washington Diplomat Page 5

PEOPLE OF WORLD INFLUENCE

Vicki Huddleston

Former U.S. Ambassador to Mali Warns of North African Dangers

by Michael Coleman

I

f Mali becomes the world’s next major breeding ground for terrorists, U.S. government officials can’t say former Ambassador Vicki Huddleston didn’t warn them. Huddleston was America’s top envoy to Mali from 2002 to 2005 and also served as deputy assistant secretary for African affairs at the Departments of State and Defense before she retired to Santa Fe, N.M., in 2011.

But she’s still got plenty to say about Mali, North Africa, terrorism in the region and what the United States can do about it.

Huddleston recently penned a New York Times op-ed titled “Why We Must Help Save Mali” and sat for an interview with National Public Radio.

The gregarious and expansive former high-level government official also participated in a lengthy interview with The Washington Diplomat. At the outset of our interview, Huddleston said the choice for the United States and its European allies with respect to Mali is clear.

“Can we have a country in the heart of Africa controlled by terrorists who are engaged in crime, terror and religious extremism?” she asked.“How much are we willing to accept? Do we intervene or just say,‘Go ahead and take whatever you want because we don’t want to fight you.’”

Clearly, Huddleston doesn’t think that’s a constructive option. But how exactly did Mali, for years considered a stable democracy, devolve into a bastion of “crime, terror and religious extremism?”

The trouble began almost precisely a year ago when military troops overthrew the country’s democratically elected president, complaining that the government was not supporting them in their fight against a rebellion by nomadic Tuareg rebels in the north.

Ironically, the coup created a power vacuum that allowed those separatist rebels, along with forces linked to al-Qaeda, to take over a vast expanse of desert, effectively splitting the country in two. Soon after trying to create an independent state in the north, however, the secular Tuareg rebels were edged out by a motley mix of Islamic extremists, including Ansar Dine and Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb — groups bent on imposing a medieval brand of Sharia law over an area roughly the size of Texas.

Meanwhile, in the south, Mali’s fragile caretaker government — still effectively controlled by the military junta — was powerless to stop the Islamists from amputating, stoning and terrorizing people in the north, where jihadists, some having migrated from Libya, found safe haven.

By December, the U.N. Security Council, prompted by France, finally devised a plan

Page 6

to retake the north using a 3,300-member multinational African force. But it would be months before the U.N.-authorized force — let alone a complementary mission of Malian soldiers — would be ready.

In the meantime, there were also efforts to negotiate with some of the Islamists in the hopes of avoiding a military confrontation.

On Jan. 10, however, Islamist militants stormed the town of Konna, signaling that they intended to advance on the capital of Bamako, and a conflict that had largely flown under the radar was thrust into the global spotlight. The very next day France — at the urging of the central government in Mali, its former colony in West Africa— responded with airstrikes and ground troops to flush out the Islamists. Some 4,000 French troops quickly succeeded in freeing towns such as Gao and Timbuktu, while the Islamists melted away into the desert and mountains.

Huddleston praised French leadership in Mali and explained why they were a natural choice to spearhead the

Photo: Larry Luxner

“

Can we have a country in the heart of Africa controlled by terrorists who are engaged in crime, terror and religious extremism? How much are we willing to accept?

Do we intervene or just say, ‘Go ahead and take whatever you want because we don’t want to fight you.’

— Vicki Huddleston, former U.S. ambassador to Mali intervention.

“It’s a former colonial master and they have strong ties with these countries,” she said. “They also have substantial populations of French in Mali … and in Niger and Chad.”

She added that France’s willingness to commit ground troops to the Mali campaign in January resonated deeply with the population there.

“They not only used airpower but were willing to put their troops on the ground,” she pointed out.“This makes a huge difference in Africa.When we do [air]strikes and are unwilling to put troops on the ground

”

to put our lives at risk — and I don’t like the idea that Americans would lose their lives — it makes a difference in the region.”

She said that because the French were “willing to put their own lives at risk,” they were able to win the respect of Mali’s people. “When they did that, they were able to push the Islamists out easily. France did a great job, but now comes the really hard question: Is it up to the African troops to root out the extremists when they go back into the desert?”

Indeed, almost just as quickly as it had intervened in Mali, France vowed it would

be pulling out of its former colony over the next several weeks and leaving West African and Malian soldiers in charge of the mission.

But the Islamists have simply retreated to fight another day (they were already regrouping in Gao, where several clashes and suicide bombings took place in early February).Meanwhile,any possible African peacekeeping force still needs months of training — as does Mali’s dysfunctional military, which continues to meddle in government affairs and prevent democracy from being fully restored. (though it did announce that national elections would be held July 31, a key Western demand).

And Mali’s turmoil could easily seep into other nations. It already became Algeria’s problem on Jan. 16 when jihadist sympathizers linked to al-Qaeda seized a natural gas facility that employed hundreds of people in southern Algeria near the Malian border.Algerian forces stormed the massive compound and after a dramatic four-day standoff, at least 37 hostages were dead, along with 29 militants, according to news reports.

The Washington Diplomat

March 2013

It was a stark wake-up call that North Africa could become a new front in the battle against al-Qaeda, which, though significantly weakened since 9/11, has grown powerful tentacles in parts of the region, capitalizing on the upheaval of the Arab Spring.

“Mali is a battleground, but the problem is not coming from Mali — it’s coming from Algerian jihadists and a population of Mali that is rebelling in North Africa, and those are the two issues that have to be resolved,” Huddleston explained.

“Al-Qaeda has to be defeated.”

Huddleston said Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) is particularly worrisome — as are the massive caches of weapons being funneled out of Libya after the fall of the nation’s longtime dictator, Col. Muammar al-Qaddafi. U.S. intelligence officials believe AQIM is actively plotting attacks on Western targets, but they find the splintered, divisive nature of the group challenging to get a bead on.

“What we do know in the case of AQIM is that they have lots of territory, links to other terrorists, and access to thousands of weapons,” Huddleston said. “Gaddafi’s armories were full of everything and those [weapons] are moving south.”

She pointedly added:“As long as those links are there, as long as they have access to that kind of weaponry, and as long as they are going to attract — and they will — other jihadists, they’re going to be dangerous.”

The entire region is becoming increasingly dangerous, she says, warning that North Africa could become the next stomping ground for alQaeda. Huddleston, a career diplomat who served throughout Africa and Latin America, also worries that a passive approach to the radical Islamist momentum building in the region could have dire consequences for the United States. She pointed out that al-Qaeda plotted its devastating Sept. 11, 2001, attacks from the remote mountains of Afghanistan, sheltered by the Taliban.

“9/11 wasn’t a sophisticated attack,” she said.

To that end, she’s been urging the U.S. govern-

U.S. Air Force Photo by Master Sgt. Ken Bergmann

Members of the Malian army conduct drills for new recruits during a 2007 exercise held in Timbuktu after receiving training from U.S. Army soldiers from North Carolina. Although the U.S. military has trained Mali forces over the years, the West African nation’s dysfunctional military was no match for the al-Qaeda-linked groups that seized control of northern Mali last year.

ment to pay more attention to Mali.

“The United States need not put combat troops on the ground. Instead, we should provide intelligence, equipment, financing and training for a West African intervention force that the United Nations Security Council approved in December (but did not finance),” she wrote in her New York Times op-ed in early 2013.

That’s not to say the U.S. government hasn’t done anything.To improve military relations with African nations, the Bush administration launched the U.S. Africa Command (Africom) in 2007.Two years earlier, a joint civilian-military effort called the Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Initiative was formed to provide training and instruction to help governments prevent large swaths of desolate African territory from becoming terrorist

strongholds. Current membership includes 11 African countries: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria and Senegal.

Congress appropriated $500 million for the initiative, but it’s unclear whether the investment has paid off — at least in Mali (the leader of last year’s military coup, Capt. Amadou Sanogo, trained in the United States). Huddleston admits it may not have.

“Years of training by United States Special Forces did not stop the Malian military from fleeing when the Islamist insurgency started last January. In fact, the military exacerbated the chaos by overthrowing Mali’s democratically elected government last March,” she wrote in her op-ed.

Huddleston says it’s necessary to restore Mali’s broken democracy and address its chronic poverty, but the more immediate focus should be on keeping the country from becoming a terrorist sanctuary. Part of the solution, she contends, is to take the Malian army out of the equation in the north and give the area back to the tribes people who’ve lived in the desert for centuries (the main Tuareg rebel group has already indicated its support to oust remaining Islamist militants).

“There has to be a negotiation for autonomy with the Malian nomads so then their armies can be trained to provide security for that area,” she told us.

But the key to stabilizing the shaky state, Huddleston believes, lies with neighboring Algeria.

“Algeria is the only country on the continent with the military capacity, seasoned officers, counterterrorism experience and geographic proximity to take over from France in bringing peace to Mali. Algeria’s military leaders know the extremists’ tactics and their leaders,” she argues.

A lot of that knowledge comes from Algeria’s own brutal civil war with Islamist rebels from 1991 to 2002 that killed anywhere between 100,000 to 200,000 people. The conflict began when a major Islamic party looked set to win national elections.The Algerian government, fearing defeat, promptly canceled the vote, sparking an armed guerilla campaign against the government and its allies.

Huddleston said that costly war sowed the seeds of terrorism in Algeria that eventually spread to Mali.

“It began in 2003 with the end of the Algerian civil war,” she explained. “The Algerian government had defeated the extremists — they were essentially radical Islamic jihadists. That war was the first war in which there was a conflict between a state and extremists.

“Once defeated, these Islamists went into the

See Huddleston, page 24

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Economics

United States

In U.S. and Around World, These Are Taxing Times

by Karin Zeitvogel

A

mericans have had a testy relationship with taxes since before there were even Americans.

Unhappiness with what was rightly perceived as unfair taxation 240 years ago led a group of colonials to throw crates of imported tea into Boston harbor in December 1773 instead of paying duty (a form of tax) on it. The Boston Tea Party, as it was dubbed, was one of the triggers of the Revolutionary War that eventually drove out the British and resulted in the birth of the United States of America.

Today, Americans continue their hate/ hate relationship with taxes, especially those imposed by the federal government. Residents of Washington, D.C., have a particularly strong gripe with taxes: They pay income tax to the federal government but don’t have a vote in Congress.

President Barack Obama’s limousine and other presidential vehicles have been sporting license plates with D.C.’s protest slogan,“Taxation without Representation,” since January in a show of support for the U.S. capital, where, after all, Obama has lived for four years now. The slogan is taken from a phrase attributed to colonist James Otis in the 1700s: “Taxation without representation is tyranny.”

“

Historically, the United States has been low-tax for a reason: There’s more distrust of government and skepticism about what government can do with people’s money.

”

— William McBride chief economist at the Tax Foundation

At this time of year, even Americans who never catch a glimpse of a D.C. license plate have their heads full of taxes because the country is smack-dab in the middle of tax season. In the United States, filling out an income tax return is a process mired in a level of convolution and complexity that is probably unparalleled anywhere else. The U.S. tax code is so complex that even the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) commissioner gets someone else to prepare his taxes for him. But,

Page 8

Photo: Michael Jay / iStock

then again, he has other things to do — including, maybe, simplifying the tax code.

Cracking the Code Both Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill have talked a lot recently about simplifying America’s tax code to stimulate business and bring in revenue.

But talk is one thing — getting down to the nitty-gritty of taking away tax perks that benefit huge corporations and average citizens alike is quite another.

In fact, Congress has made nearly 5,000 changes to the tax code since 2001, an average of more than one a day. The total number of words is approaching a staggering 4 million, and the tax code is around 16,000 pages long. Add IRS rulings to it, and it’s more than 70,000 pages long. That’s an increase of 16,000 pages since 2003 and of 69,600 since 1913, when the U.S. tax code comprised a slim 400 pages all together.

In comparison, the British tax code was around 18,000 pages long for 2010 to 2011, but “if non-statutory material and duplicated and repealed legislation were excluded there would be 5,430 pages,” Andrew Goodall, news editor of the Tax Journal, wrote last year. To their credit, in 2010 the British created an Office of Tax Simplification, which is tasked with “simplifying the UK tax system, with the objective of reducing compliance burdens on both businesses and individual taxpayers.”

France, too, pales in comparison to America’s voluminous tax code.A copy of the 2012 edition of the French “Code général des impôts” was available on Amazon for 1.99 euro — all 4,200 pages of it. The French tax code next to the American one is like putting a short story next to “War and Peace.”

Because of the complexity of the U.S. tax code, individual American taxpayers and businesses spend an estimated 6.1 billion hours a year doing their taxes, according to a 2012 report to Congress

by National Taxpayer Advocate Nina Olson.

“It obscures comprehension, leaving many taxpayers unaware how their taxes are computed and what rate of tax they pay; it facilitates tax avoidance by enabling sophisticated taxpayers to reduce their tax liabilities and provides criminals with opportunities to commit tax fraud; and it undermines trust in the system by creating an impression that many taxpayers are not compliant, thereby reducing the incentives that honest taxpayers feel to comply,” Olson said in the report.

Cheating the System?

The labyrinth of exemptions, deductions, credits and plain-old loopholes buried within the tax code also breeds resentment among taxpayers — mostly between the rich and everyone else (though middle-class taxpayers also complain that the poor pay little to no taxes).

Who pays what became a hot-button

issue in the recent presidential election, as Barack Obama sought to paint his Republican challenger Mitt Romney as a corporate raider who sheltered his wealth in overseas tax havens while profiting at home from loopholes to pay a lower rate than middle-class Americans.

In 2011, Romney paid an effective tax rate of 14 percent on the $13.7 million he made that year (Obama’s was about 24 percent). Most of Romney’s income was from investments, which accounts for the lower tax rate because capital gains and dividends are taxed significantly less than earned income — thanks in part to the Bush tax cuts. In 2003, Congress set the top tax rates for both capital gains and dividends at 15 percent, lower than they had been since the 1930s.

Billionaire investor Warren Buffett notably stood with Obama that those lower rates do not encourage greater investment but, rather, have led to yawning income disparities (he famously pointed out that he pays a lower tax rate than his secretary does).

“Between 1951 and 1954, when the capital gains rate was 25 percent and marginal rates on dividends reached 91 percent in extreme cases, I sold securities and did pretty well,” Buffett wrote in a New York Times op-ed.“Under those burdensome rates, moreover, both employment and the gross domestic product (a measure of the nation’s economic output) increased at a rapid clip. The middle class and the rich alike gained ground.”

Today, however, Warren pointed out

The Washington Diplomat

March 2013

that the fortunes of the super-wealthy have skyrocketed — Forbes estimates the wealthiest Americans made $1.7 trillion in 2012, compared to $300 billion in 1992 — yet their tax bills have steadily shrunk.

One positive aspect of taxes: They’ve given the world some excellent quotes.

Obama’s populist attack that the wealthy Here is a selection of our favorites: need to pay their fair share of taxes clearly struck a nerve. He won the election, after all, “The only difference between a tax man and used his renewed mandate to push through and a taxidermist is that the taxidermist a “fiscal-cliff” deal in early 2013 that raised tax leaves the skin.” rates for families with incomes above $450,000 and individuals above $400,000 back to — Mark Twain, humorist and author Clinton-era rates of 39.6 percent rate, up from “In this world, nothing can be said to be 35 percent. It also raised taxes on capital gains certain except death and taxes.” and dividends to 20 percent for those same income levels.

— Benjamin Franklin But any debate on who should pay more in taxes comes with numerous caveats. While it’s “The income tax has made more liars out true the wealthy are paying less in taxes than of the American people than golf has. they would have a few decades ago (and the Even when you make a tax form out on top 1 percent is worth more collectively than the level, you don’t know when it’s through if you are a crook or a martyr.” the country’s entire bottom 90 percent), the richest Americans still pay the most taxes — Will Rogers, actor because of their higher incomes. According to Forbes, the top 5 percent of the U.S. popula“The nation should have a tax system tion paid 61 percent of all income taxes, and that looks like someone designed it on 44.3 percent of all taxes. purpose.”

On the flip side, about half of all Americans — William Simon, don’t pay any federal income tax whatsoever Treasury Secretary 1974-77 because between what they earn and standard “Income tax returns are the most imagideductions and credits, their liability comes native fiction being written today.” out to about zero. Some even get money back from the government. This rankles many con— Herman Wouk, author servatives, but it’s important to remember that low-income Americans still pay taxes — state “The hardest thing in the world to undersales taxes, payroll taxes, local taxes, etc. stand is the income tax.”

Most taxpayers, of course, fall somewhere in — Albert Einstein, physicist between the very poor and very rich. And because the Bush tax cuts remained in place “Why does a slight tax increase cost you for the majority of Americans, many are paying two hundred dollars and a substantial less in taxes today than they did in the 1990s. tax cut save you thirty cents?”

In fact, according to a New York Times analysis — Peg Bracken, author that took into account not only federal income taxes but also state and local taxes, “Tax rates at most income levels were lower in 2010 than the Danes, with a 42.1 percent effective income at any point during the 1980s.”

You certainly might not know that though tax rate, and the Swedes, who pay 36.3 perNOTE: everythat effort is madearises to assure ad is infree of mistakes in spelling and cent.your Employees Sweden pay no social secufrom Although all the griping inevitably content it is ultimately up to therity customer to their make the final taxes while employers payproof. around 31 around tax time. percent, and in Denmark both the employer employee payadvertiser, less than half of 1 percentchanges Taxes Around the World The first two faxed changes will be made at and no cost to the subsequent each. willIndeed, be billed at a rate of $75 per faxed alteration.

Signed ads are considered approved. many Americans feel they pay too Put more simply, KPMG also compiled a list many taxes, but how much do they really pay of the highest rates of personal income tax Please check this ad carefully. Mark any changes to your ad. compared to the rest of the world?

Statistics around the world. For 2012, the U.S. rate was compiled by global audit, tax and advisory 35 percent, hewing close to the world average KPMG sign put the United States, where If thecompany ad is correct and fax to: (301) 949-0065 needsInchanges of nearly 29 percent. comparison, Aruba’s the effective income tax rate on incomes of tax rate was 59 percent; the United Kingdom $100,000 is 18.7 percent, in 55th place of came in at 50 percent; Canada at 48 percent; The Washington Diplomat (301)out933-3552 94 countries. Employee social security contri- South Africa was 40 percent; Mexico was 30 butions in the United States at that income percent; Panama, Latvia and Egypt all came in Approved level are__________________________________________________________ around 7 percent, bringing the total to at 25 percent; Angola 17 percent; Yemen 15 Changes ___________________________________________________________ around 26 percent. percent; Russia 13 percent; Albania 10 percent; At the high end of the scale at this pay and Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE all had a tax ___________________________________________________________________ bracket in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) are See taxes, page 12

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Diplomacy

Political Appointees

Obama Continues Tradition Of Ambassadorships for Sale

by Dave Seminara

D

espite a flurry of media speculation earlier this year, Anna Wintour is unlikely to be the next U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom.

But the fact that the iconic Vogue editor and prolific Obama fundraiser apparently received consideration for the post despite having zero diplomatic experience says a lot about how U.S. presidents make diplomatic appointments.

For more than a century, U.S. presidents have often used diplomatic appointments to reward contributors, political operatives and other allies. Roughly 30 percent of diplomatic postings abroad go to political appointees over career Foreign Service officers. But with elections becoming increasingly expensive, the trend of rewarding donors with cushy appointments, both ambassadorships and high-level jobs at the State Department, has intensified.

As President Obama works to complete his roster of key appointments for his second term, much of the media scrutiny has fallen on his selection of Chuck Hagel as secretary of defense and the scintillating rumor that Wintour could’ve been America’s next ambassador to the Court of St. James’s. (For a while, Bill Clinton’s name was even floated around to replace Dan Rooney, owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers, as the U.S. ambassador to Ireland.)

But away from the spotlight, hundreds of political insiders and career diplomats are jockeying for dozens of plum ambassadorships and key diplomatic postings in Washington.

On the campaign trail in 2008, President Obama spoke about the need to appoint career diplomats rather than political appointees, but critics say he hasn’t lived up to that pledge.

“He was the hope and change guy, but when he sent [Louis] Susman to London, the press corps asked about his qualifications and the best thing the White House press secretary could say about him was that ‘he speaks the local language,’” said former U.S. Ambassador Dennis Jett, a professor at Penn State’s School of International Affairs who was a career member of the Foreign Service for 28 years. “And that was the best way they could deflect attention from the fact that it was business as usual.”

Susman, a retired Chicago investment banker and lawyer, is a longtime Democratic fundraiser who raised more than $500,000 for Obama’s 2008 campaign.

“With people like Anna Wintour being rumored to be next in line, I don’t think it does us any favors,” Jett told The Washington Diplomat.

Jett is the co-author of “What Price the Court of St. James’s? Political Influences on Ambassadorial Postings of the United States of America,” an academic paper that attempts to quantify the relationship between political contributions and ambassadorial picks.Their conclusion: The top spots don’t come cheaply.

In recent years, only about 40 percent of politically appointed ambassadors have been campaign contributors or bundlers, but those who brought in the most cash are most likely to get the kind of cushy postings where tourists might want to spend their holidays — wealthy,

Page 10

Photo: Larry Luxner

“

What does it say about American leadership and how we view the rest of the world when a European country sends us their best career diplomat and we send them a real estate developer?

— Dennis Jett

”

co-author of “What Price the Court of St. James’s?

Political Influences on Ambassadorial Postings of the United States of America”

safe nations often located in Western Europe.

Jett and co-author Johannes Fedderke even theorized what different posts might cost. For personal contributions, Luxembourg comes with a hefty $3.1 million price tag, while Portugal costs $602,686, they surmised.

London falls in the middle, requiring an estimated $1.1 million in personal donations. Bundlers — who raise money from various sources on behalf of a candidate — apparently get a bargain rate. For them, the Court of St. James’s costs $640,583, according to Jett and Fedderke.

“In terms of the tourist metric, the most desirable posting is France and Monaco, for which personal contributions would have to amount to approximately $6.2 million, bundled contributions to approximately $4.4 million,” the report found. “The lowest positive price is for Norway, at $119,900 for personal, and $85,756 for bundled contributors.”

Clearly, Europe is a prime destination for well-heeled donors. In the last 60 years, 72 percent of U.S. ambassadors in Western Europe and the Caribbean have been political appointees while all but 14 percent of ambas-

Yachts line the glitzy harbor in Monaco, a plum diplomatic posting that often goes to well-connected political donors. A new academic study that tries to quantify the “costs” of U.S. ambassadorships said that in terms of being a prime tourist destination, “the most desirable posting is France and Monaco, for which personal contributions would have to amount to approximately $6.2 million, bundled contributions to approximately $4.4 million.”

sadors in Africa and the Middle East have been career diplomats, according to the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA). No political appointee has ever been sent to Central Asia as an ambassador.

President Obama’s ambassadorial appointments have followed the same 70 percent career/30 percent political split as that of President George W. Bush. Since the 1970s, the appointment ratio has ranged between Gerald Ford’s 62 percent career record and Jimmy Carter’s highwater mark of 73 percent.

But while the ratios haven’t changed much, the total number of political appointments has grown as the number of sovereign countries has increased since the breakup of the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia.According to AFSA, the ratio and total number of key diplomatic jobs in Washington have grown over the years.

In 1975, there were 18 top positions at the State Department in Washington (deputy, assistant or undersecretary of state), of which 11 were filled by career Foreign Service officers and seven by political appointees. Today, there are 33 top positions, and career diplomats hold just a quarter of those jobs.

No other Western country uses private citizens over career diplomats to anywhere near the same extent the United States does, but does the practice actually harm U.S. interests overseas?

In an era of tightening budgets, wealthy donors can be an asset to a cash-strapped embassy, helping to bankroll parties and events that the mission might not otherwise be able to afford. Supporters of political appointees also say it doesn’t hurt to have an ambassador with direct, personal ties to the president. And appointees with little

The Washington Diplomat

March 2013

foreign policy experience but strong business “Even a truly incompetent ambassador isn’t posts are unlikely to please his critics, both cy might play a larger role in the president’s backgrounds can sometimes run an embassy going to disrupt a bilateral relationship that Democrats and Republicans praised his nomina- second term. “But I would look at it as Obama more effectively and creatively than a career much,” he said. “Ambassadors matter more with tion of John Kerry, the son of a career diplomat, wanting to abandon the Team of Rivals approach and simply bringing in people he’s comfortable diplomat can — sometimes. rival countries, but the president isn’t going to to replace Hillary Clinton as secretary of state.

“Kerry has the potential to be very good for with,” he said.

“Everybody understands that good political name bundlers [as] ambassador to Moscow, In recent years, what’s made some career appointees are beneficial to the Foreign Service, Beijing or those types of posts. And the public the Foreign Service,” Kralev said.“But he’s not as because outside blood is needed,” said Nicholas does not fundamentally care about foreign policy exciting as the last four secretaries of state, so diplomats uncomfortable is the steady erosion of foreign policy influence at the State Kralev, author of “America’s Other Army:The U.S. unless you have an ambassador who is thor- he’s going to come off as a bit dull.”

Dull is something another nominee would Department and the concentration of power Foreign Service and 21st Century Diplomacy.” oughly incompetent and, ideally, with a good sex probably love to be at the moment. Chuck Hagel, being amassed by the Department of Defense “The problem people have is that political scandal.” appointees aren’t selected based on their skills There have, in fact, been more than a few scan- a former Republican senator and Obama’s hotly and the National Security Council, with the miliand background.” dals over the years. President Richard Nixon, contested pick for defense secretary, quickly tary in particular taking on work traditionally Kralev pointed to three recent examples at whose blatant selling of ambassadorships drew came under fire from pro-Israel and gay rights done by civilians.

The longstanding tug of war between defense U.S. embassies in Malta, Luxembourg and Kenya public attention to the issue, chose Vincent de groups — not to mention his former GOP colwhere Obama political appointees prematurely Roulet to head the U.S. Embassy in Jamaica. As leagues, who say he’s too accommodating on and diplomacy is likely to generate debate and resigned in the wake of scathing reports from documented by the Center for Public Integrity’s Iran and critical of Israel, among other com- news stories for the foreseeable future, as observers wait to see how Kerry and Hagel perform in the Office of the Inspector General (OIG). The 2008 report “Checkbook Diplomacy,” the wealthy plaints.

“Nominating Hagel put the GOP in an uncom- their new jobs and how Obama’s second-term report on the U.S. mission in Luxembourg dilettante quickly antagonized Jamaicans by described Ambassador Cynthia Stroum’s man- openly calling them “idiots” and “children” and fortable position,” Drezner said. “Because for a foreign policy agenda plays out.

But what’s unlikely to attract much attention agement style as “aggressive, bullying, hostile and meddling in their national election, allegedly long time they claimed to be the big tent when intimidating,” and noted that a string of senior offering to support one candidate in exchange it came to foreign policy, with a fair number of is the quiet selection process that will unfold officers volunteered for service in Iraq and for a promise not to nationalize Jamaica’s bauxite realists and a fair number of neoconservatives, over the next few months for top diplomatic Afghanistan because they didn’t want to work industry. The move backfired: The Nixon appoin- but the way the GOP has reacted to Hagel’s postings. And the relatively muted backlash for her any more. Stroum, a prominent philan- tee was kicked out by the country’s outraged nomination is effectively pushing out all the real- against the well-established donor-ambassador quid pro quo probably won’t curb Obama’s thropist who bundled more than $500,000 in new leader, who also tripled taxes and royalties ists.”

Drezner said the fact that Obama picked enthusiasm for the practice any time soon. contributions for President Obama in the 2008 on bauxite purchases by U.S. companies.

None of the experts consulted for this piece campaign, resigned less than a year into her Scandals involving political appointees, how- Hagel, a vocal critic of the war in Iraq who has assignment. ever, rarely spark public outrage and are soon been wary of committing U.S. troops to counter- support stripping presidents of the right to “If you look at her CV before she got her forgotten about. But Jett thinks that the public insurgency campaigns abroad, to lead the make diplomatic appointments or giving the assignment, there was nothing there to even should care about diplomatic appointments and Pentagon sends a clear signal the president Senate greater power to veto unqualified nomihint that she would be a good ambassador,” argues that ambassadors still play a key role in wants to fulfill his promise to end the wars over- nees, but Jett thinks more can be done to influence the president’s choices.

Kralev said.“According to the OIG report, I think advancing U.S. interests overseas, particularly seas and invest the savings at home.

He believes that AFSA or perhaps the American The selection of Kerry has reinforced the she made three employees spend six days look- because policymakers in Washington can usually Academy Diplomacy should rate nominated belief that term may marked up ing for an umbrella for her patio.

Is that how we focus on a few at any NOTE: Although everyonly effort is made to geopolitical assure yourhotspots ad is free of mistakes in Obama’s spelling second and content it isbeultimately to the of customer by retrenchment.

Like Hagel, Kerry is a Vietnam ambassadors as “well qualified, qualified or not want our diplomats to spend their time?” (The one time. to make the final proof. report stated that “several” employees spent “I think there should be transparency; even vet who in the past has warned against military qualified” before they are confirmed, in the same two faxed changes will there be made at noofcost to the there advertiser, changes will mired be billed at aforeign rate of $75 wayper thatfaxed judgesalteration. are rated. overreach and becoming in risky “several days” searchingThe for first the umbrella.) where is a whiff pay-to-play, ought subsequent are considered approved.

“Maybe that would create enough potential interventions.

But Daniel Drezner, a professor of interna- to be concerns,” he said.“WhatSigned does itads say about Drezner noted that the appointment of Denis public pressure that the president would be tional politics at the Fletcher School of Law and American leadership and how we view the rest Please check country this ad sends carefully.

Mark any changes your ad. a trustedtoforeign policy hand who more careful about who he nominated.”

Diplomacy, thinks that the president can always of the world when a European us McDonough, work around an ineffectual ambassador and their best career diplomat and we send them a served as deputy national security advisor in If the ad is correct sign and fax to: (301) 949-0065 needs changes The Washington Diplomat (301) 933-3552 Obama’s first term, to be White House chief of Dave Seminara is a contributing writer for The argues that ambassadors don’t hold the same real estate developer?” staff has led some to speculate that foreign poli- Washington Diplomat and a former U.S. diplomat. clout they once did.

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taxes rate of 0 percent (it’s nice to have oil and gas money).

Again, comparing overall averages, the Nordic nations tend to come out on top. Sweden’s effective income tax rate is 56.6 percent, according to KPMG, while Denmark’s is 55.4 percent.

GET WHAT yOU PAy FOR? But do Danes complain about their high tax rates? Are they unhappy? Nope.

Denmark was ranked as the happiest place on earth by researchers at the University of Leicester in England, who in 2006 put together a happiness map. (Similar surveys also consistently rank the Nordic countries at the top of indicators such as happiness, life satisfaction and best nation in which to be born.)

The British researchers found that happiness was most closely associated with health, followed by wealth and education. “When people are asked if they are happy with their lives, people in countries with good health care, a higher GDP per capita, and access to education were much more likely to report being happy,” they found.

Danes’ health care and retirement contributions come from their taxes, with the highest earners paying a rate of about 55 percent. In 2009, per-capita spending on health in Denmark was $4,464, the vast majority of which was covered by Danes’ taxes. Everyone is covered for doctor’s visits, hospitalization and most medical procedures, routine or emergency. While the cost per person might seem high, it is around half the per-capita expenditure on health in the

United States — and nearly 50 million Americans have no health insurance at all. Life expectancy in Denmark was 79.1 years, or one year longer than in the United States.And last year, Denmark shot into the Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index, which ranks countries’ retirement systems, at number one, becoming the first country ever to get an “A” in the rankings.

“Denmark’s unique ‘A’ grade ranking has been awarded in recognition of the country’s wellfunded pension system, its high level of assets and contributions, the provision of adequate benefits and a private pension system with welldeveloped regulations,” Mercer says on its website.

Like its Nordic neighbors, Denmark’s social safety net has been credited with helping it weather economic turbulence. A direct comparison with the United States is difficult because each nation’s economic circumstances are unique, but the Northern European nations share several key economic traits: a strong welfare state that cushions consumers in an economic downturn; trust in the government to fairly and efficiently distribute tax revenues for the betterment of society; an emphasis on highskill, high-wage jobs; and increasing government spending during harsh times, while adopting austerity measures during boom times.

Today, Denmark’s economy is strong and stable. Unemployment is around 6 percent, and the budget deficit is hovering around 4 percent of GDP but expected to drop to 2 percent. Reuters news agency reported that tax revenues on accumulated pension wealth were helping to cut Denmark’s budget deficit.

The United States, meanwhile, was ninth out of 18 in the Mercer pension ranking and got a

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call (301) 933-3552.

rates of Personal Income Tax The following is a randomly selected list of 20 countries featured in KPMG’s 2012 Individual Income Tax and Social Security Rate Survey. The full survey can be viewed online at www.kpmg.com/Global/en/services/Tax/tax-tools-and-resources/Pages/tax-rates-online.aspx.

Country

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Afghanistan

20.0%

20.0%

20.0%

20.0%

20.0%

20.0%

20.0%

20.0%

20.0%

Aruba

60.1%

60.1%

60.1%

59.0%

59.0%

59.0%

59.0%

59.0%

59.0%

Australia

47.0%

47.0%

47.0%

45.0%

45.0%

45.0%

45.0%

45.0%

45.0%

Bulgaria

29.0%

24.0%

24.0%

24.0%

10.0%

10.0%

10.0%

10.0%

10.0%

China

45.0%

45.0%

45.0%

45.0%

45.0%

45.0%

45.0%

45.0%

45.0%

Ecuador

25.0%

25.0%

25.0%

25.0%

35.0%

35.0%

35.0%

35.0%

35.0%

Egypt

34.0%

34.0%

20.0%

20.0%

20.0%

20.0%

20.0%

20.0%

25.0%

France

48.1%

48.1%

40.0%

40.0%

40.0%

40.0%

41.0%

41.0%

45.0%

Greece

40.0%

40.0%

40.0%

40.0%

40.0%

40.0%

45.0%

45.0%

45.0%

Israel

49.0%

49.0%

49.0%

48.0%

47.0%

46.0%

45.0%

45.0%

48.0%

Japan

50.0%

50.0%

50.0%

50.0%

50.0%

50.0%

50.0%

50.0%

50.0%

Jordan

25.0%

25.0%

25.0%

25.0%

25.0%

25.0%

25.0%

14.0%

14.0%

Mexico

33.0%

30.0%

29.0%

28.0%

28.0%

28.0%

30.0%

30.0%

30.0%

Russia

13.0%

13.0%

13.0%

13.0%

13.0%

13.0%

13.0%

13.0%

13.0%

Saudi Arabia

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

Slovakia

19.0%

19.0%

19.0%

19.0%

19.0%

19.0%

19.0%

19.0%

19.0%

South Africa

40.0%

40.0%

40.0%

40.0%

40.0%

40.0%

40.0%

40.0%

40.0%

United Kingdom 40.0%

40.0%

40.0%

40.0%

40.0%

40.0%

50.0%

50.0%

50.0%

United States

35.0%

35.0%

35.0%

35.0%

35.0%

35.0%

35.0%

35.0%

35.0%

Yemen Global Average

20.0%

20.0%

20.0%

20.0%

20.0%

20.0%

20.0%

15.0%

15.0%

30.1%

29.5%

29.2%

29.2%

29.3%

28.8% 29.0%

28.6% 28.9%

SOURCE: KPMG’S INDIVIDUAL INCOME TAx AND SOCIAL SECURITY RATE SURVEY 2012

grade of “C.”To improve its ranking, it was given a list of half a dozen steps to take, including increasing mandatory contributions to pension programs. More than 22 percent of Americans age 65 and older live in poverty; in Denmark, only 10 percent do. The U.S. rate of elderly citizens living in poverty — defined by the OECD as living with incomes less than 50 percent of median household disposable income — was almost the same as the rates in Greece and Spain, both hard hit by Europe’s financial crisis.

DEEPLy ROOTED TAx DISTRUST But getting American lawmakers to agree to increased pension contributions is highly unlikely. The country was built on a wariness of government and a reluctance to pay taxes because, as mentioned earlier, before Americans were Americans, they weren’t getting anything for their tax dollars. It’s tough convincing them now that they should pay more while they’re working in order to have a more comfortable life when they no longer have to work.

“Historically, the United States has been lowtax for a reason:There’s more distrust of government and skepticism about what government can do with people’s money,” William McBride, chief economist at the Tax Foundation in Washington, D.C., told The Washington Diplomat.

“People are much less excited in the United States about what they get for their tax dollar” than their European counterparts are.

Income tax is “the biggest source of revenue for the federal government, raising about $1 trillion a year,” McBride noted. In most OECD countries, value-added tax, or VAT, is the largest source of revenue. The United States also has the highest corporate tax rate in the OECD, making for what McBride called “the most inefficient system in the OECD.”

Several steps could be taken to improve the U.S. tax system, including broadening the number of people who pay taxes to begin with.This includes people at both the bottom and top ends of the tax spectrum. Many low-income Americans pay no federal income tax, “but because it’s such a complicated system, there are a couple of thousand millionaires who pay no income tax,” McBride pointed out.

A complicated system also naturally leads to confusion. University of New Mexico economics professor Kate Krause said in a report published in the Public Finance Review that, “When laws are complex or ambiguous, compliance and enforcement suffer. In the United States, the federal income tax is a familiar example of this.

Often, neither the taxpayer nor the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) can perfectly determine a taxpayer’s true tax liability.”

Which is why McBride suggests that Washington follow in the footsteps of its old colonial ruler (although he didn’t put it that way) and take steps to simplify the tax system.

“We need to move toward a simpler, more transparent system so taxpayers have some idea what is happening to them,” McBride said.

“Right now most taxpayers are simply confused by the whole process. They don’t know if their taxes are going up or down because we have an extremely byzantine tax system.”

Karin Zeitvogel is a contributing writer for The Washington Diplomat.

Your sourCE For diPloMatiC nEWs. www.washdiplomat.com

March 2013

COVER PROFILE

Ambassador Elkanah Odembo Absalom

On Eve of Elections, Kenya Prays History Won’t Repeat Itself

by Larry Luxner

I

t’s been five years since Kenya was gripped by election-related violence that plunged East Africa’s most stable, well-developed democracy into a horrific nightmare of ethnic barbarism. Over a two-month period, more than 1,100 people were killed and up to 600,000 were displaced from their homes.

The bloodletting ended only after the two sides — led by President Mwai Kibaki and his challenger, Raila Odinga — signed a deal that had been negotiated by former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Known as the National Accord, the pact elevated Odinga to the post of prime minister and called for the drafting of a new constitution to address the root causes of the conflict.

That constitution, which overwhelmingly passed in a peaceful August 2010 referendum, curbs the powers of the presidency to wean Kenya off its zero-sum political system — blamed for fueling corruption at the top echelons of government.

The question on everyone’s minds now is straightforward: Will Kenya, one of Africa’s most vital economies, be able to avoid violence as voters go to the polls March 4 and again on April 11 to elect a president, 384 members of a new bicameral legislature, 47 governors and 47 county assemblies?

Elkanah Odembo Absalom, Kenya’s ambassador in Washington, insists the answer is yes.

“I’m very positive about the elections,” Odembo told The Washington Diplomat last month.“We’ve done many things to mitigate and prevent what happened in 2007.”

Indeed, as a January 2013 report by the International Crisis Group noted,“New voting rules require the president to win more than half the votes and enjoy wider geographic support. Power is being devolved to 47 counties, each of which will elect a governor, senator and local assembly.

Despite recent mishaps, the new Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) still enjoys public trust.

Judicial reform, including the appointment of a respected new chief justice, also augurs well for a more robust response to electoral fraud and disputes.”

But the same report said these new institutions “have their work cut out” for them. Analysts who know the region agree.

Africa expert Joel D. Barkan, a senior associate at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, warns that Kenya could very well see a repeat of the chaos that brought the linchpin East African nation to its knees. He calls the upcoming elections “arguably the most important and complex” since Kenya’s return to multiparty politics in 1992.

“If the elections are marred by widespread violence and perceived as illegitimate by the Kenyan public, they are likely to plunge the country into a renewed period of political instability and set back Kenya’s democratic advance,” Barkan wrote in a Council on Foreign Relations briefing published earlier this year. “A breakdown in the electoral process will also do serious harm to Kenya’s economy, which has been performing well in recent years.”

Any prolonged crisis in Kenya will also have severe reperMarch 2013

“

Photo: Larry Luxner

As ambassador, I’ve been communicating with people here in Washington about how we’re preparing for the elections…. My hope is to encourage a visit by seniorlevel U.S. officials to reinforce the importance of having a free, fair, credible and peaceful election.

That’s important not just for Kenya but for all of East Africa.

”

— Elkanah Odembo Absalom

ambassador of Kenya to the United States

cussions for the neighborhood, Barkan warned.

“In particular, two major U.S. foreign policy goals in the region — preventing Somalia from becoming a safe haven for terrorists and nurturing peace between Sudan and South Sudan — could be compromised. The United States, therefore, should work expeditiously with all parties concerned to ensure that the forthcoming elections are peaceful, free and fair.”

The stakes are so high that in early February, the White House posted a YouTube message from President Obama — whose father was born and raised in the village of Nyang’oma Kogelo — to the country’s 43 million inhabitants, urging them not to allow history to repeat itself.

“Kenya must reject intimidation and violence, and allow a free and fair vote,” said the president, beginning and ending his 60-second video message with traditional greetings

in Swahili.“Kenyans must resolve disputes in the courts, not in the streets. Above all, the people of Kenya must come together before and after the election to carry on the work of building your country.”

Two candidates have emerged as frontrunners in the March 4 election.The first is Prime Minister Odinga, a member of the Luo tribe (which constitutes about 10 percent of Kenya’s population) and head of the Orange Democratic Movement. The other is Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, a Kikuyu (the leading ethnic group, with 21 percent of the population) and leader of the National Alliance; current President Kibaki is stepping down after two terms.

Because half a dozen minor candidates are also in the race, neither man might win an outright majority — triggering the April 11 runoff election.

Complicating the already-complex vote is the fact that Kenya’s ethnic divisions have become internationalized.

“The International Criminal Court ruled that four prominent Kenyans should be tried for crimes against humanity for violence associated with the 2007 elections, including murder.Two of these individuals — Uhuru Kenyatta and his running mate, William Ruto — are prominent politicians,” Robert B. Lloyd, coordinator of the international studies program at California’s Pepperdine University, told The Diplomat.

Kenyatta, one of Kenya’s wealthiest men and son of its founding president, and Ruto, a former education minister and prominent member of the Kalenjin ethnic group, are accused of perpetrating interethnic violence between Kikuyus and Kalenjins following the 2007 elections.

“The ICC trials are currently scheduled to begin in April, injecting fresh uncertainty into the elections process and in many ways conflating issues of the 2007 and 2013 elections into a compressed timeframe,” said Lloyd, noting that many of the individuals, underlying conditions and ethnic tensions that sparked the 2007-08 unrest have not been fully

Continued on next page The Washington Diplomat Page 13

Continued from previous page addressed.

Kenyan law does not ban either Kenyatta or Ruto from running for office, and both men have said the case would not hinder them from running the country if they won, though no sitting head of state has ever fought charges in a drawnout ICC trial. Kenyatta has asked for the trial to be delayed, however, to give him more time to prepare his defense.

“Their trials are scheduled to begin on April 10 and April 11, respectively, but neither is likely to travel to The Hague if they emerge victorious in the first round or are finalists in the second.

Indeed, one major purpose of their alliance is to avoid trial,” Barkan observed.

“Their alliance also, ironically, raises the prospects for peace during this election cycle between their respective ethnic groups, the Kalenjins and the Kikuyus, who viciously attacked each other in 2007. The election of Kenyatta and Ruto, however, would most likely result in the United States, European Union states and others that support the ICC process shunning them diplomatically. This could invoke a potentially hostile response from Kenyatta and Ruto and ultimately lead to Kenya’s increased international isolation.”

Odembo, who was only 5 years old when Kenya declared its independence half a century ago, served as Kenya’s ambassador to France before his posting to Washington in September 2010. Although born and raised in Nairobi, he knows the United States quite well, having earned a degree in biology from Maine’s Bowdoin College, as well as a master’s in epidemiology from the University of Texas in Houston.

Odembo has represented a number of NGOs

Page 14

Kenya at a Glance Independence: 1963 Location: East Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Somalia and Tanzania Capital: Nairobi Size: 580,367 square kilometers; slightly more than twice the size of Nevada Population: 43 million Life expectancy: 63 years GDP (purchasing power parity): $76 billion (2012 estimate) GDP per-capita: $1,800 (2012 estimate) GDP growth: 5.1 percent (2012 estimate) Exports: Tea, horticultural products, coffee, petroleum products, fish, cement Imports: Machinery and transportation equipment, petroleum products, motor vehicles, iron and steel, resins and plastics

Source: CIA World Factbook

including the Ufadhili Trust, a Kenyan institution that promotes philanthropy and corporate social responsibility. It was in that context five years ago, as Kenyans prepared to go to the ballot box, that Odembo served as a community organizer with Ufadhili (a Swahili word meaning “giving unto others”).

Hopes were high that the vote would be a success. In 2002, President Daniel Arap Moi peacefully relinquished power after 24 years in office.

Civil society groups like Odembo’s Ufadhili Trust were allowed to operate and the press was freely covering elections in which the candidates were offering distinct, serious policy platforms.

But things didn’t turn out the way everyone

expected.

“Kenyans felt the elections had been stolen from them,” said Odembo, recently interviewed at Kenya’s embassy on R Street, just off Dupont Circle. “It was very closely contested, and until the last minute, it was fairly clear that the individual in the lead [Raila Odinga] would win.Then the electoral commission announced that someone else, Mwai Kibaki — the man who is now the president — had won the election.”

All along, the ambassador recalled, the people had been told that Odinga was ahead.

“Then they went quiet and slowed down their reporting, and people started getting anxious.

When the results were finally announced, the

party that had won a larger number of seats in Parliament felt the electoral commission had not been independent, and called on their supporters to demonstrate. That’s when things started getting bad. The Orange Democratic Movement felt there was no recourse in the judiciary because the judiciary was handpicked by the president.

They said going to court would be a waste of time because they weren’t going to get a fair hearing.”

Protests by Odinga’s Luo tribe and by other groups exploded into violence following the government’s hasty declaration of Kibaki as the winner. International observers widely described the vote as flawed and rife with irregularities.

Kenya’s ambassador in Washington at the time, Peter N.R.O. Ogego, said the election-related atrocities left him and his embassy staff in “shock.”

Odembo said tensions quickly spilled out into the slums of Nairobi, as well as remote villages, where machete-wielding mobs went on houseburning rampages and government security forces allegedly shot demonstrators to death.

“The violence was all over,” he said. “We saw where people had been physically attacked during the fighting. I went to a church in Eldoret where more than 20 people had been burned alive.”

Odembo concedes that naturally, bitterness lingers from the horrific events of 2007-08.

“We formed a Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission as a result of the recommendations made following the post-election violence. We need to get Kenyans to open up and talk about these issues of ethnicity and tribalism.”

In addition, he said,“The commission has been monitoring hate speech. We believe some of what we saw was fueled by politicians who went

The Washington Diplomat

March 2013

around inciting communities on both sides, whipping up emotions. Radio stations got people all worked up, in languages that others couldn’t understand.”

Ahead of the March vote, the country held a first-ever presidential debate in which the candidates, including Odinga and Kenyatta, decried Kenya’s legacy of bitter ethnic divisions and pledged not to exploit those divisions.

Many Kenyans in fact are doing whatever they can to prevent another explosion of ethnic rage that nearly caused the country’s economy to collapse, shaking foreign investors’ confidence.

“At the end of 2007, our economy was growing at almost 7 percent,” Odembo said.“But after the election violence, it took a dive down to 3 percent, and for the rest of 2008, we did not get beyond 4 percent” — a serious problem in a country whose leaders say it needs sustained annual GDP growth of 10 percent for at least 15 years to become a middle-income nation.

The government has taken steps to restart its earlier economic momentum and achieve middle-income status. Recently, it announced plans for a $14.5 billion information technology hub outside the capital of Nairobi. The hope is that Konza Technology City will generate more than 200,000 jobs by 2030 and become “Africa’s silicon savannah.”

Indeed, Kenya’s ambitious economic growth — fueled in part by a highly successful tourism industry — has made it an oasis of prosperity in a rough neighborhood. Recently, the government stepped up its regional profile by sending troops to fight Islamist al-Shabaab militants in Somalia after a wave of border kidnappings tarnished Kenya’s reputation as a tourist destination.

By helping to stabilize its perpetually lawless neighbor, Kenya’s military intervention — now

UN Photo / Andi Gitow

Members of a traditional Maasai singing group gather in Kenya, which is home to some 40 ethnic groups.

The Maasai are a major tourist attraction in the East African nation, but Kenya’s economy took a major hit after election-related violence five years ago killed more than 1,100 people.

under the aegis of the U.N.-authorized African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) — could also help improve Kenya’s own economic prospects. The successful offensive that drove al-Shabaab rebels out of the key Somali port of Kismayo, for example, could curtail piracy in the region — thereby reducing piracy-related maritime security costs Kenya had incurred.

On the flip side, however, Kenya’s Somali

involvement has made it a target for al-Qaedalinked Shabaab fighters, who’ve claimed credit for a number of small-scale but jarring attacks on Kenyan soil, including deadly grenade attacks on a Mombasa bar and a church in Nairobi. Kenya is also home to a sizeable population of Somali refugees — along with some 40 ethnic groups, a tinderbox that has led to bloody clashes over the years.

Most recently in January, nearly a dozen people were killed in a village attack thought to be the result of a rivalry between the Pokomo and Orma ethnic groups. Analysts such as Donovan Chau, a political science professor at California State University-San Bernardino, fear that the government isn’t doing enough to tackle these longsimmering ethnic rivalries, which could resurface during the election.

“Violence is still a likelihood, and the reason is that the ethnic divides in Kenya remain,”explained Chau, author of numerous reports on security in East Africa.“The two leading candidates represent the traditional ethnic groups, the Kikuyu and the Luo. This is the divide we saw back in the early 1960s, between Uhuru’s father [Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya’s first president] and Raila’s father [Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, the country’s first vice president]. In the worst-case scenario, if violence this time exceeds what happened in 2007-08, that would greatly hamper our efforts to combat terrorism in East Africa.”

Chau says the reforms enacted under Kenya’s 2010 constitution are “definitely positive developments for which the political leadership should be commended” — but that there are still flaws.

“The electoral commission is relatively weak. It really doesn’t have the capability to prevent violence which would originate from the villages anyway,” he told The Diplomat. “While these changes are important, they don’t get at the root of the problem, which is the entrenched nature of corruption.And I don’t think the new constitution can do away with the legacy of ethnic tension. It’s basically the nature of Kenya.”

The ambassador dismisses the notion that

See kenya, page 24

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The Washington Diplomat Page 15

Business

Airlines

Mideast Business Boom Fuels Global Expansion at Dulles

by Larry Luxner

D

ulles International Airport (IAD), which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, expects to serve a record 24 million passengers in 2013 — driven in part by a business and investment boom in the oil-rich Persian Gulf that shows no sign of slowing down.

Just over 26 percent of the airport’s traffic is international traffic — a ratio exceeded in the United States only by New York’s JFK and Miami International Airport. Dulles, located in Northern Virginia, now ranks as the nation’s 10th-busiest airport, said Chris Browne, vice president and airport manager for Dulles.

And if its master plan comes to pass, IAD could one day accommodate up to 70 million passengers a year — making it a “crown jewel” for economic development across the national capital region.

Dulles already handles nearly 70 percent of the region’s international passengers. The remainder is shared by Maryland’s Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), which offers limited service to Canada, Bermuda and the Bahamas.

“We’ve seen many new airlines begin service in 2012,” Browne said. “Emirates, Aeroméxico, Porter Airlines and Sun Air all came to Dulles last year. Etihad Airways will begin daily service in 2013. There was also an increase in international routes served by United, the airline with the largest presence at the airport.

“We already have Saudi [Arabian Airlines], Qatar Airways, Turkish [Airlines], United — flying to Kuwait and Doha — and now Etihad.We have some of the most robust service into the Middle East out of any airport in North America,” Browne told The Washington Diplomat.

Photos: Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA)

The roof and skylights of the recently completed International Arrivals Building stands in front of the main terminal of Dulles International Airport, which expects to serve a record 24 million passengers in 2013.

“

As the international gateway to our nation’s capital, Dulles has been honored to remain on the cutting edge of new aircraft technology since its opening 50 years ago.

”

— John E. Potter president and CEO of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority

“Some very large hub airports are being built out there — for instance Abu Dhabi,” he added. “We’re also finding that a lot of North American traffic to India and points beyond are connecting just as readily through these Middle East hubs that are served by our airport as through [traditional] European hubs like London or Paris.”

Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH), home base of Etihad, is undergoing a $3.2 billion expansion that includes a giant 700,000-square-meter terminal building

Page 16

with 18,000 square meters of duty-free shopping alone.

When finished in 2017,AUH will be capable of handling 65 jets simultaneously. At that point, Abu Dhabi — capital of the United Arab Emirates — will have an airport that can receive 30 million passengers a year, rising to 47 million by 2030.

Likewise, Dubai International Airport (DXB) is moving ahead with a $7.8 billion expansion plan that could boost traffic to 90 million passengers a year by 2018 — up from 60 million today — making DXB the largest Airbus A380-specific terminal infrastructure in the world, according to an airport press release.

Not to be outdone, the wealthy emirate of Qatar is building a new airport in the desert to accommodate the rapid growth of its state-owned airline, Qatar Airways. Hamad International Airport will open later this year at a cost of $15.5 billion. Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said that, “2013 is an historic year for the State of Qatar, Qatar Airways and the

country’s young aviation industry.”

The airline also recently marked another milestone: the five-year anniversary of its service to Dulles.

Etihad, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, will start its daily nonstop service linking Dulles and Abu Dhabi on March 31. In late January, the airline offered a peek at one of its brand-new B777 aircraft when the gleaming new jet stopped at Dulles on its maiden voyage from the Boeing factory in Everett, Wash.

“The Washington metropolitan region represents a wide geographical spread and strong economy,” said Daniel Barranger, Etihad’s vice president for global sales.

“This route is vital to supporting our ongoing growth in the United States and the increasing ties between the U.S. and the United Arab Emirates.”

Indeed, despite its relative smallness, the UAE consistently ranks as America’s top export partner in the Arab world. Last year, the South Carolina-size nation of 7.9 million people imported $22.57 billion in goods from the United States — a 41.9 percent jump over 2011 figures.

At Etihad’s Jan. 24 event, a team of more than 25 cabin crew was on hand to escort the exclusive audience of diplomats, government officials and business executives for a tour of the airline’s B777.

“Our offering today is the result of tireless and constant innovation and significant investment,” said Aubrey Tiedt, Etihad’s vice president of guest services.“In creating our guest experience, we look outside the regular parameters of the airline industry, benchmarking instead against the leading hotels and restaurants of the world.

The Washington Diplomat

See airlines, page 18 March 2013

Congratulations on your newest capital connection!

The U.S.–U.A.E. Business Council and its member companies congratulate Etihad Airways on the launch of nonstop service between Washington, DC and Abu Dhabi.

Etihad Airways’ recent expansion to new markets in the U.S. is further evidence of the growing bilateral relationship between the United States and the United Arab Emirates.

Expanding trade Supporting jobs and economic growth Encouraging cultural and philanthropic exchanges

For more information visit usuaebusiness.org

March 2013

The Washington Diplomat Page 17

from page 16

airlines This means we have a completely different approach to onboard service. Our staff is trained to be hospitality experts. But more than this, they understand that caring for each individual is fundamental to differentiating our guest experience — on the ground and in the air.”

Etihad’s biggest UAE competitor, Emirates, has been flying the Washington-Dubai route since Sept. 12, when it made Dulles its seventh U.S. gateway. Passengers on that route fly on a Boeing 777-200 LR that features, among other amenities, private suites in first class; lie-flat beds in business class; SMS, telephone and email service at every seat; and 1,400 channels of inflight entertainment.

Emirates President Tim Clark said the airline — which carried 18.7 million passengers last year — “looks forward to connecting D.C.-area travelers with the largest number of one-stop flights to Africa, the Indian subcontinent, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.”

One of the world’s fastest-growing airlines, Emirates continues to be profitable, despite unstable global economic conditions. In the first half of fiscal 2013, net profit came to $464 million, up 104 percent from the $228 million in the year-earlier period. Total revenues came to $9.7 billion, up 17 percent from the $8.2 billion a year earlier.

Equipped with the world’s largest fleet of Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s, Emirates now flies to 126 destinations in 74 countries. Besides Washington, it has also recently added Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Barcelona, Spain; Lisbon, Portugal; and Erbil, Iraq, to its route map.

Dulles International Airport, inaugurated in 1962 and named after former Secretary of State John Foster Dulles, saw 327,493 takeoffs and

landings in 2011 — up from the roughly 8,000 in its first year of operations. In 2011, IAD served nearly 6.5 million international passengers, a number that has consistently gone up over the years.

“Yields on international fares are higher than those on domestic fares, and yields that airlines generate out of this market tend to do quite well because of our high business volume,” said IAD’s Browne.“Most of the business-class flights out of here are full.”

Today, the longest-haul flight out of IAD is All Nippon Airways’ nonstop to Tokyo, a journey of nearly 14 hours. (The shortest is Sun Air’s 40-minute jaunt to Hagerstown, Md., aboard a nine-passenger Piper Chieftain commuter plane.)

Among other things, Dulles claims to be the nation’s first airport to display real-time security-line waits in the terminal and online. It also boasts a new, modern underground Aerotrain system connecting airport concourse gates to the main terminal building, part of an ongoing series of renovations and updates to the sprawlPHOTO: J DAVID BUERK ing facility.

To add to the international arrivals experi- Etihad, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, will start its daily nonstop service linking Dulles and Abu Dhabi ence, IAD also employs a contingent of college- on March 31, using its state-of-the-art, brand new Boeing B777 aircraft. age “student ambassadors” — 90 percent of whom speak multiple languages — who greet service from Dulles to Mexico City, and Porter Dreamliner, a mid-size, wide-body jet billed as Airlines expanded its Toronto-Washington ser- the company’s most fuel-efficient aircraft ever. and assist arriving travelers.

Browne said Dulles is well versed in catering vice to four daily flights. In December, Copa But in January,the FederalAviationAdministration Airlines added a second nonstop flight to Panama ordered all U.S.-based airlines to ground their to the special needs of diplomats.

“We do over 1,000 VIP movements per year. City, and on June 18, Brussels Airlines will begin 787s following several incidents involving the Most of those are through the State Department flying five times a week from IAD to Brussels, aircraft’s lithium-ion batteries catching fire — foreign dignitaries, heads of state, ambassa- headquarters of the 27-nation European Union. while in flight.

Browne said his airport has been unaffected Dulles marked another milestone last year dor-designates and so forth,” he said. “We also have standalone screening facilities in the event when Germany’s Lufthansa initiated commer- by Boeing’s latest headache.

“Ethiopian Airlines was the only carrier thus an arriving party has some security require- cial service of the new Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental, flying the inaugural route from far operating the Dreamliner into Dulles, and ments.” they have substituted a 777-300 instead while While the Middle East is crucial to IAD’s bot- Frankfurt to Dulles.

This new wide-body aircraft provides service the Dreamliner is undergoing continued investom line, the airport is not totally dependent on six days a week (excluding Tuesdays) and will tigation,” he said.“So we haven’t lost any service that region for revenues. every effortbyis 6.3 made to assure your of adthe is grounding free of mistakes as a result of the 787.in ” spelling and increaseAlthough capacity on this route percent.

Last May, Aeroméxico began daily nonstop NOTE: content it is ultimately up to the customer to make the final proof.

Browne said yet another important mileThe 747-8 is equipped with 362 seats in a threeclass configuration, redesigned wings with stone will be achieved in 2018, with complethe to Silver extension subsequent of the Metrorailchanges improved aerodynamics, as well will as fuel-efficient The first two faxed changes be made at tion no of cost theLine advertiser, system into Virginia’s County. engines that contribute reduction in fuel alteration. will be billed at a ratetoofa $75 per faxed Signed ads areLoudoun considered approved.

Construction of the 23-mile Silver Line — burn, emissions and noise.

“We want to thank Lufthansa for selecting expected to cost $5.6 billion — is being funded Please check this ad carefully. Mark any changes to your ad.

Dulles for the honor of receiving the very first by a combination of Dulles Toll Road revenues commercial flight of a Boeing 747-8 Inter- and airport contributions, as well as federal, If the ad is correct signin and fax to: (301) 949-0065 needs changes state and local government appropriations. continental anywhere the world, ” said John E. “I think it’s going to be very significant on a Potter, president and CEO of the Metropolitan couple of fronts,” Browne said. “It connects us Authority, which TheWashington WashingtonAirports Diplomat (301) was 933-3552 established in 1987 to manage and operate to the entire Metro network throughout the Dulles as well as Ronald Reagan National region, providing other options to get to the Approved __________________________________________________________ airport. We’ve also got over 18,000 employees, Airport.

Changes ___________________________________________________________ “As the international gateway to our nation’s so I expect we’ll see a lot of them choose to use capital, Dulles has been honored to remain on it, though it might not be a choice that meets ___________________________________________________________________ the cutting edge of new aircraft technology the needs of business people who arrive by since its opening 50 years ago. We congratulate taxi. Overall, it will make Dulles more accessible Lufthansa on the debut of this impressive new to users.” aircraft and thank them for serving Dulles as the launch market from their Frankfurt hub.”

Larry Luxner is news editor of The Boeing has had far less success with its 787 Washington Diplomat.

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March 2013

The Rotunda: Foreign Affairs on Capitol Hill

Kerry and Hagel: A Tale of Two Hearings

by Luke Jerod Kummer

O

n a frigid morning this January, something peculiar happened. A man seeking one of the highest offices in the United States sat down in a room filled with some of the sharpest minds in the land, and for nearly four hours they had a serious discussion on the most important foreign policy issues of the day.

They talked about bringing the Afghanistan war to a successful close, forging prosperity in Iraq, dealing with extremism in Pakistan, ending bloodshed in Syria, stabilizing Egypt, meeting the rise of China, supporting financial recovery in Europe, nursing democracy in Latin America, ensuring Iran doesn’t launch a nuclear arms race or menace its neighbors, saving the world from global warming — and accomplishing all this during an uncertain economy.

Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), testifying before Congress to become the next secretary of state, for the most part answered the questions with candor, intelligence, sensitivity and gravitas.

His Jan. 24 confirmation hearing began with a prologue in which the senior statesman of the other party, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), introduced Kerry to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that would be measuring his fate.

In our times, all of this, sadly, has become exceedingly uncommon. It was an event to savor, one in which the public got the dissection of American foreign policy it is owed.

Congressional confirmation hearings are one of the few remaining bastions of in-depth, civil discourse in U.S. politics. Sometimes lasting six hours or longer, they offer a forum for serious discussion that goes far beyond the opportunistic TV sound bites or vague presidential speeches to which we’ve become accustomed — and numb.

For anyone who might have concluded, however, that a new wind of reason and comity had swept through the Capitol, only two weeks later, another senate confirmation hearing laid that notion to rest.

When former Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Jan. 31 in his bid to become the next defense secretary, what followed was the venomous, small-minded, self-serving politics we know all too well. It was a shameful display of showmanship that robbed America of the chance to appraise how the administration intends to approach security, defense and the war our soldiers have been fighting for more than a decade.

As of press time, Hagel has yet to be confirmed. Led

by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who, not coincidentally is fending off a Tea Party challenge in his home state, Republicans successfully filibustered his nomination on Feb. 14. They didn’t technically call it a “filibusMarch 2013

ter” but that’s just semantics; they blocked an up-or-down vote. At first, Republicans expressed deep misgivings about Hagel’s foreign policy views. Then that morphed into unsubstantiated insinuations about Hagel’s financial records. The latest reason for the obstructionism was to force the Obama administration to answer more questions about the Sept. 11 attack in Benghazi, Libya, that killed four Americans — an event completely unrelated to Hagel.

Democrats said they could muster enough votes to eventually confirm Hagel, most likely by the end of February. Still, the GOP filibuster was unprecedented for a Cabinet pick — but the real low was reached earlier, during his Senate confirmation hearing.

In the Kerry hearing, the public got the debate it deserved — in the Hagel hearing, we got what we’ve come to expect in lieu. Even John Brennan, in his Senate appearance to become the next CIA director, did not get pounded as hard as Hagel did (at least not by lawmakers, though he was heckled by protesters) — despite criticism Brennan has faced from both the left and right as one of the chief architects of the administration’s counterterrorism policy. Brennan’s hearing, in fact, offered a rare moment for Congress and the public to openly debate the sharp rise in drone strikes and the legality of targeted killings.

Indeed, congressional confirmation hearings are one of the few remaining bastions of in-depth, civil discourse in U.S. politics. Sometimes lasting six hours or longer, they offer a forum for serious discussion that goes far beyond the opportunistic TV sound bites or vague presidential speeches to which we’ve become accustomed — and numb.

John Kerry During the most recent presidential contest,Americans were exposed to some of the worst our political system has to offer. By and large, the candidates avoided thoughtfulness on all matters — with an especial aversion to foreign affairs — and instead the public was fed policy pabulum sprinkled with an assortment of attack ads, red meat and gotcha gaffes.And this happened all while tens of thousands of American troops were still deployed in the longest war of our country’s history.

This same shunning of reality was on ugly display during the Hagel hearing, which offered a prime opportunity to debate the Afghan drawdown and a host of other pressing defense issues. The reasons for why it was so different from the Kerry hearing range from

Photo: Larry Luxner

politics, personal histories and grievances, to irrational obsessions and plain-old dollars and cents.

And while Hagel did himself no favors with a clumsy, seemingly ill-prepared and widely panned performance, the lack of respect shown in the Senate — a chamber traditionally known for its collegiality — toward a former colleague and decorated war veteran marked a new low in the history of confirmation hearings.

Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) set the tone early, employing a tactic familiar to anyone who’s watched overzealous actors play hard-nosed prosecutors on TV, in which they shout a question and then demand an answer without letting the defendant actually reply.

“The question I’d like to ask you,” said the Senate Armed Services Committee’s new ranking member, “and you can answer it for the record if you’d like, is why do you think that the Iranian Foreign Ministry so strongly supports your nomination to be the secretary of defense?”

Hours of henpecking followed the precedent Inhofe began.

The recently elected Sen.Ted Cruz (R-Texas) injected cable news punditry into the congressional proceedings, mugging to the cameras so he might grace the evening airwaves. He orchestrated his gofers to raise posters printed with quotes attributed to Hagel and had them roll in a TV to replay footage of Hagel — and then cited quotes out of context.

Cruz even invoked the Holocaust, ironically in order to accuse Hagel of diminishing the significance of the Holocaust.

Both of the clips Cruz ran were from a show on Al Jazeera that featured call-in and write-in questions. The topic being discussed was reducing nuclear arsenals, but a heavily accented caller — some portions were

Continued on next page The Washington Diplomat Page 19

Iraq that was championed by neoconservatives.

Hagel’s no favorite among liberals, either.

“The Rotunda: Foreign rendered “inaudible” in the transcripts — garDemocrats closed ranks to support him — Affairs on Capitol Hill” is bled a litany of grievances in the Palestinian teralbeit reluctantly. Prominent Democrats such as a regular new column ritories, Sudan and Sri Lanka. He concluded by Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York had to be describing a “total moral failure” among world

by Luke Jerod Kummer, convinced that Hagel wouldn’t be too antagonisleaders. tic toward Israel or too accommodating on Iran. congressional correspondent for The Washington Hagel responded: “Well, I think you’re exactly (Hagel’s past stance toward gays also rankled Diplomat, that examines the inner workings right. And I said in my opening statement that liberals.) of the Hill, including issues and legislation that leadership is critical, because we know that Although Hagel has made some controversial important to the diplomatic community. in life, nothing is ever accomplished without statements over the years (the “Jewish lobby” leadership.” reference has certainly come back to haunt Somehow, Cruz translated that into Hagel Hagel failed to clarify the quote, while Cruz him), many of the comments have been exploitagreeing with a part of the caller’s ramble that twice cut off Hagel’s responses with “my time is ed and overblown. Hagel’s views on the Israeliincluded the phrase “war crimes.” limited” — at an all-day hearing.

Palestinian peace process (advocating a negoti“Do you think the nation of Israel has commitIt would have been interesting to see Hagel, a ated two-state solution) and pursuing nuclear ted war crimes?” Cruz asked. willing and deft verbal combatant during his talks with Iran hardly fall outside the main“No, but — no, I do not, Senator,” Hagel, taken two terms in the Senate, go tête-à-tête with Cruz. stream. And the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the aback, replied. “I’d want to look at the full con- Instead, the nominee seemed strangely content domain of the White House and Congress anytext of the interview, but to answer your ques- to absorb fire from every direction. way, not the Pentagon, where Israel’s robust tion, no.”

And Cruz, a former standout on the Princeton military ties with the UniCruz then compared the video clip to a state- Debate Panel and now a rising Tea Party hero, ted States are not going to NOTE: Although is made your ad of mistakes in spelling and ment the nomineeevery made effort six years ago. to assure seemed to is befree fishing for a scandal, suggesting change, no matter who’s in “I would suggest suggestion that Israel contentthat it isa ultimately up to the customer makeonthe proof. that Hageltowent “Al final Jazeera, a foreign netcharge. has committed war crimes is particularly offen- work” to broadcast “propaganda to nations that Yet Israel and Iran consive, ” said Cruz, “given that the Jewish people are hostile to us. ” sumed an inordinate chunk The first two faxed changes will be made at no cost to the advertiser, subsequent changes suffered underatthea most horrific crimes alteration. in MoreSigned recently, Cruz onto foreign conof Hagel’s confirmation will be billed rate of $75 war per faxed ads arelatched considered approved. the Holocaust.” spiracy innuendos in an attempt to hold up the hearing, obscuring many Cruz had connected the statement from a confirmation vote, accusing Hagel of giving other critical national dePlease check ad carefully.

Mark speeches any changes to yourorad. video with Hagel’s quote thatthis referred to the “paid at extreme radical groups,” Chuck Hagel fense matters. conflict between Israel and Hezbollah with the though he didn’t back up what many saw as As the website BuzzFeed If thephrase ad is“sickening correct sign and ”fax to: (301) 949-0065 needs changes slaughter. spurious charges. noted, Iran was mentioned 144 times during the The problem with using this quote — as John The extent of GOP opposition to Hagel’s hearing, while Afghanistan was mentioned 20 Judis pointed out in the New Republic —933-3552 is that nomination, while ferocious, should come as lit- times.

The Washington Diplomat (301) Hagel’s full statement paints a rather different tle surprise given the former Republican senaAccording to my count, “North Korea” and picture: “The sickening slaughter on both sides tor’s closeness with Obama over the years. Even “North Korean[s]” were mentioned less than a Approved __________________________________________________________ must end, and it must end now. President Bush though the American Conservative Union gave dozen times. Only a few weeks after the hearing, Changes ___________________________________________________________ must call for an immediate ceasefire,” Hagel said, Hagel a conservative voting record above 80 Kim Jong-un detonated the nation’s third, and referring to the 2006 war between Hezbollah in percent during his two terms, there’s no love most powerful, nuclear device. ___________________________________________________________________ Lebanon and Israel that left an estimated 1,300 lost between the GOP and the man who vocally And what about China? Despite America’s Lebanese and 165 Israelis dead. (and presciently) spoke out against the war in major military realignment known as the Asian pivot, “China” and “Chinese” were mentioned a mere five times.

A country that did get referenced a lot was Vietnam. Despite their differences, it was this connection that linked the Kerry and Hagel hearings, enmeshing McCain as well.

Analysts have speculated whether Kerry and Hagel, both Vietnam vets, will usher in an era of retrenchment in U.S. foreign policy. Although neither man disavows the use the force, both are wary of entangling American troops in unnecessary foreign interventions.

Keswick, Virginia That gets to a very practical reason why Hagel’s hearing was qualitatively different than Kerry’s — one that has nothing to do with beef and everything to do with pork.

According to the Congressional Research Service, expenditures for international affairs usually add up to about 1.5 percent of the total A great mix of academics and federal budget. For reference, at the beginning of last year, the Obama administration requested traditional summer camp fun! about $55 billion for the foreign operations under the State Department’s mantle.

• Co-ed boarding & day programs Compare that to its request for about $620 for ages 6-14 billion for the Department of Defense (including $519 billion for the Pentagon’s base budget plus $88 billion for overseas contingency opera• Emphasis on building a strong academic tions). foundation, student-to-teacher ratio 5:1 Add on top of that $18 billion bound for the Energy Department, which is also within the • Recreation program includes horseback Senate Armed Services Committee’s purview riding, sports, arts, nature and more! because of nuclear arms.

It’s plain to see then why the selection process for the next secretary of defense — who • 6-week camp - June 30 to August 9 will make budget recommendations to the White House that impact one of the nation’s most lucrative industries — might get heated.

The next leader of the Pentagon will also have to guide the massive bureaucracy through years summer camp discOunt FOr active duty military of belt-tightening — and many believe Hagel intends to be a reformer who would tackle bloated spending.

WWW.OAKLANDSCHOOL.NET • 434-293-9059 Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), for example, drilled Hagel over whether or not he

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planned to reduce the military’s fleet of nuclear subs. Considering that New London, Conn., is sometimes called “the submarine capital of the world,” why he cared so deeply wasn’t hard to deduce.

This, after all, is why senators seek out slots on committees like Armed Services: Because there they grip purse strings that can greatly affect the welfare of their home states. A position on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on the other hand, may confer prestige but usually does not benefit constituents directly.

Partisanship and personal grudges aside, Hagel’s views on America’s place in the world — and how far the military should go in securing that place — deserve scrutiny. How much can defense spending be cut without endangering national security? How large does America’s nuclear arsenal need to be? Should the United States arm Syria’s rebels or stay out of that country’s civil war? How much of a military presence should we maintain in Afghanistan — or the entire Middle East for that matter, as shaky Arab governments fall to public discontent?

Hagel would become the first enlisted soldier to run the Pentagon, a background that undoubtedly affects his view of war, given that he’s experienced it firsthand, and that should rightfully be examined.

Still, it was astounding to witness Hagel’s loyalty to his country — one he had volunteered to defend on the frontlines in Vietnam, earning two Purple Hearts in the process — questioned. It was yet another low in American political discourse, on par with the “swift boating” attacks on Kerry during his presidential run or the suggestion during McCain’s campaign in 2000 that he was a “Manchurian candidate.”

Since losing his presidential bid, Kerry has rehabilitated his image, earning bipartisan respect for his work as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where his former colleagues lavished praise on Kerry’s military record during his confirmation hearing. Hagel’s military service, however, received token mention. So it went with these two hearings: It was the best of times, and it was the worst of times.

Kerry’s hearing was not entirely without drama. At one point, an anti-war protestor interrupted the proceedings. Kerry acknowledged her in this way:“People measure what we do,” he said to his fellow senators.

It was an uncanny bookend to Kerry’s career in the Senate, where he testified before the same committee in 1971 on how the government misled Americans into Vietnam and how some of them committed unspeakable acts there.

The public only gets a few instances these days when it can gauge what its leaders think and why they do what they do.

And, yes, people measure them by it.

That’s the basis for the nation that America’s founders intended. They designed a process for picking leaders — senators, presidents, cabinet secretaries — who would be scrutinized. They hoped citizens would have a chance to measure those who sought these offices, and would choose good candidates.

In this age, though, probity has become a rarity. Too often our leaders act like no one is watching, or if people are, they’re not looking closely.

If that’s the case, we’ll all have to live with the consequences.

Luke Jerod Kummer is a contributing writer for The Washington Diplomat.

Your sourCE For diPloMatiC nEWs. www.washdiplomat.com

March 2013

Inside the Chamber

US-Taiwan Business Council

Dynamic President, Policy Veteran Navigate ‘Unofficial’ Relationship

by Sean Lyngaas

O

n a brisk February afternoon, The Washington Diplomat visited the US-Taiwan Business Council to learn how a group with about a hundred corporate members but a staff of three or four leverages its influence.

We soon found that this discrepancy between staffing and influence might be explained by the dynamism of Rupert Hammond-Chambers, the council’s Scottish-born president, who speaks of the importance of the U.S.-Taiwan relationship with equal parts zeal and eloquence.

“Taiwan is this hugely important market for the U.S. — 11th largest trading partner — and even that belies the importance of Taiwan because of its critical role in the [U.S.] supply chain,” HammondChambers told us in the council’s sleek conference room in Rosslyn,Va., overlooking the Potomac. Bilateral trade in goods and services totaled $85 billion in 2011, according to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative — a 10 percent increase from the prior year and a 45 percent jump from the year before that.

It could blossom further still. The week before our conversation, the Obama administration announced the renewal of talks between Washington and Taipei over a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) that had stalled for five years. Every foreign business council covets a free trade pact with the world’s largest economy. It is, to a certain extent, their raison d’être.

“

[The United States and Taiwan] constructed a somewhat unique animal called an unofficial relationship, and it’s a very rich and productive unofficial relationship.

”

— Paul Wolfowitz

chairman of the US-Taiwan Business Council

Trade talks between Taipei and Washington were suspended after Taiwan placed restrictions on U.S. beef imports, prompted by concerns over the safety of U.S. meat and mad cow disease. But last summer,Taiwan lifted the ban on U.S. beef containing traces of ractopamine, a livestock feed additive, paving the way for the resumption of TIFA negotiations.

Hammond-Chambers’s face lit up as he March 2013

talked about the TIFA. He said the council wants to see U.S. trade negotiators “hit the ground running next month” when they visit Taiwan. “We should be looking at an ambitious trade relationship with Taiwan partly because we’ve taken the past five years off, and partly because Taiwan’s an extremely important partner for us.”

But the glimmer in his eyes faded when the topic turned to White House support for the issue.“Free trade requires significant and ongoing presidential leadership,” something Hammond-Chambers said he hasn’t seen consistently from President Obama.

The council’s chairman,Paul Wolfowitz, a former World Bank president and U.S. deputy secretary of defense in the Bush administration, will be in Taiwan the same time as Obama administration trade negotiators, something he calls a “happy coincidence.” He is taking with him a few council members and is meeting with the Taiwanese president, premier and relevant cabinet members. The delegation hopes to “broaden our contacts in the Taiwan business sector and find ways to help them do business in the United States,”Wolfowitz told us.

But he is also thinking about the bigger picture.“Because of the improvement in cross-strait relations, there’s actually an opportunity for Taiwan to become an important piece of the whole trans-Pacific trade in which China itself is probably the key piece,”Wolfowitz said.

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) — a trade agreement being mulled by the United States, Australia, Canada, Mexico, Peru, Malaysia, Vietnam and other Pacific nations — could boost trilateral cooperation between Washington, Beijing and Taipei. But Taiwan likely won’t be involved in TPP “without a change of heart within the Obama administration over the next three or four years,” Hammond-Chambers said.

In fact, despite its strong economy (with the 20th largest GDP in the world), Taiwan has been locked out of many regional trade pacts and world bodies over the years — mostly because of opposition from China.

Delicate Triangle The U.S.-Taiwanese relationship cannot

Photo: Larry Luxner

Taipei 101 stands in the heart of Taiwan’s capital as a symbol of the island’s rapid economic progress over the last decade. Despite robust bilateral trade, the United States and Taiwan maintain an unofficial relationship underpinned by the Taiwan Relations Act.

be divorced from Taiwan’s big superpower neighbor, China, which still views the island as a breakaway province, even though cross-strait economic ties have improved markedly over the last five years.

In 1979, the United States established formal relations with the People’s Republic of China and swapped diplomatic recognition of Taiwan (Republic of China) for an unofficial relationship underpinned by the Taiwan Relations Act. A bustling trade in goods, services and people has since flourished in this zone of ambiguity.

A firm belief in the importance of this “unofficial relationship” compelled Wolfowitz to take up the council chairmanship in 2008. The United States and Taiwan have “constructed a somewhat unique animal called an unofficial relationship, and it’s a very rich and produc-

tive unofficial relationship,” Wolfowitz said.

At the same time, China still looms large over the relationship. Taiwanese officials, for example, are barred from visiting Washington out of U.S. political sensitivities with China. And although the United States maintains a policy of “strategic ambiguity” as to whether it would come to Taiwan’s defense if attacked by China, the island’s security has been a longstanding thorn between Washington and Beijing.

The Taiwan Relations Act legalizes U.S. arms sales to the island, and such sales have become a lucrative source of business. But they’ve also been subject to politics. Chinese objections kept both the Bush and Obama administrations from

See taiwan, page 54 The Washington Diplomat Page 21

Medical

Exercise

The Right Moves: Exercise, Sports Define and Transcend Cultures

by Stephanie Kanowitz

F

inding things to squabble about among different cultures is unfortunately easy.

There are politics and religion, history and science. But one genre borne of competition is actually quite diplomatic: sports.

Sports and fitness practices from other countries serve as diplomats for participants and observers alike because they expose people to other cultures through movement, music and cherished tradition.

“People of all cultures enjoy watching sports.

Therefore, the love of sports can be a unifying force — something that we all share,” said Jason Frost, technical and policy adviser at the New Zealand Embassy in Washington, D.C. For example, Americans, long known for their distinct brand of football, have increasingly embraced “foreign” sports such as soccer — otherwise known as football around the world — rugby and other athletics (also see “Rugby, Cricket, Fencing, Other Sports Take on Traditional American Athletics” in the October 2012 issue of The Washington Diplomat).

“Sport is a universal language,” said Philip Barton, deputy head of mission at the British Embassy.“Yes, it’s competitive, but each game is structured around universal rules and principles that apply equally whatever your linguistic or cultural heritage.… Talking about sports can break the ice in conversations between people from very different backgrounds.”

Here’s a look at five of those icebreakers:

Rugby Originated in 19th-century England, rugby has been embraced by many countries, including New Zealand, which made rugby its national sport.

“It is often said that rugby is more than just a game of sport,” Frost told us.“It is an integral part of the New Zealand culture.The national team — the All Blacks — is the current world champions and one of the most successful and well-recognized sports team in the world.”

That recognition helps put New Zealand on the map, he says. “As a small country, we are fortunate that we have a team such as the All Blacks who are identifiable throughout the world, even in places where people may not be all that familiar with New Zealand.”

Frost coordinated the 16th annual Ambassador’s Shield Rugby Match in November, a local tournament organized by the New Zealand Embassy that features a host of men’s, women’s, golden oldies and youth rugby teams. The first festival was held in July 1997 after a meeting between a group of New Zealanders playing rugby in Washington and then New Zealand Ambassador to the United States John Wood.

“The idea,” the Ambassador’s Shield website states, “behind the match was to promote New Zealand’s culture in the Washington area by pitting a team of expatriate Kiwis against a local select side. Following the game the players, officials and supporters would be invited back to the embassy to talk about the match and enjoy some New Zealand hospitality.”

That simple idea has become a huge success. During

Page 22

Photo: Challenger Sports Inc.

The Challenger Sports branch in Baltimore, Md., has been offering soccer camps for children since 1985 and has grown alongside soccer’s popularity in the United States. In 2012, Challenger brought more than 1,000 soccer coaches from England to teach more than 130,000 kids at summer camps in all 50 states.

“

People of all cultures enjoy watching sports. Therefore, the love of sports can be a unifying force — something that we all share.

— Jason Frost

”

adviser at the Embassy of New Zealand

the most recent match-up,the New ZealandAmbassador’s XV beat the U.S. Military Combined Services, 41-18, but it’s more about having fun and sharing culturally than winning.

“That’s why we hold this annual rugby event,” Frost said. “As the ambassador has noted, rugby shows off many aspects of New Zealand culture — from the players performing the haka before the game, to the food and beverages enjoyed by those watching.” The haka is a traditional war cry and dance.

“New Zealand sporting teams are on some level role models to our young people, as well as representatives of our country on the international stage,” Frost said.

Kiwis cheering on their national teams get a taste of other cultures, too, he added. “New Zealanders also learn about countries through watching their favorite sports teams playing in them — whether it be the All Blacks touring Europe, or the New Zealand cricket team [the Black Caps] traveling to the Indian subcontinent.”

British Soccer Soccer, another British creation, is one of the oldest competitive sports. England’s Football Association, the

sport’s first governing body, is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year; its Scottish equivalent is the second oldest at 140 years, the British Embassy’s Barton said.

“We’re very proud to be the country where modern football developed and where its first formal rules were set out in the 1860s,” he said, adding that the only thing bigger than playing the game is talking about it.

“Football is our national sport, but complaining about our team’s performance is a close second.”

England has 92 professional clubs, the Scottish League has 42, and the Welsh Premier League and its Northern Irish counterpart each have 12, making a total of more than 150 clubs in the United Kingdom, Barton noted.

“With hundreds of millions of viewers, the English Premier League is the most watched football league in the world, including in the United States, where NBC just paid $250 million to screen it for the next three seasons,” Barton said.

Like rugby, soccer is idolized worldwide. It’s played competitively in myriad countries such as Cameroon, El Salvador, Germany, Japan, Tahiti, Ukraine and Venezuela. But you don’t have to book a flight to try your hand — er, foot — at the game. The Challenger Sports branch in Baltimore, Md., has been offering soccer camps for children ages 2 to 18 since 1985 and has grown as soccer’s popularity in the United States has bloomed, said Sean Datson, a regional director at Challenger who coordinates soccer camps in Fairfax County, Va., D.C., Southern Maryland and the Eastern Shore. In 2012, Challenger brought more than 1,000 soccer coaches from England to teach more than 130,000 kids at summer camps in all 50 states.

“Providing our British soccer camps allows children to experience a perspective on soccer from coaches

The Washington Diplomat

March 2013

who grew up in a culture where soccer is No. 1,” Datson said. “The passion, excitement and energy shown throughout the summer by our coaches really has an effect on American children, encouraging a love for the beautiful game and encouraging continued participation as they get older.”

Besides teaching campers how to kick, Datson said, coaches help them learn about countries where soccer is played.

“Campers are put into World Cup teams on the first day of camp and are encouraged to earn World Cup points by learning about their adopted country,” Datson explained. “Themed days, such as fact day and flag day, allow the kids to find out five facts and draw their countries’ flags to earn their team points with the aim of reaching the World Cup finals on the last day of camp.

Campers are also awarded points for showing examples of respect, sportsmanship, leadership and integrity throughout the week.

“The coaches keep the campers engaged during their water breaks as well, with games such as the ‘Great British’ quiz, where campers participate in answering multi-choice questions about Great Britain such as ‘Where does Queen Elizabeth II live?’” Datson added.“Learning from British coaches and hearing their stories about playing in England also has a massive impact on their knowledge of that island across the pond.”

Salsa and Argentine Tango Dance, be it for competition or pleasure, sometimes blends aspects of many cultures. For instance, Puerto Rican salsa uses ingredients from mambo, cha-cha, guaguancó and rumba, said Laurie Anderson and David Norton, faculty members of the social dance program at Joy of Motion (JOM) Dance Center in D.C. and Bethesda, Md. “When mixing these music and dance styles together with horns and other jazz sounds it became ‘salsa,’ a spicy mix, like the sauce,” Norton said.

Salsa classes have been popular at JOM for more than two decades, with attendance ranging from five to 30 people, Anderson said.

Argentine tango was originally danced only in tiny wharf pubs by sailors and prostitutes and was considered so risqué for public consumption that, in the early 1900s, people were jailed for doing it, he said.

Although many salsa steps are in English, Anderson plays salsa music by Latin artists such as Héctor Lavoe and Gilberto Santa Rosa to get students moving. Tango classes double as language lessons because Norton uses the Spanish movement names and the English translation.

“For those that delve into a dance fully, they find themselves immersed in the language, the band instruments, the history of the artist and even traveling to those countries to dance,” Norton said. “However, for the average person, I think the cultural gleaning comes when they go out dancing and find people of all races, ages, sexes, shapes and sizes dancing together. There are no politics on the dance floor. Even political opposites can enjoy a dance with each other.”

The students themselves provide a cultural lesson, too, Anderson added. “I have people from all national, religious, socioeconomic and age ranges,” she said. “It’s like the United Nations and definitely fosters an appreciation of those cultures.”

Belly Dance Saphira, owner of Saffron Dance belly dance school in Arlington,Va., describes belly dancing as an amalgamation of folkloric dances from various parts of the Middle East.The goal of her school is to honor the movements and music in their original forms and contexts. Saphira does that by playing classical Egyptian music in her classes and explaining where a movement was born — for example, how a certain gesture was used in a port city to welcome the men back from sea.

“While no one country owns this concept of March 2013

Photo: Embassy of New Zealand

The New Zealand flag flies at the annual Ambassador’s Shield Rugby Match, a local tournament first organized by the New Zealand Embassy in 1997 that features a host of men’s, women’s, golden oldies and youth rugby teams.

belly dance,Arabic cultures in many regions have contributed to it,” said Saphira, who opened Saffron in September 2007. “The way that I personally describe it is that it is an art form and a dance form that has been given to us by generations and geographies of women and by being in the ‘lineage’ of the women, as we learn the dance form, we want to pay tribute to where the movement comes from originally.

“The dance form is brought to us by women around the world who do not likely have the right and the ability to express themselves in a dance form the way we do,” she added. “I think that’s a really profound reality about our dance form.”

The formal name is “raqs sharqi,” which translates to Oriental dance, although many genres, including ballet, have influenced belly dance over time.That’s why Saffron includes in its 45-classesper-week roster Oriental and ballet techniques.

Dancers come to her studio out of curiosity, a desire to increase their femininity, or because they are connected to someone with an Arab background, Saphira said. Whatever their reasons for coming, she hopes her love of the dance and culture inspires them to find out more.

“I would never suggest that my status as a Jewish American woman from Oklahoma is somehow creating a deepened understanding of Islamic culture because I’m doing belly dance. I would never represent that,” she said.“But what I do represent as being at least anecdotally accurate is because of my love and interest and commitment to the art form and the music form, the way that I share it creates a deepened interest, understanding and appreciation so that that student then has a deeper hunger and an interest in learning more deeply about the culture and music.”

author of “Yoga Body: The Origins of Modern Posture Practice.”A huge benefit of yoga’s spread — aside from helping people become healthier — is educating people about India, the discipline’s birthplace.

For one, it provides an easy entry point into the country’s religious or spiritual traditions because yoga has been central to many belief systems there, including Buddhism, Jainism and, to an extent, Islam, for centuries

“It may be India’s most visible cultural export, after Bollywood,” Singleton said.“Yoga has a very positive image these days and it’s a point of pride for many that it comes from India.”

Despite the good it’s done, the commercialism of yoga has taken a toll. “Yoga, such as it exists in many global contexts, is a tremendous source of confusion and half-baked ideas about India and Indian religion,” Singleton adds. “Yoga in the modern world has a complex history of interaction with many non-traditional elements, and in many cases would be unrecognizable to ‘traditional’ practitioners of yoga. The merger of yoga with what scholars call New Age beliefs would be one case of this.”

The global infatuation with yoga led Birad Rajaram Yajnik to study yoga in nine countries for his book,“The Great Indian Yoga Masters.”

“I have often wondered why yoga has become a worldwide phenomenon and the answer has been — flexibility,” he wrote in an article. “Yoga has adapted itself as per time, race, region … it adapts to any age group. It’s flexible around religions and regions, it has been taught via different means and tools over thousands of years.”

Stephanie Kanowitz is a contributing writer for The Washington Diplomat.

Follow The Diplomat Connect at www.washdiplomat.com.

Yoga Many scholars date the origins of yoga to about the 5th century BC, says Debra Diamond, associate curator of South and Southeast Asian art at the Smithsonian’s Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery. She is curating “Yoga: The Art of Transformation,” which will debut at the museum Oct. 19 to Jan. 26, 2014. The show is the first about the discipline’s visual history and speaks to its popularity not just in the United States, where it has gained considerable momentum, but worldwide.

A combination of physical, mental and spiritual exercise, yoga first came to the United States at the end of the 19th century and really took off here in the 1990s and 2000s when ashtanga and bikram forms became trendy, said Mark Singleton,

The Washington Diplomat Page 23

President Jimmy Carter himself — along with three Washington-based NGOs: the National Democratic Institute, the International Republican Institute and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems. The 27-member EU will also send election monitors, as will the African Union.

“As ambassador, I’ve been communicating with people here in Washington about how we’re preparing for the elections,” said Odembo, who will be at his desk on March 4, monitoring events back home minute by minute. “My hope is to encourage a visit by senior-level U.S. officials to reinforce the importance of having a free, fair, credible and peaceful election. That’s important not just for Kenya but for all of East Africa.”

Barkan says Washington should “impress upon Nairobi” the importance of taking steps to prevent election violence — and provide a clear warning that it will continue to support any investigations and ICC prosecutions if atrocities are committed again.

from page 15

Kenya ethnic tensions are ingrained in Kenyan society, although he admits serious mistakes were made in the 2007 election.

“The excessive powers that existed in the executive arm of government contributed to the problems we saw, especially the poor management of the elections by the Electoral Commission of Kenya, which we disbanded a year after the elections. It had 15 commissioners who had been handpicked by the president, so their loyalty obviously was to the president.

They were not in a position to be neutral.”

Odembo insists that the newly established Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is relatively corruption-free and ready for the March 4 vote.

“Now we have a very independent electoral commission. They were vetted through a hearing process in Parliament,” he said.“Their responsibility is to plan and manage the elections, which includes registering voters. They are also responsible for establishing electoral boundaries, which was another reason we had issues.

Communities were competing across boundaries.”

However, Barkan of the Center for Strategic and International Studies doesn’t think the IEBC is ready for the elections at all. He says that due to technical issues and delays in getting required equipment, the commission was two months behind in completing voter registration. As a result, it registered only 14.4 million, or 69 percent, of the more than 21 million Kenyans eligible to vote. He said the IEBC is also responsible for educating voters on a particularly complex ballot, since Kenyans will be voting for six offices for the first time.

“Most important, the commission must

Page 24

“The United States and others may have limited leverage over Kenya’s domestic politics, but they are not without options that would significantly improve the prospects for acceptable elections and help avert a major crisis,” he concluded, warning that with time running out, “Washington must intensify its engagement or forsake its opportunity to make a difference.”

The increased attention that the world is paying to Kenya’s elections this time around may prevent tensions from spiraling out of control, says Lloyd of Pepperdine University, noting that “although some of the enabling factors for the violence remain, there will be much greater domestic and international scrutiny of Kenya in the March 2013 elections.”

But he also warns: “Even if the election turns out to be a peaceful affair, Kenya remains a fragile state with significant challenges to political reform, accountability and stability.”

Larry Luxner is news editor of The Washington Diplomat.

Photo: Demosh (http://flickr.com/photos/44222307@N00)

Orange Democratic Movement supporters hold up a portrait of Raila Odinga during the 2007 election, which devolved into violence after Odinga appeared to be winning but then incumbent President Mwai Kibaki was suddenly declared the winner.

address the principal failure of the 2007 elections by carrying out an accurate transmission and tabulation of the votes from thousands of polling stations to its results reporting center in Nairobi and by making a timely announcement of the results,” he wrote. “Any further delays or missteps in meeting these challenges could force a postponement and/or undermine the legitimacy of the elections.”

Among U.S. observers of this election are the Atlanta-based Carter Center — led by former

from page 7

Huddleston mountains and they carried out terrorist attacks against the military, initially….Then they took 32 hostages — all of them European — and they took half of them into Mali,” she said, referring to the 2003 hostage crisis in the Sahara desert that sparked an Algerian manhunt for the missing tourists.

“Once the radicals got to Mali with 15 European hostages, they successfully extorted $5 million in ransom money from the German government,” Huddleston said (the German government never confirmed it paid a ransom). “They used that to buy arms and attempt to recruit.”

But the militant Islamic kidnappers, with varying ideologies, never found a strong foothold in Mali, a historic center of Islamic scholarship whose deeply cultural people have a zest for music, art, laughter and life.

“The people in Mali weren’t very interested because the extremists don’t believe in smoking or music and of course the Malians have lovely music and enjoy life quite a bit,” Huddleston said.

Over the next few years, she says the U.S. government embarked on training missions in Mali, but never engaged in the deep intelligence gathering that would have helped the Malian army root the radicals out. Meanwhile, Europeans continued to be abducted and held for ransom.

“They got stronger and stronger because Europeans kept paying them ransom for European hostages,” Huddleston said, estimating, “The Europeans probably paid about $90 million in ransom money.”

Huddleston suggested that now, European governments — not just France — need to take an active role in planning to contain and defeat extremists who are still eager to establish a base from which they can plot attacks against the West.“This is obviously going to be a long-term problem for Europe and that is one of the reasons France got engaged,” she said.

Plenty of hard questions also await the Obama administration, which has so far been reticent about directly intervening in North Africa, outside of drone surveillance and other intelligence ops. Before handing the reins over to John Kerry, outgoing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned that the United States was “in for a struggle” against a resurgent al-Qaeda presence in North Africa.

“I’m not sure what the Kerry administration will do or is planning because we’re at a transmission point,” Huddleston said. “I thought Hillary was becoming quite aggressive on this in some of her remarks — that we can’t allow Mali to become a safe haven. The only problem was the remark had already been used.”

The bigger problem, according to Huddleston, is that Africa simply isn’t a priority at the State Department.

“I think Hillary didn’t actually know what was going on in northern Mali becauseAfrica is low in priority,”Huddleston argues. “Africa is a low priority and West Africa is the lowest priority. One of the problems for the State Department is that North Africa is in the Middle East Bureau and sub-Sahara Africa is the Africa Bureau.

“North Africa is the lowest priority in the Middle East Bureau,” she said. “They have a couple of wars up there and they aren’t that interested in North Africa.

They’re happy to have the Africa Bureau manage this mess in Mali and that’s a mistake.”

Huddleston is intimately familiar with the workings of Foggy Bottom. She was the chief U.S. diplomat in Cuba from 1999 to 2002 and deputy chief of mission in Haiti during the deployment of U.S.-led forces in 1994 to remove the military regime there.

In addition to serving as America’s top envoy to Mali, she was also ambassador to Madagascar and chargé d’affaires in Ethi­ opia. She’s received various State Depart­ ment accolades, including a Distinguished Honor Award and a Presiden­tial Meritorious Service Award. She was also a scholar at the Brookings Institution and Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.

Huddleston retired to sunny, peaceful Santa Fe two years ago, but she finds it hard to ignore the conflict brewing Mali and has offered her expertise to Washington policymakers.

“I’ve been back a couple of times and I’ve given them some of my thoughts, but quite honestly they weren’t very interested,” she said with a rueful laugh.

But she quickly became somber when asked if the events in Mali are a harbinger of things to come in North Africa.

“I would say this is more than a sneak preview — we’re in the main feature,” she warned. “What the American public hasn’t realized is, is that this is the future.”

Michael Coleman is a contributing writer for The Washington Diplomat.

The Washington Diplomat

March 2013

L U X U R Y

LIVING ■ A Special Section of The Washington Diplomat

■ March 2013

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Luxury Flats Make D.C. Comeback

Not that long ago, the U Street neighborhood was a whorl of dilapidated shops, the odd famous fast-food place, and lots of low-rise, low-rent apartment blocks.

Today, towering glass edifices rise from city blocks that used to be occupied by strip malls — towering, at least by the standards of D.C., where buildings are subject to height restrictions (see “Tall Ambitions: Officials Eye Curtailing D.C.’s Height Restrictions” in the September 2012 issue). Doormen sit behind desks inside buildings where residents work out on treadmills, sip complimentary coffee, or play video games on the X-Box in the communal lounge.

LUXURY LIVING March 2013

by Karin Zeitvogel

Continued on next page

The Washington Diplomat Page 25

Continued from previous page In U Street, the H Street Corridor, Penn Quarter, Columbia Heights and so many other D.C. neighborhoods, luxury is now spelled luuuxery as developers build pricey apartments and condos targeting, in many cases, young professionals like lawyers and lobbyists — anyone who earns a sizeable income and doesn’t have a large, school-age family. Many of these new units, while upscale, are relatively small — two bedrooms, tops — and the city’s public schools still have a long way to go to catch up to the quality education offered in neighboring Maryland and Virginia suburbs.

The revival of luxury living in the city has bucked real estate trends nationwide. As prices floundered around the country, Washington was cushioned from the worst by dint of the fact that it is home to the federal government — backed by an army of private contractors — and scores of embassies and businesses that need to house their workers.

Today, the city boasts some of the most well-educated, wealthiest people in the country, not to mention some of its lowest unemployment rates. According to recent figures released by the U.S. Census Bureau, one in seven households in the Washington region ranks among the nation’s top 5 percent income bracket. Seven of the nation’s 10 most affluent counties are also located in the Washington region, including the three richest. Meanwhile, the population has steadily grown, faster than most other U.S. cities.

And all those hard-working, well-paid newcomers need roofs over their heads — preferably nice ones.As such, the real estate market here never took the hit it did in other parts of the nation. In fact, home prices in parts of D.C. and Northern Virginia have even surpassed those of the pre-crash heyday.

But some sectors have struggled more than others. If you were in D.C. when the bottom fell out of the U.S. economy in late 2007, you’ll remember that condominium prices were the heaviest rock to fall in the property market. Data posted by Zillow show that the median condominium sale price fell by $50,000 on average between May 2007 and February 2008, from $392,000 to $343,000. Part of that was

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The condo market seems to have turned the corner in 2010, when the volume of sales of new condominiums shot up by 62 percent compared with the previous year, according to Virginia-based Delta Associates, considered by many to be the

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It was in 2010 that international real estate firm Hines secured funding to change a tarmac parking lot near D.C.’s Chinatown, from which budget travelers used to catch buses to New York, into a 10-acre urban model of revitalization.

CityCenterDC, just blocks from the Washington Convention Center, is one of the most significant development projects in D.C. history.The funding impetus for CityCenter came from Qatari Diar Real Estate, whose $700 million stake represents one-third of the project’s total value and ranks as one of the biggest investments Qatar has ever made in the United States.

A largely pedestrian neighborhood, CityCenterDC will offer 2.5 million square feet of office space, restaurants, shops, a public park, 458 apartments and 216 luxury condominiums.

Called The Residences at CityCenter, the condo units are under construction and will be move-in ready in the fall of this year. But potential buyers who want to invest in a CityCenter condo designed

by Foster + Partners — the Londonbased architecture firm that gave us the Millau Viaduct in France, the cigar-like Swiss Re building in London, and Beijing Airport — can visit a model residence across the street from where

CityCenterDC, which is being jointly developed by Hines and Archstone, is taking shape.

A walk around the model condominium — a 1,200-square-foot two-bedroom unit — illustrates how the architects have made maximum use of the space to allow privacy in the two bedrooms, and close contact with visitors when that’s what residents are looking for. Every residence has a terrace, balcony or enclosed Juliet balcony, and large floorto-ceiling windows allow natural light to penetrate deep into the space.

In the kitchens, dishwashers and fridges are cleverly recessed into the cabinets (by Italian furniture designer Molteni).

Residents might have to hunt around a bit when they first move in, at least to find the dishwasher. The fridge is more obvious.

The bathroom in the model unit features side-lighting, which is reportedly the best way to put on makeup, recessed Molteni medicine cabinets, and a large walk-in shower.

More than half the condos at CityCenterDC will be two-bedroom residences, with an average ticket price of between $900,000 and $1 million, Hines Director John Mullin said.The remainder will be one-bedroom units. Residents will be able to park underneath the development and do their shopping in

See condos, page 30

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The Washington Diplomat Page 29

According to recent figures released by the U.S. Census Bureau, one in seven households in the Washington region ranks among the nation’s top 5 percent income bracket. Seven of the nation’s 10 most affluent counties are also located in the Washington region, including the three richest. from page 28

high demand — not surprising given how transient the city can be (just look at the fact that CityCenterDC is offering around 200 condos for sale, NOTE: Although everyand effort is made to assure your ad is free of mistakes in spelling and content it is ultimately up than to the450 customer the pedestrian-only streets but more apartments for to make the final proof. walkways. rent). So for those who don’t necesThey will also be able to spend sarilyofwant buyfaxed a property, luxuryThe in first faxed changes $75toper alteration. time thetwo sumptuous and metic-will be made at no cost to the advertiser, subsequent changes will be billed at a rate seekers can also rent in buildings like Signed ads are considered approved. ulously planned common areas, Capitol View on 14th, one of a handful which were also designed to of platinum LEED-certified residential Please check this ad carefully. Mark any changes to your ad. draw in buyers. Residents will buildings in the United States (LEED access to a rooftop to the Leadership in Energy and If the adhave is correct sign and faxsundeck to: (301) 949-0065 needs changes The Washington Diplomatrefers (301) 933-3552 with a water feature, fire pit and Environmental Design rating system outdoor grills, which Mullin and Approved _____________________________________________ Changes _____________________________________________________________________ by the U.S. Green Building Council). the development team aptly refer The development’s eye for style is Changesto___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ as “outdoor kitchens.” evident as soon as you walk into the PHOTO: CiTyCENTERDC For inspiration for the rooftop lobby, where a dazzling display of common spaces, “We looked at a lot of different citycenterdc, a 10-acre urban oasis of revitalization located just blocks color from the Dale Chihuly-designed buildings in the city — you go up there and it’s from the Washington Convention Center, is one of the most significant devel- glass sculpture hanging from the ceilpretty stark — and we wanted something that felt opment projects in D.C. history. ing catches the gaze of potential tenlike it’s programmed and has a purpose. And also ants. it’s nice when you’re in the city to go up and have a lot of greenery,” Mullin Up one floor is a game room — X-Box games are available from the front said. desk — a wired business lounge, television viewing room, sprawling fitness Indoors, residents will have access to a temperature-controlled wine storage center, and an outdoor water garden. space, media lounge and a gym, which overlooks an outdoor landscaped terrace Possibly the pièce de résistance is the rooftop pool (still a rarity in the city), to make those miles on the treadmill feel like the real thing. And, in fact, should where tenants can swim leisurely laps, stopping from time to time to take in the a resident want to feel the wind in their hair when they’re running, the National vista: Capitol View on 14th was thus named because it affords a clear view of Mall is a warm-up jog away from the condominiums.

While the condo market is rebounding, apartments in the District remain in See condos, page 32

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The Washington Diplomat Page 31

from page 30

condos the Capitol from its upper floors. And it’s on 14th Street.

Apartments in the nine-story building are becoming available floor by floor and range from studios to twobedroom units. The Washington Diplomat visited a two-bedroom apartment on the seventh floor, with stunning views over Washington through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The living room features bamboo floors, while the bedrooms were carpeted.

Rent for the 1,600-square-foot twobedroom unit was around $5,900 a month, according to leasing sales director Gamze Blakey. Smaller twobedroom units (around 1,000 square feet) are around $3,600, and there are also studios and one-bedroom apartments available, including walkout, street-level, loft-style apartments — ideal for pet owners, said Jim Talbert, sales manager for Capitol View. The building is quite petfriendly — there were dog biscuits in a jar in the reception area.

Neither Capitol View at 14th nor CityCenterDC were authorized to say how many units had been sold or rented. But if Turnberry Tower in nearby Rosslyn, Va., just across the bridge from Georgetown, is any indicator, people are willing to pay top dollar even in a tough economy.

The swanky 26-story high-rise is home to 247 luxury condo units, all of which have been recently sold — despite debuting smack dab at the height of the economic downturn over four years ago. Turnberry boasts many of the amenities that have come to be standard in the luxury market — indoor pool and Jacuzzi, theater room, social area, fitness center, 24-hour free valet parking — but it is also boasts many distinct qualities that set it apart.

For one thing, it doesn’t have to abide by the District’s strict height restrictions,

and because it’s a stone’s throw away from D.C., it offers expansive views of the city and its many monuments. Sizewise, the condos are larger than many comparable units in the city, with the smallest floor plan at 1,322 square feet (a one-bedroom), all the way up to the 5,304-square-foot Deluxe Tower Suite that includes three bedrooms, five and a half baths, a family room, dining room, staff quarters and a 742-square-foot balcony. In addition, 80 percent of the units have direct elevator access.

Residences at Turnberry Tower started PHOTOS: KEviN WEBER / CAPiTOl viEW ON14TH from the $700,000s, and with posh amenities that rival those in cities such as capitol View on 14th features a glass New York and Los Angeles,Washington is sculpture by American artist Dale Chihuly still a (relative) bargain for seekers of hanging in the lobby, an outdoor water luxury living. Some studio apartments in garden, rooftop pool, a game room and New York, where it would be difficult to other luxury amenities. swing a cat — a British expression indicating a very tight space — come with rents higher than the newest two-bedroom luxury rentals in D.C. Renters also have the upper hand this year, as vacancies in the city’s top-class apartments are reportedly up.

For condominiums, on the other hand, now could be the time to buy. Inventory has shrunk steadily in D.C. since 2008, according to real estate statistics firm RBI, and by 2012, the metropolitan area — which includes the D.C. suburbs — was “experiencing historically low inventory, with active listings at their lowest December-level in nearly a decade, and new listings at their lowest level for any month.”

All of that makes residences like Capitol View and CityCenterDC hot commodities — at least for those who can afford living in the cool lap of luxury in the heart of the nation’s capital.

Karin Zeitvogel is a contributing writer for The Washington Diplomat.

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■ MARCH 2013

FeSTIVALS

DIPLOMATIC SPOuSeS

Egypt’s Multitasker Amani Amin has no shortage of things to keep her busy.

The wife of the Egyptian ambassador, mother of two and a dentist back home, she also runs the popular website Arab World Books. PAGE 36

ItalIan

InvasIon OPeRA

Spring Bloom

Rome has declared 2013 to be “The Year of Italian Culture,” so the Italian Embassy in Washington is spearheading a charm offensive with events across the U.S. that will showcase everything from Michelangelo to PA E 34 modern science. PAG

The Washington National Opera’s spring season is about to unfurl with a rich program of three operas, special programs and the debut of the company’s new artistic director. PAGE 38

THeATeR

‘Hughie’ Bares All Richard Schiff expertly walks the fine line between despicable and pitiable in the Shakespeare Theatre’s production of Eugene O’Neill’s soul-baring psychodrama “Hughie.” PAGE 39 Photo: Amy Nichole hArris / bigstock

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Ambar puts a modern twist on Balkan cuisine to make the traditionally hearty fare more accessible to American palates. PAGE 42

“The Gatekeepers” offers unprecedented access to all six living former directors of Israel’s famously secretive security agency. PAGE 44

[ festivals ]

Italy’s Charm Offensive Yearlong Cultural Festival Showcases All Country Has to Offer

by Sean Lyngaas

R

ome has declared 2013 to be “The Year of Italian Culture,” but its embassy in Washington understands that simply coining the phrase will not give the year cultural imprimatur among Americans. So the Italian Embassy is busy coordinating a cultural charm offensive that is unfolding across the United States, from art exhibitions in Boston to robotics demonstrations in San Francisco.

The Italian term for this charm offensive is sistema paese, roughly translated as “the country as a whole,” or “the country seen systematically.” It is the belief that Italian culture should be presented holistically rather than in isolation.The goal is to showcase the breadth of the culture, from Michelangelo to modern science.“The idea is not to have a single, specific event, but events as a trampoline for cooperation,” between the United States and Italy, Antonio Bartoli, head of the Italian Embassy’s cultural office, told The Washington Diplomat recently.

Just two years ago, the Italians had a similar cultural blitz in honor of the 150th anniversary of the country’s unification (also see “Venetian Views: Canaletto and Company Capture Landmark City on the Water” and “Philip Guston: A ‘Roma’ Retreat at the Phillips Collection” in the April 2011 issue of The Diplomat). But that initiative was more nostalgic, highlighting Renaissance art and other things one reflexively associates with Italian culture.

“We don’t want to stop there,” Bartoli said.“We want to hold an initiative capable of generating stable and durable cooperation.”

Ambassador Claudio Bisogniero was equally ambitious in his official statement, saying, “No area of achievement will go unexplored.”

Practically no area of the United States will go untouched, either, with more than 180 events taking place in some 70 U.S. museums and cultural institutions in more than 40 major cities, including Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and of course Washington, D.C. The yearlong series of programs will showcase Italian research, discovery and innovation in the realms of art, music, theater, cinema, literature, science, design, fashion and cuisine.

The extravaganza kicked off at the National Gallery of Art in December with an iconic symbol of Italian culture: Michelangelo’s “David-Apollo” — not the famous David (that sculpture is housed at the Accademia Gallery in Florence), but an uncompleted work that comes with its own history of political intrigue. Michelangelo sculpted “David-Apollo” as a peace offering to the Medicis after siding with the republicans during an uprising against the powerful family, whose reign helped give birth to the Italian Renaissance (also see “‘David’ Returns to D.C.” in the February 2013 Diplomatic Pouch online).

Michelangelo and the Medicis are synonymous with Italian heritage, but for “The Year of Italian Culture,” guided by sistema paese, the embassy would like to show the “more dynamic and modern facet of the country,” Bartoli said.This means, among other things, a greater emphasis on science and technology. (The Italian Renaissance was, of course, a rebirth of science and discovery, as well as a rebirth of art).

Italian cooperation with NASA (the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration) stretches back 50 years, when NASA agreed to launch the first Italian satellite into space, and a March event in Washington will commemorate this enduring partnership.

Another symposium, also in March, will be dedicated to famed Italian writer, diplomat and philosopher Niccolò Machiavelli on the 500th anniversary of his political treatise “The Prince.” An upcoming theater performance by Massimiliano Finazzer Flory at the Kennedy Center will shed light on another historic Italian figure, of sorts:

to learn

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Page 34

The Washington Diplomat

Above, the the National monument of Vittorio emanuele ii, the first king of a unified italy, is one of rome’s top landmarks. the government in rome has declared 2013 to be “the year of italian culture in the United states,” which will bring more than 180 events to 40 major U.s. cities, including a traveling tour of “Pinocchio: the story of a Puppet,” left, which combines literature, theater, dance and music to examine the adult themes in carlo collodi’s original children’s book.

Pinocchio. But “Pinocchio: The Story of a Puppet” is more than just a children’s fairytale. Combining literature, theater, dance and music, the show examines the adult themes in Carlo Collodi’s original book, an allegorical tale of freedom and obedience centered around the tragic figure of Geppetto.

Other scheduled events include a display of Leonardo da Vinci’s “Codex on the Flight of Birds” at the National Air and Space Museum in May and a multimedia exhibit in December at the Library of Congress on Martin Waldseemüller’s 1507 world map (the first to feature “America”) and the contribuFor more information on tions Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci made to the “2013 – the year of italian discovery of the New World. culture,” please visit www.italyinus2013.org.

The embassy is also helping to promote related events in Washington, such as a new international design festival called “The Next Wave: Industrial Design Innovation in the 21st Century,” which will feature Italian designer Roberto Palomba, among others. The impetus behind many of these events is to highlight a legacy of achievement that has endured and evolved over time.

Another example of this sistema paese approach to cultural diplomacy is an art campaign the embassy is carrying out on Washington buses and in Metro stations.

The work of 12 contemporary Italian photographers will adorn the sides of District buses and be framed by verses from Italy’s most famous poets, Bartoli said. After racking up miles across the city, the exhibit will move indoors to the Phillips Collection. This year’s host of the Phillips Gala? You guessed it, Italian Ambassador Bisogniero and his wife Laura, who are lending their names to a string of high-profile charitable and social events this spring (see related story on page 35).

We asked Bartoli where the money for this expansive cultural campaign comes

see feStivALS, page 43 March 2013

[ events ]

Social Butterflies Italian Embassy Partners With Big Events for Good Causes

by Sean Lyngaas

T

he Italian Embassy would be a natural host of the Opera Ball any year, but 2013, Giuseppe Verdi’s 200th birthday, is especially fitting. Italian Ambassador Claudio Bisogniero is poised to open the doors of his official residence, the regal Villa Firenze near Rock Creek Park, for the annual ball to benefit the Washington National Opera on April 6.

“Opera is a vital part of Italy’s national identity, and we are happy to celebrate this beautiful part of our culture with our close friends at Washington National Opera,” Bisogniero said in a statement to the press.

This year’s ball is the latest in a series of collaborations between the Washington National Opera and the Italian Embassy. The embassy has hosted intimate events previewing WNO performances in which the audience could engage with the conductor and performers, Michael Solomon, senior spokesman for the WNO, told The Diplomat. “Opera is such an important part of Italy’s national culture and identity, so it really makes sense for our organizations to be very friendly with each other,” he added.

The annual Opera Ball, a pinnacle of the Washington social calendar, is a two-stage event, with dinners hosted by ambassadors at various embassies across the city beginning at 7 p.m., and the guests then converging on Villa Photos: embAssy oF itAly iN WAshiNgtoN Firenze for dessert, music and dancing. Solomon Above, the embassy of italy proudly announces “the year of italian culture in the United states.” said that it was “a safe bet” that Verdi’s music will Ambassador of italy claudio bisogniero, left, and Foreign minister of italy giulio terzi di sant’Agata, be part of the night.

The black-tie event will see a diverse blend of who was bisogniero’s predecessor in Washington, attend a launch party for “the year of italian culture” Washington, not just the older opera aficionaat the italian residence, Villa Firenze, site of the 2013 opera ball. top photo, laura Denise bisogniero, dos one might associate with the music. “It’s the italian ambassador’s wife, left, and Antonella cinque, the foreign minister’s partner, flank massimiliano one of those uniquely Washington events where Finazzer Flory, who will stage “Pinocchio: the story of a Puppet” at the kennedy center in march. you have a really interesting mix of people, from ball the Bisognieros are hosting that month — they will be honorary patrons at the the international community, from government, Prevent Cancer Foundation’s 19th Annual Spring Gala on March 8. Like the Opera from the arts world,” Solomon said. “It’s just a Ball, the Prevent Cancer gala has long enjoyed strong support from the diplomatic really fun crowd and there’s always … really community in Washington. great energy.”

The day of the gala, March 8, happens to be La Festa Della Donna in Italy, known The WNO, in fact, has branched out in recent in English as International Women’s Day. La Festa Della Donna, which will be the years to go beyond opera’s traditional European theme of the gala, has its roots in the U.S. women’s suffrage movement and celebase and invite embassies from all over the brates women’s rights across the world. world to serve as the annual hosts. The sprawl“In Italy, gentlemen go around and present sprigs of mimosa to ladies in celebraing Russian Embassy hosted the Opera Ball in 2010, followed by China — the largest social event the embassy has ever hosted in tion of International Women’s Day,” explained Carolyn “Bo” Aldigé, Prevent Cancer the city — and the United Arab Emirates last year.Though the UAE is perhaps not the Foundation president and founder. In a nod to the holiday, the table arrangements at first country that comes to mind when opera is mentioned, embassy planners might the gala will feature mimosas.

The foundation will honor former Congresswoman have been thinking of Antonio Bartoli’s sistema paese maxim Ellen Tauscher (D-Calif.) with a Cancer Champion Award (see previous article) when they agreed to host the ball. It at the gala. Tauscher revealed that she had esophageal ended up being an event that displayed an underappreciated For more information on cancer in July 2010 while she was President Obama’s side of Emirati culture, Solomon said.

Washington National opera’s undersecretary of state for arms control, but has since This year’s host will be more familiar to opera lovers.“With 2013 opera ball, please made a full recovery.Aldigé said the organization apprecia very high-profile embassy like Italy, I think we can expect a call (202) 416-8496 or visit ates Tauscher’s openness about her struggles with cancer, really good turnout,” Solomon said, echoing what those planwww.kennedy-center.org/operaball. For something that will no doubt inspire gala attendees. ning March 8’s Prevent Cancer Foundation’s gala said about more information on the Prevent cancer “I learned so much; I didn’t need to know that my famthe draw of Italian culture.

Foundation’s 19th Annual spring gala, please call ily and my friends loved me, but it sure did come in (703) 519-2103 or visit www.preventcancer.org.

The Italians may be tempted, as hosts, to brag about the handy,” Tauscher told the San Francisco Chronicle last origin of the music, but that won’t be necessary. That the year. Gala Chair Joann Piccolo picked up on this familial music is Italian is self-evident. Once people congregate in the sumptuous halls of Villa Firenze, they will be swept up in the cascading rhythms of theme:“We all have family and friends, unfortunately, who have cancer and touched us personally,” she told The Diplomat. That statement can apply to any family in the Verdi. It will be cultural diplomacy at its easiest. world, and the transcendent nature of cancer will draw some 800 or 900 people to S A Z X C C V the gala, many of them from the diplomatic community. The 2011 gala, in fact, was hosted by Ambassador of Monaco Gilles Noghès and his wife Ellen, a breast cancer Before Italian Ambassador Claudio Bisogniero and his wife Laura host the Opera see itALy, page 43 Ball in April — moved up from its usual time in May to accommodate yet another

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March 2013

The Washington Diplomat Page 35

[ diplomatic spouses ]

Word-ly Wife Egypt’s Amani Amin: Dentist, Writer and Webmaster

by Gail Scott

S

he’s a dentist, the mother of two grown young men who now live in Australia, and the wife of Egypt’s first new ambassador in Washington since the country’s revolution. But Amani Amin is also an editor, writer and the webmaster of a site that in many ways serves as her own outlet for the profound changes sweeping her homeland.

Today, as she and her husband, Ambassador Mohamed M. Tawfik, represent a nation in the midst of a historic and uncertain transition, Amin remains fiercely devoted to Arab World Books, the popular website she created 14 years ago.

Covering Egyptian, Arab and Mideast writing, Arab World Books is a free online bookstore, a center to exchange ideas, and a self-described “cultural club” that currently has 15,000 members. Its stated aim is to promote cross-cultural dialogue — in Arabic and English — by showcasing articles, stories and poetry, as well as individual dossiers for Arab writers, book discussions, a creative writing workshop and a readers’ club.

Whether she’s working as a dentist back in Cairo or adjusting to a new diplomatic schedule in top postings like Washington,Amin said she still feels very responsible for her website, which she calls “my baby.”

“I spend about four hours a day on Arab World Books,” she told us, “but could spend much more time. Already, with so much to do here, I am cutting back the book club to feature one book every other month instead of a monthly feature.”

But if anyone can keep it going, Amin can — backed by her husband, a career diplomat who also dabbles in writing (he’s authored two novels and three volumes of short stories in Arabic).

“I’m the optimist in the family,” said Amin, who noted that Arab women can use their maiden names and that she chose not to use her husband’s name.“It’s a ‘package’ — always is.”

Today, the couple will need all the optimism they can muster in the wake of ongoing political turbulence back home. Tawfik is Egypt’s first new ambassador in Washington since the Arab Spring protests in January 2011 that disposed former dictator Hosni Mubarak and replaced him with Cairo’s first democratically elected president, Mohamed Morsi of the once-banned Muslim Brotherhood (also see Tawfik’s cover profile, Amani Amin and her husband, egyptian Ambassador “New Envoy Says Egypt Has Turned Page on mohamed m. tawfik, seen above at an exhibit of contemWe had 40 years of preDictatorship,” in the November 2012 issue of The porary egyptian artists held at the embassy last year, are Washington Diplomat). both writers. he has written two novels, and she runs the dictability and no one is comSince he and Amin arrived here last September, howwebsite Arab World books. ever, the Arab world’s most populous nation has lurched fortable with unpredictability.

And despite the strained relations between Egypt from one crisis to another. In December, Morsi’s Islamist and the United States, Amin said both are excited to be allies rammed through a long-stalled constitution, sparkthis is a transitional period in Washington. ing a backlash by liberal activists and others who say the “It’s the highest post — who wouldn’t want to be Muslim Brotherhood is beginning to resemble the dictaafter undergoing a revolution, here,” she said.“It’s a challenge, but it doesn’t scare us.” torship they fought to bring down. And although the “I think my husband can do well and be one of our hopefully for the better.

Brotherhood retains a strong base of grassroots support, very best” ambassadors in Washington, she added, callpitched street battles in early 2013 seriously challenged ing him the “perfect diplomat.” its authority, forcing Morsi to declare a state of emer— AMAni AMin Even so, she admits there are some traits in her husgency in three cities. wife of egyptian Ambassador mohamed m. tawfik band that she’s less than fond of. “For me, he is too Things appear to have simmered down, for now. But reserved.When we met he was more bohemian, hippie it remains to be seen if the Muslim Brotherhood, its — like a writer. I hope when we retire he loosens up, secular opponents and loyalists of the old guard can finally come together to rebuild the beleaguered country two years after its revolution stunned the world. becomes more bohemian again.”

In Egypt, Foreign Service officers tend to retire at 60, so at age 56,Tawfik only has Ousting the Mubarak regime after 30 years in power was a seminal event in the a few years to go. Perhaps, more writing is indeed in his future. His most colorful history of Egypt, whose future, Amin points out, has not yet been written.

“It’s understandable to want to know what happened and what will happen, but book is “Murder in the Tower of Happiness,” a crime thriller about a beautiful young even Egyptians aren’t sure what happened. It is unpredictable and everyone is actress’s murder that he wrote in Arabic and translated into English.

Amin herself has written numerous articles, ranging from book and movie wondering,”Amin said.“We had 40 years of predictability and no one is comfortable with unpredictability. This is a transitional period after undergoing a revolution, reviews to explorations of the Internet and the future of Egyptian culture. Her work has appeared in major Egyptian newspapers and literary magazines. She has also hopefully for the better.”

Ever the optimist, though, Amin is confident that she and her husband will rep- translated several literary works from Arabic into English and vice versa.

Although Arab World Books focuses on Arab writing, she notes that it does not resent Egypt well during its transition. “Don’t worry about us — even if we’re not achieving what we want now, we will proceed … we are gaining our voice and exclude other faiths. “Mohamed and I are both Muslim,” she explained, “AWB is starting to believe we have the power to change,” she said.“The coin always has two about Arab culture. While religion is part of our culture — in our region this would mean all religions — we do not focus on any one aspect. The one rule our editors sides.”

“

Photo: kAte oczyPok

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Photo: AmANi AmiN

March 2013

Today, it’s home to 29-year-old Mostafa and 27-year-old Amr. Of course, she misses her sons and wishes they weren’t so far away.“I’m afraid we’re losing them to Australia,” she says, though she admits it is a “stunning country.”

“That’s what sometimes happens when you get a posting and your children stay behind for school,” she said. “The hardest thing is that they are 15 hours ahead of us. So the best time to reach them is our Saturday and Sunday evenings, their weekend mornings. Of course, we Skype so at least we can see each other.

“As their mom, I hope they get very good jobs that bring them closer to perhaps Europe or an Arab country where they would only be a five-hour flight away instead of the 25 to 35 hours of travel time they have now,” she said.

Mostafa is currently a management consultant with Ernst & Young, while Amr “is the artist in the family” who first got his bachelor’s degree in digital arts and animation and now works in special effects as a video editor.

“As a young boy, he was fascinated with cartoons, whether they were in German or French, Arabic or any other language,” Amin noted.

“All their interests are far from my science and medical background in dental school,” she said,“and my husband’s in civil engineering and international law.”

In between their various postings over the years in places like Beirut, Geneva and Harare, they would return home to Cairo. Each time, she resumed her dental work as a senior dentist at the Center for Medical Care in Cairo.

Amin said she became interested in writing because her husband was a writer. “Hard to resist when you’re married to one,” she said.

As a seasoned editor, she thinks her husband is a “great writer and a great diplomat with a ‘double personality.’ He’s a Gemini and they are supposed to do more than one thing well at a time,” she said only half-jokingly.

Amin also thinks their personalities are a good match — both reserved and quiet.

“One thing we adore about Washington is this town’s early evenings,” she said. “Here, you can go to a black-tie event, dance, eat, drink, participate in the auction and speak with people and still be home by 10 o’clock.

That suits our style of living — more relaxed.

I don’t like crowds, noise. In fact, I’m very happy staying at home, reading. I know this is very different than Cairo when everyone eats late and stays up so late.”

Gail Scott is a contributing writer for The Washington Diplomat and Diplomatic Pouch.

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follow strictly is that we do not publish any material that may be offensive to any race or faith.”

Amin and Tawfik met while in graduate school at Cairo University, where she studied dentistry and he studied civil engineering and then international law before joining the Foreign Service.

Prior to coming to Washington, they were posted in Lebanon, where Tawfik was the ambassador. Three months into that assignment, they found out they would be dispatched to either to New York or Washington.

When they learned it was the latter, they were thrilled.

“It was like coming back home again … no homework on the plane, no preparation. It just seemed like a time warp remembering when the children were so young,” Amin said.

That’s because Tawfik had served in Washington as third and second secretary at the Egyptian Embassy from 1986 to 1990 while she watched over their two young boys. At the time, Mostafa was a toddler and Amr was only a baby. They lived in an Annandale, Va., garden apartment where she fell in love with the area’s greenery.

“I loved that first posting to Washington,” she said, reminiscing about “the blue sky, green grass and water.”

“I have always loved the fresh outdoors from the time I was a little girl,” she added. “I hated to come back to Cairo to go back to school.”

Even today, Amin said she’s not a fan of Egypt’s harried capital city.“Since I was a kid, I hated the smoke, pollution. I hate concrete.”

She said that sometimes she’s even tempted to go back to that old garden apartment in Virginia and “knock on the door and say hello to the new owner because I am homesick for those times.”

“Washington today seems a lot cleaner, with many more new or renovated buildings.

It’s more crowded and there are more museums. The [Southwest] Waterfront is all new; it used to be a garbage dump and there were many more places you couldn’t go in town,” she recalled.

“I am definitely a Washington fan — there is so much greenery here. This city is a comfortable place to live, full of culture and it’s international and cosmopolitan,” she said, comparing it to Australia. “I was a Canberra fan. Canberra is the capital but it’s like a small town in comparison to Sydney, which is a big city, like New York.”

Amin got to know Australia while Tawfik was ambassador there from 2004 to 2008.

©2012 Feld Entertainment

Amani Amin stands with her two sons, 29-year-old mostafa, left, and 27-year-old Amr, both of whom live in Australia, where their father served as egypt’s ambassador from 2004 to 2008.

Ringling.com The Washington Diplomat Page 37

[ opera ]

WNO Crescendo Washington National Opera Springs Back Into Action

by Gary tischler

I

t’s almost springtime and soon the birds will be out singing — and so will the sopranos, mezzo-sopranos, contraltos, tenors, basses and members of the chorus.

Which is to say that the Washington National Opera (WNO) spring season is about to bloom with a rich program of three operas, including the American musical “Show Boat” directed by the company’s new artistic director, Francesca Zambello, as well as a celebrity concert series and another “Opera in the Outfield” free simulcast performance at the Nationals’ state-of-the-art baseball park.

An eagerly anticipated highlight will be “Show Boat,” the beloved Broadway musical set aboard a riverboat that traverses the Mississippi with a troupe of performers who navigate the trials of show business, love and loss in a racially charged landscape.

While generally viewed as a musical theater masterpiece, “Show Boat” is also one of the first true American operas. And this new production will be a grand operatic affair — a collaboration among the WNO, Lyric Opera of Chicago, the San Francisco Opera Association and Houston Grand Opera.

But the production will also be notable because it Photo: robert kUsel / lyric oPerA oF chicAgo marks the first time Francesca Zambello is directing since becoming the WNO’s new far left, Angela meade takes on the title role in “Norma” while artistic director in January. Before that, Patricia racette stars in “manon lescaut,” left, both starting Zambello, who’s directed numerous prothis month as part of the Washington National opera’s spring ductions for the WNO and at just about season. later in may, the American musical “show boat,” every prestigious opera house in the above, marks the first time Francesca zambello is directing world, had been named artistic advisor in since becoming the WNo’s new artistic director in January. the wake of Plácido Domingo’s departure in 2011 after a 15-year tenure heading the tenor Kamen Chanev plays her star-crossed lover, company. while WNO Music Director Philippe Auguin con“Show Boat” doesn’t open until May 4, ducts and John Pascoe directs. however. In the meantime, there’s plenty Dueling divas reign supreme in “Norma,” considof opera afoot, and classic opera at that. ered a signature work of bel canto composition, If ever two operas exist that embody with some of the most challenging vocals and the meaning of the word, the kind that demanding melodramatics required in the entire satisfy well-versed aficionados and diletoperatic repertory.

Photo: DArio AcostA tantes alike, Giacomo Puccini’s “Manon Bellini, whose opera was first produced at Lescaut” and Vincenzo Bellini’s “Norma” fit the bill.

Milan’s La Scala opera house in 1831, called the Photo: cory WeAVer “Manon Lescaut,” which predates and presages Puccini masterpiectitle role of Norma “encyclopedic.” es like “La Bohème” and “Madama Butterfly,” runs March 2 to 23, while Part of what makes Norma so epic is that she suffers “Norma,” which features dueling, high-dudgeon female roles, runs the whole range of human emotions. She is a druid For more information March 9 to 24 at the Kennedy Center. priestess and seer, carrying on a deep love affair with the on the Washington “Manon Lescaut” was Puccini’s first popular work and gave audiRoman proconsul Pollione, with whom she has two chilNational opera’s ences the genre of ill-fated lovers and tragic heroines — the latter in dren — even though he’s also her sworn enemy. But in a 2012-13 season, the form of Manon, a woman who craves both love and luxury. timeless male maneuver, Pollione grows tired of the please call (202) 467-4600 or visit Sentenced by her parents to a life in the convent — not exactly an aging Norma and falls in love with a temple virgin named www.kennedy-center.org/wno/. exciting prospect for a young woman — Manon flees to Paris with her Adalgisa, a sweet young thing who makes Norma madly much more exciting young lover, Chevalier des Grieux, a dashing but emotional and, of course, tragic and violent. penniless student with whom she is vehemently in love. But she abandons the boheLikewise for the audience, the bel canto melodies and intensity of “Norma” induce mian life for a glitzier one with a rich elderly patron named Geronte, who satisfies a kind of emotional fever, heightened by the level of difficulty in the performance and Manon’s desire for jewels and other fineries.When her former lover reappears, Manon the level of sheer improbability in the narrative. It’s not every day, after all, you is torn between her heart and, well, her jewels. In the end, she loses both. encounter an opera that includes Druids, Romans, motherhood, jilted lovers, unimagIt’s all a bit more operatic than that, of course. “Manon Lescaut” is the epitome of inable sacrifice, and the fury aroused by an older women being dumped for a young19th-century romantic drama and temperament that filled opera houses in Europe er rival. and made strong women weep and the strong men beside them afraid to weep.

Throughout the 20th century, many singers have attempted to fill the outsize role In the hands of American soprano Patricia Racette, WNO audiences are sure to be of Bellini’s tormented Druid priestess — a role that’s regarded as one of the most smitten, too, with Manon. It’s Racette’s first go at the role, after wowing WNO audiences with her performances in “Tosca” and “Iphigénie en Tauride” in 2011. Bulgarian see WnO, page 43

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[ theater ]

Soul-Baring ‘Hughie’ Shakespeare Theatre Nails O’Neill’s Tale of Empathy Laced With Disdain

by Lisa troshinsky

O

[ March 2013

ne of Eugene O’Neill’s last end, depressing job that requires subserviand lesser-known works, ence to the likes of “492” (his reference to “Hughie” comes alive at Erie’s room number). the Shakespeare Theatre The play is fastidious and haunting, in a stirring production with the drama taking place between directed by Broadway vetthree and four in the morning — “in that eran Doug Hughes. The twilight region known to all of us who script is iconic O’Neill — the have suffered a loss,” said Hughes. Set characters and plot are characteristically designer Neil Patel’s credible creation of a gloomy — but it differs markedly from his derelict hotel lobby that used to be grand, other plays because it is compact and but is now severely neglected, fits the intermittently funny. mood perfectly. Grime covers the transom It’s as if O’Neill, in his later years, gained windows, the marble wainscot is dim a more rounded life perspective that from years of cigarette smoke, and paint is allowed a smidgen of humor to seep peeling off the walls. The realistic soiled through his melancholy-colored glasses. In world that the set evokes makes Erie’s “Hughie,” he wrote a leaner psychodrama fantasies of grandeur even harder to bear. that offers a comical, mocking narration of Meanwhile, Ben Stanton’s dramatic lightthe ominous plot. ing shifts play with the audience’s percepA two-man play set in 1928, “Hughie” is tions. At one point, Erie sits dejected in a a character study of Erie Smith, a downspotlight and we fixate on his silhouette, and-out, has-been petty gambler who which implies he’s a mere shadow of a imposes himself on Charlie Hughes, a man. night clerk in a seedy Times Square hotel.

The production also uses video to proIn a long-winded monologue, Erie relentpel Erie’s story along. A hanging cityscape lessly rants and bemoans his grief over the on a wall and the windows turns into death of the former desk clerk, Hughie, video screens where we see Erie’s homewho quietly validated Erie’s larger-than-life town, his first girlfriend, and images of confidence. Charlie’s disinterest and dishim smoking; then they go black again. dain for Erie is ignored. Only the audience Did we imagine them? Director Hughes is privy to Charlie’s inner thoughts — writrefers to this as “fluid imagery.” ten as stage directions by O’Neill. In this “There’s a way in which O’Neill expands production, Charlie’s sarcastic inner distime in the play in order to look at course is presented as a voice-over narrathings from a variety of angles,” he tion, an ingenious decision on the part of director explained. “[O’Neill] dreamed of a Hughes. form of theater that could incorpoO’Neill’s plays feature characters with many layers and rate all of these elements — the voice contradictions, which make them disturbingly realistic that one hears in the stage directions, and honest. “Hughie” is no different. It’s not enough that the images that haunt these men.”

Erie’s character is wretched because he is a bitter, egotisti“Hughie” was to be one play in a cal, aging alcoholic whose luck has run out, and he lost cycle of plays by O’Neill called “By what appears to be his only friend. What’s worse is Erie’s Way of Orbit.” In each play, there biting condemnation of that friend for liking him.“He was would have been only two characters, just a sucker,” he says over and over of the dead desk clerk. one of which would be recently “The bigger I made myself, the more he lapped it up.” By bereft of somebody crucial in their discrediting Hughie, who idolized him, Erie robs himself lives. O’Neill’s subsequent plays were of self worth. never completed; “Hughie” was pubRichard Schiff (aka Toby lished posthumously in 1959.

Ziegler on“The West Wing”), Hughie “Hughie” illuminates a small as Erie, expertly walks the Photos: cArol rosegg through march 17 moment in time of a man we wouldn’t fine line between despica- top, richard schiff deftly portrays a down-and-out petty gambler Shakespeare theatre Company’s notice if we saw him on the subway; ble and pitiable, undoubt- who imposes himself on a night clerk (played by randall Newsome, Lansburgh theatre yet, the play begs universal questions. edly what O’Neill intended. bottom photo) in the shakespeare theatre company’s production of 450 7th st., NW It’s curious that Hughie is the name Although Erie is a transpar- “hughie.” tickets are $43 to $100. of a deceased guy we never meet, yet ent crook and liar, he’s vulFor more information, nerable enough to feel for. Yvonne Shafer, in the the importance he has in Erie’s mind is enough to build an entire play around. Did please call (202) 547-1122 Shakespeare Theater’s Asides magazine, quotes Erie make Hughie up? Is he another embellishment of a half-truth he’s told so or visit www.shakespearetheatre.org.

O’Neill as saying that his plays “suddenly strip the many times that he believes it himself? And more important, what makes somesecret soul of a man stark naked … with an under- thing real and what makes it a fantasy? If we think it to be true, is it? If the answer standing compassion which sees him as a victim of the ironies of life and of is yes, this is a glimmer of hope O’Neill gives us — the only one to hold onto in this lonely emotional gem. himself.” He definitely did this with the character of Erie.

Randall Newsome, who plays the night clerk, with his few lines and revealing body language, exposes another broken soul who wants to escape from his dead- Lisa Troshinsky is the theater reviewer for The Washington Diplomat.

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The Washington Diplomat Page 39

[ art ]

TSA Approved Latin Art at National Airport Offers Hurried Travelers a Break

by Audrey Hoffer

T

he ground level corridor in Reagan National Airport’s Terminal A, facing the circular roundabout, is packed with fast-moving travelers tugging along suitcases. But now and then, one stops mid-stride to look at the wall adorned with pictures and glass displays showcasing colorful crafts.

Along the airport’s Gallery Walk are 56 works of mixed media by Latin American artists from 17 countries. Organized by the Inter-American Development Bank Cultural Center and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority’s Arts Program, “Art + Craft: Celebrating the Creativity of Latin America” is the firstever exhibit on Latin art held at Washington National Airport.

“Our mission is to democratize access to the arts, and so here in D.C. we bring Latin and Caribbean culture to the public,” said the IDB Cultural Center’s Debra Corrie, who’s the exhibit curator. And there is no better place than an airport Photos: DebrA corrie to attract attention.

More than 50 mixed media works by latin The exhibit focuses on the blurring American artists from 17 countries are on line between artists, who create work primardisplay at ronald reagan National Airport’s ily for aesthetics, and artisans, who create terminal A in the first-ever exhibit of latin pieces that are functional. art ever held at the airport.

In “Seated Woman with Two Children,” Paraguayan artist Virginia Yegros blends funcwoman facing him, while black vultures in the tion with form, as arms morph into handles. distance peck in spare fields.

“So you get the transition from a pot to a fig“I mixed in this piece because it has the flavor ure, and there’s actually a hole in the top of the of Central America and it seems close to artisans’ vessel to carry or store water,” said Corrie. work because a woodblock print is hand-carved “Several of the pieces in our collection retain and hand-printed,” Corrie explained. “It makes this utilitarian quality even though they are me think of someone working materials with figurative.” their hands.”

For instance, Editrudis Noguera, also It’s difficult to distinguish between artists and Paraguayan, crafted “Vessel with Four Faces” to artisans, and perhaps one shouldn’t do so anyway. resemble a rotund female body — à la Fernando Art + Craft: Celebrating Labels can so easily mislead. And many functional Botero — with little faces and braided hair the Creativity of Latin America items in daily life are designed with an eye toward popping up around her. through April 30 aesthetics, possessing both visual beauty and The exhibit shows off the variety of materiGallery Walkway in terminal A practical use. als used across Central and South America, of Ronald Reagan Washington national Airport Indeed, many of the pieces on display are undefrom wood and clay to tin and textiles.

For more information, please call (202) 623-1213 niably striking. “Manzana” by Chilean photograCarlomagno Pedro Martínez uses the black clay or visit www.iadb.org/cultural/. pher Alexandra Edwards is at first an optical illureadily on hand in Oaxaca, Mexico. “Canoe sion of a strangely shaped apple. But on second with Devils” and “Death Carriage” are phantasmagorical scenes with skeletons riding a bull, pulling a wagon, and paddling a glance, it is a yellowish apple with an upright stem floating in water, with only boat while leaving behind a trail of skulls. It is “serious with a lighthearted look,” the upper crescent of apple visible above the water’s surface. But the image melds with its reflection and the resulting shape is a surreal apple that surprises said Corrie.

Masks of weird and wild creatures add a playful aura to the airport walkway. viewers.

“Drying in the Sun,” a linoleum cut by Alfredo Benavides Beda, recalls Roy One standout is a pink face, by Peruvian artist Juana Mendívil, with protruding Lichtenstein’s cartoonish black-outlined drawings. Here, the front wheel of a red ears, spirally horns and a large spider smack in the middle of the forehead.

Other pieces are playful because they evoke Christmas gifts for children, such bicycle is hanging by two clothespins from a laundry line — an almost comical as polychrome wood-carved toys — a rocking horse and dog — by Guatemalan sight in the midst of a frenetic airport.

Indeed, this unique airport exhibit offers the harried traveler a colorful visual artists and a uniquely Latin-flavored candelabra in turquoise, red, pink, yellow break from the glare of monochrome airport terminal lighting and an entertainand green.

Others convey overtones of distinct sadness, such as Costa Rican printmaker ing peak at Latin art and culture.

Francisco “Paco” Amighetti’s “Tropico,” a two-toned color woodcut. Against a bluish-green background, an ochre-hued man in a sombrero stares silently at the Audrey Hoffer is a contributing writer for The Washington Diplomat.

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Presidential sPonsor:

regular price $700

$130 EmbaSSy oFFicial $460 EmbaSSy FourSomE

regular price $145

regular price $540

FEES includE: greens fees, golf cart, range balls, beverage cart, cookout lunch, reception, cocktails, dinner, awards presentation.

T o R e g i s T e R o R l e a R n m o R e : v i s i T w w w.wa s h d i p l o m aT.c o m March 2013

The Washington Diplomat Page 41

[ dining ]

Balkan Twist At Ambar, Serbian Native Re-Imagines Hearty Fare Through Modern Filter

by Rachel G. Hunt

I

n January, Ivan Iricanin opened his first restaurant in D.C., Ambar, finally realizing his wish to give Washington-area diners a chance to sample the cuisine of his native Serbia. Knowing that Balkan cuisine — especially in its purest traditional form — might be too much for American palates, even in an internationally savvy city like Washington, Iricanin decided to give his menu a modern twist.

Iricanin had help from his partner chef/restaurateur Richard Sandoval and friend and colleague Kaz Okochi. The team that created the popular restaurants Masa 14 and El Centro have been successful at introducing new cuisines to the area and knew what they had to do with Ambar.

To create the right menu, last summer Iricanin took a tasting trip to the Balkans, where he immersed himself in the cuisine while looking for the right staff to lead the kitchen. He discovered a creative young chef in Belgrade who was already reinterpreting traditional Serbian dishes through a modern filter at his restaurant Mala Fabrika Ukusa (which translates to Little Factory of Taste).The team invited chef Bojan Bocvarov to take on the challenging job of transforming the protein-rich, fat-laden cuisine of Serbia and the Balkans into dishes that would be accessible to American diners.

To offset the heaviness of some of the region’s cuisine, Bocvarov has opted for a smaller plates menu that divides into several major categories: soups and salad; breads and pastry; vegetables; meats; and seafood. While some of the dishes are derived from traditional Serbian fare, the menu is more broadly focused on Balkan cuisine.

An amalgam of culinary styles that reflect the complex cultural heritage of the area and its location as a gateway between East and West, Balkan cuisine encompasses elements of Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and Northern European traditions.

Instead of serving large pieces of meat with an accompanying salad — typical in many European households — Bocvarov builds dishes that bring the two elements together into a single, artful presentation. Rolovana prasetina, for example, is made of paper-thin slices of pork roulade served atop a salad of arugula, caramelized apples and pork cracklings, with apricot jam and the barest tracings of horseradish dressing. The Balkan burger is an open-faced sandwich topped with a spread of cheese, garlic and ajvar — roasted eggplant and red pepper jam — while below the meat is sandwiched with tarator and chopped cucumber salad.

There are many alternatives to the meat-based choices, making Ambar a better option for vegetarians than most places. The gibanica is a phyllo cheese pie, served throughout the Balkans, paired with a chunky tzatziki-like cucumber yogurt salad and red pepper spread.

The roasted mushroom crepe, or sumske pecurke, is filled with chunks of firm mushrooms in a rich béchamel, topped with Gouda and accented with red pepper emulsion. It is a delicate and refined dish that’s emblematic of how Ambar elevates traditionally hearty fare.

Ambar also offers several soups, two of which are particularly notable. The white veal soup tastes quite a bit like a liquid veal stew. The butternut squash potage, dressed with leek mousse, porcini dust and pumpkin seed oil, is rich but not heavy, with each spoonful a delightful play of flavors.

Each dish on Ambar’s menu is carefully designed and meticulously plated, the presentation almost as much a statement as the taste. Grilovane punjene sljive —bacon-wrapped prunes stuffed with goat cheese in a blueberry balsamic reduction — arrive at the table on individual wooden skewers stuck into a chunk of rock. Pale-pink baked shrimp nestle on a boat of bright green spinach risotto with a sail of brown bread crisp, all swimming atop a dark nori-chive

Page 42

The Washington Diplomat

Photos: Goran Foto

Serbian chef Mala Fabrika Ukusa puts an artful, modern twist to traditional Balkan dishes at the newly opened Ambar.

butter pond (well, actually, a puddle).

And the grilled asparagus — blanketed in veloute and paired with furled crispy prosciutto slices, pumpkin and purple potato squares, and halved quail eggs — looks as though it was created by a Cubist master.

Iricanin and Sandoval have gone to considerable effort to create inventive, refined Balkan dishes with a broader appeal, but for some they may have gone too far. A few of the dishes seem to have lost the essence that made the traditional version special, leaving behind just one more clever appetizer.While the food is unquestionably delicious and beautifully prepared, at times it’s more chic urban cuisine than anything Balkan per se. Sometimes you just want a big plate of rich food.And that’s always been one of the charms of the region.

Artistry aside, taste is abundant in plenty of the dishes. And interestingly, perhaps the single best dish on the menu is the humble stuffed sour cabbage, or sarma, which is one of Ambar’s most traditional offerings. In fact, the recipe comes from the general manager’s grandmother. Two cabbage rolls served in a small pot are filled with smoked pork, beef and jasmin rice, flavored with bay leaf, and slow-cooked in a large pot surrounded by smoked meat for many hours to create an intense flavor. Unlike the more familiar Polish version, this cabbage

March 2013

is cured yielding a very different yet delicious overall effect. The dish alone is worth the trip.

Iricanin has rounded out the team of his countryman with pastry chef Danilo Bucan, a colleague of chef Bocvarov’s from Serbia. His creative genius with sweets is an excellent match for Bocvarov’s skills on the savory side.Though the dessert menu offers only half a dozen choices, the amount of inspiration packed into them is remarkable.

One of Bucan’s creations, the forest gnocchi, is a standout.A round, deep-sided soup bowl is filled with tiny dollops of rich chocolate mousse, small chunks of intense bitter orange cake, sweet ground chocolate, citrusy orange gelee, herbal tarragon gnocchi and tart passion fruit foam — all served with a pitcher of black tea-flavored cream sauce. The dish is as delicious as it is unlikely, with each bite yielding a complex tapestry of flavors and textures.

Ambar attends well to the liquid Ambar side of the meal with an internation523 8th St., SE al wine program featuring more than (202) 813-3039 50 wines focusing on labels from www.ambarrestaurant.com Serbia, Macedonia, Slovenia, Montenegro,Bosnia and Herzegovina, Lunch: Mon. - Fri., 11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.; and Croatia. Ambar also introduces Sat., Sun., 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. (brunch) the region to a traditional Balkan drink in Washington’s first-ever Rakia Dinner: Mon. - Thu. and Sun., 5 - 11 p.m.; Bar. More than 30 varieties of the Fri., Sat., 5 p.m. - 12 a.m. alcoholic beverage, distillations of a Plates: $6 - $16 wide range of fermented fruit, give diners the opportunity to taste the Desserts: $6 - $8 national drink of many Balkan nations, Reservations: Accepted and recommended including Serbia, straight up or in some very fanciful cocktail concocDress: Casual tions. One of those, the Podgorica, is a sweet-spicy tropical blend of grapebased rakia, aji amarillo, passion fruit, mango and lime. The Skoplje combines mezcal and pear rakia with spiced pear puree, sour mix and lime for a tart and smoky effect.

Iricanin selected the former Jordan’s 8 space on Capitol Hill’s Barracks Row to open Ambar, a bold move considering that the area is not well known as a proving ground for exotic cuisine. He brought in Branimir Lukic of the Serbian-based architectural firm Atelje AL to rework the somewhat awkward long, thin space.

[ ] want to

go?

Photo: Goran Foto

Blond wood, a copper-top bar, soft lights, and cream-colored paint create an appealingly warm space in the 3,000-square-foot Ambar, located on Capitol Hill’s Barracks Row.

Lukic went blond with his design. Lots of raw honey and toast-colored wood, a copper-top bar, soft lights, and cream-colored paint and tile walls create an appealingly warm, golden glow in the 3,000-square-foot restaurant.

The glow extends to the people.The staff is excellent, friendly, knowledgeable and ready to assist with explanations and pronunciations. Many of the staff are from Serbia, in fact, and it’s a pleasure to be helped by people with such an evident affinity for their native cuisine. And unlike many other small plates venues, Ambar seems to have already worked out the inevitable timing issues. After several visits, we saw few awkward delays.

With eclectic music and a cool vibe,Ambar is primed to attract young urbanites from the area but its appeal is much broader. The food is excellent. It is also refreshingly unusual and exotic, yet retains hints of the homey traditions on which it is based. And Balkan food may have just found a welcome new home in Washington thanks to Ambar.

Rachel G. Hunt is the restaurant reviewer for The Washington Diplomat.

from page 35

Italy

from page 38

WNO difficult for a soprano to take on. Maria Callas did it with 89 stage performances — a tough act to follow.

But tough acts are meant to be followed.

Rising young American soprano Angela Meade, who made her professional debut just four years ago, will star in the title role opposite mezzo-soprano Dolora Zajick as Adalgisa.

But that’s not all. Another female vocal powerhouse takes center stage when acclaimed German soprano Diana Damrau makes her WNO debut April 8, accompanied by French harpist Xavier de Maistre.

Her extensive French and Italian repertoire ranges from Gilda in “Rigoletto,” to the full lyric roles of the German repertoire, as well as contemporary works.

And speaking of Italian, the WNO returns in a sense to its classic European roots with this year’s Opera Ball, a pinnacle of the spring social scene. In past years,WNO has broken ground by holding the prestigious ball at the embassies of Russia, China and the United Arab Emirates. This year, Italian Ambassador Claudio Bisogniero and his wife open up their lavish residence, Villa Firenze, to host the Opera Ball on April 6 (see story on page 35).

While Washington’s established elite will surely converge on Villa Firenze for the illustrious affair, the WNO has always taken great pains to nurture young, up-and-coming talent with more than 40 years’ worth of education programs for students, teachers and families. The Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program, for example, is a leading resident-training program for art-

March 2013

Photo: Eric Richmond

German soprano Diana Damrau makes her Washington National Opera debut April 8, accompanied by French harpist Xavier de Maistre.

ists on the verge of international careers.

The company also tries to think outside the box. In addition to its roster of classic opera productions this season, the WNO is staging the intriguing world premiere of “Approaching Ali” later this June, part of its American Opera Initiative. The hour-long opera by composer D.J. Sparr and librettists Mark Campbell and Davis Miller chronicles a reporter’s transformative meeting with boxing legend Muhammad Ali. The opera will feature a chamber orchestra, with a young director at the helm and a design team mentored by Francesca Zambello.

Gary Tischler is a contributing writer for The Washington Diplomat.

survivor herself (also see “Monaco’s Ellen Noghès Forms Cancer Support Group for Dip­ lo­matic Spouses” in the Nov­ ember 2012 issue of The Wash­ ington Diplomat).

The other honoree at this year’s gala will be Julie Delgado, an acclaimed singer whose cancer was in remission when she appeared at the gala last year.

Three months later, she was diagnosed with stage-four breast cancer. Delgado, whom Aldigé said has the “voice of an angel,” will speak of her ongoing struggle with the disease and treat the crowd to a couple of songs.

It is a good thing that the ex­­ pansive National Building Mu­­ seum is well suited to the event because there are few other venues in the city that can accommodate the large crowd, according to Piccolo. David Tutera, a celebrity wedding planner and second-generation Italian American, is in charge of beautifying the museum, something he has done for the gala for several years. The Italian Embassy handpicked the menu, which will start with gnocchi and end with gelato.

The evening’s fundraising goal is $1.4 million, with 84 cents of every dollar raised at the gala going toward Prevent Cancer Foundation programs like cancer prevention and early detection research. Over the

years, the Annual Spring Gala has raised more than $19.9 million in support of cancer re­­ search and direct service programs to medically underserved communities.

The foundation is “very proud of the fact that we’re able to produce an elegant event” but at the same time keep the focus

on fundraising, said Aldigé, who founded the organization in 1985 a year after her father succumbed to cancer. The disease knows no boundaries, so it is only natural that the fight against it be the same way.

Sean Lyngaas is a freelance writer in Washington, D.C.

from page 34

Festivals from. It is no secret that Rome is on a tight budget after the country nearly went bankrupt in 2011. To overcome shrinking public funding, the Italian Foreign Ministry and its embassies around the world are looking to “involve the private sector in a new model of public-private partnership,” Bartoli said. That is why many of the cultural events have corporate sponsors. It is a creative way to keep the Italian cultural flag at full mast while the government at home struggles to pay its bills.

Two of the main corporate sponsors are oil and gas company Eni and Intesa Sanpaolo banking group.

Representatives from both companies have been on hand for a series of lavish debut events in Washington, along with a high-powered roster of Italian-Americans, including Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).

Bartoli said that Italian-Americans, which he estimates number 18 million, are an easy link between the two countries and are actively involved in planning major Italian events in the United States.

Bartoli sums up “The Year of Italian Culture” in amicable terms: It is a “gesture of friendship and attention toward the United States,” which is “a strong friend [of Italy] in terms of institutions, but also people-to-people relations,” he said.

Sean Lyngaas is a freelance writer in Washington, D.C.

The Washington Diplomat Page 43

[ film reviews ]

All-Access ‘Gatekeepers’ Israel’s Once-Hawkish Ex-Shin Bet Chiefs Now Preach Peace

by Ky N. Nguyen

I [

Page 44

ing“Tony Manero”and“Post Mortem”). sraeli director Dror Moreh’s (“Sharon”) Mexican heartthrob Gael García remarkable documentary“The Gatekeepers,” Bernal (“The Motorcycle Diaries,” “Y inspired by Errol Morris’s “The Fog of War,” Tu Mamá También”) shines in the brings out into the open what had previlead role, a composite character based ously remained largely hidden in the shadon two historical figures. ows. Moreh managed to convince all six In 1988, Chilean strongman living former directors of the Israel Pinochet has governed for 15 years Security Agency (ISA), the highly secretive domesfollowing the military coup against tic counterterrorism intelligence agency popularthe country’s freely elected president, ly known as Shin Bet, to sit for rare interviews on Salvador Allende. Succumbing to the record. international pressure, amongst other They candidly discuss their terms from 1980 to reasons, Pinochet agrees to a national 2011 leading Israel’s war on terrorism, against plebiscite that will determine whethboth Palestinian and Jewish terrorists. What’s er his rule will continue for another shocking is that all six men, individually and colPhoto: Avner Shahaf/Irit Harel / Sony Pictures Classics six years. For a month before the lectively, have moved on beyond the rigid hardline stances that they once implemented. Arguing From clockwise top, Avraham Shalom, Ami Ayalon, Yaakov Peri, Yuval Diskin, Avi Dichter and Carmi election on Oct. 5, 1988, in which voters can cast ballots for either “Yes” that the current apartheid-like occupation is Gillon are the six surviving heads of Israel’s secretive counterterrorism agency Shin Bet, or “No,” each side is guaranteed 15 unsustainable, they favor reconciliation via a all of whom spoke for Dror Moreh’s documentary “The Gatekeepers.” minutes of national television time each night.The “No” side is assigned the decidedly nonpeace process resulting in a two-state solution.

The filmmaker’s unprecedented access started with Ami Ayalon, a former Shin Bet head prime time slot of midnight to 12:15 a.m.

José Tomás Urrutia (Luis Gnecco), a leader in the fragmented opposition, unexpectedly and commander-in-chief of the Navy who became a Labor Party member of the Knesset (Israeli Parliament) and a security cabinet member. Ayalon, who helped to round up the taps ad exec René Saavedra (Bernal) to lead the “No” campaign against the entrenched other five Shin Bet leaders for the project, declares that, “The tragedy of Israel’s public incumbent, surprising René and everyone around him.A young Turk sporting sneakers and security debate is that we don’t realize that we face a frustrating situation, in which we longish hair, René is decidedly indifferent to politics despite being raised abroad as the win every battle, but we lose the war.” Avi child of a political exile.

René’s estranged wife Verónica (Antonia Zegers), a Dichter concurs, insisting, “You can’t make The Gatekeepers No rabid left-winger who’s left her husband and son, peace using military means.”

(Hebrew and English (Spanish with English subtitles; After Israel’s overwhelming victory in doubts anyone with such lack of conviction like René with English subtitles; 97 min.)

110 min.)

1967’s Six-Day War, a million Palestinians in can make a difference against Pinochet’s cutthroat the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and old political apparatus. Meanwhile, René’s conservative, Landmark’s E Street Cinema Angelika Mosaic Jerusalem suddenly became ruled by Israeli pro-Pinochet ad agency boss Lucho Guzmán (Alfredo Landmark’s E Street Cinema ★★★★✩ military forces. Ex-Shin Bet head Avraham Castro) supports the “Yes” team.

The witty script, smartly translated by Pedro Peirano Shalom was blunt about the victory. “When ★★★★★ the Arabs surrendered, we had no enemy,” he from Antonio Skármeta’s play “Referendum,” enables a talented ensemble cast to develop said, even quipping that the subsequent rise of terrorism “was lucky for us. We had work.” rich characters in the detailed period piece.

Cinematographer Sergio Armstrong photographs the whole movie on a low-fidelity ’80sBut he was less flippant when he reluctantly discusses the Bus 300 hijacking in 1984, in which two Palestinian hijackers were caught and executed while in custody, causing an era U-matic video camera to cleverly evoke the appearance of that decade, which also facilitates the relatively seamless insertion of murky archival uproar that forced Shalom’s ouster. footage, including real election commercials. The aesthetic Ayalon did not mince words when it came to the incident, gamble works for those audience members willing to forangrily proclaiming,“We killed them with their hands tied.” give the film’s inherent lack of production values.

Shalom, however, echoed the uncompromising mentality that drove many of the former Shin Bet leaders: In war, take no prisoners.

Second Love for ‘Yossi’ “With terrorists there are no morals. In the war against terror, With “Yossi,” popular Israeli director Eytan Fox (“Walk on forget about morality,” Shalom says in the film. Yet he also Water,”“The Bubble”) successfully follows up his 2002 audidescribes the Israeli security presence in the occupied territoence favorite “Yossi & Jagger,” in which Israeli commander ries as “a brutal occupation force similar to the Germans in Yossi Hoffman loses his secret gay lover, a fellow soldier, World War II.” who is killed in combat while they execute an attack against Thus, all six men have renounced the agency’s tactics in the Lebanon. In “Yossi,” another crowd-pleasing romantic drama, Israeli-Palestinian conflict — tactics that clearly haunt them.

Itay Segal’s mature script intelligently plots what has Yaakov Peri observes,“You knock on doors in the middle of the changed — and what has not — after 10 years. night; these moments end up etched deep inside you.When you Photo: Tomás Dittburn / Sony Pictures Classics Lead actor Ohad Knoller skillfully reprises his role as Yossi retire, you become a bit of a leftist.” from “Yossi & Jagger,” delivering a poignant performance as Indeed, they now all advocate for a peace process that, after Gael García Bernal plays an ad exec during the rule the long-suffering, closeted homosexual who finally rekindles decades of vicious fighting that they helped to wage, may itself of Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet in “No.” an appreciation for life. Oz Zehavi’s flashy turn as Yossi’s new be dead. As Carmi Gillon, who resigned from the Shin Bet after love interest Tom is not as rich, but he gets the job done the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin, reflects,“We are making the lives of millions unbearable, depicting a somewhat stock pretty boy. into prolonged human suffering; it kills me.”

In “Yossi,” the eponymous character (Knoller) has achieved professional success in civilian life as a respected cardiologist. In his personal life, he lives a lonely existence, never Thumbs Up for ‘No’ having recovered from the loss of his lover. Living by himself, he maintains a distance from Based on larger-than-life historical events, Chilean director Pablo Larraín’s stirring politiSee film reviews, page 47 cal drama “No” is the third film in his trilogy on Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet (follow-

]

[

The Washington Diplomat

]

March 2013

[ film festivals ]

Watershed Cinema Environmental Film Fest Brings World of Eco Issues to D.C.

by Ky N. Nguyen

A

s the dormant debate over climate change heats up again at the start of President Obama’s second term, an eye-opening environmental institution returns just in time to the nation’s capital this month.

The gargantuan Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital takes over area theaters March 12 to 24. The 21st edition of this annual extravaganza “will showcase a wide variety of films about environmental topics, including a special focus on rivers and watersheds throughout the world,” said Peter O’Brien, the festival’s executive director. “The festival is not only the largest environmental film festival, but also a major venue for the presentation of international film. Of the 190 films being screened in 2013, 85 are internato tional, hailing from 50 different countries throughout the world,” he added.

“This is our biggest and most ambiFor more information on the tious festival yet,” said Helen Strong, the 21st Annual Environmental festival’s public affairs director. “Each Film Festival, visit year that is true, but each year we grow www.dcenvironmentalfilmfest.org. over the previous year. The number and variety of films on the environment is constantly expanding.”

A staggering 110 titles are D.C., U.S. and world premieres. About 196 filmmakers and special guests are scheduled for talks accompanying festival screenings.

One of Washington’s largest cultural collaborations, the festival partners with more than 100 area, national and worldwide organizations, with films playing at 75 area venues, including embassies, museums, universities, libraries and theaters.

learn

more

Repertory Notes

Embassy of Canada Canadian writer-director Caroline Bâcle’s documentary “Lost Rivers” (Tue., March 12, 6 p.m. with discussion by Bâcle; Wed., March 13, 6 p.m.) examines the worldwide dis­­appearance of rivers, which once flowed through nearly every developed city and provided the infrastructure upon which modern metropolises were built. Guiding viewers through the hidden river networks of London, Brescia (Italy), Montreal and Toronto, intrepid groups of subterranean explorers known as “drainers” reveal the buried waterways that house the secrets of each city’s past.

Photo: Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital

A young girl must come to grips with her father’s death in “The Mirror Never Lies,” one of 190 films featured in the 21st annual Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital.

Embassy of Switzerland The program “The Rhine: From the Source to the Estuary” (Tue., March 12, 6:30 p.m.) includes the German documentaries “The Young and Wild Rhine – Switzerland*” and “The Tamed Rhine – Switzerland, Germany, France*” — followed by a tasting of regional Rhine food.

RSVP:was.events@eda.admin.ch

Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia (at Landmark’s E Street Cinema) Kamila Andini’s narrative feature “The Mirror Never Lies” (Tue., March 12, 7 p.m.) draws upon her personal history with the Bajo tribe, known as the “Sea Gypsies.”The story centers around a 12-year-old girl who faces familial loss, goofy first love, conflict with her grieving and emotionally absent mother, her own blossoming womanhood and, eventually, her journey toward the acceptance of her father’s death.

Continued on next page

RSVP: canadianembassy-lostrivers.eventbrite.com

by Washington Diplomat film reviewer Ky N. Nguyen

Please see International Film Clips on the next page for detailed listings available at press time.

National Gallery of Art Organized in partnership with the Francophonie DC Cultural Festival, with gratitude to the Embassy of Belgium, the program “Responsible Realism: Belgium’s Dardenne Brothers” screens “Rosetta” (Sat., March 2, 2 p.m.) and “The Son” (Sat., March 2, 4:30 p.m.). The afternoon is introduced by Philip Mosley, author of “The Cinema of the Dardenne Brothers: Responsible Realism,” who will sign his book in between screenings.

The series “L.A. Rebellion: Creating A New Black Cinema” (March 3-30) includes Charles Burnett’s “My Brother’s Wedding” preceded by Robert Wheaton’s “A Little Off Mark” (Sun., March 3, 4:30 p.m.); Haile Gerima’s “Bush Mama” preceded by Bernard Nicolas’s “Daydream Therapy” (Sun., March 10, 4:30 p.m.); Julie Dash’s “Daughters of the Dust” followed by Dash’s “The Diary of an African Nun” (Sat., March 23, 4:30 p.m.); and Larry Clark’s “Passing Through” preceded by Charles Burnett’s “When It Rains” (Sat., March 30, 2:30 p.m.).

(202) 842-6799, www.nga.gov/programs/film

The Environmental Film Festival opens with the world premiere of “Hot Water,” a documentary about uranium mines in western United States, with live appearances by filmmaker Elizabeth Kucinich and her husband, ex-Congressman Dennis Kucinich, a film subject. The festival’s annual Polly Krakora Award for artistry in film goes to Stuart Sender’s “Harmony,” a documentary narrated by Prince Charles, a longtime environmental advocate (whose own home near Highgrove House features an organic farm). And don’t miss the D.C. premiere of legendary director Terrence Malick’s “To the Wonder,” a narrative love story propelled by stunning images of nature.

Other notable international films made available for preview include Kamila Andini’s “The Mirror Never Lies” (Indonesia); Henri Joseph Koumba-Bididi’s “The King’s Necklace” (Gabon); Kalyanee Mam’s “A River Changes Course” (Cambodia/U.S.); J.J. Kelley and Josh Thomas’s “Go Ganges!” (India/U.S.); and Yung Chang’s “The Fruit Hunters” (Canada).

Of special interest to readers of The Washington Diplomat are the following screenings presented by embassies in D.C., listed in chronological order.

Freer Gallery of Art

American Film Institute (AFI) Silver Theatre

Hamid Naficy, professor of radio, television and film at Northwestern University, delivers the 2013 Nowruz Lecture: “Writing the History of Iranian Cinema” (Sun., March 10, 4 p.m.). Naficy will sign copies of his books, including his latest, the four-volume book “A Social History of Iranian Cinema.”

The retrospective “Mr. And Mrs. Hitchcock” features the 85th anniversary screening of Hitchcock’s British silent “The First Born” (Sat., March 9, 1:30 p.m.) with live musical accompaniment by Andrew Simpson, as well as Hitchcock’s U.K. “Stage Fright” (Sat., March 30, 7:20 p.m.; Sun., March 31, 11 a.m.).

D.W. Griffith’s “Intolerance” (Sat., March 9, 3 p.m.), a silent feature with live accompaniment by the Bolster ensemble, is screened in association with the Sackler exhibition of the Cyrus Cylinder.

The series “Screen Valentines: Great Movie Romances” (through March 14) includes Paris-set “Before Sunrise”; Prague-set “The Unbearable Lightness Of Being”; and Irish writer-director John Carney’s “Once.”

((202) 357-2700, www.asia.si.edu/events/films.asp

The “Mekong Days” series offers the documentaries “Mekong, the Mother” and “Mekong” (Fri., March 22, 5:30 p.m.) and “Up The Yangtze” (Tue., March 26, 6:30 p.m.), plus the discussion “The Mekong Region - Ecological and Cultural Challenges” (Mon., March 25, 6:30 p.m.)

The “In Focus” series (through March 11) concludes with the documentaries “Henri Cartier-Bresson: The Impassioned Eye” (Mon., March 4, 6:30 p.m.) and “William Eggleston in the Real World” (Mon., March 11, 6:30 p.m.).

The “Opera in Cinema” series offers Jonathan Kent’s production of “Tosca” (Sun., March 24, 12:30 p.m.; Wed., March 27, 7:15 p.m.) from London’s Royal Opera House. The “Ballet in Cinema” series presents “Notre-Dame de Paris” (Tue., March 12, 12:30 p.m.; Thu., March 14, 7 p.m.)” from Teatro alla Scala Ballet in Milan, as well as “Ballet’s Greatest Hits—YAGP Gala” (Sun., March 31, 1:20 p.m.).

The series “The Roots Of Django” (through April 13) includes Italian director Sergio Corbucci’s “The Mercenary.” Other series include “New African Films Festival” (March 7-12); “Quentin Tarantino Retro” (through April 13); “Howard Hawks, Part 1” (through April 18); “Reel Estate: The American Home On Film” (through April 18); and “Loretta Young Centennial” (March 8-April 18).

(202) 289-1200, www.goethe.de/ins/us/was/kue/flm/enindex.htm

(301) 495-6700, www.afi.com/silver

Goethe-Institut

March 2013

The Washington Diplomat Page 45

[ film ]

CINEMA LISTING *Unless specific times are listed, please check the theater for times. Theater locations are subject to change.

800 years, the film focuses on little Mei Mei who hopes to follow in her mother’s footsteps, finding a love match by dancing in the village festival.

Czech

National Gallery of Art Sat., March 16, 10:30 a.m., Sun., March 17, 11:30 a.m.

District League: Pepik Hnatek’s Last Stand (Okresní prebor: Poslední zápas Pepíka Hnátka) Directed by Jan Prusinovsky (Czech Republic, 2012, 104 min.)

In this dark comedy, an eccentric provincial soccer coach keeps his pending heart surgery a secret from both his wife and his team.

The Avalon Theatre Wed., March 13, 8 p.m.

Happy People: A Year in the Taiga Directed by Werner Herzog (Germany, 2010, 90 min.)

Werner Herzog’s visually stunning documentary tracks the people of the small village of Bakhtia in the remote and desolate Siberian wilderness, snowbound for months at a time (English and Russian).

Landmark’s E Street Cinema

Before Sunrise Directed by Richard Linklater (U.S./Austria/Switzerland, 1995, 105 min.)

American backpacker Ethan Hawke and French student Julie Delpy walk and talk their way through the night in baroquely beautiful Budapest.

AFI Silver Theatre Sat., March 2, 8 p.m., Tue., March 5, 7 p.m.

Bottled Life (Nestlés Geschäfte Mit Dem Wasser) Directed by Urs Schnell (Switzerland, 2012, 90 min.)

Do you know how to turn ordinary water into a billion-dollar business? In Switzerland, there’s a company that has developed the art to perfection: the Nestlé Corporation.

University of the District of Columbia Thu., March 21, 6 p.m.

Cinderella Moon Directed by Richard Bowen (China, 2011, 96 min.)

Based on the Chinese legend of Ye Xian that predates Perrault’s Cinderella by about

puts their marriage to the test.

(U.S./U.K., 2013, 98 min.)

India’s father dies in an auto accident and her Uncle Charlie, who she never knew existed, comes to live with her and her emotionally unstable mother, although India begins to suspect that he has ulterior motives.

Once Sparks fly and music flows when a down-on-his-luck Irish busker and a poor Czech immigrant meet on the streets of Dublin in this intimate modern musical.

AFI Silver Theatre Sun., March 10, 4 p.m., Thu., March 14, 9:30 p.m.

One Life Directed by Michael Gunton and Martha Holmes (U.K., 2011, 85 min.)

Jane’s Journey It would be hard to name anyone who has had more of an impact on animal research and wildlife conservation than Jane Goodall, whose 45-year study of wild chimpanzees in Africa is legendary.

Daniel Craig narrates this amazing BBC wildlife documentary celebrating the diversity and tenacity of life on earth, bringing some of the most brilliant and imaginative stories from the animal kingdom to the big screen.

Landmark’s E Street Cinema

National Museum of Natural History Sun., March 17, 12 p.m.

Peak

The Last Ocean

Directed by Hannes Lang (Germany/Italy, 2011, 91 min.)

Directed by Peter Young (New Zealand, 2012, 85 min.)

The most pristine marine ecosystem on Earth, the Ross Sea has remained free from widespread pollution, invasive species, mining and over-fishing — a living laboratory providing scientists with the last chance to understand how a healthy marine ecosystem functions (screens with “Planet Ocean”).

National Museum of Natural History Sat, March 16, 12 p.m.

Now, Forager Directed by Jason Cortlund and Julia Halperin (Poland, 2012, 94 min.)

A husband-and-wife team of foragers makes their living gathering wild mushrooms in the woodlands of New Jersey and selling them to New York City restaurants, but their unpredictable foraging lifestyle

Continued from previous page

Embassy of Japan

The Alps are an ancient region of natural beauty that is changing as a result of global warming.

Goethe-Institut Mon., March 18, 6:30 p.m.

Planet Ocean

Freer Gallery of Art Fri., March 1, 7 p.m., Sat., March 2, 7 p.m.

Landmark’s E Street Cinema Opens Fri., March 8

The Unbearable Lightness of Being Directed by Philip Kaufman (U.S., 1988, 171 min.)

Daniel Day-Lewis, Juliette Binoche and Lena Olin shine as husband, wife and mistress in Czechoslovakia during the Prague Spring in this erotically charged and thought-provoking cult classic.

AFI Silver Theatre Sun., March 3, 7:30 p.m., Wed., March 6, 6:45 p.m.

Unfinished Spaces Directed by Alysa Nahmias and Benjamin Murray (Cuba, 2011, 86 min.)

Cuba’s ambitious National Art Schools project, designed by three young visionary architects in the wake of Castro’s Revolution, was long neglected but has now been rediscovered as an architectural masterpiece.

National Museum of Women in the Arts Thu., March 14, 7 p.m.

Directed by Yann Arthus-Bertrand and Michael Pitiot (France, 2012, 90 min.)

French

This cinematic adventure highlights the scientific missions of TARA expeditions, a unique pool of international researchers, oceanographers and biologists exploring the deep blue (screens with “The Last Ocean”).

Directed by Thierry Binisti (France/Israel/Canada, 2011, 100 min.)

National Museum of Natural History Sat, March 16, 3:15 p.m.

Stoker Directed by Park Chan-wook

A Bottle in the Gaza Sea (Une bouteille à la mer) A 17-year-old French girl who’s immigrated to Jerusalem slips a letter about peace between Israelis and Palestinians in a bottle and throws it out to sea — only to receive a response from a young Palestinian man in Gaza (French, Hebrew and Arabic).

in association with the upcoming exhibition “Earth Matters: Land as Material and Metaphor in the Arts of Africa” at the National Museum of African Art.

Japan Information and Culture Center

Embassy of Australia

Mexican director Pedro González-Rubio’s documentary “Inori” (Wed., March 13, 6:30 p.m.) follows the elderly residents of a picturesque and isolated mountain village in Japan who offer moving testimonies as they reflect on their histories and the cycles of life.

In a remote community where life is cheap and people struggle to survive, one small Aboriginal boy shows how courage can conquer even the greatest odds in Catriona McKenzie’s documentary “Satellite Boy” (Thu., March 14, 7 p.m.).

RSVP: jicc@ws.mofa.go.jp

Embassy of Singapore Eric Youwei Lin’s documentary “Remember Chek Jawa” (Wed., March 13, 7 p.m.) examines the fate of a tiny yet amazingly rich area of marine biodiversity on Pulau Ubin Island in Singapore.The tiny nation-state has always struggled with land scarcity issues and the government had approved plans to reclaim this land, but several groups of passionate volunteers refused to give up on this precious slice of nature.

RSVP: Kelley_Rucker@sgmfa.gov.sg

Embassy of the Republic of Gabon (at Landmark’s E Street Cinema) Henri Joseph Koumba-Bididi’s narrative feature for children,“The King’s Necklace” (Wed., March 13, 7 p.m.), makes its U.S. premiere,

Page 46

March 2013

AFI Silver Theatre Sun., March 17, 7:15 p.m.

Directed by John Carney (Ireland, 2006, 85 min.)

Directed by Lorenz Knauer (Germany, 2010, 106 min.)

English

THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT

RSVP: cultural.relationsUS@dfatgov.au

Embassy of Italy Italian Cultural Institute Michele Barca and Nicola Pittarello’s “The Challenge of Venice” (Thu., March 14, 7 p.m.) documents how the iconic city is inextricably linked to her salty, fresh and brackish waters, an inexhaustible resource that now threatens her very survival.

RSVP essential: http://iicwashington.info/events/20130314/20130314_

venice.html

Embassy of Venezuela Bolivarian Hall (Salón Bolivariano) Simon Cunich discusses his documentary “Growing Change: A Journey Inside Venezuela’s Food Revolution” (Thu., March 14, 7 p.m.), about how a growing social movement is showing what’s

The Avalon Theatre Wed., March 27, 8 p.m.

The Day of the Crows (Le jour des corneilles) Directed by Jean-Christophe Dessaint (France, 2012, 96 min.)

In this animated film, a child and his father lead a wild and hard life in an isolated forest with only the ghosts haunting the forest as their companions, until one day the child discovers a girl in a neighboring village.

The Avalon Theatre Sat., March 16, 10:30 a.m.

The Kid with a Bike (Le gamin au vélo) Directed by Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne (Belgium/France/Italy, 2011, 87 min.)

Cinema Art Bethesda’s monthly Sunday screening looks at the relationship between an abandoned 12 year-old-boy and the local hairdresser who agrees to foster him on weekends; professor Stan Levin moderates post-film discussion.

Landmark’s Bethesda Row Cinema Sun., March 3, 10 a.m.

The Little Room (La Petite Chambre) Directed by Stéphanie Chuat and Véronique Reymond (Switzerland/Luxembourg, 2010, 87 min.)

Edmond fights the idea of going to a retirement home until a bad fall forces him to accept help from his caregiver Rose.

The Avalon Theatre Wed., March 20, 8 p.m.

Rosetta Directed by Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne (France/Belgium, 1999, 95 min.)

A teenage girl uses her meager resources to eke out an existence in a trailer park for herself and her alcoholic mother (screens with “The Son”).

National Gallery of Art Sat., March 2, 2 p.m.

possible when communities, not corporations, start to take control of food.

Embassy of Argentina In Simon Franca’s documentary “Not So Modern Times” (Fri., March 15, 7 p.m.), an elderly native Tehuelche gaucho lives a solitary and contented life in a remote cabin in the Patagonian Andes — until he receives a television and telephone from the Ministry of Social Development that turn his life upside down.

Embassy of Spain (at Atlas Performing Arts Center) Guillermo Corral, cultural counselor at the Embassy of Spain, introduces Óscar Clemente’s documentary “Keep On Rolling — The Dream Of The Automobile” (Tue., March 19, 6:30 p.m.), followed by discussion with sociologist Begoña Pernas. Clemente’s film argues it’s increasingly obvious that cars are ill-suited to big cities and that the social, economic and environmental costs they incur are no longer sustainable.

Embassy of Austria Franz Hafner’s “The Innside Story:The Green River from the Alps” (Tue., March 19, 6:30 p.m.) makes its D.C. premiere, followed by a discussion on renewable energy. Central Europe’s largest tributary of the Danube, the 323-mile Inn River’s legendary natural beauty has generated unique cultural regions over the ages, but today, signs of massive human intervention are clearly apparent all

The Washington Diplomat

March 2013

The Son (Le fils) Directed by Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne (Belgium/France, 2002, 103 min.)

Olivier, a middle-age carpenter at a rehabilitation center for boys, refuses to take on Francis as his apprentice until, curiously, he changes his mind (screens with “Rosetta”).

National Gallery of Art Sat., March 2, 4:30 p.m.

German Warm Period (Warmzeit) Directed by Knut Karger (Germany, 2012, 80 min.)

This film connects individuals, scientists and engineers of alternative energy technologies from Greenland to Namibia who are experiencing the impact of climate change.

Korean Film Festival DC The Freer Gallery of Art, the AFI Silver Theatre and the Angelika Film Center Mosaic, with support of the Korean Cultural Center DC and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, present the “2013 Korean Film Festival DC” (March 1-April 21).

At the Freer, the festival opens with the area premiere of Korean director Park Chan-wook’s English-language debut “Stoker” (Fri., March 1, 7 p.m.; Sat., March 2, 7 p.m. with Park in person), starring Mia Wasikowska, Dermot Mulroney and Nicole Kidman. Park appears in person at various other screenings throughout the festival as well. www.asia.si.edu/events/koreanfilm/schedule.asp (202) 357-2700, www.asia.si.edu/events/films.asp (301) 495-6700, www.afi.com/silver (571) 512-3301, www.angelikafilmcenter.com — Ky N. Nguyen

Thu., March 28, 7:30 p.m.

(South Korea, 2012, 133 min.)

Goethe-Institut Tue., March 19, 6 p.m.

Jiseul

Italian

Directed by O. Muel (South Korea, 2012, 108 min.)

A corrupt customs inspector stumbles upon a wayward drug shipment and leverages it into a business partnership with the city’s biggest crime boss.

The Mercenary aka A Professional Gun (Il mercenario)

This film recreates little-known tragic events that occurred on Jeju Island in 1948, when the South Korean government, in collusion with the U.S. military, cracked down on the island’s protesting residents.

Freer Gallery of Art Fri., March 8, 7 p.m.

Angelika Mosaic Wed., March 13, 7:30 p.m., Thu., March 14, 7 p.m.

Directed by Sergio Corbucci (Italy/Spain, 1968, 110 min.)

Freer Gallery of Art Sun., March 24, 2 p.m.

Oldboy

A Polish mercenary, sensing a business opportunity, falls in with a band of Mexican revolutionaries.

AFI Silver Theatre Fri., March 29, 7 p.m., Sun., March 31, 9:45 p.m.

Korean In Another Country Directed by Hong Sang-soo (France/South Korea, 2012, 89 min.)

The great French actress Isabelle Huppert stars as three different women visiting the Korean resort town of Mohan in this triptych of tales.

Freer Gallery of Art Sun., March 10, 1 p.m.

Helpless Directed by Byun Young-joo (South Korea, 2012, 117 min.)

A man searches for his fiancée, who vanished without a trace just before their wedding ceremony — only to discover her shocking identity.

Angelika Mosaic Wed., March 27, 7:30 p.m.,

JSA: Joint Security Area Directed by Park Chan-wook (South Korea, 2000, 110 min.)

Structured as a classic whodunit, “JSA” begins with a U.N. investigator looking into the killing of two North Korean soldiers by a South Korean soldier. But flashbacks reveal a surprising truth: the soldiers had developed a cross-border friendship.

Freer Gallery of Art Sun., March 3, 1 p.m.

Directed by Park Chan-wook (South Korea, 2003, 120 min.)

A man who is mysteriously imprisoned for 15 years and then just as mysteriously released begins a search for his tormentor — and the secrets he uncovers make for a visually stunning, hyper-violent journey.

Freer Gallery of Art Sun., March 3, 4:30 p.m.

AFI Silver Theatre Sun., March 24, 6:30 p.m.

“Vengeance Trilogy,” it tells the story of a hearing-impaired factory worker who turns to an illegal organ-trafficking ring to get a new kidney for his dying sister. Cheated gruesomely by the ring, he kidnaps his former boss’s daughter as both men set off on bloody-minded missions of revenge.

Freer Gallery of Art Fri., March 15, 7 p.m.

Taste of Money Directed by Im Sang-soo (South Korea, 2012, 115 min.)

A secretary to the center of a Korean conglomerate deals with the immoral private issues of a wealthy family, doing whatever he’s told as his desire for power and money grows.

Angelika Mosaic Wed., March 20, 7:30 p.m., Thu., March 21, 7:30 p.m.

Thirst Directed by Park Chan-wook (South Korea, 2009, 133 min.)

A priest devoted to healing the sick volunteers as a test subject for an experimental drug that ends up giving him a taste for human blood.

AFI Silver Theatre Sun., March 17, 9 p.m., Mon., March 18, 9 p.m.

Angelika Mosaic Wed., March 6, 7:30 p.m., Thu., March 7, 7:30 p.m.

Young Gun in the Time Directed by Oh Young-doo (South Korea, 2012, 95 min.)

In this eccentric caper, a mysterious woman approaches a down-on-his-heels private eye with a disturbing assignment: track down the owner of a particular wristwatch and kill him.

AFI Silver Theatre Sun., March 24, 9 p.m., Mon., March 25, 9:40 p.m.

Mandarin Beijing Besieged by Waste Directed by Wang Jiu-liang (China, 2011, 72 min.)

While China’s economic ascent commands global attention, less light has been shed upon the monumental problem of waste spawned by a burgeoning population, booming industry and insatiable urban growth.

Woodrow Wilson Center Thu., March 14, 12 p.m.

Romanian

A Werewolf Boy

Beyond the Hills (Dupa dealuri)

Directed by Jo Sung-hee (South Korea, 2012, 126 min.)

Directed by Cristian Mungiu (Romania/France/Belgium, 2012, 152 min.)

When a family discovers a feral teenager living in their barn, they take the boy in and train him, but soon his superhuman strength and odd behavior indicate that he is the product of a shady scientific experiment.

Two girls who grew up together in an orphanage and later become lovers are separated when one leaves for a better life in Germany while the other joins a convent.

Landmark’s E Street Cinema Opens Fri., March 15

Pieta

Lady Vengeance Directed Park Chan-wook (South Korea, 2005, 112 min.)

Imprisoned for 14 years for a crime she didn’t commit, a woman plots her revenge on the sociopathic schoolteacher who forced her to confess to the crime.

Freer Gallery of Art Sun., March 17, 2 p.m.

AFI Silver Theatre Sun., March 31, 7:30 p.m.

Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time Directed by Yoon Jong-bin

Directed by Kim Ki-duk (South Korea, 2012, 104 min.)

A vicious loan shark collects from his victims by crippling them and reaping the insurance benefits, until a woman appears claiming to be his mother and shows him the only tenderness he’s ever known, but does she have an ulterior motive?

Freer Gallery of Art Fri., March 22, 7 p.m.

Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance Directed Park Chan-wook (South Korea, 2002, 129 min.)

The first film in Park Chan-wook’s Photo: Strand Releasing

along the Inn’s course.

the villagers’ intervention.

Ohad Knoller, right, begins to rebuild his forlorn life when he meets Oz Zehavi, left, in “Yossi & Jagger.”

RSVP: www.acfdc.org/events-registration

RSVP: czech_events@yahoo.com and put EFF in the subject line.

from page 44

Inter-American Development Bank

Film Reviews

Embassy of Finland (at Landmark’s E Street Cinema) “Tale of a Forest” (Wed., March 20, 6:30 p.m.), directed

by Ville Suhonen and Kim Saarniluoto, celebrates the unique Finnish forest and its colorful and diverse inhabitants, from the bears and elk, to the snakes and flying squirrels, all of whom are characters in this family flick.

Embassy of France “A Thirsty World” (Wed., March 20, 7 p.m.), directed

by Yann Arthus-Bertrand, Thierry Piantanida and Baptiste Rouget-Luchaire, focuses on one of the major challenges to human survival: water. Filmed in 20 countries, the documentary reveals the mysterious and fascinating world of fresh water through spectacular aerial images shot in regions that are difficult to reach and rarely filmed, like Southern Sudan or Northern Congo.

Embassy of the Czech Republic Martin Mareček’s documentary “Solar Eclipse” (Thu., March 21, 6:30 p.m.) explores the drawbacks of providing aid to developing nations through the story of two Czech electricians who brought electric power to a Zambian village, only to return five years later to find their ingeniously constructed system in ruins thanks to

Anne Vena, IDB Cultural Center events coordinator, introduces Duncan Bridgeman’s documentary “Made in Mexico” (Thu., March 21, 6:30 p.m.), which captures the rich diversity of Mexican geography, art, music and culture.

Royal Netherlands Embassy Ben Sombogaart’s “The Storm” (Thu., March 21, 6:30 p.m.) is fictional story that unfolds within the historical context of the disastrous flood that engulfed the Dutch coastal province of Zeeland in 1953.The tragedy killed more than 1,800 people but also inspired the Dutch to find ways to strengthen their coastlines against future storms.

RSVP: DutchFilm@aol.com or (202) 274-2730

Embassy of Mexico Mexican Cultural Institute Everardo González’s documentary “Drought” (Sat., March 23, 2 p.m.) is a poetic cinema verité film of a cattle-ranching community in northeastern Mexico on the verge of extinction.

RSVP: RSVP@instituteofmexicodc.org Ky N. Nguyen is the film reviewer for The Washington Diplomat.

his friends, thwarting their well-intentioned attempts to help him.A female nurse (Ola Schur-Selektar) falls for him and makes a pass. A newly divorced male colleague (Lior Ashkenazi of “Walk on Water”) drags him to a drug-fueled party and tries to set him up in a threesome with a woman. In a random meeting, one of Yossi’s patients (Orly Silbersatz Banai) ends up being the still-grieving mother of his late lover, bringing to the surface his continual public suppression of their relationship, which he reveals to her.

Concluding he desperately needs a vacation, Yossi departs for the seaside resort town of Eilat. During his journey, he encounters four soldiers on leave who’ve missed their bus and offers them a ride. One of the soldiers is good-looking, confident Tom (Zehavi), whose open gayness startlingly contrasts with Yossi’s still-closeted life. Reflecting changes over the

March 2013

[

Yossi (Hebrew with English subtitles; 84 min.)

Opens Fri., March 8 Landmark’s E Street Cinema

★★★★✩

]

last 10 years in Israeli society, particularly in Tel Aviv, Tom’s out sexuality is treated with indifference by his macho fellow soldiers, surprising Yossi even more.

Such casual acceptance of homosexuality in the army was unheard of during Yossi’s own military service.

Yossi gradually finds such openness liberating. Unlike his fellow soldiers, Tom recognizes that Yossi is gay and casually hits on the older man, a persistence that gradually pays off. As Yossi’s frozen emotional reserve melts over time, he eventually succumbs to Tom’s advances and rediscovers how to be happy.

Ky N. Nguyen is the film reviewer for The Washington Diplomat.

The Washington Diplomat Page 47

[ around town ]

EVENTS LISTING **Admission is free unless otherwise noted. All information on event venues can be found on The Diplomat Web site at www.washdiplomat. com. Times and locations are subject to change.

Unless listed, please call venue for specific event times and hours of operation.

ART March 1 to April 7

Architecture / Landscape

Eight Austrian artists examine the perception and manipulation of our daily surroundings — worlds at once graspable and utterly alien, in part constructed (or perhaps in turn destroyed) by man, or ones artificially generated, seemingly infinite in their reproducibility.

The Mansion at Strathmore Through March 3

Michelangelo’s David-Apollo

The presentation of the “David-Apollo,” a marble statue by Michelangelo lent to the National Gallery of Art by the Museo Nazionale del Bargello in Florence, opens the nationwide celebration “2013The Year of Italian Culture.”

National Gallery of Art March 7 to May 31

Perceptive Strokes

In honor of the Inter-American Development Bank’s annual meeting in Panama in March, the IDB Cultural Center presents artwork by women Panamanian artists.

IDB Cultural Center March 9 to April 28

The Cyrus Cylinder and Ancient Persia

Modest in scale and appearance, the Cyrus Cylinder is one of the most important and iconic objects in world history whose origins can be traced to the Persian king Cyrus the Great’s conquest of Babylon in the sixth century BC. Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Through March 10

The Sultan’s Garden: The Blossoming of Ottoman Art

More than 50 sumptuous textiles and other works of art illustrate the stylized floral designs that became synonymous with the wealth, abundance and influence of one of the world’s greatest empires.

The Textile Museum Through March 16

Words Like Sapphires: 100 Years of Hebraica at the Library of Congress A century ago, New York philanthropist Jacob H. Schiff purchased an initial collection of nearly 10,000 Hebrew books and pamphlets for the Library of Congress. This gift formed the nucleus of what is today one of the world’s greatest collections of Hebraic materials, comprising some 200,000 items.

Library of Congress Through March 17

Through March 17

Through April 12

Grisha Bruskin: H-Hour

Seven Points (part one)

Internationally acclaimed contemporary Russian artist Grisha Bruskin’s new Kafkaesque sculpture project “H-Hour” is a disturbing, toy-like anatomy of hate in the form of: the hostile state, class enemy, enemy of the subconscious, time and so on.

American University Katzen Arts Center March 24 to June 9

Albrecht Dürer: Master Drawings, Watercolors, and Prints from the Albertina

Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528) has long been considered the greatest German artist, uniquely combining the status held in Italian art by Michelangelo in the 16th century, by Raphael in the 18th and 19th centuries, and by Leonardo da Vinci in our own day. But while Dürer’s paintings were prized, his most influential works were actually his drawings, watercolors, engravings and woodcuts.

Embassy of Australia Through April 21

Orchids of Latin America

“Orchids of Latin America” highlights the importance of Latin American orchids in local culture and folklore through live flower displays and examines ways in which biological reserves are working to preserve orchid species and habitats today.

National Museum of Natural History

Through March 29

Through May 5

Peruvian Amazon Painting

Renowned Peruvian artists showcase the values and traditions of the diverse, enigmatic indigenous cultures of the Peruvian Amazon.

Embassy of Peru Fernando de Szyszlo Gallery

Faking It: Manipulated Photography before Photoshop

In the first major exhibition devoted to the history of manipulated photographs before the digital age, some 200 works will demonstrate that today’s digitally altered photographs are part of a tradition that extends back to the beginning of photography.

Through March 29

National Gallery of Art

Rabín Ajaw: Indigenous Ceremonial Dress of Guatemala

Through May 12

Photographs by Juan Carlos Lemus Dahinten of Guatemala examine the aesthetics of indigenous, Guatemalan dress as a manifestation of cultural identity, and how modern styles influenced by global fashion and culture coexist with indigenous traditions.

OAS Art Museum of the Americas F Street Gallery Through March 31

Pissarro on Paper

French Impressionist painter Camille Pissarro first tried printmaking in his early thirties, and though he never stopped painting, printing became vital to his artistic enterprise.

National Gallery of Art Through April 7

Pump Me Up: D.C. Subculture of the 1980s

“Pump Me Up” is the first exhibition to explore the thriving underground of Washington, D.C., during the 1980s, giving visual form to the raucous energy of graffiti, Go-Go music, and a world-renowned punk and hardcore scene — demonstrating D.C.’s place in the history of street art as well as that of America’s capital city.

Corcoran Gallery of Art Through April 12

gute aussichten: new german photography 2012/2013

Andrei Molodkin is a globally recognized contemporary Russian artist who deconstructs the economic realities of geopolitical praxis with monumental ballpoint-pen drawings and three-dimensional constructs filled with crude oil.

American University Katzen Arts Center

Goethe-Institut

Page 48

The timely and vibrant exhibition “Seven Points (part one): Marley Dawson, Anna Kristensen, Angelica Mesiti” launches the Australian Embassy’s 2013 cultural programming and is the first in a series of exhibitions showcasing the work of dynamic and accomplished Australian contemporary artists: Daniel Boyd, Marley Dawson, Newell Harry, Anna Kristensen, Angelica Mesiti, Kate Mitchell, and Tim Silver. Gallery hours are from Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., by appointment (202-797-3383).

National Gallery of Art

Works by seven winners of “gute aussichten 2012/2013,” the ninth annual German competition for graduate photography students, are distinguished by their highly diverse aesthetics and conceptual approaches, providing an insight into the multifaceted themes that form the focus of young artists’ interests today.

Andrei Molodkin: Crude

THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMAT

Angels, Demons, and Savages: Pollock, Ossorio, Dubuffet

This exhibition reveals a rare cross-cultural artistic dialogue between American painter Jackson Pollock (1912-56), American artist and patron of European and American postwar art Alfonso Ossorio (1916-90), and French painter Jean Dubuffet (1901-85).

Approximately 53 paintings and works on paper from 1945 to 1958 highlight visual affinities and inspired friendships among the artists at pivotal moments in their careers.

The Phillips Collection Through May 12

A World Apart: Anna Ancher and the Skagen Art Colony

The first exhibition in the United States to focus on Danish modern painter Anna Ancher (1859-1935) and the artist colony at Skagen, Denmark, features 41 paintings and oil sketches by Ancher and more than 20 by her fellow Skagen artists.

March 2013

realism through the impressionists, Nabis and neo-impressionists.

March 20 to 24

National Gallery of Art

A spectacle for all ages, the Washington Ballet’s “Cinderella” combines magnificent beauty, ravishing costumes, and Prokofiev’s ultra-lush score in the retelling of this popular romance of a poor girl whose fairy godmother helps her win the love of a prince. Tickets are $25 to $125.

Through May 26

On Common Ground: Dominican Republic + Haiti

In conjunction with the Embassies of the Dominican Republic and Haiti, this exhibition of works by emerging artists of Hispaniola, the island that these two countries share, offers fresh perspectives on Hispaniola’s cultural scene and addresses misconceptions surrounding the two nations’ complex relationship with one another, imagining a brighter future.

OAS Art Museum of the Americas Through June 8

Pageant of the Tsars: The Romanov Coronation Albums

Marking the 400th anniversary of the founding of the Romanov dynasty in 1613, the history and spectacle of Russian tsars’ coronations are revealed through lavish, rarely seen albums and objects from Hillwood’s Russian collection.

Color, Line, Light: French Drawings, Watercolors, and Pastels from Delacroix to Signac Some 100 drawings and watercolors from the collection of James T. Dyke showcase the broad development of modern draftsmanship in France, from romanticism and

La Cuisine du Québec

Foodie Nathalie Béland demonstrates how to cook a modern dish from Québec and discusses the region’s culinary trends, with a growing importance given to slowly cooked, gourmet products and an unshakeable faith in the richness of the soil in Québec.

Tickets are $30; for information, visit http://smithsonianassociates.org (part of the 2013 Francophonie Cultural Festival).

National Museum of Natural History

Seminar: Youth, Gender and Online Exposure

One Man’s Search for Ancient China: The Paul Singer Collection

New Jersey psychiatrist-turned-collector Paul Singer’s bequest to the Sackler Gallery created one of the largest Chinese archaeological collections in the United States.

This exhibition looks at the collector’s contributions to Chinese art history — made largely at a time when contact between China and the West was heavily restricted — and examines how landmark archaeological discoveries have shed new light on his acquisitions and on ancient China.

Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Through Aug. 4

Arts of Japan: Edo Aviary and Poetic License

Complementary but distinct installations examine two themes of Edo period art: “Edo Aviary,” which traces how depictions of birds were influenced by natural history painting, and “Poetic License: Making Old Words New,” which shows how classical Japanese and Chinese literary traditions were absorbed into the merchant and artisan classes.

Freer Gallery of Art

DANCE Social Dance with Washington Spelmanslag and Skaran

Through May 26

Wed., March 6, 7 p.m.

Through July 7

Through May 19

Folger Shakespeare Library

DISCUSSIONS

Thu., March 7, 9:30 a.m.

Sat., March 2, 5 p.m.

Focusing mainly on the Irish upper-class, their cultural exchange with England, and their struggle for power during a time of great change, “Nobility and Newcomers” underscores why Irish cultural identity is challenging to define.

Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater

Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens

National Museum of Women in the Arts

Nobility and Newcomers in Renaissance Ireland

Cinderella

Washington’s Spelmanslag band will join the group Skaran for an hour-long traditional dance workshop followed by social dance and performances of traditional Swedish music, with baked goods and sweets for sale during the breaks.

Tickets are $10; to register, visit http://embassyofsweden.eventbrite.com.

Leading scientists and politicians discuss how youth and teens engage in social platforms online, and whether there is a difference in the way young people are exposed online from a gender equality perspective. To register, visit http://embassyofsweden.eventbrite. com.

House of Sweden Thu., March 7, 6:30 p.m.

Gender and Geography: Women Artists from Panama

Art historian Monica Kupfer discusses modern Panamanian women artists, who constitute an unusual and diverse group of creators, from a former first lady to a triathlon athlete to a college professor (presented in conjunction with the exhibit “Perceptive Strokes”).

Inter-American Development Bank Enrique V. Iglesias Conference Center Thu., March 7, 7 p.m.

Literary Café: In the Realm of Women The Ambassador Theater presents the works of famous Austrian poets such as Ingeborg Bachmann, Rainer Maria Rilke and Nobel winner Elfriede Jelinek, alongside soprano Elisabeth Myers, baritone Scott Sedar, pianist Maestro Carlos Cesar Rodriguez and other special guests. Tickets are $40.

Embassy of Austria Sat., March 9, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Edwardian England: Grandeur, Scandals, and Servants

“Metáfora,” produced by the Ballet Flamenco de Andalucía, is a study in contrasts between the classical and folk elements of flamenco and the highly disciplined technique of the cast. Tickets are $35 to $65.

It was a new century, and a new reign had begun with the accession of Edward VII in 1901. Upper-class scandals still were gossiped about, and the rigidly stratified upstairs-downstairs worlds so vividly portrayed in “Downton Abbey” endured.

Yet the new era also produced dramatic social and cultural changes. Tickets are $130; for information, visit www.smithsonianassociates.org.

GW Lisner Auditorium

S. Dillon Ripley Center

House of Sweden Sun., March 10, 8 p.m.

Metáfora

The Washington Diplomat

March 2013

Thu., March 14, 6:45 p.m.

A New View of the Battle of Stalingrad

Historian Jochen Hellbeck draws on many Soviet perspectives to present a wider and more dramatic account of the Battle of Stalingrad, using hundreds of interviews with Red Army soldiers conducted in Stalingrad during the final stages of the battle to put a face on Soviet soldiers and provide singular insights into why they prevailed over the Germans. Tickets are $42; for information, visit www.smithsonianassociates.org.

S. Dillon Ripley Center Sat., March 16, 9:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.

The Last Days of Pompeii

Take a look at the artistic legacy of Pompeii, the vibrant Roman resort on the Amalfi coast that was suddenly and dramatically destroyed in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius on August 24, 79 A.D. Tickets are $130; for information, visit www.smithsonianassociates.org.

S. Dillon Ripley Center Tue., March 19, 6 p.m.

Conducting Business in Asia

James Clad, senior adviser at the Center for Naval Analyses in Arlington, Va., shares his knowledge of successful strategies for conducting business with individuals and organizations in Asia in a discussion hosted

by Protocol Partners that also features pre- and post-discussion receptions.

Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door; for information, visit www.theprotocolpartners.com.

International Student House

the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center featuring the “Hiawatha Melodrama” alongside Dvorak’s “String Serenade” and his little-known “American Suite.” For information, visit http://postclassical.com.

Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center Duke Ellington School of the Arts Through May 19

The Washington DC International Design Festival

Artisphere and Apartment Zero present this free three-month-long multidisciplinary celebration of design, anchored by “The Next Wave: Industrial Design in the 21st Century,” a 4,000-square-foot exhibition exploring innovation in product design over the last 13 years. The exhibit of more than 100 objects from around the world will be complemented by a series of public programs. For information, visit www.artisphere.com or www.apartmentzero.com.

2013 Francophonie Cultural Festival

The annual Francophonie Cultural Festival celebrates the creativity, passions and intellectual variety of the nations of the French-speaking world. It’s a global fusion of modern literature, contemporary and traditional music, cuisine, visual arts, films and family events — presented by the embassies of more than 70 countries. For more information, visit www.francophoniedc.org.

Various locations Through March 17

Nordic Cool 2013

A month-long international festival of theater, dance, music, visual arts, literature, design, cuisine, and film to highlight the diverse cultures of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden as well as the territories of Greenland, the Faroe Islands, and Áland Islands (see cover of The Washington Diplomat’s February 2013 issue).

Kennedy Center Through April 19

Dvorak and America

Through a series of five concerts, PostClassical Ensemble’s “Dvorak and America” festival argues that Czech composer Antonín Dvorak acquired a distinctive and influential “American style” during his time in the United States that was fundamentally different in style from that of the music he had previously composed.

The centerpiece is a March 1 concert at

Tue., March 12, 6:30 p.m.

Musical Road Trip: Maher and Sousou Cissoko

Fri., March 15, 6:30 p.m.

THIS for Diplomats 2013 Spring Soiree

Wed., March 13, 7:30 p.m.

THIS for Diplomats presents its annual Spring Soiree and Silent Auction at the historic Meridian House featuring a performance by jazz vocalist Amy K. Bormet and her band, international buffet, libations, raffle and silent auction. Tickets are $95 in advance or $115 at the door; all proceeds go to support THIS’s 51-year mission to promote international understand and friendship with the diplomatic community. For information, visit http:// thisfordiplomats.org/news/special-events/ Fri., March 22, 7 p.m.

March 1 to April 13

Sri Lankan Residence

House of Sweden

Four Masters and Their Masterpieces

FESTIVALS

Jananath Warakagoda, a singer, composer and percussionist, is joined by a Sri Lankan drummer for an evening of traditional Sri Lankan music followed by native cuisine. Tickets are $110, including buffet reception; for information, visit www.embassyseries.org.

GALAS

Artisphere

Meridian International Center

S. Dillon Ripley Center

Sri Lankan Vocalist Jananath Warakagoda

Sousou Cissoko grew up in Sweden and fell in love with the kora, a West African stringed instrument, when her father started playing with the Gambian griot Alagie Mbye at an early stage, while Maher Cissoko was born into a well-known griot family from Senegal and learned to play the kora at an early age.

Tickets are $10; to register, visit http://embassyofsweden.eventbrite.com.

Sat., March 23, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Treat yourself to an in-depth look at the works and life of four legendary artists: Michelangelo, Rubens, Monet, and Van Gogh. Tickets are $130; for information, visit www.smithsonianassociates.org.

Fri., March 8, 7:30 p.m.

Grande Fête de la Francophonie

Each year, to kick off the annual Francophonie Cultural Festival, more than 35 embassies unite to present their culture and cuisine, accompanied by a special concert by an artist from the Frenchspeaking world. This year’s featured artist is Swiss singer, songwriter and rising star Bastian Baker. Tickets are $38; benefactor tickets are $60.

La Maison Française Fri., March 22, 8:30 p.m.

Sixth Annual Artini

Throughout March, eight of the city’s best mixologists compete to make an artistic martini — an “artini” — inspired by works in the Corcoran’s collection, culminating on the Artini celebration presented by Corcoran Gallery of Art and College of Art + Design’s 1869 Society, featuring tastings all eight artinis, a beer and wine bar, hors d’oeuvres, desserts, music by alive and able (chukwumaa), and dancing. Tickets are $125; VIP tickets are $200.

Corcoran Gallery of Art

MUSIC Fri., March 1, 8 p.m.

Ballaké Sissoko and Vincent Segal

Ballake Sissoko, who plays the traditional kora, a lute-harp from Mali, and Vincent Segal, a French cellist who performs for the trip-hop band Bumcello, present a concert of refined world music. Tickets are $28 (part of the 2013 Francophonie Cultural Festival).

Atlas Performing Arts Center Sat., March 2, 7 p.m.

The Pacifica Quartet

The renowned Pacifica Quartet, recognized for its exuberant performance style and daring repertory choices over the last two decades, returns to the Kreeger. Tickets are $35 (concert begins at 8 p.m.).

Kreeger Museum

Terakaft

Terakaft (meaning “caravan” in Tamasheq) is a genuine desert rock band, with two rhythm guitars and the deep tones of the bass resembling the delicate but strong steps of a camel making its way through the desert. Tickets are $25 (part of the 2013 Francophonie Cultural Festival).

La Maison Française Fri., March 15, 7:30 p.m.

Alif Laila, Sitar Monir Hossain, Tabla

Alif Laila, born and raised in Dhaka, Bangladesh, is a master of Indian classical music and sitar, intricately weaving emotions in her music that reflect the delicate expressions of her watercolor art designs. Tickets are $80, including buffet reception; for information, visit www.embassyseries.org.

Embassy of Bangladesh Sun., March17, 4 p.m.

Danú

Danú, an award-winning Celtic band, performs a combination of traditional Irish jigs and reels, contemporary Celtic tunes and signature hits. Tickets are $28 to $44.

George Mason University Hylton Center for the Arts Sun., March 17, 7 p.m.

Natalie MacMaster

Don’t miss this Celtic powerhouse in a musical celebration of St. Patrick’s Day as Natalie MacMaster enchants audiences with her step-dancing, fiddling ferocity, and a signature sound combining Celtic, bluegrass, and folk with jazz, rock and even classical music. Tickets are $24 to $48.

encompasses a charged flow of artistic adventurousness that surveys the boundaries of contemporary music.

Tickets are $25.

La Maison Française Sat., March 23, 7:30 p.m.

Jeanine De Bique, Soprano Christopher Cano, Piano An artist of “dramatic presence and versatility” (The Washington Post), soprano Jeanine De Bique is a member of the Staatsoper Wien ensemble and an Arleen Auger Prize winner at the 2010 International Vocal Competition’s Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands.

Tickets are $110, including reception and valet parking; for information, visit www.embassyseries.org.

Embassy of Trinidad and Tobago Wed., March 27, 12:10 p.m.

Edvinas Minkstimas, Pianist

Pianist Edvinas Minkstimas, along with Phillips Camerata resident musicians, perform a program of Beethoven’s “Concerto no. 2.”

National Gallery of Art East Bldg.

Thu., March 28, 7:30 p.m.

Marialena Fernandes and Ranko Marković

Pianists Marialena Fernandes and Ranko Marković have held duo concerts since 2000, garnering special acclaim for their performances of piano transcriptions of symphonies by Mahler and Bruckner.

Admission is free but RSVP required; to register call (202) 895-6776 or visit http://fernandesmarkovic-eorg.eventbrite. com.

Embassy of Austria

Through March 10

The Convert

Set in 1895 amid the colonial scramble for Southern Africa, the play follows Jekesai, a young girl who escapes village life and a forced marriage arrangement, ultimately discovering Christianity under the guidance of an African teacher. However, as anticolonial sentiments rise, Jekesai must choose between her new European God and the spirits of her ancestors. Tickets start at $35.

Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company March 15 to April 28

Mary T. and Lizzy K.

Writer-director Tazewell Thompson stitches together an insider’s look at the unlikely friendship between first lady Mary Todd Lincoln and her talented seamstress, the successful freed slave Elizabeth Keckly.

Please call for ticket information.

Arena Stage Through March 17

Hughie

Emmy Award-winning actor Richard Schiff (“The West Wing”) plays the title role in Eugene O’Neill’s powerfully focused play about a man whose illusions of a grand lifestyle waver after the death of the stranger who quietly validated his larger-than-life confidence. Tickets are $43 to $100.

Shakespeare Theatre Company Through March 17

Metamorphoses

Lost love, dangerous passion and reunited soul mates wrestle with fate in Tony Award winner Mary Zimmerman’s Broadway smash, “Metamorphoses.” Please call for ticket information.

Arena Stage

THEATER

March 20 to April 28

Through March 3

Shakespeare’s R&J A repressive all-male Catholic boarding school bans “Romeo and Juliet,” but four students unearth a secret copy and steal into the night to recite the prohibited tale of adolescent passion.

While it begins as a lark, the story gradually draws the boys into a discovery of universal truth that parallels their own coming-of-age. Please call for ticket information.

4000 Miles

This gentle, well-observed drama explores the relationship between a grandson who can’t face his life and a grandmother who is starting to forget hers. Tickets are $39 to $82.

Studio Theatre March 28 to June 2

Hero/Traitor Repertory of Coriolanus and Wallenstein

This haunting and poetic adaptation of Chilean-American author Isabel Allende’s acclaimed novel “The House of the Spirits” spans four generations of political, social and familial upheaval through the power of remembrance, love, magic and fate.

Tickets are $36 or $40.

In the Shakespeare Theatre Company’s repertory of “Coriolanus” and “Wallenstein,” both plays revolve around military leaders who’ve gained fame through deadly prowess — in Shakespeare’s “Coriolanus,” the title character must re-examine his loyalties when the country he championed turns against him; in Friedrich Schiller’s “Wallenstein,” the main character must choose between the ideal for which he fights and his government’s agenda. Tickets are $43 to $105.

GALA Hispanic Theatre

Sidney Harman Hall

Signature Theatre Through March 10

La Casa de los Espíritus / The House of the Spirits

George Mason University Center for the Arts

CULTURE GUIDE

March 18 to 28

Las aventuras de Don Quijote de La Mancha

GALita, a program for the entire family, presents a bilingual adaptation of the famous novel that follows the misadventures of the gentleman from La Mancha and his loyal squire Sancho Panza.

Tickets are $12.

GALA Hispanic Theatre Thu., March 21, 7:30 p.m.

Court-Circuit Ensemble

In French, “court-circuit” refers to a “short circuit” — and while this electrical mishap usually indicates that something has gone awry, for the Court-Circuit Ensemble, it

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The Washington Diplomat Page 49

DIPLOMATIC SPOTLIGHT

The Washington Diplomat

March 2013

Embassy Social Secretaries

Photo: Joyce Boghosian

U.S. Chief of Protocol Capricia Penavic Marshall, left, joins White House Social Secretary Jeremy Bernard at a reception for embassy social secretaries hosted by the Meridian International Center and THIS for Diplomats. Marshall was social secretary in the Clinton White House and Bernard is the first man to hold the position.

Photos: Thomas coleman

From left, Meridian Chairman and former Michigan Gov. James Blanchard, Ambassador of Austria Hans Peter Manz, and Meridian President and CEO Stuart Holliday attend a reception at the Meridian International Center in honor of embassy social secretaries.

Ambassador of Cape Verde, left, and Isabel Varela of the Embassy of Cape Verde attend a reception for embassy social secretaries at the Meridian International Center.

From left, State Department Protocol Officer April Guice, British Embassy Social Secretary Amanda Downes, and French Embassy Social Secretary Francesca Craig attend a Meridian reception for embassy social secretaries.

Josh LeDrew, left, and Bryant Rice, both from Tiffany & Co., attend a reception for embassy social secretaries at the Meridian International Center sponsored in part by Tiffany.

Photo: Joyce Boghosian

Photo: Joyce Boghosian

From left, Donatella Verrone of the Italian Embassy, Mónica Gross of the Ecuadorian Embassy, and Gail West of THIS for Diplomats attend a reception for embassy social secretaries.

White House Social Secretary Jeremy Bernard, left, talks with newly appointed Ambassador of Japan Kenichiro Sasae at a reception for embassy social secretaries.

From left, Ambassador of Liechtenstein Claudia Fritsche, Kiyoyuki Sugahara of the Embassy of Japan, Tamara Büchel-Brunhart, assistant to the Liechtenstein ambassador, and Meridian Vice President for Arts and Cultural Programs Curtis Sandberg stand by a display from the “Style in Silk: Tradition and Innovation in Chinese Fashion” exhibition at the Meridian International Center.

Kelley Elyse Rucker, left, and Shamini Sukumaran, both from the Embassy of Singapore, attend a reception for embassy social secretaries held at the Meridian International Center as part of its “Insights at Meridian” series.

Photo: Joyce Boghosian

David Short of FedEx Express, left, talks to Ambassador of Finland Ritva Koukku-Ronde at the embassy social secretaries reception.

Chinese Silk Fashions

Photo: Joyce Boghosian

Meridian President and CEO Stuart Holliday welcomes guests to the third annual Chinese Lunar New Year Celebration at the Meridian International Center and the opening of the exhibit “Style in Silk: Tradition and Innovation in Chinese Fashion.”

Xu JinXue, head chef at the Chinese Embassy, left, oversees the buffet at the Meridian Center’s Chinese Lunar New Year Celebration, joined by Chen Naiqing, the Chinese ambassador’s wife and a former ambassador to the United Nations.

Page 50

Ambassador of China Zhang Yesui attends the opening of “Style in Silk: Tradition and Innovation in Chinese Fashion,” which celebrates China’s timehonored tradition of silk art and fashion.

Diane Brown, vice president of the mid-Atlantic region for Tiffany & Co., left, and Janet Blanchard admire one of the dresses on display in the exhibition “Style in Silk: Tradition and Innovation in Chinese Fashion” at the Meridian’s White-Meyer House.

Kenyans Toast Obama

Ana Cecilia Chacon, left, and Margoth Vargas, both of the Embassy of Costa Rica, attend a reception for embassy social secretaries at the Meridian International Center.

Marsha Coore-Lobban, left, and Sharon Marston, both from the Embassy of Jamaica, attend a reception for embassy social secretaries featuring Jeremy Bernard, White House social secretary and special assistant to the president.

From left, Ambassador of South Sudan Akec Khoc, outgoing Ambassador of Tanzania Mwanaidi Sinare Maajar, Momodou Bamba Saho, executive director of the Africa Group 1 constituency at the IMF, and Ambassador of Kenya Elkanah Odembo attend an inauguration celebration at the City Club of Washington.

photos: larry luxner

Photos: gail scott

A fashion show of elaborate Chinese silk costumes was presented at the Meridian Center’s Chinese Lunar New Year Celebration as part of “Style in Silk,” which marks the first time American audiences can see materials from the textile study collection of the world’s largest silk museum.

Ambassador of Kenya Elkanah Odembo, left, and Rep. Gregory W. Meeks (D-N.Y.) raise a toast to President Obama’s second term at an inauguration celebration hosted by the Kenyan Embassy at the City Club of Washington. Obama’s father was born and raised in the Kenyan village of Nyang’oma Kogelo.

The Washington Diplomat

From left, Embassy of Kenya officials Sheila Muthemba, Joy Gacuga and Lucy Kiruthu, along with Susan Driano, Kenya desk officer at the State Department, and Driano’s husband, Brian Poochigian, attend the Kenyan Embassy’s inaugural celebration for President Obama.

March 2013

Belize Benefit

Photos: Gail scott

Kim Simplis-Barrow, wife of the prime minister of Belize and a special envoy for women and children, center, is joined by Ambassador of Belize Nestor Mendez and his wife Elvira, president of the Organization of Women of the Americas, at “Inspired to Love,” a gala to benefit the children of Belize held at the Ritz-Carlton in Washington.

Liliana Ayalde, U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs, covering Cuba, Central America and the Caribbean, left, joins Kim SimplisBarrow, wife of the prime minister of Belize and a special envoy for women and children, at “Inspired to Love: Gala to Benefit the Children of Belize.”

Permanent Representative of El Salvador to the Organization of American States Joaquín Alexander Maza Martelli, left, and Russian journalist and gender specialist Irina Akimushkina attend a gala to benefit the children of Belize hosted by the wife of the prime minister of Belize and the Organization of Women of the Americas.

Pianist Tristan Pfaff

Photo: Gail scott

From left, Alliance Française Board President Andrew W. Colquitt, Alliance Executive Director Thomas Chaurin, pianist Tristan Pfaff, and Hungarian Embassy Cultural Attaché György Rétházi celebrate Pfaff’s sold-out concert held at the Hungarian Embassy.

Hungarian Visit

Photo: Gail scott

Ambassador of Hungary György Szapáry, left, welcomes Hungarian Deputy Prime Minister Tibor Navracsics to the Hungarian Residence during Navracsics’s visit to Washington.

Welcome for Singapore

Hostess Esther Coopersmith, a former U.S. envoy to the U.N. and UNESCO goodwill ambassador, left, and Ivonne A-Baki, former ambassador of Ecuador who is now Ecuador’s secretary of state for the Yasuni-ITT Initiative, attend a dinner hosted by Coopersmith for the new Singaporean ambassador.

Solar Sojourn

From left, recently appointed Ambassador of Singapore Ashok Kumar Mirpuri, outgoing Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues Melanne Verveer, who will head the new Institute on Women, Peace and Security at Georgetown University, and Ambassador of Egypt Mohamed M. Tawfik attend a dinner in honor of the Mirpuris.

Photo: larry luxner

Bertrand Piccard, left, and André Borschberg, the Swiss co-pilots of the Solar Impulse plane, talk to reporters at the Swiss Embassy in Washington about plans to fly their solar-powered aircraft across the United States in the summer.

From left, interior designer Aniko Gaal Schott, wife of the Singaporean ambassador Gouri Mirpuri, former U.S. Chief of Protocol Lloyd Hand and his wife, jewelry designer Ann Hand, attend a dinner in honor of the Mirpuris.

photos: Gail scott

Esther Coopersmith also threw a dinner party for UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova, center, flanked by Ray and Shaista Mahmood.

Jeffrey A. Bader, former senior director for Asian affairs on the National Security Council, left, joins Ambass­ador of Indonesia Dino Patti Djalal at a dinner party at the home of Esther Coopersmith.

From left, documentary producer Rohini Talalla Bader and Calvin and Jane Lipton Cafritz attend Esther Coopersmith’s dinner party to welcome the new ambassador of Singapore and his wife.

Shaista Mahmood, left, and wife of the Indonesian ambassador Rosa Rai Djalal attend a dinner party at the home of Esther Coopersmith.

Coca-Cola Group Director of Diplomatic Relations Kate Irvin, left, talks with Connie Coopersmith, a Democratic operative, at Esther Coopersmith’s dinner party to welcome the new ambassador of Singapore and his wife.

From left, Marjorie Billington, Arnaud de Borchgrave, and Librarian of Congress James Billington attend a dinner party for the new Singaporean ambassador and his wife.

Prevent Cancer Gala Kickoff Carolyn “Bo” Aldigé, president and founder of the Prevent Cancer Foundation, left, talks to Rosieda Shabodien, wife of the South African ambassador, at a kickoff reception for the Prevent Cancer Foundation’s Spring Gala, which will be held March 8.

Aschiana Talk

Photo: Gail scott

From left, outgoing President of Muslim Women’s Association Rosa Rai Djalal, wife of the Indonesian ambassador; hostess Sultana Hakimi, wife of the Afghan ambassador; and luncheon speaker, Gen. Richard Myers, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, discussed the progress the nonprofit group Aschiana has made in Afghanistan at the Afghan Residence.

Photos: Gail scott

From left, wife of the Swiss ambassador Christine Sager, wife of the Monaco ambassador Ellen Noghès, wife of the Italian ambassador Laura Denise Bisogniero, Carolyn “Bo” Aldigé, president and founder of the Prevent Cancer Foundation, and U.S. Chief of Protocol Capricia Penavic Marshall attend a kickoff reception at the Swiss Embassy for the Prevent Cancer Foundation’s 19th Annual Spring Gala. Switzerland and Monaco were past diplomatic hosts, and this year’s host will be Italy.

March 2013

From left, Diane Jones, wife of former National Security Advisor Jim Jones; Joann Piccolo, chair of the 2012 and 2013 Prevent Cancer Galas; Debbie Dingell, wife of Rep. John Dingell; and Ellen Noghès, wife of the ambassador of Monaco, attend a kickoff reception for the Prevent Cancer Foundation’s 19th Annual Spring Gala.

The Washington Diplomat Page 51

DIPLOMATIC SPOTLIGHT

The Washington Diplomat

March 2013

OAS Events

Photo: Juan Manuel Herrera/OAS Photo: Juan Manuel Herrera/OAS

From left, Andrés Navia, head of the Organization of American (OAS) Art Museum of the Americas; Ambassador of Haiti Paul Altidor; Ambassador of the Dominican Republic Anibal de Jesus de Castro Rodriguez, and OAS Secretary-General and Mrs. José Miguel Insulza attend the inauguration of the exhibit “On Common Ground - Dominican Republic and Haiti” at the Art Museum of the Americas.

Photos: Maria Patricia Leiva/OAS

From left, Director of the Latino and Latin American Institute of the American Jewish Committee Dina Siegel, Ecuadorian artist Gabriel Gross, an audio-visual specialist with the Organization of American States (OAS), and OAS Secretary-General José Miguel Insulza attend the opening of Gross’s exhibit “The Auschwitz Series: Commemorating the International Holocaust Rembrance Day” at the OAS Headquarters.

From left, Ambassador of Jamaica to the U.S. and Organization of American States (OAS) Stephen Vasciannie greets Denis Moncada, chair of the OAS Permanent Council and permanent representative of Nicaragua to the OAS; Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon; OAS Secretary-General José Miguel Insulza; and OAS Assistant Secretary-General Albert R. Ramdin during Ban’s visit to the OAS in Washington.

Warner Roundtable

photos: institute for education

Ambassador of Indonesia Dino Patti Djalal, left, hands Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) an Indonesian gong as a memento. Djalal noted that his father, also an ambassador, became the first Indonesian to earn a Ph.D. in the United States, at the University of Virginia.

From left, former D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams, former Maryland Gov. Bob Ehrlich, Ambassador of Belgium Jan Matthysen, and Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), also Virginia’s former governor, attend an Institute for Education IFEINFO roundtable discussion. When Williams, Ehrlich and Warner were each in office, IFE organized a regional leaders summit to discuss issues affecting D.C., Maryland and Virginia.

Coach Kathy Kemper, founder of the Institute for Education (IFE), right, and Sen. Mark Warner, third from left, presented IFE’s Fall Tennis Awards at IFE’s INFO 2013 kick-off salon: From left, best attitude went to Ed Henry, Fox News senior White House correspondent; best backhand to Rosa Batoreu, deputy chief of mission at the Embassy of Portugal; best overhead for the Rev. Dr. Cecilie Strommen, wife of the Norwegian ambassador; best footwork to Christine Sager, wife of the Swiss ambassador; and best serve to Ambassador of Indonesia Dino Patti Djalal.

From left, editor of the CQ Roll Call Daily Briefing David Hawkings, Ryan Panchadsaram, Adam Becker, John P. Farmer and Catherine Bohigian, a senior vice president at Cablevision, attend a roundtable discussion hosted by the Institute for Education.

ASEAN’s 45th Gala

Alexander C. Feldman, president of the US-ASEAN Business Council, welcomes guests to a gala dinner marking the 45th anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.

Joseph C. Geagea, corporate vice president and president of Chevron Gas and Midstream, left, talks with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell at the 45th anniversary gala dinner for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Page 52

W. Patrick Murphy, special Representative and policy coordinator for Burma (Myanmar) at the State Department, left, talks with Burmese Ambassador Than Swe at a gala dinner hosted by the US-ASEAN Business Council.

Marc Mealy of the US-ASEAN Business Council, left, and Ambassador of Thailand Chaiyong Satjipanon attend the 45th anniversary gala dinner for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Ambassador of Indonesia Dino Patti Djalal, right, welcomes newly appointed Ambassador of Kazakhstan Kairat Umarov to his embassy for a roundtable discussion hosted by the Institute for Education.

From left, Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), Christine Sager, and Ambassador of Switzerland Manuel Sager talk at a roundtable discussion held at the Indonesian Embassy featuring Warner.

Photos: us-asean business council

From left, Dao Tran Nhan of the Vietnam Trade Office, Kenekeo Pholsena of the Embassy of Laos, and Senior Vice President of Global Programs with Jhpiego Alain Damiba attend a gala dinner hosted by the US-ASEAN Business Council.

Ambassador of the Philippines Jose L. Cuisia Jr., left, speaks with Roderick Hills of Hills Stern & Morley LLP at the 45th anniversary gala dinner for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

From left, Thomas Patton talks with George and Trish Vradenburg of the Vradenburg Foundation at a roundtable discussion hosted by the Institute for Education at the Indonesian Embassy featuring Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.).

From left, U Aung Htoo, managing director of Myanmar Oil & Gas, Bill Ichord of ConocoPhillips, and U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Joseph Yun attend a US-ASEAN Business Council, sponsored in part

by ExxonMobil, Chevron, Philip Morris, Ford, Coca-Cola, Oracle and Freeport-McMoRan.

The Washington Diplomat

March 2013

AROUNDtheWORLD

Send Us Your Holidays and Appointments

HOLIDAYS ANdorrA march 14: constitution Day march 29: Good friday march 31: easter april 1: easter monday ANGoLA march 8: international Women’s Day ANTiGUA and bArbUdA march 29: Good friday march 31: easter april 1: easter monday ArGeNTiNA march 29: Good friday march 31: easter ArMeNiA march 8: international Women’s Day AUSTrALiA march 29: Good friday march 31: easter april 1: easter monday AUSTriA april 1: easter monday AzerbAiJAN march 8: international Women’s Day bAhAMAS march 29: Good friday march 31: easter april 1: easter monday bANGLAdeSh march 26: independence and national Day bArbAdoS march 29: Good friday march 31: easter april 1: easter monday beLArUS march 8: international Women’s Day beLGiUM march 31: easter april 1: easter monday beLize march 9: baron bliss Day

march 29: Good friday march 30: holy saturday march 31: easter april 1: easter monday beNiN march 31: easter april 1: easter monday boLiviA march 29: Good friday march 31: easter boSNiA and herzeGoviNA march 1: independence Day boTSwANA march 29: Good friday march 31: easter april 1: easter monday brAziL march 29: Good friday bULGAriA march 3: national Day march 31: easter april 1: easter monday bUrKiNA fASo march 8: international Women’s Day march 31: easter bUrMA (MYANMAr) march 27: armed forces Day CAMbodiA march 8: international Women’s Day CAMerooN march 3: national Day march 31: easter april 1: easter monday CANAdA march 3: national Day march 31: easter april 1: easter monday CeNTrAL AfriCAN repUbLiC march 29: anniversary of the Death of President b. boganda march 31: easter

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CroATiA march 31: easter april 1: easter monday

fiNLANd march 29: Good friday march 31: easter april 1: easter monday

CYprUS march 25: Greek national Day

frANCe march 31: easter april 1: easter monday

CzeCh repUbLiC march 31: easter april 1: easter monday

GAboN march 12: renovation Day march 31: easter

deNMArK march 24: Palm sunday march 28: maundy thursday march 29: Good friday march 31: easter april 1: easter monday

GAMbiA march 31: easter

doMiNiCAN repUbLiC march 29: Good friday

GeorGiA march 13: mother’s Day march 31: easter GerMANY march 29: Good friday march 31: easter

eL SALvAdor march 28-april 1: holy Week

GhANA march 6: independence Day march 29: Good friday march 31: easter april 1: easter monday

eQUAToriAL GUiNeA march 29: Good friday march 31: easter

GreeCe march 25: Greek independence Day

eCUAdor march 29: Good friday

Ghana christian narh assumed the position of first secretary on sept. 17 having previously served as assistant director at Ghana’s Passport office bureau. amma a. twum-amoah assumed the position of minister/head of chancery at the embassy of Ghana on nov. 16, replacing matilda osei-agyeman, who departed the post nov. 31. twum-amoah previously served as Ghana’s deputy chief of protocol.

Tunisia mokhtar chaouachi has been nominated to be the ambassador of tunisia to the united states, where he previously served from 1993 to 2002 as counselor at the tunisian Permanent mission to the

GreNAdA march 29: Good friday march 31: easter april 1: easter monday GUATeMALA march 28: holy thursday march 29: Good friday march 31: easter GUiNeA-biSSAU march 8: international Women’s Day hoNdUrAS march 28-april 1: easter Week hUNGArY march 15: national Day march 31: easter april 1: easter monday

united nations in new york. ambassador chaouachi is currently the permanent representative of tunisia to the african union, the u.n. environment Program and u.n. habitat, as well as resident ambassador to ethiopia with concurrent accreditation to the comoros, Kenya, seychelles, tanzania and uganda.

Prior to his appointment in ethiopia, ambassador chaouachi, who joined the ministry of foreign affairs in 1981, was director-general of the Department of international organizations and conferences, overseeing tunisia’s multilateral relations. his first diplomatic posting was at the tunisian embassy in algiers from 1984 to 1990, and his first posting as ambassador was to norway from 2003 to 2005. ambassador chaouachi holds a bachelor’s degree from the school of Journalism (iPsi) in tunis. he is married with two children.

LebANoN march 29: Good friday march 31: easter LeSoTho march 11: moshoeshoe’s Day march 29: Good friday march 31: easter april 1: easter monday LiberiA march 12: memorial Day march 15: J.J. robert’s birthday LieChTeNSTeiN march 19: st. Joseph’s Day march 29: Good friday march 31: easter april 1: easter monday LiThUANiA march 11: restoration of independence of lithuania march 31: easter april 1: easter monday

march 2013

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NorwAY march 24: Palm sunday march 28: maundy thursday march 29: Good friday march 31: easter april 1: easter monday pAKiSTAN march 23: Pakistan Day pALAU march 15: youth Day pANAMA march 29: Good friday pApUA New GUiNeA march 29: Good friday march 31: easter april 1: easter monday pArAGUAY march 1: heroes’ Day march 28: holy thursday march 29: Good friday

iCeLANd march 28: maundy thursday march 29: Good friday march 31: easter april 1: easter monday

LUxeMboUrG march 31: easter april 1: easter monday MACedoNiA march 31: easter

perU march 28: holy thursday march 29: Good friday

iNdiA march 29: Good friday

MAdAGASCAr march 29: memorial Day march 31: easter april 1: easter monday

phiLippiNeS march 28: holy thursday march 29: Good friday

iNdoNeSiA march 29: Good friday irAN march 20: nowruz ireLANd march 17: st. Patrick’s Day march 31: easter april 1: easter monday iSrAeL march 25-april 2: Passover iTALY march 31: easter april 1: easter monday JAMAiCA march 29: Good friday march 31: easter april 1: easter monday JApAN march 20: vernal equinox Day KAzAKhSTAN march 8: international Women’s Day march 20: nauryz

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KeNYA march 29: Good friday march 31: easter april 1: easter monday KoreA, repUbLiC of march 1: independence movement Day KYrGYzSTAN march 8: international Women’s Day march 20: nooruz LAoS march 8: international Women’s Day LATviA march 29: Good friday march 31: easter april 1: easter monday

MALAwi march 5: martyrs’ Day march 29: Good friday march 31: easter april 1: easter monday MALTA march 19: st. Joseph’s Day march 29: Good friday march 31: freedom Day MArShALL iSLANdS march 1: memorial Day and nuclear victims’ remembrance Day MAUriTiUS march 12: national Day MexiCo march 21: birthday of President benito Juárez MoLdovA march 8: international Women’s Day march 31: easter april 1: easter monday MoNGoLiA march 8: international Women’s Day NAMibiA march 21: independence Day march 29: Good friday march 31: easter april 1: easter monday NeTherLANdS march 31: easter april 1: easter monday New zeALANd march 29: Good friday march 31: easter april 1: easter monday NiCArAGUA march 28: holy thursday march 29: Good friday

poLANd march 31: easter april 1: easter monday porTUGAL march 29: Good friday march 31: easter roMANiA march 8: international Women’s Day march 31: easter april 1: easter monday rUSSiA march 8: international Women’s Day ST. KiTTS and NeviS march 29: Good friday march 30: easter saturday march 31: easter ST. LUCiA march 29: Good friday march 30: easter saturday march 31: easter ST. viNCeNT and The GreNAdiNeS march 14: national heroes’ Day march 29: Good friday march 30: easter saturday march 31: easter SeNeGAL march 31: easter SeYCheLLeS march 29: Good friday march 31: easter SLovAKiA march 29: Good friday march 31: easter april 1: easter monday SLoveNiA march 31: easter april 1: easter monday SoUTh AfriCA march 21: human

SwedeN march 29: Good friday march 30: easter saturday march 31: easter SwiTzerLANd march 29: Good friday march 30: easter saturday march 31: easter SYriA march 8: revolution Day TAiwAN march 29: youth Day TAJiKiSTAN march 8: international Women’s Day march 20: noruz TANzANiA march 29: Good friday march 31: easter april 1: easter monday ToGo march 31: easter april 1: easter monday TriNidAd and TobAGo march 29: Good friday march 30: spiritual baptist liberation shouter Day march 31: easter april 1: easter monday TUNiSiA march 20: independence Day march 21: youth Day TUrKMeNiSTAN march 8: international Women’s Day march 20: novruz bairam UGANdA march 8: international Women’s Day march 29: Good friday march 31: easter april 1: easter monday UKrAiNe march 8: international Women’s Day UNiTed KiNGdoM march 29: Good friday march 31: easter april 1: easter monday UrUGUAY march 28-april 1: holy Week UzbeKiSTAN march 8: international Women’s Day march 20: noruz veNezUeLA march 29: Good friday march 31: easter zAMbiA march 12: youth Day march 29: Good friday march 30: holy saturday march 31: easter april 1: easter monday ziMbAbwe march 29: Good friday march 30: holy saturday march 31: easter april 1: easter monday

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from page 21

Taiwan agreeing to Taiwan’s long-standing request to purchase new F-16 fighter jets. Instead, the United States offered a compromise to upgrade Taiwan’s fleet of 145 older-model F-16 fighters as part of a projected $3.7 billion defense deal.

Hammond-Chambers shook his head at my suggestion that the council’s support for U.S. arms sales to Taiwan may draw China’s ire. “We don’t want to incur the wrath of China — there’s no reason that we should. We do a lot of work that the Chinese, based on their statements, would view to be in their national interests,” he said, alluding to China’s strategy of a “peaceful rise” through robust growth.

Wolfowitz was equally clear-eyed on arms sales. “Having dealt with this from the U.S. government side for many years, my own feeling is that it’s important to sustain a reasonable level of arms sales to Taiwan [and] it’s actually a requirement under U.S. law.”

Not disclosing the identity of its corporate members is another way the US-Taiwan Business Council sticks to business and stays out of politics.“That’s a very important way for our companies to feel comfortable about supporting their broader interests without feeling they may be drawn into U.S.-China disagreements over Taiwan,” Hammond-Chambers said.

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Interests, Technology, & Analysis for the "pita-consuming" region “My experience as an immigrant … the peoHeavy-Hitting Roster ple here are very positive and outgoing,” he said.

Body: PITAPOLICY focuses The US-Taiwan Business Council was formed “Taiwan’s like that. I think Americans, when they international development; in 1976 by David Matthew Kennedy,on a former get exposed to Taiwanese, connect.” research & writing, treasury secretary under President Nixon.

The task such before as Hammond-Chambers as he Kennedy had been impressed withformulating Taiwan’s took the reins of the council in 2000 at age 31 policy papers; economic development and felt that a private was to translate this belief into policy results.The and Council, like thousands of business council, with a counterpartprogram organiza- evaluation; US-Taiwan Business tion on the island, could further promote eco-design. other groups Washington, survey Issueinareas of is, at heart, a lobby. It nomic growth. He also foresaw thatfocus when the lobbies for closer bilateral for the MENA region business ties on behalf United States would switch diplomatic alle- of its corporate members, over 95 percent of giance formally to China, a privateinclude: business which areAmerican firms,according to Hammondcouncil would probably play an even more Chambers. (Corporate-level memberships run important role in U.S.-Taiwan relations. a year while a Chairman’s Circle-level ~Human$7,500 Development Kennedy served as chairman of the group for membership costs $15,000 annually.)

(Indicators, Social Entrepre14 years and was succeeded by CasparWeinberger, I asked him what the name of the game was former defense secretary under President Reagan. in making the council’s voice heard on Capitol neurship) ~ Over the years, various Washington heavy-hitters Hill. have served as council chairmen, including “Discretion,” he said. “It’s not an attempt to William P. Clark, former national security advisor hideDevelopment Institutional & or to do backroom things from people for Reagan, Frank C. Carlucci, former defense deals or anything like that, Civil Society (Transparency) ~but simply to try and secretary and national security advisor, also find common ground.” Finding common ground Economic under Reagan, and William Cohen, defense secre- is often easy “because one of the wonderful tary under President Clinton. things about this job and this relationship is that Hammond-Chambers came to the council as a it truly is bipartisan. Democrats and Republicans Development (Resource 25-year-old staffer eager to put his passion for both feel very strongly and positively about Management) ~” he Political technology to good use in Washington.

Taiwan, a Taiwan, added. fertile ground for tech firms, ended up being a But while Participation & Civicthe council has strained to keep out good fit. He did not have much of a background of Taiwanese politics, sometimes the latter have in Taiwan then, but took to the people and cul- come to Washington uninvited. Just a few years ture so that he now speaks with a near-evangelEngagement ago, (Strategy, Taiwan’s twoOrgamain political parties were ical fervor about the country. known for~their public spats on Capitol Hill over nizing, Elections) Monitoring

U.S. support.

“It was very unpleasant and very counterproductive,” Hammond-Chambers said. “It is quite shark-infested waters, U.S.-Taiwan-China relations,” he added, in that the words of everyone involved can be twisted and misinterpreted.

That’s why only he or Wolfowitz are allowed to make public statements.“Branding is everything.

You can screw up one time and you are going to pay a heavy cost,’ Hammond-Chambers said.

But despite Taiwan’s perennial risk of being swept up in Sino-American rivalry, its meteoric economic rise is enough to make the chairman’s message resonate on Capitol Hill.Taiwan is “well on the way to becoming a highly developed country,” Wolfowitz said. “It’s a miracle story in that regard. Taiwan and South Korea really parted the way for everyone else, including China, at a time when there was a certain pessimism that poor countries could ever become developed.”

Sean Lyngaas is a freelance writer in Washington, D.C.

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