Dear FAOA friends,
The shattering of the modern global security paradigm by the Russian invasion into the Ukraine on Thursday reminds us that unplanned events can move the world, even in the 21st century. For many of us who have worked in, around or with Ukrainians and have friends in danger, we pray for their safety and resiliency in defending their democracy from this assault.
Aside from US and NATO forces deploying to bolster Europe’s east, other critical heroes are among our own FAOA ranks - those on active duty who are, as I type, on the “front lines”, working in Embassies, on the JS, the NSC, forward in COCOMs and components or even embedded with allies. We salute you and pray for your strength to perform your duties to the utmost during these uncertain and difficult times ahead. Your reporting of the facts, keeping channels of communication open (and trust high) and assuring allies and partners, play vital roles for US military and diplomatic power. Your work may even place you in harm’s way – so Godspeed! [We think particularly of those serving in Kyiv and Moscow – write us if you can!]
This isn’t the proper time to present you the BOG’s new vision, but a quick intro reveals how this situation fits our ‘raison d'être.’ Exiting from the difficulties of COVID, we have chosen three core areas of focus for our association: Advocacy, Bridging and Leveraging. ‘Advocacy’ means supporting FAOs in uniform, ‘bridging’ – will prepare FAOs post-career for success out of uniform, and ‘leveraging’ – takes our collective experience and expert voice into ‘the arena.’
Now is a time to leverage our knowledge by making each other smarter, and contributing, as we can, to the public discourse. You or your trusted contacts can answer questions like: What is it really like “in country”? Are sanctions working or can they? What are escalation risks? Are NATO and American publics ready for retribution (in the form of cyber attacks or otherwise)?
The amount of information that is coming out from news, social media, websites, and personal sources for this invasion is overwhelming. The information that we and certainly the public sees can often be intentionally or unintentionally skewed and politicized. Context is everything.
FAOA has two offerings which will provide curated perspectives and outlooks to bring issues in focus:
“Context is Everything” (CiE) Discussion. We will hold our first panel of 2022 in the next few days – details to be announced separately by our new FAOA VP, Pete Larsen. Our panelists will concentrate on the current situation in the Ukraine and look at the problem politically, militarily and economically.
Second, Leverage your knowledge…we’d love your contributions from your extensive expertise about the region, the Ukraine and Russia. FAOA is eminently qualified to provide short articles of impact on stories, comments and perspectives where most news sources lack access and depth of expertise. Graham Plaster has created this form to submit your entries on Ukraine and other current events so we can gain perspective from FAOAs:
https://forms.hive.com/?formId=m663yCmizA8iR5fvM
FAOs on TAP – Members in the DC area. Invite your friends and join us for the first “FAOs on Tap” of 2022. Lots to discuss!
When: Thursday, 3 March 2022, 4:30 PM (EST) - 6:30 PM (EST)
Where: Highline RxR, 2010 Crystal Dr, Arlington, VA 22202
Looking forward to seeing you at the FAOs on Tap, online with our CiE and to read your submissions online. Questions and arrows please… president@faoa.org.
Форвар!
Rob