Evacuation: Take Two

Evacuation: Take Two

9/20/01
Well, it happened. After a week of "Wait and See," the embassy in Sana'a went to an authorized departure of non-essential staff and dependents effective on Thursday, September 19th. No one is being forced to leave (that would be an ordered departure), but the State Department is trying to minimize the number of Americans in country in response to some sort of threat. Unfortunately, the corollary to an authorized departure is that anyone who is already away from post is barred from returning until the departure is lifted. (Generally, that means 30 days or more.) Spouses and family cannot return, period. Staff members deemed "essential" can get permission to return if the Undersecretary for Management (known as "M") sends a cable authorizing it. That, of course, begs the question: Who is essential?

We haven't heard from anyone there in Sana'a, so we don't know exactly what's going on or what is going to become of us for the moment. Most likely, there are intelligence warnings of threats against Americans in Yemen that have caused this departure. Naturally, there is probably some relation to the events of September 11th, but that relation may simply be that we are more jumpy this week than we were before. Evacuations directly related to any American retaliatory strikes will probably come in the future, but I don't think this is one of them, if only because there are very few posts that have gone to a drawdown.

Jen and I have been through an authorized departure before, as most of you know, but it's no less of a pain the second time around. When there was an authorized departure in June and July, we were stuck in Virginia. We were unable to depart because Jen would not be able to go and I was not considered "essential staff." (How could I be essential--or even useful--if I couldn't even find my own office?)

Now, I know how to do my job (more or less), but it's still unclear if I'm going to be considered "essential." Apparently, I'm not on the list that's currently attached to the Emergency Action Plan. But, as is generally the case with such lists, as soon as there's an actual use for it, everyone wants to reconsider who in their section isn't essential. I had hoped to hear by today whether I was essential or not, but I've gotten no word from post yet. That leaves us still taking a wait-and-see approach.

I know that all of you must have dozens of "What if?" questions. I simply can't answer them. Jen and I don't want to be separated, but if I am needed in Sana'a, I will return. It's hard to write it without sounding trite, but this is my way of serving my country in its time of need.

I would never advocate that America respond to terrorism by retreating into isolationism, and it would be hypocritical to do so on a personal level. If there really is to be a War on Terrorism, it can't succeed without diplomacy. My job in Yemen is to coordinate and support the infrastructure of diplomacy. I chose this job--this career--because I want work that makes a difference. If that means that I must assume some level of risk, it is a risk that I have considered and that I accept. As the events of last Tuesday attest, risk does not reside only abroad. Intelligence warnings aside, things are not blowing up in Yemen at the moment. Embassies worldwide are targets because they are symbols of America, they have always been. But they are well-protected for that very reason. Meanwhile, if America should truly embark on a war against terrorism, September 11th will not mark the last terrorist attack on US soil. With that in mind, I will not feel particularly vulnerable if I should return to Yemen. Heck, if I stay in the US, I have to report to work at the State Department--it's an ugly building, but it's an obvious target anyhow. Anyway, Jen and I are still in the US for the time being. We'll probably make our way to DC this weekend so that I can go to work on Monday or Tuesday. We'll let you know as soon as we know anything more.

Love,
Michael



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