US Embassy freshness

US Embassy freshness

Dr. Jassim Taqui

In the old golden days, the US Embassy was one of the most active foreign mission in Islamabad. The dissemination of information and culture was superb under the independent USIS. It deteriorated when the Clinton administration decided to change USIS into USIC (United States Information Center) and put it directly under the State Department.

The move was the worst ever in the history of the United States. USIS was so free and supreme that it used to be critical of the policies of the very US administration it represented. None was in any mood to be the mouthpiece of the State Department. They were very free. At one time, I could never believe what I see. I started asking the American diplomats. It was too good to be believed. I was only satisfied when the then US Spokesperson Jack McCreary explained what was USIS.

In the early time of USIC, a “State Department’s” officer asked McCreary to withdraw the facilities given to me. McCreary gave me a special permission to consult, in the front office, the confidential Wireless File and to photocopy any article I like. 

McCreary reluctantly agreed to observe the orders of his boss. I was relentless. I immediately protested stating that the move was against the very US Constitution that promotes access to information, freedom of expression and the right to dissent. Within seconds, McCreary reversed his boss’ instructions. There was absolutely no doubt in his mind that my concern was legitimate. This is only an example of what does it mean to change USIS into USIC.

I realized that the move was a step towards “controlled media” and propaganda usually followed by the failed states. It was not simply changing “S” with “C”. It was like changing “Serenity” with “Crime.”

USIC became so marginal and trivial that the US administration decided to close down the majestic American Center, which was the beacon of light; shining knowledge and cultural activities everywhere. When the members of the American Center expressed their annoyance, the new spokesperson of the American Embassy told them that the State Department decided to shift the American Center to the Embassy in the Diplomatic Enclave due to “security concerns.” 

He told the members they should seek the permission of USIC (read State Department) every time they intended to consult the library. I did make to the new UNIC only to have the shock of my life. The UNIC shrunk the grandiose American Center into a small room, less than one-half of my office. I felt as if the Statue of Liberty was attacked by nuclear weapons.

Lately, I sense that there is freshness in the US Embassy. Some serious, albeit slow, moves the US Embassy has taken to revive at least the cultural activities. This is a huge step, given the previous miserable conditions of USIC. The US diplomats used to sit in a small room like birds locked in a cage. Nobody was interested to work under the pretext of “security.” Now, the US diplomats have liberated themselves. They started going outside the Embassy. The latest issue of Khabr o Nazar (July/August 2016) showed US Embassy officers taste local delicacies in open places in the capital. The website of the US Embassy has been updated with live events, videos, posts USAID and US Educational Foundation in Pakistan. Now, you would love to see all these changes.  It looks now very impressive. It is linked to Facebook, Twitter,G+1 and Instagram. More is required of course. Electronic contacts can never be a substitute to human contacts and the human touch.

One should commend the LEAs for their wonderful efforts to ensure peace and security in Islamabad. However, one would hope that the US returns to USIS. Everything is possible especially when there is a spiritual soul embracing the spirit of holy Mary in the US Cultural Section.