American Foreign Service 2006 Essay Contest

The members of the Foreign Service are like the olive branches in the right talon of the American eagle, advising the president and Secretary of State about foreign relations and carrying out the president's foreign policies. The members of the military service are like the arrows in the eagle's left talon.

Essay Contest Topic In 750 to 1,000 words, discuss the following topic:
Analyze and explain how the members of the Foreign Service promote United States national interests by participating in the resolution of today's major international issues.
In writing your essay, use the following as your guideline:
• Select a specific current international issue that is of importance to you in United States foreign policy and explain why you have chosen it.
• Describe and analyze the role of members of the United States Foreign Service in conducting diplomacy to resolve this particular issue and discuss the immediate consequences.
• Keep in mind the United States national interests include: national security, protection of American citizens, human rights, democratization, free market economics, countering terrorism, free trade, and sustainable economic development.

http://www.afsa.org/essaycontest/topic.cfm