This was a week that showcased the brilliant and honorable Foreign Service officers that represent us around the globe. As David Brooks said in The New York Times, Yovanovitch, Taylor, Kent and Hill showed us what public service looks like:
Let me tell you a secret. The public buildings of Washington are filled with very good people working hard for low pay and the public good. There are thousands of them and they are very much like the Foreign Service officers that we’ve seen or are expected to see testifying at the impeachment hearings: William Taylor, George Kent, Marie Yovanovitch and Fiona Hill.
David Brooks, NYT
After Ambassador Yovanovitch’s testimony yesterday, the Foreign Service community rose as one on Twitter to stand proud. Here’s some of what they said:
Thanks to the dedicated, brilliant, exhausted, energetic foreign officers I met and worked with. So grateful for what they do to keep us safe and represent us.
KAREN KORNBLUH, GERMAN MARSHALL FUND
@KarenKornbluh
As the daughter of Cuban refugees I am forever grateful to the United States of America for all it gave to me and my family. Now I am able to give back and represent my country and tell our story around the world!
LESLIE GOODMAN @GoodmanLesNunez
I am #FSProud of George Kent, Masha Yovanovitch, Bill Taylor and Mike McKinley for their patriotism. They were true to their oath of office in choosing to testify before Congress against the wishes of the White House and Secretary of State. These four are profiles in courage.
HARVARD PROFESSOR NICHOLAS BURNS @RNicholasBurns
Reinforced my faith in decency of American public who responded so enthusiastically to the heroic performance of Amb Yovanovitch- can’t remember another time when audience breaks into applause at a Congressional hearing.
AMBASSADOR LAURA KENNEDY @AmbKennedy_ret
In an otherwise dark moment for our country, I have been inspired by the selfless service of George Kent, Bill Taylor, Marie Yovanovitch who this week refused to be intimidated and did their duty to defend the truth and uphold the constitution. I am truly #FSProud..
Madeleine Albright
@madeleine
For 31 years I have been #FSproud to represent & advance America’s interests as a Foreign Service Officer. Serving abroad often in hardship, under threat, away from family, we promote freedom, peace, human rights, the rule of law & US business around the world. #Patriots
Mike Hammer
@MikeHammerUSA
I’m #FSProud to be serving my country around the world, and grateful to be working alongside so many dedicated and talented colleagues.
CEDAR PHILLIPS @CedarImboden
So moving to read the #FSProud tweets from US Foreign Service folks today, telling their stories of working on our behalf around the world. I’m the daughter of a career FS officer, & a former @StateDept appointee who worked alongside stellar career officers; I too am #FSProud
Tamara Cofman Wittes
@tcwittes
One side effect of these public impeachment hearings is that America has had a two day crash course in what American diplomats actually do day-to-day. Some see that as a silver lining to all the clouds hanging over State right now.
Robbie Gramer
@RobbieGramer
I became an American diplomat to thank this great nation, a beacon of hope for the world, for taking in my parents when they fled communism & oppression. US diplomats advance our nation’s security, prosperity & values. I am honored to be one of them. #FSProud AMBASSADOR JULIETA VALLS NOYES
Julieta Valls Noyes
@JVNoyes
And heed the warning inherent in their testimony. In his Washington Post column on Ambassador Yovanovitch’s testimony, Dana Milbank said:
As a U.S. diplomat, Marie Yovanovitch braved gunfire in Moscow, the violence of Somalia’s civil war, an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Uzbekistan and 10 trips to the front line of Ukraine’s war with Russia.
But her greatest service to country may well have been what Yovanovitch did on Friday before the House Intelligence Committee. All Americans — however they feel about impeachment — should care deeply about her warning.
She used her moment in the spotlight at the impeachment inquiry to make a passionate plea for American diplomacy, which is being destroyed under the Trump administration, with dire consequences for U.S. influence and security.
DANA MILBANK, WASHINGTON POST