Lessons from the Edge: A Memoir by Marie Yovanovitch. Marie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and Russian studies from Princeton University. She studied at the Pushkin Institute in Moscow, and then was awarded a Master of Science degree from the National Defense University’s National War College.
Marie served the State Department as Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (2004–2005), Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan (2005–2008), Ambassador to Armenia (2008–2011), Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs (2012–2013), and finally Ambassador to Ukraine (2016–2019). Today Marie is a diplomat in residence at the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy at Georgetown University.
The early chapters introduce Marie’s family in Russia. After resettling in Canada, Marie traces her early life and education. This book is certainly providing a reader with the understanding of the US Diplomatic life. This also includes her early diplomatic assignments in Somalia, Britain, Russia, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, and Armenia. At the same time, Marie was confronting bias all along her career. There are stark parallel lines to Fiona Hill’s book There is Nothing For You Here. There are many striking parallel lines between Marie and Fiona.
Bias in the US Foreign Service
This also suggests Marie was reaching the pinnacle of her career with her appointment as US Ambassador to Ukraine. The includes her story of communicating to Americans visiting Kiev on 9/11, and the role of the embassy in returning all visiting Americans home in the days and weeks following the attack. However, after 2016 the US Foreign Service is alarmingly being flipped on its head. Above all, even today in damaged relationships with long standing allies.
How 2016 flipped the US Foreign Service, Ukraine and Russia
Marie is also able to convey perhaps too kindly how both Tillerson and Pompeo came into their roles as Secretary of State like a fish out of water. Especially noting how masterfully Tillerson was to bring his vast and extensive business knowledge to the diplomatic corps — only to fail spectacularly in less than 14 months.
Que Pompeo for the same punishment and fumbling. Perhaps the firing of the State Department’s Inspector General for investigating Pompeo was just another embarkment to the foreign services. The final report certainly confirmed misconduct where Pompeo requested that State Department staff perform personal errands for him and his wife.
In addition, the Impeachment dragged Marie into the spotlight after being recalled. The US Foreign Service is apolitical. Diplomats are sworn to uphold the Constitution. That was seemingly and somehow lost between 2016-2020.
Amateur hour before the Russian invasion
As previously stated, the obviously awkward role of Gordon Sunderland reveals how the Foreign Service was treated as a buiness payback scheme. Sunderland donated $1 million to the Presidential Inaugural Committee through four LLCs: BV-2 LLC, Dunson Cornerstone LLC, Buena Vista Investments LLC, and Dunson Investments LLC. Besides, his reward was to be a political appointee as the United States Ambassador to the European Union from 2018 to 2020. Above all, this is another example of the new administration’s amateur hour.
Accordingly, Lessons from the Edge is indicating the attacks were impacting the integrity the US Foreign Service. This has simply become damaging to all those who dedicate their lives and their families to service of our country.
A clear warning of things to come
In conclusion, Lessons from the Edge is indeed an essential must read book about bias and the highly political nature of the US Foreign Service from 2016 to 2020.