Ambassador of Argentina Diego Guelar Overcoming the Crises by Larry Luxner Argentina is living through the worst economic and political chaos in its history, and the countryís new ambassador to the United States, Diego Ramiro Guelar, wants to talk about cows. ìThis is Valentina,î Guelar says with a grin, showing off a stuffed heifer wrapped in yellow USDA quarantine ribbon. ìItís a clone of the one I gave President Bush on Feb. 14, the day I presented my credentials. Of course, I couldnít bring with me a real Valentina because of foot-and-mouth disease.î To say Guelar has a sense of humor would be an understatement. On the day The Washington Diplomat arrived to interview him, jokes and gags seemed to abound in his office, which boasts three stuffed Valentinasócomplete with their own mooing and other farm-like sound effects...more... Ambassador David M. Abshire Diplomat Studies Past, Prepares For Future With Strategic Thinking by John Shaw It has been said that Washington, D.C., is a city in which the urgent always wins out over the important. Put differently, the relentless, often frantic press coverage of daily events tends to displace strategic thinking and long-term planning. David M. Abshire, a former American government official and diplomat, has been trying for nearly 40 years to get leaders from the U.S. government to examine the lessons of the past and chart a clear, well-conceived course for the future. ...more... Hotels Section

Culture Section Diplomats Find New World, Old Challenges on Capitol Hill by John Shaw As Washington, D.C., diplomats go about their work on Capitol Hill, they find a profoundly changed environment regarding international affairs since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. But they also confront the same, daunting challenges they have faced for decades in articulating their views before the House and Senate and influencing the complex levers of powers in Congress....more... Survival Strategies for Embassies Dealing With Congress A number of specific suggestions for embassies as they deal with Congress Foreign Adoption Option Different Countries Expect Different Things From Parents by Kurt Samson Sarah Wilson is a new mom. Last year she adopted a child from a provincial orphanage in Vietnam. Today heís 10 months old and teething....more... U.S. Foreign Adoption Statistics Completion of 55-Story Torre Mayor Is Jewel in Crown of Revitalized Mexico City by Larry Luxner MEXICO CITYóSeven months after the destruction of New Yorkís World Trade Center....more... Cervical Cancer May Be Prevented, Starting With Simple Pap Test by Gina Shaw The causes of most cancers remain, in large part, mysterious...more... Receiving Line ï Ambassadors Unite