Diplomatic Critics of Policy Honored

In this photograph provided by the American Foreign Service Association, Ronald Capps, center, a former political officer at the U.S. Embassy in Khartoum who lobbied for direct U.S. intervention in Sudan's troubled western Darfur region, is seen in Iraq in this undated photograph. Capps is scheduled to receive the William R. Rivkin Award, which honors mid-level diplomats who exhibit "extraordinary accomplishment involving initiative, integrity, intellectual courage and constructive dissent," American Foreign Service Association. (AP Photo/American Foreign Service Association) (AP)

"When Mr. Zorick learned of other U.S. counterterrorism efforts that were clearly in direct conflict with the U.S. government's publicly enunciated objectives, he attempted to argue through regular post channels that these actions would, in the long term, undermine U.S. interests and prove harmful to future U.S. involvement," the citation says.

"However, Mr. Zorick's efforts to argue for alternative approaches in U.S. policy ... went unheeded," it says.

"He risked his own professional advancement by taking a stand for what he believed was right and deserves to be honored."

Zorick and Capps, both now based in Washington with the State Department, were given the William R. Rivkin Award, which honors midlevel diplomats who exhibit "extraordinary accomplishment involving initiative, integrity, intellectual courage and constructive dissent."

The prize _ named for Rivkin, a former ambassador who valued, encouraged and protected dissenting diplomats at embassies in Europe and Africa _ has been given to 52 diplomats since it was first presented in 1968, including the current U.S. Ambassador in Iraq, Ryan Crocker, for his work in Lebanon in the 1980s.

Though he did not challenge any covert action, Capps cautioned that U.S. support for African peacekeepers and a tenuous peace deal signed with some Darfur rebel groups would not halt what Washington has repeatedly called a "genocide" with as many as 200,000 killed in the region over the past three years.

"If we fail to properly construct and mandate a Peace Enforcement Force, we will fail to stop the genocide and more people will needlessly die," he wrote in a cable to Washington.

"Yes, it will be hard," he said in the cable. But being hard should not deter us from doing what is right. This is genocide. If we are serious about stopping it, this is what it will take. Otherwise, which American President will be the one to apologize to the dead of Darfur?"

The citation notes that "unfortunately, Mr. Capps' advice was not heeded."

"The Darfur crisis has continued unabated, and the U.S. and its allies continue to struggle to find a solution to this humanitarian disaster. Ron Capps vividly demonstrated the courage and integrity to take an unpopular stand and offer possible alternatives, and he deserves to be honored."

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