What is the American State Department’s “dissent channel”?
A 50-year-old system allows diplomats to criticise their bosses
AMERICA’S STATE DEPARTMENT has been working overtime since war between Israel and Hamas broke out in October. Antony Blinken, the secretary of state, has travelled twice to the Middle East to emphasise President Joe Biden’s support for Israel and urge the country to act with restraint in its battle against Hamas. But not all American diplomats support their government’s stance. Reports have emerged that State Department staff are drafting documents that criticise the Biden administration’s handling of the war. Politico, a news website, reported that one letter, which is garnering signatures, demands that America support a ceasefire and publicly criticise Israel. Such a “dissent memo” is no ordinary diplomatic cable. Why was the dissent channel created, and how effective has it been in influencing policy?
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