Tag: Chess

Iran Hostage Crisis I

Oct 9, 2025

—

by

Ben East

in Books, Diplomacy, Foreign Affairs, Government Studies, Middle East, Movies, Nonfiction, Peace Corps, Profiles in Service, Terrorism, War, Washington

Peace Corps Nepal in the 1960s could feel slow. Adapting to the boredom turned out to be good preparation for enduring 444 days of tedium as a hostage in Iran
Foreign Service Blogs (II)

Mar 19, 2017

—

by

Ben East

in Blogs, Foreign Affairs

Discovering more blogs kept by Foreign Service Officers, old and new, from DC to Bucharest, from cat-lovers to chess masters. Cross Words Among the most interesting aspects of this blog is the lack of a lapel pin declaring the author a Foreign Service Officer. Instead we see a chess enthusiast and writer of fantasy and science fiction. Currently…