Hey, I look forward to your synopsis. Below are some issues I would be interested in hearing your thoughts on some or all of the following.

a) US policy towards the situation in Sudan.

b) The ebb and flow of neo-conservative vs realist struggle in the bush admin.

c) US engagement in UN reform, Bolton's effect, and likely changes, if any.

d) The changing role of US AID, implementation of the Millenium Challenege Account, and who should replace Natsios.

e) US-Russian relations during the start of Putin's and Bush's second terms. What went well, what went poorly, and what is likely to change?

f) US reponse to popular uprisings, and emerging democracies, in former soviet states.

Those are just a few off the top of my head. Kind of narrow, but my interest areas.

Posted by: Dan at December 30, 2005 12:00 AM | Permalink to this comment

I mentioned this in your last "light blogging" notice, but just in case you missed it...

I really like your take on the WaPo article about Kurds and their plans as members of the Iraqi military....

Posted by: lukasiak at December 30, 2005 12:20 AM | Permalink to this comment

列管冷凝器
不锈钢反应锅
发酵罐

Posted by: yd at December 30, 2005 02:13 AM | Permalink to this comment

Please don't feel a need to apologise and please don't burn yourself out - we all appreciate your efforts.

My wishlist:

UN reform, perhaps comments on Kofi's freakout, comparison of graft and corruption with US benchmarks such as Enron now back in the news, etc.

Russia's slide to quasi-democratic status, and who will follow Putin.

China's impact on the world economy.

Mexico', and all Latin America's refusal to reform, how to get around cultural barriers to transparency, etc.

Posted by: wks at December 30, 2005 02:14 AM | Permalink to this comment

Should foreign policy differences "stop at the water's edge?

Did they ever?

Why do we have a Foreign Affairs Committee of the Senate with only an 11--10 edge for the GOP? And one of the 11 is the wishy washy Lincoln Chafee. Another is the incoherent Voinovich. Look what a mess this caused over the Bolton nomination (and look what a great job Bolton is doing).

Why do we have rotten ex-presidents like Carter and Clinton trotting around the world to complain about current policies? We even sent a former Attorney General to join the Saddam H. defense team!!! Some stopping at the water's edge! Jay Rockefeller skips off to Damascus to reveal military secrets to the tin horn dictator. Ugg.

Why is the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee traditionally such a haven for LIBERALS? They're all there, all the worst of them, even the guy who wanted to go to Paris and give Iraqi problems "the world test." And all the most liberal Republicans are there, too. Why not leaven the committee with a few GOP cow-country types? Dr. Frist, please call your office.

Last year C-SPAN showed us the Fulbright Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, taking John Kerry testimony in 1971, and guess what? The so-called Republicans on that panel included Jake Javits, Clifford Case, and Wayne Morse! Most Americans were represented only by a couple of Southern Democrats. No wonder our foreign policy was so fucked up for so long. No wonder differences stopped at the water's edge--there were no differences, it was all LIBERAL crap! Needless to add, I think Dubya is finally getting it right.

Posted by: exguru at December 31, 2005 03:11 AM | Permalink to this comment