A happy diplomat, it is said, lives in an English house, eats Chinese food, has a Japanese wife, receives American wages and drives a German car. His name is mentioned in the media, his secrets appear exclusively in diplomatic cables, and he vacations alone every summer in the south of France. Jack, whose middle name… Continue reading Taking a Big Wikileak – in Stride
Invasion of the Body Searchers
When I arrived at the office shortly before eight o’clock this morning, Gretchen informed me that my anticipated consultation, a diplomat from the Embassy of Afghanistan, had requested a postponement – something about the situation involving the Akhtar Mohammad Mansour impostor. Perfectly understandable, I guess – yesterday, after all, it became common knowledge that NATO… Continue reading Invasion of the Body Searchers
Quantitative Queasiness
My younger brother Rob Roy, his wife Katje and my nephew Jason dropped by my office this afternoon. After my final consultation of the day, we all went out to an early repast at Morton’s, followed by a performance of Hair at the Kennedy Center. Word has it that audience members wearing sufficiently authentic 1960’s… Continue reading Quantitative Queasiness
The More Congress Changes, the More it Stays the Same
America has no native criminal class, except Congress. – Mark Twain GZPZ, Holy Smokes, Katy bar the door and various other exclamations of dismayed surprise! I am well aware that every two years, a new crop of freshman senators and representatives descends on Washington and that one of the very first things they do is… Continue reading The More Congress Changes, the More it Stays the Same
Wild Wali Karzai’s Big Smack Down
There was nothing surprising about it when Khus Dihugami Dadamizo, Special International Policy Emissary of His Excellency President Hamid Karzai for the Embassy of Afghanistan to the United States of America asked to use my office rest room as soon as he arrived for his appointment. He does that more often than not. Otherwise, he… Continue reading Wild Wali Karzai’s Big Smack Down