State Deputy Sec Zoellick Leaves for Goldman Sachs

Bob Zoellick, Deputy Secretary of the State Department, is leaving to join Goldman Sachs, the State Department announced. This is probably bad for the State Department. Zoellick was a serious official, unlike the second rate Texans and Republican hacks serving in most of the posts in the Bush administration. It's unlikely his replacement will be as good as he was. It's also a sign that Bush is unable to keep good people when he manages to get them. It will be interesting what see what happens with Hank Paulson, who is going in the other direction -- from Goldman Sachs to the administration as Treasury Secretary.

Here is the Washington Post's take on his departure. There's a little bit of dissatisfaction that comes throught the interview about the second, third and fourth tier issues that Zoellick got stuck with under Rice.

American Embassy Cable on Iraqi Difficulties

The Washington Post published a telegram from the US Embassy in Baghdad about the problems Iraqis who work in its public affairs section have. It's personal vignettes rather than policy analysis, but it is very revealing.

Here is the Washington Post intro to the cable.

American Embassy Cable on Iraqi Difficulties

The Washington Post published a telegram from the US Embassy in Baghdad about the problems Iraqis who work in its public affairs section have. It's personal vignettes rather than policy analysis, but it is very revealing.

Here is the Washington Post intro to the cable.

The Economist on Nuclear Disarmament

This link goes to the article in The Economist magazine on the long term failure of the nuclear powers to disarm and what consequences this has for the future of nonproliferation and the security of the world. As usual with The Economist, there is a lot of "on the one hand" and "on the other hand," but kudos to them for raising this important issue, which affects Britain, as well as America, Russia and the other big five nuclear powers. America for years has pretended that the issue does not exist.