DICK HOLBROOKE: NEXT TIME INVITE A COUPLE OF LIKE-MINDED REPUBLICANS TO THE SECRET MEETING

-

18

I can think of dozens of highly placed Republicans who could have been constructive participants in the secret Kofi Annan counseling session. Warren Hoge disclosed the December 5 meeting today in a New York Times report. If anyone hears who leaked the story to him, let me know.

HAMID MIR REPORTS ON <em>AL QAEDA 2.O CONFERENCE</em>

-

7

Here is an interesting write-up by Hamid Mir, a well-known Pakistani journalist and editor who has interviewed Osama bin Laden four times. Mir was also speaker at the Al Qaeda 2.0 Conference that I recently helped organize with colleague Peter Bergen and Karen Greenberg, Executive Director of the NYU Center on Law & Security.

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY HOLIDAYS

-

8

This was taken tonight on the back lawn of the U.S. Capitol. The tree is magnificent and from Virginia. Speaking of Virginia, some are projecting a 2008 presidential battle between George Allen and Mark Warner. That would be interesting. I stopped by the White House Christmas Tree scene as well.