I am a fan of Zbigniew Brzezinski and generally agree with him that in order to get America’s national security portfolio back together — we have to be wary of seductive assertions that the U.S. can easily manipulate political realities in a place like Pakistan in pursuit of platitudes.

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has just declared three days of mourning in the wake of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto’s murder.

Recently, I wrote about my own surprise that Barack Obama had not called together a policy or issue-oriented hearing in his role as Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee/Subcommittee on Europe. I followed this up with a piece that explored what various presidential candidates were reporting on their travel.

TWN reader Chris Brown shared this interesting and useful essay that probes significant variation in the polls emanating from Iowa. As we try to understand the trends underway in the scramble towards January 3rd, this kind of steady analysis is valuable.

Benazir Bhutto had not yet become president or prime minister in her recent return to Pakistan’s political arena — but she was the leading opposition leader in Pakistan.

I thought that Hillary Clinton and Obama were basically tied in Iowa — with Obama with a bit of an edge. Then I saw a poll suggesting Edwards was surging and might take the prize. A new poll, however, shows Hillary Clinton with a “stunning double-digit lead over her nearest rival among likely Democratic caucus-goers.

The person in DC who is least known but most responsible for building America’s imperial presidency is David Addington, Chief of Staff to Vice President Richard Cheney, or better known as “Cheney’s Cheney.

A very close friend of mine “just came out” to his brother as a gay man. He did the same with his mother about ten months ago — and it didn’t go well. . .with either of them.

Oakley the Amazing Weimaraner and Annie the kid sis send their very best holiday wishes to everyone.