I’m honored that Steve has asked me to begin making regular contributions here at The Washington Note. Having worked with Steve on and off for about two years, I have developed a great deal of respect for him as a thinker, writer, convener, and all-purpose operative.

I’m not kidding. It’s very sad the fear-mongering that some in our society are addicted to. In Seattle today. More later.

I once worked with a person — who will remain unnamed — who said that in the work my institution was focused on and that was primarily supported by two sides of an industry group at war with each other that we should pick the side that gives us the most financial support (i.e., dough)….

Stephen Krasner, Director of Policy Planning at the Department of State and one of Condi Rice’s mentors, will be departing his position within a month and returning to his tenured faculty position at Stanford University.

I just acquired an interesting letter sent to a number of military officials and academics around the country by Air Force Col. Edward Westermann who has been working in Afghanistan and who now teaches at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs.

Annie and Oakley don’t seem too bothered that I’m going to be traveling for two weeks and blogging from the road. For those of you in cities I’m visiting, here is the schedule. SEATTLE — March 4-7 LAS VEGAS — March 7-10 HAVANA — March 12-16 Coffee meetings possible if folks are interested.

Caretaker of the Kennedy legacy, Arthur Schlesinger died last night in New York. The 89 year-old historian was a controversial and provocative commentator on public affairs and America writ large.

Lincoln Chafee used to shoe horses — literally. I never knew the term, farrier, until I walked into the then Rhode Island Senator’s office one day and saw a framed assortment of farrier licenses with the thin, scraggly-looking, long-haired picture of the would-be Senator Chafee on each.

Edward Luttwak — a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and author of many best-selling high concept treatments of war, strategy, and the international economy — is a turbo-charged intellect wrapped in the garb of a John Le Carre-esque spy. I always feel like I’m learning secrets from him.

(Former Secretary of State Warren Christopher, Washington Moroccan Club President Hassan Samrhouni, and Former Secretary of State James A.