This is a bit of a disappointment as Warner would have given any Senate-based challenger for the Democratic presidential nomination a real fight. In Tokyo, some folks are already asking what this means for Hillary and John McCain. More later.

I’m off to Tokyo for a few days of meetings. I will have much to report.

Fareed Zakaria captures clearly the consequences that have been wrought from America’s misguided adventure. Zakaria writes: Iraq is now in a civil war. Thirty thousand Iraqis have died there in the past three years, more than in many other conflicts widely recognized as civil wars.

Just a quick TWN alert. I will be talking about North Korea and Northeast Asian security issues on Air America’s Al Franken Show tomorrow (Tuesday) at 1 p.m. On Wednesday morning, I’m flying to Chicago for a brief meeting and then to Tokyo — arriving Thursday afternoon in Japan and staying until the following Tuesday….

The Federal Advisory Committee Act was enacted to formalize disclosure requirements and make transparent those who advise on federal government policy.

This exchange between Rep. Ray Lahood and Bob Schieffer is just lovely (posted at Crooks and Liars): Lahood: Look at, I give Speaker Hastert high marks for strong leadership. He took care of Tom DeLay, his best friend. When Tom was having ethical problems, the speaker went to him and asked him to leave.

I don’t know Gideon Levy, but his piece today in Haaretz reads like highly effective paint remover, sheering the shabby veneer of the Bush administration’s absence of strategy in the Middle East.

See no Evil. Hear no Evil. . .

North Korea has been wanting attention. Now, it seems like it will get some. The President will speak to the nation about North Korea’s nuclear test at 9:45 a.m. this morning.

Stephen Handelman has an insightful article on Ban Ki Moon this morning in the Globe and Mail — and not because he quotes some of my blog commentary on Ban. Handelman writes: “I may look soft from the outside,” he has said. “But I have inner strength when it’s really necessary.