TWN has been inundated with emails asking why I have not written more about revelations about non-court approved NSA intercepts of electronic phone and email transmissions within the United States and the connection to John Bolton’s requests for NSA intercept material when he served as Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security….

Thanks to all who sent materials, articles, and other materials relating to the Saudi political world. My trip there has been postponed, until perhaps next year.

If there are any PowerBook G4 experts out there who know about Microsoft Entourage and downloading contact and other data via an Exchange Server from Microsoft Outlook 2003, I’d love to speak with you. I have the Exchange Server account set up, verified, and all that — but it still does not seem to work….

The President’s ongoing defense of a routenized system of unauthorized electronic eavesdropping is presenting one of the best opportunities for Democrat’s 2006 electoral chances. Most Republicans — at their core — also hate this kind of “big brother” behavior that their party leader is defending.

David Sanger has a stinging article in the New York Times today basically ridiculing President Bush’s notions of Iraq-related legacy building.

I’m taking the evening off to spend with some good friends in Philadelphia but wanted to underscore the point that this writer and The Washington Note are committed to trying to get this country’s policy course on a much better track in 2006 than during these last several years.

Over the next few weeks, you will notice design changes to the website. The first has been added today, just before New Year’s. I realize that these changes may have some kinks to sort out, particularly given the fact that people view them through different browsers. Just send a note if you are having problems….

TWN hopes everyone is preparing for a safe and fun New Year’s Eve. I’m back in Washington and headed to Philadelphia for the next couple of days. I just learned that I’ll be going to Saudia Arabia on January 5th for a few days and any insights appreciated.

I have received word this morning that two people, one whom I know, have had direct phone contact with Karim Chrobog, son of former German Foreign Ministry State Secretary Juergen Chrobog, who both along with three other family members have been kidnapped by Yemeni tribal clans.

(photo of Juergen Chrobog, former State Secretary of the German Foreign Ministry) A loyal reader of The Washington Note and very good friend, Karim Chrobog, as well as four other members of his family were kidnapped in Yemen according to various news reports.