Monday January 15, 2007

I've Been Thinking:

Yesterday I took a first look at the travel schedules of world leaders as a way to better understand world politics.
Here are some more puzzles to ponder.

The President of Iraq, Jalil Talibani, arrived in Syria to discuss security issues.
In Syria, Talibani is expected to visit the grave of the late President Hafez Assad.
If Syria and Iraq are on the same page, where does that leave the United States?

During Ahmadinejad's visit to Venezuela the two countries agreed that there is too much oil in the market and they will recommend to OPEC to reduce the amount brought to the world market.
Can these two make it really happen?

Hillary traveled from Iraq to Pakistan where she had a forceful conversation with Musharef about al Qaeda.
Does Hillary have enough clout for this conversation to impact our lives?

Cancelled travel plans reveal and teach as much as plans that are executed.
Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas leader and Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority, was uninvited by Kuwait - the visit was postponed to "an unknown date."
What happened there?