Foreign Policy magazine

My CNAS hallmate Robert Kaplan has a good piece in the new issue of Foreign Policy, the mother ship. It is a real feat of globe-twirling, and I think is especially insightful on the futures of Iran (ascendant) and Pakistan (not). Among other things, he notes, geography naturally made Iran a state, and indeed "the ancient world's first superpower," while Pakistan is an artificial and probably doomed creation. 

He does seem to call, between the lines, for a reconstitution of the pre-partition area, re-attaching Bangladesh (or whatever is left of it after global warming) and most of Pakistan. He wants to give the troublesome Pashtuns their own ungovernable state stretching from the Hindu Kush down to the western banks of the Tigris.

He also gets off this impressive three-cushion shot: "when a fear of Munich leads to overreach the result is Vietnam -- or in the current case, Iraq."

getdirectlydown/flickr

If you haven't read Marc Lynch's summary of what seems to be going on in Iraq, please do so now. 'Nuff said.

I don't plan to file on weekends. I do plan to try to add to this blog at least once a day during the business week. Thanks to everyone at Foreign Policy for their support this week, and to the amazing response from readers, including all the job offers. I have read every single comment posted, and been impressed and pleased by the civility and thoughtfulness shown.