The consensus in this article is that the Bush Administration's decision to emphasize diplomacy in the Middle East is "almost overdue" in the words of former Afghanistan envoy James Dobbins. This is almost incontrovertible, but I'll try anyhow. As Josh noted last week, just as we can't really afford to only practice our diplomacy when it suits us, we also can't afford to only practice it where it suits us. It is folly to decide that a half-decade of neglect of the countries in the Middle East can be remedied by an intense diplomatic push as the Bush presidency lurches toward its conclusion, countries in the greater orbit like Pakistan and Afghanistan begin to go off the rails and entities in the center like Palestine and Iraq descend deeper into chaos.

The world's only remaining superpower doesn't get to peddle diplomacy on a squeaky-wheel basis. Snubbing Africa with its potentially growing Islamic presence and deep poverty is a mistake anytime. Turning our back on South Asia, with the most populous Muslim nation, is never a good move.