INTERNATIONAL: "Reshaping Diplomacy By Tossing The Script," by Mark Landler, New York Times, 21 February 2009.

ASIA: "American diplomacy in Asia: Hillary says hello to Asia; A well-received first trip abroad as secretary of state, listening not lecturing," The Economist, 21 February 2009.

I must admit: I have no problems so far with Clinton as SECSTATE. I like the style and substance and the stepping-up-to-the-historical-moment vibe.

I also like the honesty and the ability to move beyond Rice's painful bureaucratese.

Rice was a pretty picture all right, but there was no there there.

Clinton is a story a thousand times more interesting, and there is a surfeit of there there.

I simply like the gravity created. It's like we have a real SECSTATE again for the first time since Baker--a figure to be reckoned with versus one to be trifled with.

And the listening shtick--an oldie but goodie for her--is just what the doctor ordered