Another longstanding foreign policy flaw is the degree to which special interests dictate the way in which the "national interest" as a whole is defined and pursued.... America's important historic relationship with Israel has often led foreign policy decision-makers to defer reflexively to Israeli security assessments, and to replicate Israeli tactics, which, as the war in Lebanon last summer demonstrated, can turn out to be counter-productive.

It is easy to get used to the morning news, habituated. But don't. The morning news is yours to alter.

American decision-makers must understand how damaging a foreign policy that privileges order and profit over justice really is in the long term.

India is at the vanguard of figuring out how to exploit technology and innovation on behalf of democratic accountability.

There is a convergence of crises that makes it challenging to keep the world's attention.

From Richard Holbrooke - and I miss him every day - I learned two things. One, prioritization: Never take your eye off the longer-term reforms. The other thing is, he was a hell of a schmoozer! So I should take advantage of my Irish love of beer and gift of the gab, and build relationships. That's a cherished part of the job, asking someone, "How did you get to be the Rwandan ambassador?" I try to take advantage of the fact that I hope to be here at least until the president's term ends getting to know my colleagues.

First, recognize the mistake. The main thing is taking responsibility and being authentic.