Taking Vacation Time For...North Korea?

one of the perks of being a Humphrey student is you get a heads-up on interesting discussions that will be going on. they're very good about creating opportunities for dialogue on global issues. now if only they could be better about scheduling them when it's convenient for me...

on Friday morning they had a panel discussion i couldn't miss (it sounds strange and kinda sad, but most of my vacation time is used for school). Vice President Walter Mondale moderated a discussion on the potential threats from North Korea, ranging from nuclear issues to humanitarian aid, how the US has been addressing these concerns, and why we should take action. it's strange to think a poofy-haired guy in military garb could want to cause so much chaos. why would a regime be so willing to starve its own people, sabatoge its own economy, and ultimately destroy itself in an effort just to get attention??? stubborn little asian people...

the next time i take vacation time will be for school again, tho this time to see Gen. Colin Powell speak on Oct 3rd. i'm really looking forward to it. have heard he is an engaging speaker, and if we're lucky, maybe he'll take a question or two...

one of these days i'll get around to taking vacation time for an actual vacation...

L to R: Burton Levin, former US Consul General in Hong Kong and US ambassador to Burma; Gordon Flake, ED of the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation; Vice President Walter Mondale; Brian Atwood, Humphrey Dean and my advisor; and Desaix Anderson, deputy chief of the mission in Tokyo under Ambassador Mike Mansfield.