Here’s one more reason to hope for Condi-in-’08, as well as a reflection of the Bush administration’s emphasis on the democratic changes currently taking place around the world. The US is moving a hundred diplomatic posts from staid Western locations to Africa and the booming East. Clearly the administration recognizes the importance of the sorts of stories Publius covers.

The Financial Times says:

Condoleezza Rice, US secretary of state, yesterday called Äthe moveÅ a “sweeping and difficult” transformation of US diplomacy.

“In the 21st century, emerging nations like India and China, and Brazil and Egypt, and Indonesia and South Africa are increasingly shaping the course of history,” Ms Rice saidÄ…Å

Ms Rice said the US needed bold diplomacy to achieve the mission set out by George W. Bush, president, in his second inaugural address a year ago of supporting democratic institutions worldwide with the “ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world”.

It’s clearly necessary for the United States (as well as any other forward-looking Western nations) to make partnerships with emerging countries, offer various kinds of aid and interaction to those societies, and above all foster safer, faster transitions to democracy — for our benefit and for theirs.

On the other hand, I’m sure some diplomats will miss the brioches…