Sneaking into Iraq, Convoluted Aid, and Foreign Policy Agendas

Around the Web this week I found some original thought, frustrating evidence, and good guidance... all related to U.S. foreign policy.

• Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is visiting Iraq next month. The dates of his trip and the general itinerary are already well-known. At Democracy Arsenal, Ilan Goldberg wants to know why every visit to Iraq by President Bush, Secretary of State Rice, or Defense Secretary Robert Gates is a surprise visit shrouded in secrecy? Why do American leaders have to sneak into Iraq?

• US foreign aid does a lot of good in the world (really!). But the American bureaucracy that manages foreign aid is very messed up. This chart shows how things are far worse than you imagined.

• The Sunday New York Times editorial reminded us that while Iraq is important, it is by no means the only foreign policy challenge facing the next president. Here they catalog the top ten international issues which require detailed proposals from the leading candidates.