In light of Senator Jim Webb’s trip to Myanmar and former president Bill Clinton’s recent and well publicized visit to North Korea, I thought this report in The Washington Times was interesting. It examines the practice of using “proxy diplomats” to deal with international crises and questions the political implications of using such unofficial agents. In an administration already famous for using special envoys is there a danger that adding proxy diplomats to the diplomatic toolkit makes it difficult for both allies and enemies to determine who speaks for the U.S. government?
