12/1/2023

My Dear Friend & POTUS, JRB,

            98 trees? Really? "Magic, Wonder, & Joy," is a lovely theme & I appreciate Jill’s exuberance, but many Americans don’t celebrate Christmas, so going all out on holiday décor for the “people’s house” doesn’t sit well with me.

            When this year’s WH outdoor tree got blown over by a gust of wind on Tuesday, perhaps that was a sign to scale back on Christmas displays.

That’s what I’m doing. I may pull out a few old favorite ornaments but am not getting a tree. Baking cookies & playing some Christmas songs is all I need to find magic, wonder & joy.

I was surprised to read the quote in the NYT from Angola’s President Lourenço that your meeting yesterday “was better than I expected.” What do you think he was expecting?

The NYT speculated that African leaders are wondering about your credibility after you promised to visit them & have not yet made a plan to do so. XJ is much more attentive so best get busy & plan your African trip. I’d be happy to join you. I’ve always wanted to see elephants in the wild.

            Have you gotten started on developing a plan for post-junta Burma. Today’s Council on Foreign Relations added to the chorus of media folk suggesting that the military could fail at any time. They write, “it is far closer to bankruptcy than is widely known.” They also say that the NUG & EAOs could turn on each other “creating total bloody chaos & completely gutting the remainder of the Myanmar state.” That wouldn’t be good for anyone so please ask your diplomats to get busy working out some deals. Some of HAK’s shuttle diplomacy might be in order.

            BYBS,