Valedictory dispatches

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Here’s a satisfying day-dream: you have quit your job, but you’re encouraged to write down your opinion about the whole thing – and then publish it to your colleagues. Well, that was long standard practice for British diplomats. Britain’s former ambassador in Washington, Sir Christopher Meyer (pictured) told The BBC that for him, the quality of dispatches varied as much as the quality of those that wrote them. Alex Gallafent reports. Download MP3

Obama wins Nobel Peace Prize

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Today, Barack Obama became the third sitting U.S. President to win the Nobel Peace Prize. The Norwegian Nobel Committee praised Obama for “his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.” The announcement drew both warm praise and sharp criticism. We’ll gauge international reaction to the announcement and the World’s Jeb Sharp puts it into historical perspective. What do you think of Obama’s win? Leave a comment below. Download MP3 Photo: White House

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An interview with Madeleine Albright

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To get what you want in foreign policy, according to former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, you’ve got military force at one end of the spectrum. And at the other end are words of reason. Somewhere in the middle is diplomacy, economic sanctions, foreign aid, and…pins. Brooches. Madeleine Albright’s extensive collection of brooches. Some are delicate, some are gaudy. Secretary Albright stopped by our studios to chat with Marco Werman.Download MP3

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