WATCHFUL EYES

I especially enjoy blogs authored by persons from our state department who work in foreign countries. They can provide information and a particularly insightful analysis that you cannot otherwise get, since they are there, experiencing what's going on in the field. You don't find this information or analysis in our regular news outlets.

For instance, I enjoyed reading the now defunct Diplomad. I also enjoyed reading the now defunct Daily Demarche, although Dr. Demarche and Smiley can still be read on occasion at American Future where they contribute. Go check out American Future.

Well yesterday, Saturday, I received an email from Watchful Eyes. Seeing a news story posted about Iran on Heavy-Handed Politics, Watchful Eyes stated "thought I'd give you a shout since I specialize in this field." He/she provided me with a few links on Iran, Syria from his/her blog, Vital Perspective.

I visited their site and they say it "is operated by two foreign policy specialists focused on the Middle East. Though we come from different political backgrounds and have worked on competing political campaigns, the bloggers of Vital Perspective share deep concerns over the growing threat of Islamic extremism to the U.S. and our allies."

From what I can determine, it is a new blog having started in December 2005. It looks like good stuff. Go check them out. I'll be adding them to my blogroll and and checking them out regularly.