Happy Thanksgiving
On behalf of everyone at DipNote, we wish you a Happy Thanksgiving. As we celebrate the holiday, our thoughts turn to those serving overseas. In his Thanksgiving Day Proclamation, President Obama said: "As Americans, we hail from every part of the world. While we observe traditions from every culture, Thanksgiving Day is a unique national tradition we all share. Its spirit binds us together as one people, each of us thankful for our common blessings. As we gather once again among loved ones, let us also reach out to our neighbors and fellow citizens in need of a

World-Famous Afghan Apples Exported to India
Related Content: Special Representative Holbrooke briefs the press on the Secretary's recent trip to Afghanistan. During a large November 12 press event it was announced that for the first time Afghan farmers will export their world-renowned apples to the Indian market, a move that will dramatically expand Afghanistan’s agricultural exports and add to the prosperity of thousands of Afghan farmers. The landmark agreement between Afghanistan and India will

U.S. Announces Center at Copenhagen Climate Change Negotiation, Launches COP-15 Website
Related Content: White House announces President Obama to attend Copenhagen climate talks. For the first time, the U.S. Department of State, in coordination with the White House and multiple federal departments and agencies, is organizing and hosting a U.S. Center at the annual Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). At the 15th session (COP-15) in Copenhagen, Denmark, December 7-18, the U.

Sudan: “Along the Border”
About the Author: Major General (Ret) Scott Gration serves as the President’s Special Envoy to Sudan. As our UN helicopter landed in Muglad, the large crowd of locals and tribal elders quickly approached our small plane. We were quickly ushered into a meeting hall, where we listened intently as the Misseriya tribal elders spoke passionately about their community’s concerns. Muglad is a major town in Southern Kord

In Kabul, Afghan and U.S. Officials Mark Efforts To Eradicate Polio
Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai and U.S. Deputy Ambassador Francis J. Ricciardone marked the final round of Polio Eradication National Immunization Days on November 15 with a ceremony at the presidential palace in Kabul. The program is designed to encourage Afghans to vaccinate their children under the age of five against polio. Afghanistan is one of only four remaining countries with endemic polio. During the ceremony, President Karzai and Ambassador Ricciardone both administered polio vaccination drops to a number of children. Afghanistan is prone to virus trans