Jonah: Northeast Asia is a place made for conflict. It almost reminds one

of that old quip about the Balkans: It produces more history than can be

consumed locally. You have China, Japan, Korea and Russia, all nursing

historic grievances of one sort or another. I have actually heard a “white”

Russian friend grumble quite bitterly about the Treaty of Nerchinsk.

Does State have a NE Asia desk? They should have.