[NOW YOU SEE HIM... (From left: Escobar, Crucianelli, Caracciolo, Trifkovic, Jankovic, Jatras)]

A political officer at the U.S. Embassy in Rome, Gabriel Escobar, had accepted the organizers’ invitation to be one of the panelists – but then used his introductory remarks to berate them for not including any “Kosovars” in the panel. Having finished his tirade Mr. Escobar got up, turning his back on the Italian officials seated next to him, and left the podium, and the room, without a word of farewell.

[... NOW YOU DON’T: Senator Mantica has taken the seat next to Under-Secretary Crucianelli.]

In the event Mr. Escobar’s gesture could not cast much of a shadow on what turned out to be an excellent conference. It merely cast him in a poor light, prompting an Italian participant to comment that his behavior was “like that of a Soviet diplomat in Sofia half a century ago.” Another panelist noted that Escobar merely displyed the same lack of open-mindedness that has led American policy on Kosovo into its current dead end:

Allowed to deliver his remarks near the beginning of the session, he first scolded the organizers for not having the Kosovo Albanian view represented. He declined to explain how that view differs one iota from US policy. He did not respond to the observation that events on Kosovo typically represent only the US/Albanian perspective. Having made his dubious points—a rote recitation of Washington’s position—he imperiously left the room, despite requests to listen to the other presenters and participate in the Q&A.

Judging by such histrionics, American officialdom need only talk with those who agree with them, and not allow their virgin ears to be defiled by dissonant opinions.