cocktails

Went to a US embassy cocktail party yesterday (that was dubiously hosted by some garment industry types). Only went because one of the invitees had expressed some interest in our work. We ended up meeting the US ambassador and other CIA-types who wanted us to launch into the Maldives . Urgh. These people make me ill with their blinkered foreign policy statements on Sri Lanka (the US embassy has really come down hard with a lot of bigoted polemic against the LTTE). I'm not saying that their intention is wrong, but they should follow what Roosevelt I think said and that is to tread softly and carry a large stick. But it was mildly diverting nonetheless and we escaped afterwards for a lovely dinner of tempura prawns and crushed blue crab and tanqueray and tonics galore. Some interesting thoughts on the CSR initiative were offered (garment workers are notoriously ill-treated although conditions are improving in the sector). Textiles are the biggest import to the US.