Ambassador Janusz Reiter Poland Catching Up With Western Europe by Larry Luxner On Oct. 3, Janusz Reiter presented President Bush his credentials as Poland’s new envoy in Washington. Barely a week later, he was back at the White House, this time accompanying Poland’s former president, Aleksander Kwasniewski, who was in town to say goodbye to his friends in Washington after having served the maximum two terms in office. Since then, the country has inaugurated a new president, Lech Kaczynski, amid national debate on such issues as Poland’s role in the new Europe and whether the new government should pull Poland’s 1,500 troops out of Iraq. On the job for just under two months now, Reiter says he can’t complain. John B. Taylor Former U.S. Treasury Official Says Quiet Cooperation Drives Financial Diplomacy by John Shaw Former Trea sury Department official John B. Taylor understands the global economy, and he says that problem-solving, not polemics, drives most international economic discussions. International Relations With Some Notable Exceptions, Muslim Nations Warming to Israel by by Larry Luxner Amid all the news about conflicts between Israel and its Arab neighbors, there’s another trend spreading throughout the Islamic world, albeit with fewer headlines: Muslim countries large and small are beginning to warm up to the Jewish state. Global Health Europe Prepares for Avian Flu Pandemic by Alan B. Nichols The deadly bird flu viral strain that has killed dozens of people in Southeast Asia has surfaced in Russia and parts of Eastern Europe, and in response, the European Union and its 25 member states are redoubling their efforts to prepare for a possible bird flu pandemic on the continent.

Culture Section Check out the arts section for the latest in museum exhibits, dance, theater and much more. Book Review Writer Friedman Explains How Globalization Has ‘Flattened’ World by David Tobenkin Thomas Friedman’s bestselling globalization book, “The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century,” provides a useful and updated primer on the effects of globalization. Medical Recognizing Signs of Stroke and Getting Help Can Save Lives by Gina Shaw Although strokes are the third leading cause of death and the leading cause of disability in the United States, killing nearly 160,000 people every year, the “brain attack” lags far behind the “heart attack” in public awareness of its causes, warning signs and consequences. Luxury Living From Strange to Outrageous, Creative Holiday Gift Ideas Abound by Christine Cubé ‘Tis the holiday season, and it’s time to begin fretting about what gifts to give your loved ones, but perhaps this is the year to take a risk by choosing something out of the ordinary. From the Publisher Prepare to Meet the New Washington Diplomat Everyone needs to update their look now and again, and newspapers are no different. In January 2006, The Washington Diplomat gets a face lift.