So a former diplomat and career civil servant thinks that foreign affairs are very important? No surprises there. But as an enthusiastic if somewhat elderly adopter of the Internet and all that goes with it, I do find myself wondering why our leaders can't just stay home and teleconference or blog like everyone else.

Perhaps we could find some of those old posters from World War II to put up outside the PM's and Foreign Minister's offices: 'Is Your Journey Really Necessary?'