Taking off from the Obama/Clinton disagreement about meeting with the leaders of "rogue states," Ross argues that such meeting -- or the decision not to hold a meeting -- can only be effective as part of strategic approch. Importantly, he draws a distinction between states and "non-state actors" (such as Hamas) for whom recogition is a key objective.

Ross has much more to say, all of it very well-resoned. This article certainlt whets my appetiate for reading his new book "Statecraft."