Diplomacy is the cornerstone of foreign policy. The relationship between countries can be fragile, but diplomatic exchanges foster valuable insight into each other’s cultures, bring to light areas of mutual cooperation to achieve common interests, and forge stronger economic and political ties. However, when two countries cannot reach an agreement on an area of conflict and the stronger country will sometimes jettison diplomacy and pull out their big stick.

Quote of the Week

Metro:
Tourist dad talking to kids after a day of museum and monument hopping.
Dad: “So, what did you kids learn today?”
Kid #1: “Nothing”
Dad: “Really? But we went to the Air and Space museum, WWII Memorial…[continues on with list of museums]”
Kid #2: “Um, I learned that other countries better listen to us or we’ll bomb them”

After the jump, signs of a bad first date, the best tourist attraction in D.C., and the Pentagon geography bee.

It’s chilly and rainy outside. How about sitting down in a coffee shop to eavesdrop on the conversations of others? Send what you hear to overheardindc (at) gmail (dot) com.

Image posted to DCist photos by Flickr user maxedaperture, under a Creative Commons license.