Already benefiting from your status in The Axis of Weevil?

So it would seem! :)

I have been reading your work. You are interesting. Do you consider yourself a specialist in Latin-American affairs?

Thanks for reading--it always nice to know that one's work is considered interesting.

And yes, I am primarily a Latin Americanist, with case-specific expertise in Colombia, and topical expertise in parties, elections and democratization.

I haven't read everything you've written, so you might have answered this before. Do your studies enable you to comment smartly on the situation in Iraq?

I would argue, yes, although some might disagree :)

Seriously, I am not an IR expert, per se, but am an expert on comparative politics, developing politics and the process of democratization (and by "expert" I mean formally trained).

Overall, I would say that as a broadly trained political scientist who specializes, in the general sense, in international studies and politics, that I am qualified to make informed commentary on the Iraqi case.

Now, I will concede that I am more expertly qualified to comment on Latin America.

I am more qualified to comment on Iraq than a lot of people on TV who get paid to comment on Iraq--I will say that :)

I didn't mean to insult you. I see and have read your editorials listed at the left, but, by necessity I am sure, they are very broad. I'll be reading you.

No insult taken at all--hopefully my response didn't sound defensive. I was just trying to give a fair assessment.

No, you didn't sound defensive at all. I just looked left and realized I'd asked a stupid question. The best defense is a good offense, you know?