Japan

In a country [like Japan] where pork barrel projects have been rampant, infrastructure projects that seek to cater to the needs of construction companies have been a very common fact of political life. That it's in an electoral year gives me plenty of reasons to worry that when you are putting together a very hefty stimulus package, you are indeed using it in a wise manner and not just for the sake of spending to generate political support.

It seems to me that when you want an ambassador, two very important assets are proximity to the president—which [Caroline Kennedy] clearly has—and visibility. There has been a pattern in the past of appointing high-profile people to this post and that [Ms. Kennedy's nomination] would fit into the pattern. This is a complicated region, but she has those two very important assets.