A man for all seasons

AMBASSADOR Charles ("Chas") W Freeman Jr, a former career diplomat who has become later in life an international businessman, published last year a collection of commentaries on global affairs. The title, America's Misadventures in the Middle East and Interesting Times: China, America, and the Shifting Balance of Prestige, conveyed what Mr Freeman was all about.

A dedicated public servant, he has represented the United States under Republican and Democratic presidents in almost every corner of the world. Name the country, and the 72-year-old was probably stationed there at one point during his career.

He is fluent in French, Spanish and Chinese, and can converse in Arabic, Italian and Portuguese among several other languages, and has an encyclopaedic knowledge of almost every subject you can think about. A professional diplomat - he was the editor of the Encyclopaedia Britannica's entry on "diplomacy" - Mr Freeman is also not afraid to speak his mind. And he is, to boot, a witty kind of guy with a great sense of humour.