, that they need to be communicating, thinking with their allies. >> and how important is it, john negropontehat the administration get on a better track or more successful track with syria in order to get the outcome it wants in some of these other countries. >> i'm not too sure about that. but one thing i would add, you mentioned afghanistan. i think it's very important. it's a more modest issue but it's very important that thed a mrgs is successful in negotiating arrangements for residual united states and allied force, coalition force to be able to stay inned afghanistan after we complete the withdrawal of troops after the commitment in 2014. we failed to do that in iraq and i wouldn't fault this administration. both administrations have to set that situation up. but i think it would be very fortune get in afghanistan. i think it would be inearnest with our commitment to that part of the world and a good example of the correlation between our diplomacy and the military issues. >> several of you talked about the standing of thed a mrgs, of the united states in the world, an ma reads slaugh

force had this fabulous report called defending an open global resilient internet chaired by john negroponte, samuel palmisano and adam siegel. one of the things the calls for is the you put in free flow of information and all future. agreements. >> that's exactly what i think it's important for us to break down the silos and really see whether in fact this is happening. >> there are a few people here from the federal government from other parts besides the ftc. do they want to comment in any way lex okay. >> thank you commissioner for your always thoughtful points. tims thereupon be with the application development. i have come to the conclusion that appropriations are -- choices for consumers but they are only slightly better than government particularly foreign governments making decisions is my personal opinion. we are entering an era when consumers can benefit on a great scale for mass customization and mass personalization. i worry that we will set in place to things like limit data collection done on or for consumers benefit will limit the opportunities for consumers to make choices t

ambassador francis rooney is the author, forward by ambassador john negroponte. barred rooney -- ambassador rooney, is the vatican a political organization? >> i think every civic organization is to some degree or another political. so one of the great things about the holy c is they're not a political organization like a government, like the united states or a secular government. they don't need to take credit for what they do. and some of the things i try to write in the book that make them uniquely important in the world in deploying their soft power is they don't have to take credit. so they can work in the shadows behind the scenes. it makes them very effective. >> what are some of those issues that the vatican works on, as you say, behind the scenes? >> well, for example, in 2006 we worked quietly to unify the christians in lebanon to make sure that the old tripartheid coalition of jews, shiite and christians was kept in place. and it worked. it stabilized lebanon for a few more years. >> is it important for the u.s. to have an ambassador to the vatican, to