As for Mr Obama, it is hard to imagine an incoming president better placed to reach over the heads of Hamas's leaders and restore the waning belief of Palestinians in the power of diplomacy.

ECONOMIST: Israel and the Palestinians

He's never taken the option of using military force off the table, but he's also stated a preference for the soft power of diplomacy without explaining how he would create the leverage to stop Iran.

NPR: Obama Must Manage Great Expectations

Mr Schroeder has ignored warnings from US leaders and forged, in effect, a rival axis of power and diplomacy.

BBC: Analysis: Schroeder challenges the US

To make sure you're not bearing the burden of our security alone, we're enlisting all elements of our national power -- diplomacy, development, and a positive vision of American leadership in the world.

WHITEHOUSE: President Obama Addresses Servicemen and Women in Jacksonville, FL | The White House

In fact, this is again U.S. government, big-power diplomacy on behalf of the corporate elites.

NPR: Role of U.S. Changing in New World Order

It has not extended to the traditional business of big-power diplomacy.

ECONOMIST: Foreign policy

As Obama seeks to stabilize the region, his administration has been advocating multilateralism and stressing "smart power" diplomacy by using all the tools of foreign policy available.

CNN: In first week, Obama takes initial steps on ambitious agenda

His use of diplomacy combined with economic and military power brought an end to the use of chemical weapons in Syria.

CNN: How Obama's legacy got a big boost

Rarely, if ever, is diplomacy successful without the strong support of the other instruments of national power.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Wrecking Operation

This is the ultimate test of economic diplomacy and arguments about the peace dividend: does trade, once established politically, have the power to sustain itself and to maintain peaceful, open borders even as political environments change?

FORBES: Assorted Questions about Egypt