SMART DIPLOMACY? U.S. gives $50,000 for Italian earthquake relief. Pretty puny considering the magnitude of the disaster. Perhaps more will be forthcoming if things turn out to be as bad as they appear.

UPDATE: A State Department reader emails: “Quick point of clarification–the 50K for Italian quake relief is the amount immediately available from US Chiefs of Mission to release on their own authority. More will inevitably follow.” Ah, I should have thought of that, and the story should have noted it.