In an important speech to the Australian parliament in 2011, US President Barack Obama unveiled America’s planned pivot to Asia. Yet, the Middle East continues to dominate foreign policy debate in Washington. But is the Middle East really of greater strategic importance to America than the Asia Pacific? Also in this edition of Between the Lines, a look at the art of diplomacy as practiced by James Plimsoll, a distinguished former public servant.  What does Plimsoll’s long diplomatic experience reveal about Australian and world politics from the 1940s to 1970s?