McCain said he didn't think the trip was about winning political brownie points.

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But sitting, as it does, close to Iran, the island nation gets a few extra brownie points for strategic importance.

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Conversely, complimenting someone on their business acumen in front of their colleagues is an easy way to win brownie points.

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In October Mr Erdogan pushed through parliament a measure authorising the deployment of 10, 000 Turkish troops, chalking up useful brownie points in Washington.

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General Motors and Ford are also trying to score brownie points.

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The obvious candidates include Alan Milburn, a former close associate of Gordon Brown's, whose stern-faced defence of the government's health policies has earned brownie points.

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The likes of Walter Mondale and Michael Dukakis, on the left, and Barry Goldwater, on the right, may have won brownie points from their supporters for sticking to their principles.

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The Hindu said Italy's refusal to send back Massimilian Latorre and Salvatore Girone "may win the new Italian government brownie points at home but is conduct unbecoming of a responsible nation".

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His critics claim that he should have stopped the flotilla and thus prevented a relationship that once allowed Turkey to boast that it was Israel's sole Muslim ally (and thereby chalk up brownie points both in Europe and America) from collapsing in tatters.

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Concurrently, with few good options available for a resolution of the situation in Gaza, American policymakers should be loath to encourage a repeat in the West Bank out of a misguided and what would be ultimately foolish attempt to gain brownie points internationally.

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