And it would provide Beijing a high-profile forum to push its interests and champion developing-nation causes.

CNN: Filling A Gap

Most growth sectors have strong exports--given a boost by the weak greenback--but they also tend to require capital and skilled labor that developing-nation manufacturers can't muster.

FORBES: Magazine Article

One such place is the developing world where nation-states are joining to deliver electricity to those 1.3 billion people who are now going without any power.

FORBES: Presidential Candidates: Energy Diplomacy Key to Global Cooperation

Although there is little argument with a sovereign nation developing structures and capabilities that enable it to defend against adversarial actions, the appointment prompts more questions than it provides answers.

FORBES: Cyber Command Appointment Offers More Questions Than Answers

Through the power of social media and political advocacy, as well their ground efforts, they have gained a profound appreciation of the difficulties developing countries face and the interests our nation has in alleviating them.

WHITEHOUSE: Talking with America's Youth

And through the Millennium Challenge Account, my nation is increasing our aid to developing nations that expand economic freedom and invest in the education and health of their own people.

CNN: Transcript of Bush's U.N. address

Both seem to imply that the colonial inheritance of an independent class of public servants who could detach themselves from their ethnic or religious roots and serve the nation offered Africa its best chance of developing.

ECONOMIST: Books on Africa

According to a Goldman Sachs research study into women's participation in the economic life of a developing countries, it brings lasting benefits to the entire nation, not just the women involved.

CNN: Helping women help themselves

Both Spectacor and AEG are developing their own new ticketing businesses to better compete with Ticketmaster, which was recently merged into Live Nation.

FORBES: Ryan Seacrest In New TV Venture With Billionaire Phil Anschutz's AEG