Dan Klune who was the US State Department's go to guy on all things XL is being reassigned to be the new amasador to Laos. Linky thing here
Tea leaf readers could figure this indicates some sort of culmination of the whole XL thing, which way is still anyone's guess.
Judging by this interview with McClleans Mr Klune should be right at home deciphering non answers from the Lao govt on recent disappearances of human rights advocates.
Above Pautuxai, they go through stages of flag waving, sometimes hammer and sickle other times with Lao flag beside it, of late not so many, what it all means is anyone's guess.