The goal of strategic warning is to prevent major surprises for policy officials.

"You don't have to explain it to him," said a top Administration foreign policy official.

"There's a feeling he deserves to be better served," says a senior Administration foreign policy official.

"President Bush has dragged his feet in getting key foreign policy officials confirmed," she said.

These issues had to be put on the agendas of ambassadors and foreign policy officials, she said.

"We wish for the stability of foreign exchange rates," a Japanese economic policy official said.

The senior policy official said he had heard no complaints from the military about being undermined by the limited public support for action in Iraq.

"When other countries suffer a terrorist attack, they get sympathy," a foreign policy official said.

"Clinton has made clear he would continue the basic policy," a German foreign policy official added.

Swiss military and foreign policy officials had no comment today.