"The progress made in the last two years toward rebuilding our diplomatic readiness and providing safe, secure facilities will be severely impacted if these cuts are not restored," the letter said.
It's still early and the progress made to date is still fragile, but the accomplishments of concerted diplomatic efforts in recent months are impressive nonetheless.
Officials at the Pentagon, in particular, were adamant that whatever diplomatic progress was made, the United States was still justified in moving ahead with a limited national missile defense, the first phase of which is explicitly intended to counter a threat from North Korea.
Pentagon officials say the risk of conflict remains unless India takes steps to reduce its forces and unless further diplomatic progress is made.
Despite progress made, the situation remains serious.
The Palestinians, who won an upgraded status of "nonmember observer state" at the United Nations last year, have warned that if diplomatic progress is not made they may seek further international recognition as a state, like membership in the International Criminal Court.
Oluyemi Adeniji, the United Nations special envoy to Sierra Leone, said diplomatic progress had been made with the 30-day cease-fire, which should allow the peacekeepers to go anywhere, including Kono, the rebel-held diamond mining district in the eastern part of the country.
There is also scepticism within Labour ranks that true diplomatic progress has been made with either Russia or Iran to get them to accept that Assad will have to stand aside at the end of a political transition culminating in elections.
There is sometimes a need for secrets...for diplomatic progress to be made".
Technological progress makes the fantastic feasible.
