>In a Nov. 8 letter to House Appropriations Committee chairwoman Nita Lowey, first reported in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo wrote: “There is simply too much at stake for the United States to fail to participate in Expo 2020. In the absence of the United States, global rivals would tell our story for us, ultimately damaging our reputation, disappointing our allies, and emboldening our adversaries.” The letter had little immediate effect: On Dec. 17, the State Department put out a press release titled “U.S. Participation in Expo 2020 Dubai in Jeopardy.” Idk, sounds like a waste of money to me. The idea of a World's Fair seems outdated. Just another way for government officials to reward friends with contracts and treat themselves to cocktail parties and travel around the world at our expense.