Condi Rice, the Worst Possible Diplomat

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was in the West Bank yesterday to help negotiate a peaceful withdrawal of Israeli settlers from the Gaza Strip in Palestine. This morning the New York Times described her demeanor this way: “The Israeli "disengagement" - the withdrawal of 9,000 settlers from Gaza and 800 from four settlements in the West Bank - is to begin in mid-August, and there was impatience in Ms. Rice's voice as she implored the Palestinians and Israelis to act on the points of contention, largely the status of the Israeli-owned houses, greenhouses, public facilities and other infrastructure to be left behind. Also in dispute are the Gaza crossing points.” Condi is impatient. We all know how Condi looks when she's impatient-like a frustrated pursed-lipped schoolmarm talking to unruly third graders. I'm sure that attitude went down well, coming from a Bush administration female fascist flunky and directed toward a group of paternalistic rulers in the Middle East. But even more interesting than Condi Rice's arrogant irritated manner, is the change in her (that is to say, her puppet-master's) position on Israel's “disengagement”. Back on March 28, 2005, the CBSNews headline read, “No Gaza Pullout Vote in Israel” and one paragraph said, “Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia, meanwhile, sharply criticized the United States after U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice reiterated support for Israel's plans to keep large Jewish settlement blocs in the West Bank. "This (U.S.) policy is completely incomprehensible," Qureia told reporters Monday.” But on Friday, April 8, 2005, the Associated Press reported “On Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urged Israel not to engage in 'wanton destruction' of the settlers' homes. Under Mofaz's new plan, the settlement synagogues and ritual baths would be dismantled and moved to Israel. The mezuzahs _ religious objects attached to door frames _ would also be removed. The buildings will be handed over, either to the Palestinians or to a world agency, once the evacuation is completed, according to the plan. The army bases would all be destroyed.” And now today, June 19, 2005, Condi is impatient because the leaders in the Middle East can't arrive at a peaceful meeting of the minds fast enough to suit the United States which bombs the bejesus out of any Middle East country it disagrees with. Condoleezza Rice's impatience, no doubt, stems from the fact that she has no problem with 180-degree turns, if that's what the White House tells her to do. In March she says the US agrees with Sharon that Israel will not pull out of the West Bank. And in April she says Israel should pull out and not “engage in wanton destruction” into the bargain. Condoleezza Rice is a perfect White House flunky. It makes absolute sense to her to switch from one hotly contested position to exactly the opposite hotly contested position and then be annoyed when the US favored stance du jour doesn't happen fast enough. What Condi Rice doesn't realize is, the world doesn't really give a mink-dyed rat's ass what the US thinks. The White House may have convinced itself that the world respects us because we are big and powerful, but watch nation after nation turn its back on us as soon as we quit putting big bucks on the bedside table. And by the way, Condi, since you're the designated Madam for the White House whorehouse, you should learn some sweet-talk moves. Give George Bush's friend, JimmyJeff Gannon a call...he could teach you a lot. Because most guys don't go for that dominatrix crap.