7.28.2006

Why Bother to Send Rice Back to Middle East for More Negotiations?

Probably no other American would like to see a successful end to violence in Israel, Lebanon (both among civilians and Hezbollah loyalists), and Gaza more than I would. But here's why I think it's really foolish to send Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice back:

  1. She went there late Sunday with a pre-conceived notion of what she would do (which amounted to less than nothing and man, did she accomplish just that)
  2. She was in the Middle East for just a few days, seeming to be in a rush to "delight" others by giving a piano recital to her guests; I don't really want to pay for her to play piano when that's NOT what she's supposed to do; if she plays piano like she does her job, God help those who had to listen
  3. She and Bush do NOT want a cease-fire so she really has nothing to bring to the table except to make some people angrier because she coddles the Israeli politicians and snubs others, like Syria
  4. She's incompetent and ineffective; send someone with some gravitas and less beholden to Bush