Insight Magazine, which is published by the ultra-rightwing cult leader Rev. Sun Yung Moon, reports that Sec. of State Condoleeza Rice and her “husband,” Pres. George Bush are fighting over Israel:
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has become increasingly dismayed over President Bush’s support for Israel to continue its war with Hezbollah.
State Department sources said Ms. Rice has been repeatedly stymied in her attempts to pressure Israel to end strikes against Hezbollah strongholds in Lebanon. The sources said the secretary’s trip to the Middle East last week was torpedoed by the Israeli air strike of a Lebanese village in which 25 people were killed.
“I’ve never seen her so angry,” an aide said.
The U.S. response to the Israeli-Hezbollah war was said to have divided both the administration as well as the family of President George W. Bush [because his father, the former president, supports Rice’s position]. At the same time, it marked the first time since Ms. Rice became secretary of state that the president has overruled her.
“For the last 18 months, Condi was given nearly carte blanche in setting foreign policy guidelines,” a senior government source familiar with the issue said. “All of a sudden, the president has a different opinion and he wants the last word.”
The disagreement between Mr. Bush and Ms. Rice is over the ramifications of U.S. support for Israel’s continued offensive against Lebanon. The sources said Mr. Bush believes that Israel’s failure to defeat Hezbollah would encourage Iranian adventurism in neighboring Iraq. Ms. Rice has argued that the United States would be isolated both in the Middle East and Europe at a time when the administration seeks to build a consensus against Iran’s nuclear weapons program.
Instead, Ms. Rice believes the United States should engage Iran and Syria to pressure Hezbollah to end the war with Israel. Ms. Rice has argued that such an effort would result in a U.S. dialogue with Damascus and Tehran on Middle East stability.
This is one of the oldest cons in the book:
the good cop(Rice) vs. the bad cop(Bush).
Rice walks in lockstep–or should is say, goosestep–with Bush.
She’s eyeing the 2008 presidential elections and already has committees forming to get her nominated.
She’s trying to portray herself as a “kinder and gentler” person, one who understands the complexities of the Middle East.
Don’t forget her expertise and background is in Sovietology.
As it’s been reported in several media outlets, Israel’s criminal and unlawful invasion of Lebanon was planned over a year ago with White House help.
Why didn’t Ms. Rice try and talk some sense into both sides then, instead of waiting for the current butchery of Lebanese civilians?
greg bacon
ava, mo