The Belgravia Dispatch: The Sad State of Rice

January 13, 2007

The Sad State of Rice

Condi Rice: "I am not coming with a proposal. I am not coming with a plan.

We knew that already Mrs. Secretary. So please don't waste any time defining expectations down for your impending trip to the region. Our expectations already now, truth be told, couldn't be any lower.

P.S. More from Novak:

Republicans in Congress who do not want to be quoted tell me that the State Department under Condoleezza Rice is a mess. This comes at a time when the U.S. global position is precarious. While attention is focused on Iraq, American diplomacy is being tested worldwide -- in Afghanistan, Iran, Israel, Korea and Sudan. The judgment by thoughtful Republicans is that Rice has failed to manage that endeavor.

And it's sad to think one of the sub-plots we are now meant to follow with interest is the bureaucratic rivalry Novak expects between Deputy Secretary Negroponte and Under Secretary for Political Affairs (the #3 slot at State) Nick Burns. The state of American diplomacy has come to this? How underwhelming. In the extreme.

Posted by Gregory at January 13, 2007 03:00 PM

Comments

But, but... Greg: don't you know that Condoleezza Rice's problems aren't of her own making?! According to authoratative sources, Mme. Secretary is the hapless victim of Democratic racism !

Posted by: Jay C at January 13, 2007 05:49 PM | Permalink to this comment

Not sure if everyone has seen these videos of the US military in Iraq or not, but they are pretty amazing: Hopefully our 'surge' will not include too many of these types...
http://minor-ripper.blogspot.com/2006/12/winning-hearts-and-minds-part-three.html

Posted by: MinorRipper at January 14, 2007 12:45 AM | Permalink to this comment

RE expectations: yeah, if I thought these people were capable of anything like cleverness, I'd suspect they were failing so spectacularly as to make any success at all seem brilliant by comparison. But they're not clever. Ms. Rice is clearly intelligent, but clever? It isn't looking like it. We could use some clever people in the State Department, but I think the dummies in the White House and Congress have driven most of them away. What a bunch of idiots.

Posted by: LL at January 14, 2007 04:17 AM | Permalink to this comment

Republicans in Congress who do not want to be quoted tell me that the State Department under Condoleezza Rice is a mess.

Bbbbbbut, she was Provost at Stanford University. Surely she knows how to manage a major institution.

/sarcasm.

BTW, from the minor kerfuffle (major in the Mighty Righties' eyes) in the last few days, it should be evident that she is Ms. Secretary, not Mrs. Secretary.

It should also be evident that she is a perfect example of the Peter Principle.

Posted by: raj at January 14, 2007 05:19 AM | Permalink to this comment

Didn't I just say all of this?

Posted by: Zathras at January 15, 2007 04:53 AM | Permalink to this comment

	« ISG Statement on Bush's Speech \| Main \| Department of Cascading Blunders » January 13, 2007 The Sad State of Rice Condi Rice: "I am not coming with a proposal. I am not coming with a plan. We knew that already Mrs. Secretary. So please don't waste any time defining expectations down for your impending trip to the region. Our expectations already now, truth be told, couldn't be any lower. P.S. More from Novak: Republicans in Congress who do not want to be quoted tell me that the State Department under Condoleezza Rice is a mess. This comes at a time when the U.S. global position is precarious. While attention is focused on Iraq, American diplomacy is being tested worldwide -- in Afghanistan, Iran, Israel, Korea and Sudan. The judgment by thoughtful Republicans is that Rice has failed to manage that endeavor. And it's sad to think one of the sub-plots we are now meant to follow with interest is the bureaucratic rivalry Novak expects between Deputy Secretary Negroponte and Under Secretary for Political Affairs (the #3 slot at State) Nick Burns. The state of American diplomacy has come to this? How underwhelming. In the extreme. Posted by Gregory at January 13, 2007 03:00 PM Comments But, but... Greg: don't you know that Condoleezza Rice's problems aren't of her own making?! According to authoratative sources, Mme. Secretary is the hapless victim of Democratic racism ! Posted by: Jay C at January 13, 2007 05:49 PM \| Permalink to this comment Not sure if everyone has seen these videos of the US military in Iraq or not, but they are pretty amazing: Hopefully our 'surge' will not include too many of these types... http://minor-ripper.blogspot.com/2006/12/winning-hearts-and-minds-part-three.html Posted by: MinorRipper at January 14, 2007 12:45 AM \| Permalink to this comment RE expectations: yeah, if I thought these people were capable of anything like cleverness, I'd suspect they were failing so spectacularly as to make any success at all seem brilliant by comparison. But they're not clever. Ms. Rice is clearly intelligent, but clever? It isn't looking like it. We could use some clever people in the State Department, but I think the dummies in the White House and Congress have driven most of them away. What a bunch of idiots. Posted by: LL at January 14, 2007 04:17 AM \| Permalink to this comment Republicans in Congress who do not want to be quoted tell me that the State Department under Condoleezza Rice is a mess. Bbbbbbut, she was Provost at Stanford University. Surely she knows how to manage a major institution. /sarcasm. BTW, from the minor kerfuffle (major in the Mighty Righties' eyes) in the last few days, it should be evident that she is Ms. Secretary, not Mrs. Secretary. It should also be evident that she is a perfect example of the Peter Principle. Posted by: raj at January 14, 2007 05:19 AM \| Permalink to this comment Didn't I just say all of this? Posted by: Zathras at January 15, 2007 04:53 AM \| Permalink to this comment		Reviews of Belgravia Dispatch "Awake" --New York Times "Always-Worth Reading" --Andrew Sullivan Recent Entries A Brief (and Belated) Word on Chas Freeman What Would Real--Rather Than Rhetorical--Change in U.S. Foreign Policy Look Like? 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