US misses rare chance to discuss security issues with Asia

[maddezmom]

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice misses a rare opportunity to discuss counter-terrorism and other security issues with her counterparts from Asia, Europe and Russia by skipping the upcoming annual ASEAN meeting.

Rice's absence, particularly in her first year as America's top diplomat, could dent US engagement in the region at a time when Washington is stepping up its "war on terror" campaign and worried over China's rising influence in that part of the world, analysts say.

~snip~

The ASEAN jamboree from July 25 to 29 begins with a meeting of foreign ministers of the 10 Southeast Asian states, followed by a dialogue between them and counterparts from the United States and the region's other key trading partners as well as a meeting of the ASEAN Regional Forum.

The 24-member forum is the only high level official security group in the Asia-Pacific region and Rice's predecessors have made it a point to be there to discuss key issues such as terrorism, sea piracy and non-proliferation with their counterparts.

more:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20050723/pl_afp/usaseanarf_050723181817;_

[rodeodance]

1. to put it bluntly-we snubbed our noses at them.

[formercia]

2. She doesn't want to hear the truth.