Rice Makes Surprise Visit to Lebanon

[leftchick]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060223/ap_on_re_mi_ea/rice

BEIRUT, Lebanon - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice made a surprise visit to politically volatile Lebanon on Thursday, amid efforts by anti-Syrian leaders to oust Lebanon's pro-Syrian president and resolve a U.N. inquiry into the murder of a Lebanese politician.

Rice took no specific position on whether President Emile Lahoud should stay or go, but she noted pointedly that the Lebanese "need a presidency that looks forward, not back, and that defends Lebanese sovereignty."

A top U.S. diplomat told reporters that Rice hopes to encourage the new government of Lebanon toward political reform and democracy.

Asked if Lahoud is an obstacle to that progress, Rice replied, "The Lebanese people will have to decide what the obstacles to their progress are, but I think they do want to look forward."

Rice will meet with newly elected Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora, who has pursued a cautious policy of separation from Syria, and with a Christian leader wary of the drive to oust Lahoud.

[cantstandbush]

1. What else did she deliver? how much was the check worth? n/t

[saigon68]

2. She looks like a beaver in that picture

[leftchick]

5. lol!

she sure does. Hi saigon, long time no see.

[saigon68]

6. Another day at the war

It will never end

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

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[BrainRants]

3. What's with all these "Surprise" visits?

If the world loves us like the White House wants us to believe then how come we can't announce we're coming so they can greet us with flowers?

When Bush announces he's going to Baghdad (and actually goes) then I'll believe things in Iraq are going well. Until then, he (and the rest of his shills) are full of shit.

[Theduckno2]

4. The 'subtlety' of the surprise visit.

Reminds me of an obnoxious door-to-door salesman sticking their foot in the door.

Then again obnoxious is a registered trademark of Bushco.

[Dulcinea]

9. That's what I want to know.

I don't recall any other presidents or dignitaries from past administrations making so many "surprise" visits to foreign nations. Why do Bush et al. have to sneak in like cat burglars?

[Malva Zebrina]

7. Guess who else was in Lebanon--

was a surprise visit because of the presence of Muqtada al-Sadr? According to Juan Cole, Sadr was in Lebanon and rushed back when the mosque was bombed

http://www.juancole.com/

[xchrom]

10. maybe she'll stay there.

[Penndems]

11. There's a Salvatore Ferragamo salon in Beirut

Wonder if she stopped to drop another thousand on pumps and boots?

:sarcasm:

[Jacobin]

12. I think she should go to Iraq

And spend a month or so making speeches in various mosques to calm things down. After all, didn't Smirky put her in charge of Iraq