Rice plans Middle East trip next week: official

[bemildred]

Maybe like Friday, or the week after. But she has to be in Malaysia too, there is a big shoe sale in Malaysia ...

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice plans to go to the Middle East as early as next week to press for a political solution to fighting between Israel and Hizbollah guerrillas in Lebanon, her spokesman said on Thursday.

The trip also will aim "to address the root causes and bring about a strategic change," said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack.

Rice's plans for a visit to the region had been announced but there had been no indication when she would travel.

"She wants to go to the region when she believes it's helpful and useful to help work on a lasting and durable political solution to end the violence," said McCormack.

A Western diplomatic source said Rice was likely to go first to Egypt for talks with Arab foreign ministers, followed by a visit to Jerusalem to meet Israeli officials.

Reuters

[Chipper Chat]

1. She should just STAY HOME

and keep Chimpy warm at night.

[onehandle]

2. She should travel there First Class!

Now this is her kind of ride!

[Turbineguy]

3. She can hang around

ullage holes and sniff the fumes!

[KeepItReal]

4. Sitting idly by at NAACP conf. today...while folks die in Lebanon...

...Condi's doing a heckuva job.

Why does the U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE have to show at a civil rights conference?

[tanyev]

5. She can give a piano recital of nice, soothing music.

It would probably accomplish more than her attempts at diplomacy.

[DoYouEverWonder]

6. I wonder if she'll wear

her Dominatrix outfit?

[underpants]

7. Take your time sweetheart

no rush