Rice's Trip to Mideast Is Fraught with Difficulty

[ProSense]

Rice's Trip to Mideast Is Fraught with Difficulty

By Paul Richter, Times Staff Writer
6:41 PM PDT, July 22, 2006

Snip...

In this case, in addition to the fighting in Lebanon, the Bush administration is struggling to meet the tests of two other regional hotspots, Iraq and Iran. While trying to make progress on Lebanon, it can't afford to look ineffective or to alienate regional allies by giving the impression that Rice is buying time for continued Israeli military operations.

Snip...

Israel has made it clear that it wants more time to strike at Hezbollah before considering cease-fire. In advance of Rice's arrival, Israeli observers dismissed the likelihood of her visit resulting in a truce.

Snip...

Other disagree strongly. Zbigniew Brzezinski, national security adviser to President Carter, said at a dinner sponsored by the New America Foundation last week that if she doesn't meet with leaders the administration does not approve of, her trip would amount to "sitting in front of a mirror, talking to herself."

Rice also might face difficulties talking to American friends in the region. Three major Arab countries -- Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia -- are important participants in the new effort to make peace.

But many of their citizens are upset with the Israeli military action in Lebanon, and it could be increasingly difficult for them to take part in the peace talks if the suffering in Lebanon continues.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-rice23jul23,0,2202073.story?coll=la-home-headlines

[Redstone]

1. Could be 'cause she got nothin. What credibility could she possible

bring to the table?

Redstone

[AtomicKitten]

2. I take no comfort knowing these Stooges are in charge.

I have zero confidence that they will not screw things up more.

[MADem]

3. What, she's having a hard time making wardrobe selections????

What a load. There's a date set, within a 48-72 hour window, most likely, when Israel intends to stop prosecuting this assault on the militia and its assets. The Arab nations (Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, a lot of the smaller states) have already lined up, had a meeting, and excoriated Hizb'Allah for their shenanigans. They'll probably do some HEAVY LEANING on them when they get the high sign.

The stage is set. She'll waltz in there a few days before the shit is gonna stop ANYWAY, and she'll take credit for doing it. It will have nothing to do with her, though--this is already mapped out, and the little slop time built in accomodates any Israeli difficulty in locating and destroying Hizb'Allah caches and assets.

[DELUSIONAL]

4. "sitting in front of a mirror, talking to herself."

good observation.

The bushies didn't want to talk to Arafat -- so anyway he's dead -- and still no talking.

But lots of killing. I guess killing is easier -- talking is "hard work".

The bushies don't talk to democrats -- except for Lieberman.

Sort of sums up the whole bushie foreign policy -- talking to mirrors -- and when image shakes head in agreement -- bush thinks everyone agrees with him.