Rice admits she responded to Iran letter before US had translated

[kpete]

Raw Story reports that Rice also admitted to NBC that her dismissal of the letter came before a complete translation was made http://liberalcatnip.blogspot.com/2006/05/condi-rice-on-that-iranian-letter.html

Condoleezza Rice admits she responded to Iran letter before US had translated http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/Condoleeza_Rice_admits_she_responded_to_0509.html

SECRETARY OF STATE CONDOLEEZZA RICE: Well, I won't try to judge the motivations for the letter and I certainly don't know the ins and outs of internal Iranian politics. We choose to treat the Iranian Government as the Iranian Government and to respond accordingly.

We've gotten the letter. We've not had a chance to do our own translation and of course we'll do that, but an initial reading of the letter would suggest that there is nothing in it that addresses the major issues between the United States and the rest of the world and Iran on the other hand. So not concrete issues on the nuclear side or on any of the other issues that we face. It's very philosophical, I would say. But again, I think we want to take a harder look at it, look at the actual translation and get a better sense of what's there. But that's the initial reading.

UPDATE: CNN has the completed English translation here.
http://edition.cnn.com/interactive/world/0605/transcript.lemonde.letter/

[DrDebug]

1. I thought that negotiations and diplomacy was going to be the solution

So how could Condoleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeezzzzzzzzzzzzzaaaaaaaaa Rice have dismissed it without reading it?

[louis-t]

3. Same way they dismissed "OBL Determined to Strike

in the U.S."

[Media_Lies_Daily]

28. Maybe they knew OBL wasn't going to be the one who attacked the U. S....

...just a thought.

[Missy M]

4. Isn't that what happened with this crew before 9/11.....

they didn't bother to read.

[cdb]

2. She is a FRAUD!! Worthless bitch.

"It's very philosophical, I would say. But again, I think we want to take a harder look at it, look at the actual translation and get a better sense of what's there. But that's the initial reading."

that just kills me....

[MADem]

5. Read that letter!!!!! Fascinating.... n/t

[Phrogman]

33. The letter is an opening for dialog, well written with some points

A competent diplomat would be able start talks with this.










(edited to rearrange some letters)

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Hoping4Change]

10. Interesting information middle.

Welcome to DU. Glad your here.:hi:

[Ms. Clio]

13. Yeah, because we all know the geopolitical situation today

is exactly the same as it was in Muhammed's day.

Just like the end times are coming.

[Mandate My Ass]

17. but but but...

Another point to take is that Muhammed frequently wrote to his enemies that he planned on destroying. In his mind he was giving them the chance to change their position on an issue to avoid his having to kill them over it making him the gracious one in Allah's eyes.

Obviously this gracious letter is really a coded threat and foretells of an imminent attack. Bombs away! :nuke: :eyes:

[Ms. Clio]

21. mushroom cloud in 45 minutes

can't anyone stop this insane circus?

[Media_Lies_Daily]

25. I bet the NeoCons wish they had thought of that! Yikes!

[Ms. Clio]

36. I thought they had??? n/t

[Ms. Clio]

15. and maybe she should wait for all the information before she speaks

just a thought

[Karenina]

34. WHAT FOR???

*They believe the same thing on Wednesday that *they did on Monday...
NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENED ON TUESDAY!!!

[Ms. Clio]

35. You're right, I forgot

and for our so-called "journalists" the process is mindlessly simple: Make, announce, type."

[Media_Lies_Daily]

24. Spare me.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

29. Right.

They wanted to make sure the translation matches the original.

Sneaking different translations in with originals- that's the oldest trick in the book.

[Sal Minella]

7. Where a Farsi translator's version would read "We wish to open dialog

with you soon regarding policies....." The U.S. official translation will read "We are determined to commit acts of terrorism within the U.S. within weeks....." That's the translation Condi and Bolton are waiting for.

[KoKo]

11. lol's....probably close to the truth of it...n/t

[Ms. Clio]

16. LOL! Exactamente

[Nickster]

8. "I certainly don't know the ins and outs of internal Iranian politics"

Isn't that your freaking job?? Aren't you the head of the State Dept? Shouldn't you know what the heck you're talking about before spouting off to the pundits?? Holy CRAP!

[LeftHander]

12. But she can slap W's bare ass and bang the war drum.....nt

[tomp]

43. quite an unbelievable statement, isn't it? nt

[BuyingThyme]

9. Rice admits she's a nutwad.

[slide to the left]

14. the initial reading...?

Does she speak Farsi?

[Igel]

30. My guess is they got a rough draft

of a translation, or she was going off of non-State Dept. translations. Possibly a summary prepared by a translator. They'd want a rush job done, and the translation staff would say 'no'.

The translation, when done, will have had at least two translators and a proofreader go through it with a fine-tooth comb (which is pretty much minimum industry standards), and will have hashed out stylistic and contentful issues--ambiguities and the like. Then and only then will State put its imprimatur on the translation and send it upstairs.

The Farsi is the original; I'm guessing that the Iranians didn't label their translation a fair copy on par with the Farsi.

[kpete]

18. President Bush has decided to ignore

President Bush has decided to ignore the 18 page letter (available here pdf) from Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad containing settlement options for the nuclear weapons issue, calling it "a ploy."

http://talkleft.com/new_archives/014788.html

[bdamomma]

22. this man is delusional and does not know the word

diplomacy. what a fuck he is.

[bdamomma]

19. condi is so irresponsible

again it reminds me of what was the aug. 6th press briefing what did the memo say,

Oh bin laden is determined to strike inside the US

Condi is a waste and just doing bush's bidding.

[BuyingThyme]

20. What's all this...

[Bluebear]

23. "We don't need no stinking translations."

"We will do what we damn well please anyhow."

[Mr_Spock]

38. That's it. They've already decided to kill these people - must dehumanize!

We cannot acknowledge their humanity.

[Canuckistanian]

26. It's diplomacy by 'gut instinct', right, Condi?

Facts, truth, translations, they're all so unnecessary in this post 9-11 world, aren't they?

[MadMaddie]

27. Ummmm...isn't her job to the know the ins and outs of Iranian

politics since her * cabal is talking about attacking Iran....What kind of diplomacy is this woman practicing...she chose to respond without even knowing what was in the letter?

How do we get her removed? This is so unacceptable...un fucking believable.....

<snip>
RICE: Well, I won't try to judge the motivations for the letter and I certainly don't know the ins and outs of internal Iranian politics
<snip>

[Disturbed]

31. Ms Rice is only competent in picking out expensive

shoes.

[MadMaddie]

40. This is indeed true....

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

32. I don't think Bush would read 18 pages of English translation anyway

In fact, he probably wouldn't bother reading the 18 word synopsis prepared for him, but would instead ask that it be read to him (while he probably daydreams about another fishing triumph in his past).

But seriously, responding to a letter in the negative, before the contents are thoroughly understood verifies that a diplomatic solution is the last thing ChimpCo wants.

[Vidar]

37. Doesn't need to read with a "soul-seer" for a boss.

[Supersedeas]

39. how very professional and diplomatic of the good Doctor of Russian studies

the U.S. Secretary of State, indeed

[tuvor]

41. "Our minds are made up. Don't confuse us with the facts."

"We start bombing in ten minutes."

[bklyncowgirl]

42. Bush is doing precisely what he did in Iraq.

He will dismiss any sign of cooperation, ignore any intelligence that does not say what he wants it to say and will prevent the UN from playing any role that may slow down his march to war.

Somewhere, someone is writing another Downing Street memo. Hopefully this one will be released before the bombs start falling.

[Accountability_NOW]

44. Gawd!

These people are such an embarassment!


http://benfrank.net/blog/f/dc-march.pdf

[ngGale]

45. Yep, real diplomatic ...

Gawd! These people are a dangerous joke.:crazy: