For second year in a row Condi too busy to attend regional security forum in Asia

[RedEarth]

MANILA, Philippines (AP) - Asia's largest security meeting has a notable absentee: Condoleezza Rice.

The U.S. secretary of state is forgoing this week's annual ASEAN Regional Forum to visit Saudi Arabia and Egypt in yet another American effort to stabilize the situation in Iraq ahead of September's key administration report to Congress on military and political conditions there.

Rice's decision to skip the Asian security meeting for a second year was perceived by some in the region as a slight. Her absence comes at a difficult time for American diplomats in Southeast Asia, already assaulted by complaints that Washington is turning its back on a part of the world that once stood near the top of its foreign policy agenda.

It also comes as China, the new megapower on the Southeast Asian block, is deepening its economic, cultural and military footprint in its traditional backyard.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6816089,00.html

[Canuckistanian]

1. Busy? Busy doing what?

Oh, wait - I found out why:

"Farragamo On Sale"
http://www.shoewawa.com/2005/06/ferragamo_on_sa.html