Condoleezza Rice's aides have become adept at spotting when their boss is irritable: she starts scratching one of her hands. When she feels like someone has done her wrong, she gets "that look": "Her eyes narrow, her face tightens, her jaw is set, and she doesn't look away, but stares intently instead." When that happens, it's not a good idea to be around her. Nor is it advisable to be nearby the American secretary of state when she is tired and signals her boredom with the conversation by rubbing her face with a finger.
These warning signs are described in "The Confidante," a new biography of Rice, by Glenn Kessler, the diplomatic correspondent of The Washington Post. In the book, Dov Weissglas, who was a senior adviser to former prime minister Ariel Sharon and spent many hours with Rice, is quoted as calling her "a magician in the art of language," referring to the firm messages she frequently transmitted through him. Weissglas was well aware of the fact that the diplomatic language she used resembled a transparent covering for a fist.
In the book, Rice's best friend, Stanford University's Prof. Coit Blacker, relates what happened when she went to buy jewelry and the saleswoman brought her cheap earrings from the display: "Let's get one thing straight," Rice told the sales clerk, "You're behind the counter because you have to work for the minimum wage. I'm on this side because I make considerably more." The store manager quickly brought her the expensive earrings. The lesson of the story is clear: The secretary of state knows how to get what she wants, by force if necessary.
Kessler's main argument is that in her current position, as the top diplomat of the United States, Rice is mainly occupied with repairing the damage she did during her term as national security adviser. "The invasion of Iraq, the missed opportunities with Iran, the breach in relations with Europe, the NK [North Korean] nuclear breakout, the creation of secret CIA prisons in Europe, the Arab anger at a perceived bias against the Palestinians - all of these problems were the direct result of decisions she helped make in the White House. Now, as secretary of state, she has tried mightily - and with limited success - to unravel the Gordian knots she tied in GWB's [President Bush's] first term," Kessler writes. He is similarly critical of the wrongheaded decision to allow Hamas to take part in the Palestinian elections, in which Rice was involved as secretary of state. More on the story.
These warning signs are described in "The Confidante," a new biography of Rice, by Glenn Kessler, the diplomatic correspondent of The Washington Post. In the book, Dov Weissglas, who was a senior adviser to former prime minister Ariel Sharon and spent many hours with Rice, is quoted as calling her "a magician in the art of language," referring to the firm messages she frequently transmitted through him. Weissglas was well aware of the fact that the diplomatic language she used resembled a transparent covering for a fist.
In the book, Rice's best friend, Stanford University's Prof. Coit Blacker, relates what happened when she went to buy jewelry and the saleswoman brought her cheap earrings from the display: "Let's get one thing straight," Rice told the sales clerk, "You're behind the counter because you have to work for the minimum wage. I'm on this side because I make considerably more." The store manager quickly brought her the expensive earrings. The lesson of the story is clear: The secretary of state knows how to get what she wants, by force if necessary.
Kessler's main argument is that in her current position, as the top diplomat of the United States, Rice is mainly occupied with repairing the damage she did during her term as national security adviser. "The invasion of Iraq, the missed opportunities with Iran, the breach in relations with Europe, the NK [North Korean] nuclear breakout, the creation of secret CIA prisons in Europe, the Arab anger at a perceived bias against the Palestinians - all of these problems were the direct result of decisions she helped make in the White House. Now, as secretary of state, she has tried mightily - and with limited success - to unravel the Gordian knots she tied in GWB's [President Bush's] first term," Kessler writes. He is similarly critical of the wrongheaded decision to allow Hamas to take part in the Palestinian elections, in which Rice was involved as secretary of state. More on the story.
1 comment:
The World Leaders know Connie is just a messenger and is clue less. No one respects her and could care less what see says. Now Connie Rice better be glad she didn't talk to a sister like that because she would have brought her down to who she really is. Connie has forgotten where she can from and it will be her down fall. If the Civil Rights Bill hadn't been passed Connie would be glad to have any job. I've lived long enough to see that for some reason you met the people of your past. But this time the shoes on the other foot so to speak. Connie forgot she is Black but when Bush is out of office she will be made to remember. People don't look to race but who you are. Connie has spent to much time with the Bush Family and now acts just like them. She has no respect for other and life will teach her a lesson. Remember the people when you were down because you will be with them again it's called the circle of life.
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