WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The State Department has protested to televangelist Pat Robertson about his "despicable" suggestion that someone blow up the department with a nuclear bomb, an official said on Thursday.
Robertson, a former presidential candidate, made the remark in an interview with Joel Mowbray, author of a new book entitled "Dangerous Diplomacy: How the State Department Endangers America's Security."
State Department spokesman Richard Boucher, asked to comment, said on Thursday: "I lack sufficient capabilities to express my disdain. ... I think the very idea is despicable."
The department has made its views clear to Robertson, added a State Department official, who asked not to be named.
Introducing Mowbray on his Christian Broadcasting Network, Robertson said that a person who read Mowbray's book would reach the conclusion that a nuclear explosion at the State Department was the best solution.
"I read your book. When you get through, you say (to yourself): 'If I could just get a nuclear device inside Foggy Bottom (the State Department's main building), I think that's the answer' and you say: 'We've got to blow that thing up.' I mean, is it as bad as you say?" he said.
"It is," Mowbray replied. Mowbray himself did not make the suggestion, either in his book or in the interview.
According to the network's Web site, Mowbray's book "exposes the mixed allegiances, hidden agendas, and outright anti-Americanism found in the State Department."
A group of conservatives, including former Speaker of the House of Representatives Newt Gingrich, accuses the State Department of undermining U.S. interests by protecting dictatorial governments abroad.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=765&e=1&u=/nm/people_robertson_dc
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/ dave /