anyone thought of crucifixion? it's poetic justice. it almost worked for the romans ....
R
and... i hate to write this but the headline reminds me of that old pre-adolescent male joke, "is that your face or did your pants fall down?"
Condi, America's new face to the world By Alec Russell in Washington (Filed: 17/11/2004) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/11/17/wcond17.xml
{there's a nice picture here, too; eat at least two to three hours before viewing)
President George W Bush appointed Condoleezza Rice, his closest political confidante, as secretary of state yesterday, putting a personal stamp on his foreign policy team after four years of internal bickering.
Miss Rice, the national security adviser, is far closer to the president than her predecessor, Colin Powell, and is also more sympathetic to the views of the hawks who have promoted an assertive foreign policy.
Her appointment will delight Whitehall. She has a good relationship with Sir David Manning, the British ambassador, who held a surprise party for her on Saturday night on the eve of her 50th birthday, which was attended by Mr Bush.
While she has resisted being typecast as a hawk or dove, her appointment will fuel concern in many of America's old allies that Mr Powell's resignation signals the departure of their only supporter at the top of the administration. She infuriated France last year when it emerged she had suggested "punish France, ignore Germany and forgive Russia" as a policy towards European opponents of the war in Iraq.
But neo-conservatives in Washington, who have long accused Mr Powell of impeding the White House, hailed her promotion as a sign that Mr Bush will now have a secretary of state prepared to implement his vision.
In a brief ceremony in the White House Mr Bush hailed her as "the right person" for the challenges facing America in his second term. He also saluted her extraordinary life story, recalling her early years as a young black girl in racially divided Alabama, and her many accomplishments.
"The secretary of state is America's face to the world and in Dr Rice the world will see the strength, grace and decency of our country," he said as she stood beside him in the Roosevelt Room.
"She displays a commitment to excellence in every aspect of her life, from shaping our strategy in the war on terror, to co-ordinating national security policy across the government, to performing classical music on stage."
Mr Bush also thanked Mr Powell, who announced his retirement on Monday, for working "tirelessly and selflessly" for his country. He saluted him as "one of the most effective and admired diplomats in America's history".
Miss Rice's appointment has to be confirmed by the Senate. But while she can expect stiff questioning over her actions before the September 11 attacks when al-Qa'eda was not a top priority, her confirmation hearing is expected to be smooth.
She hailed Mr Bush's leadership and said it was "humbling to imagine succeeding my dear friend and mentor Colin Powell" who is to step down in January.
During Mr Bush's first term she won early plaudits for her unflustered management style but more recently she has been criticised for failing to mediate between the feuding chiefs of the Pentagon and the State Department.
She had long indicated she wants to leave her post and had been thought of as a possible first female secretary of defence if Donald Rumsfeld was to step down.
Over the past year friends suggested she wanted to return to California, where she lectured. A series of campaign appearances in swing states in the last fortnight fuelled speculation that she might be considering a run for the Senate.
Her elevation to Mr Powell's job is seen as a hint that Mr Rumsfeld may be staying on, at least in the short term.
The administration's critics fear that she is too close to the White House, that she will be a cipher for Mr Bush, and that there will be little debate over foreign policy.
But neo-conservatives dismiss such concerns and hail the change as an opening for a much-needed shake-up in the State Department.