Condi and Karen: Babes in Fantasyland

Condi Rice, in a speech at Princeton, apparently claimed, among other things, that terrorism is caused by repressive regimes (and that is why we should attempt to make the world democratic). I guess that explains why Saudi Arabians, who suffer from a repressive regime, decided to attack New York City. Similarly al Quaida, who were more or less in charge of Afghanistan, decided to do the same. She went on to claim that what was happening in Iraq was not actually national resistance but, rather, a bunch of "merciless killers." I guess the Iraqi people themselves are perfectly content with being occupied by a murderous bunch of American troops who seem to be in fact, "merciless killers." As this is the same Condi that said she had no idea Osama bin Laden wanted to attack the U.S., even though she had memos that stated that precisely, and also the same Condi that said no one imagined they would fly airplanes into buildings, even though that possibility had been known for months, and, in fact, for years. So I guess it is not surprising that she apparently is unaware of foreign policy. After all, she is just Secretary of State. Do you suppose someone could point out to her that terrorism is mostly created when a nation is occupied by foreigners trying to take over their country and resources? And that Muslim terrorists are angry because of the U.S. non-stop support for Israel rather than the Palestinians? They are also angry because the U.S. has tried to control the Middle East by establishing military bases there for years, bases the local people do not want there? I guess foreign policy is not very important as these poor uninformed and ignorant Middle Easterners just resent our way of life, our freedoms and liberties, just like our noble leader keeps telling us.

Then there is Karen Hughes, unbelievably uninformed about any peoples or cultures outside of Texas. Appointed as Undersecretary of State in charge of trying to improve the image of America around the world (granted at the moment an impossible task), and every bit as unqualified as Brown was to be in charge of FEMA. So Karen, who is apparently deeply religious, travels to the Middle East peddling the idea that America is a really religious nation and everyone everywhere whould look up to us, only to learn the hard way that not everyone in the world aspires to being an American or even like America. It will be interesting to see how she explains this embarrassing episode. According to Condi, "Karen can preach." I don't think the Arabs and others in the Middle East are really interested in listening.

It is comforting to know that Bush has put our foreign policy and image in the hands of a couple of know-nothing bimbos, just as he has put most of our other institutions in the hands of bumbling incompetent political appointees. The Bush/Cheney administration is rapidly bringing down what was once the greatest nation on earth. We have entered the 21st century with blood on our hands and debts as far as the eye can see. Yipee! Let's hear it for the neocons, stupidity, crime, torture, murder, arson, rape, and ultimate disaster.