Posted on 05/10/2006 8:54:34 AM PDT by kingattax
The rise of Iran is an unintended consequence of the war in Iraq, but the United States would be wise to counter the nuclear threat with direct talks instead of saber rattling, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said Tuesday night in Seattle.
"It's not appeasement. You've got to deliver a tough message," she told a sellout audience of 800 people at Town Hall.
But with the U.S. military already "overstretched," she said, "the last thing we need is to invade another country," especially when it is unclear where any nuclear material might be in Iran.
Albright believes that someone high in the Bush administration should give a speech in response to the recent letter sent to the president by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
The letter criticizes U.S. foreign policy in a number of areas, including the war in Iraq and backing of Israel.
Though difficult to hear, the issues raised are "not irrelevant," said Albright, who served under President Clinton. "Rather than thinking it's a clash of civilizations, I think we are in a battle of ideas."
Albright was in Seattle to promote her new book, "The Mighty & the Almighty," which examines the role of faith in international relations.
Her early premise was that Bush, a committed Christian, was "an anomaly because of his certitude." Her thoughts changed when she considered that the United States has deep spiritual roots, because it was founded by people escaping religious persecution.
What still sets the president apart, Albright said, is that "he is sure of his relationship with God" -- certain that God wanted him to be president, convinced the world is divided between good and evil.
She said Bush did a fine job in uniting the nation and much of the world after the 9/11 attacks, but found global support more difficult after the invasion of Iraq and the revelation of troublesome treatment of prisoners.
Whereas the United States should help other nations, it should remember that "democracy is a policy, not a mission," Albright said, and there is "no divine calling to spread democracy."
Several times during her talk, she spoke of the need to find common aspects of religion rather than divisive ones, to look for multiethnic solutions and to build bridges instead of walls.
"I was raised Roman Catholic, married an Episcopalian and found out I was Jewish," said Albright, who was born in Czechoslovakia and whose father was a diplomat.
She didn't think the publication of Danish cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad, an act that sparked outrage and rioting among Muslims earlier this year, was worth it.
Though she is a strong supporter of the First Amendment, Albright also said "good taste and propriety" are needed in dealing with today's religious sensibilities.
"We are living in a very dangerous era. Responsible people should not play with matches when they're in oil spills," she said
Has anyone heard a threat? I just hear liberals who keep worrying about "secret attack plans".
There, fixed it.
Hey folks -
Don't forget Maddy's brilliant strategy in North Korea - Give them Nuclear technology so they won't build a bomb??!!?? Huh?
Oh this is a person I should listen too about how to deal with another state threatening to go nuclear.
Right....
Get a dictionary and look up the word 'former'.
After doing so, STFU.
Sincerly....
LOL
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Bet can find a quote or two from "Maddy" from the 90s contraindicating her current statements.
She also, said that Iraq would be the biggest bungle in U.S. history.
My mind picture of Maddy will always be her chasing after Arrafat when he walked out on her. HAHA
These people are more than clueless. They're outright dangerous.
lol...do you think that bubba ever hit on her ?
The same kind used in N. Korea. The ones where we give the enemy everything they want. The kind that offer our surrender in the war on terror. Those kind of talks.
She wants the current administration to employ the same strategy the she and Clinton employed with North Korea. I guess she considered that a success.
This from the woman who allowed N. Korea to go nuclear while being toasted by "Dear Leader".
Agreed. For me it adds a little perspective to all the griping about our borders and what Bush hasn't done (like he's the first).
Talk a tough game, but in the end do nothing and hand off the problems to the Republican President.
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