Rice: No Mideast Role for Clinton

NEWSMAX ^ | 4/14/02 | Limbacher

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice indicated Sunday that the Bush administration has no plans to recruit ex-President Bill Clinton to help in negotiating a settlement to the growing crisis in the Mideast.

Asked by NBC "Meet the Press" host Tim Russert whether she would consider tapping Clinton for such a role, Rice said that all options that would "help" would be considered, but insisted that her boss was already on the right track.

The exchange went like this:

RUSSERT: In order to bring a bipartisan spirit back to this difficult situation, would you consider a special envoy like Democrat George Mitchell or former President Clinton to work with the Bush administration on this problem?

RICE: It's as I've said. We will consider ideas that will help in this situation. But we believe that we are on the right course here. The president has laid out a blueprint. It is important to get parties in the region to be responsible and accountable. (End of Excerpt)

In speeches around the world, Clinton had been kibitzing from the sidelines, offering a running commentary on Bush's foreign policy almost from the day he left office.

During a speech in Montreal last week, the ex-president recommended sending a U.S. peacekeeping force to the Mideast, an option the administration has so far rejected.

[RippleFire]

Hey, what about Chelsea?

[LarryLied]

oh man. Bad enough he gave a speech on the mideast last Thursday.

[breakem]

Dear Lord, please remove this pebble from our shoe.

[tet68]

B.Clinton for human shield. If it's good enough for the Euro-wienies it's good enough for him.

[Sarah]

Can't he even admit to himself the incredible damage he did to the region by legitimizing Arafat to the extent that he did? What a psychopath.

[AngrySpud]

" ...to bring a bipartisan spirit back into a difficult situation."

Huh? What kind of gobbledy-gook is that? Bush is the President, and we need to speak with ONE voice. Sheesh ... what is Russert thinking of, prescription drugs for wealthy seniors?

[bandleader]

What is Russert talking about?Since when did The DemoRats embrace a bi-partisan policy on anything when they controlled whatever?I'm listening to Drudge on WABC(Sun.14th-11:35pm),and all that I can see is that"BeelzeBubba"fiddled(foreign-policy)for eight-years and now we are burning(or about to)!!!!I used to play Big-Band music for people who went to dances,fund-raisers etc.As far as I know,I had better look for gainful employment.My business died on Sept.11th,2001!!!!!

[mdittmar]

How about Monica?

She could help everyone blow of some tension.

[ambrose]

Send him to live in Arafat's compound. Maybe it can be turned into a TV sitcom.

[F16Fighter]

Oh yeah Tim...

We'll send Bubba over to "help" with out in the Mideast. Maybe Arafat's spirits can be buoyed by Clinton once again retrieving his slippers, wiping his @ss, and walking hand in hand during photo-ops -- just like old times at the White House.

[RamsNo1]

They don't have to recruit Clinton. Bush is already carrying his foreign policy anyway.

[The Great Satan]

I volunteer billy boy for a "martyrdom operation." Since we know it's terribly unfair of the Israelis to hit back at the palis with professional soldiers and tanks, let's send clinton in there with an exploding Qu'ran to wipe the smile off Arafat's face.

[jude24]

Clinton offered to go to Israel at his recent speech at the University at Buffalo. (To be fair, a student asked if he'd be willing to go).

[Great Dane]

Clinton has done enough damage.

[Cruising Speed]

"Put some ice on it, Bill"

[Howie66]

Perhaps Clinton should stick to what he does best, find some willing bimbo to polish his knob and order a pizza.

[PackerBoy]

[TRANSCRIPT]

RUSSERT: ISN'T THERE ANYTHING THAT FORMER PRESIDENT MIGHT DO TO HELP IN THE MIDDLE EAST?

RICE: NO. PRESIDENT BUSH DOESN'T HAVE ANY INTERNS WORKING AT THE WHITE HOUSE ANYMORE.

(I wish it were said this way.)