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Foxy Brown with WMD and a PhD
The Guardian uk ^ | Saturday November 20, 2004 | Joseph Harker

Posted on 11/20/2004 8:24:29 PM PST by cfhBAMA

Why Condoleezza Rice is the best black role model we've ever had

Joseph Harker Saturday November 20, 2004 The Guardian

OK, so she likes invading countries, killing thousands of innocent civilians, and imposing US-style capitalism across the globe. This modern-day Boudicca is probably the most evil woman the planet has seen since Margaret Thatcher. But, that aside, you have to admit it: Condoleezza Rice is one helluva lady. Even the US president himself looked terrified of her as he gave her a nervous, faltering peck on the cheek at the announcement of his new secretary of state.

Condoleezza, aka the "Warrior Princess", has struck fear into the most powerful people in the world: and not just Saddam Hussein. It was she who declared, when three leading nations refused to back the Iraq invasion, that the United States should "punish France, ignore Germany and forgive Russia". No wonder our dear leader Tony fell in line.

And, of course, what's all the more remarkable is that "Condi" (sorry, Ms Rice, hope you don't mind) is black. Not "Uncle Tom" black, just doing the white man's bidding. Not liberal-conscience black (trying desperately to change things from the inside, to make life a little less worse for the brothers and sisters). Not even martyr black (taking on the oppressors directly, but suffering a brutal backlash ending in prison, or death). No, she's totally ass-kicking black - the like of which we've never seen before. Foxy Brown with WMD and a PhD.

She's not playing to anyone's agenda but her own. Which is why, in a way, she's more powerful than any "role model" we black people have ever had. We liked her predecessor, Colin Powell, but his was a story of marginalisation and dignified silence. Someone obviously out of tune with the jackals around him, and only given a front-line role when forced to relay American lies to the world. The ultimate humiliation. You can imagine the administration's insiders saying of the "intelligence" that Powell presented to the United Nations: "We know it's rubbish; just a couple of grainy photos and a test tube. We're bound to get found out. Let's just give it to the black man so he can take the flak."

On this side of the Atlantic, black politicians have performed similar roles. Paul Boateng - remember him, in 1987, the human-rights lawyer, tireless and inspirational fighter against police oppression; garland around his neck, as a newly elected MP in the euphoric first wave of black representation in parliament, he declared: "Today Brent, tomorrow Soweto!" What he didn't add, though, was: "The day after tomorrow, compromise and careerism!" Yes, Paul went on to become a minister, but his former followers will never forget the day of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry report, when he was paraded across the TV channels to defend his boss Jack Straw's decision not to sack the bungling Met Police chief Paul Condon. A dismissal that every other black person in the country was crying out for.

Even worse is the case of Valerie Amos, former chief executive of the Equal Opportunities Commission. She was created a life peer in 1997, and less than a year later became a government whip. It was after she became Foreign Office minister, though, that her credit-rating dropped irreversibly. For this Guyana-born woman spent most of 2002 trying to drum up support for the war on Iraq among third-world UN security council members. With her background of campaigning against inequality and injustice, it's virtually impossible to conceive that she really believed in this illegal invasion; as such it was a smart career move, and she was rewarded for her Blairite loyalty by moving up into the cabinet. Politics 1, principles 0.

With Condi there's none of this compromise. She loves war. Over the next four years, she'll be pressing President Bush to do more bombings, to have more shows of brute force to cow the rest of the world into submission. But she is free. Liberated. (Maybe that's why she likes doing the same to so much of the world.) She doesn't represent, or even in the slightest claim to represent, her race. Like Thatcher, her only mission is to prove how ruthlessly and efficiently she can do her job.

Bizarrely, despite Condi's war-mongering record, she's described in this week's profiles as "popular". Can you imagine her fellow hawks Donald Rumsfeld or Dick Cheney being so described? If she were white she'd be hated as much as them; her colleagues are obviously just a bit too polite and politically sensitive to admit their real feelings. A weakness no doubt she'll be only too willing to exploit.

At this point, I have to admit something. Once Condi and I were very close. For three hours, in fact. In 1988, we sat next to each other on a flight into London from Sofia, Bulgaria.

I first spotted her as we sat in the transit lounge, on my way back from Nigeria; she, as it transpired, coming from Moscow. She wasn't difficult to notice: with her impeccable appearance and perfect 80s hair, she was by far the most glamorous and striking traveller. And I couldn't believe it, when I got on board the plane, to discover she was in the seat next to mine.

As we took off, she told me her innermost secrets: why that strange, misspelt name, for starters. We talked about US politics: Jesse Jackson had just won the Michigan primary and was being reported as having a realistic chance of winning the Democratic nomination. "It won't happen," Condi said. "Now people think he can really win it, they'll turn against him in droves." She was right, of course.

I remember her revealing, almost apologetically, that she'd probably be voting Republican: she was no Reaganite, she just thought that George Bush (the first) had the right blend of compassion and conservatism.

As we parted at Heathrow, we exchanged business cards: hers, "Professor, Stanford University, California"; mine, "News reporter, The Voice, Brixton". I was not worthy. We promised to keep in touch (as you do, but never do), and it remains the biggest regret of my professional career that I didn't make that call. The next time I heard of her was in Ebony magazine a couple of years later, in a piece reporting how she had recently become President Bush's adviser on Soviet affairs. In status, there had always been a gulf between us; now it had just got a whole lot wider ... and over the years the gap grew and grew, till now, she's the second most powerful person on the planet ... and I ... well, I'd rather not think about it.

Maybe, just maybe, there could still be a chance to make up for my major mistake. Condi, African-American Queen, if you're reading this, do you think we could hook up some time? You name the place. I'll invade it.

joseph.harker@guardian.co.uk


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: bang; banglist; condoleezzarice; forgiverussia; foxybrown; ignoregermany; punishfrance; rolemodels; warriorprincess
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To: BCrago66

It was posted under "Today's picks" on the left side earlier today. It is not there now, but I copied the entire text.


21 posted on 11/20/2004 8:59:38 PM PST by cfhBAMA (Alabama Republican Party)
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To: cfhBAMA
OK, so she likes invading countries, killing thousands of innocent civilians, and imposing US-style capitalism across the globe.

How do you "impose" a free market?

22 posted on 11/20/2004 9:02:05 PM PST by MitchellC
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To: cfhBAMA
These "EURO-SOCALIST" make me LMAO.

Hey, I like that term, and it's a great new one to describe the libs down in San Diego, like this one:

Euro-Socalist Donna Frye loses Mayoral bid.

23 posted on 11/20/2004 9:14:18 PM PST by Squeako (ACLU: "Only Christians, Boy Scouts and War Memorials are too vile to defend.")
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To: Squeako

Well, I meant "Euro-SoCalist", of course, just being silly.


24 posted on 11/20/2004 9:16:49 PM PST by Squeako (ACLU: "Only Christians, Boy Scouts and War Memorials are too vile to defend.")
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To: claudiustg

What a lengthy article.
Allow me to offer the Cliff-Notes version for those who don't want to waste time reading it:

Joe hit on Condi and ~seriously~ struck out.

The end.

[*curtsy*]


25 posted on 11/20/2004 9:23:43 PM PST by Salamander (Vanity, vanity. All is vanity.....)
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To: Salamander

I was kind of wondering that too. Did you detect a combination of jealousy and infatuation on the author's part?


26 posted on 11/20/2004 9:29:35 PM PST by guinnessman
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To: TBarnett34

Joseph Harker. Hmmmm. Let's see what we can find in his stinking closet.


27 posted on 11/20/2004 9:30:19 PM PST by citizencon
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To: cfhBAMA
Bizarrely, despite Condi's war-mongering record, she's described in this week's profiles as "popular".

Good grief, this guy must live in a cave or be incredibly incompetent. Hasn't he seen the cartoons depicting Condi as the buck-toothed, fat-lipped parrot on President Bush's shoulder? Or read the articles referring to Dr. Rice as "Aunt Jemima?"

What a misinformed idiot.

28 posted on 11/20/2004 9:34:26 PM PST by PLK
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To: Vince Ferrer
...No, she's totally ass-kicking black - the like of which we've never seen before.

A lame article, but that line is a gem.

Ditto. Love it.

29 posted on 11/20/2004 9:38:02 PM PST by PLK
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To: cfhBAMA
This modern-day Boudicca is probably the most evil woman the planet has seen since Margaret Thatcher

Most evil woman on the planet?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

30 posted on 11/20/2004 9:55:28 PM PST by GeronL (I thought I was moving today, its been postponed till Sunday, I think)
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To: cfhBAMA
With Condi there's none of this compromise. She loves war. Over the next four years, she'll be pressing President Bush to do more bombings, to have more shows of brute force to cow the rest of the world into submission. But she is free. Liberated. (Maybe that's why she likes doing the same to so much of the world.) She doesn't represent, or even in the slightest claim to represent, her race. Like Thatcher, her only mission is to prove how ruthlessly and efficiently she can do her job.

I hate liberals. This is disgusting!!!!

31 posted on 11/20/2004 9:58:28 PM PST by Cold Heat (There is more to do! "Mr. Kerry, about that Navy discharge?")
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To: guinnessman

Oh yeah.
Big time.


32 posted on 11/20/2004 10:24:52 PM PST by Salamander (Vanity, vanity. All is vanity.....)
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To: cfhBAMA

"And, of course, what's all the more remarkable is that "Condi" (sorry, Ms Rice, hope you don't mind) is black."

Dear Joseph Harker:

That's Doctor Rice to you, asshole.


33 posted on 11/20/2004 10:36:51 PM PST by RBroadfoot
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To: RBroadfoot

AMEN!


34 posted on 11/20/2004 10:40:11 PM PST by cyborg
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To: cfhBAMA

I just sent an e-mail to Mr. Harker:

"And, of course, what's all the more remarkable is that "Condi" (sorry, Ms Rice, hope you don't mind) is black."

Dear Joseph Harker:

That's Doctor Rice to you, asshole.

Doesn't The Guardian do fact checking.

Sincerely,
Robert Broadfoot
Texas, USA


35 posted on 11/20/2004 10:47:44 PM PST by RBroadfoot
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To: RBroadfoot

"That's Doctor Rice to you, asshole."


Nice one!


36 posted on 11/20/2004 11:31:44 PM PST by Albion Wilde ("Sentimentality is loving people more than God would." --Oscar Wilde)
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