Bush Taps Egyptian-American Woman for Top State Job

Reuters ^ | 03/14/05

[nypokerface]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Dina Powell, an American of Egyptian descent who speaks fluent Arabic, will be named to a top State Department public diplomacy job Monday as the White House seeks to improve its image in the Arab world, U.S. officials said.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will announce the choice of Powell, head of personnel at the White House, to be assistant secretary of state for educational and cultural affairs and deputy under secretary of state for public diplomacy at noon, the officials said.

Powell, who came to the United States from Egypt as a child, will serve as deputy to Karen Hughes, a long-time confidante to President Bush who was to be officially tapped for under secretary of state for public diplomacy at the same State Department ceremony Monday.

The choices of one of Bush's closest advisers and of an Arabic speaker illustrate the emphasis the White House attaches to trying to improve the way Arabs view the United States, long seen by Arabs as favoring Israel in the Israeli-Palestinian dispute and resented for supporting repressive Arab regimes.

[G.Mason]

A woman!

A woman of color!

A woman of color born in Egypt!

Was this cleared by the minority party?

[Fast1]

Great now the Mosque is plugged in.I could really give a crap less what the children of Satan think.Until they all condemn the acts of 9/11 and rebuild the twin towers!

[SedVictaCatoni]

Yay! Xenophobic hysteria for everyone!

[drjimmy]

Great now the Mosque is plugged in.I could really give a crap less what the children of Satan think.Until they all condemn the acts of 9/11 and rebuild the twin towers!

Only in a largely empty mind like yours would this woman--who is a Christian--have anything to do with a Mosque, Satan, or the twin towers.

[Fast1]

Never saw she was a Christian my NEW friend!!Assumed since the word ARAB was prominent that the person was a Muslim ..

Now run along and help a Illegal Mexican get a job in INS.

[drjimmy]

Never saw she was a Christian my NEW friend!!Assumed since the word ARAB was prominent that the person was a Muslim ..

Yes, there are many stupid people who think all people of Arab descent--or who even speak Arabic--are Muslims. Now run along and whine about people like John Sununu, Spencer Abraham, Danny Thomas, Casey Kasem, Bobby Rahal, Jamie Farr, and Darrell Issa "plugging in" the Mosque because you haven't the brains to do anything but "assume."

[MadIvan]

In other news, Howard Dean's head just exploded. He'll burst a blood vessel on hearing this and realising his so-called "party of diversity" has a leadership that is mostly lily white.

Regards, Ivan

[Mather]

Why don't you go run along and find some arabs & mexicans to sneer at based on your assumptions that they all are muslim terrorists or border jumpers. You are really quick to judge and label based on somebody's ethnicity aren't you?

[Paul Ross]

The dirty secret is that they all know it...and prefer it that way.

That is why they were pulling so hard for a token...Obama in Illinois. He will, unlike Charlie Rangel and the other Progressive Caucus stooges, give the RATs cover as "inclusive."

[Billthedrill]

I love it. Bush is the best thing to happen to women's rights in the Middle East since polyester burqas. I expect a congratulatory message from NOW in the mail any day...

[the invisib1e hand]

egyptian woman can be extremely good looking...has this been covered?

[G.Mason]

"Egyptian woman can be extremely good looking...has this been covered?"

I certainly hope not, at least not in their entirety. ;)

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

egyptian woman can be extremely good looking...has this been covered?

I know Dina, she is drop dead gorgeous. Long dark hair, dark eyes, delicate features and very petite. She is beyond intelligent. She is a treasure.

[Fast1]

And you need to get out in the real world walk around the block read book make a sandwich BTW I have lived over 5 years in the Middle East AND AaaaaND I assumed she was a Muslim since nothing there stated to the contrary and I would not trust ONE period. You are a democrat right??

[Fast1]

Yes, there are many stupid people who think all people of Arab descent--or who even speak Arabic--are Muslims. Now run along and whine about people like John Sununu, Spencer Abraham, Danny Thomas, Casey Kasem, Bobby Rahal, Jamie Farr, and Darrell Issa "plugging in" the Mosque because you haven't the brains to do anything but "assume."

No my friend I will not ever trust them Period !That makes me a racist so be it.. Live in your little flat world.

[Fast1]

To conclude; my assumptions are well founded since OVER 90% of the population there is Muslim that is pretty much a slam dunk

[texasflower]

[the invisib1e hand]

I know Dina, she is drop dead gorgeous. Long dark hair, dark eyes, delicate features and very petite. She is beyond intelligent. She is a treasure.

Be sure to tell her I said "Hi."

[the invisib1e hand]

breathtaking....I'd tap her too...