Posted on 02/15/2006 3:39:19 PM PST by Cboldt
WASHINGTON, Feb 15 (Reuters) - Mistakes in U.S. Middle East policy have made America less safe and aided the militant group Hamas's victory in Palestinian elections, Democratic and Republican lawmakers told Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Wednesday.
Hamas's win last month in the Palestinian territories and the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood's rise in Egypt have fueled criticisms over U.S. President George W. Bush's strategy of pushing for democracy in the Middle East.
"This administration seems to have a tin ear when it comes to the Middle East and that tin ear is making us less safe," Sen. Barbara Boxer, a Democrat, told Rice at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing....
Republican Sen. Lincoln Chafee from Rhode Island took aim at Rice for not doing enough to support Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, whose Fatah Party was defeated by Hamas in the Jan. 25 Palestinian election.
"The whole year, 2005, nothing was done, opportunities missed and now we have a very, very disastrous situation of a terrorist organization winning an election," said Chafee.
"Why didn't we take advantage of these opportunities (to stop Hamas)?" asked Chafee. ...
Republican Sen. Norm Coleman of Minnesota jumped to Rice's defense over her department's democracy agenda.
(Excerpt) Read more at alertnet.org ...
Lincoln Chafee and Barbara Boxer? Between the both of them they might add up to half a brain.
I saw some of this briefing that turned into a deposition. It was absolutely disgusting the way this pack of blowdried blowhards used this occasion to browbeat Condi who was there to simply brief them on Iran. Kerry, Chaffee, Boxer and Feinstein really came down on her for Iraq and everything else. I have less and less respect every day for this pack of publicity seeking money grubbing losers. Condi has more class than all of them put together. Rant off.
Can someone show me a comaparison between Condoleesa and Barbara's education and other qualifications? I am truly mystified, as to me Condoleesa seems to have superior qualifications to almost anyone on the scene, and always sounds convincing and properly grounded. Barbara almost seems at the level of an uneducated block organizer in an area such as a Chicago or New York precinct under the thumb of the Mafia. I know Californians, in general, believe they are more evolved than the rest of the country, and therefore, I feel I may be missing something important about Boxer's comments on the present problems facing this country. I would like to make the best decision I can when I go into the voting booth, and want to make certain I am not unduly influenced by Republican propaganda.
Oh lord, where to begin???
Having these baboons lecture Condi on foreign policy is
like John Kerry trying to tell Chesty Puller about how
to lead.
You have been here seven years and you make a statement like that? Baffles me! And you are basing your decision on the degree of education that Boxer and Rice have? How about listening to what they say? How about checking what they say for truth and accuracy?
From the rest that you said I know there is a good chance this is sarcasm. If so, forgive me for missing it.
The great thing about today was the patience at which Rice batted away the moonbats. The problem was with goobers like "Missing Linc" Chaffee.
Be Seeing You,
Chris
I think it's safe to say that, if the administration had made a move to assist Abbas and Fatah, then Chaffee, Boxer and their ilk would not have hesitated to shout "Meddler!"
Hey, I qualified the remark, note I said "might."
All semantic quibbles aside, isn't it interesting that the article was quick to point to both Republican and Democrat, conveniently ommitting the usual qualifier of "moderate" Republican in front of Chafee.
I am so tired of this nonsense. I wish we could replace the entire senate.
" would like to make the best decision I can when I go into the voting booth, and want to make certain I am not unduly influenced by Republican propaganda."
That was sarcasm Mrs. Boxer. Sorry I didn't spell it out.
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