[familyop]

Is Secretary Rice is unaware of what has happened as a result of "diplomacy" in similar situations of the past? Does she care? And the pandering to reporters in Scotland with advice to respond inappropriately to terrorists is revolting.

[DieHard the Hunter]

Ms Rice isn't as stupid as one may think. Could well be that she's got multiple plays she's running (I'd count on it).

Diplomacy isn't a dumb thing to do -- particularly if it works. When all else fails, she can always send in the SAS.

[BunnySlippers]

I don't agree with her. Prayers for the young soldier.

[Pro-Bush]

Never negotiate with terrorist.

[liliesgrandpa]

"Palestinians in northern Gaza have begun blocking roads with mounds of earth"

The Palestinians are really trying to help. (sarc)

I would suggest that the IDF tanks go around these piles through their houses instead.

[Brytani]

I will never understand why our current administration feels they are justified in using military means to protect Americans from terrorists, but Israel should sit back and take it.

The double standard is nothing more than playing with lives.

[SR 50]

ping

[hershey]

Muslims view diplomacy as simply another way to achieve their aims. Their religion gives them carte blanche to lie, cheat, steal, pillage, murder, commit acts of atrocity, and not be held to their word. They have no honor, integrity, morals.

[dokmad]

Never, Never negotiate with terrorists. Find them and KILL THEM, Period...

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Diplomacy without weapons is like music without instruments.

[samtheman]

Rice's message must be alive and well in the minds of Israeli leaders. What are they waiting for? Why aren't they in there already, getting medeival on those gaza cretins?

[MarkL]

Exerpts from dictionaries sold in the middle east:

English -> Palestinian Dictionary:
di·plo·ma·cy
n.
1. More money and land.
2. More dead Jews.
3. A change to rebuild and plot more terrorist acts, after the infidels call a truce.

[mewzilla]

"There really needs to be an effort now to try and calm the situation, not to let the situation escalate and to give diplomacy a chance to work to try to get this release," Rice told reporters who landed in Scotland for a refueling stop en route to Pakistan.

I hope that's diplo-speak for hand them over or we'll let the Israelis pave over Gaza.

[DustyMoment]

Rice urges diplomacy over Israeli hostage in Gaza

IF this story is true, I strongly disagree with Ms. Rice, for whom I have the greatest respect. Just because we allowed the vermin in Iraq to butcher our two kidnapped soldiers before their bodies were discarded in the street for public display, does not mean that the Israeli's need to follow our (lack of) example. They have tolerated a lot from the palis over the past several decades, it's time to draw a line in the sand and put a stop to it. If the Gaza strip and tha PA are nothing but the world's largest supply of glass in the morning, the palis will have done it to themselves.

[Joe Boucher]

This appeasment crap by Israel sure has been a great idea.
To hell with opinion, go in and start shooting til they release him. And if they don't release him alive and fine then ki9ll them all.

[gaspar]

As one views the recent Rice efforts in Iran and Palestine, it becomes clear she is a graduate of the John Lennon school of diplomacy.

[conservativecorner]

Thank God WW II wasn't run like this stupidity marked nonsense of diplomacy in the Middle East. Fight to win for God's sake, and then you have diplomacy on your terms. Pathetic!

[goldstategop]

Israel has enabled terrorists. In the end Israel's government will do nothing because to act would underline the colossal blunder that it entailed with pulling out of Gaza completely last summer along with every Jewish man, woman and child. As it turned out, the Israeli army was not in Gaza to protect the Jewish settlers. It was there to protect the Negev. Now Israel is literally eyeless in Gaza and thanks to the destruction of the Gaza Jewish Communities has no physical means of preventing terrorist movement around the area or to keep them under observation. I don't expect the Israeli government to forswear its appeasement policy any time soon.

(Denny Crane: "Every one should carry a gun strapped to their waist. We need more - not less guns.")

[ChocChipCookie]

I was wondering when our government would begin pressuring Israel to sacrifice the life of this soldier in (vain) hope that "diplomacy" might work. It has never worked with Palestinians and never will.

[verity]

So you are more qualified than Dr. Rice. When do you perform your walk-on-water act?

[Tokra]

Some people are obviously forgetting Dr. Rice was given the job of a diplomat. Why be surprised if she wants to try diplomacy?

She wasn't given the job of a general - if she was, then of course she would be advocating the use of force.

Why blame someone for doing the job they were hired to do?