I'm really in the dark about the whole culture and history of the State Dept. Can anyone recommend a good book on the subject?
I thought Colin Powell was the smartest man in the world. The following can't be so! /sarcasm.
Even while the White House is supporting the thousands of protesters, Secretary of State Colin Powell last Wednesday called President MohammadKhatami "freely elected." But considering that the ruling mullahs rejected 234 of the other 237 candidates who wanted to compete with Mr. Khatami, calling the puppet of the mullahs "freely elected" is a not-so-subtle jab at the president's description of Mr. Khatami and the mullahs as the "unelected few."
Me too, ya! Although I can't think of one single author. Maybe two or three opinions.
After Holbrook took over most of the interview with Newt, on FoxNewSunday, Holbrook made the comment about his new book. hmmmm no wonder he got more mouth time!
Do you remember the name of the book that our out-of-town-friend was reading last year and highly recommended that we also read?
Working freely under Secretary of State Cyrus "let a thousand flowers bloom" Vance, he urged the immediate recognition of Communist Vietnam. That would have occurred had it not been for the nasty Hochiminhers demanding a two billion dollar reparation before they would recognize the USA!
He attempted to come to the rescue of the Communist military leaders in Laos following what was reported as a terrific flood along the Mekong River. When it was learned that the flood was seasonal and the Laotians were trying to bleed the do-gooders Holdbrooke had to back off.
Supporting Dpty Asst Secy of State for Human Rights Pat Derian he sought to end the foreign aid assistance to Thailand only to be told by State's only heavy hitter, Philip Habib, to back off. (Habib had to remind Derian that the USA had nearly a century and a half of friendship with Thailand, and that it wouldn't be ruined by a half-assed foreign policy blunder.)
Later on, Holbrooke would take credit for the progress made to halt the Bosnia-Herzegovina impasse suggested by Bob Frazure. (As I recall, Frazure was killed in an auto accident trying to keep up with a vehicle carrying General Wesley Clark which was being driven recklessly.)
Its too bad that someone hasn't written an honest biography on Holbrooke. Americans would find that he is not a very lovable character. Regarding the other point, of course their are partisans in the State Department, and like journalists, most are liberal leaning.