Posted on 05/19/2002 6:53:34 PM PDT by Spar
AP
Former secretary of state says Bush foreign policy team has 'bipolar disorder'
Sun May 19, 4:45 PM ET
By JENNIFER PETER, Associated Press Writer
MEDFORD, Massachusetts - Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright (news - web sites) criticized President George W. Bush (news - web sites)'s foreign policy team Sunday, saying the administration is projecting contradictory messages on a broad range of global conflicts, including the Middle East and Afghanistan (news - web sites).
Albright said the foreign policy team is suffering from "untreated bipolar disorder."
"They talk about the importance of the rule of law, but seem allergic to treaties designed to strengthen the rule of law in areas such as money-laundering, biological weapons, crimes against humanity, and the environment," Albright said in a commencement speech at Tufts University's Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.
"This split personality is also evident in Afghanistan, where one day they are ridiculing nation-building and the next proposing a new Marshall Plan," Albright told the 189 graduates. "And in the Middle East, where the signals have varied day by day."
At the White House on Sunday, spokesman Gordon Johndroe declined to respond to Albright's accusations, or comment on the unusual nature of a former secretary of state attacking a sitting administration.
"The president and his foreign policy team are focused on uniting the country, winning the war on terrorism and defending the United States and its allies' interests," Johndroe said.
Albright challenged the Republican president to present a more cogent, unified message during his upcoming trip to Moscow and European capitals.
"President Bush will have the opportunity to clarify the character and purpose of American leadership by spelling out not only what America is against, which is terror, but also what America is for," Albright said.
Albright, who served as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations (news - web sites) and during the Clinton administration became the first woman to serve as secretary of state, began her 20-minute address by saying Bush deserves the country's support in the war against terrorism.
She also said that, "as reluctant as they may be to admit that Bill Clinton did anything right," there are areas of agreement between the two administrations.
Albright strongly admonished Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat (news - web sites) and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon (news - web sites).
"At Camp David, Arafat rejected the best deal the Palestinians may ever be offered. He is a survivor and a virtuoso of double-talk, not a leader," Albright said. "But Sharon was also a fierce opponent of Camp David, and has never put forward a viable plan for peace."
It is unusual for a former secretary of state to attack an incumbent administration, but Albright and current Secretary of State Colin Powell (news - web sites) have clashed before.
At the beginning of the Clinton presidency, Powell, then chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, argued against U.S. military involvement in Bosnia's ethnic conflict.
Albright, then ambassador to the United Nations and a strong advocate of using force to end ethnic slaughter, is said to have stared at Powell and asked: "What's the point in having this superb military you are always talking about if we can't use it?"
In his book, Powell said of the incident: "I thought I would have an aneurysm. American GIs were not toy soldiers to be moved around on some sort of global game board."
Just take her out and hang her - get it over with before she speaks again.
That whole Clintonista crowd have this problem with mental illness and genetic disorders.
Madeleine, you did a fine job yourself.
Can't they keep their insipid opinions to themselves???
No other administration in the modern history of the President has spoken out against the current administration with opinions nobody cares about except for the terminally Kool-aid drinkers on the left.
It's been President for over a year. The guy won, he is President, move on already.
Sheesh
THIS BROAD NEXT TO ME HAS AN A$$ THIS WIDE.
TC
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