Colin Powell Resigns

[Maggie]

Colin Powell announced his resignation today. The one sane voice in all this mess. Bush is thinking of replacing him with "Condi" Rice. Hope she does something about that hairdo !

[wshaw]

Juan Cole (http://juancole.com/2004/11/powells-resignation-colin-powells.html) has a good column about why this is not good - especially the Condi part of it.

[John Self]

It's hilarious, isn't it, the way when Bush wants to have a reshuffle everybody just resigns? Doesn't anyone get sacked there as they do in the UK? I mean, obviously Bush has a real softie image to maintain and he wouldn't want to be seen doing anything nasty.

[gil]

I have all the usual objections to Condi as Sec of State, based on her policy and record, and another reservation, too.

No-one's mentioning this because it's not PC, but quite a number of heads of state can't do any serious negotiation with a woman. I gather even Maggie Thatcher had problems along these lines, and no-one could think she wasn't a serious politician.

For this reason, while there are a number of female heads of state in the world, it appears to be customary for the foreign secretaries to be male.

[John Self]

But isn't this a bit like saying you shouldn't have black footballers in a team if the fans don't like it, or that same-sex couples shouldn't adopt in case the kids get mocked at school?

[wshaw]

Well, in Bush's eyes Condi was good enough to negotiate with Sharon. (But then he's got a girl's name anyway.)

Powell was apparently taken off the case of talking to Israel because he wasn't "hawkish" enough - i.e. he thought Sharon was a dangerous lunatic.

And as Sharon seems to be the only world leader Bush takes any serious note of...

Bush once said, "This foreign policy stuff is a little frustrating." So maybe he's streamlining things by ensuring that nobody talks to him any more.

[amner]

No-one's mentioning this because it's not PC, but quite a number of heads of state can't do any serious negotiation with a woman. I gather even Maggie Thatcher had problems along these lines, and no-one could think she wasn't a serious politician.

I'd have thought it was John Major that generated 'you have got to be joking' responses, but I see your point.

condoleezza is a musical direction, like adagio or allegro, isn't it?

[Maggie]

As much as I like to see women advance in politics, my first thought was something along the lines of Gil's statement. How serious will the powers that be, in the Middle East, take a female's perspective ?
How can this not be a consideration, at this point !
Why do we refuse to try and LEARN something about Middle Eastern culture ?
We did need to do something about Powell. He has spent four years looking like a deer caught in the headlights !

[RC]

Powell wasn't really a soft-shoe, that was spin. Now we're into the next phase: You'll do exactly as you're told.
Remember this one? - Yea, though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil, for I am the meanest son-of-a-bitch in the valley.
Take out 'son-of-a', there stands Condi.

[amarie]

condoleezza is a musical direction, like adagio or allegro, isn't it?[/quote]

Are you thinking of crescendo?

[amner]

Are you thinking of crescendo?

Not where Condi's concerned. Despite (or is that because of) the clearly-a-dominatrix steely glare.

[rick green]

For the record, Clinton's Sec of State was also a woman: Madeline Albright. I don't buy it that this, or any position, ought to be for men only. I mean, it's the 21st century after all--deal with it!

[NottyImp]

And frankly wouldn't it do the odd Middle-Eastern regime a bit of good to learn to have to deal with women on an equal basis? Or is that a bit too un-PC?

[Colyngbourne]

condoleezza is a musical direction, like adagio or allegro, isn't it?

Condoleezza means 'with sweetness'. :roll:

[gil]

For the record, Clinton's Sec of State was also a woman: Madeline Albright.
I rest my case. I have a lot of time for her, actually, compared to Condi, and she got on well internationally because she was born Czek, spoke Serbo Croat, was brought up as Christian, was actually Jewish, was educated in Switzerland and England, a naturalised American, a Russian expert, spent time as US ambassador to the UN, was a really rounded person ideal as an ambassador and STILL made little impact on the world on the USA's behalf.

[Maggie]

I am in total agreement in regards to the fact that this is the 21st centry and women need to be respected as leaders. I just have my doubts about how ready the Middle East is to accept this mindset. We are talking about a regime who would stone women if their ankles showed in public. I realize that Iraq was not quite as bad but it is something to take into consideration. Although cultural differences are something the U.S. has not taken into consideration very much at all during this crisis.

[Deb Zell]

I have all the usual objections to Condi as Sec of State, based on her policy and record, and another reservation, too.

No-one's mentioning this because it's not PC, but quite a number of heads of state can't do any serious negotiation with a woman. I gather even Maggie Thatcher had problems along these lines, and no-one could think she wasn't a serious politician.

For this reason, while there are a number of female heads of state in the world, it appears to be customary for the foreign secretaries to be male.

And why would you think this?

[Deb Zell]

I am in total agreement in regards to the fact that this is the 21st centry and women need to be respected as leaders. I just have my doubts about how ready the Middle East is to accept this mindset. We are talking about a regime who would stone women if their ankles showed in public. I realize that Iraq was not quite as bad but it is something to take into consideration. Although cultural differences are something the U.S. has not taken into consideration very much at all during this crisis.

I understand where everyone is coming from, but surely: there is another side to gender in the middle east, we cannot forget them simply because they are covered. Much headway is made when people challenge the existing establishment, and do so from a position of power. The situation with the women of the middle east is changing. Check out the link below.

http://hurryupharry.bloghouse.net/archives/2004/09/20/fern_hollands_war.php

Of course peace doesn't seem to be newsworthy. It is far easier to sell catastrophe, such as the above.