# Has Condoleeza Rice actually accomplished anything since becoming Sec. of State? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 8, 2008, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-condoleeza-rice-actually-accomplished-anything-since-becoming-sec-of-state/440621 "2008-03-08T19:48:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2008, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-condoleeza-rice-actually-accomplished-anything-since-becoming-sec-of-state/440621/21 "2008-03-09T22:46:35Z")
[QUOTE=Danimal] On the other hand, if Rice prevents this incursion from escalating into an all-out Iraqi-Turkish war, that will be a major credit to put to her account. [/QUOTE] While we have a more powerful army in Iraq? Under these circumstances, it doesn’t take a Henry Kissinger to prevent a war. So, to summarize, Condi was one of the worst NSAs ever, she lied to Congress, she was incompetent about 911, and she is loyal to Bush. With these clowns, I can’t think of a better set of qualifications for promotion. ---
**Author:** ![Danimal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bb73d2/32.png) [@Danimal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danimal)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2008, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-condoleeza-rice-actually-accomplished-anything-since-becoming-sec-of-state/440621/22 "2008-03-09T23:03:21Z")
[QUOTE=Voyager] While we have a more powerful army in Iraq? Under these circumstances, it doesn’t take a Henry Kissinger to prevent a war. [/QUOTE] What, you think Turkey is afraid that we’ll attack their forces? And thereby invoke Article 5 of NATO against ourselves? I doubt it. And if the U.S. has to deploy troops from Baghdad and Anbar to the Turkish-Iraqi border to prevent further Turkish incursions, the already lamentable security situation in those areas is going to go back to 2006-level anarchy superfast. This is a situation badly in need of diplomatic finesse; we’ll see if Rice has any. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2008, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-condoleeza-rice-actually-accomplished-anything-since-becoming-sec-of-state/440621/23 "2008-03-09T23:34:05Z")
Good stonewaller: [Waxman letter to Rice:](http://oversight.house.gov/documents/20070925144348.pdf) (pdf) > [@](#): > > First, Committee staff were informed yesterday that State Department officials with > direct knowledge of corruption within the Maliki government would not be allowed to provide > the Committee with “assessments which judge or characterize the quality of Iraqi governance or > the ability/determination of the Iraqi government to deal with comrption” unless the Commiuee > agreed to treat this information as classified and withhold it from the public. > Second, Blackwater has informed the Committee that a State Department official directed > Blackwater not to provide documents relevant to the Committee’s investigation into the > company’s activities in Iraq without the prior written approval of the State Department. > Third, the Committee staff were informed that you have refused to testiff at arry hearing > called by this Committee to examine the progress of political reconciliation in Iraq, the impact of > corruption in Iraq, and the Blackwater incident. > … > Initially, the State Department refused to allow the Committee to speak with ¡wo > officials, Vincent Foulk and Christopher Griffith, who worked in the State Department Off,rce of > Accountability and Transparency, which is responsible for monitoring corruption within the Iraqi > ministries. As a result, the Committee issued subpoenas on September 20 for the deposition of > these individuals. > Now the State Department is taking the position that investigators for the Committee may > speak with these individuals, but that the investigators may not ask them questions that could > embarrass the Maliki government unless the Committee agrees to refrain from any public > discussion of their answers. State Department officials explained that any information about > comrption within the Maliki govemment must be treated as classified because public discussions > could undermine U.S. relations with the Maliki government. ---
**Author:** ![Wildfire\_MM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f08c70/32.png) [@Wildfire\_MM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wildfire_MM)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2008, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-condoleeza-rice-actually-accomplished-anything-since-becoming-sec-of-state/440621/24 "2008-03-10T12:27:29Z")
Condoleeza Rice is in my mind about the lamest american ministers I have seen ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2008, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-condoleeza-rice-actually-accomplished-anything-since-becoming-sec-of-state/440621/25 "2008-03-10T13:03:45Z")
In all fairness to Condi, this in an impossible job in the Bush cabinet. Cheney runs foreign policy and you either agree with him or he gets Bush to overrule you. By all accounts she is extremely intelligent and talented, but in this cabinet the ability to say more than “Yes, Dick” is a waste of ability. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2008, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-condoleeza-rice-actually-accomplished-anything-since-becoming-sec-of-state/440621/26 "2008-03-10T13:45:53Z")
She persuaded Butto to go back to Pakistan, and work a deal with Musharraf–look what happened. She could’ve first gained assurances that Butto would be truly protected. Everyone knew people were out to get her. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2008, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-condoleeza-rice-actually-accomplished-anything-since-becoming-sec-of-state/440621/27 "2008-03-10T14:02:06Z")
[QUOTE=guizot] She persuaded Butto to go back to Pakistan, and work a deal with Musharraf–look what happened. [/QUOTE] Then there’s the talk about Condi and friends trying and failing to overthow Hamas in Gaza: [The Gaza Bombshell](http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2008/04/gaza200804) [U.S. conspired to cause civil war in Palestine](http://www.arabamericannews.com/news/index.php?mod=article&cat=Palestine&article=743) ---
**Author:** ![Squarebubble1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Squarebubble1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squarebubble1)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2008, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-condoleeza-rice-actually-accomplished-anything-since-becoming-sec-of-state/440621/28 "2008-03-10T18:32:48Z")
[QUOTE=gonzomax] When questioned by congress she showed a dismal memory. I would not want to think she would possibly be lying ,so she must be stupid. Not qualified to have an important position. [/QUOTE] I came to the same conclusion myself, hence the OP ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2008, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-condoleeza-rice-actually-accomplished-anything-since-becoming-sec-of-state/440621/29 "2008-03-10T20:01:41Z")
I’ve been watching Rice since she first hit the big time, as NS director. I have never seen her speak the truth. Most of the time, rather than outright lying, she dodges. She’s unsurpassed in the art of blathering on until the time is up, without actually answering the question. This was especially useful in Congressional committee appearances, because each member got only 5 minutes. When it comes to straight-faced lies, she does that without a twitch. She’ll sit there and tell you, forcefully, things that every news-savvy person knows cannot be true. The Buscheny way of work is, “We’re going to do what we want, and we don’t have to explain anything.” She’s the perfect foil for that. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2008, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-condoleeza-rice-actually-accomplished-anything-since-becoming-sec-of-state/440621/30 "2008-03-10T20:16:56Z")
[QUOTE=Danimal] What, you think Turkey is afraid that we’ll attack their forces? And thereby invoke Article 5 of NATO against ourselves? I doubt it. And if the U.S. has to deploy troops from Baghdad and Anbar to the Turkish-Iraqi border to prevent further Turkish incursions, the already lamentable security situation in those areas is going to go back to 2006-level anarchy superfast. This is a situation badly in need of diplomatic finesse; we’ll see if Rice has any. [/QUOTE] I suspect that Turkey got the go ahead before they started. Bush basically said that they should withdraw after they got the job done, not that they should withdraw now. We wouldn’t need to attack them. All we’d need to do is move some troops between them and the Kurds. I don’t think they’d have any choice but to withdraw. They’re invading Iraq to fight terrorists, after all - what could be wrong with that? ---
**Author:** ![Squarebubble1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Squarebubble1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squarebubble1)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2008, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-condoleeza-rice-actually-accomplished-anything-since-becoming-sec-of-state/440621/31 "2008-03-10T20:53:21Z")
[QUOTE=AskNott] I’ve been watching Rice since she first hit the big time, as NS director. I have never seen her speak the truth. Most of the time, rather than outright lying, she dodges. She’s unsurpassed in the art of blathering on until the time is up, without actually answering the question. This was especially useful in Congressional committee appearances, because each member got only 5 minutes. When it comes to straight-faced lies, she does that without a twitch. She’ll sit there and tell you, forcefully, things that every news-savvy person knows cannot be true. The Buscheny way of work is, “We’re going to do what we want, and we don’t have to explain anything.” She’s the perfect foil for that. [/QUOTE] Geez, when I write something like this, I get (figuratively) wrist- slapped by a moderator! Thanx for crystallizing my sentiments, AN. ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2008, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-condoleeza-rice-actually-accomplished-anything-since-becoming-sec-of-state/440621/32 "2008-03-10T21:30:42Z")
[QUOTE=Squink] Then there’s the talk about Condi and friends trying and failing to overthow Hamas in Gaza: [The Gaza Bombshell](http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2008/04/gaza200804) [U.S. conspired to cause civil war in Palestine](http://www.arabamericannews.com/news/index.php?mod=article&cat=Palestine&article=743) [/QUOTE] I’ve been reading about this for the past week or so. My question is, has this sunk in with the average American yet? To what extent has TV news covered it? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2008, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-condoleeza-rice-actually-accomplished-anything-since-becoming-sec-of-state/440621/33 "2008-03-10T21:36:15Z")
[QUOTE=Squarebubble1] **Has Condoleeza Rice actually accomplished anything since becoming Sec. of State?** [/QUOTE] Well, just by getting confirmed, she broke another glass ceiling for lesbians! Highest office one has yet achieved! (Janet Reno was only USAG – SoS is a senior post.) ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2008, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-condoleeza-rice-actually-accomplished-anything-since-becoming-sec-of-state/440621/34 "2008-03-10T22:25:53Z")
[QUOTE=sqweels] has this sunk in with the average American yet? To what extent has TV news covered it? [/QUOTE] 😉😉 Apparently we don’t want to know. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2008, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-condoleeza-rice-actually-accomplished-anything-since-becoming-sec-of-state/440621/35 "2008-03-11T02:03:23Z")
[QUOTE=BobLibDem] In all fairness to Condi, this in an impossible job in the Bush cabinet. Cheney runs foreign policy and you either agree with him or he gets Bush to overrule you. By all accounts she is extremely intelligent and talented, but in this cabinet the ability to say more than “Yes, Dick” is a waste of ability. [/QUOTE] Poor girl. If only there’d been a way to know about all of that ahead of time she could have passed on the job and let some yes-woman take it. -Joe [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-condoleeza-rice-actually-accomplished-anything-since-becoming-sec-of-state/440621.md?page=1)