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Politics | 12/01/2008 8:15 am

Rice Headed to India After Attack

By The Staff at wowOwow.com
© AP

We may all be buzzing that President-elect Barack Obama will officially name Hillary Clinton as his secretary of state, but let’s not forget Condoleezza Rice still has the job. And she’s got her work cut out for her.

President Bush announced yesterday that Rice will travel to India this week to offer our nation’s support. Or, as Ms. Rice’s spokesman said, "to express the condolences of the American government directly to the Indian government and the Indian people." In addition, Rice will also try to ease tensions between India and its neighbor, Pakistan. India claims terrorists based in Pakistan’s disputed Kashmir region launched last week’s attack, which killed 195 people. Pakistan’s government warned their foes not to "point fingers," but also vowed to help in the investigation. Of the ten militants who started last week’s massacre, only one survived and confessed to interrogators that he and the others had been trained by Pakistani militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba, which is not sanctioned by the Pakistani government.

Though Rice obviously appreciated Pakistan’s pledge to help in the investigation, she also offered some stern words reminding them to cooperate:

What we are emphasizing to the Pakistani government is the need to follow the evidence wherever it leads. I don’t want to jump to any conclusions myself on this, but I do think that this is a time for complete, absolute, total transparency and cooperation and that’s what we expect.

For his part, Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has repeatedly insisted he and his government want to keep the peace: "I am again telling you Pakistan will act very responsibly, and we have talked to our friends that they should use their good offices to defuse the situation."

Rice will first head to London for a meeting, and then to a NATO meeting in Brussels before heading over to India. There’s no rest for the weary — or an outgoing top diplomat.

2 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Belinda Joy
How will history judge Condoleeza Rice for the job she has done as Bush’s Secretary of State? This is the question that begs to be answered. Was she effective and did she serve in her position well and garner the positive impression from other countries on our behalf? I believe the answer is a resounding NO. Her role and failure in it, only serves as proof that the Secretary of State role is vitally important. It is something that Hillary Clinton has the capability of serving in well given her relationships with foreign dignitaries and leaders. But let us not forget she will be in place to convey Obama’s stance on issues, not her own. Can she do this? Condoleeza excelled at this, because the world knows each word from her mouth were indeed Bush’s beliefs and ideology…..and that’s not a good thing.
By Belinda Joy on 12/01/2008 9:15 am
Ms. Dee
I just hope to Goodness this is NOT India’s 9/11. This is truly a powder keg, two nuclear countries with pre-existing tensions. This is no time for anybody to rise up with righteous indignation and feel entitled to embark on another escapade of international violence. I hope Secretary Rice will listen, listen, listen, and bring home an accurate assessment. There are many reasons to be hopeful that tensions can subside in a common cause, but the slightest spark could light this fuse, and then we’ve really got a global environmental disaster on our hands. I’ve never liked her much, but I have no choice but to wish Condi well on this little jaunt.
By Ms. Dee on 12/01/2008 4:25 pm