The Bush folks are
The Bush folks are big on attitude, weak on strategy and terrible at diplomacy. I covered the first gulf war, in 1990-91. What I remember most are the seven trips I took with Secretary of State James A. Baker III around the world to watch him build — face-to-face — the coalition and public support for that war, before a shot was fired. Going to someone else’s country is a sign you respect his opinion. This Bush team has done no such hands-on spade work. Its members think diplomacy is a phone call.
Thomas L. Friedman
Illinois Congressman Rahm Emanuel expressed the same sentiment yesterday night on Chicago Tonight. If I recall correctly, he said that Baker had visited 43 countries prior to the gulf war, while Powell has only visited 17 countries to date.
You can read the rest of Thomas L. Friedman’s editorial/op-ed piece here: Tell the Truth.
