Unlikeliest diplomat: Street smarts & barbecue

[LaStrega]

Unlikeliest diplomat: Street smarts & barbecue

By PETER CARLSON, Washington Post
Last update: April 12, 2008 - 10:02 PM


HACKENSACK, N. J. - Waiting for the North Korean ambassador to show up for dinner, Bobby Egan, who is the world's only barbecue chef/self-appointed unofficial U.S. ambassador to rogue nations, launches into an impassioned monologue on why he, Bobby Egan, is a better diplomat than America's real diplomats.

"You couldn't put Condoleezza Rice or Madeleine Albright on a level with me in dealing with the Koreans," he said. "They've never even been in a fistfight. I've been in fistfights -- including with the Koreans. These are tough guys. Condoleezza Rice is a piano player. She's not a rugged, all-American boy."

Full Article

[tomreedtoon]

1. Don't negotiate with Koreans: Maull 'em!

Maull's barbecue sauce, that is. The best thing ever made in Saint Louis, which I miss down here in Florida.

Baste for peace.

[Demeter]

2. Okay

I rather think Condi's problems in accomplishing anything on the diplomatic front are that she isn't interested in give and take. BushCo policy is all take, no give, and she just follows orders.

As far as belligerence, that's what Bush uses the armed forces for. And then there are the mercs, and the spies, and the black ops. And Karl. And Wall Street. Yup. Condi just has to go around making nice and buying shoes.

[LaStrega]

3. and reapplying lipstick and ...

doing her best to not exhibit her muchly furrowed brow.