Dan Froomkin: Laura Bush's Disastrous Diplomacy

[marmar]

from the WaPo:



Laura Bush's Disastrous Diplomacy
By Dan Froomkin
Special to washingtonpost.com
Tuesday, May 6, 2008; 12:38 PM

When a country run by a despotic and isolationist regime is laid low by a massive natural disaster, the diplomatic thing to do is to respond with a show of compassion. Not kick 'em when they're down.

More than 22,000 people have died in the staggering devastation caused by this weekend's cyclone in Burma. But when First Lady Laura Bush made her first-ever visit to the White House briefing room yesterday, to talk about what's going on in that country, it was not to deliver a message of goodwill.

Rather than announce the launch of a massive relief effort that could take advantage of a rare diplomatic opening, the first lady instead tossed insults at Burma's leaders, blamed them for the high death toll, and lashed out at their decision to move forward with a constitutional referendum scheduled for this Saturday.

The traditionally issue-averse first lady's concerns about the Burmese junta and its abuses of human rights date back several years, and she's been particularly outspoken since last fall.

But why respond to a catastrophe with such hostility? The awkward timing, as it turns out, may have had something to do with an event entirely unrelated to the cyclone.

"I'm going to leave tomorrow for Crawford, for Jenna's wedding, and I wanted to be able to make a statement about Burma before I left," the first lady told reporters. ......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/blog/2008/05/06/BL2008050601369.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns

[global1]

1. I See A Run For The Presidency In Her Future.........nt

[Winterblues]

9. I surely hope you jest...

Can you possibly believe she has anything at all that would give her credibility in a Presidential run. Bush* has made no bones about were a woman's place is and it isn't in any decision making position. She, unlike Hillary has not been consulted on every single issue facing the president. She even considers herself nothing more than a "lump in the bed"..

[speedoo]

2. Go on shithead, get your ass down to Crawford.

And stay there, for the ggod of the entire world.

[onethatcares]

3. the drunk first lady,

there she goes,

back to crawford,

but steps on toes.

Burma (shave)

[lynnertic]

6. nominated!

Your rhyme is just great.

[Hekate]

7. Burma Shave! well done! nt

[madrchsod]

10. you know there`s some here that have`t a clue...nicely done!

[Solly Mack]

4. "first lady's concerns...and its abuses of human rights date back several years"

and she sleeps with????

[madmom]

5. Wait a minute, does she even know about Katrina and how her "partner" responded?

[devilgrrl]

8. She must have had a flashback to hurricane KORINNA!

Ain't that right Pickles?