With the US bogged down in Iraq and Iran defiant over its nuclear program, US foreign policy makers are faced with numerous challenges. SPIEGEL ONLINE spoke with former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright about breeding terrorists in Iraq, the Iran crisis, and how the Haditha massacre became possible. SPIEGEL ONLINE: Ms. Albright, America's image in the world isn't in great shape these days. Things are looking especially bad in Iraq with daily reports of violence, the country teetering on the brink of civil war, and now a scandal erupting over an alleged massacre perpetrated by the US military in the town of Haditha. Are you happy that you are not Secretary of State right now? Albright: It is a mixed feeling. Things are really in bad shape. If the Democrats were still in power, they wouldn't be in this kind of shape. On the one hand, it's a little bit of a relief not having to deal with it. On the other, though, it is somewhat frustrating having to watch it. If you really care about the foreign policy of your country and spent a lot of time taking care of it, being confronted with the question as to how long it will now take the US to regain its reputation abroad is difficult. I am afraid it's going to take awhile. Reputations of countries are very hard to put back together. SPIEGEL ONLINE: In your new book, "The Mighty and the Almighty: Reflections on America, God, and World Affairs," you write that you previously underestimated the importance of religion in foreign policy. Has the Bush Administration developed a better understanding of the foreign policy implications of religious faith? Albright: They certainly know that religion plays a role. Are they doing the things that I suggest need to be done in terms of religious leaders being resources in negotiations? I don't have that feeling. Foreign Service officials now have to write a report about what is going on in a country in terms of religious issues. A certain sensitivity has developed in the way people use terms. The rest of the interview can be found here. Any opinions out there?
http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showpost.php?p=283676&postcount=4 "Saddam's goal ... is to achieve the lifting of U.N. sanctions while retaining and enhancing Iraq's weapons of mass destruction programs. We cannot, we must not and we will not let him succeed." -- Madeline Albright, 1998
Don't think we are running any campaign here, nice collection, though. Do you have a similar composition from the right-wing counterparts?
I suppose one would have to ask if a similar composition was necessary for the "right-wing" counterparts. Apparently as Secretary of State, Albright was more than convinced saddam had WMD and needed to be dealt with. It's clear to see what the "left-wing" thought and asserted during their time in office and after. Arm chair quarterbacks
Obviously you are very much concerned about an evenly balanced view. Nevertheless, I am sure there were some alternatives to how the alleged WMD finally "needed to be dealt with", don't you think so?
I wouldn't read more into than what I've noted. You pointed out today (I'm sure there *must* be *some* reason) and I pointed out yesterday. No need to complicate things with shades of grey
Albright is one of those typical ARRP card holding, crusty old vacuum bag, social security sucking senior citizens that should have been put down long before my last cat! What a prune!