Oy Have I Got the Wrong Rice

I wrote last Sunday, 5 long harrowing bloody destructive days ago, that the US needed to ramp up diplomacy right away:

What is hopeful it that the exceedingly brilliant woman Rice is will find analternative way to initiate diplomacy, and resolution.

During this morning’s press conference outlining US goals for the region, and her immediate plans for her trip to the battle area in two more days, here’s what the Secretary of State said:

Asked why she had not gone earlier and engaged in shuttle diplomacy to try toend the death and destruction that has gripped the region, she said, "I could have gotten on a plane and rushed over and started shuttling, and it wouldn't have been clear what I was shuttling to do."

I guess I put way too much expectation into the abilities of this woman. Then again, there is no doubt the benefits of continued fighting, with the spectre of Israeli ground forces massing on the Southern Lebanon border, are politically advantageous to the US and several of the front-line parties. Let Secretary Rice explain that to the parents of children who will be killed and maimed in the days ahead—see if they understand what cause could be important enough to condone that. How clear is that?