There was
this very interesting story today that Condi Rice has proposed to revamp the State Department's Arms Control Bureau. Aside from the obvious question why this wasn't done sooner, there are two things that are much more interesting in the AP article. First:
"Rather than deterring a single state with a massive nuclear arsenal, we must defend ourselves against shadowy networks of stateless enemies, some looking to buy, others looking to sell, the world's most dangerous weapons," Rice told an audience at the State Department.
The point here is that Rice doesn't seem to agree with the President that the need for the "Star Wars" missle defense system is paramount due to those "rogue nations" with missle systems. She says that the risk is less from those nations then from terrorists aquiring weapons. If that is true then why does the President insist on Star Wars?
Second, in describing the department Rice wants to restructure AP says:
The State Department's existing Bureau of Arms Control and International Security was one of the arms of the U.S. government keeping track of Saddam's capabilities, and was a participant in the dealings surrounding the administration's false claim that Saddam tried to acquire uranium -- a component of nuclear weapons -- from the African nation of Niger. Until recently, that office was headed by John R. Bolton, now Bush's embattled nominee to be United Nations ambassador.
The question I have for Dr. Rice is that if the department that John Bolton headed is in need of such major revamp and repair, then why does she have confidence that Bolton will be any better in a role with the UN?
These are questions that the MSM should be asking though of course they probably won't.
On an unrelated topic, the thrill is gone away from me. Although I still go on, the thrill is gone.