Personally, I don't think Condi should have said "good friend" but what does it matter. Diplomats shake hands and hug those who they despise all the time...it's their job. I think those opposed to the current administration will look at this and claim we are making friends and talking with brutal dictators only to turn around and claim we aren't talking to leaders of questionable character. Double standard, I think so.

Again, should she have said it, maybe not, but do you really think she meant "good friend" as though he really was a "good friend". It's the same as when democrats clap and shake hands when Bush gives a speach. Do they really admire him and offer applause or is it politicking? Her language is political and should treated as such.

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He who makes a beast of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man.
Dr. Samuel Johnson

Right, the way to "open a dialogue" with these people is to call them lying ass bastards. That's diplomatic isn't it?

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Its better to have fussed and crabbed then never to have fussed at all - Lucy

Exactly the point.

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He who makes a beast of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man.
Dr. Samuel Johnson

Let's hope you are right and that the washington post's inference that this is not normal is wrong.

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http://tinyurl.com/25trx9

03/04/07 "Whoso would be a man must be a nonconformist." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson, US essayist & poet (1803 - 1882)

02/25/07 "There is no nonsense so errant that it cannot be made the creed of the vast majority by adequate governmental action." ~ Bertrand Russell, British author, mathematician, & philosopher (1872 - 1970)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...041600737.html

Here is the link I took the excerpt from Dom. I provided one link and this one was within the article itself. I guess it is a matter of opinion but if you read the articles carefullly and this dictators standing in the world (being on our governments top ten list for brutality) I think it is fair to point out Rice rhetoric. True cordial words should always be an opening...however this administration will often not even open dialogue with dictators who a do not make the top ten list. I think calling him a "Good Friend" was directly related to oil. Why was it such a secret the meeting? She could have come out and stated she opened dialogue on his atrocious torture, killings and human rights abuse . I think those issues were not addressed otherwise she would be the first to discuss it.

You can be cordial without calling someone a good friend. It is in sharp contrast to refusals to open dialogue as recommended by the ISG with countries to solve the disaster in Iraq .

If you approve of this administrations foreign policy of no dialogue and then jumping to "Good Friend" with some of the worst human rights abusers I guess that is your opinion. I think we refuse dialogue and point our human rights abuses when we want to start a conflict and ignore worse human rights abuses when it is conveinent.

I think dialogue is very important with our enemies...including this man. However I think he came from that meeting feeling quite supported from the U.S. He almost makes Saddam look like a decent guy if you review their track records. I find it odd and remniscent of our conveinent support of Saddam. Well at least you are ok with it.

AS diplomatics as the Bombs you always want to see dropped

No no, we don't want to see bombs dropped, way too impersonnal. We want to be down on the ground with guns and granades and knives. We want to see the blood and gore, blood and gore necessitated by the idiotic policies of the liberal surrenderbots

What a dumb ass post noneofyourbusiness. If that is your best shot you should be completely and totally ashamed of yourself for even considering posting with the big boys

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Its better to have fussed and crabbed then never to have fussed at all - Lucy

No No dumabss NOT YOU. Kids. Youow ant others to fight your battles cause your a damn coward. Regardless you commenting on the proper procedures for diplomocy is pretty fucking stupid.

http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2005/61567.htm

This country is a leader in human rights abuses espcially human trafficking.

I believe that our country should always meet with enemies and human rights violators. However I think this administration welcomes some enemies who lead in atrocities and stands firm on refusing to have dialogue with enemies that have been recommended by the ISG and could solve problesm. Just my opinion Dom...but if you think no mention of human rights and a stamp of "good friend of the U.S." is okay I guess that is your opinion.

Possibly one human rights violator(dictator) gives us something we want and others we want to invade.... therefore the motivation for some to be our good friend and others to be wiped out....

I fought my war so please refrain from calling me a coward. A coward is someone who no matter what the risk will not take the steps to defend themselves. I don't know what country you are from but I can almost guarantee its one that the United States was forced to defend at some point in history. Europeans have become so perverted they are like the deer in the woods, thinking only of where will I eat next, who will I fuck next and can I run away fast enough to stay out of danger.

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Its better to have fussed and crabbed then never to have fussed at all - Lucy