Most of the world was hoping that American Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice and Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki would have a civil discussion over dinner in Egypt Thursday night. The dinner was on the beach and the seating arrangements had Rice and Mottaki sitting right across from each other. Unfortunately, Mottaki walked in, saw the seating arrangements and then made an excuse about a violinist, hired for entertainment, being dressed too revealingly. He excused himself and left.
Mottaki and Rice did exchange brief pleasantries earlier, at lunch.
The Iranian entered the lunch, greeting the gathered diplomats with the Arabic phrase, “As-salama aleikum,” or “Peace be upon you,” according to an Iraqi official who was present.
Rice replied to him in English, “Hello,” then added: “Your English is better than my Arabic,” according to the Iraqi official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the lunch was private.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit then piped in, telling Mottaki, “We want to warm the atmosphere some.”
Mottaki smiled and replied in English with a saying: “In Russia, they eat ice cream in winter because it’s warmer than the weather” — more or less meaning, “You take whatever atmosphere-warming you can get.”
“That’s true,” Rice replied, according to the Iraqi official.
This is a pretty sad display. Everyone wants the U.S. and Iran to improve their relations and enter into a dialogue. And they can’t even sit across from each other and have dinner.
I can’t blame Rice for this. She showed up and was ready to be pleasant. I wish both the U.S. and the Iranians would act like grown-ups. There is too much at stake to play silly games.
Fortunately, there was some positive news that came out of the summit.
Separately Thursday, summit participants agreed on the International Compact with Iraq — an ambitious blueprint to stabilize the nation.
The plan sets benchmarks to achieve a stable, united, democratic Iraq within five years. It defines international help for Iraq — including debt relief — but also sets tough commitments on the Baghdad government, particularly carrying out reforms aimed at giving Iraq’s Sunni Arabs a greater role in the political process.
The Iraqi government, the United Nations and many of the more than 60 countries and international organizations gathered here hailed the launch of the blueprint as a milestone.
This is somewhat similar to what the Baker-Hamilton commission recommended and the Democrats tried to enact into law in the supplemental funding bill. It’s good to see some progress moving on a different front.
It’s difficult to simultaneously root for Rice to make some progress abroad when she is refusing to comply Congressional requests that she appear before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. But, for the good of the nation, and for the good of Iraq, I hope she has made some progress on this trip.
Not likely. What seems to be happening is a global strategy to make the Bush foreign policy irrelevant by having peace break out, taking away all excuses for further war. Congressional trips to Syria–purely for fact-finding and not overtly challenging Bush’s policy — were scary enough that the Bush mouthpieces were on Pelosi’s case for a week. Condi’s meeting with the same Syrians was not hypocrisy; it was an attempt to undo what the Congressmen had done.
World leaders have built an event to which Condi must attend or make the US seem as petulant as its President. She was there and there unwillingly. Apparently, so was the Iranian Foreign Minister. Both have to keep up the appearance (and probably the reality as well) that the US does not have diplomatic relations with Iran. And Iran cannot be seen to have talked first.
The more significant event was the 60 nations agreeing on an International Compact with Iraq. With Iraq, not the US. Some nations might see value in treating the current US puppets as a real government. And the Maliki government might seek this international cover to gain independence from US meddling.
And all the while, our lame duck Commander-in-Chief does not realize that events are rapidly being taken out of his hands.
Watch for criticism of those 60 countries very soon.
And watch for Condi to be perpetually out of the country on this or that mission. Because if she returns to DC, the sergeant-at-arms can serve her with her subpoena and compel testimony.
Makes sense to me. Condi is a bit of a wildcard at the moment. I’m not sure what authority and what independence she has.
I’m guessing she has as much authority and independence as Cheney allows to her have.