Her United States Senate detractors accomplished little more than allying themselves with disgraceful hecklers and expanding the definition of "confirmation process" to include a public verification of their intellectual bankruptcy — and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice hasn't given them a second thought during her confident, substantive maiden diplomatic tour. While talking Western Europe out of its tantrum, she's taken the remaining Axis of Evil nations with one hand each. On Iran, she teed for President Bush's drive. After warning Tehran that it will not waylay the United States as it had Europe, Rice condemned the terrorist capital for its theocratic oppression, telling Iranian democrats and the world that she doesn't believe "anybody thinks that the unelected mullahs who run that regime are a good thing for the Iranian people and for the region." Her adroit use of the threat of force — telling reporters that "the question is simply not on the agenda at this point" — was followed well by the president's message: "Don't develop a nuclear weapon."
As if to grab the spotlight, North Korea's Kim regime declared its nuclear arsenal this week, putting into simple words what has been obvious since the 2002 collapse of the Washington-Pyongyang "agreed framework" devised by former Presidents Clinton and Carter. Pyongyang's histrionics have grown old, however, especially in light of a concerted effort by the United States and its closest democratic allies to deprive Kim Jong Il room to parley or bully:
Asked to analyze the thinking in Pyongyang, Rice was almost dismissive."I'm not sure anyone ever gets very far by trying to second-guess the motivation of the North Korean regime," she said.
Thank you, and have a nice day. For the first time since 1990, a woman has dibs on "Iron Lady."