U.S. double standard to hamper Rice Mideast drive

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/index.htm?period=0&rt=0&startdate=20050615&enddate=20050616&fb_emergencycodes=&fb_topiccodes=&fb_countrycodes=216595&fb_sourcecodes=&gofilter=Filter

WASHINGTON, June 16 (Reuters) - The Bush administration's different standards for its friends and foes could hurt the credibility of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's push for democracy in the Middle East on a trip that starts on Saturday.

President George W. Bush pledged this year to make democracy and human rights a central plank in relations worldwide, and particularly in the Middle East where Washington has traditionally tolerated allies' repression and abuses.

Critics and supporters of the campaign say it has so far delivered little, because Washington has tempered its criticism of nations such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia for fear of losing support on policies ranging from the war on terrorism to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to oil supply.

To much of the Arab world, the Bush administration appears hypocritical as it hammers longtime foe Iran over its flawed presidential election set for Friday but refuses to call Egyptian election reform the sham most political analysts say it is.

[Malva Zebrina]

1. Oh well then certainly Rice should include Laura in her entourage

Laura, has shown herself, from her last successful foreign diplomatic trip to the ME to see the pyramids, museums and stuff, to be an expert on foreign policy.

[LynnTheDem]

2. "Bush administration appears hypocritical"...if it "appears" hypocritical

perhaps that's because bushCartel ARE hypocritical.