Rice faces questions about U.S. push for democracy in Mideast

[deminks]

http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/13936091.htm

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is encountering sharp questions as she tries to sell the Bush administration's policy of promoting democracy in the Middle East.

Arab journalists want Rice to explain how the United States can push elections that brought Hamas, the radical Palestinian group, to power - and then turn around and try to isolate the group.

Arab leaders, at least those in Saudi Arabia and in Egypt, her first stop on a four-day tour, refused to cut off aid to a future Hamas-led government, as Washington had hoped.

Rice left Washington on Monday evening with two goals: to sculpt a unified global message to Hamas that it must change course and negotiate peace with Israel, and to get Arab backing for a U.S. policy of confronting newly aggressive Iran.

[mom cat]

1. Hope some democrats are taking notes on how to say no to bullies.