WaPo: clueless on Europeans

[rusty charly]

"Not a single government minister questioned Rice directly about the existence of secret CIA prisons during an one-hour discussion of the topic at a private dinner here Wednesday, according to officials who attended."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/09/AR2005120900793.html?referrer=email&referrer=email


Don't they understand yet, that's not how they do it? They don't have Jean Schmidt's over there.

[Briar]

1. Of course they didn't question her directly.

These governments have been complicit with the US all along. If they questioned her directly they might get direct answers. They don't want direct answers, since their excuse to their peoples is that they "do not know". Continuing not to know is vital to their continuing to support the US in its (and therefore their) war crimes.

[rusty charly]

2. two Europes

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice left behind two Europes when she returned home this weekend from her diplomatic tour aimed at reassuring the allies of the United Sates that the Bush administration did not practice torture and abided by its international obligations.

One was the Europe of government leaders and diplomats who generally praised Ms. Rice for her reassurances, and said that they were satisfied with what she had told them.

The other was the skeptical Europe of the media and much of the public, those still inclined to feel that Ms. Rice papered over some specific, nasty truths about the abuse of American power - and, more generally, that the United States is an out-of-control superpower whose abuses are widespread and deeply troubling.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/11/international/europe/11rice.html

[Demeter]

3. They Know Better Than to Waste Time Trying to Get Answers from Bush

or any of his lackeys. They are saving the questions for the Hague.