White House post-election cleanup
Archived Articles | 26 Nov 2004 | Adu RaudkiviEWR
It wasn't much of a shock in some cases, everybody knew about it, but they had to stay on until the election was over. Former Four Star General, Former Defense Secretary and current Secretary of State Colin Powell, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeldt, and Attorney General John Ashcroft were the main ones to be shuffled out of the Bush administration.
The most signifigant departure was of Powell, who gave the administration credibility, having been with Bush senior, war hero, a person who stood tall with dignity but didn't quite march to the same drummer as the rest of the administration. He was therefore left out of the inner circle. His departure was anticipated throughout his tenure. His replacement, therefore, former National Security Advisor, Dr. Condoleezza Rice, has almost been resented.
Rice seems to be most significant to Estonians because she is a Russian speaking specialist on post-Soviet, Russian affairs who has now risen from an advisor role to one of a major cabinet position. Where she stands, or sits, is thus far a question.
As National Security Advisor she was located in the White House, constantly in contact and agreement with Bush and joining with him in prayer meetings.
Eric Margolis, Toronto Sun Columnist, supporter of the anti-Communist cause and now pro-Arab says, " After the European powers refused to joined the trumped up Iraq war, Rice famously advised Bush to ‘punish France, ignore Germany and forgive Russia.’ Bush followed this amateurish, vindictive misadvice, seriously damaging U.S.-Europe relations and helping advance dictatorship in Russia. "
Were that true, the Baltics might not have been admitted into NATO, a highly U.S. influenced operation, considering how opposed Russia was to that move.
Yet proximity between Bush and Russian President Vladmir Putin had become closer than it has ever been between other U.S. and Russian leaders. Is it a show to keep Putin neutralized during the Iraq conflict? Or is it for real, is the burning question.
This is an area of US policy to keep an eagle eye on.
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