Newt Gingrich has unleashed a fierce attack against the State Department and its culture of appeasement and Arabism. We can only hope this is the first signal of the beginning of a regime change at Foggy Bottom; State works routinely and tirelessly against the President's agenda. It has been appalling to watch Colin Powell either go native upon arrival in office, or show his true nature by siding with this permanent bureaucracy.
The last seven months have involved six months of diplomatic failure and one month of military success. The first days after military victory indicate the pattern of diplomatic failure is beginning once again and threatens to undo the effects of military victory.
The military delivered diplomatically and then the military delivered militarily in a stunning four week campaign. Now the State Department is back at work pursuing policies that will clearly throw away all the fruits of hard won victory.
America cannot lead the world with a broken instrument of diplomacy. America cannot lead in the age of democracy and 24 hour television with a broken instrument of international communications. America cannot help develop a vibrant world of entrepreneurial progress where countries grow into safety, health, prosperity and freedom for their people with a broken bureaucracy of red tape and excuses.
Posted by Alan at April 22, 2003 04:06 PM