Yesterday, Susan Rice, a very smart and intelligent woman who has served this country well in the past and undoubtedly will continue to do so in the future, asked a very smart question.
"Who's Got The Foreign Policy Experience We Need?"
Unfortunately, as good as the question was, the answer was bad.
It's not just that Dr. Rice is a foreign policy advisor to Barack Obama, though it might have been nice if she disclosed that somewhere in the post, but it's also that Dr. Rice presumes the average HuffPost reader is uncapable of seeing through her argument for Barack Obama.
Senator Obama is a valid and viable candidate for the presidency, but, ironically, his viablity is valid in spite of his virtually complete lack of of foreign policy experience. Dr. Rice believes that, as an inside-the-beltway leader because she says he has the experience, we will nod lemming-like in agreement.
I don't think so.
Dr. Rice is correct when she states that we need a president with a deep understanding of national security issues, however, it is insane to suggest that sitting in three years of committee meetings in Washington, D.C. is training for other than on how not to fall asleep while Joe Biden talks.
Her quote:
Similarly, Barack Obama's service in the Senate, and notably his three years on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, including as Chairman of the European Affairs Subcommittee, afford him deep insight into national security issues.
If three years on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee gives Barack 'deep insight' one would think it only fair that Dr. Rice would point out that perhaps Senator Biden's decades and current chairmanship might qualify him for the highest office in the land, but she never mentions Senator Biden. But then again, she never mentions the five-time Nobel Prize-nominated former United States ambassador to the United Nations, Bill Richardson, or even Senator Edwards who also, FYI, traveled to Africa last year.
Of course, it's my opinion, having been to a Senate Committee meeting that sitting on one's backside in Committee meetings has only one result -- the freezing of the brain which, if left untreated, can dangerous, and also lead to even intelligent people believing that this is leadership:
His Iraq War De-escalation Act introduced in January 2007 was embraced by the Democratic leadership in the Senate and remains their primary legislative vehicle for ending the war.
This was news to me, and I suspect it might be news to the Democratic leadership. To be honest Dr. Rice, the last thing our 175,000 troops need is a 10-month old "primary legislative vehicle" for ending the war. Especially a "primary legislative vehicle" coming from a candidate who won't commit to ending the war SIX YEARS FROM NOW.
Allow me to quote Senator Obama.
TIM RUSSERT: "Will you pledge that by January 2013, the end of your first term, more than five years from now, there will be no U.S. troops in Iraq?"
SENATOR OBAMA: "I think it's hard to project four years from now, and I think it would be irresponsible. We don't know what contingency will be out there.
That's the thing about "primary legislative vehicles" our kids die, we spend hundreds of millions and they aren't the fastest moving things.
Then there is the issue of Senator Obama spending some of his elementary school years in Indonesia, where, I am certain he learned a lot of life overseas. It's a positive experience.
However, saying that it somehow implies foreign policy experience is ridiculous. It's like saying that because I like Mexican food and have been known to taste test margaritas, I am qualified to be ambassador to Mexico. Now, it would in the Bush administration, but I am hoping for more from our next president -- I am optimist.
Let me be clear -- the only other candidate that Dr. Rice bothers to mention, Senator Clinton, is also pushing the bounds of credibility to suggest that her travels as First Lady gives her true foreign policy experience.
Like Senator Obama's schooling, it is useful, helpful, certainly better than President Bush, whom rumor has it, didn't even have a passport till he ran for office, but again, I just got back from 10 days in the Bahamas.
I am not an expert on Caribbean political strategy.
Or then there is this quote about an appearance Senator Clinton made:
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton tells voters that as first lady she was sent to countries "too small, too poor or too dangerous" for President Clinton or Vice President Al Gore.
Senator Clinton doesn't usually make me smile broadly, but I got a chuckle out of this.
Can't you just see Bill and Al cowering under the big desk in the Oval Office with a globe?
"Al, can you go to Ireland?"
"No way, Bill, I am too scared. Haven't you heard of the 'troubles?"
"But someone has to go, I can't, I'm scared too. Plus Ireland is small and parts of it are quite poor."
"I know Bill, we'll send your wife."
Not sure what's funnier, Dr. Rice's 'analysis.' Or the idea of Hillary The Brave.