Condoleezza Rice

Door verschillende deskundigen wordt op dit ogenblik gewaarschuwd voor een mogelijke escalatie van de oorlog, waarin ook Amerika's bondgenonoten meegezogen zullen worden. Een van hen is de Amerikaanse hoogleraar Michael T. Klare, auteur van 'Blood and Oil: The Dangers and Consequences of America's Growing Dependence on Imported Petroleum.' Hij schrijft: 'Most striking perhaps was Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's truculent appearance before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on October 19. Under questioning from both Democratic and Republican senators, she refused to rule out the use of military force against Syria or Iran, nor would she acknowledge any presidential obligation to consult Congress before engaging in such an action. Asked by Senator Paul Sarbanes whether the administration actually "entertains the possibility of using military action against Syria or against Iran" and "could undertake to do that without obtaining from Congress an authorization for such action", she replied: "What I said is that the president doesn't take any of his options off the table and that I will not say anything that constrains his authority as commander in chief." While insisting that the administration was still relying on diplomacy to resolve its differences with Syria and Iran, she left no doubt as to Bush's preparedness (and right) to employ force at any time or place of his choosing.' Zie: http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/GK17Ak05.html