BBC NEWS
Rice grilled over US Iraq policy
Condoleezza Rice, President George W Bush's nominee as secretary of state, has been persistently asked by US senators to explain US policy on Iraq.

Ms Rice was answering questions during a session of the US Senate, which is expected to confirm her in the post.

One senator aggressively suggested Ms Rice's loyalty to Mr Bush "overwhelmed your respect for the truth".

If confirmed, Ms Rice, 50, will be the first black woman to hold the office of US secretary of state.

She did not admit that the Bush administration made any diplomatic mistakes in its first term.
I have to say that I have never, ever, lost respect for the truth in the service of anything
Condoleezza Rice

But in her opening statement she made it clear that she believed greater efforts should be made now to put America's case to the world and listen to the response.

"The time for diplomacy is now," she said.

"Our interaction with the rest of the world must be a conversation, not a monologue."

Dignity attack

Members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee continuously asked Ms Rice to explain whether the number of US troops sent to Iraq was appropriate to their task, the adequacy of Iraqi forces being trained to replace them and whether she could outline an exit strategy.

Senator John Kerry who lost the presidential race to Mr Bush said he was concerned by Ms Rice's answers.


HAVE YOUR SAY
I would advise President Bush to continue to rely on the good people he has surrounded himself with
Susan, Washington, DC, USA

Another Democrat Senator, Barbara Boxer, suggested Ms Rice had lost respect for the truth out of loyalty to the president by refusing to admit mistakes such as the failure to find weapons of mass destruction - the Bush administration's central justification for the war.

Ms Rice retorted: "I have to say that I have never, ever, lost respect for the truth in the service of anything."

And she told Ms Boxer: "I really hope that you will refrain from impugning my integrity."

Ms Rice is looking to make a fresh start in American diplomacy, but the legacy of the immediate past may weigh her down, says the BBC's Justin Webb in Washington.

Effectiveness first

Mr Bush's nominee told the panel earlier that the US must listen to the world more.

But she indicated that the US would not let traditional allies or multilateral institutions stand in the way of "effective" action by Washington.

On other foreign policy issues, Ms Rice said:

* "I look forward to personally working with Palestinian and Israeli leaders, and bringing American diplomacy to bear on this difficult but crucial issue

* "We must remain united in insisting that Iran and North Korea abandon their nuclear weapons

* "We are building a candid, co-operative and constructive relationship with China."

A committee vote is expected on Wednesday, and the full Senate could act later in the week.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/4186241.stm

Published: 2005/01/19 01:56:15 GMT

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