Condoleezza Rice

U.S. National Security Advisor Dr. Condoleezza Rice has enjoyed a remarkable career. A distinguished scholar on East European affairs, she has been a Stanford University faculty member since 1981 — and was already part of the national security team under President George Bush Sr. Under Bush Jr., she became the first woman to ever serve as National Security Advisor. Our new Read My Lips examines her views on the issues at hand.

How does the Bush Administration conduct its foreign policy?

“The United States under President George W. Bush is not going to pull any punches. I think we learned all the way back with Ronald Reagan that you don’t soften the edges. You call out a threat when you see it.”

(February 2002)

What is the policy towards Iraq?

“There are times when you can’t wait to be attacked to respond.”

(June 2002)

Which of the numerous U.S. security agencies is to blame for lack of intelligence about possible terror attacks?

“We do have to pull together — and not point fingers.”

(June 2002)

What are the major challenges for the U.S. defense establishment?

“The Pentagon has trouble marrying up horses with 21st century air power.”

(May 2002)

How do you answer Europe's criticism of various U.S. policies?

“When people are trying to kill you and when they attack because they hate freedom, other disputes from Frankenfood to bananas — and even important issues like the environment — suddenly look a bit different.”

(May 2002)

Anyway, is President Bush's record abroad really that bad?

“This is a president who’s having foreign policy successes all over the place.”

(April 2002)

What was your view on Russia when you started your job back in 2001?

“Russia will marginalize itself — if it cannot use its tremendous economic potential to base its position in the world on real potential rather than the imaginary potential.”

(February 2001)

Why did the United States not continue the ABM treaty?

“The ABM treaty is an artifact of a different period of time — it was designed to prevent national missile defense. It is not clear to me how you get around that. It is a new world.”

(May 2000)

In the Middle East, did the United States expect too much from Yasser Arafat?

“No one ever asked Yasser Arafat to get 100% results. What has been asked of him is 100% effort.”

(May 2002)

What, in turn, do you demand from the Israeli side?

“We’ve always asked the Israelis to remember that, whatever they do, there has to be another day — and that next day needs to be one in which conditions are better for peace.”

(March 2002)

Do you see a relationship between Islam and terrorism?

“Extremism and progress are most assuredly enemies of one another. But you don’t have to reject tradition and belief to reap the benefits of integration in a modern world in a positive way.”

(April 2002)