News that Condoleezza Rice will be the next U.S. Secretary of State is bringing considerable comfort to people with their backs against the wall in our own hemisphere. For Latin Americans who've already looked closely, she's the genuine article. In Venezuela and in Cuba, Dr. Rice's deep understanding of Communist regimes, as well as her sophisticated grasp of the political complexities that allow the U.S. to act or not act, impresses the people who know and live the realities of Communist leadership. For our friends south of the border, it's an at last someone who gets it moment. 

Dr. Rice minces no words on essential matters. Yet she's shows more 'nuance' in analysis than John Kerry ever could. It's a strong, not weak, mind, that accomplishes this as skilfully as Dr. Rice does.

Shortly before the Nov. 2 election, Dr. Rice gave an straight—talking interview on foreign policy for the Pittsburgh Tribune Review.  It's worth re—reading in its entirety because it covers issues all over the world. But in an analysis that impressed Venezuelans, she offered a first—class reading of the situation.

Now take a look at the Venezuelan response to this interview: Blogger Daniel in Yaracuy, who is an excellent political analyst, presents this critique to her interview, coming as it did in the final days of the U.S. presidential campaign.
(scroll down to the Oct. 29 item with the sub—headline 'Serious foreign policy versus Mickey Mouse foreign policy')  

Now this bear a little bit of reflection. Clearly, the US is very well informed about the doings of Chavez. No matter how much oil they need, no matter how much accommodation Carter does, they know the man and they know he is not good news (observe the amusing detail, by the way, that the editor asked Ms. Rice about Libya and Venezuela in the same sentence, and in her answer Libya is improving and Venezuela, well, you read it!)

But the reflection goes further. In a serious democratic system, no matter what its flaws are, there are a minimum of consensus that are reached between all the parties. Arguably the current US campaign is one of its bitterest, and yet, yet!, one can surmise that the people behind the stage are working together to make sure that whoever becomes the next president there will be a blueprint reflecting the National Interests waiting on his desk at inauguration day.

A.M. Mora y Leon   11 16 04