Wow... The surprising thing is that the examples of complete ineptitude never cease to to appear. From day one the invasion of Iraq has been a joke. From people running up and down the halls of the White-house without a clue to a security advisor unaware of who Al Queda is.

Ms. Rice may have wanted to be a Congresswoman or a Senator but she ended up with a far more hands on role in government. It is unfortunate for the United States and the world that this woman did not choose to become a jewelry salesperson instead.

She failed the U.S. under W.'s daddy when as NSC advisor in charge of Soviet Affairs she completely missed the collapse of the Soviet Union, leaving Bush Sr. and the rest of the free world unprepared to capitalize on the end of the stalemate.

Before 9/11 she was clueless about the existence of Al Queda, and so alienated the Secretary of defense that he wouldn't share information with her. In the middle of a shooting war we had a White-house administration so petty and small they were playing adolescent silent treatment games with each other.

I do have empathy for the woman with regards to her treatment in the jewelry store where a clerk was refusing to show her the nicer wares. As a blue collar worker in a position that pays more than the average working man I have been treated similarly in retail situations. However she had no right to berate the clerk and rub his nose in the fact that she made much more money than he. That was simply tasteless and rude.

This books author makes much about Condi's eyes and her intense staring abilities. Perhaps the author is impressed by another persons ability to stare cold and hard but most people who have had to grow up dealing with Bull-chips and horse pies can see right past that. The authors comments regarding Ms. Rices eyes speaks more to the weaknesses of the author than the strengths of the Sec. of State. Given her many failures with Russia and China its obvious that the leaders of other parts of the world are NOT impressed with her "Stare".

I wish the the secretary all the luck in the world. We need her to be successful so our nation can be successful. However I simply do not feel that she is up to the task she has at hand.