ALL THE NEWS THAT'S FIT TO BE MADE UP

From AP coverage of Condi's recapitulation of her barnstorming tour of Jerusalem and the West Bank:

Rice Hears Encouragement From Mideast

My only question: who gives a shit what the voices in her head are saying? And seriously, take a look at what she actually said, and tell me if that sounds remotely encouraging:

"There is no doubt there could be a very important effect on the entire region if we are able to make progress on Middle East peace . . . I did find the parties very desirous of making progress. I believe the whole region is looking for ways to make progress and drive toward the establishment of a Palestinian state."

Well, hot damn. I want to live in Condi's world. I'm very desirous of getting really rich, therefore we should all feel encouraged by the fact that I could become very rich if I'm able to become very rich because I believe I'm looking for ways to become very rich.

In further examples of the weird world of language, as rendered by the Administration & the press in 2007, look at this nugget, as she described things in Iraq & Iran:

"The United States is not escalating this in Iraq. We are simply responding to the fact that there are Iranian efforts to assist those who are building explosive devices that are dangerous to our forces."

So, if I understand correctly, escalation is not escalation if you can offer an unsubstantiated assertion that dubiously rationalizes the escalation? Is that what she's saying?

I guess it's more "augmentation"? And since we're playing the diction game, I'll suggest that when one "augments" the truth, it's neither an escalation, nor is it encouraging.

It's just a Lie.