A Cheshire Cat who loves pomp!

I do not know if this is only me -- I find the USA Secretary of State of Condoleezza Rice a little too cheery any time I see her on T.V. However the grim the world events may be, there she is, grinning like a Cheshire Cat, chatting with world leaders. She is obviously excited and thrilled to be the center of attention. I hope that somebody tells her that there is more to her job than traveling around the world in her own jet plane, and getting to meet the world leaders at an equal level.
Rice was expected to become a powerful Secretary of State as she has the ‘ear’ of President Bush. But she is proving to be a big disappointment. She clearly lacks the vision and tact which are required for her job. Instead of providing a strong leadership for American foreign policies, she acts like a puppet of the powerbrokers of the Bush administration who have consistently showed a lack of understanding about the use of world diplomacy. Many of Rice statements and actions do not make sense or have logic. She threatened North Korea with ‘dire’ consequences if they tested their long range missiles. But when the North Korea went ahead and fired the missiles, she did nothing about it other than asking China to continue talking to North Korea. (What an incentive it must have been for Iran to continue with her nuclear program). Her recent statements about the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah again defy logic. ‘There can be no cease fire until it is permanent and sustainable’. Doesn't she know that one has to first stop fighting first, to sit down and talk about long term peace? What about ignoring the suffering of the Lebanese people who are caught in the middle? Does she not realize that until recently USA was a supporter of Lebanon who was claimed to be a 'beacon of democracy' in Middle East? What message will this stand give to other countries who count on US support? Why is USA too proud to include Syria and Iran in the peace talks, the two countires who have the most influence on Hezbollah? Despite of her excellent credentials as a teacher of international politics, Rice comes across as an amateur and light weight in diplomatic circles. It is time that she is replaced with someone in the caliber of former Secretaries of State James Baker and Madeline Albright.