THIS man wants to be Sec'y of State? (Wolfowitz)

Paul Wolfowitz is said to be "campaigning" for the job of Secretary of State should Powell leave. (http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/06/opinion/06DOWD.html)

Now, forget for the moment the sheer horror of such a prospect, and consider what Maureen Dowd points out in her column today: "he said at last grateful Iraqis were thronging. 'As we would drive by, little kids would run up to the road and give us a thumbs up sign,' (Wolfowitz) said."

For someone looking to be Secretary of State, should he not know the basic cultural mores of the nation which he would assuredly be completely pre-occupied with (as though he isn't already), were he to become Secretary of State?

It is widely known that the "thumbs up" sign is a grave insult akin to "up yours" in Iraq, and throughout the Mid-East. See http://slate.msn.com/id/2080812 for more info on the matter. While it is acknowledged that it is possible that Iraqis could be adopting our use of the gesture to welcome us, the best that can be said is that they are adopting it with tongue planted firmly in cheek. Can you imagine if a nation conquered us, and their gesture of good will was the middle finger? If we were using this gesture towards them, even knowing this, it would certainly come with a good bit of snickering behind our conquerors' backs.

Certainly, given the usual use of the "thumbs up" in Iraq, Wolfowitz should hardly be going around claiming Iraqi children's thronging him with the gesture as evidence that they were in full support of the U.S. occupation.

I am constantly astounded by the ignorance of Bush's foreign policy team, on every level.

eom

Democratic candidates should pound on the possibility of wolfie becoming Sec. of State in a 2nd Bush term (shudder). Wolfie has been flying under the radar too much with his radical neocon foreign policy ideas. Discussion by the Demo candidates might encourage some journalists to check out what wolfie has been up to lo these past 5 years or so (since 1998).

I suspect our troops will start using the 'Thumbs up' and its new meaning every opportunity they are given. I can't wait for the photos to start showing up in the newspapers and the savvy public fully understanding the double meaning. FREEDOM OF SPEECH! Embedded journalists helping the cause! This could work to our advantage.

they're starting to can the embedded journalists...

http://www.prweek.com/news/news_story.cfm?ID=186846&site=3

Or haven't you noticed? Powell is a figure head who is about to become just a figure.

It's another PNAC/Straussian deception - just create the air of inevitability if you want something to happen. Lie, lie, lie. Who's going to stop you?

He is Enemy #1 in my book.

That's why he's in an appointed position. They knew 2 years ago not to even try then, I doubt if they would be stupid enough to try now.

Anyway, I would love to see them try. You can be sure folks like us will raise holy hell if they do.