Rice: U.S. Was Prepared for War in Iraq

[Pirate Smile]

WASHINGTON - Secretary of State nominee Condoleezza Rice (news - web sites) gave no ground in Senate confirmation questioning Tuesday, insisting the United States was fully prepared for the Iraq (news - web sites) war and its aftermath and refusing to give a timetable for U.S. troops to come home.

An American exit strategy depends on Iraq's ability to defend itself against terrorists after this month's elections, she said.

Rice seemed headed for easy confirmation by the Senate as President Bush (news - web sites)'s choice to be the country's top diplomat. She did have a tense exchange with Sen. Barbara Boxer (news, bio, voting record), D-Calif. — Rice repeatedly asked the senator not to question her truthfulness — but former presidential nominee John Kerry (news - web sites), D-Mass., was the only member of the Foreign Relations Committee who told her she might not win his vote.

"This was never going to be easy," Rice said of the war and its aftermath during a confirmation hearing in which she painted an optimistic picture of the future in Iraq — and for resolution of the long conflict between Israel and the Palestinians as well.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&e=1&u=/ap/senate_rice

They will never admit reality. Lord help us.