Just over a year ago, Condoleezza Rice made history as the first African American woman to become U.S. Secretary of State.
Today she’s dealing with cartoons.
Yet this is one of the most serious issues she’s faced as head of U.S. “foreign policy” with other nations.
The cartoons, drawn by artists in Europe and published in newspapers, have angered Muslims around the world because they depict the Muslim prophet Muhammad as a supporter of terrorism.
There have been riots, violent demonstrations and the burning of government buildings by Muslims protesting against the cartoons and Denmark, the country where they were first published.
For Rice and the United States, Muslim anger at western, non-Muslim nations is a continuing and dangerous issue.
Of special concern is that the cartoon protests will hurt U.S. moves to reach out to Muslims in the effort to rebuild Iraq and fight terrorism around the world.
As leader of U.S. foreign policy, Rice is center stage whenever there’s a crisis in the world that could affect America’s security, economy or goals.
In just the last month she has had to deal with the unexpected victory of the Hamas terrorist group in Palestinian elections, Iran’s efforts to develop a nuclear program that could produce weapons, free speech and trade in China and continued attacks against the U.S. in Iraq.
Traveling woman
In one year on the job, Condoleezza Rice has visited nearly 50 countries and traveled more than 250,000 miles. Her job is to advise President Bush on how best to deal with world issues and to gain support from other nations to assist the U.S. in achieving its goals.
The U.S. decision to go to war in Iraq without the backing of the United Nations has made getting support more difficult than it was for earlier secretaries of state.
But this year, Rice has reached out to other nations with calls for what she calls “transformational diplomacy.”
“Transformational diplomacy is rooted in partnerships … in doing things WITH other people, not FOR them,” she explained in a speech at Georgetown University last month. “We seek to use America’s diplomatic power to help foreign citizens to better their OWN lives, to build their OWN nations and to transform their OWN futures.”
Presidential tutor
Rice has become a closer advisor to President Bush than her predecessor, Colin Powell, who clashed with the President and Vice President Dick Cheney over Iraq and other issues.
Sharing the president’s love of sports—she’s a huge football fan—she quickly hit it off with him when he first ran for president, and became his “tutor” on foreign policy.
In her year in office she has proved an effective representative of the President with a polished, yet tough-talking, style that has impressed foreign leaders.
The trust and access she has with the President, Forbes magazine declared, makes her “the most powerful woman in the world.”
(UPI Photo) When Muslim protests broke out over cartoons published in European newspapers, Condoleezza Rice and members of her State Department urged other nations to speak out against violence.
- As leader of “foreign policy” for the world’s only superpower, Condoleezza Rice has to deal with a wide range of issues. In the Muslim cartoon controversy, the U.S. must balance respect for the Muslim religion against its belief in freedom of speech. As a class, discuss the debate over the cartoons. Then pretend to be Condoleezza Rice and brainstorm ways the U.S. could reach out to Muslims to gain support for U.S. goals.
- As one of the closest advisors to President Bush, Condoleezza Rice is in the news almost every day. Find a story in the newspaper about an issue with which she is dealing. Write a complete sentence summarizing the issue. Then write a second complete sentence describing what you think will happen next.
- Before becoming the first African American woman to be secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice was the first African American woman to be the President’s national security advisor. In the newspaper, find another African American who is breaking new ground. Write a Black History Month essay describing why this newsmaker’s achievements are important.
- Condoleezza Rice’s father became a Republican because Democrats in Alabama supported “Jim Crow” laws that prevented him from registering to vote in the 1950s. In the newspaper, find a story about people seeking fair treatment in some way. Write a letter to the editor offering your opinion on how fairness could be achieved.