I'll say it again...Condi's an idiot

No matter how many degrees she has, or how well she plays the piano or ice skates, or how skilled she is at reading a defense--Condi Rice is an idiot. Here's what she's saying now:

Rice did not accuse Syria of involvement in Hariri's death, but she said Syria's refusal to withdraw its troops was a factor.

"There is no doubt the conditions created by Syria's presence there have created a destabilized situation in Lebanon," she told reporters Tuesday. "That is very clear to everyone."

Well, Condi, it wasn't clear to the CIA (emphasis added):

Lebanon has made progress toward rebuilding its political institutions since 1991 and the end of the devastating 15-year civil war. Under the Ta'if Accord - the blueprint for national reconciliation - the Lebanese have established a more equitable political system, particularly by giving Muslims a greater say in the political process while institutionalizing sectarian divisions in the government. Since the end of the war, the Lebanese have conducted several successful elections, most of the militias have been weakened or disbanded, and the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) have extended central government authority over about two-thirds of the country. Hizballah, a radical Shia organization, retains its weapons. Syria maintains about 16,000 troops in Lebanon, based mainly east of Beirut and in the Bekaa Valley. Syria's troop deployment was legitimized by the Arab League during Lebanon's civil war and in the Ta'if Accord. Damascus justifies its continued military presence in Lebanon by citing Beirut's requests and the failure of the Lebanese Government to implement all of the constitutional reforms in the Ta'if Accord. Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon in May 2000, however, encouraged some Lebanese groups to demand that Syria withdraw its forces as well. The passage of UNSCR 1559 in early October 2004 - a resolution calling for Syria to withdraw from Lebanon and end its interference in Lebanese affairs - further emboldened Lebanese groups opposed to Syria's presence in Lebanon.

-- CIA World Factbook

Perhaps not an ideal situation acceptable to everyone, but I see little in that CIA description of Lebanon to suggest a "destabilized situation." It seems to say pretty much the opposite, in fact. This is why I call her "Condiliar." (And if one bomb killing 15 people is proof positive of a destabilized nation, what is 9/11? Oklahoma City? The anthrax mailings or the beltway snipers or the ongoing carnage on our highways?)

Syrian Ambassador to the US Imad Moustapha was on CNN this morning, responding to all the Washington bluster, pointedly though perhaps not diplomatically pointing out the obvious:

Moustapha dismissed the argument that Syrian troops could have stopped Hariri's assassination by a massive bomb in downtown Beirut."Our troops are not in any major Lebanese city," he said.

"Definitely not in Beirut. They have been out of Beirut for at least two years."You have 150,000 troops in Iraq and you can't stop acts of terrorism. We have 13,000 troops (in Lebanon)."

Moustapha said that if Lebanon's government -- the current one or the one to be elected in May -- asks Syrian forces to leave, "We will leave immediately. We will not blink an eye."

(emphasis added again)