Thursday’s Washington Post is running an interesting story that follows the theme set by Tom Friedman on Wednesday, wherein Friedman complained that the Bush Administration didn’t invest itself enough in visiting allies and selling our agenda. Now comes the Post on Thursday with a story whose premise is that Colin Powell spends too much time on the phone. Yes, that’s right; according to the Post and their source for this story, the Bushies are having trouble selling their imperial foreign policy not because Pax Americana and nuclear pre-emption are counterproductive to coalition building and diplomacy. Rather, the problem seems to rest with Powell and his alleged preference for conducting diplomacy by phone, rather than visiting allies overseas personally.

Two things jump out about this story. First, the source for this story is planting the notion that it’s Powell’s fault that he can’t sell Rummy/Wolfie/Uncle Dick’s Pax Americana; it can’t possibly be that the conservatives’ wet dream itself is flawed and offensive to our allies. Secondly, the Powell allies referenced in the story imply that the reason why Powell doesn’t travel and sends his subordinates instead is due to the internal turf battles within the Administration.

Interesting. The Post comes up with a lamebrain scapegoating attempt against Powell, and his folks throw it back at the White House’s feet.

No wonder these guys are screw-ups.

Soto