illusionbuster, that was one of the most scattershot, random, nonsensical reviews I have read lately. As a specialist in scattershot, random, and the nonsensical I know this...

She's certainly very intelligent with very solid academic credentials. Her speciality is in Central Asia, which is helpful since that region is becoming of great strategic importance for this country, especially for new energy markets. But I'm not too sure that she has been all that effective in dealing with the Middle East. The situation in Palestine has regressed and her tentative stance on democritization in the region has created some instability associated with the rise of fundamentalist groups in key countries like Egypt and Syria. Her problem is that she just isn't a great manager, and that sort of diminishes her standing in Washington. She's a good analyst, but overall, I don't think she is all that suited for running the State department.

No question...she's smart. I'm sure her IQ is very high. Which only serves to make her that much more contemptible and repugnant. A high IQ combined with no heart and a tiny soul is a very noxious mixture, especially given the complexities of the world we now live in. Ask anybody fighting, and dying, in Iraq.

Clearly some intellectual gifts. . .but Rice is in over her head in middle east affairs. . .

black woman who attains an elitist public position and tokenizes herself as a means of proving what ANY person of color can do. clearly isn't aware of the overarching oppressions underclasses face in this society.

Giving her an average as she is not bright enough to see that Bush and his cronies are NOT good for America, yet she sits and touts their party lies like a stupid puppet. Takes guts and brains to stand above those who are wrong and she wants to continue the lies of this administration, and if she truely believes in them, well, will have to lower her to a dim bulb then!

I gotta go with arc light although she needs to speak up against the neo-cons and the mess made in the Middle East.

Accomplished politician and in the world of academia. Appears to be very brite and has done very well for herself.

Very brilliant. Liar and a snake oil salesperson, but brilliant off the scale.