Resource Analysis - "Rice's Way: Restraint in Quest for Peace"

            In her news analysis “Rice’s Way: Restraint in Quest for Peace,” Helene Cooper focuses on Condoleezza Rice’s differing approach to the Middle East peace process than that of her predecessors. Cooper argues that as opposed to the former Secretaries of State, Rice’s approach to Middle East diplomacy is far more restrained as it consists of pushing Israel as well as President Bush only so far, while “putting off the big, hard fights until the end.” This strategy has won her considerable respect, as even some of her strongest critics believe she is moving in the right direction in the quest for peace. This article also comments on President Bush’s actions towards the debate over the formation of a Palestinian state as besides offering to aid for the Palestinian refugees, he mostly sided with Israel and does not give much to the Palestinians in return. Foreign policy specialists say that if Rice wants to be successful in the peace process she will have to get President Bush to weigh less on Israel’s side.

            All in all, this article judges Rice as “quite tough” when pushing for foreign policy in her own way. Though it is less forceful than that of her predecessors, all sides agree that “there would have been no decision for the United States to re-engage in peacemaking were it not for Ms. Rice who made eight trips to Israel in the past year.” As compared to the other Secretaries of State before her, David Welch, the assistant Secretary of State for Near East affairs comments that “each one has a different style” as they each have their own way of doing things. By approaching the peacemaking process within the Middle East with an “encouraging” instead of “directive” mindset, Rice has achieved a lot compared to the leaders before her.

Resource Summary: Madam Secretary

In her memoir, Madam Secretary, Madeleine Albright shares her remarkable story as the highest-ranking woman in American history as she reflects upon her insider’s view of world affairs, including the pursuit of peace in the Middle East. As the first female US Secretary of State, though Albright had many fascinating political and cultural experiences, she also confronted immense difficulties when faced with issuing diplomacy in the patriarchal society of the Middle East. In attempting to drive for global gender equality, Albright reflects on being torn between issuing diplomacy based on female rights or an overall peace agreement between the Middle East and the United States. However, though she was unsure of which goal to ultimately pursue, as she recounts the disheartening state of the oppressed women of the Middle East, Albright conveys her vital decision to primarily promote gender equality.

            As the first female to be inducted into the “fraternity” of US Secretaries of State, Albright was confronted with the choice between pushing for gender equality or general global prosperity straight from the beginning (340). In having to deal with “the problem of operating in a predominantly man’s world,” Albright was weighed down by not only the demanding duties of being Secretary of State, but also the societal demands of that era as she was part of a generation of women who were “uncertain” about whether they could be good wives and mothers and also achieve success in the workplace (12). Because of this wavering idea about the identity of women, Albright was even more determined to prove society wrong by stepping up and leading by example as she boldly and firmly faced the patriarchal society of the Middle East head-on. Visiting various countries within the Middle East and witnessing the restricting societal expectations placed upon the women by the Taliban, Albright recognized these experiences as a chance to implement her gender equality diplomacy. Thus, through witnessing the harsh regulations of the Taliban firsthand, Albright’s determination and interest to bring an end to the tense relations between the Mideast and the United States as well as the lack of rights granted to the women who were forced to live under the dominance of the patriarchal society was ignited.