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Dr. Rice Is Now At Work

George Bush has got himself a real worker now and foreign relations for the US has never been in better hands. Condoleezza Rice is on the move and you're gonna see a lot of her as she rubs shoulders with world leaders.
The LA Times had this to say:

Rice: U.S. Invasion of Iran Not on Current Agenda By John Daniszewski, Times Staff Writer LONDON — Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, beginning her debut trip abroad today as America's senior diplomat, said that a U.S. invasion of Iran is "simply not on the agenda at this point in time," but repeatedly warned the country to improve its human rights record and resolve doubts about its nuclear ambitions. Rice spoke forcefully about Iraq at a Foreign Office news conference in London with British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw at her side, and later in Berlin, next to German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. All sides insisted there is no divide between Europe and the U.S. on the issues of democracy and nuclear proliferation. In harsher terms than are normally spoken in Europe, she laid down a thorough indictment of the "unelected few" now in charge of Iran. She castigated what she called their "abysmal" record on human rights, and said that they should not be allowed to deny freedom to the Iranian people. Pressed by reporters, Rice stopped short of calling for regime change in Iran. However, a stern tone of warning to the Iranian leadership was manifest. "Frankly, the Iranians ought to take the opportunity that is being presented to them to show that they want to live up to their international obligations," Rice said. Nevertheless, Rice said that the United States endorsed diplomatic talks going on between Iran and three European Union governments: Britain, France and Germany. The negotiations are designed to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapons capability under the guise of building civilian nuclear power plants. "We believe, while no one ever asked the American president to take any option off the table, that there are plenty of diplomatic means at our disposal to get the Iranians to finally live up to their international obligations," she said. After Europe, Rice is scheduled to go on to Turkey and several Middle Eastern countries. Appearing relaxed and confident on her first inaugural trip as secretary of State, Rice began with Britain, with whom the United States enjoys close relations, and continued to Germany, which, as the bulwark of continental Europe, has had a more rocky relationship with the Bush administration. After arriving in London on Thursday night, Rice ate breakfast with Prime Minister Tony Blair at his 10 Downing Street office before conferring with Straw and meeting representatives of the international media based here. She also had an off-the-record meeting with "opinion makers" in Britain. In Berlin this evening, Rice gave every appearance of good feeling and friendliness, talking for a full hour with Schroeder rather than the 40 minutes scheduled. They sought to put to rest any lingering tensions over Germany's decision to keep its distance from the U.S. invasion of Iraqi in 2003. Since then, Germany has agreed to help train security forces for the interim Iraqi government, but has not contributed any troops to Iraq. At a news conference, Schroeder said that Germany is in basic accord with what Bush expressed about Iraq in his State of the Union address. Speaking of a need to reinvigorate ties with Europe, Rice told the same news conference: "Now is the time for our diplomacy to put our alliance to work in the service of great goals and great opportunities that stand before us."