Victoria Nuland is the politically appointed spokeswoman for the State Department. She is the daughter of Sherwin Nuland a bioethics professor. She is married to Robert Kagan, the neocon historian. Kagan was, of course, a mainstay of the Bush Administration's "crusade" to make the ME safe for.... It may seem strange to some this woman would have been appointed to be the State department's spokesperson in the Obama Administration. Such a doubt would betray the questioner's lack of understanding of the limits of personnel availablity in the United States.
In case there is any doubt, Hillary Clinton and therefore Victoria Nuland work for Barack Obama. His policy is the State Department's policy and therefor their policy He can fire either or both at any time. The US is not a parliamentary democracy like the "sprigs" of the old British Empire; Canada, the UK, etc. The president is not "one of the guys" in the cabinet. He is not "first among equals." He is THE BOSS in the Executive Branch.
The other night he chose to say that "Egypt is not an ally." The most challenged should be able to see that this is simple truth. See my earlier post. In any event, his word must be "law" for the State Department.
The following day Nuland chose to tell the media that Egypt IS effectively a US ally. Now, perhaps the NSC told the State Department to say that. If they did, then I have no problem with her statement.
There appears to be a pattern of friends of Israel arguing for a lenient attitude toward Egypt. Can that be because they want Egypt kept in the treaty with Israel.
Who told Nuland to correct the president? pl
