Condoleezza Rice as Secretary of State

Re “Rice, Powell Have Separate Styles of Diplomacy,” Jan. 17: Reasonable people must stand up and block Condoleezza Rice’s ascension to secretary of State. The promotion of administration insiders who led the criminal, unethical and simply preposterous treatment of the American people in the lead-up and execution of the Iraqi invasion makes a farce of rational public life. To go along with this madness is a sin of omission. The media, opposition leadership and reasonable Republicans need to make up for their lying down on the job two years ago. Stand up now. It’s never too late to have a spine.

Nick Gilhool

Los Angeles

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The unintended consequences of your “hit” piece on Rice, “Not Always Diplomatic in Her First Major Post” (Jan. 16), is to enhance her already impressive qualifications for her upcoming role as our country’s secretary of State.

As provost at Stanford, Rice straightened out the financial and academic mess at the university caused by the liberal administrators and faculty. She will soon face a similar challenge at the State Department, where entrenched liberal bureaucrats are dedicated to undercutting the Bush administration’s foreign policy. Colin Powell has been either unwilling or unable to clean house at State to get everyone supporting the same agenda. Does anyone believe Rice is not up to the challenge?

Donald Hirt

Paso Robles

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During her years at Stanford, “many assert Rice ... actively stifled dissent.” That explains her appeal to George W. Bush. Stifling dissent is this administration’s forte, if not motto.

Vicki Kipper

Los Angeles