Where's Condoleezza Rice? (Update below)

With all the talk that we can't win militarily in Iraq and that we need a diplomatic solution, where's Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice hiding? Has anyone seen her in the past 30-45 days? Could it be she went back to Stanford to teach summer courses, or is she taking a long needed vacation with the Iraqi parliament this summer?

With the Congress ready to bring up some Amendments to the funding of the war Bills to include endorsing the Iraqi Study Group recommendations for a diplomatic push to involve Iran, Syria and other neighbors of Iraq, Condi isn't to be found anywhere. But then again, she has had plenty of time to get those parties to the table to discuss diplomatic solutions to end the violence. We may need someone other than Condi for this as she is reminding me daily of FEMA's "Brownie".

UPDATE: July 12, 2007 As reported by newKerala.com the latest news on Condi:

"No show for Rice at ASEAN meeting?

Bangkok, July 12: US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is expected to cancel her scheduled attendance at this month's meeting of South-East Asia foreign ministers in Manila, Thai media reports said Thursday.

The cancellation has disappointed the member countries of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) as the ministerial meeting was intended to strengthen ties between the US and the regional grouping, a Bangkok-based diplomat told the Nation newspaper.

The source blamed Rice's no-show on rising criticisms in the US of the Iraqi quagmire, which has forced all US cabinet ministers to remain close to home.

President George W. Bush cancelled his scheduled attendance at the ASEAN-US friendship meeting in Singapore last week. Singapore will host the annual ASEAN summit in November, which the US president may attend.

ASEAN, a four-decades old regional grouping, includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
--- IANS"

Anyone seen Condi? Please add a comment.

Iraq funding needs to be tied to benchmarks- For the Administration and the Iraqi's

Democrats have made their point about funding the war and tying it to a date for withdrawal of U.S. troops. The President is expected to veto this Bill next week, possibly on Tuesday, the anniversary of Bush's Mission Accomplished moment in flight gear. But after the President vetoes the Bill, Democrats and the President are back to square one. Many have called for this next round of confrontation to be linked to successes and benchmarks for the Iraqi's. I suggest also that they be tied to President Bush and the effort for a diplomatic solution. There needs to be measured progress in meeting with the parties in the region such as Syria, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Jordan, as well as efforts to resolve, once and for all, the Israeli/Palestinian issue and push for a 2 State solution. This is something worth pursuing even while benchmarks are difficult to establish. At least there should be a prerequisite that minimally there be monthly meetings with the regional parties with the Goal of a framework for peace in the region. Jim Baker could be appointed as Middle East Special Diplomat in charge of negotiations, as he knows many of the players, is a Republican and has the necessary skills to pull this off.