Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice appears to be “wanted” in New Zealand, where she is scheduled to arrive Friday.
There is even a $3,700 “reward” for her “arrest,” but my sources are telling me she has nothing to worry about. Her protective detail from the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service always takes good care of her.
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The “arrest warrant,” of course, is largely symbolic — that’s how students from Auckland University have decided to protest her visit because of the Bush administration’s policies, particularly the war in Iraq.
“It’s a protest against her actions as secretary of state in Iraq, and the authorization of the torture of suspected terrorist detainees,” the student body’s president, David Do, was quoted as saying by wire reports.
Miss Rice has denied that torture has been used and committed to not resorting to such tactics in the future.
Police in Auckland, where Miss Rice will spend all of her time in the South Pacific country rather than the capital Wellington, said that no one will be allowed to disturb the visit.
“We are obliged to ensure the safety and security of the visiting guest, and we will not shirk from that task,” District Commander Superintendent Brett England said in a statement.
• Nicholas Kralev, diplomatic correspondent, The Washington Times
