Rice at Princeton

Condoleeza Rice in a speech at Princeton University:

Rice told students at Princeton University that the Bush administration's focus on the spread of democracy in the Middle East was both a moral obligation and a tough-minded response to global terrorism.

"From Cairo and Ramallah to Beirut and Baghdad, they are now finding new spaces of freedom," Rice said.

The United States must not be afraid to use all its influence in the world — political, economic, cultural and military, Rice said.

In a world where evil is still very real, democratic principles must be backed with power in all its forms," Rice said. "Any champion of democracy who promotes principle without power can make no real difference in the lives of oppressed people."

The full text of her remarks is here. Also, Tigerhawk was present and has some good reporting on the speech as well as analysis. The Bad Hair Blog also has some comments.

I can't help thinking that, as Hilary Clinton cynically tries to find exactly the right things to say and the right issues to focus on and the right way to think and behave--all to maximize public support for her 2008 Presidential ambitions; that in Condoleezza Rice we already have an intelligent, dynamic woman of presidential caliber. The question is, do we want someone of substance; someone whose thinking and policies will be determined by principles and who does not need daily polls to know what to think? Or do we want yet another opportunist, whose "principles" are fluid and change to optimize her popularity?

Hmmmm. Substance & Principle versus Self-promotion & Opportunism? To me it's a no-brainer.