The American Spectator

Maybe it is inevitable that the Secretary of State will say silly things.  After all, the job requires believing nonsense:  that dictators are democrats, that international social engineering is possible, that everyone everywhere wants to do what Washington tells them, and so on.

After the good news from the Ivory Coast that defeated President Laurent Gbago—who was once a democratic reformer—had been arrested, Secretary Clinton decided to wax eloquent.  Reported Haaretz:

The capture of the Ivory Coast’s Laurent Gbagbo sends a signal to dictators everywhere that they cannot ignore the results of free and fair elections and there will be consequences if they cling to power,” U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Monday.

Why yes, dictators all over the world are trembling. Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe is boarding a plane to flee right now.  Bashar Assad of Syria, a noted “reformer” according to Secretary Clinton, has turned himself in to the United Nations.  The totalitarians royals in Riyadh are giving away their wealth and wearing sackcloth.  Russia’s Vladimir Putin promises that the next election will be fully free and fair.  Kim Jong-il in North Korea says he plans on putting his nukes to peaceful use.  Even Moammar Qaddafi is thinking of turning himself over the Hague for trial. 

The world’s dictators are fleeing for their lives, all because of Secretary Clinton’s efforts.

Of course, there is an alternative to saying stupid things as Secretary of State.  That is saying nothing.