Smart power: New Secretary of State hails nation of “Kyrzakhstan”

posted at 10:21 am on February 25, 2013 by Ed Morrissey

Just remember, this was the best choice in the pantheon of Democratic thinkers in foreign policy after Susan Rice flamed out over Benghazi.  In what appears to be a prepared speech, new Secretary of State and long-time chair/ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee praised the efforts of democracy activists in a Central Asian country that, er, doesn’t exist:

The newly minted diplomat was referring to Kyrgyzstan, a poor, landlocked nation of 5.5 million, which he appeared to confuse with its resource-rich neighbour to the north, Kazakhstan.

The Telegraph in London points out just why this is so embarrassing:

Mr Kerry’s flub was all the more awkward, because Kyrgyzstan is a key ally in the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan and a major recipient of US aid, which totalled $41 million (£27 million) in 2011.

Recently in the Green Room:

• IRS To Pro-Life Groups: You Know You’re Gonna Have To Give Up This Whole Protest Thing, Right?
• Two House Dems demand Lerner resignation after using lobbyist to stage modified limited hangout
• Feelgood video of the day
• New liberal idea: Let’s raise $660 million online in a month to buy the LA Times before the Koch brothers can
• Of Course It Troubles Me. Are You Kidding Me?

Blowback