US downplays Powell term of 'stupid little island' that caused rift

[Quetzal]

US downplays Powell description of 'stupid little island' that caused Spain-Morocco dispute

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The State Department moved Wednesday to downplay US Secretary of State Colin Powell (news - web sites)'s offhand comment to an interviewer that the cause of a 2002 dispute between Spain and Morocco that nearly erupted into war was a "stupid little island."

Spokesman Richard Boucher said the spat over the Mediterrean islet known as "Perejil" in Spain and "Leila" in Morocco -- which was resolved after intense US mediation -- had been taken seriously in Washington and particularly by Powell who spent days negotiating between Madrid and Rabat.

"I think that it was obviously not a stupid little island because it was a major issue between major allies," Boucher said when asked about Powell's description of the rocky outcropping that was published in a national men's magazine.

more...

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20040505/od_afp/us_powell_spain_morocco_040505205146

[benburch]

1. Sadly, Colin was right.

It is a stupid little island. It is a small island in the Strait of Gibraltar which is MUCH closer to the Moroccan side than to the Spanish side of the strait.

Here is a picture of it;



You could easily swim there from Morocco. The distance is given as 200 meters. It has no human population, but does have a small number of "native" goats.

[TreasonousBastard]

2. He was right, but...

it's not good for the US Secretary of State to get caught saying such things.

[RoyGBiv]

3. Oh. My. God.

Two nations almost went to war over THAT!

This entire world is completely screwed up. I can't find a decent paying job, but OH NO...that's not important. This here rock with the goats on it, well, by god, we'll be fightin' to the death over that.

[bemildred]

4. It isn't the island that is stupid.

Nevertheless, Colin needs to rememeber to take his meds.