Condi Rice has made her first trip aborad. You have seen reports on it for days, and this Arizona Republic editorial nicely captures the effect: "The European media are falling all over themselves parsing her ambiguities." This is exactly what we wanted. A little movement (maybe a lot) in the Middle East, a little support from the Germans, nothing especially antagonistic from the French, and everyone thinking that this is a smart, subtle (and good looking) Secretary of State. How do you say "darn it" in French? Welcome home Condi.

Addition: A kind reader sends this: "One says ’zut’ or ’zut alors’. The vowel is pronounced midway between the
oo in pool and the oo in foot." Thank you.