TheForeigner

Daily commentary from the U.S. Department of State Press Briefing

[TheForeigner @ForeignerUSA]

Harf having a rough one today. "Sorry I'm coughing so much."

[TheForeigner @ForeignerUSA]

Some serious eye rolling going toward the young Japanese reporter. Catty journalists.

[TheForeigner @ForeignerUSA]

STATE: "Take a look in the mirror," North Korea. Domestic problems of North Korea are exactly that. And not the fault of the U.S.

[TheForeigner @ForeignerUSA]

STATE: Dennis Rodman is not an official representative of the United States. At all. Not even a little.

[TheForeigner @ForeignerUSA]

STATE spending report: over $600,000 on Facebook fans. Putting "best foot forward" overseas.

[TheForeigner @ForeignerUSA]

STATE confirms Diplomatic Security was arresting authority. Pushes (potential) blame to US Marshall procedures, who managed intake.

[TheForeigner @ForeignerUSA]

INDIA stripping access from US DIPLOs. Demanding full apology for US treatment of the visa-frauding Indian diplomat.

[TheForeigner @ForeignerUSA]

HARF is rattled, JOURNO piling on re: State's apparent disinterest in knowing if diplomat was strip searched.

[TheForeigner @ForeignerUSA]

And there's the attack! NERDHULK: Was Indian diplomat strip-searched? STATE: I do not know the facts in full. I have heard stuff. Can't say.

[TheForeigner @ForeignerUSA]

NERDHULK feigning ignorance re: Diplomatic vs. Consular immunity. Don't fall for it, Harf!

[TheForeigner @ForeignerUSA]

Late to the party today, but, uh, did nobody tell Harf that -- well, you know? She's on-camera.

[TheForeigner @ForeignerUSA]

STATE claims no association with George Clooney, though Victoria Nuland lives a pretty rich life. Seriously.

[TheForeigner @ForeignerUSA]

NERDHULK: maybe State shouldn't "sniff at" the assessments of a former Saudi intelligence chief. HULK QUIP.

[TheForeigner @ForeignerUSA]

CATLADY: does anyone even know what has become of the embassy buildings in Damascus? The U.S. embassy? STATE: I dunno.

[TheForeigner @ForeignerUSA]

JOURNO: Get off the UAE's dick. STATE: We will do no such thing.

[TheForeigner @ForeignerUSA]

JOURNO: Is it reasonable to be put in prison for a Youtube parody video? I mean, it sounds great but as a law? STATE: Ask the UAE.

[TheForeigner @ForeignerUSA]

Indian Reporter: Why don't you do everything the Indian Government wants? NERDHULK: *one long groan*

[TheForeigner @ForeignerUSA]

JOURNO: Are we no longer interested in punishing Assad for violent crackdowns, or did we all just get bored and move on?

[TheForeigner @ForeignerUSA]

STATE: List of complicated, difficult things: snow, Syria, other things.

[TheForeigner @ForeignerUSA]

STATE not particularly fond of "easy rhetorical" jab at Obama's "pink line."