Palestinians have gotten 'very little justice,' former diplomat says

In his 25 years as a U.S. diplomat, Nicholas Burns proved it is possible to serve as a senior official in both Democratic and Republican administrations while almost never uttering a word that could cause trouble.

But since he gave up his job in March as No. 3 at the State Department and confidant to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, he’s been loosening his tie a bit. Just look at what he said about the Middle East.

In an appearance at the Woodrow Wilson International Center this week, where he is now a scholar, Burns casually remarked that Palestinians “have received very little justice” for the last 60 years.

While he was in pinstripes, that kind of language could have brought a strong reaction, because it may have been taken to suggest an official Bush administration view that Palestinians have a right to reclaim former lands in Israel, or, more broadly, that our allies the Israelis are guilty of injustice. Neither is U.S. policy.

But life as a former diplomat is so much quieter. So far, his comments have passed without raising eyebrows -- let alone prompting the firestorm they might have a few months back.

-- Paul Richter

Photo: Mikhail Metzel / AFP-Getty Images