State Department: We Prefer Quiet Diplomacy

U.S. State Department spokeperson Victoria Nuland engaged in a spirited discussion with AP reporter Matthew Lee.

Lee was questioning the administration’s unwillingness to respond to Turkish Prime Minister’s description of Israel as a terrorist state.

Lee: “You say that it would not be helpful to discuss any of the conversations; that quiet diplomacy is the way to deescalate that. Well, you’ve been doing your quiet diplomacy for almost a week. How’s it going so far?”

After several minutes of back and forth Nuland finally responds, “We of course agree that rhetorical attacks against Israel are not helpful at this moment.

It’s refreshing to see a reporter press on the tough questions.
Note: Link updated 8:15pm