By attacking the US's strongest ally while making light of the actual conflicts plaguing the area, Rice showed that in the Horn of Africa her view of her role as chief US diplomat is no different from her perception of her role in the Middle East and Asia.

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But in her new job as America's chief diplomat, she's expected to stay clear of his domestic agenda and support his policies overseas.

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The real work in the embassy is often done by the deputy chief of mission, a career diplomat.

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Born to diplomat parents, he and brother Alain (now Opnet's chief technology officer) grew up in Washington.

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Mr Indyk himself, originally an Australian, once worked for the chief Israeli lobby in America, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, before becoming a diplomat and serving twice as America's ambassador to Israel.

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