Albright Fears Escalation of Middle East Violence

The growing conflict between Israel and Gaza threatens to destabilize the Middle East, said former Secretary of State Madeline Albright.

"The situation in the Middle East is as messy as anything we've ever seen," Albright said Thursday at the Washington Ideas Forum. "It's ... very dangerous because Israel is protecting itself legitimately from rocket fire from Gaza."

Albright said that the situation in the Middle East is especially dangerous because of political instability elsewhere. The Syrian government continues to battle rebels there, while questions continue to surround Iran's nuclear ambitions.

"This is in a region where we used to have some sense of who was in charge," Albright said. 

Albright also said that the U.S. policy of economic sanctions against Iran was having the desired effect. She said factions within the Iranian government were now considering bilateral talks with the United States. However, Albright added that the president must reserve the right to use any option to stop Iran from getting nuclear weapons.

"I agree that containment is not an option, and therefore I agree with the president when he says he's not taking any item off the table," Albright said. But she added,  "One has to figure out whether the use of force is going to do what it's supposed to do."

According to Albright, diplomacy with China remains a challenge. It's not yet clear in what direction newly elected president Xi Jinpig would lead the country.

"I do think what has happened in China is a once in a generation, huge change," she said of Xi's election. "The question however is how much reform is going to take place ... They have very serious problems with rich-poor division. They have urban rural issues ... They also have problems with corruption."

Albright also weighed in on the controversy surrounding Susan Rice, current U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Republicans said this week that they would oppose her nomination as Secretary of State, despite the fact that she has yet to be nominated.

"The president has the right to nominate his cabinet and to have the people he wants to have," she said.