New Delhi, Dec. 2 : This is probably one of the last crises that U. S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice has been tasked to handle, and it is a fruitless task.

She brings little to the table and she can take back nothing. Rice will ask India to practice restraint and believe Islamabad when it says that it will cooperate on terror.

And exercising restraint is something that the Congress coalition can ill afford to do, seeing the public sentiment. Dr Singh''s government has to be seen to be taking action, not just acting. And, action not in providing aircraft to the NSG and a few more boats to the coast guard.

US President George W. Bush has sent the Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, to New Delhi to support India after the terrorist attacks in Mumbai.

She will reach New Delhi on Wednesday after cutting short the meeting of Foreign Ministers of NATO in Brussels.

White House spokeswoman Dana Perino stated, "Secretary Rice's visit to India is a further demonstration of the United States commitment to stand in solidarity with the people of India as we all work together to hold these extremists accountable."

London, Dec 2: US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice played a private piano recital at Buckingham Palace, attended by the Queen.

During a visit to London, the top American stateswoman was accompanied in her performance of Brahms by Foreign Secretary David Miliband''s wife, Louise, and three members of the London Symphony Orchestra, reports the Telegraph.

The outgoing politician– who is a concert level pianist – was allowed to use a music room at the palace after she expressed a wish to play.

Washington, Dec. 1 : Keen to demonstrate the United States'' support for India in the wake of the recent terror strikes in Mumbai that left at least 195 dead and 295 wounded, President George W Bush has instructed Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to travel to New Delhi to meet and commiserate with the Indian leadership.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 30  -- U. S. President George Bush Sunday dispatched Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to India as the investigation continued into the Mumbai terrorist attacks.

White House Press Secretary Dana Perino said in a written statement that Rice would arrive in New Dehli Wednesday.

Rice left Washington Sunday for a previously scheduled NATO conference in London.

Perino's statement said Rice's trip was a "demonstration of the United States' commitment to stand in solidarity with the people of India."

Washington (dpa) - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was to visit
India later this week, the White House announced late Sunday.

Rice was due to leave late Sunday on a previously scheduled trip to
London, and would continue on to India following NATO meetings on
Tuesday, arriving Wednesday in New Delhi.

Dana Perino, press secretary to US President George W Bush, said
that Rice was sent on the mission to India as "a further demonstration
of the United States' commitment to stand in solidarity with the people