The truth about Condi’s men

Our report earlier this week on Condoleezza Rice and the 'lesbian' rumour mill has elicited emails from readers asking: why does no one write about Condi's boyfriends? The answer is that there aren't any - not because she's gay, say Washington insiders, but because she's far too conservative to risk the possible media fallout of a relationship, and also she's too busy. (And anyway, says the cynics, there's only one man in her life and his name is George Bush.)

Look what happens when a man does go anywhere near her: Britain's Jack Straw was reported to have an enormous crush on her after she gave him a lift on her plane to Baghdad, and wits had a field-day when, a year ago, Canadian Foreign Minister Peter MacKay, her host at the Halifax, Nova Scotia G8 summit, let loose at a press conference: "Something else I've learned about Secretary Rice is she loves the cool Atlantic breezes here in Nova Scotia, and she left the window open last night."

How could MacKay possibly know? News of the 'love tryst' spread across the continent faster than a California bush-fire. Late-night host Jay Leno said: "MacKay had to promise Condi he would get permission from the UN before he invaded her." His rival Conan O'Brien waded in: "It's been reported that Condoleezza Rice is dating... Sources say you can tell because Rice is giggling a lot as she prepares for the invasion of Iran."

Even G8 demonstrators got in on the act, carrying banners proclaiming "Pete, Condi, Make Love Not War" while a US state department spokesman was forced to issue a bizarre bulletin, following a working dinner between the two: "No, there were no candles. It was a well-lighted dinner, with electricity-based lighting."

So how did MacKay, a tall, athletic single man, 11 years Rice's junior, who had recently been dumped by his girlfriend, political wannabe and 'Friend of Bill' Belinda Stronach, know about Condi's sleeping habits? It seems she always asks for a room where the windows open when hotel reservations are being made. ·