IN THE SPOTLIGHT CONDOLEEZZA RICE

Condoleezza Rice's office in the West Wing is dotted with American football memorabilia and it has been no secret that the president's national security adviser has long dreamed of running the National Football League. As the first term of George W. Bush, president, entered its final year last year, there was speculation that Ms Rice would, indeed, head off to pursue other interests. She let it be known to reporters that she planned to serve in the White House for only one term. Some said the cold war warrior whose expertise before September 11 2001 had been in Soviet studies - but whose childhood had been on the front line of the civil rights-era battles in Birmingham, Alabama - wanted to turn her hand to social policy, taking the helm of the department of Health and Human Services. Others suggested she would return to California, where she was in charge of Stanford University, to run for office. But Mr Bush chose Ms Rice to become the next secretary of state and tomorrow she heads to Capitol Hill for Senate confirmation hearings. The Democratic members of the Senate foreign relations committee have been working up an awkward set of questions on the Bush administration's record on Iraq, counter-terrorism and nuclear proliferation, according to Congressional staff. Ms Rice can expect a tough interrogation over her role co-ordinating the inter-agency process in Iraq, where many blame the problems besetting the US occupation on poor post-war planning and unresolved arguments between the Pentagon and the State Department. Democrats are planning to press her on a number of issues: Ms Rice was put in charge of the Iraq Stabilization group, but little was heard of it after the announcement.