Clinton vows to revitalize US diplomacy

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Jan 13, 2:41 PM EST
Clinton vows to revitalize US diplomacy
By ROBERT BURNS and ANNE FLAHERTY
Associated Press Writers

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Hillary Rodham Clinton said Tuesday that she intends to revitalize the mission of diplomacy in American foreign policy, calling for a "smart power" strategy in the Middle East and implicitly criticizing the Bush administration for having downgraded the role of arms control.

At a confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, President-elect Barack Obama's choice for secretary of state sailed smoothly through an array of non-contentious questions, signaling the likelihood that she will be confirmed swiftly. By the end of a morning session that lasted a little over three hours, Clinton appeared to have made no stumbles and encountered no challenges to her basic vision for foreign policy.

Clinton, who will relinquish her seat in the Senate when confirmed, spoke confidently of Obama's intentions to renew American leadership in the world and to strengthen U.S. diplomacy.

"America cannot solve the most pressing problems on our own, and the world cannot solve them without America," she said, her daughter Chelsea seated behind her in the audience. "The best way to advance America's interest in reducing global threats and seizing global opportunities is to design and implement global solutions. This isn't a philosophical point. This is our reality."




Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CLINTON_CONFIRMATION?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2009-01-13-14-41-07

[pacalo]

1. How refreshing, when compared to the my-way-or-the-highway approach.

[awoke_in_2003]

2. Yep. Though I know she will do a good job...

it wouldn't take a miracle to improve the situation compared to the last 8 years.

[closeupready]

4. She is WAY more qualified and competent than Condaleeza Rice.

Say whatever else you want about Hillary, but I think her competence is indisputable.

[awoke_in_2003]

5. Oh, I am not disputing that...

just saying, even Howdy Doody could do a better job. Saying that, I do not mean that as a knock on HRC- she is respected and will do a good job.

[atreides1]

3. Revitalize

Does that include being even handed when it comes to the Israeli/Palestinian situation, or is that fall under a totally different definition of "Revitalization"?

I just want to know if things are going to remain one sided?

[fla nocount]

6. She's a politician, bought and paid for...and you're a dreamer.

Nothing has changed since Truman and it's not going to. The mystery is, why?

[struggle4progress]

7. Clinton Stresses Nuclear, Climate Threats in Hearing on Post (Bloomberg)

By Indira A.R. Lakshmanan and Viola Gienger

Jan. 14 ... America lives “in a profoundly interdependent world in which old rules and boundaries no longer” apply, Clinton told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee yesterday. The all-day hearing on her nomination touched on two trouble spots for nuclear concerns: Iran and North Korea.

Clinton, 61, outlined a strategy that puts less weight on the military-oriented solutions used by President George W. Bush’s administration and often criticized overseas. She promised to link a beefed-up diplomatic corps with military and economic leverage in a “marriage of principles and pragmatism.”

President-elect Barack Obama “has emphasized that the State Department must be fully empowered and funded to confront multi- dimensional challenges from thwarting terrorism to spreading health and prosperity in places of human suffering,” she said.

In her prepared remarks and in replies to senators’ questions, Clinton mentioned terrorism, poverty, energy insecurity, disease and climate change as the pressing challenges of the 21st century ...http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aVVFd5Wuaugk&refer=us