Secretary of State Clinton visited the Far East first. Anyone know why?

[ColbertWatcher]

Was it because of the situation with the Uyghurs (sp) in Gitmo?

[MannyGoldstein]

1. Making Collections For He Husband

America's ultra-rich are down on their luck, as are the Arab Sheikhs. But China still has a hell of a lot of cash.

[babylonsister]

2. Oh, please. Think before you type? nt

[MannyGoldstein]

4. I Did

e.g., http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/03/donor-to-bills-foundation_n_155043.html

[babylonsister]

9. Did you miss this? She did not go to Asia as a senator. nt

[MannyGoldstein]

11. It's A Long Pattern Of Behavior

People almost never change, unfortunately.

[babylonsister]

12. I'll just bet if she wasn't doing what Obama wanted, she wouldn't

be doing it. :eyes:

And see post#5 for a logical reason.

[Clintonista2]

6. Look who you're responding to

You're asking quite a bit of him.

[rpannier]

13. Writing from the far east

Your post lacks any real insight to the region and the issues that are involved.
To dismissively say it's about raising money for her husband shows a profound lack of understanding of the complex issues that are involved in this region.

North Korea is facing another serious food shortage and has been ramping up it's missile program.

South Korea is now run by a 'bush-like' president whose answers to everything is give the wealthy more money and be belligerent towards anyone who disagrees with you.

Japan's government has been implicated in so many scandals that it appears the opposition will finally take control of Parliament -- which is why SoS Clinton met with the opposition leader while in Japan.

China has been investing heavily in other countries, in some cases using loans and investments as a way of further marginalizing Taiwan. China has a developed a tremendous amount of influence around the world and is now facing it's own economic ills at home that it is struggling to deal with.

Try looking for deeper answers instead of bumper sticker slogans in the future

[Art_from_Ark]

24. As someone writing from Japan,

I don't think it's the scandals so much as the public's perception of incompetence at the highest levels. The prime minister, for example, can't even read his own language and doesn't seem to have a clue as to what to do about the current situation. He has the lowest public approval rating of any Japanese prime minister in the post-war era, even outdoing the former rugby player turned prime minister who insisted on continuing his game of golf despite being informed of the sinking of the Ehime Maru fishing boat by the USS Greenville. His party, the LDP, have been in power so long (52 of the last 54 years) that they don't have any fresh ideas; they just govern by consensus. That means no one wants to go out on a limb and suggest possible solutions because of a fear of rejection, ridicule, and/or failure.

[rpannier]

25. Thanks for your post

I appreciate you adding your insight to my post.

It is always good to hear from people who know these things first hand

Thanks again

[NNN0LHI]

31. What happened Manny?

Still getting your talking points from Lou Dobbs I see.

Don

[Ardent15]

3. Our relationship with China will be the most important part of our foreign policy

[babylonsister]

5. Because it's been ignored for too long...

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.clinton17feb17,0,4354403.story

Asia right choice for Clinton's first trip

By Nirav Patel
February 17, 2009

As Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visits Asia this week, she will fundamentally and profoundly change the trajectory of U.S. foreign policy. The "Iraqification" of foreign policy under President George W. Bush permeated strategic thinking during the last eight years and undermined the United States' standing around the world. As the tides of power shift from the West to the East, the United States has been stuck in the sand. Mrs. Clinton's decision to go to Asia for her first overseas trip underscores the growing geopolitical significance of the region and a strong desire to rebalance American engagement.

All but one of the last 10 secretaries of state have taken their maiden voyage to Europe or the Middle East. Until now, only George P. Shultz, who served in the Reagan administration, broke this trend when he chose to focus on the Americas. His decision was not popular.

Mrs. Clinton's decision to go to Asia also has been subjected to tremendous scrutiny - especially because the U.S. remains embroiled in two wars, in the Middle East and Central Asia. Despite her critics' skepticism, her decision demonstrates an acute strategic understanding of the changing dynamics of global power. Her trip will come at a time of tremendous uncertainty in Asia, and serves three strategic objectives:

First, the trip is a strong indication that President Barack Obama will be active in Asia. In many ways, the United States' deteriorating position in the region was catalyzed by Iraq, the great strategic distraction of the 21st century. Washington's disregard and strategic neglect of Asia - epitomized by former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's repeated absence from high-level ministerial meetings - gave China an opportunity to launch a diplomatic charm offensive and gain political capital among regional allies. Mrs. Clinton's trip signifies an appreciation of Asia's diplomatic culture, which values face time and presence, and will be crucial to fostering a more balanced U.S. foreign policy.

more...

[theoldman]

7. We need to borrow more of their money.

Were else are we going to get a loan?

[Crabby Appleton]

17. Correct. nt

[Cynical Guy]

8. It is a show of respect.

China will be part of every issue going forward. Their ownership of our debt, their access to labor, their need for natural resources from around the world...

They're important, and we showed them that we understand that.

[Thothmes]

29. Do not forget their influence in North Korean affairs.

[leftofthedial]

10. our rent was due.

[scarletwoman]

14. Don't wanna bite the hand that feeds ya.

[babylonsister]

18. Where do you think Clinton should have gone first? nt

[scarletwoman]

19. Oh gee. Maybe where we're funding military occupations and agressions?

The State Department is supposed to be the face of our foreign policy, isn't it? So where has our foreign policy been most focused on for the past 8 years?

You go to Asia, you're obviously on an economics mission, not a foreign policy mission.

sw

[rpannier]

20. Foreign Policy and Economics are linked

In addition, as a person living in the far east -- This region should be the first priority.
This region has 3 of the 5 largest holders of US currency.
Has the number two key player in the world.
Has a country with a potentially large nuclear arsenal that also will see massive starvation by its populace.
Has 2 new elected governments, that were sharp contrasts to the previous governments.
Has a government that will most likely lose the next parliament election and be out of power for the first time since the end of WW II.
This is the region that should be the first stop because it is highly volatile and is in a serious state of flux.

[babylonsister]

21. That's why envoys were already selected and in those

places before Clinton even left.

I'm not belittling anything that's going on. It could be much worse.

[applegrove]

15. Because China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Russia and Japan will be the most important economies in

the world in this century. It is where all the population is. This is where a huge middle class, bigger than what the west currently has, will emerge.

It's a new balance of power and she was smart to go there first.

[babylonsister]

23. Yes. Thank you for saying that. nt

[pampango]

28. Thanks for the insight. I might add Brazil, Chile and South Africa and drop Pakistan and Russia

from your list, but I totally agree that economic power will shift this century, as it has in previous centuries. Human history is about change and no civilization stays on top forever. The best we can do now is to work for an international system that works well for everyone, even if we are not at the top forever.

[Political Tiger]

30. Not to mention Indonesia is the largest Muslim populated country in the world.

n/t

[applegrove]

32. Yup I forgot Indonesia.

[Captain Hilts]

16. Because we want Japan's neighbors to stop hating Japan and start hating China! nt

[babylonsister]

22. You just erased all illusions that you had a brain. Thanks. nt

[McCamy Taylor]

26. Because they are our major trade partners? Duh. Our economies are linked at the hip.

If either China, Japan or the United States falls, the other two fall as well. We might as well be our own union, sort of like the European Union. These are the only two important countries in the world that do not wish the United States would just disappear. We need all the friends we can get right now.

[Hekate]

27. Because Obama is our first president with an Asian-American perspective....

Having been raised in the Crossroads of the Pacific (Hawai'i) and in Indonesia, he is the first American president with first-hand knowledge and first-hand perspective of Asian and Asian-American culture, as well as a sister and extended family who are Asian and Asian-American.

The world has changed significantly since the time that Europe and the US were at the center. Sending Secretary of State Clinton to Asia for her first trip overseas acknowledges that.

Hekate

[Lilith Velkor]

33. To ask the Chinese for more money n/t