Hillary Clinton’s High-Profile Diplomatic Shock Troops Flying Hither and Yon

[bigtree]

February 27, 2009


Diplomatic Envoys Off And Running

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s high-profile diplomatic shock troops have now been named and are in place, flying hither and yon, chairing meetings and doing whatever else is necessary to start solving the biggest foreign policy headaches the Obama administration faces.

Ambassador Stephen Bosworth heads for meetings in Asia early next week with the North Korea portfolio passed to him by Ambassador Christopher Hill. Hill, slated to become ambassador to Iraq, has had two years of talking with the North Koreans under the so-called six-party framework but this week Clinton gave the job to Bosworth, a former ambassador to South Korea and currently the head of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.

Bosworth travels in the coming week to Seoul, Tokyo, Beijing and Moscow . . .

Also named this week was Ambassador Dennis Ross who will head the effort to find ways to make new approaches to Iran. Ross, who formerly had the task of coordinating President Bill Clinton’s Middle East peace process, is in a kind of geographical no man’s land and a political mine field to boot. He’s called a “Special Advisor” on “Gulf and Southwest Asia.” That’s right, the word “Iran” is not mentioned in his title although everyone knows it is President Barack Obama’s policy and a new approach to Iran that Ross is working on.

. . . Ambassador Richard Holbrooke has Afghanistan and Pakistan—“AF-PAK” in the new diplomatic lingo-- in his bailiwick.

. . . he’s already been out to Pakistan and Afghanistan and this week he oversaw three days of meetings in Washington between U.S. officials and those from Kabul and Islamabad. After meetings, dinners and generally spending three days together, Secretary Clinton was brought in to praise all sides and announce these tri-lateral gatherings would be a regular feature going forward. Of course the input from both sides will be taken into account as the Obama administration works to complete a review of its policy for the region.

. . . former Senator George Mitchell, the man now with the Israeli-Palestinian portfolio, was off on his second trip to the region since taking office less than a month before.

Mitchell has been meeting Israelis, Palestinians, Egyptians and other officials in the region and he will rendezvous with Secretary Clinton in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt for a regional conference on getting humanitarian aid into Gaza.


read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/02/27/world/worldwatch/entry4835143.shtml

[biopowertoday]

1. She is great in choosing envoys for the major spots.

[bigtree]

5. Democrats have a wealth of folks experienced and dedicated to diplomacy

Holbrooke and Mitchell are naturals. Ross is a wild card.

Bill is a quiet adviser.

[blm]

14. You better hope Bill is COMPLETELY quiet on some matters - He was with Bush on Syria and

would have sided with invading Syria....

http://billclintondailydiary.blogspot.com/2005/03/i-cant-sleep.html

Thankfully for this country and the world, Kerry went into Syria several times during Bush's reign and maintained a relationship with Assad that will be very useful to future solutions for that region.

I do not think HRC can even make a trusted move in that region BECAUSE those leaders would be fully aware of Bill's siding with Bush and his own hardline position.

Most Americans and most Democrats are unfamiliar with the extent of the Clintons' support for Bush and hardline policies in that region, but, those leaders involved would have certainly known.

[burythehatchet]

10. Really, Denis Ross is a good pick? Why do you think so? To me he will always be "Israel's lawyer"

as he was known during his previous crack at peace in the mideast.

on edit: He is also linked closely to AIPAC. Is that a good thing?

[bigtree]

11. wild card

an unknown or unpredictable factor.

I'm not certain just how much influence he'll ultimately have. He doesn't even have a clear title. I'll admit that I was surprised to hear Pres. Obama highlight him in his speech.

[blm]

13. Holbrooke and Mitchell were tapped by Obama before HRC became SoS - and Biden and

Kerry were making forays into Afghanistan-Iraq-Pakistan-Egypt-Syria the entire time both Clintons were supporting Bush's foreign policy.

Thankfully, Kerry maintained relationships with key leaders in the region while Bush shut them out - and revisited with them AFTER Obama's election.



http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101177686

Democratic Senator John Kerry recently sat down with the president of a country that the U.S. says sponsors terrorism. Senator Kerry tells Renee Montagne Syria could play a constructive role in U.S. policy in places like Iraq and Gaza. Kerry is chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.


And here is what Bill Clinton was saying about Syria in 2005 - no...this is not Bush talking, it's Bill Clinton....

http://billclintondailydiary.blogspot.com/2005/03/i-cant-sleep.html

≥≥≥≥≥
The only way to stop Syria from being a constant threat and stop them from spreading chaos is to topple the minority government of Bashar Assad and let the majority of Syrians rule.

President Bush did this in Iraq and now that the majority Shia are in power, Iraq is looking inwards, trying to make the lives of its people better. That is what democracies do, they look inward instead of threatening their neighbors, the United States or Israel or the oil supply and with that the world economy. Majority rule means peace. Minority rule, like Bashar Assad’s dictatorship means chaos, terrorism and war.
≥≥≥≥≥

[biopowertoday]

2. I think it is so divisive to call the envoys 'shock troops" Geesh!!

[NavyDavy]

4. I agree

[Tatiana]

3. It's weird but I can't imagine anyone else as SOS.

I misunderestimated her. She is doing a fabulous job and her high-profile status has turned out to be an asset instead of a distraction.

The people at State love her. As my sister works there, I am very happy for them.

[bigtree]

7. her high profile has been a plus

I like the dynamic of her opposition to Mr. Obama in the primaries. I'm sure that's not lost on the folks who she meets with who might find that as a basis for trust in negotiations.

Great to hear about her reception at State.

[theoldman]

6. One of the signs of a great leader is to delegate some of your work.

I do not recall SOS Rice doing much of this. She wanted to be in the spotlight and turned out to be one our worst SOS. Hillary is not a Colin Powell but I think she will do an excellent job.

[bigtree]

8. I see that in her early management

She looks to be as good a listener as she was in the Senate. I'm sure that's appreciated by the folks she's hired to do the groundwork.

[theoldman]

9. Sometimes a good listener is the smartest person.

Then you act on the knowledge you gained by listened. Of course you have to listen to the right people. Obama has instructed his people to go out and listen. Bush instructed his people to go out and poke a stick in their eye.

[Peace Patriot]

12. LOL!

"Obama has instructed his people to go out and listen. Bush instructed his people to go out and poke a stick in their eye."

:rofl: