Clinton: Use "Smart Power" In Diplomacy

At Confirmation Hearing, Secretary Of State-Nominee Calls For "Smart Power" In Middle East

(CBS/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 daylong 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 until two Republican committee members pressed her to take additional steps to ensure that former President Bill Clinton's global fundraising work does not pose even an appearance of conflict with her role as the chief U.S. diplomat. She balked, saying disclosure rules already in place were carefully crafted and adequate to avoid any conflict.

Clinton appeared headed for easy confirmation. She encountered no challenges to her basic vision for foreign policy.

Clinton, who will relinquish her seat in the Senate when confirmed, spoke confidently of Mr. 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."

In laying out a general outlook for American foreign policy under Mr. Obama, Clinton spoke in a clear, unhurried voice and looked at ease. She made it plain, citing policy themes that were familiar from Mr. Obama's presidential campaign - and in many cases her own - that the incoming Democratic administration wants to elevate the role of diplomacy. She and Mr. Obama contend that the Bush administration relied too heavily on the military to carry out foreign policy and that it leaned too much on ideology and too little on pragmatism.

CBS News correspondent Chip Reid reports that Clinton said the current strategy isn't working, especially in hotspots like Iran.

"We're going to be trying new approaches because what we've tried has not worked, they are closer to nuclear weapons capacity today than they were," Clinton said.

As Reid reports, Clinton opened her testimony with a statement calling for "smart power" in using diplomacy

"We must use what has been called 'smart power,' the full range of tools at our disposal -- diplomatic, economic, military, political, legal, and cultural -- picking the right tool, or combination of tools, for each situation," Clinton said in her opening remarks. "With smart power, diplomacy will be the vanguard of foreign policy."

The Foreign Relations Committee planned to vote on Clinton's nomination on Thursday. If it approves her, she could gain full Senate confirmation as early as Inauguration Day.

The Senate also held confirmation hearings for other Obama choices for Cabinet and top White House positions. Appearing were Peter Orszag, to head the Office of Management and Budget, and Robert Nabors II, for deputy director of OMB; New York housing official Shaun Donovan, to be secretary of housing and urban development; Steven Chu, to head the Energy Department; and Arne Duncan, as education secretary.

Chu promised that if confirmed as energy secretary he will aggressively pursue policies aimed at addressing climate change and achieving greater energy independence by developing clean energy sources. At his hearing, Duncan said that the No Child Left Behind law should stop punishing schools where only a handful of kids are struggling.

Mr. Obama's choice to run the Treasury Department and to lead the economic rescue effort disclosed to senators Tuesday that he failed to pay $34,000 in taxes from 2001 to 2004, a last-minute complication in an otherwise smooth path to confirmation. Timothy Geithner paid most of the past-due taxes days before Mr. Obama announced his nomination in November, an Obama transition official said. The unpaid taxes were discovered by Mr. Obama's transition team while investigating Geithner's background, the official said.

The transition official requested anonymity because the source was not authorized to discuss Geithner's situation.

The Foreign Relations committee's top Republican, Sen. Richard Lugar, praised Clinton, calling her "the epitome of a big leaguer" whose presence could open new opportunities for American diplomacy.

But Lugar also raised questions about the issue of Bill Clinton's fundraising work and its relation to her wife's new post. Lugar said that the only way for Clinton to avoid a potential conflict of interest due to her husband's charity is to forswear any new foreign contributions. The Indiana senator said the situation poses a "unique complication" that requires "great care and transparency."

Before the hearing, Lugar made four suggestions to Hillary Clinton's staff on how to improve transparency in her husband's charitable fundraising, said the senator's spokesman, Andy Fisher.

But in her testimony, Hillary Clinton made clear that the Obama administration would accept only one of the proposals - that the foundation provide a clear picture of its annual donations, Fisher said.

---

Click here to read Hillary Rodham Clinton's complete opening statement.

---

Lugar also wanted the foundation to immediately disclose donations of $50,000 or more; alert ethics officials when such sizable donations are pledged; and apply the same stringent requirements to foreign businesses. The current plan only subjects foreign governments to scrutiny by State Department ethics officials and would not require a review of contributions by foreign businesses - a loophole that could easily be exploited, Lugar warned.

She also was pressed by Sen. David Vitter, R-La., who said the Clinton fundraising posed "real and perceived conflict issues" for his wife.

Few others on the committee pursued the conflict-of-interest issue and it did not appear to be a likely impediment to her confirmation.

Clinton sat alone at a small, black-draped desk, with a retinue of advisers behind her. Her husband was not present. Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor said the former president was watching the hearing elsewhere with his wife's mother.

"President Clinton wanted to make sure the attention was focused on Sen. Clinton," Vietor said.

It was clear this was no ordinary hearing, reports CBS News State Department reporter Charles Wolfson. Seats were reserved for diplomats from a number of interested countries including Egypt and Iraq. The French Ambassador, Pierre Vimont, arrived early and chatted with journalists and committee staff members.

In discussing the problem of peacemaking in the Middle East, Clinton referred to her husband's extensive, though ultimately unsuccessful, efforts to strike a comprehensive peace deal.

"As intractable as the Middle East's problems may seem and many presidents, including my husband, have spent years trying to help work out a resolution, we cannot give up on peace," she said.

"We must also actively pursue a strategy of smart power in the Middle East that addresses the security needs of Israel and the legitimate political and economic aspirations of the Palestinians," she said.

Clinton also said that during the Bush administration, "Our foreign policy has gotten way out of balance," with the Pentagon taking too large a role at the expense of the State Department. She said she intends to rectify that, with the support of Defense Secretary Robert Gates, whom she praised as a clear-thinking leader.

Lugar, who has played a leading Senate role in arms control issues, applauded Mr. Obama's stated intention to engage Russia in more arms control talks and pursue efforts to improve international controls of nuclear materials that could fall into the hands of terrorists. He said that during the Bush administration the State Department had been a "reluctant or almost nonexistent partner" in that effort. Clinton said she intended to bring more arms control experts back into the State Department, where arms control functions had been "significantly degraded" under Bush.

On Iraq, Clinton said ending the war is a priority. The first step will be moving troops out of cities by June, in line with an agreement already established between the Bush administration and the Iraqi government. The agreement calls for all U.S. troops to be gone by the end of 2011. Mr. Obama has said he believes the withdrawal can be accomplished more quickly.

[luvny-2009]

Yeah we''ll see, my bet is it will take a while but these people will get us back on track!

[dumdnc]

Well, this should be interesting. Wonder what will happen to all the work she wanted to do "for women and children".
As for her seat as senator for New York, absolute bust. The woman did nothing but campaign to become potus since day one. She strong armed daniel patrich moynihan to back her for the seat. She and her hubby are as corrupt as the day is long. But hey, the dems love the couple and the msm has had their back.
So, who says crime doesn''t pay.

[pepperwood2]

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Gov. David Paterson''s secretive process to select Hillary Rodham Clinton''s successor in the U.S. Senate conflicts with his campaign promises to open up government, and New York''s top regulator of open government laws says it violates state law.

Yes is this the CHANGE we''ve heard so much about? All this back door secretcy thats been quietly going on since the Blago Story Broke.

Its either going to be Caroline or Wild Bill will take her place if he can stay out of the broom closet?? What''s the big secret or the CHANGE in Liberal Politics 101?

[cariboubarbi]

***********



If you want to witness real change, change your mind from the hateful, deluded mind of a partisan hack to the objective, reasonable mind of a real American who values country more than party. Also, change your underwear. Your starting to smell.

[specialty8]

Why won''t the Clintons, Bushes and Kennedys just step aside and leave us alone. This could be the best thing they have ever done for this country.They combined have done enough.

[mnelsonix]

... ethical conflicts arising from her husband, former President Bill Clinton''s, business dealings around the world. But she is expected to sail through the hearing, ...
=============
no shjt, no prob. Back in the saddle.

Bad choice Barack. You are going to feel Bill''s presence 24-7.

[murrowseye]

I say this as an independent! No more Clintons! No more Bushes! No more Kennedys!

I am watching the hearing. It is a farcical love fest. Hillary rode Bill''s star as far as she could and now Obama has let her grab onto his. Hillary will do what is best for her, not our country. The new president will have to watch his back the whole time. I hope his Lincolnesque strategy of a team of rivals works out. It is a huge gamble.

[hackerpc]

More shennanagens...

[specialty8]

I knew Slick Willy would find his way back inside,good job Obama,now you can answer to him, Hillary,Pelosi and Reid the next 4 yrs.

[ms1-1-11]

CLINTON BODY COUNT 43 DEAD............

Part 1 of 2

CIA men/women were ordered by CLINTONs to use air plane crash, gun shot, make it look like suicide.

CIA ... Clinton kill list follows:

1. Mary Mohane
2. Vincent Foster %u2013 former White House Counsel Significant knowledge of the Cinton%u2019s financial affairs business partner of Hilary Clinton.
C. Victor Raiser, II National Finance Co-Chariman of Clinton and his son Montgomery Raiser both killed by CIA as ordered by Clinton.
Paul Tully %u2013 DNC Political Director DEAD Little Rock hotel room
Ed Willey %u2013 Clinton fund raiser. Dead woods in Virginia gunshot.
Hershell Friday %u2013 Clinton Fund-Raiser Plane exploded.
7.Jerry Parks %u2013 former security team member.
8. John Wilson %u2013 former Washington D.C. council ties to Whitewater.
9. Kathy Ferguson
10. Bill Shelton
11. Gandy Baugh %u2013 attorney for Dan Lasater
12. Dr. Donald Rogers
13.Stanley Huggins %u2013 Lawyer investigating Madison Guaranty.
14.Florence Martin %u2013 CIA accountant BARRY SEAL CASE.
15.Suzane Coleman %u2013 7 months pregnant with Clinton child.
16.Paula Grober
17.Paul Wilcher %u2013 attorney investigation Janet Reno.
18.Jon Parnell Walker %u2013 RTC investigator.
19.Ron Brown %u2013 former DNS Chairman, commerce Secretary.
20.Barbara Wise
21.Charles Meissner
22.Kevin Ives
23.Don Henry MENA
24. Keith Koney

[ms1-1-11]

Part 2 et al.,


25.Keith McKaskle saw Clintons stab Ives / Henry .
26. Gregory Collins.
27. Jeff Rhodes
28.James Milam
29. Jordan Kettleson
30. Dr. Stanley Heard
31..Steve Dickson %u2013 Attorney for Head.
32. .John Hillier
33. .Maj. Gen. William Robertson
34. .Col. William Densberger
35. .Col. Robert Kelly
36. .Spec. Gary Rhodes
37. Steve Willis
38. Robert Williams
39. Conway LeBleu
40. Todd McKeehan
41. Sgt Brian Haney
42. Sgt. Tim Sabel
43. Maj. William Barkley
44. Capt. Scott Reynolds %u2013 33 %u2013 44 all former Clinton body guards who are DEAD
45. Gary Johson %u2013 DEAD former attorney for Larry Nichols.
46. Dennis Patrick %u2013 Lasater & Co. had millions of laundered through his dollars account without hisknowledge. Several attempts on his life.

47. L.J. Davis %u2013 Investigated the CLINTON scandal was attacked.

48. Larry Nichols - ADFA Responsible for bringing forth more evidence and witnesses on Clinton Corruption. Was beaten and fraudulently arrested.



NEXT the BUSH CIA Kill List
Part 1 Of 2

[hackerpc]

You''re Doomed!!!The majority of American citizens have no savings and their debt load is rising. .....Your days are numbered....

[murrowseye]

TexHillGirl is hilarious. Talk about teleprompter! What is Hillary reading off of? Is is Hillary''s script or the new president''s?

[cariboubarbi]

MS1-1-11


Blah blah blah.....yada yada yada....you need a new tinfoil hat skippy. The one you''ve got is making your brain sweat.




lol!

[irmcvet971]

Yeah that f/y attitude has kept your arse safe and kept the arabic/muslim whacko''''s in line...

And you''''re stupid enough to put your faith in a freaking panzy GENIUS from the hood with a bunch of doublespeak who is one of the arabic/muslim brethern?

Don''''t you feel quite stupid?

Posted by TexHillGirl at 10:22 AM : Jan 13, 2009

HUH?? ROFLMAO!! I guess English MUST be a SECOND Language??

[dredigga]

"Smart Power", my A--.
Abused power, is more like it.

Posted by peace4321

I think "Abused power" is leaving with the Bush administration in a couple of days. Hillary will do fine.

[murrowseye]

Oh...here we go. The Clinton conspiracy nuts are coming out. See this is the garbage we have to put up with when a Clinton is in the spotlight. Four to eight more years of the Clinton''s own machinations and the fantasy claims of their dealings by right wing whackos. That is why the Clintons just are not worth the trouble they cause.

[irmcvet971]

"Smart Power", my A--.
Abused power, is more like it.

Posted by peace4321 at 10:24 AM : Jan 13, 2009

Huh?? How can ANYONE take these fascist SERIOUS. Here we have a NEW Secretary of State who hasn''t even taken office yet and he is accusing her of "Abuse of Power". I really do not want to exclude ANYONE from the discussion we are about to enter but honestly can ANYONE take someone THIS UnAmerican serious... Sieg Heil Y''all.

[specialty8]

irmcvet,
She will serve us well.She will serve us well just like she has always served us. A bottle of vasiline and Bengay.

[cariboubarbi]

MS1-1-11


You sound like you are off your meds.

lol!

[briannorwood]

irmcvet971:

Agreed. All these self named patriots seem to want the new administration to fail even before they have taken office.

As they say, "country first"!

[jckbrn-2009]

From class, dignity, integrity down to Hillary - -
wow, now I know more about what Obama means when he talks about changing Washington ! ! ! !
Can''t imagine what you supporters are looking at, Hillary brings more baggage to her appointment than an international airport - - and none of it good.

[cariboubarbi]

A bottle of vasiline and Bengay.

Posted by specialty8 at 10:31 AM : Jan 13, 2009


When you take Bush''s tool out of your backside you''ll have room to talk.

[murrowseye]

CBSisPravda1 you have not been paying attention the last eight years have you? The Bushleviks have been nothing but money grubbing, law breaking con men!

[matrixrx2003]

7 DAYS LEFT AND GOOD RIDANCE TO ALL THE BUSHIES AND CHENEYS,,,,,,,FOR EVER !

[murrowseye]

"So, in effect, you are saying that it''''s OK now that Democrats are doing it?"

Of course not! Though, the new administration has not taken office yet, so I cannot say they have done anything corrupt. I will keep my eye on them as any American should about their leaders, especially the Clintons. I do not like Republicans or Democrats as party dogmas, but I will not judge the new president or his administration until they actually take office.

[birdyard1]

The Bomb doesn''t have much to chose from unless he picks a republican

[murrowseye]

And by the way, CBSisPravda1, CBS is hardly Pravda. If you think that, you are not really watching CBS News. One of Bush''s former high ranking staffers to their contributors. They have Ben Stein as a commentator, etc. Perhaps your handle should be FOXNEWSisPravda1. It would be more truthful. Too bad Fox News will be out of a job as government propaganda mouthpiece a week from today. Awwww......

[specialty8]

Hillary did''t even know what Slick Willy was doing in the next room let alone whats going on across the world. And Palin is a airhead?

[redhawk1021]

Not a very smart person to put in as Secretary of State position, in my opinion.

Posted by CBSisPravda1 at 10:50 AM : Jan 13, 2009

Well, luckily, your opinion is that of a hate-filled, hyper-partisan, irrational rightwing loonytoon and can be dismissed out of hand.

[murrowseye]

Oh I suspect you haven''''t even begun to see con men yet...in case you didn''''t notice the whole political pig trough from Chicago pay/go games is moving in...

Not to mention an arabic/muslim whacko who hates this country.

Posted by TexHillGirl at 10:53 AM : Jan 13, 2009


Oh brother....sigh....Whatever....Have a nice day.....

[murrowseye]

So Obama is going to shut down Gitmo AND Fox News in the same week???

I won''''t be surprised when you''''re disappointed.

Posted by Eliphord at 10:56 AM : Jan 13, 2009

Fox News is not going anywhere. They just will not be getting daily talking points from the White House press office after next Tuesday. Their strategy will become one of trying to undermine the new president. That is the way this game works. Each side tries to undermine the other and nothing ever gets done in our government, but petty, partisan propaganda wars. The new president has taken a different tone, but time will tell. No, Fox News is not going anywhere. They have a right to exist just as any other information source in the public marketplace.

[murrowseye]

You obviously didn''''t read the AP story in my post - it is in fact saying that there was "pay-to-play" (quid pro quo) going on between Hillary and Bill''''s foundation donors.

Do you get it now?

Yeah, I get it. And if it is true, it would not surprise me. That''s why the hearing is a sham. I have not even heard a Republican challenger on this or anything yet. I heard Corker thank her for bringing Chelsea to the hearing and not much else yet.

[specialty8]

Talk about change,I just purchased my Obama coins, the Obama post cards(for next Chrismas If he is still in office if none of his past buddies talk)and my Obama piggy bank. I am going to put my change in it if there is any left.Now this is change you can count on.

[berniew4]

CAN any of you keep an open mind. Is your jugement always your opinion or FACT. // Do any of you really feel that Hillary Clinton is smarter,more USA loving , dedicated etc THEN CONDI RICE ?? Be sure you answer not on your political beliefs. Because you disagree with RICE,BUSH, CHENY etc . does not make them stupid. Maybe it makes you STUPID ??

[platteman]

Let us see, CBS, MSNBC, NBC, CNN, PBS all are in the tank for BHO. So those who think Fox gets their talking points from the white house, well think again.

When Gitmo is closed, I hope they go to CBS, NBC, CNN, MSNBC and PBS and maybe Chris Mathews will get a tingle when he has to live with a terrorist. I say send them all to San Fran and let them live with Gavin and all the liberal left wing nuts there.

At least you get both sides on Fox, CBS is about as in the tank as it gets.

Fox will still kick all the news orginizations with ratings week in and week out. No one watches NBC. If Katie didn''t have Palin to kick around her ratings would have been at the bottom, only PBS is lower.

[takebackusa]

At least you get both sides on Fox

Posted by Platteman at 11:14 AM : Jan 13, 2009

Yea, President Bush AND Vice President Cheney''s side. LOL

[wdrussell1]

Platteman the only people talking about letting thse suspects loose in America are you wackos from the extreme right.

[specialty8]

bernie,
Good point, Rice has not soaked up all the benifits of the job like the Clintons have.How can Hillary make a decision when Bill received millions from this one and that one? How much does it take to build a library anyway?

[notblue]

I thought Hillary was better than the typical BLAME america lib, guess not!

[hackerpc]

Electronic Unemployment Filing Systems Crashing Across the US....According to the AP

[rafterman1]

===I thought Hillary was better than the typical BLAME america lib, guess not!===
Posted by notblue

Since there is no such thing as a typical blame America lib, your point is meaningless.

[nolalou]

I thought Hillary was better than the typical BLAME america lib, guess not!

Posted by notblue

I thought you were more intelligent than the typical HATE Hillary Jerks.. I guess NOT!

[antoniof123]

This is priceless the wing nuts from the fiscal family value party of god are out in force.

I hate to break the news to you morons but really Obama is your next President even if you don''t like it.

But hey that is okay because in a few years I don''t know how many we will get tired of the Democrats and will put the Republicans back in power.

Of course the last time something like this happened it took a generation to die off before the Republicans came back into power. And of course that was only a senator who caused the anger I wonder how long a President will cost the Republicans this time.

[specialty8]

hackerpc,
You can thank Clinton for the systems going down. He is the one,under his watch that signed NAFTA and gave technolgy to China,probley for a few bucks for his library.

[matrixrx2003]

I_H_Libturds

How you doing Rowdydfw / Mudrose

I love your Mindless Posts and Factless Rants, in just 7 days Obama will be in office & the Bushies will be joining you at the Big Group Home that you live in Crawford TEXAS. It will a fabulous **** reunion and you get icecream !

[marshall65]

To the Clinton-Obama bashers-please go back to the main room and continue with your basket weaving. Your rants just prove that you will be left behind in the dust as sane America moves forward.

[notblue]

antoiniof, I for one am glad Obama and the Dems control everything now, at least we won''t have to endure the left and media blaming america for EVERYTHING anymore. But on the bright side, if things go south the libs who frequent these posts will be very entertaining midigating amd mariginalizing blame for the Dems not unlike the way they supported the terrorists since 2001.

[notblue]

Cariboubarbie, what country do Republicans and Bush come from? Eurasia? The Netherlands? And here I thought these people were fellow Americans! My fault.

[redhawk1021]

Yeah, right. Bonehead.

Posted by CBSisPravda1 at 11:01 AM : Jan 13, 2009

Knowing that rightwing loonies like yourself are going to spend the next four years - minimum - gnashing your teeth and choking on your own impotent rage will make getting up each day that much more worthwhile and satisfying.

Enjoy the inauguration. Brain-dead conservative nuts like you are so 2004.