Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton the 65 year old American politician, wife of the 42nd President of the United States Bill Clinton, leading candidate for the Democratic 2008 presidential nomination, and the US Secretary of State, has been the focus of an article by David Rohde on Reuters titled ‘Clinton: International portfolio, domestic concerns’ referring to her potential candidacy for the 2016 presidential nomination. Rohde states “…She [Clinton] has been a very good but very cautious secretary of state, who kept her distance from Afghanistan and other seemingly intractable conflicts. Clinton established a strong relationship with President Barack Obama, was innovative and worked tirelessly, but her position as a potential 2016 presidential candidate clearly influenced her performance. One State Department official praised Clinton’s tenure, but talked about looking forward to the arrival of her presumed successor, Senator John Kerry. …After promising a sweeping break with the approaches of President George W. Bush, the Obama White House has proved just as insular and controlling of foreign policy as the Bush administration. …Obama’s first-term foreign policy was marked by cautious, political calculation. Members of his foreign policy team rightly point to the president’s re-election as proof that their approach worked. A more decisive Obama approach in foreign affairs, though, may have helped him at the ballot box. …The lesson of Iraq is that American invasions are not the answer. But neither is isolation. Traditional American diplomatic engagement is needed in the Middle East, including efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. At the same time, new means of diplomacy – what Clinton called “smart power” – should be carried out as well. U.S. trade, technology and private investment – not simply drones – should be used to counter militancy. Clinton deserves credit for restructuring the State Department and embracing innovative new forms of diplomacy.”  Inspired by David Rohde, Reuters ow.ly/hhRPd Image source Kai Mork ow.ly/hhRIm Embracing innovative new forms of diplomacy (February 9 2013)Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton the 65 year old American politician, wife of the 42nd President of the United States Bill Clinton, leading candidate for the Democratic 2008 presidential nomination, and the US Secretary of State, has been the focus of an article by David Rohde on Reuters titled ‘Clinton: International portfolio, domestic concerns’ referring to her potential candidacy for the 2016 presidential nomination. Rohde states “…She [Clinton] has been a very good but very cautious secretary of state, who kept her distance from Afghanistan and other seemingly intractable conflicts. Clinton established a strong relationship with President Barack Obama, was innovative and worked tirelessly, but her position as a potential 2016 presidential candidate clearly influenced her performance. One State Department official praised Clinton’s tenure, but talked about looking forward to the arrival of her presumed successor, Senator John Kerry. …After promising a sweeping break with the approaches of President George W. Bush, the Obama White House has proved just as insular and controlling of foreign policy as the Bush administration. …Obama’s first-term foreign policy was marked by cautious, political calculation. Members of his foreign policy team rightly point to the president’s re-election as proof that their approach worked. A more decisive Obama approach in foreign affairs, though, may have helped him at the ballot box. …The lesson of Iraq is that American invasions are not the answer. But neither is isolation. Traditional American diplomatic engagement is needed in the Middle East, including efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. At the same time, new means of diplomacy – what Clinton called “smart power” – should be carried out as well. U.S. trade, technology and private investment – not simply drones – should be used to counter militancy. Clinton deserves credit for restructuring the State Department and embracing innovative new forms of diplomacy.”

 

Inspired by David Rohde, Reuters ow.ly/hhRPd Image source Kai Mork ow.ly/hhRIm