Secretary of State-designate Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., in Chicago on Dec. 1, 2008. (AP)
She wanted to be on her way to the Oval Office as the next U.S. president. Fate and Barack Obama had it otherwise.
Hillary Clinton, today, is before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in her confirmation hearing for Secretary of State. As a fellow senator, her reception is expected to be warm. But the issues she and the country are facing couldn’t be tougher.
Gaza. Iraq. Iran. Afghanistan. New powers. Old foes. And then there’s Bill Clinton and his web of ties.
This hour, On Point: We’re talking about Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State, and listening in on her confirmation hearing.
You can join the conversation. What would your question be for Senator Hillary Clinton — soon to be, it appears, Madame Secretary? On Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, Gaza, China, Pakistan?
-Tom Ashbrook
Guests:
From Washington, we’re joined by Charles Kupchan, senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and professor of international relations at Georgetown University. He served on the National Security Council during President Bill Clinton’s first term. He’s author of “The End of the American Era: U.S. Foreign Policy and the Geopolitics of the 21st Century” and the forthcoming book, “How Enemies Become Friends.”
And from Paris, we’re joined by Christopher Dickey, Newsweek’s Paris bureau chief and Middle East regional editor. He recently wrote about the challenges President-elect Obama will face from Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran. His forthcoming book, due out next month, is “Securing the City: Inside America’s Best Counterterror Force – The NYPD.”
More links:
For a breakout of Senator Hillary Clinton’s positions historically on various foreign policy issues, see this backgrounder from the Council on Foreign Relations.
Tags: foreign affairs, Hillary Clinton, politics
I am hoping that Hillary will bring attention to women’s rights/ women’s education. Karen Hughes was not too successful, but hopefully Hillary can be more successful.
To what extent is the issue of global warming a foreign policy one?
Posted by Debbie Reches from Brookline, on January 13th, 2009 at 10:31 am ESTWhat I would like to hear and see is a compendium of what our Secretary of States have said at their confirmation hearings versus what they have accomplished.
I hope that the rapport between Obama and Clinton will be more cooperative as opposed to the tension that was apparent with Bush and Colin Powell…
Posted by Nadia Nikonikov, on January 13th, 2009 at 10:48 am ESTA polarizing figure. Like it or not, this is not going to change no matter what title she is given.
Posted by nick ostapeck, on January 13th, 2009 at 10:52 am ESTHow many male world leaders will cringe at the sound of her voice? They cannot be forced to accept her the way we are being forced.
Oh please, the US’ standing comes from its wealth and power relative to others. With falling oil prices, little has changed. Everyone takes our cash when there’s a natural disaster, no questions asked. Many have suggested that US troops should go to Zimbabwe, Dafur and the Congo. Why? Because we are rich enough to have a large military that is very mobile.
Should we be more like China and only offer aid when there’s a return on investment, like access to natural resources? How about Russian foreign policy? They’ve got lots of friends; actually they’ve got lots of people afraid of them.
Posted by Majawill, on January 13th, 2009 at 11:05 am ESTHillary Clinton will be nothing more than a puppet of the Israeli lobby in America. She will only make tough demands on Israel’s Arab neighbors will fending off any criticism of Israel or concessions by Israel. As a result, America’s standing in the Arab world will be met with greater contempt, hatred, and mistrust than ever.
Posted by Joe B., on January 13th, 2009 at 11:05 am ESTAttributing a large part of today’s work stress to the fact that wives are in the work force and that there are then additional expenses (child care) is putting the cart before the horse. Many women would prefer to not work and would rather manage the home front. The question which should come first to today’s guest is: Why have women felt the economic need to work? That is, why have we been compelled to become 2 income families? Why has that necessary? Simple answer: Globalization.
Posted by David, on January 13th, 2009 at 11:36 am ESTPosted by Debbie Reches
I am hoping that Hillary will bring attention to women’s rights/ women’s education. Karen Hughes was not too successful, but hopefully Hillary can be more successful.
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How will Hillary Clinton help with women’s rights? She called women who accused her husband of having sex with them liars; continuing to blame women for the sins of her unfaithful male spouse. She taught young girls that the way to obtain power is to marry the right man INSTEAD of climbing to the top on your own CV. After being given the highest power, position, and money she failed both at healthcare and the Democratic primaries. Instead of taking responsibility for her own personal failures, she cried sexism. Another bad example for young girls: when you fail to live up to your potential, blame men.
If those are your ideas of empowering women, I sincerely hope that Hillary Clinton stays far, far away from being so “helpful” to our gender.
Posted by Anne-Marie, on January 13th, 2009 at 12:55 pm ESTDear On Point,
Please stop giving your real-time listeners a poorer broadcast in order to make your rebroadcast sound fresher, live-er.
I tuned into today’s show ~5 minutes late, listening to the S.O.S. confirmation hearing, and the language used on the show was ambiguous as to whether the hearing was happening live or ‘earlier this morning.’
Please anchor your show in the language of real-time.
E.g.: “Good morning [whomever] thanks for joining us.” Or,” Let’s go back to the Secretary of State confirmation hearing now underway.”
Are the rebroadcast/syndication listenership numbers that significantly increased by this, in my opinion, deceptive practice? Is it worth it? Do you get it?
Posted by Frederic C., on January 13th, 2009 at 2:53 pm ESTThe mp3 file that you posted for your podcast of this show is actually a second copy of the other hour today, Elsewhere, USA. Please repost the proper podcast.
Posted by Mike Feinstein, on January 13th, 2009 at 9:13 pm ESTTo clarify my comment above — the streaming works properly, but the podcast is the wrong show.
Posted by Mike Feinstein, on January 13th, 2009 at 9:15 pm EST