Global News : Passport : Ricks : Drezner : Walt : Rothkopf : Lynch
The Cable : The AfPak Blog : Net Effect : Shadow Govt. : Madam Secretary : The Call
Hillary Clinton pressed Obama to talk tough on Iran
If Secretary Clinton had been president, the United States would have been talking tough about Iran at least two days earlier.
Clinton -- known for laying the smack down verbally -- spent two whole days urging President Obama to talk tough on Iran before he finally did, reports the Washington Times. And then when he did condemn the violence, he did so without telling her first, making it look like the State Department was "out of sync" with the White House.
According to the article, Clinton originally agreed that the U.S. response should be somewhat restrained to avoid creating the impression that the United States was meddling in Iran's internal affairs -- and because the U.S. government would most likely end up having to deal with Ahmadinejad later on regarding nuclear weapons.
But after 26-year-old Neda Agha-Soltan was shot on a Tehran street on June 20, Clinton decided it was time for tough talk (a position you all supported in last week's poll). She spent two days urging Obama to speak out, but he resisted. Then on June 23, without informing her first, he announced, "I strongly condemn these unjust actions."
Of course Obama is the president and doesn't need Clinton's permission to speak, but as the Washington Times article states, his tough words made the State Department look "out of sync" with the White House. Until an hour before Obama's news conference, the State Department was still speaking in restrained terms (saying it was "deeply concerned," etc.)
Maybe Obama will listen to Clinton's foreign-policy advice more carefully next time -- or at least give her a heads-up about any unexpected moves.
Photo: KAREN BLEIER/AFP/Getty Images
Advertisement
FOREIGN POLICY is published by the Slate Group,
a division of Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive, LLC.
All contents ©2009 Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive, LLC. All rights reserved.
Madam Secretary is an obsessive blog about all things Hillary Clinton. From her policies to her pantsuits, Madam Secretary delivers up-to-the-minute news, analysis, and gossip about America’s top diplomat.
the president
I am really begining to not like our president. He's doing these things on purpose, but he is making himself look like a fool. If you are going to take her advice at least let her know. Man I really hope Hillary has someone in the state department watching her back, because the Obama certainly could careless how he makes her look.
She didn't look careless at
She didn't look careless at all. Everyone knows she is tough and that Obama is the limpwrist who is not a huge fan of democracy. :)
Hillary Clinton pressed Obama to talk tough on Iran
It would be a disaster if President Obama was the one who had to follow Ms Clinton directions when it comes to foreign policy issues. What was the out come of the president Clinton's foreign policy when it came to Arab, Israeli peace negotiation? What was Afghanistan like when President Clinton was in white house? Please, do not even try to say anything derogatory about a man who has to clean up a mess left by the Republicans that there is no precedent for it in our history.
the point is
The point is if you are going to change your stance on on an foreign policy issue as president the least you could do is give your secretary of state a heads up.
The best was
Obama on the cover of the Daily news with a sad face talking about his 'broken heart' over iran. lol. GO OBAMA. Pity Policy. He had the perfect opportunity to use his soaring rhetoric, and he blew it.
Spitefully Clueless: Obama's Diplomatic Omelette!
This absolutely incomprehensible fiasco, prompted by timidity and indecisiveness in the highest echelon, leaves Washington with a huge diplomatic omelette on its face.
Surely, the president does not need briefings of a thousand mandarins, nor his favorite political campaign strategist, to spin his teleprompter musings. The decision should have been taken once Neda's image was flashed worldwide. Such outrage demanded an immediate and unequivocal response from him. And the response should have been a co-ordinated effort with his Secretary of State. Better still, he should have listened to the advice of his top diplomat when Hillary Clinton insisted that he voice the rage and anger of the world seeing this young woman become an instant martyr in that proud land ruled by religious fascists. Why wait a single day more? Why be indecisive and timid and scared in such hour of need for a firm voice? Does he really have a clue as to the message he's really sending out to the world by his "they-love-me-they-love-me-not" preferred pose?
Unless, of course, the president is genuinely afraid of strong women fighting for what they believe in. For this is surely, according to what we've witnessed during the ignominious campaign [no, not the Iranian election!], what one would be highly suspicious of. Shame, really, this lost opportunity for his foreign policy direction to shine at long last!...
Spitefully Clueless: Obama's Diplomatic Omelette!
This absolutely incomprehensible fiasco, prompted by timidity and indecisiveness in the highest echelon, leaves Washington with a huge diplomatic omelette on its face.
Surely, the president does not need briefings of a thousand mandarins, nor his favorite political campaign strategist, to spin his teleprompter musings. The decision should have been taken once Neda's image was flashed worldwide. Such outrage demanded an immediate and unequivocal response from him. And the response should have been a co-ordinated effort with his Secretary of State. Better still, he should have listened to the advice of his top diplomat when Hillary Clinton insisted that he voice the rage and anger of the world seeing this young woman become an instant martyr in that proud land ruled by religious fascists. Why wait a single day more? Why be indecisive and timid and scared in such hour of need for a firm voice? Does he really have a clue as to the message he's really sending out to the world by his "they-love-me-they-love-me-not" preferred pose?
Unless, of course, the president is genuinely afraid of strong women fighting for what they believe in. For this is surely, according to what we've witnessed during the ignominious campaign [no, not the Iranian election!], what one would be highly suspicious of. Shame, really, this lost opportunity for his foreign policy direction to shine at long last!...