Clinton heads to the Situation Room

Posted By P.J. Aroon Tuesday, January 5, 2010 - 2:47 PM Share

Secretary Clinton is meeting today with President Obama in the White House's Situation Room to discuss the security weaknesses that led to the near bombing of the U.S.-bound plane from Amsterdam on Christmas Day. Other high-level administration officials in attendance will be: Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, Attorney General Eric Holder, FBI Director Robert Muller, and CIA Director Leon Panetta. The would-be bomber's father had reported him to the U.S. Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria, but that wasn't enough to prevent the son from boarding a U.S.-bound plane. As head of the State Department, Clinton will most certainly want to ensure that information given to embassies is promptly and effectively acted upon.

Other Clinton news:

•Clinton said, "The instability in Yemen is a threat to regional stability and even global stability," after meeting with Qatar's prime minister yesterday.

•Clinton said yesterday that Iran is showing "mounting signs of ruthless repression." She also said there's no strict deadline for U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations. Iran liked those remarks.

•Clinton barely edged out Sarah Palin (16 percent versus 15 percent) as most-admired woman in a USA Today/Gallup poll.

•A new book has Clinton's name in the subtitle: Notes from the Cracked Ceiling: Hillary Clinton, Sarah Palin, and What It Will Take for a Woman to Win.

•A list of contributors to the William J. Clinton Foundation has been released as part of an ethics promise by Secretary Clinton. The diverse group of donors includes Norway, Oman, the PGA Tour Inc., Donald Trump, and Bug Works Pest Control Co.

TIM SLOAN/AFP/Getty Images

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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.