Clinton vows to freeze pirate assets
April 15, 2009
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has unveiled a four-point plan to fight piracy that calls for prosecution and freezing pirates’ assets.
The United States seeks to work with the international community to “explore ways to track and freeze pirate assets”, Clinton told reporters, adding Washington was determined to make sure “states take responsibility for prosecuting and imprisoning captured pirates.
Hillary Clinton reveals how she got over Bill’s adultery
March 8, 2009
US secretary of state Hillary Clinton, reflecting on her life in the public spotlight, said on Saturday she misses ordinary pleasures but has no regrets about her choice of public service.
“It’s very hard to go out shopping and just enjoy yourself out with your friends; it’s hard to go out to a restaurant and have just a meal with some people you want to talk to without being recognised,” she said during an interview on a popular women’s program on the Turkish channel, NTV.
Clinton takes shot at Bush over uranium claims
February 16, 2009
THE US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, has cast doubt on a Bush administration claim that North Korea had a clandestine program to enrich uranium, and has said she would focus on getting the Pyongyang Government to give up its stock of weapons-grade plutonium.
“There is a debate within the intelligence community as to exactly the extent of the highly enriched uranium program,” Mrs Clinton told reporters traveling with her to Asia on her first voyage as the chief US diplomat.
Hillary to Bill: thanks for ‘all kinds’ of experiences
February 3, 2009
Despite the daunting challenges she faces as the new US secretary of state, Hillary Clinton poked fun at herself and her husband Bill Clinton during her swearing-in.
“I’m so grateful to him for a lifetime of all kinds of experiences,” said Clinton, pausing in the middle of her phrase before finishing it on a harder tone at an elite ceremony in the State Department.
Help for Gaza and CIA Torture Outlawed
January 23, 2009
On his third day in office, President Barack Obama has focused on the Middle East, calling on Israel to open its borders with Gaza to allow humanitarian aid and commerce.
And he has appointed one of America’s most talented negotiators to broker lasting peace in the troubled region.
Mr Obama also announced plans to close the contentious detention centre at Guantanamo Bay within 12 months and to ban “enhanced interrogation” used by the CIA in the past, branding it torture and contrary to American values.
Biden forced to shush wife on Oprah
January 20, 2009
The wife of vice-president-elect Joe Biden has let it slip to talkshow host Oprah Winfrey that her husband had a pick of two jobs in the Obama administration.
Jill Biden said president-elect Barack Obama gave Biden the choice of being secretary of state or vice-president.
The vice-president-elect tried to hush his wife as soon as the words came out of her mouth, with a loud “shhh” that sent the audience into laughter.
Clinton rules out negotiations with Hamas
January 13, 2009
US secretary of state-designate Hillary Clinton on Tuesday ruled out negotiations with the Hamas militant group until it recognises Israel and abandons violence, saying her position is “absolute”.
“On Israel, you cannot negotiate with Hamas until it renounces violence, recognises Israel and agrees to abide by past agreements,” Clinton told a Senate confirmation hearing. “That is just for me an absolute.”
Clinton also vowed to renew US leadership through a “smart power” mix of diplomacy and defence and promised to push for stronger US alliances around the globe.
Kennedy flagged to take over from Clinton
December 9, 2008
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg gave a boost to Caroline Kennedy as a possible US Senate candidate, saying the daughter of President John F Kennedy is experienced and “can do anything.”
“Caroline Kennedy is a very experienced woman; she’s worked very hard for the city. I can just tell you she’s made an enormous difference in New York City,” said Bloomberg after meeting in Washington with other US mayors to seek economic stimulus spending from Congress.
Kennedy’s cousin, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., said recently that she is interested in the Senate seat that would become open if Hillary Clinton is confirmed as President-elect Barack Obama’s secretary of state.
If that happens, New York Governor David Paterson would appoint someone to the seat for a two-year period, after which they would have to run for election, and then for a full term in 2012.
In New York, Paterson was asked whether he would consider someone, like Kennedy, who never had been elected to office.
“Absolutely,” said Paterson, who already has spoken with Kennedy about the job. “Elected office is not the only place that people have distinguished themselves and can serve the public.”
He noted that Bloomberg, a businessman, hadn’t been elected before running for mayor.
Other contenders for Clinton’s Senate seat include New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. There are also a number of House of Representatives members in the running.
The governor has weeks to decide, and Bloomberg said he wasn’t going to try to insert himself into the governor’s selection process.
Kennedy has worked with the Bloomberg administration raising tens of millions of dollars a year in private money to help New York City’s public schools.
She also has strong connections to incoming Obama administration officials – though Obama himself said he is not going to get involved in New York politics.
AP
Hillary’s Baptism of Fire
December 5, 2008
Approaching the November 4 US presidential election, Joe Biden confided that America’s enemies would quickly test an elected Barack Obama.
“Mark my words,”
Obama’s running mate warned all too presciently,
“it will not be six months before the world tests Barack Obama like they did John Kennedy.”
“Watch. We’re going to have an international crisis, a generated crisis, to test the mettle of this guy.”
Hillary Clinton confirmed as Barack Obama’s Secretary of State
December 1, 2008
President-elect Barack Obama says he will welcome strong opinions and differing viewpoints from his national security team, saying he appointed his “team of rivals” because they shared his broad vision, but would not necessarily agree on tactics or strategies to deal with world issues.
Announcing his team in Chicago, Mr Obama confirmed the worst held secret in America: that his former rival for the Democratic nomination, Hillary Clinton, would be his secretary of state.
