|
This Strikes Us
Hillary Clinton – A Woman of Substance – Part 4
“Secretary Clinton has demonstrated her skills as Secretary
of State, especially but by no means exclusively in helping
other Asian countries counter Chinese bullying in the
western Pacific. In my career, I’ve seen close-up what
happens when American liability falters. It’s not pretty,
for us or for the world. There is no choice: In razor sharp
contrast to her opponent, Secretary Clinton is ready, steady
and prepared. With a proven preference for bipartisanship,
she must win this election.”
Former Bush Administration Deputy Assistant Secretary of
Defense James Chad
After he was elected to
serve as the 44th president of the United States,
Barack Obama reached out to his rival for the Democratic
nomination, Senator Hillary Clinton, and asked her to serve
as his Secretary of State.
During her four years of
service, Clinton visited 112 countries, focusing her
attention on repairing America’s damaged reputation around
the world. She worked to expand the State Department’s role
in global economic issues, increased U.S. diplomatic
presence especially in Iraq, unveiled the Global Hunger and
Food Security program, saved the signing of the Turkish
Armenian accord and assisted the president on major decision
such as killing Osama Bin Laden, the revolution in Egypt and
the use of military force in Libya.
“As Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton was key in
rebuilding America’s leadership and prestige overseas after
the Bush years. She restored our alliances with the EU and
key Asian Allies as well as key relationships in Africa and
Latin America.”
Bill Richardson, former ambassador, secretary of energy and
governor of New Mexico.
She made gender equality a
priority, using every one of the visits to those 112
countries to empower women, and created an
ambassador-at-large position, a post charged with addressing
the issue of gender equality throughout the State
Department.
Secretary Clinton
accomplished the feat of getting China, Russia, the European
Union and most of the civilized world to agree on crippling
sanctions on Iran which would ultimately bring that nation
to the negotiating table.
“All the previous Secretaries of State were dealing with
international relations, which is one thing. Hillary is
dealing with global responsibility, which is a totally
different thing. When you have had international relations,
it’s enough that you go to a capital and that’s it. No more.
She has to face people all around the world with
unbelievable differences.”
Former Israeli President Shimon Peres.
Clinton implemented
several internal reforms at the State Department to enhance
accountability and gender equality. The number of female
ambassadors, for example, increased to 25 during her years –
the highest number ever.
In her first months in
office Clinton put together the Quadrennial Diplomacy and
Development Review (QDDR), a way to monitor and evaluate
State Department initiatives on “evidence-based decision
making.” The goal of the program was to improve the State
Department internal management and bolster requests for
resources through a quantitative demonstration of
effectiveness.
“I’ve known her for many years now and I respect her
intellect. And she ran the State Department in the most
effective way I’ve ever seen … I was more chaotic.”
Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.
Her critics will say now
that Secretary Clinton accomplished little during her years
in office but the fact is that those globe-trotting years
laid the groundwork for a very consequential presidential
second term. “Nearly every foreign policy victory of
President Obama’s second term has Secretary Clinton’s
fingerprint on it,” said U.S. Senator Harry Reid, the Senate
Minority Leader.
Those victories include
the Iran treaty, the opening to Cuba, the increase in
exports to China and aggressive work on climate change
agreements.
The widespread praise for
Clinton’s work was seconded by Donald Trump when she left
office in 2012 who said at that time that she was “terrific”
and had done “a good job.”
Of course, she’s always
done a job. As First Lady of Arkansas and First Lady of the
United States she broke ground, risking condemnation from
critics because of her penchant for fighting for health
care, for women and children’s rights without the proper
regard for observing the niceties of her position.
As an elected official
representing the State of New York, she did not hesitate to
continue to advocate for the rights of families, women and
children, by that time, in a more bully pulpit.
She is, as President Obama
said during her party’s convention, the most qualified
person ever to be nominated for the presidency.
“We have in common both the belief that foreign policy is
not just about responding to crises. The goal is to improve
the condition of humanity.”
British Foreign Secretary William Hague.
Hillary Clinton –
A Woman of Substance – Part 3
Hillary Clinton – A Woman of
Substance – Part 2
Hillary Clinton – A
Woman of Substance Part 1
|
