Posted on 12/30/2008 10:29:43 PM PST by STARWISE
Hillary Clinton is forming a 'hit squad' of special envoys who will be sent to the world's troublespots to try to prevent conflict breaking out.
The diplomats will form the spearhead of the US state department as the new secretary of state seeks a bigger role for her office in Barack Obama's new government.
The former first lady has wasted no time as she begins building up her team in preparation for taking over as America's most senior diplomat from Condoleezza Rice next month.
Hillary Clinton with President Elect Barack Obama. Sources say that the former first lady is seeking a bigger budget as the new secretary of state
Sources in Washington suggested Mrs Clinton had embarked on an 'empire-building' exercise as she seeks an expanded role within Mr Obama's administration.
She wants a bigger budget and an expanded role for the state department, not just in foreign affairs, but in dealing with global economic issues in the current financial crisis.
Mrs Clinton has also told Mr Obama she wants to appoint high-profile special envoys.
Her husband Bill has been suggested as a possible envoy to deal with Pakistan and India.
Mrs Clinton has told Mr Obama that she would like to appoint high-profile special envoys. Suggestions include Richard Holbrooke, left, for Afghanistan or Iran, and former president and husband Bill Clinton for Pakistan and India
He used several envoys during his two-term presidency in the Nineties, with Richard Holbrooke the best-known for his roles in brokering peace deals in the Middle East and the Balkans conflict.
Mr Holbrooke is among the names being mentioned as a possible envoy either for Afghanistan or Iran. Martin Indyk, a former US ambassador to Israel, has also been mentioned.
While Mrs Clinton compiles a shortlist of envoys, she has already dipped into her husband's former team for two key advisers.
Jacob Lew, budget director in the Clinton administration, has been given the job of making sure the state department is not underfunded.
Mrs Clinton wants extra money for the diplomatic corps as she seeks to improve America's standing in the eyes of the world. James Steinberg, a former deputy national security adviser to the former president, is also in her team as a trusted lieutenant.
Insiders said Mrs Clinton is determined to wrestle power back from the Pentagon, which under President Bush played a dominant role in the government. The US defence department took over the planning of reconstruction of Iraq following the 2003 invasion.
A recent report by a federal watchdog found the $117 billion that has been spent by the US on reconstruction work had done little to improve the country. The report, Hard Lessons: The Iraq Reconstruction Experience, reveals a catalogue of mistakes and incompetence.
These people just get crazier and crazier and drunk with power. They need to go.
Bill must really be hound doggin to get sent to Pakistan.
Can’t wait for the book: “Bill’s Adventures In Burkhaville.
Translation: Hitlery can’t do the job so she is asking others to go do it for her.
Foreign policy by committee. Change.
I want to see the undercover reports.
Ha!
Bill must be thinking - “from one thong to a million burkhas, oy vey...”
I thought it was satire, but it ain’t.....
Hard Lessons: The Iraq Reconstruction Experience
“Insiders said Mrs Clinton is determined to wrestle power back from the Pentagon, which under President Bush played a dominant role in the government. The US defence department took over the planning of reconstruction of Iraq following the 2003 invasion.”
What a bunch a bunk! State had control of the country for 18 months after the military had taken Baghdad and screwed things up royally. As I have read from many Officers over there, DOD had to rush forward to straighten out the mess that Bremer created.
The Clintons will run US foreign policy and possibly some aspects of domestic economic policy. The entire objective of Barry and Bill (Ayers), since Ayers is the puppet master behind Barry, was domestic policy, where they plan to implement such a heavily controlled society that it will make Cuba look good.
The thing that is frightening is that this is the very reason Barry and Bill’s followers voted for them; everybody knew that foreign policy would be handled by somebody else, since Odumbo seems to have little foreign knowledge beyond the internal corrupt Marxist politics of his native country, Kenya. What the Hope and Change groupies were really panting for was social control, and that’s what he wants, too. He’s going to go full speed ahead on that, and the Clintons will be left to handle the rest of the affairs of state.
That sure was successful!
Hillary looking to be dubbed the self-made widow.
If the bubba’s go too far you can count on O to put out the word to certain senators to vote against her as SOS.
I can’t wait to see who she designates to deal with Russia, given she and Putin have traded insults.
I don't know how he will deal with foreign leaders when he will be busy dealing with Co-Prez Hillary.
this is a nightmare.
I read the report.
The statement “117 billion that has been spent by the US on reconstruction work had done little to improve the country.” is garbage as a matter of fact by the reports’ own statistics.
Assign him to the Khyber Pass...
Hill sends Bill to Pakistan in search of Osama?
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