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Hillarysworld -> All things Hillary -> Analysis: For Clinton, tough talk but few results (Houston Chronicle 11/04/09)
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TOPIC: Analysis: For Clinton, tough talk but few results (Houston Chronicle 11/04/09)
Jen the Michigander


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Analysis: For Clinton, tough talk but few results (Houston Chronicle 11/04/09)
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http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/world/6703616.html

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton's tense exchanges with Pakistani civilians and Arab diplomats over a harrowing week of foreign stops exposed the confining limits of her office.

That wasn't what the Pakistani government wanted to hear, but it seemed to reflect Clinton's determination to show the Pakistanis that they can complain about U.S. counterterrorism tactics and about strings attached to U.S. aid — but not without hearing the administration's own concerns.

Clinton's toughened public stance was less in evidence, though, when she turned to the stymied Mideast peace process. Instead of bluntness, she struggled repeatedly to cater to both Israeli and Arab concerns, making no headway in getting either side to move closer.

In Jerusalem, trying to mollify Israeli reluctance to agree to halt all future settlements as a pretext to renewed peace talks with Palestinians, Clinton floated an Israeli proposal that would restrain — but not stop — more West Bank housing.

Palestinian and Arab diplomats reacted with outrage, and the Clinton who had been tough in Pakistan was forced to backpedal. Arab officials questioned whether the U.S. had tilted toward Israel and abandoned its position that continued Israel settlements are illegitimate and must be brought to a full stop.

Clinton's comments reflected a realization within the Obama administration that conservative Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government will not accept a full-on settlement freeze and that a partial halt might be the best lesser option. Her appeal seemed designed to make the Israeli position more palatable to the Palestinians and Arab states.

Clinton had traveled to the region reluctantly, concerned her visit might be perceived as a failure without clear results, according to several U.S. officials. She agreed to meet Israeli and Palestinian leaders after pressure from the White House, according to the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal administration thinking.

In Marrakesh, Morocco, two days after her controversial comments in Jerusalem, Clinton issued what she called a clarification. But she was dogged by questions about the settlements issue for the rest of her time abroad.

Asked Wednesday before departing for Washington what she believed she had accomplished, Clinton focused on the depth of the challenges she faced, not on what the trip delivered — or failed to deliver.

“Every issue that we touched on during this trip is complicated and difficult,” she said. “Each requires patience, perseverance and determination to see them through. If these were easy questions with simple answers, I wouldn't have made this trip.”

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Alex


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It's a horrible situation.  Hillary used to support the Israelis stopping right where they were, and allowing the Palestinians to have a place to live.  Now, she is taking a different position, as she has to follow what o-criminal says.

My idea is for the Palestinians to all convert to either Christianity or Judaism.  THEN we'll make some progress (just kiddingwink).

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Jen the Michigander


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I think Hillary's change of position has more to do with Netanyahu than Obama; she knows he will NEVER agree to a settlement freeze and if he does, he'll go back on his word.

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