usdemocrats.com political news ticker/weblog back to weblog index Sunday February 22, 2009 make sure to refresh the page to view the most current updates
CNN
live feed |
ticker timeline 23:28 ET Sunday February 22,
2009 |
Iran To 'Pre-Commission' Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant from Rferl.org |
US, Iraq Launch New Bid To Eradicate militants from Rferl.org |
VIDEO: Company hiring thousands from CNN.com - Video |
VIDEO: Ron Paul on Real Time w/ Bill Maher 02/20/2009 from Most Viewed by marcaeld |
Clinton sets framework for U.S.-Asia relations from CNN.com - World |
Source: Obama seeks to halve deficit by 2013 from CNN.com - Politics |
10 Dirty Tricks Wall Street Con Artists Will Try to Pull to Keep the Rip-offs Going from AlterNet.org by Paul B. Farrell, Wall
Street Journal |
Scientists May Have New Way to Fight the Flu from healthfinder.gov Daily News |
VIDEO: Schwarzenegger backs stimulus from CNN.com - Video |
VIDEO: Montana Gov. pushes stimulus from CNN.com - Video |
VIDEO: Charles Mahtesian, The Politico, National Politics Editor from C-SPAN Recent Video Published: Today at 7am (ET) |
from C-SPAN Recent Video Published: Today at 7am (ET) |
VIDEO: Elizabeth Lower-Basch, Center for Law and Social Policy, Senior Policy Analyst from C-SPAN Recent Video Published: Today at 7am (ET) |
California, once a dream state, strives to get back its groove from Christian Science Monitor | Top Stories
|
Clinton 'reintroduces' US to Asia from Christian Science Monitor | Top Stories
|
Navy Volunteers Connect with Norfolk's Homeless from U.S. Navy News Headline Stories |
VIDEO: EU Summit for the economy from CNN.com - Video CNN's Fred Pleitgen reports |
adsense |
VIDEO: Panel Discussions from the National Governorns Association Winter Meeting - Sunday from C-SPAN Recent Video Published: Today at 2am (ET) |
'Dire' economy shaking Zimbabwe from CNN.com - World Zimbabwe's new prime minister on Sunday
called the country's economic situation "dire and serious"
and asked the international community for help. |
Housing secretary defends Obama foreclosure plan from CNN.com - Politics |
DoD
Identifies Army Casualties Sun, 22 Feb 2009 14:47:00 -0600 |
Dragon
TV Interview: Developing a Comprehensive, Integrated Dialogue
With China Secretary of State Interview With Yang Lan of Dragon TV Beijing, China February 22, 2009 |
This
Week in the Pentagon Sat, 21 Feb 2009 07:43:28 -0600 Military officials react to President Obama's decision to increase troop levels in Afghanistan. Also, actor Kevin Bacon stars in a memorable military movie. |
ticker timeline 22:12 ET Sunday Feb 22, 2009 |
The
U.S. and China Working Toward Cleaner Energy Secretary of State Online Chat Moderated by Professor Qi Ye, Hosted by China Daily Beijing, China |
Minutes
from a Torturers' Meeting at Guantanamo By Connie L. Nash It is done so here as a public service, to promote the position that prosecution of the government's torture crimes is of paramount importance. Cast of characters: Lt. Col. Diane Beaver, the Staff Judge Advocate at Guantanamo; Lt. Col. .... A few days after that, on October 28, 2002, Mark Fallon, Deputy Commander at Criminal Investigation Task Force (CITF) sent a memo to a colleague. He was uneasy about what he had read in the Counter Resistance Strategy Meeting Minutes. ... |
Ahmadinejad
submits intl. war crimes bill Tehran Times - Iran TEHRAN -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad presented a bill to the Majlis on Sunday calling for the investigation of international war crimes. ... |
Investigating
Bush Abuses Of Power: 4 Models From The Past By The Huffington Post News Editors Anyone in the Bush (or any) administration who is suspected of any war crime or other serious crime MUST absolutely be investigated. If the investigation turns up sufficient evidence, that person MUST be prosecuted. ... |
Dubai
Gets $10 Billion Bailout to Ease Debt Wall Street Journal - USA By CHIP CUMMINS DUBAI -- The United Arab Emirates said Sunday it will spend $10 billion to bail out the once-highflying emirate of Dubai, ... |
BofA
Angled for Bailouts Since 2007 While Telling Public "We're
Fine" Huffington Post - New York,NY,USA In October 2007, the same month that BofA acquired La Salle Bank for $21 billion, BofA and the Treasury orchestrated a bailout M-LEC Superfund super-SIV to ... |
McConnell
says ailing automakers not doing enough The Associated Press McConnell says he opposed the bailout money in December because the companies were not willing to restructure as needed. And he says the companies still ... |
Wall
Street: All eyes on the banks CNNMoney.com - USA Bank stocks and the broader market have been tumbling for the last two weeks, since the US Treasury unveiled a bank bailout plan that was short on specifics ... |
Leahy
Would Investigate Democrats, Too |
Fla.
governor continues to back Obama on recovery The Associated Press The package passed Congress with almost no Republican support. According to Crist, the key for the GOP to regain power in Washington is doing what's right ... |
Health-care
reform Obama's next task Even if the national credit card is maxed out and partisanship remains the rule for Washington's political tribes, President Obama and Congress are plunging ahead with a health-care overhaul. This week, Obama will start the dialogue on ... |
Dialogue
on U.S.-China Partnership on Clean Energy Secretary of State With Special Envoy for Climate Change Todd Stern And President of GE Energy China Jack Wen Taiyang Gong Power Plant, Beijing, China February 21, 2009 |
Toward
a Deeper and Broader Relationship With China Secretary of State Remarks With Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi Beijing, China February 21, 2009 |
Working
Toward Change in Perceptions of U.S. Engagement Around the World
Secretary of State Roundtable With Traveling Press Seoul, South Korea February 20, 2009 |
newsticker timeline 21:24 ET Sunday February
22, 2009 |
CNN
Live Feed |
news ticker updated 07:45ET Sunday February
22, 2009 |
VIDEO:
President Obama Weekly Address President Obama discusses the economic
stimulus package he signed this week in his weekly address to
the nation. |
Bank
of New York Mellon scored $3B bailout, also oversees entire ... New York Daily News - New York,NY,USA A New York bank that won $3 billion in taxpayer bailout money was hired by the government to monitor all banks that pocketed public cash - including itself. ... |
VIDEO: Hillary Clinton in China from CNN.com - Video Jill Dougherty reports. |
VIDEO: Stimulus = bigger paycheck? from CNN.com - Video |
from CNN.com - Video CNN's Cal Perry reports. |
Return SBA Disaster Loan Application For Disaster Assistance from FEMA: Region X News Releases |
Source: Obama seeks to halve deficit by 2013 from CNN.com |
VIDEO:
Net Neutrality Debate in Canada |
from CNN.com - Video |
newsticker timeline 07:14 ET Sunday February
22, 2009 |
Iran Blocks Websites Promoting Khatami from Rferl.org |
Pakistan Seeks To Calm U.S. On Pact With Islamists from Rferl.org |
USS Ronald Reagan Wins Second Battle E from U.S. Navy News Headline Stories |
Obama
Budget Details Come Out "In addition to tackling a deficit
swollen by the $787 billion stimulus package and other efforts
to ease the nation's economic crisis, the budget blueprint will
press aggressively for progress on the domestic agenda Obama
outlined during the presidential campaign. This would include
key changes to environmental policies and a major expansion of
health coverage that Obama hopes to enact later this year."
|
Top
senator says some banks may be nationalized From CNN Political Producer Peter Hamby
|
Nation's
governors convene in Washington From CNN producer Larry Lazo
|
Permanent cease-fire declared
in Pakistans Swat Valley ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) The Taliban and the government of North West Frontier Province have agreed to a permanent cease-fire in Pakistans volatile Swat Valley, an official said. Syed Mohammad Javed, commissioner for the Malakand region, which includes Swat Valley, told reporters in Mingora that the two parties had agreed to make a 10-day cease-fire declared earlier this week permanent. Javed said the agreement meant boys schools will reopen on Monday and camps will be set up for Swat residents who have fled the fighting or whose homes had been destroyed. The agreement comes as part of ongoing
talks between Sufi Mohammad, a pro-Taliban cleric, and his son-in-law
Maulana Fazlullah, the Taliban commander in Swat. |
Top U.S. lawmakers meet Syrian president The Syrian leader hosted Sen. John Kerry, the Massachusetts Democrat who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Rep. Howard Berman, the California Democrat who leads the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Assad took a firm line with the visiting lawmakers, according to the official Syrian news agency SANA. He said relations had to be based on dialogue, rather than dictated by the United States. Kerry painted the meeting as a break with Bush administration policy. Now we have an opportunity with the
new president, President (Barack) Obama, a new administration
and with a Democratic congress to put in place a different approach,
he said. |
Berkshire
Bank Offers New Community Investment Program MSNBC - USA 20, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Berkshire Bank will launch its Community Investment Program on March 16, 2009, expanding personal and business credit, ... |
Mexico:
2008 foreign investment down sharply BusinessWeek - USA Mexico says foreign direct investment in the country dropped sharply to $18.6 billion in 2008, from $27.2 billion in 2007. The decline is more pronounced ... |
DoD
Identifies Army Casualty Sat, 21 Feb 2009 12:44:00 -0600 |
DoD
Identifies Air Force Casualty Sat, 21 Feb 2009 14:06:00 -0600 |
Soldier,
Family Center Underscores Nation's Commitment, Chairman Says
FORT CAMPBELL, Ky., Feb. 21, 2009 - The
construction of a new Soldier and Family Assistance Center here
underscores the nation's commitment to those who sacrifice so
much, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said during a
groundbreaking ceremony yesterday. The 15,000 square-foot center will be the focal point of the future Warriors in Transition Complex, an overall 18-month, $43 million endeavor. To boost the mood even higher, officials announced that President Barack Obama had included the Warriors in Transition Complex in his stimulus package for Fort Campbell. "Being part of the stimulus bill will
stand it up a year earlier," Mullen said. "I'm really
delighted to know that that's going to happen." |
Fort
Campbell Center Represents Benchmark in Treatment FORT CAMPBELL, Ky., Feb. 21, 2009 - A tour
of the Traumatic Brain Injury Warrior Resiliency and Recovery
Center here yesterday made a favorable impression on the chairman
of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. "What I saw ... at Fort Campbell was
terrific, and a marked improvement from what I've seen in the
past -- an understanding of the care, a much better understanding
of [post-traumatic stress] than we've had in the past,"
Navy Adm. Mike Mullen said. "So I don't want to spend a
lot of time developing 10 more of those, or 20 more of those
or 30 more of those. We ought to rapidly disseminate [this model]
and get to that level as fast as we can." |
Investigation:
The oil money behind the anti-stimulus fight ... By Blue Bunting Who is Americans for Prosperity? According to SourceWatch.org, the group was founded in 2003 with money from the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation, which is run by the billionaires behind Kansas-based Koch Industries -- the ... |
Investigation
Confirms Civilian Casualties in Afghanistan Strike KABUL, Afghanistan, Feb. 21, 2009 - An
investigation into a Feb. 17 coalition air strike in Afghanistan's
Heart province has confirmed that 13 noncombatants and three
enemy fighters were killed, military officials reported. |
Karzai,
Pelosi talk counter-terrorism, reconstruction CNN International - USA KABUL, Afghanistan (CNN) -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told Afghan President Hamid Karzai America's "new strategy" in Afghanistan will focus on ... |
US
House Speaker assures continued support to Afghanistan Xinhua - China 21 (Xinhua) -- Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States Nancy Pelosi on Saturday repeated White House support to Afghanistan, ... |
Pelosi
talking to Afghanistan Washington Examiner - Washington,DC,USA By Susan Ferrechio House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., is in Afghanistan today to press President Hamid Karzai on "the political and security situations," ... |
Primary Care Practice-Based Research Networks for Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). This information has recently been updated,
and is now
available. |
Nancy
Pelosi Is 'Very Serious' About Torture, Wiretaps, and Congressional
Contempt... By Bob Fertik Now, the whole question of the buildup for the war and whether lies were told about that and the reason for that isshe believes that she and other Democrats on the Hill knew that it was a phony deal, said so at the time, ... |
U.S. Department of State Women's Empowerment Is Key To Progress Secretary of State Town Hall Meeting at Ewha Women's University Seoul, South Korea February 20, 2009 |
Clinton
to Obama: Talk optimistically on economy It used to be gospel in the nation's power center: Presidents didn't talk publicly about what the markets were doing. The notion was that anything a ... |
Obama
nixes plan to tax motorists on mileage President Barack Obama on Friday rejected his transportation secretary's suggestion that the administration consider taxing motorists based on how many ... |
Gordon
Brown To Visit Obama In March By The Huffington Post News Editors Gordon Brown To Visit Obama In March - The Huffington Post. |
Clinton
Lays Groundwork for Obama, Hu Talks in April Voice of America - USA They also laid the groundwork for a meeting between Mr. Hu and US President Barack Obama during the upcoming summit of G-20 nations in London in April. ... |
Obama
tells Treasury to begin cutting taxes Reuters - USA By Ross Colvin WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama ordered the US Treasury on Saturday to implement tax cuts for 95 percent of Americans, ... |
Obama's biggest challenges in Afghanistan http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-usafghan22-2009feb22,0,3663250.story |
The U.S. and South Korea: Working Toward a Vision of a More Comprehensive Strategic Relationship
Secretary of State Roundtable with Korean Journalists Seoul, South Korea February 20, 2009 |
Clinton, Chinese add environmental and
security issues to economic ... http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/washingtondc/la-fg-clinton-china22-2009feb22,0,2814624.story |
Is It Time For A Jailout On Wall Street? http://www.opednews.com/articles/Is-It-Time-For-A-Jailout-O-by-Danny-Schechter-090221-826.html |
NASA
Defers Setting Next Shuttle Launch Date Thu, 19 Feb 2009 23:00:00 -0600 During a thorough review of space shuttle Discovery's readiness for flight, NASA managers decided Friday that more data and possible testing are required before launching the STS-119 mission to the International Space Station. |
newsticker timeline 05:17 ET Sunday Feb 22,
2009 |
Disaster
Assistance Available For January Storm Damage Thu, 19 Feb 2009 11:59:44 -0600 OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Did you have damage during the storms and flooding between Jan. 6 - 16, 2009? You may be eligible for disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Washington Emergency Management Division (WEMD). |
Housing
And Other Disaster Assistance In Newton County Tops $774,600 Thu, 19 Feb 2009 14:50:23 -0600 AUSTIN, Texas -- More than $774,600 in federal and state grants and low-interest disaster loans has been approved for Newton County five months after Hurricane Ike made landfall. |
Sat, 21 Feb 2009 23:43:23 -0600 Secretary of State Seoul, DC, South Korea February 20, 2009 http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2009a/02/119430.htm
MR. WOOD: Madame Secretary, I'll turn it
over to you. SECRETARY CLINTON: Oh, thank you, Robert.
Well, what is there left to say? (Laughter.) QUESTION: : I have a question. SECRETARY CLINTON: I feel like we've been
living together for days and days. QUESTION: : I have a question about what
you've learned about the role of Secretary of State on this trip,
and what you see your role is. Because you've hired a lot of
envoys taking over a lot of big portfolios, including North Korea
now. SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, first of all,
having been on the job now for a month, I think there's a tremendous
opportunity to reintroduce America to the world and to bring
a message consistent with President Obama's vision about how
we're going to work with people to find common ground to solve
a lot of these big global challenges. And I came into it with
the very clear idea that we had so much work to do that I wanted
to be able to deploy some of the best diplomats and representatives
that I could find. So from the very beginning of my conversations
with the President-elect, I said I believe in envoys. I tried
to get the Bush Administration to appoint a special envoy to
Afghanistan and Pakistan back in 2007. Because I think that given
the range of issues that we have to deal with, it is not possible
for the Secretary of State to manage and handle all of these
problems without having a lot of strong people working with her.
So I came into it looking to have the authority to appoint envoys,
and I'm very pleased that the President agreed with me. And we
worked it through, even before the inauguration so that as soon
as he was inaugurated and I was sworn in, we could get to work. I mean, look what we've accomplished in
the last month. I mean, we've made it clear we're reengaged in
the Middle East because we have a consistent presence with George
Mitchell. We are in the midst of an in-depth review of our Afghanistan
and Pakistan policy with the leadership of Ambassador Holbrooke.
We now will have an experienced diplomat who knows both North
and South Korea, handling the North Korea policy on an ongoing
basis, which means that I can work with and oversee and be responsible
for, but come to Asia and then go to Cairo and then go to Europe,
as I will next week. So to me, this is how I like to operate.
And I think it enhances my ability to actually be effective globally.
I don't think that one person in today's world, given the complexity
and intensity of the challenges we face, could possibly handle
all these portfolios without doing injustice to them. QUESTION: : Can you just expand on that
a little bit? MR. WOOD: Let's go let's do one
with Nick, please. QUESTION: : Okay. We'll go with
I wanted to -- QUESTION: : Sorry, are you changing the
topic? Because I just wanted to follow up. SECRETARY CLINTON: Let Martha do a follow-up.
Yeah, we'll get back to you, Nick. QUESTION: : Just a little bit more on the
special representatives and envoy. So they take this portfolio,
they do this. How do you view what you do then? I mean, I know
we're going to the Middle East, but do you come in when there's
progress, do you come in as describe how you -- SECRETARY CLINTON: But Martha, I don't
think there is one-size-fits-all. I think that I've tried to
hire the best people that I can get in the Department, and I've
tried to recruit the best people that I could convince to take
on some of these especially complex portfolios. They work for
me and for the President. They report to me and to the President.
And we're in constant contact about what they're doing, where
they're going, what options they see. So ultimately, I'm accountable
because these are my choices and I have chosen to organize the
work we face in this way. But it's going to be different depending
upon the situation. And so I don't think there's any way to say,
well, this is how it's going to work because it's more like jazz;
you've got to improvise, you've got to have people who are both
great individual and ensemble players. Both all of our
envoys and special representatives work with the ambassadors
in the region, they work with the State Department, they work
with the White House. I've been around long enough that I don't
need to feel that I have to handle every single aspect of these
difficult problems. I couldn't possibly do that. You can have
a lot of motion with no movement, and I expect the people that
I entrusted with these jobs to get out there and to be focused
on making something happen, or at least to put their best efforts
into trying to do that. So when I'm in Cairo, George Mitchell will
be there, too. I'll be speaking for the United States Government,
but he will get in the region and will have a lot of information
to report. So it's just it's a constant back and forth
trying to figure out how we're going to push this ball forward. QUESTION: : And in the context of that,
do you see these envoys as exploring a regional dynamic and finding
the natural grain and then just sort of kind of guiding things
along that serve American interests? I mean, has this been done
before, and is that a very new approach? SECRETARY CLINTON: I think that's a wonderful
way of putting it. I think that in some respects it's been done.
What George Mitchell did in Northern Ireland was an ongoing commitment
by the United States Government to work with the British and
Irish governments, and we didn't have a lot at stake directly,
but indirectly it was a matter of great concern to a lot of people
that the troubles be paid attention to. I think what you'll see
with George Mitchell is similar. He has a tremendous amount of
persistence and patience in dealing with thorny problems. I mean, our goal is to try to reignite
the willingness on the part of the parties to move toward a two-state
solution. And it's a lot harder now than it was. I think the
disengagement by the United States for the first part of the
Bush Administration was unfortunate, because we weren't there
on an ongoing basis to try to look for those opportunities, to
see what could happen if we were working with those who were
actually committed to a peaceful and secure outcome. So we may I may have some more envoys.
I mean, I believe in this. I mean, I'll just quickly tell you,
when I got back from Afghanistan and Pakistan in January of 2007,
I called the White House and I spoke with the National Security
Advisor, Mr. Hadley. And I said: Steve there's just this
is just not working. You have Musharraf totally negative about
Karzai, Karzai negative about Musharraf. There's not a cooperative
relationship. These two places are linked, and we have no way
to keep them working on the same page. I really urge you to appoint
somebody who can move back and forth between the two countries.
And I said I don't have a name. I mean, if you want a name, I
can give you some names to consider. But please, you've got to
lift this up. The Embassy in Kabul is focused on Afghanistan.
The Embassy in Islamabad is focused on Pakistan. We have to take
a more regional approach. And I was obviously unsuccessful, but I
believed then, as I believe now, that this will help us figure
out how best we can move forward. So that's why we're doing it. QUESTION: : (Inaudible) next stop? Actually
(inaudible). QUESTION: : I actually wanted to move to
(inaudible). QUESTION: : If we can go we can
get something on China, because we're halfway through, that would
be (inaudible). SECRETARY CLINTON: Sure, okay. QUESTION: : Could I just ask you quickly
on Bosworth, who you just announced today. And because you talked
about succession, and there were questions today he was
just in North Korea. And I understand he actually brought you
and your colleagues and his friends a grim picture of what is
happening in North Korea in terms of leadership, in terms of
who's in charge, who's determining policy, who's trying to prove
himself more Catholic than the Pope, because it's that time;
it's a period of transition, perhaps. Did that affect your thinking when you
talked about the succession crisis? How is that going to affect
your policy making when you get to it? SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, I have to confess
that I'm somewhat fascinated by the concern that several of you
have evidenced about succession, which to me is like the most
obvious issue. It's been in the news for months. And I don't
think that it's a forbidden subject to talk about succession
in the hermit kingdom. In fact, it seems to me it's got to be
factored into any policy review that one is undertaking. It's
a fact. When you have a government like that that is so personality-centric,
you deal with the hand you're dealt, which is the government
that is there and the leader that is in charge, but you have
to be thinking down the road about when and where. So obviously
it's a factor, but I don't see that as news. I think it would
be irresponsible for it not to be factored into what you were
thinking about. It doesn't change the fact that you deal with
Kim Jong-il now and for as long as he's the man who is calling
the shots, and that's what we're doing. And I think Ambassador
Bosworth is incredibly well suited for the work that lies ahead. QUESTION: : Do you think he's calling the
shots? SECRETARY CLINTON: I have no idea. QUESTION: : Can I just -- QUESTION: : (Inaudible.) QUESTION: : -- can I just follow up on
that? SECRETARY CLINTON: I mean, we have to assume
that he is because that's who we deal with. QUESTION: : Why do you think it was interpreted
by some as something that isn't said. Because it's so sensitive
that it might offend the Chinese? Because it might have reverberations?
Is that something that you, not being a professional diplomat,
that you are more likely to say what you think, what you think
is obvious, and not worry about (inaudible)? SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, I think that to
worry about something which is so self-evident is an impediment
to clear thinking. And I don't think it should be viewed as particularly
extraordinary that someone in my position would say what's obvious.
I said it the other day about Burma. Sanctions aren't working
and others in the world who have tried to deal with the Burmese
regime can't figure out how to engage them, so we're going to
have a policy review about Burma. Maybe this is unusual because
you're supposed to be so careful that you spend hours avoiding
stating the obvious, but that's just not productive, in my view.
So I think that it's worth being perhaps more straightforward
and trying to engage other countries on the basis of the reality
that exists in a number of these settings to try to encourage
more thoughtful deliberation about where we're going and how
we're going to get there. And so that's how I see it, and that's
how I intend to operate. QUESTION: : Can we just go to China (inaudible)? SECRETARY CLINTON: Yes. QUESTION: : (Inaudible) something to write
on the plane (inaudible) when we get there. SECRETARY CLINTON: I thought you were going
to have a party on the plane. QUESTION: : No, no, (inaudible). (Laughter.) SECRETARY CLINTON: Oh, oh. Okay. QUESTION: : So -- SECRETARY CLINTON: And the middle seat
people get extra rounds. (Laughter.) QUESTION: : Thank you. QUESTION: : I'll have to move to a middle
seat then. (Laughter.) I think Arshad will (inaudible). (Laughter.) QUESTION: : China. SECRETARY CLINTON: Yes. QUESTION: : What do you see as the biggest
challenge here, and why is it that there is an impression out
there that human rights groups, not just people like us who are
(inaudible)? SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, I think that everything
is part of the agenda for this first visit. We have an opportunity,
we hope, to engage with the Chinese on a range of issues. Let
me just mention three of them. One is economic crisis. China
and the United States are intertwined when it comes to our recovery.
We both have undertaken stimulus packages. We both face difficult
domestic challenges. And I think there is a lot of room for cooperation,
which we are going to be seeking. Secondly, global climate change. It's one
of the reasons why I asked Todd Stern, another envoy that we
have appointed, to come on this trip, because so many of the
opportunities for clean energy, technology and the like are going
to come out of this region of the world. I mean, Japan, South
Korea, China are uniquely situated to be part of the answer to
the problem of global climate change. How we engage them, particularly
China, is going to be an incredibly important part of our diplomatic
(inaudible). And finally, a range of security issues.
What will China be willing to do with respect to the Six-Party
Talks and their bilateral relationship with North Korea? What's
their perspective on Afghanistan and Pakistan where they have
not only historical interests, but current commercial and security
interests as well? There's a very broad security agenda to discuss
with them. Now, that doesn't mean that questions of
Taiwan and Tibet and human rights, the whole range of challenges
that we often engage on with the Chinese are not part of the
agenda either. But we pretty much know what they're going to
say. We know that we're going to press them to reconsider their
position about Tibetan religious and cultural freedom, and autonomy
for the Tibetans and some kind of recognition or acknowledgment
of the Dalai Lama. And we know what they're going to say,
because I've had those conversations for more than a decade with
Chinese leaders. And we know what they're going to say about
Taiwan and military sales, and they know what we're going to
say. QUESTION: : So can't you just stipulate
that at the beginning? SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, I mean Matt, there's
a certain I mean, look, there's a certain logic to that.
I mean no I don't mean to in any way to say that we know
everything that's going to happen. But successive administrations
and Chinese governments have been poised back and forth on these
issues, and we have to continue to press them. But our pressing
on those issues can't interfere with the global economic crisis,
the global climate change crisis, and the security crisis. We
have to have a dialogue that leads to an understanding and cooperation
on each of those. So I think it's fair to say that I come
with a full agenda. But it's also, I think, fair to say we know,
kind of, what the dialogue is on these others. We don't know
yet how we're going to engage on the global economic crisis and
the global climate change crisis and these security issues. So
if we talk more about those, it's in large measure because that's
where the opportunity for engagement is. And that doesn't mean
that we have any lesser concern about the need for China to be
more willing to recognize and protect the human rights of people,
from free speech and freedom of religion to everything else. QUESTION: : What do you expect on North
Korea? SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, look, yeah, I
think we should let -- QUESTION: : The I notice that you're
going to go visit a church on Sunday. SECRETARY CLINTON: Mm-hmm. QUESTION: : And when Madeleine Albright
visited Rice visited a church, but when Madeleine Albright
visited a church, she actually came out and made a statement
calling for religious freedom in China. Are you planning to do
anything like that, or is it just going to be, kind of, just
a basic church visit? SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, I thought I would
just go to church. (Laughter.) That's kind of what I was planning
to do. I've gone to church in China before. And I'm going to
be there on a Sunday morning, so I thought I would go to church.
I think that, first, says volumes. QUESTION: : Right. Why don't probably
the church I looked it up on the web, but I don't remember
now. But it was one of these officially state-sanctioned churches,
right? You're not you can't really go to one of the underground
churches. I mean, does that give you pause -- SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, without endangering
people. QUESTION: : Right, right. SECRETARY CLINTON: That's the dilemma,
yeah. QUESTION: : So I think that's why Albright
said something about it when she went there, because she didn't
want to necessarily bless the state-sanctioned church while going
to church. SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, let me
let me think about that. I mean, my intention was just to go
to church. That was what I was planning. QUESTION: : Now, you've ruined it. (Laughter.) SECRETARY CLINTON: Now I'll make sure to
go. (Laughter.) QUESTION: : Well, we figured -- QUESTION: : Can I Madame, I just
wanted -- SECRETARY CLINTON: Yes. QUESTION: : I wondered if I could circle
back for a moment to what you started off with and how you're,
sort of, defining job. I think we all had a moment in the last
couple of days, watching you either on a TV show or at the women's
university, when you thought this was not your ordinary Secretary
of State. You have a sort of a personal celebrity and
notoriety that almost guarantees people will the encounters
you'll have will be different. They'll be sort of more personal
in some ways. And I wonder whether you thought through how you
use that celebrity to get a message across. And are there limits
to that in places where you don't want to go, where it would
become, in your view, inappropriate or that as the nation's
chief diplomat, you also can't be a rock star. SECRETARY CLINTON: Oh, really? (Laughter.) QUESTION: : Well, you could have sung.
(Laughter.) QUESTION: : That would have guaranteed
she wouldn't be around. (Laughter.) SECRETARY CLINTON: That's a good question,
Mark. I think that I see our job right now, given where we are
in the world and what we've inherited, as repairing relations
not only with governments, but with people. And I think President
Obama has an extraordinary capacity to do that because of the
really positive feeling that he personally engenders. To a lesser
degree, I have some of the same capacity, which I think is useful,
because we are in a time where public opinion influences governmental
decisions more so than historically has been the case, even in
autocratic or authoritarian regimes. And having the ability to
kind of get down into the population in a way that creates receptivity
toward American policy is a significant advantage. Now, will it lead to changes in government
policy? I certainly don't claim that. But I do believe that it
is an asset that the President has in an extraordinary intensity,
and which, I have to some extent as well. I think it's also important
to send the message that, as I've said repeatedly, I'm not just
interested in talking to governments. I do believe that when
a person can be connected to the rest of the world with a flick
of a mouse, what someone like me says and I what I do as I represent
our country has the potential for influencing attitudes and even
behaviors. I don't want to oversell this, because
there are some very intractable, difficult problems. But I think
it is I think it is part of our toolbox for so-called
smart power to be reaching out to people in a way that is not
traditional and not confined by the ministerial meeting and the
staged handshake photo and that's important. That's part
of the job. But going into universities where the next generation
is going to be thinking about their role and how they see the
world and what they think of America, or walking in a neighborhood
in Jakarta and talking about bringing clean water and healthcare
thanks to the American people, that is part of the message we're
trying to convey. QUESTION: : Can I just ask a thematic question? SECRETARY CLINTON: Yes. QUESTION: : So much of what you've been
saying across the region is openness, dialogue, and soft power.
But it seems like wherever we go, whether it's North Korea, Myanmar,
and now even on China to some extent, that there just might not
be a willingness on some of these regimes to talk to us. I mean,
even Iran is there's a real question. So looking ahead,
how are you going to balance both your call for engagement, while
at the same time facing the things that in the end might not
want to engage on any level and could pose a real security threat? SECRETARY CLINTON: Great question. I mean,
first of all, I think we change the presumption. The President
and I, as he eloquently said, are willing to extend a hand if
you unclench your fist. Not everybody will unclench their fist.
But the message of our extended hand has impact. And so to, in
effect, reverse the presumption that the United States won't
talk to you because we consider you X, Y or Z, as opposed to
United States will consider talking to you in return for you
taking certain actions that can lead to some kind of meaningful
(inaudible). So when regimes decide that they don't
want to unclench their fist, I think that puts us in a stronger
position internationally. I used to say during the campaign that
engaging with Iran in an appropriate way had three benefits.
Number one, we might actually learn something, because there
is a certain opaqueness to the decision-making within the Iranian
regime. So actually being in some way involved with them could
inform our own understanding of how best to continue whatever
policy toward them we chose. Secondly, something positive might actually
happen. You never know. But if you stand at opposite sides of
the room and refuse to engage, it's guaranteed nothing will happen.
So is it worth trying? Well, I think that is certainly possible.
But thirdly, it's important to be seen as the United States who
carries a greater moral burden than most other countries because
of who we are and what we stand for, that we are willing to reach
out. So that if we do face these security threats, we have a
more understanding international community that'll say, well
the Obama Administration was at least trying, unlike others who
said no, we're never going to talk to these people. And I think all of that added together
can change the environment. Now, does it change it a little or
does it change it a lot? We don't know. We're just beginning.
I think that it is also clear that some of our willingness to
even talk like this has upended the calculation of some of these
regimes. A lot of international diplomacy is a head game. And
part of what we're trying to do is to say okay, let's figure
out how we can have some kind of engagement. All of a sudden,
you see this panic on the faces of some of these regimes, like
oh my gosh, we can't afford to do that. Look, they might actually
score points with our public, or they might in some way divide
the united front that we have put out. So this is this is a work in progress,
but I think it's a more effective approach than adopting this
kind of hands-off, name-calling, under-no-circumstances attitude.
We talked to the Soviet Union during the entire Cold War. I mean,
I was of the generation where I was doing duck-and-cover drills
to protect myself from a nuclear attack. And yet we always kept
talking to them. I mean, they threatened to bury us, they insulted
our leaders, they took shoes off and hit desks. We never stopped
talking to them. And I don't think that was a sign of weakness.
I think that was a sign of strength. And it was also a signal
to likeminded people that we were not afraid of the threat that
they posed. MR. WOOD: Last question. Paul -- QUESTION: : Yes. MR. WOOD: Last question. We have to go. QUESTION: : I wonder if I can go back to
those stubborn issues with Chinese, Taiwan and Tibet human rights.
You say that there has been this situation for many years where
we speak our piece, they speak their piece, maybe there's not
too much progress. Do you have any ideas about how we might budge
that dialogue should some of these questions be linked to economic
issues where they want us to do things? SECRETARY CLINTON: Paul, it's hard to answer
that in the abstract. If we were to believe that such a linkage
would result in changes in behavior, we would certainly pursue
that. It matters deeply to me. Remember I made a speech about
women's rights and human rights and the Chinese Government cut
the broadcast. So, I mean, I've had firsthand experience with
some of the reactions. So I think we are open and we are really
speaking strategies that can make a difference. But I also think
it's important that we continue on the track with these other
issues where we do believe and have reason to believe that there
is an openness to engaging. But I think it's going to be a continuing
evaluation as we go forward. I'm very outcomes-oriented. I mean,
what are we going to do that can possibly create changed conditions,
and how do we build on whatever incremental progress we make?
And it's a constant equation about one step forward and one step
to the side, how do you continue to move the agenda. And that's
what we're going to try to do. MR. WOOD: Okay. Thanks, guys. We've got
to go. Thank you. # # #
PRN: 2009/T1-22 |
Sun, 22 Feb 2009 00:05:09 -0600 Secretary of State Seoul, South Korea February 20, 2009 http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2009a/02/119431.htm
MODERATOR: So it's my great pleasure to
welcome you, Madame Secretary, and I think I'll just ask how
you'd like to begin, maybe say a couple of things. You've had
a long day. SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, I am delighted
to have this opportunity to sit down with all of you, and I'm
very pleased to be back here in Korea. I have very pleasant memories
of my prior times here, and now to be back and to be in the position
I'm in representing my country and working with your country
on so many important issues is a pure personal delight. So I'm
looking forward to your questions. QUESTION: You seem to look very happy and
joyful during the conversation with the students in Ewha University.
How was that, and how does it feel to be back in Korea, not as
First Lady but as the Secretary of State? SECRETARY CLINTON: I loved the event at
Ewha University. I had the vantage point of looking out at this
very large audience of all these extraordinary young women, and
it made me so proud. And I know how each one of them has dreams
for her life, as we all do, and I'm hopeful that as we move into
the future that more and more of those dreams will come true. QUESTION: Are you going to meet Kim Jong-il?
If so, is there any pre-condition? So what (inaudible) when you
meet him? SECRETARY CLINTON: Meet who? QUESTION: Kim Jong-il. SECRETARY CLINTON: Oh, well, I have no
intention of meeting him. (Laughter.) I have no plans to meet
him. I did announce today the appointment of a new Special Representative
for North Korea, a distinguished diplomat, Ambassador Steve Bosworth,
who served here in Korea as well as other posts, who's very familiar
with North Korea. In fact, he was just there as a private citizen
in the last weeks. So I will be looking to get reports from him
and Ambassador Sung Kim, who will continue to lead our Six-Party
negotiations. But I have no intention or plans at this time to
go to North Korea. QUESTION: Pre-condition? SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, I have no plans
at this time, so that's not even part of our thinking. QUESTION: You mentioned that you were going
to discuss the contingency plans for post Kim Jong-il regime
and (inaudible) in North Korea on the way to Korea. What did
you discuss with South Korean Government regarding that? SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, it's interesting
because it's been a matter of public concern for months now as
to what was happening in North Korea. You all have written about
it. People around the world have speculated about it. But I wanted
to make it clear that we are prepared to deal with this government.
And I guess the preconditions we have are not in relation to
my visiting. That's not something we're even contemplating. The
preconditions are as to whether or not we can have a better relationship
with North Korea. And we've made that very clear, that if the
North Koreans completely and verifiably eliminate their nuclear
weapons program, then we would consider normalizing our relations
with them, seeking to sign a peace treaty in place of the armistice,
and working with South Korea and other nations to offer aid,
such as energy aid and economic aid. QUESTION: Okay. I am truly delighted to
meet you in this roundtable. My question is regarding the alliance
of ROK and U.S. You mentioned in Japan the Korea-U.S. alliance
is one of the staunchest alliance in the history. Thank you for
your good comment on that. The strategic alliance means we understand
ROK-U.S. will cooperate in globally in terms of to keep peace
and stability in world. But specifically speaking in Afghanistan
peace and stability, what do you expect Korea's government have
in addition to the civilian assistance? Do you expect some troop
to Afghanistan? SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, let me answer
both parts of your question. First, we do want to work toward
a vision of a more comprehensive strategic relationship. And
I discussed that with the president and the prime minister and
the foreign minister. Because there is so much that we can work
together to achieve. You know, Korea is one of the G-20 nations,
so we're working on the economic crisis and how we can best resolve
that. We want to have a very deep collaboration on climate change
and clean energy. We are looking for other areas of cooperating
on security issues, on development aid, which the ROK is beginning
to be more and more involved in. So there are many areas. QUESTION: Thank you, Madame Secretary.
You have mentioned incentives you're offering include diplomatic
normalization, financial aid, and so on. But it seem that all
that had been put on the table before, before the Obama Administration.
What needs to be done differently this time around? SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, I think that we
have to gauge the willingness of the North Korean regime to return
to the Six-Party Talks. And I think it's important to underscore
the progress that was made in that context. The dismantlement
of the facility at Yongbyon is nearly done. It's something that
we want to see completed. And we are aware of the fact that we
can't stop, we have to keep pushing the North Koreans to act. QUESTION: Back to (inaudible). You served
as First Lady and senator and ran in the presidential primaries.
What drives you to keep going forward and what's your next goal?
Again president? SECRETARY CLINTON: No. (Laughter.) I really
have been fortunate because I've been able to do a number of
jobs that I find just so satisfying and incredibly meaningful
to me. And I want to be the best Secretary of State I can be.
I want to help my country. I want to support President Obama.
I want to convey a message to the rest of the world about American
values and our openness to working with others to achieve common
goals. QUESTION: The United States has experienced
anti-American feelings. Did you feel any of that while traveling
this time? SECRETARY CLINTON: No. QUESTION: If so, do you have any plan to
change the image of the United States much better? SECRETARY CLINTON: I was so excited by
the positive response that I received on behalf of this new Administration.
In every country that I've visited, certainly the governments
were very welcoming, but so were the people. We were looking
at a picture in the newspaper today of people with a positive
demonstration welcoming me to, you know, Seoul. And I mean, that's
kind of new to have people actually out on the street waving
placards and chanting about how happy they are that the United
States is here and that we're going to work together. So I feel
that there's a tremendous receptivity around the world to our
new President and our new policies. QUESTION: (Inaudible) that the most important
relationship for U.S. and Asia is with China. Do you still stand
by that statement? SECRETARY CLINTON: Well -- (laughter). QUESTION: (Inaudible)? SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, I think that that
was somewhat misunderstood. We have rock-solid relationships,
alliances that already exist with Korea and with Japan, for example.
Those are like members of the family. But trying to figure out
what our relationship with China is going to be going forward
is a very big priority. That doesn't in any way take away from
our enduring commitment to our existing allies. QUESTION: Madame Secretary. MODERATOR: Last question. QUESTION: Yes. This morning in the press
conference, you mentioned the U.S. Government are very supportive
for the Lee Myung Bak's government policy towards North Korea.
And you had a lunch with President Lee Myung Bak this afternoon.
What is your feeling and what is your impression on Lee Myung
Bak's saying toward U.S. alliance with North Korea issue? SECRETARY CLINTON: I was very impressed
by the president's thoughtful analysis and understanding of the
complexity of the relationship. I think that he and his government
-- because I also spoke, of course, with the prime minister and
the foreign minister -- are trying to balance the many different
challenges that Korea now faces, and at the same time, assume
more responsibility in the world. QUESTION: How do you keep your health?
(Laughter.) SECRETARY CLINTON: Two last -- real quick
questions. All right. QUESTION: If I can say, I mean, you look
very young and energetic. SECRETARY CLINTON: I look very young? QUESTION: You do. (Laughter.) SECRETARY CLINTON: Oh, my goodness. I hope
somebody is recording this. (Laughter.) QUESTION: What's your secret? SECRETARY CLINTON: What's my secret? (Laughter.)
Oh, you know, I think I love what I do. And I'm a very fortunate
person. I don't spend a lot of time regretting what isn't done.
I think about what I will do. And I'm very lucky because I have
a mother who will be 90 in June, who looks and is very healthy,
so I can take no credit for my genes, which I inherited. But
I think it mostly is because I feel very lucky to have the opportunities
that I have and I love the work that I do and I'm honored to,
you know, represent my country and play some role in that. And
I take vitamins. (Laughter.) MODERATOR: That's a very sensitive question. SECRETARY CLINTON: Is that a sensitive
question? MODERATOR: In Korea. SECRETARY CLINTON: Oh, is it really? QUESTION: And yeah, my last question is
about your daughter. As a mother, as a career woman, what kind
of advice do you give to your daughter? SECRETARY CLINTON: Well I keep that to
myself. I can't really, you know, breach any confidence that
I have with her. But I think it's interesting how when your --
as your children get older, they actually pay more attention
to your advice. Children go through -- I think we all do -- we
go through a period when we may not necessarily follow the advice
of our parents. And then all of a sudden, you get to be a certain
age and your parents seem smarter than you thought they were.
So I think that's kind of how we've developed, too. QUESTION: Thank you very much. SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you very much. # # #
PRN: 2009/T1-21 |
Indiana House approves budget plan |
Arab States to Probe Gaza War Crimes
Allegations ... http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/40085 |
Letter: Democracy needs our protection |
Who Will Rein in the War in Afghanistan?
| War on Iraq | AlterNet http://www.alternet.org/blogs/video/128141/who_will_rein_in_the_war_in_afghanistan/ |
Obama to Unveil an Ambitious Budget
Plan http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/21/AR2009022100911.html?hpid=topnews |
Obama: People should see tax cut help
by April 1 http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hEx3tiPJhZQLVqjNmHR_oP6FZMuwD96G3QFG0 |
Australia honors those lost to fires http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-australia-fires22-2009feb22,0,7309059.story |
Military strikes against Iran no longer
an option: IAEA chief http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=189772 |
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