American Diplomacy: The Balance Between Openness and a Firm Stance

On Wednesday, Hillary Clinton defended the initiation of dialogue with Iran, Cuba and other hostile countries, but the Secretary of State criticized Pakistan for relenting to the Taliban.

It was risky. When Barack Obama made his opponent in the the Democratic primary for the presidential election his secretary of State, he was exposing himself to a potential source of rivalry within his close government circle. At the same time, he made the sensible choice to go into partnership with a distinguished political figure who basks in her experience acquired in the Senate and in the White House alongside her husband for eight years. In the middle of the economic crisis, it seems the president wanted to devote himself fully to domestic problems by delegating diplomacy to Clinton, who at 61 years of age, is his elder.

In three months, Barack Obama has fully embraced American foreign policy. He has made a remarkable entrance on the international stage and takes charge of current foreign affairs issues on a daily basis – too much so- according to his opponents. Hillary Clinton herself has adopted a low profile, while the president establishes policies that she applies without striking a false note. When she was questioned on Wednesday by the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs on her opinion regarding the need to reveal more documents on the CIA’s interrogation techniques, she replied: “I will support the decision made by the administration.”

“We are still in the process of sorting out what we inherited and searching for a way to improve things. The president is engaging in dialogue with people who were refusing to talk to us,” the secretary of State pointed out in her first hearing before Congress since she was appointed. Although the Republican opposition criticized diplomacy “as an excuse,” according to Clinton, an outstretched hand reaps benefits.

Distinguishing Herself

Her strongest tirade was against Pakistan. She said “I think the Pakistani government is basically abdicating to the Taliban and extremists” regarding the application of the Sharia in the Swat Valley (in the Northwest region of the country). On the subject of Iran, Clinton highlights that the administration’s decision to participate in all meetings of the six countries involved in the negotiations on the Iranian nuclear program “gives us more credibility and influence over other countries.”

The United States encourages dialogue but simultaneously threatens sanctions in the event of failure. “We are more than ready to engage in discussion with Iran, she reiterated, but we are putting everything in place for strict sanctions which could be necessary should our offers be rejected or the process fails.” The head of diplomacy also declared she is ready to resume discussions on nuclear power with North Korea.

With Cuba, the Obama administration has made efforts over several weeks to put an end to decades of isolationism, by reducing restrictions on traveling to the island for Cuban emigrants. “The president’s action led to a response from Raul Castro and an internal debate with his brother Fidel Castro. It’s a regime that is coming to an end,” the Secretary of State explained.

Regarding the criticism of the handshake between Obama and the Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez at the Summit of the Americas last weekend, she responded “Why should we be afraid of shaking somebody’s hand? It does not mean that we’re going to give up our principles. It could be an opportunity for President Chavez to move forward.”

In the Middle East, like his predecessors, Obama is appealing for the creation of a Palestinian State. On Wednesday, Hillary Clinton specified that the United States would only deal with a Palestinian government that incorporates Hamas, if it renounces violence and recognizes Israel.

In all areas, the Obama-Clinton duo is attempting to find a balance between being open and taking a firm stance. Although their aims are fundamentally the same as those of the Bush Administration, the new team in Washington is clearly different, abandoning the past doctrines of the Axis of Evil and the global war against terror.