Photo credits: Susan Walsh/APHeadlined Clinton Moves to Widen Role of State Dept., the lead paragraph of a report in today’s New York Times on Hillary Clinton's steps to strengthen the State Department is guaranteed to fan the flames of controversy and incite outrage from the usual crowd of pathological Hillary haters.
Mark Landler and Helene Cooper write:
“WASHINGTON — Even before taking office, Hillary Rodham Clinton is seeking to build a more powerful State Department, with a bigger budget, high-profile special envoys to trouble spots and an expanded role in dealing with global economic issues at a time of crisis.”
Buried in the article is word from an anonymous official that Mrs. Clinton was being supported in her push for more resources by Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Mr. Obama’s incoming national security adviser, Gen. James L. Jones Jr.
‘“For years, some Pentagon officials have complained that jobs like the economic reconstruction in Afghanistan and Iraq have been added to the military’s burden when they could have been handled by a robust Foreign Service.
‘“The Pentagon would like to turn functionality over to civilian resources, but the resources are not there,’ the official said. ‘We’re looking to have a State Department that has what it needs.”’
The article continues:
“Mrs. Clinton’s push for a more vigorous economic team, one of her advisers said, stems from her conviction that the State Department needs to play a part in the recovery from the global financial crisis. Economic issues also underpin some of the most important diplomatic relationships, notably with China.”
A careful reading of this article would lead a rational person to conclude that Clinton is wisely positioning the State Department to make the best possible use of diplomatic tools and resources to help resolve several global crises expected to worsen in the days ahead.
Sadly, a quick glance at the readers’ comments in the Times indicates the irrational Hillary haters are already out in force.
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