Secretary Clinton Testifies Before Congress

WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is telling Congress that the core goal of President Barack Obama's anti-terror strategy is to defeat al-Qaida and prevent its return to Afghanistan.

Clinton testified Wednesday before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, where Chairman Howard Berman told her the panel is concerned about Islamic extremists gaining momentum in Pakistan. The California Democrat said the U.S. cannot allow the extremists to take over Pakistan or to operate with impunity on Afghanistan's border.

Clinton asserted in response that the international community is working closely together to address the problem of extremism in both Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Comments

[willowbarcelona]

The Secretary of State's appearance during the hearing was brilliant, and the full video is worth watching. She is magnificent as she refutes with facts and chronology the talk-radio talking points that Congressional members throw at her regarding the "danger" of treating leaders of all countries with diplomatic cordiality.

Her defense of President Obama's reaching out to leaders frozen out by the previous administration, and her courageous and unexpectedly humble noting that the President "beat me in the primaries" on his belief that it was important to reach out, silenced the questioner and the room. She made particular mention of her loyalty to President Obama; it was forceful and heartfelt and it put a stop to those who were eagerly looking for a wedge difference of opinion between them.

Secretary of State Clinton left her self-interest at the door and walked in as a protector of the United States of America and a defender of its interests abroad as articulated by President Obama. It was a moving moment in the history of American democracy and foreign policy, and it is a must see in its entirety.

[closetodemfection]

Spot on post... I agree 100%.

[Lee Andrew]

Jay Rockefeller, Nancy Pelosi, and Jane Harman ALL MUST GO if evidence that they were briefed about torture exist.

I am not a registered Democrat however I voted a STRAIGHT Dem ticket on my Arizona absentee ballot 04 November 2008. (I have photo copy for those who require evidence.)

That being stated - ANYONE, Republican or Democrat that was keenly aware of TORTURE during the Bush administration - MUST BE VOTED OUT OF OFFICE. No exceptions.

These individuals sold our nations integrity and honor for selfish power.

If we the people don't DEMAND accountability across party lines its the end of the republic as we and our fore bearers knew it.

We have a paradox here folks because you can be certain if laws were broken in this instance how can we trust these public servants to obey our other laws.

Forget about party-identity this is far greater than that - it's about being American and upholding our was and values.

[KeysDan]

Mrs. Clinton is experienced in handling Republican thugs; I remember in during the Clinton administration she leveled one of those thuggish senators, calling him Dr. Kevorkian....they never forgave her, but they are still afraid to mess with her. President Obama was smart to appoint her Secretary of State.

[StillAmused]

No Republican can pass a plate glass window without walking through it.

I especially enjoyed the dullard who pressed Hillary on her 'failure' to criticize forced abortion in China. When she reminded him of her vocal excoriation of China for such abuses during her visit there while First Lady (it was on the tee-vee), the twit wouldn't let go and accused her of failing to do so as SoS.

Her reply was priceless: "I just did."

The clown looked like he'd swallowed his teeth.

"hamminah-­hamminah-h­amminah...­"

Gawd, I love smart people!

[mwilliams]

Hillary is brilliant.

[Nikki Leibhan]

haha, i literally jumped around my house cheering when that happened. she kicks butt!

[GoSPalin2012]

Glenn Greenwald
SUNDAY DEC. 9, 2007 08:00 EST
Democratic complicity in Bush's torture regimen
(updated below)
The Washington Post reports today that the Bush administration, beginning in 2002, repeatedly briefed leading Congressional Democrats on the Senate and House Intelligence Committees -- including, at various times, Jay Rockefeller, Nancy Pelosi, and Jane Harman -- regarding the CIA's "enhanced interrogation methods," including details about waterboarding and other torture measures. With one exception (Harman, who vaguely claims to have sent a letter to the CIA), these lawmakers not only failed to object to these policies, but affirmatively supported them.

[kasinca]

It is okay for the crimes to happen under the republican majority (2001-2005) because they claim the minority leaders were briefed? What proof do we have that the wingnuts were not using wiretaps to extort the democrats during that period? I remember well that anyone who questioned the Shrub was deemed to be unpatriotic. That line of lies is not going to fly. The Bush Crime Family is still responsible for their actions. Understand, Sparky?

[annetteK]

Get ye back to your goddess and save her from her NEW ethics charge.

[StillAmused]

"the Bush administration, beginning in 2002, repeatedly briefed leading Congressional Democrats..."

... and, as the unfolding 'memo' story demonstrates, those "briefings" were a neocon puppet show scripted with invented "intelligence" and sheer lies.

Cling to Nanook. She'll take you right to where you belong, amateur.

[pauldeman]

This report, if true, doesn't alter the reality that the bulk of the burden will fall upon Bush, Cheney, Rumsfield. I have actually heard quite a number of Bushies make similar claims, suggesting that the burden for the memos should be shared. Interesting tactic since Cheney was a champion of the imperial presidency. Good luck with that strategy. I'm sure it'll sell as well as Palin's family values.

By the way, how can I donate money for the Palin 2012 campaign?

[kevinw]

That is why, as I am sure you will agree, that there needs to be a special prosecutor appointed to get to the bottom of this. My own preference would be Fitzgerald, since all of the heavy lifting on the Blago case is complete. Fitzgerald has shown non-partisanship ion his taking down of Republican as well as Democratic Governors. He shows the appropriate restraint for sensitive matters. He could easily have indicted Rove and Cheney during his probe. He did not have to let Rove come back four times to recant his perjury. He could have indicted Cheney, but realized that there would be little chance of a conviction. It would just be a headline. That showed great maturity and integrity. He would be perfect for looking at all parties that participated in the formulation of these Inquisition torture tactics, both Democrats as well as Repubs.

[kasinca]

Why do republicans hate America?

[hackerblaster]

Hillary just bitch slapped a dood pretty bad.

[breakingpoint]

The Bush/Chene­y/FoxNewsP­arty would have a fit if a former Administrator made the media rounds Cheney is making criticizing a new Administration.

Apparently Cheney doesn't care, no surprise there.

However, what's more important, Cheney making the media rounds now sends the message that he's sacred.

It's time for the EX-VP to lawyer up!

All Republicans need to step up now, get on the record that come what may they are for Justice and the Rule of Law first and formost.

Journalists, get busy.

[TiffanyHusseinBanned]

Hilda just mopped the floor with Sen. Pense.

He should go home early.

[pauldeman]

Pence is in the house, not the senate. That said, the soft-power slap was sweet. Pence tried the right-wing outrage--- socialist, dictator-- but Hillary made him blush. The silly thing is that u have the rare occasion to ask the Secretary of State a question and u go with a political question, one that has no impact outside of cable news and talk radio. Silly, silly, silly.

[GuidedByEwoks]

That Sharansky quote was totally out of context, unless Pence is against Billy Graham.

From PolySigh.blogspot
"An example was the trip of the world-famous evangelical preacher, Billy Graham, to the Soviet Union in 1984," write Sharansky. During the trip, Graham was asked about religious freedom in the Soviet Union and he responded, "You have some problems with religion, the United States has some problems with religion." According to Sharansky, "Sitting in my prison cell . . . I was dumbfounded. How could Graham possibly place religious freedom in a free society like the United States on par with religious freedom in a fear society like the Soviet Union?"

[AddyGmom]

HRC smacking Pence around. Love it.

[AddyGmom]

Mike Pence is not amused. Who cares?

[Atac]

Becoming Secretary of State is the best thing to ever happen to Hillary Clinton. She probably would have preferred becoming the first woman president, but honestly I think this is the best role for her. Her supporters were made Obama didn't make her the VP nominee, but in retrospect it was brilliant. SoS is sooooo much better for her than VP.

[closetodemfection]

As one of her supporters, I agree with you about her as SoS. It suits her much better than VP - she can really shine and show the country and the world what her supporters already knew... she is a brilliant woman who loves her country and the people she serves.

[puffthedragon]

Too bad this same anti-terr0r tactic wasn't followed through on 7 years ago , instead of going on a WMD witch-hunt. Gee.... a thought just popped in.. if that had been done, the republicans may have been successful on the war on terr0rism, and may still be in power.. eat your nonexistent hearts out tro//s.

[FUHP]

+1

[WeWon]

She is kicking ass and taking names.

[Peter007]

Why are they asking Hillary what is going on?
She has been over in Europe attending dinners and working with China over our debt to them. She is also trying to pay off her campaign debts.
Why would she have any information that the congress doesn't already have?

[RofWH]

We have a very capable special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan who keeps her well informed. Whatever else she is, she is very smart and very able to handle more than one thing at a time. And she is the Sec. of State, and as such has to report to the congressional oversight committees. Stuff has to get on record even if the members were briefed in closed session.

[Jamchinadian]

Bingo! She is certainly light years ahead of Bush' wife, Rice!

[MANK]

Hillary's first 100 days
April 16-19 Haiti, Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago
March 31 The Hague for International Conference on Afganistan
March 25-26 Mexico
March 1-7 Middle East and Europe
Feb. 15-22 Across Asia

How lazy can one SoS be!!

[wandering girl]

fail