Clinton: Obama Has Passed '3AM' Test (VIDEO)
It's been fifteen months since Hillary Clinton charged that Barack Obama lacked the chops to handle a crisis phone call at 3 A.M. And the two have gone from bitter electoral rivals to partners in foreign policy.
On Sunday, Clinton revisited that defining attack affirming that Obama could answer that early morning call.
"Absolutely," the Secretary of State told ABC's "This Week." "And, you know, the president in his public actions and demeanor, and certainly in private with me and with the national security team, has been strong, thoughtful, decisive. I think he is doing a terrific job."
In what was her first Sunday morning interview since heading to Foggy Bottom, Clinton expressed gratitude for the post she held and the president with whom she worked. "It's an honor to serve with him," she said of Obama.
The segment also showed the former New York Senator to be meticulously detailed in her approach to some of the more vexing foreign policy issues she confronts. On Sunday morning, no issue was more glaring than that of the Palestinian-Israel conflict. Asked about Israeli concerns over the relatively hard-line approach the Obama administration is taking to settlement activity in the West Bank, Clinton framed her answer as a dose of tough love and political realism.
"We were very close [to a peace deal] in 2000," she said. "And it's heartbreaking to see where we are today. And we can't just stand by and expect time to work its magic. So that means, as the president said in his speech, and as he has said on several other occasions prior to it, that we have to do our very best to reassure Israel, to demonstrate our commitment to Israel's security, that the bonds we have are unshakeable and durable. But we do have a view about Israel's security. We see historical, demographic, political, technological trends that are very troubling as to Israel's future. At the same time, there is a legitimate aspiration of the Palestinian people that needs to be addressed."
Clinton went on to dismiss reports -- advanced primarily by Israel's government -- that an implicit agreement had been made with the Bush administration to allow for "natural growth" inside current settlements. And she largely side-stepped questions as to whether Obama's hard-line approach would bring down Benjamin Netanyahu's young government.
But Clinton made clear that the United State's support for Israel was secure. Asked what would happen should Iran strike the Jewish state, she replied, "There would be retaliation."
"And I think part of what is clear is we want to avoid a Middle East arms race which leads to nuclear weapons being in the possession of other countries in the Middle East," Clinton added. "And we want to make clear that there are consequences and costs. Now, let me just put it this way. If Iran is seeking security, if they believe -- and you know, you have to put yourself into the shoes of the other party when you negotiate -- if they believe that the United States might attack them the way that we did attack Iraq, for example --"
Stephanopoulos interrupted: "Before they attack, as a first strike."
"That's right," Clinton replied, "as a first strike. Or, they might have some other enemies that would do that to them. Part of what we have to make clear to the Iranians is that their pursuit of nuclear weapons will actually trigger greater insecurity."
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First Posted: 07/08/09 06:12 AM ET Updated: 05/25/11 02:25 PM ET