Clinton, Gates -- The Unveiling

Chicago -- If Sen. Hillary Clinton is unveiled Monday as the next Secretary of State, will she be allowed to speak or take questions? So far, the nominees of a properly cautious President-elect Barack Obama have stood behind him, statue-like, and then exited after he's answered a few queries.

Though I might wager $1 (not more!) that Clinton does get to say something, albeit briefly, here's a quick wish list of questions for her, whether she does or not. Ditto for Defense Secretary Robert Gates if, as expected, he's there, too:

---What should be our role in the world, especially given the unavoidable shifts in economic power toward China, India and others in the East?

---Senator Clinton, you and Sen. Obama famously dueled during the primary season over when to get out of Iraq. What is your position?

---Both John Kerry and George Bush stated during the 2004 campaign that the biggest threat to the security of the United States was "weapons of mass destruction." To what extent do you agree with those assessments, and how would you deal with the WMD issue in the future?

---Between just the two of us, how did you get your husband to agree to such apparently full financial disclosures and curtailment of his oratorical mega-buckraking? Oops, that's not relevant here. Seriously, our expenditure on the military is about 4 percent of Gross Domestic Product. Given the economic challenge we face, is this level of expenditure sustainable? If so, why and how?

---To what extent do you feel that the current military capacities of the U.S. are adequate and appropriate for dealing with the foreign policy threats that might be facing us over the next few years?

--- How does one force Iran to ditch its uranium enrichment, certainly before it reaches the threshold of having enough to build a nuclear weapon? Economic sanctions seem to have failed totally and it's now up to 3,800 cetrifuges. Tough talk and economic sanctions have worked.

---To what extent is the establishment of a separate Palestinian state in our interests?

---When we look around the world at violent groups, in places as varied as Colombia and Sri Lanka, we see a common theme: the hijacking of young people by the ideologues and others at the top of these organizations to fill the ranks. What should we do to try to divert young people from joining these groups? And what would you do to get young people to leave these groups?

---

----The negative view with which many governments and individuals overseas see the U.S. after the past eight years is linked partly to how we've dealt with the so-called "multilateral system," including the United Nations. Our respect and confidence in such organizations has been limited. What should be our approach to the UN over the next four years, and why?

---- Let's put aside lofty rhetoric about our aspirations for Afghanistan. What should be the specific objectives of, and criteria for judging, our involvement in Afghanistan over the next four years?

---The horror in Mumbai last week got us back to at least some temporary, serious discussion of terrorism. Do you feel that the so-called "war on terror" is a policy that the U.S. should pursue in its present form? Are there aspects that you would change as U.S. policy; either in terms of strategy (specific objectives) or operations (use of torture, among others)?

--- Some surveys have suggested that most Pakistanis do not see the Taliban and Al Qaeda as major threats. First, do you think the stability of Pakistan is threatened by these violent extremists? Second, how should we try to convince the Pakistanis themselves that they face an existential threat?

---Many smart people conclude that there are various factors that are making the global community more vulnerable. They include climate change, water scarcity, leakage of uranium storage sites, and rising food prices, among others. As a major humanitarian player, how should be respond to such threats?

---Finally, this sounds too weird and flip but it's true: we've got more active personnel in military bands than in the Foreign Service. That says something about something. Madame Secretary-to-be, what are you and Mr. Gates going to do to change such an equation?

Comments

[LarBear]

Seems to me the GREATER Question to be answered is can people let go of their Beliefs about Hillary, and allow Hillary to do the Job President Elect Obama believes in, and has asked Hillary to do???

Seems to be those who project their Beliefs out onto Hillary seek to undermine her doing the Job she is being tasked to do...

Which is more important, creating Storylines, supposed Conflicts, Doubt, Undermining, or allowing our new President and HIS Secretary of State, as well as all of HIS People to do their Jobs??? Seems like the kind of People who stir up trouble and resentment and then complain the Peace didn't work.....

[pashupat]

Well now I know what it feels like under the proverbial bus.

[CSDofNM]

We can only hope that Robert Gates gets thrown under the proverbial bus. He is guilty of war crimes, specifically torture and illegal rendition to naval ships. See "Bush Renditions Even Uglier Than Imagined" http://www.rense.com/general82/uglir.htm and "US accused of holding terror suspects on prison ships" http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jun/02/usa.humanrights for the details.

[Donkeykick]

Mr. Warren: seeing that Barack Obama's team has not even taken control in place of the present administration's fallacies, and Barack Obama's team needs to get in to the pool to find out what the temperature is -- meaning they need to get every bit of data in order to know each and every different problem, and how exactly the Bush administration has been dealing with them (private and public) -- I feel that some of those questions are unfair at this time of ongoing transition, and I believe that President-Elect Obama will be in charge of his own administration, which means that, unlike George Bush, Obama will be actively involved with domestic as well as foreign matters a lot more than the previous one. I'm confident of that.

[CSDofNM]

Gates has been in there doing the bidding of Cheney. Consorting with war criminals risks becoming one.

[FearlessFreep]

The people who denounce raising questions are doing Obama no favor.

[ignorantwillyharper]

I can hear Hillary now, "Well, Bill and I did it this way".

[LarBear]

ignorantwillyharper....

Quote: " I can hear Hillary now, "Well, Bill and I did it this way".

Perhaps that is why YOU are NOT President Elect...... Maybe your name is holding you back???

[ferky123]

It does seem that he will allow them to make statements as he is letting them right now.

[ntmessage]

These continue to be the silly, petty and personal setups and attacks against Hillary. The answer to all of the above is she will be lead by President Obama. Period. Please let the Pres lead, the buck stops there. She is to execute Obama"s policy. All these types of questions do not hurt her, but Obama.

[silke1]

Silke1 does not wish to seem critical but I can't help thinking "Where is the Change?"

He ran on the mantra "change you can believe in"

Really? I don't see any change here. This is the same old cast of characters. The far Left of the Left is going to be highly critical..
Just a thought...

[LarBear]

silke1....

Relative to that which you speak of: "Where is the Change?" Do you think "TIME" is part of the Equation??? What does "Change" lQQK like to you??? Do you seek Instant Gratification, or long term Satisfaction???

Must the "far Left of the Left" be satisfied, or pleased, or catered to???

Who would you have appointed to these Positions, since the well thought of by the core of both party's seem pleased with the quality and experience level of those chosen....

Do you think only new and inexperienced people meet the qualification you call "Change"???

[ReportThis]

I am so tired of the Clintons.

[pjcpa]

My question is how is Hilary and her view going to get along with the VP elect Joe Biden. Joe was brought in for his foreign policy expertise and now Hilary, with little experience is going to be Obama's go to person in these affairs??? She is too headstrong and will clash with what Biden and others tell Obama. I think this choice was one of political calculation, but he will end up paying a price for her being at this position in his cabinet.

[ignorantwillyharper]

Obama may pay for bringing her into his fold, but not half as much as the American people will pay. We need the Clinton's off the US payroll and people whos' first concern is America.

Nothing like getting off on the wrong foot in the first step of a long march.

[cheforacle]

The confirmation hearings are the intended and appropriate venue for her to answer these questions. Other appointees last week did not answer questions. .

[Anciano]

How can we have a Secretary of State who has this much baggage in her background and thus is subject to all kinds of blackmail and outside influences? Nice little chart of that here.
www.prorev.com/connex.htm

[TwentyCharactersLong]

You do realize that a similar chart could probably be made for Obama and it would contain the word "Daley" on it, right? (And this is from an Obama supporter.)

[bluemike]

I am disappointed in Obama's foreign policy choices. I still believe the best man won, but he is looking more and more like just another status quo politician as they all kiss and make up. Clinton did give McCain his venomous talking points. Now I am holding my breath and hoping PEO does the right thing. My friends, who voted for Barack, said all along he was just another politician doing what it took to be elected. Time will tell. I am a bit confused about his vision for America at this point. He had such great promise. I hope he doesn't squander our chance to improve this country and the world.

[Queenhuh]

Great article outstanding well thought out in depth questions. I'm not sure the current presidency would enjoy any of the new candidates speaking out at all. We have to wait for the Pres. & candidates "elect" to actually be in office. As to Hillary's role, I would hope that she and everyone would do what is best for their country and not for themselves. Let's all try to take the high road here before pre-judging.

Anyone read in the latest Forbes magazine the "On My Mind" article by John Arquilla? Outstanding and regards something that's been a pet peeve of mine: Aircraft carriers! How useless they are and so outrageously expensive. As the author said in his article, $500 billion in one year can be recovered by scrapping these outdated beloved toys of the military. Strength to us all!

[IthacaParent]

Several good questions, thanks. I would add the global climate crisis, i.e. What role should the US take in addressing the global climate crisis, how can we recover the credibility squandered over our Kyoto betrayal, and how might that be initiated in the first half of 2009?

[Michale32086]

What???

It's not called "Global Warming" anymore!!??? How come I didn't get the memo??

Michale.....

[PerryWhite]

If we determine, as seems likely, that we are moving into a period of global cooling, shouldn't we start pumping out CO2 as fast as we can (and even give tax credits for doing so)?

[stardot]

HRC is going to make a great SoS. After all, the white hose slot won't be open for a Dem again until 2016, as BO is going to have 2 terms. If not the Dem brand will be so spoiled that no other Dem could get in for a few years anyhow, just like happened with W and McBush.