In hearings, Clinton touts pragmatic foreign policy
WASHINGTON - Secretary of state nominee Hillary Rodham Clinton touted a new pragmatic foreign policy at her Senate confirmation hearing yesterday, but she brushed off calls for more disclosure to avoid potential conflicts with her husband's overseas fundraising for his foundation.
In a hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Clinton, 61, easily answered a range of policy questions on issues from Afghanistan to Somalia.
She broke no new ground and gave expected replies as she heads for likely confirmation - with a committee vote set for tomorrow and a full Senate vote next week - as incoming president Barack Obama's most prominent cabinet member.
Taking many implicit slaps at the Bush administration, Clinton vowed to revitalize U.S. diplomacy and rebuild the civilian foreign service, as she urged greater bipartisanship at home and the building of more partnerships with fewer adversaries abroad with what she called "smart power."
"We will lead with diplomacy, because that's the smart approach," Clinton said in her opening remarks to a packed marble hearing room.
"But we also know that military force will sometimes be necessary and we will rely on it to protect our people and our interests when and where needed, as a last resort."
And she set out the ambitious goals of the Obama administration - seeking peace in the Middle East, but no negotiation with Hamas unless it renounces violence and recognizes Israel's right to exist; withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq beginning in June; expanding the U.S. presence in Afghanistan, and using regional diplomacy with Iran.
Clinton, the second-term junior senator from New York, was introduced at the hearing by Sen. Charles Schumer and supported by the presence of her daughter, Chelsea. But it was her absent husband, former President Bill Clinton, and his far-flung fundraising of millions of dollars from governments, businesses and individuals from around the world that hung over the room.
"The core of the problem is that foreign governments and entities may perceive the Clinton Foundation as a means to gain favor with the secretary of state," Sen. Richard Lugar, the ranking Republican from Indiana, said in his first statement.
Lugar sought her agreement to have the Clinton Foundation agree to immediately disclose donations or pledges of $50,000 or more that come from domestic and foreign sources, including individuals.
The current plan subjects only foreign governments to scrutiny by State Department ethics officials and would not require a review of contributions by foreign businesses or individuals, a loophole that could be exploited, he said.
All but assured the new post, however, Clinton dug in her heels, rebuffing suggestions of perceived and "real" conflicts by Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) and Lugar's suggestions.
But even though Lugar pressed her later, Clinton would not give in, insisting government ethics officials found "no inherent conflict."
"My husband doesn't take a salary. He has no financial interest in any of this," she said. "I don't take a salary. I have no financial interest."
Clinton insisted the memorandum of understanding worked out between the foundation and the Obama transition team provided ample, and unprecedented, annual disclosure by the foundation.
That left Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), in his first hearing as committee chairman, in a bit of a bind because he had endorsed Lugar's concerns as the "thinking of the whole committee."
"We're going to have to go forward and see," Kerry said.
HER WORLD VIEW
During her confirmation hearing yesterday to become secretary of state, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton touched on a number of international issues.
On renewing American leadership in the world
"America cannot solve the most pressing problems on our own, and the world cannot solve them without America. The best way to advance America's interest in reducing global threats and seizing global opportunities is to design and implement global solutions. This isn't a philosophical point. This is our reality."
On conflict in the Middle East
"As intractable as the Middle East's problems may seem and many presidents, including my husband, have spent years trying to help work out a resolution, we cannot give up on peace. We must also actively pursue a strategy of smart power in the Middle East that addresses the security needs of Israel and the legitimate political and economic aspirations of the Palestinians."
On the potential for a nuclear-armed Iran
"The president-elect has said repeatedly it is unacceptable. It is going to be United States policy to pursue diplomacy - with all of its [tools] - to do everything we can to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear weapon state. As I also said, no option is off the table."
In a hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Clinton, 61, easily answered a range of policy questions on issues from Afghanistan to Somalia.
She broke no new ground and gave expected replies as she heads for likely confirmation - with a committee vote set for tomorrow and a full Senate vote next week - as incoming president Barack Obama's most prominent cabinet member.
Taking many implicit slaps at the Bush administration, Clinton vowed to revitalize U.S. diplomacy and rebuild the civilian foreign service, as she urged greater bipartisanship at home and the building of more partnerships with fewer adversaries abroad with what she called "smart power."
"We will lead with diplomacy, because that's the smart approach," Clinton said in her opening remarks to a packed marble hearing room.
"But we also know that military force will sometimes be necessary and we will rely on it to protect our people and our interests when and where needed, as a last resort."
And she set out the ambitious goals of the Obama administration - seeking peace in the Middle East, but no negotiation with Hamas unless it renounces violence and recognizes Israel's right to exist; withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq beginning in June; expanding the U.S. presence in Afghanistan, and using regional diplomacy with Iran.
Clinton, the second-term junior senator from New York, was introduced at the hearing by Sen. Charles Schumer and supported by the presence of her daughter, Chelsea. But it was her absent husband, former President Bill Clinton, and his far-flung fundraising of millions of dollars from governments, businesses and individuals from around the world that hung over the room.
"The core of the problem is that foreign governments and entities may perceive the Clinton Foundation as a means to gain favor with the secretary of state," Sen. Richard Lugar, the ranking Republican from Indiana, said in his first statement.
Lugar sought her agreement to have the Clinton Foundation agree to immediately disclose donations or pledges of $50,000 or more that come from domestic and foreign sources, including individuals.
The current plan subjects only foreign governments to scrutiny by State Department ethics officials and would not require a review of contributions by foreign businesses or individuals, a loophole that could be exploited, he said.
All but assured the new post, however, Clinton dug in her heels, rebuffing suggestions of perceived and "real" conflicts by Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) and Lugar's suggestions.
But even though Lugar pressed her later, Clinton would not give in, insisting government ethics officials found "no inherent conflict."
"My husband doesn't take a salary. He has no financial interest in any of this," she said. "I don't take a salary. I have no financial interest."
Clinton insisted the memorandum of understanding worked out between the foundation and the Obama transition team provided ample, and unprecedented, annual disclosure by the foundation.
That left Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), in his first hearing as committee chairman, in a bit of a bind because he had endorsed Lugar's concerns as the "thinking of the whole committee."
"We're going to have to go forward and see," Kerry said.
HER WORLD VIEW
During her confirmation hearing yesterday to become secretary of state, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton touched on a number of international issues.
On renewing American leadership in the world
"America cannot solve the most pressing problems on our own, and the world cannot solve them without America. The best way to advance America's interest in reducing global threats and seizing global opportunities is to design and implement global solutions. This isn't a philosophical point. This is our reality."
On conflict in the Middle East
"As intractable as the Middle East's problems may seem and many presidents, including my husband, have spent years trying to help work out a resolution, we cannot give up on peace. We must also actively pursue a strategy of smart power in the Middle East that addresses the security needs of Israel and the legitimate political and economic aspirations of the Palestinians."
On the potential for a nuclear-armed Iran
"The president-elect has said repeatedly it is unacceptable. It is going to be United States policy to pursue diplomacy - with all of its [tools] - to do everything we can to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear weapon state. As I also said, no option is off the table."
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