Knowing Hillary, as we know her, she would make Madeline Albright look like that girl scout in The Addams Family movie who tried to sell Wednesday Addams some girl-scout cookies. Hillary Clinton as Secretary Of State is a great choice- for America- just not for Hillary’s political ambitions. As Secretary Of State- Hillary would be a tough old broad.
She would walk s
oftly and carry a big stick.
Most Secretary of State’s from Colin Powell on back to Henry Kissinger do not fare well politically. They usually end up making their living on the lecture circuit talking about the mistakes their administration (not they personally) made with foreign policy. The Secretary Of State position the last thirty-years has become the whipping boy, the doormat, to flawed Presidential administration policies and shifting world demographics, economics, and balance of power.
In Ben Franklin’s day, Secretary of State was an honored and revered position, akin to being the President of the United States. You were hosted by countries that actually requested your presence like France. (No Freedom fries in those days). Banquets were given in our honor, keys to the city, with a Statue Of Liberty dumped on our doorstep.
In modern times, Secretary of States, (like Madeline Albright and Condoleza Rice) and others who have shown such elementary disregard for foreign public opinion the last 30=years, most times have to duck out the back door before people start throwing garbage. Should Benjamin Franklin, arguably America’s greatest diplomat, witness the harm Albright and “Condi” have done to America’s relations with the rest of the world (and America’s public diplomacy) he would roll over in his grave.
One of reasons the really qualified politicians turn down the position of Secretary Of State when offered them – it’s political suicide.
If Hillary has any political aspirations for running for the Oval Office in 2012- it would be political suicide for her to accept such a position that could blow up in her face. Should Iran start lobbing missiles at Israel- she can kiss her political career goodbye. Should the Iraq/Afghanistan conflict escalate and become truly bloody again (as the six months following our invasion of Iraq)- kiss it goodbye Hillary.
Should the world economic/stock markets totally collapse and Japan and Europe suffer a severe recession/depression- kiss it goodbye Hillary.
Should Obama’s well intended foreign policy turn into shit hitting the proverbial worldwide fan- kiss it goodbye Hillary. You won’t be in the position to say, “I told you so” in 2012 for you have now become part of the Obama problem and no longer representing a solution.
Surely, Hillary’s political advisers must be telling her this. Surely they have been telling her that becoming the next Secretary Of State is political suicide and that should it all blow up in her face she has no chance in hell of any future political designs.
Face it, her husbands foreign policy was called, “The Flyswatter technique.” (Lob a few missile into Arab countries when the terrorists/freedom fighters act up) Take out a school or factory by mistake. Under Bill Clinton we had Black-hawk Down- (that tragedy in Mogadishu caused by Bill’s total contempt for our own military while respecting he rights of terrorists who were trying to kill us). Mr. Bill also gave us the bombing of the USS Cole- the newest and most state-of-the-art destroyer in the U.S. Fleet, with a hole blown in it 
the size of a barn simply because he wouldn’t give the officers on deck bullets for their service revolvers.
Oh No … Mr. Bill!
There they were, gathered at George Washington University, five people who had made history and shaped American foreign policy for nearly four decades. Vietnam and détente. Hot war with Iraq and Cold War with the Soviet Union. Mideast peace-conferences and arms control. Kosovo and Iran. Rwanda and Iraq.
The fall of the Berlin Wall and the scourge of drought, poverty and AIDS in the developing world. Five former American Secretaries of State. The conversation was remarkable for its candor, depth and realism. But the advice the five former Secretary of States were offering President Obama’s pick for the office was this: “Get over it. Get real. Be smart.”
This coming from the five people who have been responsible for America’s safety the last 30-years? I have a five-year-old neighbor boy who could give better political advice.
How could President Obama and whoever he picks do any worse than these idiots?
Madeleine Albright suggests a nuclear confrontation with Iran (like that is gonna work. The only way to win that game is not to play). James Baker wants to increase the military even more. More men in the field when American families want their loved ones to come home. All that these former politco minds can offer American’s is this:
“Engage the whole world.”
Attack soundbites. That’s it? Nothing about a Benjamin Franklin or Abraham Lincoln detente, just blow up the whole world? Smart advice when Russia has recently invaded Georgia, Putin is caving to the KGB hardliners who want to bring back the Cold War, China’s spying and human-rights abuse against its own people are at atrocious levels, North Korea just closed the border with South Korea, Chavez (that South American wacko) wants all neighboring countries to join him in a war against the U.S. By all means Henry Kissinger, James Baker, Warren Christopher, Madeleine Albright, Colin Powell, lets engage the whole world and watch WWIII destroy the entire planet.
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Fortunately for America-
President Obama “gets it.” He wants to sit the wacko’s like Arman-a-dinner-jacket and Castro down at the table for a little detente poker. You can’t make peace with your enemies if you don’t talk to them Obama says. Makes great sense to me unlike the five retired politcio whack-jobs who would wish to watch the world burn. It’s not their beat anymore and they can make even more money on the lecture circuit critizing an Obama administration and making un-wanted/un-needed suggestions. I get so tired of Jimmy Carter shooting his mouth off. He was horrible President, his foreign policy was this- Americans were held hostage in Iran for a year. So, why does he shoot his mouth off and offer to fix every political crisis that comes along the last 20-years? Stay at home Jimmy- build your houses for Habitat for Humanity where you can actually do more good for Americans.
My hope for Secretary of State is Hillary. However, I think she’s too smart to fall into that trap.
Whomever President Obama picks for his Secretary Of State, I hope he/she will, as In Ben Franklins day, restore the Secretary of State post to a once more honored and revered position. I would rather see our new Secretary Of State wining and dining our enemies at state dinners than ducking out the back way with Molotov cocktails being slung after them or Al-Qaeda making that warbling sound they do with their throats while waving rifles in the air. We’ve seen enough images like this to last a lifetime.
Ben Franklin said it best: “Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both.”
You can’t make peace with your enemy if you don’t talk to them.
KH
