Secretary Clinton’s Introductory Remarks for President Obama’s Speech on Events in the Middle East and North Africa

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Secretary Clinton’s Introductory Remarks for President Obama’s Speech on Events in the Middle East and North Africa

May 19, 2011 by still4hill

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Introductory Remarks for President Obama’s Speech on Events in the Middle East and North Africa, and U.S. Policy in the Region

Remarks

Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State

Ben Franklin Room

Washington, DC

May 19, 2011

Thank you all, and welcome to the State Department. I am delighted to be here to welcome the President as well as our colleagues from the Diplomatic Corps, Senator Kerry, and senior officials from across our government, and especially the many young Foreign Service and Civil Servants who are here today.

Mr. President, from your first days in office you have charged us with implementing a bold new approach for America’s foreign policy – a new blueprint for how we advance our values, project our leadership, and strengthen our partnerships. We have seen that in a changing world, America’s leadership is more essential than ever, but that we often must lead in new and innovative ways.

And so, Mr. President, these Foreign Service Officers and these Civil Servants, the men and women of the State Department and USAID, work every day to translate your vision into real results – results on the ground in nearly every country in the world. That is why the work we have done to provide them with the tools and resources they need to perform their mission is so important. And it’s why we need to keep making the case for those resources.

Because alongside our colleagues in the Defense Department, America’s diplomats and development experts of the State Department and USAID are on the front lines of protecting America’s security, advancing America’s interests, and projecting America’s values. As a wave of change continues to sweep across the Middle East and North Africa, they are carrying our diplomacy and development far beyond the embassy walls – engaging with citizens in the streets and through social networks as they seek to move from protests to politics; with NGOs and businesses working to create new economic opportunities; and with transitional leaders trying to build the institutions of genuine democracy. They represent the best of America, and I am so proud to have them as our face to the world.

Mr. President, it is fitting that you have chosen to come here to the State Department to speak about the dramatic changes we have witnessed around the world this year.

Now, on the back wall of this historic Benjamin Franklin Room is a portrait of the leader of Tunis, given as a gift in 1865 by the people of Tunisia in honor of the enduring friendship between our nations at the end of our Civil War. A century and a half later, Tunisians – and courageous citizens from across the region – have given the world another gift: a new opening to work together for democracy and dignity, for peace and opportunity. These are the values that made America a great nation, but they do not belong to us alone. They are truly universal. And it is profoundly in our interest that more people in more places claim them as their own.

This moment belongs to the people of the Middle East and North Africa. They have seized control of their destiny and will make the choices that determine how the future of the region unfolds.

But, for America, this is a moment that calls out for clear vision, firm principles, and a sophisticated understanding of the indispensable role our country can and must play in the world. Those have been the hallmarks of President Obama’s leadership from his first day in office. So, it is with great confidence and faith in our future that I welcome the President of the United States, Barack Obama. (Applause.)

Posted in Barack Obama, Foreign Policy, Hillary Clinton, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of State, state department, U.S. Department of State | Tagged Barack Obama, Foreign Policy, Hillary Clinton, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Middle East, North Africa, Secretary of State, State Department, U.S. Department of State | 29 Comments

29 Responses

on May 19, 2011 at 4:26 pm | Reply Jessica

she looked very pretty today. loved the hair!

she’s looking at obama, but its the look she gives to bill when she’s proud…what’s goin on?

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- on May 19, 2011 at 8:02 pm | Reply PYW
  
  jessica, it looks like she’s smiling because of something george mitchell told her, because he’s laughing, too.
  
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- on May 19, 2011 at 10:17 pm | Reply still4hill
  
  I think PYW is right. In fact, I am not sure she’s actually looking at Obama. She’s beautiful in that picture!
  
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  - on May 19, 2011 at 11:06 pm | Reply discourseincsharpminor
    
    She’s not looking at Obama. He’s further to her right. I think she’s seen someone she knows and is about to go greet them – or she might be flirting with the cameraman. She always makes sure she knows where those pesky cameras are.
    
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    - on May 19, 2011 at 11:46 pm | Reply Jen the Michigander
      
      She’s looking at the camera.
      
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on May 19, 2011 at 10:26 pm | Reply Bea

She does look very pretty in that pic. I hope that she was just laughing at something Mitchell said and not directing her look at Obama.

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on May 19, 2011 at 11:10 pm | Reply discourseincsharpminor

This photo made me think of one thing – mutual distain! Could to people hugging be more distant from one another aside from maybe Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid (whose interactions are downright comical)?

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- on May 19, 2011 at 11:27 pm | Reply rachel
  
  Yeah Obama has that whatever look on his face.
  
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  - on May 19, 2011 at 11:52 pm | Reply discourseincsharpminor
    
    Your girl’s doesn’t look too into the hug either.
    
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    - on May 20, 2011 at 2:26 am | Reply Jen the Michigander
      
      As a figure skating fan, I’ve seen that same hug numerous times over the decades. It happens whenever two not-especially-friendly rivals win medals at a major competition. They stand on the podium, smile, and hug each other because they know they’re supposed to act like good sports and because they know the whole world is watching. And then the fans go on the Internet and post about how fake it looked and how everyone knows those two skaters can’t stand each other.
      
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      - on May 20, 2011 at 10:54 am | Reply still4hill
        
        Yes, I know the hug.
        
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on May 19, 2011 at 11:12 pm | Reply discourseincsharpminor

Lovely.

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- on May 19, 2011 at 11:40 pm | Reply still4hill
  
  Hmmmmm… second like this in about a week or ten days? Begging for me to start a “waiting in the wings” folder.
  
  May 9
  
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  - on May 19, 2011 at 11:53 pm | Reply discourseincsharpminor
    
    Please do. Those picture are always so beautifully contemplative.
    
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  - on May 20, 2011 at 12:04 am | Reply discourseincsharpminor
    
    Yay!!! 😀 Posting that picture made me happy. Thank you, Still.
    
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on May 19, 2011 at 11:22 pm | Reply FranSC

I surely hope she knew nothing of 0bama’s speech he was about to make.

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- on May 19, 2011 at 11:27 pm | Reply rachel
  
  Why?
  
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  - on May 19, 2011 at 11:49 pm | Reply Jen the Michigander
    
    Obama threw Israel under the bus, that’s why. And for him to make this particular speech at the State Dept. with Hillary there, it’s not good for her. Not good at all.
    
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    - on May 20, 2011 at 12:03 am | Reply discourseincsharpminor
      
      I disagree. A two-state solution using the 1967 borders has been the official US position on the Israel-Palestine situation for the majority of my life. It’s not new policy. Furthermore, I believe Prime Minister Netanyahu’s punctuation of the President’s speech by announcing to new settlements to be located on land currently occupied by Palestinian properties has sent the signal about how much of a commitment to a two-state solution the Netanyahu administration has. The US has not endorsed a one-state, Israel only policy in at least the past twenty years and, in my lay-person’s opinion, there is no credible reason for us to start now.
      
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      - on May 20, 2011 at 12:19 am | Reply still4hill
        
        True. When Hillary was really tough on Israel in summer 2009 (around June?), those were her words, 1967 borders with land swaps, and no new settlements. Later, when Obama met with Netanyahu in NYC at UNGA in Sept., he collapsed and reined Hillary in so that her comment about the temporary settlement freeze as “unprecedented” drew a lot of fire – made her look wishy-washy.
        
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        on May 20, 2011 at 3:14 am | Reply rachel
        
        We will see if Obama can keep it together this time when he meets bibi.
        
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  - on May 24, 2011 at 12:26 am | Reply FranSC
    
    rachel – because I would be very dismayed if Hillary supported 0bama in his ridiculous ‘borders’ announcement for Israel & Palistine, as though he knows what he is doing.
    
    It’s understandable that Hillary works for 0bama and it’s his foreign policy she is trying to implement and not her own. But I have almost had it that Hillary seems to think she must show sincere admiration for this know-nothing imposter.
    
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    - on May 24, 2011 at 1:51 am | Reply discourseincsharpminor
      
      I would assume that she does support it since the 1967 borders with some mutually agreed upon exceptions for large settlements that have been in place for a while is what the US position has been for about two decades. I don’t remember her ever discussing anything different. No matter what you feel about Obama, he’s simply stating what our stance has been all along. It’s not new and it wasn’t his idea.
      
      I could be wrong, but I don’t remember Secretary Clinton ever having a new policy on this when she campaigned for president, but she’s supported a two-state solution for as long as she’s been on the national scene. To expect to create two countries where there’s currently only one and expecting that one country not to get smaller defies the laws of physics. In supporting a two-state solution, she accepted that there would have to be land concessions by Israel. Considering that Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip together only come to 10,415 square miles – a little smaller than Massachusetts – taking enough land for even a tiny country will seem drastic, but it has to be done if the goal is two independent countries.
      
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    - on May 24, 2011 at 11:05 am | Reply still4hill
      
      Of course she knew. Not only did she know, she probably told Bibi in that phone conversation on Thursday night that the policy has never changed and would not be changing with this speech. In June 2009 those very words were coming from HRC. I do not understand why everyone considers this such a surprise.
      
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      - on May 24, 2011 at 3:02 pm | Reply discourseincsharpminor
        
        I think it’s more the fact that we haven’t wlked those statements back in the face of the backlash is surprising and heartening. Hopefully, something good will com from standing tall and strong on this and hopefully we’ll continue to stand tall and deflate like a poorly made soufflé as has been the case so many times with the US on this issue and with President Obama on numerous things.
        
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        on May 24, 2011 at 3:52 pm | Reply still4hill
        
        We’ve stood firm on this one through several administrations. I don’t think we will alter this policy.
        
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on May 23, 2011 at 4:21 pm | Reply discourseincsharpminor

Another picture – I think it’s from the same day. Hillary and Obama grabbing some coffee.

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- on May 23, 2011 at 6:32 pm | Reply still4hill
  
  Oh to be a fly on the wall!
  
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  - on May 23, 2011 at 8:13 pm | Reply discourseincsharpminor
    
    I know!
    
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