Well, the Africa trip is official, and we can see why it took awhile for the State Department to post the itinerary – it’s another long one, and arranging it must have been very complex since it does not coincide with earlier reports. More than a week, it’s another killer – six countries/11 days. Ghana and Nigeria are not mentioned, but Kenya and South Sudan are. I think I speak for everyone here in wishing her a safe and successful trip and hoping she manages to sneak in a little vacation time when she gets back home.
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to Travel to Africa
Press Statement
Victoria Nuland
Department Spokesperson, Office of the SpokespersonWashington, DCJuly 30, 2012
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will travel to Africa July 31 through August 10, 2012. During this trip, the Secretary will emphasize U.S. policy commitments outlined in the Presidential Policy Directive – to strengthen democratic institutions, spur economic growth, advance peace and security as well as promote opportunity and development for all citizens
The Secretary’s first stop will be Senegal, where she will meet President Sall and other national leaders and deliver a speech applauding the resilience of Senegal’s democratic institutions and highlighting America’s approach to partnership.
Next, Secretary Clinton travels to South Sudan where she meets with President Kiir to reaffirm U.S. support and to encourage progress in negotiations with Sudan to reach agreement on issues related to security, oil and citizenship.
In Uganda, the Secretary meets with President Museveni to encourage strengthening of democratic institutions and human rights, while also reinforcing Uganda as a key U.S. partner in promoting regional security, particularly in regard to Somalia and in regional efforts to counter the Lord’s Resistance Army. She will also highlight U.S. support in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
The Secretary will then travel to Kenya where she plans to meet President Kibaki, Prime Minister Odinga, and other government officials to emphasize her support for transparent, credible, nonviolent national elections in 2013. To underscore U.S. support for completing the political transition in Somalia by August 20th, Secretary Clinton will also meet with President Sheikh Sharif and other signatories to the Roadmap to End the Transition.
The Secretary continues her trip in Malawi, visiting President Banda to discuss economic and political governance and reform.
In South Africa, Secretary Clinton will pay her respects to ex-President Mandela, and to participate in the U.S.-South Africa Strategic Dialogue focusing on the partnership between our two countries in addressing issues of mutual concern and our shared challenges on the African and world stage. Secretary Clinton will be accompanied by a U.S. business delegation.
For those who want to light candles: http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/candles.cfm?l=eng&gi=hrc
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Thank you, Jen!
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She may want to drop a note the West Bank and smooth things over after Mitten’s said their very culture is somehow faulty. Can you think of a greater contrast in foreign policy acumen? Or even basic guest etiquette? I can’t.
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Too bad she couldn’t have gone when bill and chelsea were there. I don’t know how she does it 11 days she certainly should head for vacation when she comes back, I think in an interview bill said in august they were taking one with family and friends.
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yes, two weeks on long island, i think.
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Good!
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They both deserve a vacation. I hope that it doesn’t get interrupted by some international event.
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… or hurricane.
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Totally off topic, but while watching the part of the opening ceremony of the Olympics where the queen’s stunt double (Apparently she’s got one. Go figure.) parachuted into the stadium to the theme music from James Bond I started to wonder which of our American governmental figures would be jumping out of a helicopter had the Olympics been held here. After more thought than this idea deserved, I determined that the one to take the queen’s place would, in fact, be your girl. I have linked Secretary Clinton and James Bond before, but I’m doing it again. Hillary Rodham would be our nation’s skydiving, political Bond girl.
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I think she would look cool skydiving. I can picture this.
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And then the camera would cut to a shot of her husband laughing one of those big laughs. I thought I read that she didn’t like heights, so I don’t know if it would be all that fun for her, but he would love it.
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Right – a vacation story on Ted Kennedy’s boat. Caroline and Chelsea were jumping into the water off a flying bridge or something, and Ted and Bill were goading Hillary to try it. She climbed up and hesitated, and Jackie said to her: “You don’t have to do it, Hillary.” So she climbed back down.
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Also I forgot one of her last names in the last sentence of my original comment leading me to make this amusing, and strangely fitting edit.
The name is Clinton. Hillary Rodham Clinton.
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((( 😀 ))) LOL!
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[…] yes, Nigeria was among the countries she was expected to visit, but was not on the itinerary released by DOS on July 30, and that itinerary has not been updated officially. The Turkish leg of the trip is reliably […]
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[…] with stories of additional countries to be added to the already packed schedule for this trip. Originally arranged as an 11-day trip, the addition of Turkey next Saturday for talks on Syria extends that by at least one day. […]
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[…] Hillary Clinton’s Itinerary in Africa […]
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[…] Hillary Clinton’s Itinerary in Africa […]
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