The Three Presidents

The media is desperate to find and exploit any rift in the Obama-Clinton relationship, wherein they see endless drama, but in reality it seems there is none. Obama goes to Russia without Hillary. Joe Biden takes point on the Iraq withdrawal. Hillary cancels her trip to Italy for the G-8.

First of all, let's not forget she shattered her elbow. Shattered it. Ouch. I don't know how many people have ever broken a bone or messed up a messy area like a knee or elbow, but let me tell you first hand it hurts like hell. And you'd take a few days off work if you did it, too. I was down with a wrenched knee for a month. Hillary Clinton was back at work three days later. Granted, she doesn't have to walk on her elbow, so it is probably a little easier, but please, give me a break. Excuse the pun.

I think more than likely, what spurred this fresh round of media gossip is Iran. It is well documented at this point that Obama's sharper stance on the post-election turmoil in Iran came at the urging of Secretary Clinton. Then, someone decided that the President did so "without telling her first." Of course these stories all come from "confidential sources," and I just don't believe it. And moreover, so what? If I asked someone to agree with me, and they did it, I'd be happy, not mad that they didn't send me a memo announcing they did. And the likelihood that any public statement made by the President of the United States concerning a major foreign policy issue came as a surprise to the State Department (who apparently originated the sentiment) is nearly unbelievable. Particularly considering the equally well-documented closeness between Obama and Clinton: weekly private meetings, daily phone contact, and admissions by the Vice President that Secretary Clinton frequently trumps him in high-level meetings, that Hillary is Obama's "go to" person on "almost everything."

Let's address the Russia thing. So, did we all already forget that Secretary Clinton was in Russia in March, concluding a major diplomatic tour where she met with just about every key leader in Europe and Asia, where her star power and international reputation at least at that time greatly exceeded the President's. Now, the President has made his trip to Russia to work out the details, and it is reported that the US-Russian commission that was agreed to this week will be overseen and conducted by... drum roll, please... none other than Secretary of State Clinton. Let's also not forget that if Secretary Clinton had to cancel her trip to Russia with the President this week, obviously it was planned for her to go. I don't see where it would be appropriate for Clinton to be in Russia making major policy agreements; that is still the president's job, right? And Russia is certainly important enough in the scheme of things to get Obama in person.

On Iraq. Nothing new is taking place in Iraq. We are concluding a policy-driven withdrawal that was negotiated by the former administration. Secretary Clinton was in Iraq on April 25th, following suicide bombings in Baghdad, and coinciding with the arrival of US ambassador to Iraq, Christopher Hill, and was there to assess the situation, and the readiness of US troops to conduct their scheduled pull-out. Iraq, for all its politicization, is a military operation, and primarily needs to be conducted through military channels, with the advisement of the State Department, not the other way around. Giving Vice President Biden the lead on Iraq is a natural choice, as vice-Commander-In-Chief, and a foreign policy expert. Biden was Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for 4 years after all, and on the committee for more than 20. And, this portfolio pass off between Biden and Clinton is becoming par for the course, as well. It's a sign of trust and cooperation in the administration, not of "rifts." Giving the Iraq portfolio to anyone less than the VP would be an insult to Secretary Gates, who in reality should likely be the point person for Iraq policy. Gates and Clinton have also shown a much greater cooperation and mutual respect for one another than has been seen between the Pentagon and the State Department in recent memory, and Gates has handed back a good deal of the responsibilities that should rightfully belong to the State Department, and it seems he did so with a sign of relief.

Today, VP Biden and Secretary Clinton had a private meeting just prior to Biden's swearing in of Al Franken. Secretary Clinton then took off for Foggybottom to prepare for her meeting with ousted Hounduran President Zelaya. Not to mention she has been on the phone and at the press podium for days talking about China, and slowly mounting international pressure on continued human rights abuses that broke out again this week in Urumqi. Not to mention working in concert with the UK to put as much pressure on Iran as possible to release detained UK Embassy staff and to respect democracy without undermining our desire to engage with them directly. (Note also this is a direct departure from her stance in the 2008 presidential campaign, and a complete adoption of Obama's point of view.) Oh yeah, and working the diplomatic grape vine to ensure India as a partner in Afghanistan and Pakistan. And, working overtime to mend fences with Muslim interests in the Middle East, without marginalizing Israel. And pretty much single-handedly ironing out the peace process in Norther Ireland. Arguably, the bureaucracy at State is at least as large and complex as the bureaucracy in the White House, yet when the Secretary of State flushes it out with well-empowered and experienced envoys, she gets criticized, but when the president does it, it's expected.

As I have said, and will continue to say most likely, the Obama-Biden-Clinton global triumvirate is going just fine.