Clinton Seeks To Boost U.S. Foreign Aid, Realign Global Governance

By Joseph Russell- Talk Radio News Service

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton addressed the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) on Wednesday to outline the Obama administration’s broad foreign policy objectives. Clinton highlighted the administration’s plan to use more tax dollars for foreign aid and realign global governance, and underscored its dedication to U.S. security.

“We advance our security, our prosperity, and our values, by improving the material conditions of people’s lives around the world,” Clinton said. “These efforts also lay the ground work for greater global cooperation by building the capacity of new partners and tackling shared problems from the ground up.”

U.S. foreign aid has not significantly improved global conditions according to Clinton. “We have devoted a smaller percentage of our government budget to development than almost any other advanced country,” despite giving more money than any other nation. “I want more of our tax dollars to be used effectively and deliver tangible results,” Clinton said.

Clinton asserted that the Obama administration will work to build a global consensus through partnerships, saying “we’ll work through existing institutions and reform them, but we’ll go further.”

Amidst a record deficit, pundits have criticized the Obama administration’s foreign policy objectives, calling the goal of providing more foreign aid unsustainable. Additionally, some have criticized the U.S.'s desire to realign global governance, arguing that it weakens U.S. power and leaves the country vulnerable to threats by North Korea and other unfriendly nations.

Clinton addressed these concerns by saying that if the U.S. uses its power to build relationships through common values, the world will be safer because countries will seek to find solutions to the world's problems.

Congressmen Resolve To Support Chinese Uighurs

By Sam Wechsler - Talk Radio News Service

On Friday, Rep. William Delahunt (D-Mass.) and Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) announced a resolution to condemn China's violent repression of the recent Uighur protests. The resolution asks Congress to go on record in support of the Uighur people and criticizes the U.S. government for not speaking out against the Chinese oppression of the Uighur people.

State-run media in China claims that as a result of clashes with Chinese law enforcement officers in recent weeks, the Uighur death toll is 156. The Uighurs estimate the actual count is approximately 500, with thousands more imprisoned.

The Chinese place blame of their violence against the Uighurs on Rebiya Kadeer, President of the World Uighur Congress, who was present at the news conference. She has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize on three separate occasions.

In a letter written to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Rep. Delahunt and Rep. Rohrabacher stated, “[Kadeer] has never encouraged nor supported violence in the past and instead has sought a peaceful resolution to her people’s troubles in China...[We] find it appalling that the Chinese government is attempting to ascribe its own brutal acts as the responsibility of this courageous woman who fully embraces democracy and non-violence.”

During Friday's news conference, Rep. Delahunt was particularly enraged by the fact that the U.S. Department of Defense would not allow members of the House Human Rights and Oversight Subcommittee to interview the Uighur detainees at Guantanamo Bay. Rather, the U.S. allowed Chinese officials to interrogate the Uighur detainees.

According to Susan Baker Manning, a defense attorney for the Uighur detainees, the Uighurs stated that the Chinese interrogation was their “lowest point” at Guantanamo Ba

Newly Appointed “Special Representative to Muslim Communities” Discusses Outreach Plans

By Learned Foote- Talk Radio News Service

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton recently appointed Farah Pandith as Special Representative to Muslim Communities, a new position within the State Department. Pandith held a news briefing to discuss her role on Wednesday.

Born in India, Pandith grew up in Massachusetts, where she attended Milton Academy, Smith College, and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.

She has previously held several positions at various government departments, including the U.S. Agency for International Development, the National Security Council, and—most recently—the European bureau of the State Department.

Pandith said that her new role will require her to “leverage my experience in Europe and in other parts of the world to think about how we can have the department work on Muslim engagement in a way that is out of the box, that is innovative, that is dynamic, that works with embassies so that we’re getting to know the next generation of thinkers.”

She declined to answer questions about controversial issues affecting Muslim communities, and said that her role is not to create policy. “What we want to do is build dialogue,” she explained.

She emphasized the nuance and diversity of Islam in the United States and the world, and said that no single engagement tactic would suit every community. “It isn’t just one thing from Washington that’s going to be shoved into everybody’s faces,” she said.

Pandith said she planned to visit multiple areas of the globe over the next few years, and would not deal only with regions where conflicts exist. However, she explained that since she just started her job, she has to “consult with my colleagues at the department to figure out the first few steps.”

Clinton: "I don't pretend to have any psychological insights"

Senator and Senate Foreign Relations Commmittee Member Bob Corker (R-Tenn.)asks Secretary of State Hillary Clinton a question about the energy issue in Europe. He expresses concern that the U.S. seems more concerned with Europe's energy security than they do. Clinton explains what she knows about the issue. (1:54)

Blueprints Drawn Up for 2010 International Affairs Budget

By Courtney Ann Jackson-Talk Radio News Service

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the proposed international affairs budget is a “major investment” as she testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Wednesday. Clinton said in her opening statement that President Obama’s 2010 budget request for the State Department and the United States Agency for International Development is $48.6 billion.

Clinton explained that she knew what a significant request and said, “We know that this request comes when some agencies are experiencing cutbacks. But it is an indication of the critical role the State Department must play to help advance our nation’s interests, safeguard our security, and make us a positive force for progress worldwide.”

Clinton offered a description of how the State Department and the USAID should exercise their global leadership effectively. The description included the “three D’s” that she said must be harnessed. The “three D’s” are diplomacy development and defense according to Clinton.

There are many issues that the State Department and the USAID are currently dealing with and Clinton said, “We need good people and we need enough of them.” According to Clinton’s opening statement, that is why the 2010 budget request includes $283 million to accommodate the hiring of over 740 new Foreign Service personnel. This increase in the budget coincides with the President’s promise of expanding the Foreign Service.

Clinton said the State Department and the USAID will have the opportunity to use “smart power to implement smart policies.” The top three priorities of focus are: urgent challenges and regions of concern,including Afghanistan and Pakistan, Iraq, and the Middle East; transnational challenges; and development assistance.

Clinton closed her opening statement by saying to Committee Chairman John Kerry, “Mr. Chairman, we’re pursuing all of these policies because it is the right thing to do, but also because it is the smart thing to do. No country benefits more than the United States when there is greater security, democracy, and opportunity in the world.”