In Foreign Policy, a New Trio at the Top

With Hearing Today, Clinton, Kerry and Obama Begin to Realign Their Roles

By Anne E. Kornblut and Glenn Kessler
Washington Post Staff Writers
Tuesday, January 13, 2009; A01

FACTBOX- Quotes from Hillary Clinton confirmation hearing
Tue Jan 13, 2009 9:29pm GMT

Here are some of her quotes on key topics:

IRAN

"We will pursue a new, perhaps different approach. What we have tried has not worked.

"No option is off the table."

"We will do everything we can pursue through diplomacy, through the use of sanctions, through creating better coalitions with countries that we believe also have a big stake in preventing Iran from becoming a nuclear weapon power."

"We have no illusions, Mr. Chairman, that even with a new administration looking to try to engage Iran in a way that might influence its behaviour, that we can predict the results. But the president-elect is committed to that course and we will pursue it."

Obama team takes new tack on Iran amid Mideast peace push
2 hours ago

The outgoing administration of President George W. Bush refused to engage in direct negotiations with Iran unless it first stops enriching uranium, material which Washington fears could be used to build an atomic bomb.

"The incoming administration views with great concern ... Iran's sponsorship of terrorism, its continuing interference with the functioning of other governments, and its pursuit of nuclear weapons," she said.

Along with Syria, Iran backs the Islamist Hamas in the Gaza Strip -- which is being pounded by the Israeli army in an 18-day military offensive -- as well as Hezbollah in Lebanon, which fought a similar war with Israel in 2006.

Washington also accuses Iran of meddling in Iraq and Afghanistan...

...She called for a "strategy of smart power in the Middle East that addresses the security needs of Israel and the legitimate political and economic aspirations of the Palestinians."

Clinton hoped it "effectively challenges Iran to end its nuclear weapons program and its sponsorship of terror."

She said the new strategy also could "persuade both Iran and Syria to abandon their dangerous behavior and become constructive regional actors."

politickybitch sez The Palestinian/Israeli football game that sucks the whole world in to play is mighty tiresome.

Mighty tiresome.