Hillary's Daring Mission

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-08-07/hillarys-bold-agenda/full/


Hillary's Daring Mission

by Eliza Griswold

Bill isn’t the only Clinton making bold moves overseas this week. Instead of paying lip service to Africa’s woes on her 11-day trip to the continent, Hillary is courting controversy by meeting a Somali leader Bush deposed and taking on rape in Congo. It’s a major step forward, says Eliza Griswold.


There’s a cynical kind of math that comes along with reporting on Africa. Forget positive, or complex coverage; the bottom line is death tolls have to be high for anyone to care at all, or for any news outfit to foot the bill on a given story.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s 11-day trip to Africa is a promising indication that may be changing. First, it’s the longest venture she’s taken out of the country thus far. Second, it comes on the heels of her boss’ trip to Ghana three weeks ago. Such heavy hitters so early on in Africa? It’s unheard of.

And then there’s the nature of the business at hand. In Kenya, Clinton has called out the wobbly-at-best coalition government over the deaths of 1,000 people during last year’s election. She is also risking the conservative political fallout at home to meet with the soft-spoken, smoky-eyed president of Somalia, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed. (The Bush administration helped to oust him three years ago in the name of anti-terror.)

Clinton also is not shying away from addressing the horrors unfolding in Zimbabwe. And she’s taking up an age-old unpopular issue of rape as a crime of war in eastern Congo. Nigeria is yet to come—a country the State Department has called “probably the most important in Africa.” (Read: It’s our fifth-largest oil supplier.) And to round out the itinerary, she’s stopping in Angola, Liberia, and Cape Verde.

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It is idealistic to think that Clinton’s visit might turn America’s eye more sharply on Africa. But it is also possible. Six months ago, it was utter lunacy to think that someone as high-ranking as Hillary would meet with the likes of the Somali President Sheikh Sharif. And yet today, it’s yesterday’s news.

Makes me proud to see her excel on the world stage. What a difference from the previous regime!!!!

:woohoo:

My respect is really growing for her.

Considerably more than a dime's worth of difference here. :thumbsup:

to the continent, not just when some horrid disaster is unfolding, but for long term change.

Thanks Sos Clinton and President Obama!

she's doing such a brave and wonderful job.

K&R