Clinton Torn Between Leading and Blending In

Secretary of State secured Arab buy-in, convinced prez to act

(NEWSER) - President Obama came late to the decision to authorize military force against Libya , but he did so based on the counsel and efforts of Hillary Clinton, reports the New York Times . The secretary of state was herself against intervention until she secured buy-in from Arab nations; she then joined a small cadre of administration advisers calling for action, and within hours had convinced her boss to act. Clinton “had the proof,” a top adviser says, “that not only was the Arab League in favor, but that the Emirates were serious about participating.” More»

... and Hillary won't leave for Middle East until Saturday

(NEWSER) - It looks like Bill Clinton will only spend one night in the hospital after undergoing an emergency heart procedure today—and wife Hillary will merely postpone her diplomatic trip to the Middle East by a day. “He’s in good spirits, and we hope to have him go home tomorrow,” says the New York doctor who performed the stent procedure on the former president. “He’s fine,” a Clinton source tells CNN . More»

(NEWSER) - Critics who say Barack Obama is forcing Hillary Clinton to keep a low profile, a la a Daily Beast charge that it's time to let her take off the burqa, don't understand how foreign policy gets made in America, Anne Applebaum writes at the Washington Post. Clinton's post at State is a "fabulously ill-defined job," Applebaum writes, and one that offers her plenty of scope to set her own agenda and engage with the world as she chooses. More»

Facing do-everything White House, Hillary reasserts herself

(NEWSER) - Yesterday Hillary Clinton delivered an ambitious, muscular speech to the Council on Foreign Relations, in which she warned Iran of further sanctions while defending Barack Obama's policy of multifront diplomacy with rogue states. After months in the shadows, writes New York Times reporter Mark Landler, the secretary of State wanted to make a splash. Faced with a strong White House, Clinton reasserted her allegiance to the president, but also defended her turf as the nation's top diplomat. More»

(NEWSER) - Hillary Clinton’s transition from presidential candidate to secretary of state wasn’t easy—and neither is the new gig—but the former first lady has taken it all in stride, the New York Times reports. “I love the job; I mean, it’s really hard,” Clinton said, likening the post to being the “mayor of a good-sized small city.” But though many agree she’s comfortable, some think her impact could be greater. More»