John Kerry, the US secretary of state, pressed his message of potential dialogue with North Korea as he wrapped up his diplomatic tour in Japan, saying the US was “prepared to reach out” and consider direct talks under the right circumstances.
After weeks of tension on the Korean peninsula – with the North issuing angry threats, pulling its workers out of a joint industrial complex and possibly preparing for a missile test – Kerry has repeatedly focused on the US desire for a peaceful resolution during the Asian leg of his 10-day trip.
But speaking in Tokyo he warned that Pyongyang would need to show good faith “so we’re not going around and around in the same-old, same-old”.
While this obviously has the potential for a positive outcome, we wouldn’t be shocked to see this dominating the discussion among talking heads this week, given North Korea’s recent provocative statements/actions.
Secretary of State John Kerry is making an emergency surprise trip to the Middle East this weekend amid worries that the Obama administration’s newly brokered friendship between Turkey and Israel risks unraveling, U.S. and Israeli media report.
The administration is concerned about Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s plans to visit the Hamas-controlled Gaza strip, a move certain to raise tensions in the volatile region. Erdoğan’s announcement risks undermining the major diplomatic coup the White House claimed last month when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Erdoğan to apologize for a 2010 Israeli raid that killed eight Turks and one Turkish-American on a Gaza-bound flotilla.
Erdoğan’s plans were met with disapproval by the State Department, which reiterated its opposition to negotiating with Hamas. The United States considers Hamas a terrorist group. The department declined to confirm or deny the reports of Kerry’s travel plans.
Secretary Kerry is expected to fly to Turkey on Saturday, and will also visit Israel and the West Bank this weekend before kicking off a string of previously planned trips to London, South Korea, China, and Japan next week.
Rice redux: The Washington Post reports today that Susan Rice, current US ambassador to the United Nations and onetime contender for Secretary of State, is “far and away the frontrunner” to become the next National Security Advisor. This marks a reversal of fortunes for Rice, who withdrew her name from consideration for Secretary of State after several Republicans pledged to block her nomination. The NSA post, however, doesn’t require Senate confirmation, and Rice is apparently still in high standing with the Obama Administration. The National Security Advisor is an extraordinarily powerful position, by the way; they personally advise the president on and play an enormous role in shaping foreign policy, yet unlike Secretary of State, they don’t have to consider or deal with an entire department’s bureaucracy when crafting that advice (Photo: AP). source
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry delivers remarks at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia, February 20, 2013. [State Department photo/ Public Domain]
Kerry’s first remarks as Secretary of State.
Secretary of State John Kerry’s tweets will end in JK.
Really.
(via The Daily Caller)
Just kidding.
![imwithkanye:
Hillary Clinton’s Resignation Letter. [via]
Dear Mr. President:
I hereby resign as the 67th Secretary of State, effective upon the appointment of my successor.
It has been an honor to serve in your administration and to represent our country around the world. I am proud of what we accomplished together on behalf of the American people and in pursuit of our interests and values. And I am more convinced than ever in the strength and staying power of America’s global leadership and our capacity to be a force for good in the world.
It has been a privilege to lead such a dedicated and skilled team of Foreign Service Officers and Civil Servants at the State Department and USAID. I am deeply grateful for their service and sacrifice on behalf of the country they love.
On a personal note, it has been a pleasure to work with you and your team. Thank you, Mr. President, for your friendship, and for the opportunity to serve in your Cabinet.
With gratitude and warm regards, I am
Sincerely yours,
Hillary Rodham Clinton
We realize that the former Secretary is a politician by trade, and as such not everyone is going to agree with her views, or even be inclined to view her favorably. What isn’t in any dispute, however: she just finished a run as probably the the most recognizable and high-profile Secretary of State in our modern American era, and may still have one big political decision ahead of her. Former Senator John Kerry was sworn in as the new Secretary today, bringing Clinton’s four-year tenure to an end.](http://24.media.tumblr.com/a8fcd00f690da18871c4708875324314/tumblr_mhk57rLIc21qanm80o1_500.jpg)
Hillary Clinton’s Resignation Letter. [via]
Dear Mr. President:
I hereby resign as the 67th Secretary of State, effective upon the appointment of my successor.
It has been an honor to serve in your administration and to represent our country around the world. I am proud of what we accomplished together on behalf of the American people and in pursuit of our interests and values. And I am more convinced than ever in the strength and staying power of America’s global leadership and our capacity to be a force for good in the world.
It has been a privilege to lead such a dedicated and skilled team of Foreign Service Officers and Civil Servants at the State Department and USAID. I am deeply grateful for their service and sacrifice on behalf of the country they love.
On a personal note, it has been a pleasure to work with you and your team. Thank you, Mr. President, for your friendship, and for the opportunity to serve in your Cabinet.
With gratitude and warm regards, I am
Sincerely yours,
Hillary Rodham Clinton
We realize that the former Secretary is a politician by trade, and as such not everyone is going to agree with her views, or even be inclined to view her favorably. What isn’t in any dispute, however: she just finished a run as probably the the most recognizable and high-profile Secretary of State in our modern American era, and may still have one big political decision ahead of her. Former Senator John Kerry was sworn in as the new Secretary today, bringing Clinton’s four-year tenure to an end.
There is so much on the plate that all of us need to find a way to work together. I hope this is a symbol that all of us are ready to do that.Senator John Kerry • Speaking prior to the Senate’s overwhelming vote, 94-3, to confirm him as the incoming Secretary of State for the Obama administration, replacing Hillary Clinton on February 1st (incidentally, he didn’t vote for himself, opting instead to vote “present”). Of important note on environmental issues, Kerry specifically cited climate change in his Senate confirmation hearings as a “life-threatening issue,” and it figures to be a major issue throughout his Secretaryship. source
More on Barney Frank’s Senate push: Frank toyed with the idea the other day on television, but it looks like he’s putting in all of his chips. We can’t say we’re terribly surprised to see Barney Frank trying to jump back into politics so soon. Considering his three-decade run in the House, we’d be willing to bet more than a few Massachusetts residents would love to see Gov. Patrick select the former U.S. Representative as Sen. John Kerry’s replacement. That is, of course, assuming President Obama’s current nominee for Secretary of State is ever confirmed by Congress. source
She’s talking to staff, she is taking paper at home. She sounds terrific. She’s looking forward to coming back next week.Victoria Nuland, spokesperson for Sec. Hillary Clinton • Discussing the current condition of the outgoing Secretary of State, less than 24 hours after Secretary Clinton first made headlines when several outlets inaccurately reported that she had been discharged and readmitted to the hospital. Clinton was hospitalized earlier this week to receive treatment for a blood clot that formed after she suffered a concussion last month. source
This comes on the heels of Thursday’s announcement U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice had removed herself from the list of candidates to take over from Hillary Clinton. Rice said what was sure to be a contentious and lengthy approval process took attention away from more pressing problems facing the nation.
Soon to return to the lexicon: ”Swift boat.”
(Source: joshsternberg)
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If nominated, I am now convinced that the confirmation process would be lengthy, disruptive and costly – to you and to our most pressing national and international priorities.Susan Rice • In her letter to President Obama, acquired by NBC News, explaining why she will no longer stay in the running for Secretary of State. “That trade-off is simply not worth it to our country…Therefore, I respectfully request that you no longer consider my candidacy at this time,” she continues. Partisan politics suck.
BREAKING: Susan Rice says she is withdrawing her name from consideration for Secretary of State
That’s no fun.
Last week ‘The Onion’ said I was going to become a male stripper. … ‘The Onion’ is probably more accurate than Tom Friedman.Education secretary Arne Duncan • Responding to Thomas Friedman’s bizarre column suggesting Duncan was the perfect candidate to become the next Secretary of State — by citing the second most surprising thing written about him recently. Duncan wins on the sense-of-humor front.
If it were up to me, I’d put Arne Duncan, the secretary of education, in charge of American policy in the Arab-Muslim world.Thomas Friedman has actually been on the Arne Duncan-as-unexpected-foreign-policy-genius tip for a couple of months, based on this October piece, which suggests Duncan should be leading our Middle East policy for some reason. At least he doesn’t think Andrew WK is a rapper like someone else at the New York Times does.
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