Senator Clinton did her homework before appearing before her Senate colleagues on Tuesday.  Secretary designate Clinton said that the Obama administration would be using “smart Power.”  Meaning that it would be use all the tools at their disposal and would not be bound by rigid ideology.  What this means in practice is a possible future dialogue with Iran, engaged diplomacy on Gaza, and a determined withdrawal from Iraq.  Secretary designate Clinton is expected to be confirmed by Inauguration Day.  See full story below.

WASHINGTON (AFP) — Secretary of state designate Hillary Clinton promised a “smart” blend of US military and diplomatic power projection under Barack Obama, and said America must never give up on Middle East peace.

In the latest twist to her trail-blazing political career, Clinton got a warm embrace from the Senate Foreign Relations committee in her confirmation hearing Tuesday, and laid out the first building blocks of the new US foreign policy.

As Israel’s war on Hamas in Gaza rages, she ruled out talks with the Islamist militant group but expressed disquiet over civilian casualties on both sides.

She also previewed an “aggressive” bid to halt North Korea’s alleged proliferation activities and promised the United States would belatedly throw itself into the fight against global climate change.

“I believe American leadership has been wanting, but is still wanted,” said Clinton, who narrowly lost her campaign against Obama for the Democratic nomination last year, ending her bid to be the first woman president.

“We must use what has been called ‘smart power,’ the full range of tools at our disposal,” Clinton said, advocating a mix of diplomatic, economic, military, political legal and cultural strategies.

In a dig at the Bush administration, Clinton said she and Obama believed in foreign policy which married “principles and pragmatism, not rigid ideology.”

But, Clinton, who is expected to cruise towards confirmation, warned that military power “will sometimes be necessary … as a last resort.”  see remainder of article here.