Obama nominee, Clinton, outlines priorities for State Department

Barack Obama’s Secretary of State nominee Hillary Clinton{D-N.Y.) appeared for a confirmation hearing with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and outlined the priorities she plans on tackling in the position.

The Senator discussed Iraq, reiterating the Obama administration’s plans for a practical withdrawal.

“Our men and women in uniform, our diplomats, and our aid workers are risking their lives in these countries. they have done everything we have asked of them and more,” said Clinton.

” But Over time our larger interests will be best served by safely and responsibly withdrawing our troops from Iraq, supporting a transition to full Iraqi responsibility for their sovereign nation, rebuilding our overtaxed military, and reaching out to other nations to help stabilize the region and employ a broader arsenal of tools to fight terrorism.”

Clinton also addressed other problems facing the Middle East, including Syria and Iran’s troubled relationships in the region and the crisis facing Gaza.

“As intractable as the Middle East problems may seem, and many presidents including my husband have spent years trying to work out a resolution, we cannot give up on peace.”

Clinton, who ran against Barack Obama during the Democratic primary, also discussed her commitment to combat terrorism through a number of avenues, including cutting off support for Al-Qaida, gathering up unaccounted for nuclear weapons, stopping the terrorist black market, and encouraging countries to reduce their nuclear stockpiles.

As first lady Clinton was a strong advocate for women’s rights on the international stage.Senator Clinton stated that she would use her position to further the cause.

“A particular concern to me is the plight of women and girls. They comprise the majority of the world’s unhealthy, unschooled, unfed, and unpaid,” said Clinton.

“If half the world’s population remains vulnerable to economic, political, legal, and social marginalization our hope of advancing democracy and prosperity is in serious jeopardy.”