US State Department Back in Business
Hillary Clinton has found a comfort zone in her new line of work. Having toured the planet as first lady and senator from New York, Ms. Clinton needs no introductions on the world stage. She can get down to business straight away wherever she goes.
In less than 100 days under Secretary Clinton, the State Department has reversed course on several key foreign policy initiatives of the previous administration. Her changes include dropping use of the term “war on terror”, sending top aides to meet with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and now, new diplomatic contact with Iran.
Special Ambassador Richard Holbrooke held a “brief but cordial” meeting with Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Mahdi Akhundzadeh recently at a conference on Afghanistan held in the Hague, Netherlands. Foreign Minister Akhundzadeh expressed his government’s interest in working with the US and its allies to help build a more stable and prosperous Afghanistan. “Iran is fully prepared to participate in the projects aimed at combating drug trafficking and plans in line with developing and reconstructing Afghanistan.”
In other words, the US and Iran may start openly cooperating against common enemies in the region. A sustained alignment of Iran, the US and NATO would give Afghanistan time to develop its own national security structure and isolate the Taliban even further into northern Pakistan.
Afghanistan needs foreign investment secured by the Netherlands conference to help pay for schools, hospitals and infrastructure. Investments like that take years to pay off. It’s hard to envision US troops leaving Afghanistan any time soon.
Leave a Reply