Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton put forth some tough words yesterday and today for tyrants, terrorists, and human rights violators. The first of her comments appeared here yesterday as part of her press availability with Canadian Foreign Minister Baird. The ensuing statements are press releases issued last night and today. If anyone has any doubts that this is a strong, scrappy lady, don't let the ruffles and pearls mislead you. She is all girl, and she countenances no despots. Please read these.
Following remarks on Syria by her Canadian counterpart yesterday.
Remarks With Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird After Their Meeting
Remarks
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of StateTreaty RoomWashington, DCAugust 4, 2011...SNIP...SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, I think your [Baird's] description is all too accurate. We’ve seen the Asad regime continue and intensify its violent assault against its own people this week. Sometimes you lose sight of the incredible tragedy unfolding on the streets by just looking at the numbers which are so numbing, but the shooting death of a one-year-old recently by the Syrian regime’s tanks and troops is a very stark example of what is going on.
We think to date, the government is responsible for the deaths of more than 2,000 people of all ages, and the United States has worked very hard to corral and focus international opinion to take steps toward a unified response to the atrocities that are occurring. We stand fully behind the UN Security Council presidential statement, which was agreed to last evening, which condemns the widespread violation of human rights and the use of force against civilians by Syrian authorities. And we call, along with the UN Security Council, on the authorities to end all violence against affected towns, comply with their obligations under applicable international law, allow immediate and unfettered access for international humanitarian agencies and workers.
As I’ve said before and as others in our government have said, President Asad has lost his legitimacy to govern the Syrian people. We continue to support the Syrians themselves in their efforts to begin a peaceful and orderly transition to democracy. I met on Tuesday with a group of U.S.-based Syrian activists and members of the Syrian American community to express our solidarity and sympathy for all Syrian victims of the Asad regime’s abuses. The activists reaffirmed the internal opposition’s vision of a transitional plan for a Syria that will be representative, inclusive, and pluralistic, for a new united Syria with a government subject to the rule of law, and fully respectful of the equality of every Syrian irrespective of sect, ethnicity, or gender. And I encouraged the activists to work closely with their colleagues inside Syria to create such a unified vision.
So we are seized of the concerns posed by what is happening in Syria, and we know that it’s taken time to pull together a broader international coalition to speak out against what is happening in Syria, but we are committed to doing all we can to increase the pressure, including additional sanctions, but not just U.S. sanctions, because frankly, we don’t have a lot of business with Syria. We need to get Europeans and others. We need to get the Arab states. We need to get a much louder, more effective chorus of voices that are putting pressure on the Asad regime, and we’re working to obtain that.
This press release was issued last night.
Preventing Mass Atrocities and Serious Human Rights Violations
Press Statement
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of StateWashington, DCAugust 4, 2011Preventing mass atrocities and serious human rights violations is both a powerful moral imperative and a compelling strategic interest for the United States. The new interagency Atrocities Prevention Board announced by President Obama today will develop cross-cutting strategies to prevent atrocities and ensure that senior officials throughout our government are warned about emerging threats. And for the first time, we will explicitly bar persons identified as organizing or participating in war crimes, crimes against humanity, and certain serious violations of human rights from entering the United States.
These steps, accompanied by a thorough interagency review of our practices and capabilities, will improve our ability to prevent and respond to future mass atrocities and human rights violations. They will help us put our principles into practice and protect more people in more places.
This one came out today in the wake of the reprehensible delay by the government of Sudan to grant flight clearance to UN helicopters attempting to evacuate wounded peacekeeping forces who died of their wounds as a result of the government's obstruction.
The Deaths of Four UN Peacekeepers in Abyei
Press Statement
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of StateWashington, DCAugust 5, 2011The United States is deeply concerned by the deaths of four United Nations peacekeepers whose vehicles struck and detonated a land mine in the Abyei region this week, and by the Government of Sudan’s response to this incident. We offer our deepest condolences to the families of the fallen, to the people of Ethiopia and to the United Nations.
We are alarmed by reports that the Government of Sudan delayed granting the necessary flight clearances to allow the expeditious medical evacuation of the injured peacekeepers and threatened to shoot down any UN helicopter that attempted to access the area without approval. Three wounded soldiers died during this unnecessary delay. The United States is committed to ensuring that the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) has the political support to carry out its important and difficult mandate under challenging circumstances and strongly condemns the Government of Sudan’s non-compliance with its obligation and its obstruction of the work of the United Nations.
This tragic incident also underscores the importance of establishing peace and security in Abyei, and between Sudan and South Sudan. We urge the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan to fulfill their agreement to withdraw their forces immediately from the Abyei area, and to allow full and unrestricted access to UNISFA personnel.
Just a personal note: Anything with the word "interagency" in it smacks of the QDDR. So President Obama may have announced the Atrocities Prevention Board, but it was very probably Anne-Marie Slaughter's State Department QDDR team that effected this coordination. Hillary Clinton does not care for kudos as long as the job gets done, but I just thought I would mention that the hard work was probably done by Foggy Bottom folks and not the White House.
President could be an easier job for her. Others do the work, she announces, or she signs. Oh, wait! That's how OBAMA does the job! She would certainly bring a different work ethic to the White House. Just sayin'!
