Hillary Clinton à Paris : Chapitre Deux

CNN's John King dubbed her the "Acting President" yesterday, and no less a former adversary than MSNBC's Chris Matthews called her the Commander-in-Chief, saying she was presidential and strong. Roger L. Simon at Pajamasmedia treated us to this header: Jets over Libya as H. Clinton Assumes Presidency.

The amazing Hillary Rodham Clinton departed Paris on Tuesday on a mission to convince the White House that participating in a No-Fly Zone was the right thing to do to protect the brave Libyan freedom fighters who have risen up against 42 years of dictatorship under the tyrant Mouammar Gadhafi. In her meetings on Monday and Tuesday, she reportedly responded to repeated requests for U.S. cooperation from various world leaders with the mantra, "There are difficulties."

But HRC knew exactly what kind of an NFZ she wanted in order for the U.S. not to look like the cliched "world's policeman." She knew exactly how the coalition should be formed and how her country should fit in. So when she returned to D.C. early Friday morning, she did so with a mission. In a Situation Room meeting that morning, she finally scored her victory winning President Obama's agreement to participate in the coalition.

Fewer than 24 hours after she landed home at Andrews AFB, she was once again wheels up for a Paris Summit hastily arranged by French President Nicholas Sarkozy upon the news that the U.S. was on board for a NFZ. We see her below being greeted by Sarkozy, the UK's David Cameron, Canada's Stephen Harper, and others. Following the summit, there was a luncheon and a "class picture." She remained in Paris for a few meetings with Sarkozy and Cameron, gave a press briefing, and once again was wheels up for home.

We are very proud of Hillary Clinton. She exerted the kind of leadership this country needs. More power to you, Mme. Secretary, and I mean that literally. I would love to be able to address you by another title, and I do not mean Grandma! (Although that would be nice, too, but it does not preclude other titles.)

Secretary Clinton's Remarks With Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper

Remarks With Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper

Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State

Ottawa, Canada

March 29, 2010

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PRIME MINISTER HARPER: Secretary Clinton, just briefly--welcome. We saw each other not very long ago - I don’t know, did I lose track of time? I don’t think it was very long ago in Montreal for the Haiti Conference. Of course, I’m looking forward to seeing you and President Obama at the Nuclear Summit in April. So wonderful to have you here again. And hope your meetings are very productive as we approach the G8 and G20.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, I thank you Prime Minister, once again, for the hospitality and leadership. Canada has been such a close friend and ally. And your work on behalf of Haiti--as we were just talking before the press came in, the UN Conference in New York tomorrow, and Canada has been one of the leaders in driving that process. Hosting the G8 and G20 later in the year. And we look forward to welcoming you to Washington for the Nuclear Security Summit.

STAFF: Thanks everybody.

Secretary Clinton, while you are there could you please ask P.M. Harper to call off the baby seal hunt that he permitted to start yesterday? Please?