Photos: Hillary Clinton's Bilaterals at UNGA Day One

Yesterday, Mme. Secretary covered all the meetings she would have attended as well as the bilaterals with heads of state that the current chief executive chose to skip. Here are some photos of her with Presidents Zardari,  Magariaf, Karzai, Kabila, Kagame, and Morsi.

Should President Obama have gone along for the ride?  In the words of the inimitable (or not) Sarah Palin, you betcha!  This blog has been following Hillary Clinton's nearly four-year charm offensive as Secretary of State right from the beginning.  Obama is about to lose the gold standard in diplomacy dealing with presidents of young and fragile democracies.  Should he be reelected, no matter who replaces Mme. Secretary, he or she will not bring the same appreciable set of personal skills to the job.  This was a last gasp chance to capitalize on her prodigious work, and instead of (wisely) sticking around for a few days and reassuring these new partners, he skipped out of Dodge.  He frittered away a great opportunity, a decision he may regret  in the future. By the way, Mika Brzezinski,exactly how did you expect President Clinton to answer your question about the wisdom of this decision?  Just curious.

Hillary Clinton Sends More Help and Sympathy To Flood-Stricken Pakistan

First, a press release from the Department of State that came in within the past hour.

More U.S. Helicopters Arrive in Pakistan To Support Flood Relief

Office of the Spokesman

Washington, DC

August 14, 2010

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Two U.S. Navy MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopters arrived in Pakistan today as part of the continued U.S. humanitarian assistance to Pakistan in support of flood relief from the monsoon floods.

The two aircraft are part of the contingent of 19 helicopters urgently ordered to Pakistan on Wednesday by U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. The incoming aircraft flew into Pakistan today from aboard the USS Peleliu, which is positioned in international waters in the Arabian Sea. They will join the four U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E helicopters and one other MH-53E helicopters which arrived earlier this week at Ghazi Air Base, bringing to seven the total number of aircraft in Pakistan from the USS Peleliu.

The remaining aircraft will arrive over the next few days and will include 12 U.S. Marine Corps CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters. The U.S. helicopters will operate in partnership with the Pakistan military throughout the country’s flood-affected areas.

Since August 5, the U.S. military helicopters have rescued more than 3,500 people and transported more than 412,000 lbs. of emergency relief supplies in spite of bad weather.

Then a story that came in from a news feed.

Clinton telephones Zardari, expresses sorrow over flood

Saturday, 14 Aug, 2010

The people and govt of the US were with the people of Pakistan in these difficult times, said Hillary Clinton. -AP File Photo

ISLAMABAD: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called President Asif Ali Zardari Saturday night and expressed grief and sorrow over the loss of lives and huge destruction of infrastructure and property in the floods in Pakistan.

She said that the people and government of the United States were with the people of Pakistan in these difficult times.

Read more>>>>

I love Hillary Clinton, but you knew that already. I love the way she and Robert Gates work so well together to promote the Three Ds. This latest outreach demonstrates how beautifully the Pentagon and Foggy Bottom are cooperating lately. Impressive. Makes me proud.

They make us look so good!