The Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted 16-1 today to confirm Hillary Clinton's appointment as the next secretary of state. The committee's report now goes to the full Senate for a vote after the inauguration. This AP report characterizes Clinton's confirmation hearing testimony as a call for the return of diplomacy and an end to unilateralism:
Clinton told the panel earlier this week that the U.S. must elevate the role of foreign policy and diplomacy in handling tough problems. “America cannot solve the most pressing problems on our own, and the world cannot solve them without America,” she said. “The best way to advance America's interest in reducing global threats and seizing global opportunities is to design and implement global solutions. This isn't a philosophical point. This is our reality.” […] Her testimony invigorated lawmakers, who said they agree that old-fashioned diplomacy must make a comeback in a U.S. agenda dominated by war.
The entire transcript of the hearing has been archived by The New York Times here even as their op-ed page offered a critique of Clinton's emphasis on the use of “smart power” to achieve U.S. goals. Clinton's confirmation by the Senate is expected to proceed quickly after the inauguration despite concerns over the fundraising activities of former President Bill Clinton.
