Senator Hillary Clinton says if confirmed as the
next U.S. secretary of state, she would pursue "smart power"
diplomacy to promote a safe, peaceful Middle East.
Clinton testified before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Tuesday as
part of a vetting process to become the top diplomat in President-elect Barack
Obama's administration.
She pledged to improve Washington's relations with its allies, saying she
believed foreign policy must be based on principles and pragmatism, not rigid
ideology.
Clinton said she would apply this "smart power" diplomacy to address
Israel's security needs, as well as the Palestinians' political and economic
aspirations.
Senator Clinton also said the Obama administration would seek diplomatic engagement
with Iran, but had no illusions about the effectiveness of this approach.