2013年1月31日希拉里克林顿告别演讲

RemarksonAmericanLeadershipattheCouncilonForeignRelations

Remarks

HillaryRodhamClinton

SecretaryofState

Washington,DC

January31,2013

SECRETARYCLINTON:Thankyou,Richard,forthatintroductionandforeverythingyou’vedonetoleadthisveryvaluableinstitution.IalsowanttothanktheboardoftheCouncilonForeignRelationsandallmyfriendsandcolleaguesandotherinterestedcitizenswhoareheretoday,becauseyourespecttheCouncil,youunderstandtheimportantworkthatitdoes,andyouarecommittedtoensuringthatwechartapathtothefuturethatisinthebestinterestsnotonlyoftheUnitedStates,butoftheworld.

AsRichardsaid,tomorrowismylastdayasSecretaryofState.Andthoughitishardtopredictwhatanydayinthisjobwillbring,Iknowthattomorrow,myheartwillbeveryfull.ServingwiththemenandwomenoftheStateDepartmentandUSAIDhasbeenasingularhonor.AndSecretaryKerrywillfindthereisnomoreextraordinarygroupofpeopleworkinganywhereintheworld.Sotheselastdayshavebeenbittersweetforme,butthisopportunitythatIhaveherebeforeyougivesmesometimetoreflectonthedistancethatwe’vetraveled,andtotakestockofwhatwe’vedoneandwhatislefttodo.

Ithinkit’simportant,asRichardalludedinhisopeningcomments,whatwefacedinJanuaryof2009:Twowars,aneconomyinfreefall,traditionalalliancesfraying,ourdiplomaticstandingdamaged,andaroundtheworld,peoplequestioningAmerica’scommitmenttocorevaluesandourabilitytomaintainourgloballeadership.ThatwasmyinboxondayoneasyourSecretaryofState.

Today,theworldremainsadangerousandcomplicatedplace,andofcourse,westillfacemanydifficultchallenges.Butalothaschangedinthelastfouryears.UnderPresidentObama’sleadership,we’veendedthewarinIraq,begunatransitioninAfghanistan,andbroughtUsamabinLadintojustice.WehavealsorevitalizedAmericandiplomacyandstrengthenedouralliances.Andwhileoureconomicrecoveryisnotyetcomplete,weareheadingintherightdirection.Inshort,Americatodayisstrongerathomeandmorerespectedintheworld.Andourgloballeadershipisonfirmerfootingthanmanypredicted.

Tounderstandwhatwehavebeentryingtodotheselastfouryears,it’shelpfultostartwithsomehistory.

Lastyear,IwashonoredtodelivertheForrestalLectureattheNavalAcademy,namedforourfirstSecretaryofDefenseafterWorldWarII.In1946,JamesForrestalnotedinhisdiarythattheSovietsbelievedthatthepost-warworldshouldbeshapedbyahandfulofmajorpowersactingalone.But,hewenton,“TheAmericanpointofviewisthatallnationsprofessingadesireforpeaceanddemocracyshouldparticipate.”

Andwhatendeduphappeningintheyearssinceissomethinginbetween.TheUnitedStatesandouralliessucceededinconstructingabroadinternationalarchitectureofinstitutionsandalliances–chieflytheUN,theIMF,theWorldBank,andNATO–thatprotectedourinterests,defendeduniversalvalues,andbenefittedpeoplesandnationsaroundtheworld.Yetitisundeniablethatahandfulofmajorpowersdidendupcontrollingthoseinstitutions,settingnorms,andshapinginternationalaffairs.

Now,twodecadesaftertheendoftheColdWar,wefaceadifferentworld.Morecountriesthaneverhaveavoiceinglobaldebates.Weseemorepathstopoweropeningupasnationsgaininfluencethroughthestrengthoftheireconomiesratherthantheirmilitaries.Andpoliticalandtechnologicalchangesareempoweringnon-stateactors,likeactivists,corporations,andterroristnetworks.

Atthesametime,wefacechallenges,fromfinancialcontagiontoclimatechangetohumanandwildlifetrafficking,thatspillacrossbordersanddefyunilateralsolutions.AsPresidentObamahassaid,theoldpostwararchitectureiscrumblingundertheweightofnewthreats.Sothegeometryofglobalpowerhasbecomemoredistributedanddiffuseasthechallengeswefacehavebecomemorecomplexandcrosscutting.

Sothequestionweaskourselveseverydayis:WhatdoesthismeanforAmerica?Andthenwegoontosay:Howcanweadvanceourowninterestsandalsoupholdajust,rules-basedinternationalorder,asystemthatdoesprovideclearrulesoftheroadforeverythingfromintellectualpropertyrightstofreedomofnavigationtofairlaborstandards?

Simplyput,wehavetobesmartabouthowweuseourpower.Notbecausewehavelessofit–indeed,themightofourmilitary,thesizeofoureconomy,theinfluenceofourdiplomacy,andthecreativeenergyofourpeopleremainunrivaled.No,it’sbecauseastheworldhaschanged,sotoohavetheleversofpowerthatcanmosteffectivelyshapeinternationalaffairs.

I’vecometothinkofitlikethis:TrumanandAchesonwerebuildingtheParthenonwithclassicalgeometryandclearlines.Thepillarswereahandfulofbiginstitutionsandalliancesdominatedbymajorpowers.Andthatstructuredeliveredunprecedentedpeaceandprosperity.Buttimetakesitstoll,evenonthegreatestedifice.

Andwedoneedanewarchitectureforthisnewworld;moreFrankGehrythanformalGreek.(Laughter.)Thinkofit.Now,someofhisworkatfirstmightappearhaphazard,butinfact,it’shighlyintentionalandsophisticated.Whereonceafewstrongcolumnscouldholduptheweightoftheworld,todayweneedadynamicmixofmaterialsandstructures.

Now,ofcourse,Americanmilitaryandeconomicstrengthwillremainthefoundationofourglobal

partnershipswiththeprivatesector,bettergovernance,andmoreparticipationfromwomen.Wethinkthisisaninvestmentinourowneconomicfuture.AndIlovesayingthis,becausepeoplearealwaysquitesurprisedtohearit:Sevenofthe10fastestgrowingeconomiesintheworldareinAfrica.Othercountriesaredoingeverythingtheycantohelptheircompanieswincontractsandinvestinemergingmarkets.Othercountriesstillareengagedinaveryclearandrelentlesseconomicdiplomacy.Weshouldtoo,andincreasingly,weare.

Andmakenomistake:Thereisacrucialstrategicdimensiontothisdevelopmentworkaswell.Weakstatesrepresentsomeofourmostsignificantthreats.Wehaveaninterestinstrengtheningthemandbuildingmorecapablepartnersthatcantackletheirownsecurityproblemsathomeandintheirneighborhoods,andeconomicswillalwaysplayaroleinthat.

Next,thinkaboutenergyandclimatechange.Managingtheworld’senergysuppliesinawaythatminimizesconflictandsupportseconomicgrowthwhileprotectingthefutureofourplanetisoneofthegreatestchallengesofourtime.

Sowe’reusingbothhigh-levelinternationaldiplomacyandgrassrootspartnershipstocurbcarbonemissionsandothercausesofclimatechange.We’vecreatedanewbureauattheStateDepartmentfocusedonenergydiplomacyaswellasnewpartnershipsliketheU.S.-EUEnergyCouncil.We’veworkedintensivelywiththeIraqistosupporttheirenergysector,becauseitiscriticalnotonlytotheireconomy,theirstabilityaswell.Andwe’vesignificantlyintensifiedoureffortstoresolveenergydisputesfromtheSouthChinaSeatotheeasternMediterraneantokeeptheworld’senergymarketsstable.Nowthishasbeenhelpedquitesignificantlybytheincreaseinourowndomesticproduction.It’snoaccidentthatasIranianoilhasgoneofflinebecauseofoursanctions,othersourceshavecomeonline,soIrancannotbenefitfromincreasedprices.

Thenthere’shumanrightsandoursupportfordemocracyandtheruleoflaw,leversofpowerandvalueswecannotaffordtoignore.Inthelastcentury,theUnitedStatesledtheworldinrecognizingthatuniversalrightsexistandthatgovernmentsareobligatedtoprotectthem.Nowwehaveplacedourselvesatthefrontlinesoftoday’semergingbattles,likethefighttodefendthehumanrightsoftheLGBTcommunitiesaroundtheworldandreligiousminoritieswhereverandwhoevertheyare.Butit’snotacoincidencethatvirtuallyeverycountrythatthreatensregionalandglobalpeaceisaplacewherehumanrightsareinperilortheruleoflawisweak.

Morespecifically,placeswherewomenandgirlsaretreatedassecond-class,marginalhumanbeings.JustaskyoungMalalafromPakistan.AskthewomenofnorthernMaliwholiveinfearandcannolongergotoschool.AskthewomenoftheEasternCongowhoendurerapeasaweaponofwar.

AndthatisthefinalleverthatIwanttohighlightbriefly.Becausethejuryisin,theevidenceisabsolutelyindisputable:Ifwomenandgirlseverywhereweretreatedasequaltomeninrights,dignity,andopportunity,wewouldseepoliticalandeconomicprogresseverywhere.Sothisisnotonlyamoralissue,which,ofcourse,itis.Itisaneconomicissueandasecurityissue,anditistheunfinishedbusinessofthe21stcentury.ItthereforemustbecentraltoU.S.foreignpolicy.

OneofthefirstthingsIdidasSecretarywastoelevatetheOfficeofGlobalWomen’sIssuesunderthefirstAmbassador-at-Large,MelanneVerveer.AndI’mverypleasedthatyesterday,thePresidentsignedamemorandummakingthatofficepermanent.

Inthepastfouryears,we’vemade–(applause)–thankyou.Inthepastfouryears,we’vemadeamajorpushattheUnitedNationstointegratewomeninpeaceandsecurity-buildingworldwide,andwe’veseensuccessesinplaceslikeLiberia.We’veurgedleadersinEgypt,Tunisia,andLibyatorecognizewomenasequalcitizenswithimportantcontributionstomake.Wearesupportingwomenentrepreneursaroundtheworldwhoarecreatingjobsanddrivinggrowth.

Sotechnology,development,humanrights,women.Now,Iknowthatalotofpunditshearthatlistandtheysay:Isn’tthatallabitsoft?Whataboutthehardstuff?Well,thatisafalsechoice.Weneedboth,andnooneshouldthinkotherwise.

IwillbethefirsttostandupandproclaimloudlyandclearlythatAmerica’smilitarymightisandmustremainthegreatestfightingforceinthehistoryoftheworld.Iwillalsomakeveryclear,asIhavedoneoverthelastyears,thatourdiplomaticpower,theabilitytoconvene,ourmoralsuasioniseffectivebecausetheUnitedStatescanbackupourwordswithaction.Wewillensurefreedomofnavigationinalltheworld’sseas.Wewillrelentlesslygoafteral-Qaida,itsaffiliates,anditswannabes.WewilldowhatisnecessarytopreventIranfromobtaininganuclearweapon.

Therearelimitstowhatsoftpoweronitsowncanachieve.Andtherearelimitstowhathardpoweronitsowncanachieve.That’swhy,fromdayone,I’vebeentalkingaboutsmartpower.Andwhenyoulookatourapproachtotworegionsundergoingsweepingshifts,youcanseehowthisworksinpractice.

First,America’sexpandingengagementintheAsiaPacific.Now,muchattentionhasbeenfocusedonourmilitarymovesintheregion.Andcertainly,adaptingourforcepostureisakeyelementofourcomprehensivestrategy.Butsoisstrengtheningouralliancesthroughneweconomicandsecurityarrangements.We’vesentMarinestoDarwin,butwe’vealsoratifiedtheKoreaFreeTradeAgreement.WerespondedtothetripledisasterinJapanthroughourgovernments,throughourbusinesses,throughournot-for-profits,andremindedtheentireregionoftheirreplaceableroleAmericaplays.

Firstandforemost,thisso-calledpivothasbeenaboutcreativediplomacy:

Likesigningalittle-notedtreatyofamityandcooperationwithASEANthatopenedthedoortopermanentrepresentationandultimatelyelevatedaforumforengagingonhigh-stakesissuesliketheSouthChinaSea.We’veencouragedIndia’s“LookEast”policyasawaytoweaveanotherbigdemocracyintothefabricoftheAsiaPacific.We’veusedtradenegotiationsovertheTrans-PacificPartnershiptofindcommongroundwithaformeradversaryinVietnam.Andthelistgoeson.OurefforthasencompassedalltheleversofpowersandmorethatI’vebothdiscussedandthatwehaveutilized.

Andyoucanaskyourself:HowcouldweapproachanissueasthornyanddangerousasterritorialdisputesintheSouthChinaSeawithoutadeepunderstandingofenergypolitics,subtlemultilateraldiplomacy,smarteconomicstatecraft,andafirmadherencetouniversalnorms?

OrthinkaboutBurma.Supportingthehistoricopeningtheretookablendofeconomic,diplomatic,andpoliticaltools.Thecountry’sleaderswantedthebenefitsofrejoiningtheglobaleconomy.Theywantedtomorefullyparticipateintheregion’smultilateralinstitutionsandtonolongerbeaninternationalpariah.Soweneededtoengagewiththemonmanyfrontstomakethathappen,pressingforthereleaseofpoliticalprisonersandadditionalreformswhilealsoboostinginvestmentandupgradingourdiplomaticrelations.

Thenthere’sChina.Navigatingthisrelationshipisuniquelyconsequential,becausehowwedealwithoneanotherwilldefinesomuchofourcommonfuture.Itisalsouniquelycomplex,because–asIhavesaidonmanyoccasions,andasIhavehadveryhigh-levelChineseleadersquotebacktome–wearetryingtowriteanewanswertotheage-oldquestionofwhathappenswhenanestablishedpowerandarisingpowermeet.

Tomakethiswork,wereallydohavetobeabletouseeveryleveratourdisposalallthetime.Soweexpandedourhigh-levelengagementthroughtheStrategic&EconomicDialoguetocoverbothtraditionalstrategicissueslikeNorthKoreaandmaritimesecurity,andalsoemergingchallengeslikeclimatechange,cybersecurity,intellectualpropertyconcerns,aswellashumanrights.

Now,thisapproachwasputtothetestlastMaywhenwehadtokeepasummitmeetingofthedialogueontrackwhilealsoaddressingacrisisoverthefateofablindhumanrightsdissidentwhohadsoughtrefugeinourAmericanEmbassy.Notsolongago,suchanincidentmightverywellhavescuttledthetalks.Butwehavethoughintenseeffort,confidencebuilding,wehavebuiltenoughbreadthandresilienceintotherelationshiptobeabletodefendourvaluesandpromoteourinterestsatthesametime.

Wepassedthattest,buttherewillbeothers.ThePacificisbigenoughforallofus,andwewillcontinuetowelcomeChina’srise–ifitchoosestoplayaconstructiveroleintheregion.Forbothofus,thefutureofthisrelationshipdependsonourabilitytoengageacrossalltheseissuesatonce.

That’strueaswellforanothercomplicatedandimportantregion:theMiddleEastandNorthAfrica.

I’vetalkedatlengthrecentlyaboutourstrategyinthisregion,includinginspeechesattheCenterforStrategicandInternationalStudiesandtheSabanForum,andinmyrecenttestimonybeforeCongress.Soletmejustsaythis.

Therehasbeenprogress:AmericansoldiershavecomehomefromIraq.Peopleareelectingtheirleadersforthefirsttimeingenerations,orever,inEgypt,Tunisia,andLibya.TheUnitedStatesandourpartnersbuiltabroadcoalitiontostopQadhafifrommassacringhispeople.AndaceasefireisholdinginGaza.Allgoodthings.Butnotnearlyenough.

OngoingturmoilinEgyptandLibyapointtothedifficultiesofunifyingfracturedcountriesandbuildingcredibledemocraticinstitutions.TheimpassebetweenIsraelandthePalestiniansshowslittlesignofeasing.InSyria,theAssadregimecontinuestoslaughteritspeopleandinciteintercommunalconflict.Iranispursuingitsnuclearambitionsandsponsoringviolentextremistsacrosstheglobe.AndwecontinuetofacerealterroristthreatsfromYemenandNorthAfrica.

SoIwillnotstandhereandpretendthattheUnitedStateshasallthesolutionstotheseproblems.Wedonot.Butweareclearaboutthefutureweseekfortheregionanditspeoples.Wewanttoseearegionatpeacewithitselfandtheworld–wherepeopleliveindignity,notdictatorships,whereentrepreneurshipthrives,notextremism.Andthereisnodoubtthatgettingtothatfuturewillbedifficultandwillrequireeverysingletoolinourtoolkit.

Becauseyoucan’thavetruepeaceintheMiddleEastwithoutaddressingboththeactiveconflictsandtheunderlyingcauses.Youcan’thavetruejusticeunlesstherightsofallcitizensarerespected,includingwomenandminorities.Youcan’thavetheprosperityoropportunitythatshouldbeavailableunlessthere’savibrantprivatesectorandgoodgovernance.

AndofthisI’msure:youcan’thavetruestabilityandsecurityunlessleadersstartleading;unlesscountriesstartopeningtheireconomiesandsocieties,notshuttingofftheinternetorunderminingdemocracy;investingintheirpeople’screativity,notfomentingtheirrage;buildingschools,notburningthem.Thereisnodignityinthatandthereisnofutureiniteither.

Now,thereisnoquestionthateverythingI’vediscussedandallthatIleftoffthissetofremarksaddsuptoaverybigchallengethatrequiresAmericatoadapttothesenewrealitiesofglobalpowerandinfluenceinordertomaintainourleadership.Butthisisalsoanenormousopportunity.TheUnitedStatesisuniquelypositionedinthischanginglandscape.

Thethingsthatmakeuswhoweareasanation–ouropennessandinnovation,ourdiversity,ourdevotiontohumanrightsanddemocracy–arebeautifullymatchedtothedemandsofthiseraandthisinterdependentworld.Soaswelooktothenextfouryearsandbeyond,wehavetokeeppushingforwardonthisagenda,consolidateourengagementintheAsiaPacificwithouttakingoureyesofftheMiddleEastandNorthAfrica;keepworkingtocurbthespreadofdeadlyweapons,especiallyinIranandNorthKorea;effectivelymanagetheendofourcombatmissioninAfghanistanwithoutlosingfocusonal-Qaidaanditsaffiliates;pursueafar-rangingeconomicagendathatsweepsfromAsiatoLatinAmericatoEurope.

AndkeeplookingforthenextBurmas.They’renotyetatapositionwherewecanallapplaud,butwhichhasbegunaprocessofopening.Capitalizeonourdomesticenergyrenewalandintensifyoureffortsonclimatechange,andthentakeonemergingissueslikecybersecurity,notjustacrossthegovernmentbutacrossoursociety.

Youknowwhywehavetodoallofthis?Becausewearetheindispensablenation.Wearetheforceforprogress,prosperityandpeace.Andbecausewehavetogetitrightforourselves.Leadershipisnotabirthright.Ithastobeearnedbyeachnewgeneration.Thereservoirsofgoodwillwebuiltaroundtheworldduringthe20thcenturywillnotlastforever.Infact,insomeplaces,theyarealreadydangerouslydepleted.NewgenerationsofyoungpeopledonotrememberGIsliberatingtheircountriesorAmericanssavingmillionsoflivesfromhungeranddisease.Weneedtointroduceourselvestothemanew,andoneofthewayswedothatisbylookingatandfocusingonandworkingonthoseissuesthatmattermosttotheirlivesandfutures.

SobecausetheUnitedStatesisstilltheonlycountrythathasthereachandresolvetorallydisparatenationsandpeoplestogethertosolveproblemsonaglobalscale,wecannotshirkthatresponsibility.Ourabilitytoconveneandconnectisunparalleled,andsoisourabilitytoactalonewhenevernecessary.

SowhenIsaywearetrulytheindispensiblenation,it’snotmeantasaboastoranemptyslogan.It’sarecognitionofourroleandourresponsibilities.That’swhyallthedeclinistsaredeadwrong.(Laughter.)It’swhytheUnitedStatesmustandwillcontinuetoleadinthiscenturyevenasweleadinnewways.Andweknowleadershiphasitscosts.Weknowitcomeswithrisksandcanrequiregreatsacrifice.We’veseenthatpainfullyagaininrecentmonths.Butleadershipisalsoanhonor,onethatChrisStevensandhiscolleaguesinBenghaziembodied.Andwemustalwaysstrivetobeworthyofthathonor.

ThatsacredchargehasbeenmynorthstareverydaythatI’veservedasSecretaryofState.Andit’sbeenanenormousprivilegetoleadtothemenandwomenoftheStateDepartmentandUSAID,nearly70,000servinghereinWashingtonandinmorethan270postsaroundtheworld.Theygetupandgotoworkeveryday,ofteninfrustrating,difficult,anddangerouscircumstances,becausetheybelieve,aswebelieve,thattheUnitedStatesisthemostextraordinaryforceforpeaceandprogresstheworldhaseverknown.

Andsotoday,afterfouryearsinthisjob,travelingnearlyamillionmilesandvisiting112countries,myfaithinournationisevenstronger,andmyconfidenceinourfutureisaswell.Iknowwhatit’slikewhenthatblueandwhiteairplaneemblazonedwiththewords“UnitedStatesofAmerica”touchesdowninsomefar-offcapitalandIgettofeelthegreathonorandresponsibilityitistorepresenttheworld’sindispensablenation.I’mconfidentthatmysuccessorandhissuccessorsandallwhoserveinthepositionthatI’vebeensoprivilegedtoholdwillcontinuetoleadinthiscenturyjustaswedidinthelast–smartly,tirelessly,courageously–tomaketheworldmorepeaceful,moresafe,moreprosperous,morefree.Andforthat,Iamverygrateful.

Thankyou.(Applause.)

MR.HAASS:Well,thankyou,MadamSecretary.

SECRETARYCLINTON:Thankyou.

MR.HAASS:Bothforwhatyouhadtosayaswellasforthelastfouryears.Letmejusttakeadvantageofmypositionandaskthefirstquestion.

Yougaveanextraordinarilycomprehensivetalkthattouchedon–IthinkyoucalledthemthemanyleversofAmericaninfluenceandpower,andmadethecaseforvariousformsofourpower.Sowhenitcomestoputtingittogether,isthereanObamadoctrine,isthereaClintondoctrine,thatsomehowtiestogether,givesasenseofpriorities,helpsexplainwhatitisweshoulddoandnotdoandhowweshoulddoitinthewaythatotherdoctrineshistoricallyhaveplayedthatrole?

SECRETARYCLINTON:Well,Ithinkthat,asyoucantellfromwhatIsaid,webelievethatAmericamustcontinuetobetheindispensablenationandthegloballeaderonbehalfofpeace,prosperity,andprogress,andthatthatrequiresusnotonlytoleadalonebutalsotobuildcoalitionsandnetworksthatwillputresponsibilitywithothersandexpectthemtoplaytheirroleinarules-basedglobalorder.Soit’snotalwayseasytotalkaboutwhatwearedoingeverydayeverywhereintheworld,butIthinkifyoulookatwhatwehavedone,wehavecertainlykeptfaithwiththatkindofmission.

MR.HAASS:Iwillshowuncharacteristicself-restraint–(laughter)–asthoseofyouwhoknowme,andwe’lltrytohavetimeforacouplequestions.Yes,ma’am,allthewayintheback.Yeah,rightthere.Justwaitforthemicrophoneandjustletusknowwhoyouare.

QUESTION:Thankyou.MynameisNadiaBilbassy,I’mwithMBCTelevision,MiddleEastBroadcastingCenter.MadamSecretary,someofthesuccessesthathavebeenattributedtoyouismendingorfixingUnitedStatesrelationwiththeArabandMuslimworld.Yetthestatisticscontradictthat.IfyoulookatthePewstatistics,itshowsthatactuallyyourfavoritismincomparisontotheBushAdministrationislower,andincountrieslikeTurkey,Jordan,andinotherplaces.Sowhatisgoingwrong?DoesthatmeanthatAmerica’sstandintheworldisontherecedingend,thatitsprestigehasbeenaffected?Thankyou.

SECRETARYCLINTON:Letmesaythreethingsaboutthat.First,Ihaveobviouslyfollowedcloselypublicopinion,andIthinkit’sfairtosaythattheUnitedStates,forthelastdecade,hasnotbeenviewedfavorablybyaveryhighpercentageofthepeopleinanyofthecountriesintheMiddleEastorNorthAfricaforanumberofreasons,someofitrooted,ofcourse,inourstrongsupportforIsraeloverthemanyyearsofIsrael’sexistenceasastate.

SothisisnottheObamaAdministration,theBushAdministration,theClintonAdministration.ThisistheviewsofmanypeopleintheregionaboutAmerica.AndIthinkit’sunfortunatebecauseclearlywhattheUnitedStatesstandsforisabsolutelyinlinewithwhattheArabrevolutionshavebeenpubliclyespousing.

Secondly,Ithinkthatwehavedone–andItakeresponsibility,alongwithourentiregovernmentandCongressandperhapsourprivatesector–wehavenotdoneaverygoodjobinrecentyearsreachingoutinapublicmediawayorinaculturallyeffectivewaytoexplainourselves.I’malwaysencounteringsomanyconspiracytheoriesthataretotallyoff-base,wild,made-upstuffthatthemediaintheregionpromotesabouttheUnitedStatesthatisabsolutelyuntrue.Ourresponsehasbeen:Nobodywilleitherbelieveit,orwecan’tpossiblycontestit.

Itakeadifferentview.Ithinkweoughttobeinthereeverysingleday.ImadeapointofreachingouttoAlJazeerawhenIbecameSecretaryofStatebecauseitwasunrelentlessly–orwasrelentlesslynegativeaboutus.AndIsaid,“Comeon.Thatisnotonlyinaccurate,butit’sdeeplyunfair.”Andtheirresponsetomewas,“Well,yourgovernmentneverputsanybodyonAlJazeera.”Isaid,“Well,that’sgoingtochangerightnow.”Youcan’tbeinthearenaandexpecttheretobeachangeifyou’renotwillingtogetoffthebench.Andfrommyperspective,that’sourfault.Wehaveletalotofstuffbesaidaboutus,believedaboutusthatiscontrarytowhoweareasapeople,whatwestandfor,andwhatwe’vedone.

Iguessthirdly,we,inoureffortstosupportdemocracy,stillareheldaccountableforsupportingthegovernmentsthatweretherebeforedemocracy.Youdealwithgovernmentsofallkinds.WedealwithChina.HardlyanybodybelievesthatChinafullyrespectshumanrights,anditcertainlyisnotademocracy.Butwedon’tgetblamedbecausewedobusinesswithChina,butwedidbusinesswithotherregimesandsomehowthatcausedlastingnegativitytowardus,whichIthink,again,isunfounded.

SotherearereasonsforallofthepointsthatyoumadethatgomoretotheheartofAmericanforeignpolicyandAmericanvalues,butwecandoabetterjobinatleastdisabusingandrefutingsomeofwhatpeopleareledtobelievethatiscontrarytowhoweare.

MR.HAASS:AllanWendt.

QUESTION:AllanWendt,formerlywiththeStateDepartment.MadamSecretary,you’veoutlinedaveryambitiousagendaandprogramofworkfortheDepartmentofState.Couldyoutellusalittlebitaboutthebudgetaryresourcesthatwillberequiredtocarryoutthatagenda?(Laughter.)

SECRETARYCLINTON:Well--

MR.HAASS:Ibetyou’regladhe’saskedthatquestion.

SECRETARYCLINTON:I’mverygladheaskedthatquestion.We’vehadsomesuccessintheveryfirstyearsofmytenureinmakingthecasetotheCongresstoincreaseourbudgets,increaseourworkforcet