Thank You, Hillary

Remarks With Libyan National Security Adviser Dr. Mutassim Qadhafi Before Their Meeting

Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of State
Treaty Room, Washington, DC, April 21, 2009

SECRETARY CLINTON: I am very pleased to welcome Minister Qadhafi here to the State Department. We deeply value the relationship between the United States and Libya. We have many opportunities to deepen and broaden our cooperation. And I’m very much looking forward to building on this relationship. So, Mr. Minister, welcome so much here.

NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR QADHAFI: Thank you.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you. We’re delighted you’re here.

NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR QADHAFI: Thank you.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you all very much.

I put this up and then poof! this appears in my email:

Remarks With Jordanian King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein Before Their Meeting

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, His Majesty is no stranger either to the State Department or to Washington. He has been a partner, an ally and a friend of the United States on behalf of his country and on behalf of the search for peace that would result from a two-state solution in the Middle East. And I am deeply honored and greatly delighted to welcome His Majesty back to the State Department for the series of important meetings.

KING ABDULLAH: Mrs. Clinton, thank you very much. It’s a great honor for me to be back here in Washington. We’ve had some very fruitful discussions this morning with President Obama. I’m here at the State Department now to go over the priorities that Jordan and Arab countries need to put in front of themselves on how to bring Israelis and Palestinians to the negotiation table, and hopefully open a new chapter of peace and stability in the Middle East and move the peace process forward.

So it is a great honor to be here, and I look forward to working with you, Mrs. Clinton, and working as hard as we can to finally bring peace and stability to the Middle East.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you so much, sir. Thank you. Thank you.

QUESTION: Secretary Clinton, did you raise human rights with the Libyan national security advisor?

SECRETARY CLINTON: We will have a chance to answer questions after my later meeting in the afternoon with President Sirleaf.

Well, two lessons learned:

a. Diplomatic language sometimes is best limited to saying "thank you".

b. And sometimes, saying as little as possible is the best tactic.

but more importantly, I ask you to reread what Hillary Clinton said there:

the search for peace that would result from a two-state solution in the Middle East

Wait. Isn't the "two-state solution" supposed to be the peace?

We still have to continue to search?

Oy vey.