Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the State Department earlier today with Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai , left, and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari during consultations at the start of two days of meetings. (Photo by Win McNamee / Getty Images)
by Mark Silva
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton suggests today that Afghanistan and Pakistan are holding "breakthrough'' talks at the White House, where President Barack Obama is in the midst of two days of bilateral meetings and then a trilateral talk with the leaders of each nation -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari.
"I think the takeaway is that this process is producing some very promising early signs,'' Clinton told reporters at the White House this afternoon. "The level of cooperation between the governments of the two countries is increasing.
"The confidence-building that is necessary for this relationship to turn into tangible cooperation is moving forward,'' she said. "And I think today's series of meetings is another step along that road.
"Being able to say democratically elected president of Pakistan is not a common phrase. And I think it's imperative that we support President Zardari and work with him, as he extends the reach of the government, not only on security, as essential as that is, but also on the range of needs of the Pakistani people.
"With President Karzai, it was a very future-oriented conversation. We talked about the necessity to take real, concrete actions to make the kind of progress that Afghanistan desperately needs to see, to really deliver for the people of the country.''
How about getting Pakistan to stand down in its decades-long conflict with India, the secretary was asked.
"All things in due time,'' she said.
Comments
Keep up the good work, Secretary Clinton !! You are representing America in a very positive way and we appreciate that, as I know President Obama does !! You are a great example, as to what it means, to be an American and I thank you for accepting the position of Secretary of State. You are off to a great start. Good luck, in the coming years.
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, America | May 6, 2009 2:33 PM
If the warmongering BushCo Republicans hadn't blown off going after Bin-Laden and invaded Iraq, we probably wouldn't be having this problem right now.
Heckuva Job, Wingnuts!
http://www.newyorkslime.com/osama-mission-accomplished-01.jpg
Posted by: Barney Rubble | May 6, 2009 2:56 PM
What's the body count today in Afghanistan Don? Did Secretary of State Clinton toss out those numbers?
Posted by: springfieldspringfield | May 6, 2009 3:28 PM
What's the body count today in Afghanistan Don? Did Secretary of State Clinton toss out those numbers?
Posted by: springfieldspringfield | May 6, 2009 3:28 PM
*************
It's probabaly pretty high seeing as how your Repug team blew off Afganistan after Bush got a woodie for Iraq.
Why don't you shut off your computer, go down to your local military recruiters office and sign up, Slick?
Posted by: HulkSMASH! | May 6, 2009 4:00 PM
Break through talks, how much is that going to cost the American taxpayer?.
Posted by: Paul | May 6, 2009 8:47 PM
Yeah, what is the body count.?
The public had a daily presentation by the media...did ABC's Charlie Gibson give the numbers?
Did Katie Couric give the numbers?
And how about Brian?
Know that CNN, MSNBC don't know how to count.
And what about those coffins...where are those photos?
Obama is full of smoke.
Posted by: new counts | May 6, 2009 9:23 PM
They NEVER give the body counts.
But : Hill's scarf is almost as cute as Hamid's cape.
The flags are nicely arranged, no?
Posted by: ornery | May 6, 2009 11:38 PM
Hillary Clinton, U.S. Secretary of State, is repeatedly expressing “regret” on behalf of the U.S. government when civilians die because of our military actions.
I invite you to read my May 6, 2009 blog entry: Deep Regret?
http://christinesmith.us/wordpress/2009/05/06/deep-regret/
Posted by: Christine Smith | May 7, 2009 10:24 AM