Wall Street Journal: "...Hillary Clinton caused waves in the Middle East during her visit to Southeast Asia, telling a Thai television program that Washington could extend a 'defense umbrella' to protect its Arab allies if Iran succeeds in developing nuclear weapons."
"...her comments...left the impression among some Middle East diplomats Wednesday that the U.S. envisions having to find ways to defend its Persian Gulf allies from a nuclear-armed Iran -- rather than preventing Tehran from ever getting that far."
Washington tried to spin her statement into something supporting what Obama has said, but the attempt was pretty lame, and not worth quoting.
Israel, of course, was none-too-happy. The minister of intelligence and atomic energy said that Clinton's remarks indicated the U.S. had "already come to terms with a nuclear Iran." He added, "I think that's a mistake." Those who can read Israeli diplomatic language will realize that Israel saying the U.S. has made a mistake is tantamount to accusing the U.S. of betrayal. Which, of course, is a serious, serious charge coming from Israel.
Clinton may well have been expressing where Obama wants to go on Iran policy, but her communication handicap has managed to put Obama in a very tight spot.
Clinton is so used to having a back-up squad to tailor and explain her remarks that she feels she can just shoot off her mouth anytime. But there is no such squad now; she's on her own; and Obama must be losing patience.
What will she do next? Stay tuned.
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