WP op-ed Why John Kerry could be a better Secretary of State than HRC [View all]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/why-john-kerry-could-be-a-better-secretary-of-state-than-hillary-clinton/2013/04/25/dacf6bac-ad0b-11e2-a198-99893f10d6dd_story.html

Very interesting read. I think they place too much on things like it being Obama's second term.. You could argue that the international goodwill that would have accrued to any Democrat replacing Bush would have given the first term SoS a great position to accomplish a lot. The idea that Obama is now more focused on domestic issues is silly. A huge stimulation package to keep the economy from going over the cliff, a bailout of the auto industry and landmark healthcare legislation that has eluded Democratic Presidents for decades is MORE than what he now has to deal with.

The difference lies with the individuals, their experience, their vision and what their life goals. I thought it interesting that on the day Obama was to formally name him, Kerry went to the grave of his friend Pershing who died in Vietnam. This seems an effort to frame what was important and as he told the students at Holy Cross in MA - working for peace is. They cite it as Kerry being willing to take more risks because he was at the end of his career. (Just as he was in 1972 and in the late 1980s (investigating illeagally arming the Contras) or 1990 investigating BCCI?) In reality, it is a valid difference, Bill Na Hillary ALWAYS consider the personal politic cost or gain first.

To me, it is clear what Hillary did with the SoS job -- her goal was a narrative for a 2016 run. The title helps and there is win/win human rights and womans issue role. the likelihood is that the goals she put in place worldwide will not be met in many areas. It is not their culture. I suspect that when we leave Afghanistan they will retreat and women will have fewer rights. Will this hurt - no. The response is that a President HRC would have made sure that did not happen.

There is one inexplicable comment - that HRC made the environment an issue. This is not really true - as Keystone shows and the fact that she had little interest in Copenhagen. (The Clinton record in Arkansas was HORRIBLE on the environment. )

Anyway, this is an interesting article and it might show the respect Kerry has in the foreign policy world.