The Reaction: Foreign policy, front and center

By Carol Gee

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton showed up for her first day on the job at Foggy Bottom. She made a big hit with her flock. Her boss, Barack Obama, the POTUS, and the new Veep, Joe Biden, are not taking very long to come and check up on her. They visited the State Department this afternoon. Their second day on their jobs focuses of Diplomacy and Development, not Defense. Like all of the brand new administration's initial acts, it makes a statement about priorities. Former Senator George Mitchell has been named the new special envoy for Middle East peace, and diplomat Richard Holbrook has the combined region of Afghanistan and Pakistan as his coordination portfolio

The Constitution is being dusted off .- Gitmo is going to close within a year; it began yesterday with an executive order and the suspension of trials. International crises will be seen through different eyes from now on. (HT to CQ Behind the Lines). Memeorandum headlines that President Obama is also going to shut down the CIA prisons, known as "black sites." And a special high level panel will figure out the statuses of the 200+ detainees and what is to become of them.

The military will be making adjustments to its new Commander In Chief. The Army is reviewing its weapons systems. President Obama is also having to adjust -- rapidly, to the foreign policy issues on the U.S. front burner, Gaza, for example. But his team is beginning to take hold of the reins of government. And just in time, it is. His policy statement on the Israeli/Palestinian conflict has good ideas and some significant substance. It has been a momentous day, once again. It feels very much like a clean break with the former administration.

********** Middle East & Military Round-up **********

Israel --

Buzz Flash: "Doctor's raw pain shakes Israelis"* (1/21/09)

Buzz Flash: "Israel wanted a humanitarian crisis"* (1/20/09)

Common Dreams: "Israeli FM confronted at National Press Club"* (1/19/09)

Buzz Flash: "Israel to keep tight grip on Gaza reconstruction"* (1/19/09)

Think Progress: "Israel prepares post-war battle for public opinion"* (1/18/09)

Informed Comment: " Israel Should Stop the War and Let US Enjoy the Inauguration"* (1/17/09)

Alternet: "Why Did Congress Shamelessly Pander to Israel?"* (1/17/09)

truthdig: "Who's in Charge -- Obama, the Pentagon or Israel?"* (1/15/09)

Gaza --

Informed Comment: "They even killed the cats"* (1/20/09)

Buzz Flash: "Gaza Hospital, Tons of Food, Medicine Set Ablaze"* (1/16/09)

truthout: "Israeli Forces Shell UN Headquarters in Gaza"* (1/15/09)

Iraq and Iran --

Yahoo! News: "Iraqi guards said to throw party for shoe-thrower"* (1/16/09)

Washington Post: "Iran Using Fronts to Get Bomb Parts From U.S."# (1/11/09) -- to quote:

Despite multiple attempts by the Bush administration to halt illegal imports -- including sanctions against several Dubai-based Iranian front companies in 2006 -- the technology pipeline to Tehran is flowing at an even faster pace. In some cases, Iran simply opened new front companies and shifted its operations from Dubai to farther east in Asia, the officials said.