Obama mulls Clinton as envoy on Kashmir
Obama may appoint Bill Clinton as a special envoy on Kashmir.
By Chidanand Rajghatta, TNN |
WASHINGTON: US President-elect Barack Obama lost little time in celebrating his victory by getting down to business within 24 hours of the historic verdict. He named former Clinton chief of staff John Podesta to head his transition team while zeroing in on his close friend, Rahm Emanuel, for a position that���s often described as the second most important job in Washington ��� White House chief of staff, one who is both secretary and gatekeeper to the President.
But what would be of interest to New Delhi is that Obama has indicated he is mulling appointing former US president Bill Clinton as a special envoy on Kashmir.
In a little noticed interview on the campaign trail last month posted on a magazine blog, Obama identified working with Pakistan and India to try to resolve the Kashmir issue in a "serious way" as a critical task for the next administration.
He indicated that he was in favour of devoting "serious diplomatic resources to get a special envoy in there." Asked if it was not an ideal job for Clinton, Obama disclosed he had sounded out Clinton when they had lunch at Harlem last month. He did not say if Clinton had accepted the idea.
While the possibility of Clinton as special envoy has caused disquiet in some quarters in both India and Pakistan, some officials and analysts are arguing there are actually mitigating or even positive features to the idea, insofar as India is concerned.
For one, it was Clinton who decreed before agreeing to Pakistan���s plea for intervention in the Kargil crisis that the Line of Control in Kashmir will not be redrawn with blood, virtually backing India���s position. In fact, the national security official who made the pro-India call on Kargil was Bruce Riedel, a former CIA analyst, and part of Obama���s foreign policy team.
The very fact that Obama is thinking of such a high-profile pointsperson for Kashmir would indicate that he accords this unresolved dispute between India and Pakistan very high priority. India has been steadfastly opposed to the internationalising of the Kashmir issue, and Obama���s high interest in this complicated theatre of discord would amount to just that.
He has identified resolving the matter as a key to tempering Islamabad and concentrating its energy on the war on terror that���s consuming Pakistan.
But what would be of interest to New Delhi is that Obama has indicated he is mulling appointing former US president Bill Clinton as a special envoy on Kashmir.
In a little noticed interview on the campaign trail last month posted on a magazine blog, Obama identified working with Pakistan and India to try to resolve the Kashmir issue in a "serious way" as a critical task for the next administration.
He indicated that he was in favour of devoting "serious diplomatic resources to get a special envoy in there." Asked if it was not an ideal job for Clinton, Obama disclosed he had sounded out Clinton when they had lunch at Harlem last month. He did not say if Clinton had accepted the idea.
While the possibility of Clinton as special envoy has caused disquiet in some quarters in both India and Pakistan, some officials and analysts are arguing there are actually mitigating or even positive features to the idea, insofar as India is concerned.
For one, it was Clinton who decreed before agreeing to Pakistan���s plea for intervention in the Kargil crisis that the Line of Control in Kashmir will not be redrawn with blood, virtually backing India���s position. In fact, the national security official who made the pro-India call on Kargil was Bruce Riedel, a former CIA analyst, and part of Obama���s foreign policy team.
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The very fact that Obama is thinking of such a high-profile pointsperson for Kashmir would indicate that he accords this unresolved dispute between India and Pakistan very high priority. India has been steadfastly opposed to the internationalising of the Kashmir issue, and Obama���s high interest in this complicated theatre of discord would amount to just that.
He has identified resolving the matter as a key to tempering Islamabad and concentrating its energy on the war on terror that���s consuming Pakistan.
WHAT WILL BE TEAM OBAMA?
The team Obama chooses would be crucial. He himself lacks administrative experience and might lean heavily on his team while he executes his motto ��� CHANGE
Secretary of State
US international image is in tatters. It's less respected today by its allies and less feared by its critics. New secy of state would have to restore American prestige overseas.
Possible Choice:
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Dem heavyweight & party nominee for 2004 prez election John Kerry; New Mexico guv Bill RichardsonSecretary of Defence
Obama proposes to carry out phased withdrawal from Iraq while increasing US presence in Afghanistan. Only a seasoned man can do the tricky job.
Possible Choice:
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In a show of bipartisanship Obama may offer job to present defense secy Robert Gates, who is credited with doing a good job. If Gates refuses, he may seek former deputy defense secy John Hamre or ex-navy secy Richard DanzigSecretary of Treasury
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With US in the grips of a crippling financial crisis, its economy seems headed for a deep recession. Faith in American banking system is badly shaken, while US budget deficit is approaching $1 trillion. The job of treasury secretary was never so important.Possible Choice:
Clinton's treasury secy Lawrence Summers; president of NY Fed Reserve Bank Timothy Geithner
Secretary of Health
Healthcare and medical insurance in US is in state of dangerous collapse. At the same time, sense of entitlement among American people so high that to meet it, govt could go bankrupt. It's a critical job managing this.
Possible Choice:
Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean, who is a doctor
National Security Adviser
A crucial and taxing job since 9/11. With US slated to increase its attention on al-Qaida, national security and intel gathering will be high priority.
Possible Choice:
Former dy NSA James Steinberg; ex-State Dept official Gregory Craig, Richard Danzig; ex-Middle East envoy Dennis Ross
Secretary of Housing & Urban Development
The mortgage crisis makes this a key job.
Possible Choice:
James Clyburn, S Carolina rep
Secretary of Commerce
With Obama talking of ���fair��� rather than ���free��� trade, he is expected to focus on WTO talks.
Possible Choice:
Chicago tycoon Penny Pritzker, Obama's national finance chairwoman
Indian Angle
Ex-NY solicitor general Preeta Bansal may get a top job at Justice Dept. And a website, ���draftfareed.org��� , has popped up to lobby for Indian-American journalist Fareed Zakaria for the job of Secy of State
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