THE PLANK DECEMBER 22, 2009
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Apparently I found Newsweek's interview with Henry Kissinger and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton more interesting than Isaac did. Clinton makes what I think are a couple of interesting observations, including this one, about diplomacy in the modern world:
What I have found hardest to balance is the amount of travel that is expected today. One would think that in an era where communication is instantaneous, you would not have to get on an airplane and go sit in a meeting. But, in fact, it's almost as though people are more desirous of seeing someone in person.
This also struck me:
Kissinger: When you travel as secretary, one problem you have is that the press comes with you and wants an immediate result because it justifies their trip. And sometimes the best result is that you don't try to get a result but try to get an understanding for the next time you go to them. I don't know whether that would be your experience.
Clinton: It is exactly my experience.
She meant that in a good way, no doubt!
2 comments
I recently had a conversation with a naval medical officer who just returned from Afghanistan, where she was assigned to help establish clinics for the local population. She said Greg Mortenson had it exactly right in Three Cups of Tea. On the first meeting with local chiefs they were aloof and seemingly uninterested. At the second meeting they were more cordial. But it was not until a third meeting that they became friendly and cooperative. Not surprisingly, she told me that meetings she attended with the top brass generally did not go well. The brass always demanded immediate results, and wrote off local leaders as useless or worse if they did not instantly embrace the Americans.
- koppgeo
December 22, 2009 at 6:27pm
I opened this article wondering what time rules Hillary wasn't facing.
- WillPastor
December 23, 2009 at 11:21am