Hillary Clinton highlights pragmatism in approach to Russia
Hillary Rodham Clinton defended her record as secretary of State against Republican criticism that she had been too accommodating to Russia, arguing Wednesday that she had taken a tough but pragmatic approach so the U.S. could attain its goals.
In remarks at UCLA's Royce Hall, Clinton assertively brushed aside opponents' suggestions that she and the Obama administration effectively invited Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent incursion into Ukraine by failing to blunt his aggression.
Clinton said that when she became secretary of State in 2009, "we had some business we wanted to get done with Russia." Among the U.S. goals at the time: an arms control agreement, the creation of a pathway through Russia to provide support for U.S. troops in Afghanistan, and an effort to get Russia into the World Trade Organization.
"There is a debate in foreign policy, and you hear these voices on TV right now: 'These are bad folks; they're doing bad things; do nothing with them,'" Clinton said, adding that her approach was to "be smart about it; pick and choose; stand your ground on disagreements, but look for ways to get things done."
http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-hillary-clinton-20140306,0,7030728.story