SFRC Hearing--Crocker Confirmation for US Amb. to Afghanistan--6-8-11

[ObamaKerryDem]

http://c-span.org/Events/Nominee-to-be-US-Amb-to-Afghanistan-Discusses-Success-in-Region/10737422092-1/

Wow at JK being back in DC so soon after Normandy though I guess it's no big feat considering his other travels! :) I luckily caught this the other night on C-Span. Very interesting. Crocker seemed really nervous to me (though I think that's natural--in this position there probably is not a whole lot of public speaking involved and this WAS a big moment!). I like how, after McCain left after doing his introduction, JK said to Crocker "You're flying alone now, buddy"...clearly to break the ice. I thought that was kind of him. :)

Pretty intense questioning, though very neccessary. Will be interesting to see how the rest of the confirmation process goes. I have little doubt he will be confirmed, but will be interesting to see if there is much if any controversy surrounding this politically, given Crocker's Bush admin. ties. But many in his field rotate from one party's admin. to the other so it probably won't be too big a deal. I always enjoy these hearings though and try to tune in when I can!

[Mass]

1. Crocker is a career diplomat, not a political appointee. and specialist of the Middle East.

He knows his stuff, but I remember his confirmation for Iraq and a few of the hearings about Iraq, and he clearly was feeling very uncomfortable. I dont think the links with Bush will be a big thing. He worked with Clinton before that and wrote a report in 2003 for Colin Powell cautioning that rebuilding Iraq would be hard.

I have not yet listened to this hearing, but from what I read, it was more a cautionary call from everybody (including Kerry) not to continue with such a large print in Afghanistan. Hopefully, they will be heard as the administration decides how many troops to withdraw.

[ObamaKerryDem]

2. Hadn't realized he was with Clinton too..

..that makes me feel a little better, though I can appreciate that he can work across party lines as this is not really a political position. And from all this at least, he doesn't appear to have drank the same Kool-aid that many other Bush folks did about Iraq, which is also encouraging.

Watching the hearing on C-Span, I got the same impression, that it was a cautionary call from JK and others (but maybe JK especially leading the charge, it seemed to me, which is natural, in his position) about Afghanistan. It was fascinating. I love JK on this committee! :)

[ObamaKerryDem]

3. Hadn't realized he was with Clinton too..

Dupe

[ObamaKerryDem]

4. Hadn't realized he was with Clinton too..

..that makes me feel a little better, though I can appreciate that he can work across party lines as this is not really a political position. And from all this at least, he doesn't appear to have drank the same Kool-aid that many other Bush folks did about Iraq, which is also encouraging.

Watching the hearing on C-Span, I got the same impression, that it was a cautionary call from JK and others (but maybe JK especially leading the charge, it seemed to me, which is natural, in his position) about Afghanistan. It was fascinating. I love JK on this committee! :)