Clinton Promises 'Smart Power' in Cozy Hearing

Hillary Clinton promised a new “smart power” era of US foreign policy today, advocating a mix of diplomacy and defense, in a decidedly friendly confirmation hearing today, the AP reports. “America cannot solve the most pressing problems on our own, and the world cannot solve them without America,” Clinton said. “American leadership has been wanting, but is still wanted.”

Clinton seems poised to cruise through the Foreign Relations Committee hearing. The committee’s top Republican, Dick Lugar, called her “the epitome of a big leaguer,” in a complimentary opening statement, though he did demand transparency from the Clinton Global initiative. Newly minted committee chair John Kerry said Lugar was speaking not from a partisan perspective, but for the whole committee. (More Hillary Clinton stories.)