Clinton Leaves Africa 'More Committed' Than Ever

Hillary Clinton ended her African tour today on a note of optimism colored by disdain, the New York Times reports. The secretary of state visited seven nations over 11 days and made her final remarks on the Cape Verde islands off the coast. “I leave Africa after this remarkable trip even more committed,” Clinton said. She commented on the “joy and energy Africans have,” as well as on having “seen the worst humanity can do to itself.”

Clinton toured booming South Africa and urged that country to use its influence to fix the political situation in Zimbabwe; she also hit war-torn Congo, the likely subject of her “humanity” comment. A high note came in Nigeria, where a horn-blower who sounded a note at every salient comment followed her around. “I want to take that guy with me wherever I go,” she said. (More Hillary Clinton stories.)