Who Knew? It's Clinton with the Cojones

While President Obama is always the cool and collected one, there are more than a few Americans who wonder about his "Mr. Nice Guy Who Will Talk to Anyone" demeanor. Diplomacy is fine if there is progress, but there comes a time when good old plain talk is in order.

Today, Secretary of State Clinton was in Pakistan trying out her charm to get the reticent government of that nation to do a little more of our bidding. They were offended. They were incensed that the U.S. might put conditions on the $7.5 billion we give them. They said it threatens their sovereignty. How can a country declare it is sovereign (read independent) if it is on the dole from its ally, the United States?

When the Pakistani press got its back up and wondered what right the U.S. had to put conditions on our aid, Secretary Clinton could take no more. She basically said that if you don't like the conditions, then don't take the money. Maybe the U.S. needs to say this a little louder to the countries who benefit most from our largesse along with Pakistan. Israel is getting a little feisty these days and Egypt needs to show a little more progress toward democracy if they want to keep taking our money.

Clinton is supposed to be the diplomatic one, but her tough talk will have to stand in for the President until he sees that we are being duped far too often.