There were two very telling quotes by Secretary of State designate Hillary Clinton during today's Senate confirmation hearings as to the nature of foreign policy under an Obama Administration.  

``We must also actively pursue a strategy of smart power in the Middle East that addresses the security needs of Israel and the legitimate political and economic aspirations of the Palestinians.''

By  "smart power" Senator Clinton means that the United States should be using all the tools of foreign policy that are at our disposal.  In this regard the Obama Administration will pursue engaged, cooperative American global leadership consistent with the nation's democratic values and not rely on military might alone. This will mean reaching out to create stronger more broad-based partnerships with our allies as well as working to forge new bonds with foes such as Iran and Syria. An Obama foreign policy will seek to invest in "our common humanity as a way to achieve greater security." It is a marriage of principle and pragmatism and yet it is not overtly ideological. This is also a recognition that the neo-liberal "Washington Consensus" has failed. Instead of pushing market-based solutions to every problem, it seems that American foreign policy will take a wider approach to dealing with global problems.

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The UK Guardian is reporting that the "incoming administration will abandon Bush's isolation of Islamist group (Hamas) to initiate low-level diplomacy" according to sources within the transition team.

The move to open contacts with Hamas, which could be initiated through the US intelligence services, would represent a definitive break with the Bush ­presidency's ostracising of the group. The state department has designated Hamas a terrorist organisation, and in 2006 ­Congress passed a law banning US financial aid to the group.

The Guardian has spoken to three ­people with knowledge of the discussions in the Obama camp. There is no talk of Obama approving direct diplomatic negotiations with Hamas early on, but he is being urged by advisers to initiate low-level or clandestine approaches, and there is growing recognition in Washington that the policy of ostracising Hamas is counter-productive.

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