RNC: “IN THE HER [SIC] MEMOIR, CLINTON DEPICTS HERSELF AS A “CLEAR-EYED,” “HARSH” SKEPTIC OF RUSSIA”
FACT: Secretary Clinton was clear-eyed when it came to President Putin and understood the opportunity presented to achieve critical goals during Medvedev’s tenure. In 2010, the Carnegie Endowment issued a report on U.S.-Russia relations. It said, “Having fallen to a historic low after the 2008 Russia-Georgia war, U.S.-Russiacooperation is again on the rise, thanks to last year’s ‘reset’ of the relationship.” The report goes on to say, “The improved tone in U.S.-Russia relations is itself an important accomplishment of the reset.” During her tenure, Secretary Clinton worked successfully to secure Russia’s cooperation in anti-terrorism efforts in Afghanistan, reaching a historic “lethal transit” agreement, allowing U.S. military planes to transport lethal materials over Russia to Afghanistan.
FACT: Secretary Clinton built and maintained a coalition (that included Russia) to enact the toughest sanctions in Iran’s history. Secretary Clinton helped impose the toughest sanctions in Iran’s history by getting Russia and China on board. Even the Wall Street Journal editorial board noted that, “Clinton surely pulled out every stop to get Russia and particularly China…on board.” And as Howard Dean recently told CNN, “Hillary Clinton cranked up the sanctions for the first time under President Obama that actually made the Iranians come to the table.”
FACT: While Secretary Clinton made progress with Russia, including the New START treaty and cooperation on Iran and Afghanistan, she refused to defend Russia’s policies when they clashed with our own. When Russia and China used their veto to block U.N. action against Syria, she said, “It’s quite distressing to see two permanent members of the Security Council using their veto when people are being murdered, women, children, brave young men. Houses are being destroyed. It is just despicable. And I ask, whose side are they on?” [ABC News, 2/24/12]