MONROVIA, Liberia (CNN) - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived Thursday in a dark and rainy Liberia, where she planned to hold a bilateral meeting with the country's pro-American president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
Liberians have a historic fondness for Americans and view Clinton's visit as a show of support and affirmation of the special relationship between Liberia and the United States, said Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to Liberia.
"Women in Liberia are pleased to welcome the secretary for her meeting with the first woman elected head of state in Africa, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf," Thomas-Greenfield wrote in a State Department blog. "After the ravages of the conflict here, which affected women and children very heavily, Liberians are proud of their progress in women's empowerment and inclusion in government. Secretary Clinton has emphasized the link between women's empowerment and social and economic progress throughout her seven-nation trip."
Clinton's trip is designed to show U.S. commitment to Africa. Wednesday, Clinton visited Nigeria and met the country's president and senior politicians.
In a town hall meeting in the capital, Abuja, Clinton talked about the importance of democracy and warned the country that it could be a target for al Qaeda.
Nigeria has been wracked by violence between Christians and Muslims, and hundreds have died in riots over the past several years.
"Al Qaeda has a presence in Northern Africa," Clinton said. "There is no doubt in our mind that al Qaeda and like organizations that are part of the syndicate of terror would seek a foothold anywhere they could find one, and whether that is the case here or whether this is a homegrown example of fundamentalist extremism - that's up to the Nigerians to determine."
Clinton opened her 11-day Africa trip in Nairobi, Kenya, then went to South Africa, Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo before going to Nigeria. After Liberia, she plans to visit Cape Verde.
The Obama administration is also using Clinton's tour to promote development and good governance, the State Department has said.
From CNN Politics
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I wonder how well these talks woul dbe going if Idi Amin were still President.
The world wide and horribly damaging obomatron apology tour continues.
Wow... foreign countries actually like us visiting them again!!
What a REFRESHING CHANGE from the Bush Administration...
Let's see what dumb things she'll say today!
"Women in Liberia are pleased to welcome her"!
If her husband wasn't Governor of Arkansas, she would have been a has-been lawyer. And, if her husband hadn't abused a half-wit White House intern, she wouldn't have been a NY Senator, wouldn't have run for President, and wouldn't be Secretary of State.
What a wonderful, self-made woman! A real feminist icon. She makes Sarah Palin look like Germaine Greer!
I LOVE the fact Hillary Clinton is not taking any "guff" from anyone. It's amazing that her being a woman is seen as justification for questioning her qualifications!! STOP IT!!
Hillary Clinton has worked VERY HARD and has EARNED the title of Secretary of State. She is highly qualified and is doing a FABULOUS job. Women should not sit back and allow her to be "second-guessed".
I'm proud of Hillary Clinton, she has proven that women are just as qualified and competent as MEN in this society. Some women are even MORE qualified then their men counterpart. Hello? But men are such babies and refuse to acknowledge this reality.
Hillary has been religated to the back of the bus. Obama finally does something that will actually help America's future generations..
"Clinton in Liberia for meeting with president"....Two women chatting over tea and biscuits.....while the rest of the world watches, and We Americans struggle over healthcare reform. How encouraging is that to the rest of us....What about Iraq and Afghanistan ?
She can learn a lot about how to handle the "fundamentalist extremism" in our own borders. Can you believe that people show up to townhall meetings and ask their legislators tough questions? I mean, how rude! We should just let our social superiors run our lives because they can certainly do better than we can.
"After the ravages of the conflict here, which affected women and children very heavily, Liberians are proud of their progress in women's empowerment and inclusion "
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Interesting to note that with a few minor changes, the same could be said about our industrialized, ultra-civilized,nation vis-a-vis women and minorities int he U.S.
We need to stop looking down our noses at so called "Third World" countries, and focus more on inclusion and empowerment in our own U. S. of A.
For heaven sakes Liberians, make sure your interpreters are on their game or Hill will have another hissy fit!
As long as Ellen Johnson Sirleaf doesn't ask about Bill, she should be okay!!!!
Hillary is an embarrassment.
Hillary is doing just fine and finally WOMEN are being recognized as movers n shakers!
BTW, the comment she made about Florida's corrupt Jebb Bush, was right on the money!
We had the Bush's family cheating their way to the Whitehouse!
Liberia was founded as a result of freed slaves who were granted repatriation from the U.S. to Africa. After many years of hardships it is finally getting its act togetfher and one can only hope that the momentum will continue.
Re Nigeria: That Al Queda fear tactic is not necessary. I opine that a muslim extremist stronghold there is as possible as snow falling at a ski lodge in July. As a matter of fact, check out the amount of Catholic priests that are being "hatched" and sent to the U.S. and beyond! The tackling of corruption (OVER OIL) from all sides should be the main focus.
I am more terrified of the proliferation of illegal guns in the UNITED STATES – which have been falling into the hands of schizoid /deranged types and substance abusers who can put down a dozen people without a moment's notice.
man.........what a relief!!!
Promoting Development and Good Governance wasn't high on the Republican Agenda for a long time; with the exception of President Bush's AIDS initiatives which are often overlooked due to the focus being on the 'other' foreign policy agenda(s) of his administration.
It’s good to see Secretary of State Clinton begin to rebuild the nation’s standing in the world after 8 long years of Republican foreign policy.
Here we are in 2009 and still having religious wars around the globe.Isnt religion great?Wonder if they think the Earth is still flat too?
I think Sec of State Clinton is doing a great job. Her going a little ballistic on the student. Don't blame her. What she has seen in Africa I cannot imagine. What she has seen affecting women and children in Africa has to be "chilling". No 1 wants to talk about the real issues. If it had been a man, would they have said, he is tried, he is having a bad hair day. Media give it a rest STOP being SEXIST.
Someone should warn President Ellen to not ask her about what Bill thinks.
Much is made of this the Liberian-American connection that doesn't really exist. Less than five percent of the population are descendants of free slaves, America did not do a single thing to stop the slaughter that was going on (except fund both sides and give refuge to the families of the warlords). Bush did more for Africa than any democrat ever would.
With her temper showing I'm happy she's not the person with the red launch button. In her position she should seem like the most in control person going. She could have been POTUS. Wheew. That was close. I wonder what Katie Curic would have made her look like.
I wonder if Hillary would be Sec. of State today if she wasn't married to Bill. Her qualifications pale in comparison to Condi’s.
Hmmmmmmmmmm: Obama at 47% approval.
I am so happy today for the news, I am a Liberian and it makes me feel good no know that my country is returning to be a part on the community of nations which it once use to be. Thanks you Sec. Clinton and thanks Madam Sirleaf for all of the good work.
Hillary and Barack rocks. If we ignore the problems of the world, they will come to our doorsteps.