Kerry touts Clinton, Carter as envoys
NEW YORK -- Senator John F. Kerry said yesterday he would appoint two envoys to assist Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations and to "build bridges" to the Islamic world if he wins the White House next year, and described former presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter as "uniquely qualified" for the first post.
Kerry said he discussed the idea with both men and he thought they would "welcome it and embrace it." Spokeswomen for the former presidents confirmed the conversations.
In a major foreign policy speech yesterday calling for "an era of new alliances," a phrase he used five times, Kerry said as president he would swiftly convene a summit of European and world leaders to plan a new strategy against terrorism, and that he also might tap the "great talent" in the Republican Party for special international assignments.
Kerry said he would consider appointing former US secretary of state James Baker as the new Middle East envoy, whom the senator described as a "presidential ambassador" who would report directly to him and to Kerry's secretary of state.
The Baker proposal drew an unsolicited response from a spokesman for a rival Democrat, retired general Wesley K. Clark, who said Baker's assistance to George W. Bush during the 2000 Florida presidential vote count should disqualify him for a role in a Democratic administration. Kerry spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter dismissed that criticism, saying "national security should trump party politics given the threats we face today."
Former president George H. W. Bush and two of his senior aides, former secretary of state Lawrence Eagleburger and former national security adviser Brent Scowcroft, also won praise from Kerry as "people who've been through" diplomatic struggles and may have ideas to contribute.
Kerry spoke with Clinton and Carter about the Middle East ambassadorship yesterday morning, according to Cutter, telling them he planned to disclose it in his speech at the Council on Foreign Relations here. In the speech, he said he had asked the two former presidents "about their willingness to do this, and I think they would welcome it and embrace it as a means of moving forward."
A Carter spokeswoman confirmed the conversation yesterday but declined to comment on Kerry's description of it. A Clinton spokeswoman said Kerry "asked if he could mention the President's name in this regard, and [Clinton] said yes."
Kerry first suggested tapping Clinton for a Middle East posting two years ago. In recent months he and other contending Democrats have increasingly portrayed Clinton as a much more successful president than Bush, and sought to align themselves with many of Clinton's foreign and domestic policies.
The 45-minute speech at a major forum for US foreign policy discussion was an opportunity for Kerry to underscore what may be his chief advantage in the race for the Democrats' nomination -- his three decades of experience in foreign and national security affairs, beginning with his two tours of duty in Vietnam.
Kerry's mastery of nuanced detail of overseas conflicts reminded many people that this was a man who has been on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for 19 years and has huddled with numerous foreign leaders.
Kerry said yesterday that he supported resuming bilateral negotiations with North Korea to end its suspected nuclear weapons program; the Bush administration has pressed for multiparty talks. Kerry also said that as president, he would quickly open discussions with Iran on nuclear issues, and would expand NATO forces in Afghanistan.
On the home front, Kerry said he would ask Congress to create the position of "director of national intelligence" to oversee all US intelligence budgets and personnel. The director of the CIA would likely receive this new title and expanded portfolio, the Kerry campaign said.
The centerpiece of Kerry's speech, the new era of alliances, referred not only to improving ties with NATO allies and others who opposed the war in Iraq, but also with Islamic nations, which Kerry's new envoy would seek to cultivate. Kerry repeated his previous comments that he wanted more non-US troops in Iraq, a UN takeover of rebuilding efforts there, and a quick transition to Iraqi sovereignty.
Kerry also chastised Saudi Arabia for allowing some individuals and charities there to funnel money to terrorist groups for "exporting [and] supporting Islamic extremism."
Patrick Healy can be reached at phealy@globe.com.
