CLINTON CONFRONTING OBAMA? - AT 10:40 P.M. ET:  Someone once said that Gold Meir was the best man in the Israeli cabinet.  The meaning, of course, was that she was the strongest figure, the toughest member.

Some say that's true of Hillary Clinton.  With all her faults - volumes one and two - she has a reputation for toughness, and for taking a harder line on foreign policy than her starry-eyed boss, the president, who sees the world as one big student government. 

Now Clinton is taking a tougher line on Iran than Obama:

NEW YORK — The United States doubts Iran can convince the international community next week that its nuclear program is peaceful, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in an interview broadcast Sunday.

The chief US diplomat also told CBS television that Iran would not have long hidden its second uranium enrichment plant, which the United States and other powers revealed Friday, if it had been for peaceful purposes.

Interviewed in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Clinton lowered expectations for a meeting October 1 in Geneva involving Iran, the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany.

She has said the plant's discovery gives a sense of urgency to the talks.

"They (the Iranians) have to come to this meeting on October 1st and present convincing evidence as to the purpose of their nuclear program," Clinton said.

COMMENT:  I've wondered at Urgent Agenda, several times, how long Hillary will last.  At what point does she become exasperated with a wimpy president?  At what point does she ask herself whether she wants to be blamed for failures in foreign policy.  Remember, Obama never blames himself.

We don't make predictions here, but I wouldn't be shocked if Hillary gives up the keys to the office safe in less than a year.

September 27, 2009