Reply #59: I think Kerry's trip was independent

[karynnj]

It was Kerry's job as part of providing oversight and as others pointed out he has made similar trips before. It was also to Obama's advantage for Kerry to be independent. I am not sure an administration official could have made the Gaza trip. At the Jordan World Economic Forum, Kerry spoke of not being able to take his security when he and Teresa went with the UN people into Gaza. I am not sure a SoS or even the special envoy would have been allowed to make that decision - which did put the Kerrys at some risk.

Kerry has spoken of speaking to the President and to Clinton before and after he went. I assume that Obama - who used him as his top surrogate on foreign policy during the election - was completely briefed by Kerry on things he heard and saw. It is very clear that on Syria, Obama likely gave Kerry a green light to continue sounding out positions with Syria's leader and when they reached a place where there was agreement, the Obama administration (HRC) took it from there - which is completely appropriate.

Kerry's independence is an advantage - he can say things without them being seen as the President's policy. In addition, he has the luxury of politely disagreeing with Obama's positions. If you listen to the very end of the hearing with HRC - Kerry repeats the concern mentioned in her hearings - very politely and discretely - about the size of our "footprint" in Afghanistan. From other hearings, it is clear that he favors the lightest footprint possible. His hearings provide reasons backing his position. It is clear that some in the administration- Jim Jones, especially, mentioned the first Afghanistan hearing he had in a positive way. He clearly did not win on this issue, though he might have had some impact.