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EAMON JAVERS
Asked if Iran and North Korea have responded to President Barack Obama's offer to "extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist," Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Sunday flatly said "no."
But, she said in an appearance on CNN's "State of the Union," "engagement has brought us a lot in the last year," and that Obama's "election, and his persona combined with the approach we took of seeking to find the basis for engagement on mutual respect, and mutual interest has really created a much more open, receptive atmosphere."
Clinton also gave a tepid endorsement to Afghan president Hamid Karzai, saying that the United States works with leaders it does not agree with all the time, based on what's in America's best interest. "I mean we -- we -- we do business with leaders all the time. Some of whom are great American allies that have a lot of questions raised about them," Clinton said. "But we do an assessment. What's in the best interest of America? What's in our national security?"
