Clinton vows to make US force for positive change

Hillary Clinton on Monday vowed to make the United States a new force for positive change, saying that as secretary of state she would work with the world community to solve global crises.

"The American people have demanded not just a new direction at home, but a new effort to renew America's standing in the world as a force for positive change," Clinton told a Chicago press conference after being nominated to the post of secretary of state by president-elect Barack Obama.

Clinton vowed to "reach out to the world again" after eight years of President George W. Bush's administration and promised to give "this assignment, your administration and my country, my all."

"America is a place founded on the idea that everyone should have the right to live up to his or her God-given potential. It is the same ideal that must guide America's purpose in the world today," said Clinton, who leaves a seat as New York senator to serve as secretary of state. Her nomination requires Senate confirmation.

Obama said that Clinton's appointment as top diplomat was a "sign to friend and foe of the seriousness of my commitment to renew American diplomacy and restore our alliances."

Former president Bill Clinton, who had fiercely campaigned for his wife in her battle against Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination, praised the president-elect for his choice.

"She is the right person for the job of helping to restore America's image abroad, end the war in Iraq, advance peace and increase our security," Clinton said in a statement.

Clinton said the former first lady had "already earned the respect of foreign leaders and diplomats" through her work to promote human rights and improve women's access to education and healthcare worldwide.

"I commend president-elect Obama for asking her to be a part of a great national security team. America will be well-served," he said.

Obama, who is to take office on January 20, also confirmed that he was keeping Defense Secretary Robert Gates in his post, but with a "new mission" to end the Iraq war and hand over control of the country to the Iraqis.

"I will be giving Secretary Gates and our military a new mission as soon as I take office, responsibly ending the war in Iraq through a successful transition to Iraqi control," said Obama, pledging to turn attention to the fight against Al-Qaeda and insurgents in Afghanistan.

"We will also ensure that we have the strategy and resources to succeed against Al-Qaeda and the Taliban," Obama said.

Obama to name AG, UN, homeland picks on Monday

A Democratic official says President-elect Barack Obama plans to name his picks for U.N. ambassador, attorney general and homeland security secretary at a news conference Monday.

Obama has settled on Susan Rice, his campaign foreign policy adviser, for the U.N. post. For attorney general, the pick is Eric Holder, who helped run Obama's vice presidential search. At the Homeland Security Department, it's Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano.

Those names had been discussed before for those jobs. But a Democratic official said Sunday that Obama will make the three announcements official — along with Hillary Rodham Clinton as secretary of state and members of national security team — Monday in Chicago.

The official spoke on a condition of anonymity because the announcements were not authorized for public release.

Hillary Clinton will be Barack Obama's secretary of state.

Hillary Clinton plans to accept the job of secretary of state offered by Barack Obama, who is reaching out to former rivals to build a broad coalition administration, the Guardian has learned.

Obama's advisers have begun looking into Bill Clinton's foundation, which distributes millions of dollars to Africa to help with development, to ensure that there is no conflict of interest. But Democrats do not believe that the vetting is likely to be a problem.

Clinton would be well placed to become the country's dominant voice in foreign affairs, replacing Condoleezza Rice. Since being elected senator for New York, she has specialised in foreign affairs and defence. Although she supported the war in Iraq, she and Obama basically agree on a withdrawal of American troops.

Clinton, who still harbours hopes of a future presidential run, had to weigh up whether she would be better placed by staying in the Senate, which offers a platform for life, or making the more uncertain career move to the secretary of state job.

As part of the coalition-building, Obama today also reached out to his defeated Republican rival, John McCain, to discuss how they could work together to roll back some of the most controversial policies of the Bush years. Putting aside the bitter words thrown about with abandon by both sides during the election campaign, McCain flew to meet Obama at his headquarters in the Kluczynski Federal Building, in downtown Chicago.

Obama, speaking before the meeting, said: "We're going to have a good conversation about how we can do some work together to fix up the country." He said he also wanted to thank McCain for his service to the country.

Asked by a reporter whether he would work with Obama, McCain, who has long favoured a bipartisan approach to politics, replied: "Obviously".

Sources on both sides said Obama did not offer McCain a cabinet job, but focused on how the senator for Arizona could help to guide through Congress legislation that they both strongly favour.

Given Obama's status as president-in-waiting, the two met in a formal setting, a room decked out with a US flag, and were accompanied by senior advisers. Obama appeared the more relaxed of the two, sitting with legs crossed, smiling broadly and waving to reporters, while McCain sat stiffly, with a seemingly fixed grin.

Although the two clashed during the election campaign over tax policy and withdrawal from Iraq, they have more in common than they have differences. They both favour the closure of the Guantánamo Bay detention centre, an increase in US troops to Afghanistan, immigration reform, stem cell research and measures to tackle climate change, and oppose torture and the widespread use of wire-tapping.

Although Democrats made gains in the Senate in the November 4 elections, they fell short of the 60 seats that would have allowed them to override Republican blocking tactics and will need Republican allies to get Obama's plans through. This was highlighted today when the Democratic leadership in Congress announced that a broad economic stimulus package Obama sought was not likely to be passed because of Republican opposition.

Obama confirmed at the weekend that he would offer jobs to some Republicans. One of the names that crops up most often is Chuck Hagel, the former Republican senator who is a specialist in foreign affairs and a critic of the Iraq war.