State Dept.
From NBC's Libby Leist
Filling in for injured Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at a press conference with Georgia's foreign minister, Deputy Secretary of State Jim Steinberg reiterated today that the Obama administration believes "all voices should be heard" in Iran and "people should be allowed to express their opinions" about the election outcome. Steinberg dismissed Republican criticism that the administration is pulling its punches in its support for Iran's protestors.
He said this is not a partisan issue, and there are people on both sides of the aisle that agree with President Obama about ensuring this election is about Iran and not the United States.
Video: The New York Times’ David Sanger discusses whether President Barack Obama’s plan to negotiate directly with Iran’s government could be in real jeopardy due to the protests in Tehran.
Also today, Steinberg confirmed that Secretary Clinton will not travel to Trieste, Italy later this week for a meeting with G8 foreign ministers, to be focused on Afghanistan and Pakistan. Instead, the No. 3 official in the State Department,
William Burns, will attend in Clinton's place, along with special envoys
Richard Holbrooke and
George Mitchell.
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From NBC's Libby Leist
Cheryl D. Mills, counselor and chief of staff to Secretary of State Clinton released this statement:
At 7:30am this morning, Secretary Clinton underwent a two hour surgery to successfully repair her fractured right elbow. Her doctors at The George Washington University Hospital have advised her that they expect her to make a full recovery without lasting damage to her arm. After the surgery she returned to her home in Washington where she will remain with her family through the weekend.
Decisions about her schedule and travel will be made and announced in the days to come.
She, President Clinton, and Chelsea are grateful for the many prayers and messages of good will they have received these past few days, and are so very thankful for the excellent care provided by the doctors, nurses and the staff of The George Washington University Hospital.
*** UPDATE *** State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said this afternoon Secretary Clinton is in a cast after surgery to repair her elbow this morning. She went under general anaesthesia for the procedure. Kelly cited "privacy concerns" as the reason her scheduled surgery was not made public before it happened.
From NBC's Libby Leist
President Obama called Secretary of State Clinton last night -- he was one of first to call -- after she fractured her elbow, according to the State Department.
She fell in the basement of State Department on her way to her car around 5 p.m. She was with Af/Pak envoy Richard Holbrooke, and they were heading to the White House for a meeting.
They went back to her office to get examined, and then went to the hospital after that. It appears a simple fracture, and she is working from home.
No decision has been made on whether she will travel next week. She is supposed to go to Greece and Italy at end of next week. But she is scheduled for surgery next week.
Also,
Bill and
Chelsea Clinton are in D.C. now with her -- they came in last night.
From NBC’s Libby Leist
A senior State Department official told reporters this afternoon that the State Department pressed the Web site Twitter not to shut down for scheduled routine maintenance because of its important role in allowing Iranians to communicate in the aftermath of the elections last Friday.
"They announced they were going to shut down their system for maintenance, and we asked them not to," the official said.
The official said that Web sites and cell phones had been shut down and journalists were being kicked out, so the U.S. wanted "to highlight to [Twitter] that this was an important means of communication -- not with us -- but horizontally in Iran."
It was a lower-level official who called Twitter -- not the Secretary of State, the official stressed.
"I don't want to convey the impression that the State Department picked up the hotline, told them not to do it and it’s because of our intervention that it didn't happen," he added.
From NBC's Libby Leist
State Department officials and sources close to Dennis Ross say the diplomat is expected to leave the State Department soon for a position in the White House. Ross currently is in charge of the Iran portfolio at the State Department under the cryptic title: special adviser for the Gulf and Southwest Asia.
The Israeli newspaper Haaretz was the first to report today of a potential move for Ross. The paper said Ross "will abruptly be relieved of his duties" at the State Department.
But State Department officials are denying that Ross was fired or ousted from his State Department position. One official described the job change to the White House as a "promotion." The official wouldn't go any further though leaving the rest of the details to the White House.
When asked today whether Ross was being reassigned to the White House, State Department spokesman Ian Kelly did not deny the move: "I have no personnel announcements right now," he said.
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From NBC's Libby Leist
The United States is "deeply troubled" by reports of violence, arrests, and voting irregularities in Iran, the State Department said this afternoon.
Spokesman Ian Kelly told reporters that the Obama administration is "closely watching" the situation in Iran, and he reiterated Vice President Biden's remarks yesterday on "Meet the Press" expressing doubt at the outcome of the election.
"We do have doubts," Kelly said. He noted that the U.S. was still assessing what went on during Friday's vote.
Video: NBC’s Richard Engel discusses the volatile weekend of protests in Tehran challenging the outcome of the presidential election in Iran.
When asked if the United States supports an investigation into the voting irregularities, Kelly told reporters, "Iran needs to take seriously these allegations, and needs to examine these accusations very thoroughly."
Kelly indicated that the U.S. will go forward with its engagement policy -- regardless of what unfolds in Iran in the coming days. "We will continue to use all avenues to try to convince Iran to try to meet its international obligations," Kelly said.
From NBC's Libby Leist
A senior State Department official said today that a win by President Ahmadinejad in Iran's elections is "not necessarily" a set back for the United States -- despite the fact that Ahmadinejad has so far rebuffed overtures from the Obama Administration.
The official acknowledged that while the Iranian President has an impact in setting the tone it is the Supreme Leader who calls the shots in Iran.
"[W]hen it comes to foreign policy or particular issues involving the United States ... chances are unelected officials and bodies will have the most significant influence," the official said.
He noted that there appear to be different opinions amongst the leadership in Iran about how to approach President Obama's overtures, which could be a good sign for the U.S.
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From NBC’s Libby Leist
The Obama administration's special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke, said today that Taliban offenses in Pakistan are dramatically changing the attitude of the government and people there.
Holbrooke mentioned the bombing of the Pearl Hotel in Peshawar yesterday by "some terrorists" as an example.
Video: Suicide attackers launched an assault on a luxury hotel commonly used by foreigners Tuesday night, setting off a huge blast that killed at least 11 people and wounded dozens more. NBC's Brian Williams reports. "My impression is that this is enraging the population,” he said. “It's not going to work provided the government gives the necessary security.”
Holbrooke told reporters that the U.S. has been impressed by the actions of the Pakistani military, but the military knows the "test is still to come." He said the Pakistani government and military must be able to ensure the return of nearly two million refugees who were forced from their homes in the Swat Valley and provide security for them.
" CONTINUED >>
From NBC’s Andrea Mitchell
As was written about earlier today on First Read, President Obama is deeply concerned about the conviction of the two journalists in North Korea, and the U.S is doing everything possible through diplomatic channels to secure their release, the White House says.
An identical statement was issued by the State Department. The U.S. has no diplomatic relations with the North, but has been working through Sweden's ambassador, who represents U.S. interests in Pyongyang. However, he was not even permitted to attend the trial as an observer -- despite repeated requests from the U.S.
Video: Andrea Mitchell weighs in on the two U.S. journalists sentenced to 12 years of hard labor in North Korea.
U.S. officials believe the North is trying to use the women as bargaining chips in ongoing negotiations with the West. On ABC Sunday, Secretary Clinton emphasized that the women's fates should be treated as a humanitarian issue. Clearly, the U.S. is trying to keep this case separate from the more difficult political and security disagreements with the North.
The Obama team's assumption is that the women's trial is wrapped up in the succession struggle. Last week, the regime let it be known that ailing leader Kim Jong Il would be succeeded by his youngest son. That could be an indication that the military is really in charge, and that the son is merely a figurehead.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC’s Libby Leist
Hillary Clinton's deputy
Jim Steinberg was in South Korea today for meetings on North Korea. Speaking to reporters, Steinberg said the U.S. is focused on maintaining a "common approach" with the regional allies -- Japan, South Korea, China and Russia -- as they respond to the recent North Korean nuclear test and missile launches, as well as any crises that arise from the apparent succession underway in North Korea.
"We recognize that there are events that may be taking place there,” he said, “but what we focus on is how we can continue to work together to make sure that no matter what happens in North Korea, that we have a common approach.”
Steinberg also reaffirmed U.S. security commitments to South Korea. His next stop on the trip is Beijing June 5.
Meanwhile, discussions at the United Nations are still underway to produce a resolution condemning the nuclear test and missile launch. Steinberg would not talk about what financial sanctions might be included in that resolution.
