Julian Pecquet of AL Monitor thinks South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, nominee of U.N. Ambassador, is a shoe-in after her Congressional hazing:
Diplomatic novice Nikki Haley easily won over her Senate interrogators Jan. 18 by reassuring them that the incoming administration will at least have a steady hand guiding the US Mission to the United Nations.
On every issue from the Iran deal to Israeli-Palestinian peace to the global world order, the South Carolina governor offered a nuanced and measured counterpoint to President-elect Donald Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric. During 3½ hours before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Haley tactfully won over conservative Republicans and liberal Democrats with pointed answers to a wide variety of questions that repeatedly put her at odds with her future boss.
Rather than rip up the nuclear deal with Iran, “I think what would be more beneficial at this point is that we look at all the details,” she said. “And if it is not being followed, and if we do find violations, then I think we should act and I think that we should act strongly.”
A savvy politician, I’d say. She separates herself from Trump, even if she’s working for him. And she still appeals to the base by opposing a strategic move by Obama:
“What I think happened with [Resolution] 2334 was a kick in the gut to everyone,” Haley said. “We can think what we want to think on settlements, but you have to go back to the fact that the US abstention … was wrong. And I think the fact that we have not allowed the Palestinian Authority and Israel to resolve this themselves, and I think for the UN to have inserted themselves into that, I believe is wrong.”
I have to wonder how much contact she’s had with Netanyahu. I also wonder how far she’ll go – and what her ultimate ambition amounts to. First Indian-American-female President?
