Intelligencer Journal/Lancaster New Era

Why all the praise for Hillary Clinton?

TO THE EDITORS:

I can't remember any retiring secretary of state ever receiving such high praise and admiration from the mainstream media, chummy senators and the administration.

I am not trying to diminish the fact that she apparently worked hard and tirelessly. She served our country very well during some very tense and trying times. She is articulate, smart and ambitious. Most likely she will be a future presidential candidate.

It is most difficult for me to understand exactly what it is that she has accomplished in the last four years that has earned her this exceptionally high praise and the greatness that has been bestowed upon her. Even when the president was asked this question directly by Steve Kroft during the 60 Minutes "softball" interview, he could barely give any outstanding accomplishment other than our involvement with the Egyptian revolt.

Reflecting back on recent developments, one must now question just how beneficial that was. In fact, today's relations with Israel and Egypt, two of our main allies, have worsened under this administration. And let us not forget the situation in Libya, where our ambassador and three others were murdered as a result of inadequate security in spite of repeated requests to the State Department that were ignored. Clinton has accepted responsibility but still refuses to take any of the blame.

I fail to see how her accomplishments can outweigh this horrible tragedy. Comparing her to past great secretaries of state, such as George C. Marshall, under President Truman, who crafted the Marshall plan; Dean Acheson, also under President Truman, who created NATO; or Henry Kissinger under Nixon and Ford (the art of shuttle diplomacy and trade with China and Soviet Union), is like some who are trying to compare our current president to Abraham Lincoln.

Of course, history will be the final judge.

Ken Good

Manheim Township