Clinton's own Agency Praises her

WASHINGTON — Today marks Hillary Rodham Clinton’s 100th day as the top U.S. diplomat, and the State Department is commemorating the occasion with a 13-page list praising what it considers her early achievements.

The lengthy document posted on the department’s Web site this week extols the secretary of state’s hectic travel abroad and the appointments of four high-profile special envoys to deal with trouble spots and climate change.

It was compiled by the department’s public affairs staff with help from regional and other bureaus.

by the associated press

Clinton vows to support troops as they exit Iraq

BAGHDAD — U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton tried to reassure nervous Iraqis that the U.S. won’t abandon them, even as she said the American troop withdrawal would stay on schedule despite a recent surge in violence.

On her first visit to Baghdad as chief U.S. diplomat, Clinton said Saturday that Washington remains committed to moving U.S. soldiers out of urban areas by June 30 and pulling out combat troops from the country by 2011.

"Our strategy in working with you may be in a new phase, but we pledge our full and continuing commitment to Iraq and the Iraqi people,” she said after meeting Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari.

Suicide bombings Thursday and Friday killed more than 150 people. But she said the attacks "do not reflect any diversion from security progress.”

by the associated press

U.S. , Iran vow to work on aiding Afghanistan

In a cautious first step toward unlocking 30 years of tense relations , senior U.S. diplpmat Richard Holbrooke had a brief but cordial meeting with Iran's deputy foreigh minister Tuesday at an international summit on Afghanistan .

The diplomatic approachwas the first official face to face interplay meeting between Obama administration and Iranian regime . Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said talks between Holbrooke and Iranian diplomat Mehdi Akhundzadeh were promising but not not " substantive ".

The meeting between the two came on the sidelines of a session aimed at improving Afghanistan . Akkhundzedeh was critical of Obama's plan to add U.S. troops , saying the money they cost would be better spent on buliding Afghanistan 's own forces .

But the Iranian offical added that his country is " prepared to participate in the plans in line with deeloping and reconstructing Afghanistan ".

Afghanistan and Iran share nearly 600 miles of border, Clinton said the U.S. and Afghanistan share concern over the flow of drugs into Iran .

The meeting " is a promising sign that there will be future cooperations " Clinton said .

Associated press