Hillary Clinton's book: The boasts come thick and fast

Hard Choices by the former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton reads more like a presidential campaign than an autobiography.

The book contains many personal stories and boasts of leadership abilities - such as choosing competent colleagues and her purported extensive experience with world leaders.

Clinton does not forget to include every statement of praise she has received from around the world.

Clinton starts her book by focusing on the shift in US foreign policy towards Asia. She enthusiastically writes about China, Japan, South Korea, Burma and other Asian countries that have trade and political ties with the US.

More money, fewer friends

However, Clinton conveys great disappointment over weak relations with Afghanistan and Pakistan, despite the large sums of money pumped in by the US.

She says the Middle East and North Africa provides the lion's share of global problems - civil wars, instability, terrorism, repression and the lack of an honest ally.

According to Clinton, the Israel-Palestine peace process is "staggering". Palestinians have been "denied dignity and the right to self-determination". The Israelis, she says, were oppressed for a long time before establishing a country that was "a dream achieved by highly motivated men and women". How do you square that circle?

The Arab Spring increased the challenges facing the region, according to Clinton, because those kicked out, such as Mubarak and Ben Ali, were followed by people who lacked experience and vision.

Clinton recalls meeting revolutionary youth after Mubarak was toppled, and asking them if they had a plan to transition from protests to political participation.

She writes that their answers suggested they lacked the experience of organising elections, and had little interest in learning the mechanisms required for a true political process.

Regarding Iran, Clinton reiterates the State Department's position, which considers Tehran one of the main funders of terrorism in the world, and interferes in the affairs of Syria, Bahrain and Yemen.

Clinton is aware that US policy in the Middle East is at times contradictory.

In Libya, Washington created an international alliance to protect civilians from a possible massacre threatened by Muammar Gaddafi. In Bahrain, however, the US refused to do the same, despite what Clinton says were her fears that Bahrain would turn into a bloodbath following the entrance of Saudi and Emirati troops to help repress Shia protests.

More money, more problems

On Syria, Clinton writes that she tried to encourage President Barack Obama, to intervene to protect civilians - an idea he did not warm to.

Clinton says that the US had reservations at the start of the conflict about arming the Sunni opposition, despite pressure from Arab states, fearing the weapons could fall into the wrong hands. The US later decided to turn a blind eye to those same Arab states, mainly Saudi Arabia, reportedly arming the rebels themselves.

In numerous places, the book relates Western impressions of Arabs and their policies. For example, during efforts to build a coalition to intervene in Libya, Clinton asks the head of Nato whether France had confirmed the willingness of Arab states to take part, to which he says yes, then adds: "But France knows that what Arabs say in private meetings usually contradicts what they say in public."

Perhaps the way in which Clinton tells this and other stories is her way to criticise Arab governments - although through the words of France.

This is an edited translation from our Arabic edition.

* Hard Choices has recently been translated into Arabic.