By Jeremy Elwood

Another week, another display of our government fawning over visiting US dignitaries. This time, however, it’s perhaps more understandable; firstly, US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton is arguably the most powerful, not to mention one of the most recognizable, woman on Earth. Secondly, as far as we know she has no connection whatsoever to the Hobbit. Which does beg the question; at what point in the last few years did a visit from a senior White House representative lead to less comment or protest than one from a couple of Hollywood executives?

So here she came, the woman fourth in line to the Presidency itself – although, in a now familiar case of “speak first, go red and stammer out an apology immediately afterwards”, our PM managed to briefly promote her when he referred to “President Clinton” at a joint press conference. Best case scenario, he was trying to get his own back for an American news network labeling him “CEO of Weta” during the recent Warner Brothers visit. Worst case, he either needs glasses or a refresher course on recent global politics.  

This was one leg of a goodwill tour, a chance for the US to send one of their heaviest hitters to check in with their allies in the Asia Pacific region. Sorry, not “allies”; in our case we’re still officially “very good friends”, although the Wellington Declaration that Clinton signed alongside Foreign Minister Murray McCully during her stay seems to indicate that we’re not too far off becoming at the least “very good friends - with benefits”. (As an aside, my good friend and colleague Chris Brain pointed out on Twitter “Is it just me, or is Murray McCully looking more like Elton John every day?” Hard to argue with.)

The sticking point is still our Nuclear Free policy, a stance that in my opinion, has paid unexpected dividends every year since it was established. Since 1984, our lack of a formal military alliance with the US has kept us out of at least three wars, numerous military engagements, off Al Qaeda’s radar and away from the bulk of the economic recession. The latter may prove to be a double edged sword, as commentators more qualified than I are already suggesting that a primary driver behind Clinton’s willingness to visit and sign the Declaration is to get us onside in the event of an economic or military showdown with China – our free trade agreement and increasing communication with the only genuine superpower in our region (hell, the way the US dollar is floundering, the only genuine superpower, period) may yet pitch us firmly in the middle of a road we are probably best off avoiding altogether.

All in all though, the trip appears to have gone well by recent standards. Russell Norman kept his flags to himself, McCully refrained from launching into Tiny Dancer, and it looks like Clinton is leaving us with the same number of laws we had when she arrived. Everyone played so nicely that you have to wonder if, when John Key invited her to his Barbeque, he somehow convinced her to leave her mates at home – you know, shouty Uncle Sam, punchy Uncle Sam, hit on everyone’s natural resources Uncle Sam…