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Mini mystery: Whereâ€™s Hillary Clinton?

25 April 2011 22:52 (UTC +04:00)

Baku â€“ APA. In more than two years as Barack Obama’s Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton has kept up a punishing schedule of near constant foreign travel, diplomatic outreach, White House meetings, and management of the large State Department bureaucracy. And in the process, she’s emerged as one of the most popular figures in Obama’s cabinet, APA reports quoting â€œThe Envoyâ€.
So it was very unusual when this week’s State Department public "week ahead" itinerary described Clinton as having no public appointments at all on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Indeed, her first public appointment is not scheduled until Thursday morningâ€”and that is a highly ceremonial appearance: officiating at a symbolic swearing-in of children of State Department employees participating in take your child to work today.
What’s more, Clinton is notably absentâ€”even by videoconferenceâ€”from the list of senior Obama national security advisers and cabinet chiefs due to meet with the President today on Afghanistan and Pakistan at 11:30 AM.
Asked about her absence from the list, a White House spokesman said he doesn’t know where she is, and suggested that a reporter ask her office.
The Envoy has duly launched queries to the State Department. Readers are not advised to hold their breaths in anticipation of official replies, however: Both chief spokespeople at the State Department also appear to be out of the office this week.
Secret diplomatic mission? Mini family get away?
A State Department source says Clinton’s taking a little Easter break R&R, although he did not reveal her location.
Clinton is not a person who disappears easily. Let us know if you spot her.