Clinton: Changing Arab leaders not enough to bring reform

Washington (CNN) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged Arab leaders Tuesday to reform and meet the demands of their restive populations, warning the region "has a lot to lose if the vision vacuum is filled by extremists and rejectionists."
In comments to the U.S.-Islamic World Forum in Washington, D.C., Clinton praised revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt, but warned the revolutions could prove to be "just a mirage in the desert" if leaders failed to meet demands for reform.
"Changing leaders alone will not be enough," said Clinton, citing ongoing problems of deep unemployment, corruption and lack of opportunity for women, young people and minorities.
Clinton pointed to "troubling signs" in Tunisia and Egypt for the rights of women, whom she said have so far been left out of key decision-making.
"The United States will work with people and leaders across the region to create more open, dynamic and diverse economies," Clinton said, adding the Obama administration will provide both financial and technical assistance to help the region.
Clinton pointed to a fund that has already been created to help Mideast nations transition to democracy, with $150 million already set aside for Egypt. The U.S. Overseas Private Investment Corp. has also committed up to $2 billion to support private-sector investment in the region, she said.
Clinton's comments were the most expansive by the Obama administration since the political uprisings began spreading through the Middle East. They also underscored the administration's effort to strike a balance between supporting the democratic yearnings of the peoples of the region with U.S. national security interests.
Human right groups have called the Obama administration's approach to the so-called "Arab spring" inconsistent, chaging that U.S. policy toward some countries has a double standard.
While actively calling for the resignation of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, Clinton stopped short of calling for the leaders of Syria, Yemen and Bahrain to step down. Instead she suggested those leaders could be part of their countries' futures if they embrace political and economic reforms.
Clinton said the Obama administration knows "a one-size-fits-all approach doesn't make sense in such a diverse region at such a fluid time."
"Going forward, the United States will be guided by careful consideration of all the circumstances on the ground and by our consistent values and interests," Clinton said.Continued