Of course.  We all want Kim Jung Il, Raul Castro, Vladimir Putin, Hassan Rouhani, Bashar al-Assad, Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi and Xi Jinping to sleep like babies at night, comforted in the knowledge that we care about their feelings.

From the WashingtonTimes.com:

Hillary Clinton hammered for insisting U.S. should ‘empathize’ with enemies

by David Sherfinski

Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is getting pushback for saying this week that smart foreign policy should include empathizing with one’s enemies.

Mrs. Clinton spoke at Georgetown University about what she called “smart power,” which entails “using every possible tool and partner to advance peace and security, leaving no one on the sidelines, showing respect, even for one’s enemies, trying to understand and insofar as psychologically possible, empathize with their perspective and point of view, helping to define the problems, determine the solutions.”

I don’t believe, however, that Clinton anticipated pushback from a female Demorat, however:

From the WashingtonFreeBeacon.com:

Hillary Clinton Backer Jane Harman Questions Her Suggestion We ‘Empathize’ With Our ‘Enemies’

Long-time Hillary Clinton supporter, former Rep. Jane Harman (D., Calif.) tore apart Clinton’s claim that the U.S. needs to “respect” and “empathize with” its enemies.

Harman said she did not know what Clinton meant by “enemies” in her controversial statement.

“I take issue with the word ‘enemies,’” Harman told Fox’s Chris Wallace on Sunday. “I think we have to respect people with different points of view in order to win the argument with them. I don’t exactly know what she was saying.”

Harman, who has thrown her support behind a 2016 Clinton candidacy, said the U.S. does not have to “respect” terrorists ever.

“I don’t think we have to respect members of terror groups ever,” Harman said. “I think we have to have harsh policies against them.”

Please notice, however, Harman parses her words carefully.  She didn’t object solely to the word “empathize.”  She objected to the word “enemies” principally.  As in: it is harsh and judgmental to call any other nation an “enemy” of the United States.

Words matter.  Again, as in: we losing the ability to even identify our enemies.

BZ