Clinton brings U.S. cash to flooded Thais

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is in Thailand and she brought a gift: $10 million to help rebuild the flood-ravaged nation once waters recede.

This is in addition to roughly $1.1 pledged earlier, according to the Bangkok Post.

Clinton's speedy visit — she'll be in and out in under 24 hours — will help sustain American relations with Thailand, its longest running Asian ally.

After an embarrassing 2006 military coup, and years of violent street protests, Thailand's newly elected government is being prodded by the U.S. to avoid more strife. 

Clinton said as much in a Bangkok speech with Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra: "This flood has posed early challenges to the Thai government and to the hard-won peace achieved after the political violence you have endured through recent years."

In a U.S. bid to dull the power of a rising China in Southeast Asia, President Barack Obama will arrive at an Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Indonesia on Nov. 18.

According to Asia One, Yingluck will get a 30-minute audience with Obama, which should offer a nice distraction from allegations that her flood relief handling has proven inept.