March 14, 2007
Clinton Won't Withdraw From Iraq
This won't endear her to the netroots, but then, what could? For those Democrats that have a toe in reality, however, Hillary just showed that she may be the first grown-up running for the Democratic Presidential nomination. Well, almost:
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton foresees a “remaining military as well as political mission” in Iraq, and says that if elected president, she would keep a reduced but significant military force there to fight Al Qaeda, deter Iranian aggression, protect the Kurds and possibly support the Iraqi military.In a half-hour interview on Tuesday in her Senate office, Mrs. Clinton said the scaled-down American military force that she would maintain in Iraq after taking office would stay off the streets in Baghdad and would no longer try to protect Iraqis from sectarian violence — even if it descended into ethnic cleansing.
It is good to see that Hillary recognized the need to help support the Iraqi government, but her statement about not protecting Iraqis from sectarian violence, "even if it descended into ethnic cleansing," is troubling.
If "President Hillary" is serious that she would take no action in the event of an attempted genocide, then her behavior would verge upon criminal. If, however, Clinton is merely issuing "tough love" to encourage Sunni, Shia, and Kurd to work together, then her pronouncement makes far more practical sense.
It will be interesting to see how or if the other Democratic candidates will try to shift their positions as they watch Hilliary outmanuver them to the electable middle.
Update: Captain Ed critiques Clinton's statement more harshly.
Hey, don't we all remember the Clinton Doctrine? Remember how it worked in places like Rwanda and Kosovo? This is just the latest chapter in the Clinton Legacy...
Posted by: fmfnavydoc at March 14, 2007 10:44 PMStop me if you've heard this one.
Remember this hillbillery?
Hillary Urges Start of Troop Pullout in 90 Days
By Jeralyn, Section War In Iraq
Posted on Sat Feb 17, 2007 at 05:28:14 PM EST
Tags: Hillary Clinton (all tags)
On Hillary Clinton's website today, she unveils a new message on Iraq.
U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, the early front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination, has called for a 90-day deadline to start pulling American troops from Iraq.
"Now it's time to say the redeployment should start in 90 days or the Congress will revoke authorization for this war," the New York senator said in a video on her campaign Web site, repeating a point included in a bill she introduced on Friday.
Two faced Liar pukes up whatever this donk thinks you want to hear!
Hillary also has a clear message for President Bush:
"If George Bush doesn't end the war before he leaves office, when I'm president, I will," Clinton said in the video.
More...
How is this Hillary message different from the last one?
At a January 17 news conference after visiting Iraq, Clinton repeated her call for a phased redeployment as a way of pressing the Iraqi government to shoulder more responsibility for security. But she stopped short then of proposing a deadline for doing so.
FLIP FLOP FLIP FLOP!!!
Remind you of anyone?
Posted by: Dan at March 14, 2007 11:52 PMScrew those little brown people. I mean, like, do they vote in our elections? Probably a bunch of right-wingers anyway. Ain't that right, Hillary?
I excerpted and linked at 2007.03.15 Surrenderpolitik update.
Posted by: Bill Faith at March 15, 2007 02:48 AM
would no longer try to protect Iraqis from sectarian violence — even if it descended into ethnic cleansing
Hey, what a little genocide among friends?
Posted by: phin at March 15, 2007 07:51 AMAnother highly-calculated statement from Hillary. I'm sure she knows exactly what she's said before, what she meant this to say, and how it'll play out next. Means nothing since every word coming out of her mouth is suspect, but it'll do what she wants it to do.
Posted by: DoorHold at March 15, 2007 01:50 PM
