(CNN)–Senator Hillary Clinton says the Democratic majority in the Senate is trying to change the policy in Iraq, but still finds itself short of the votes necessary to do so.
"Unfortunately we have most of the Republicans in the Senate continuing to side with the President and that meant that we have not been able to what we need to with sixty votes necessary to send something to the President," the Democratic presidential candidate told CNN's Wolf Blitzer on 'Late Edition,' "He has said that he would veto it. I think what has become clear though, Wolf, is that the President has no intention of changing his policy in Iraq."
"I have reached the conclusion that the best way to support our troops is to begin bringing them home," Clinton said. "I don't believe we should continue to vote for funding that has an open-ended commitment, that has no pressure on the Iraqi government to make the tough political decisions they have to make or which really gives any urgency to the Bush administration’s diplomatic efforts."
Clinton said the conditions for political reform in Iraq cannot be created by the U.S. military presence there. "There is no doubt that everyone agrees except perhaps the President there is no military solution in Iraq," she said. "That has been the constant refrain from the military and others experts that in the absence of political decisions being made, you might have tactical gains on the ground but you are not going to create a stable, secure Iraq."
Clinton also responded to the fallout from an ad by the liberal group Moveon.org that attacked General David Petraeus, the top military commander in Iraq. "I don't condone attacks by anyone on the patriotism and service of our military," she said. "I am an admirer of General Petraeus, as I've said on numerous occasions. I don't condone it, and I joined in voting for a resolution that condemned such attacks. But let's be clear here. This debate should not be about an ad. This debate should be about the president's failed policies."
Clinton was a guest on all five network Sunday political talk shows.
- CNN Political Desk Editor Jamie Crawford