Clinton challenges McCain and Obama on war issue
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/04/09/art.clintonaliquippa.ap.jpg caption="Clinton attacked both McCain and Obama on Iraq policy Wednesday."] ALIQUIPPA, Pennsylvania (CNN) - One day after telling General David Petraeus and Iraq Ambassador Ryan Crocker that it would be "irresponsible" to continue American military involvement in Iraq, Clinton took the issue onto the campaign trail and claimed her two rivals for the White House cannot be trusted to end the war.
Before a backdrop reading "Solutions for a Strong Military," Clinton accused John McCain of wanting to keep troops in Iraq "for up to 100 years," a charge McCain's campaign has disputed.
"Yesterday, he basically reiterated his commitment to the course we are on," she said. "Well, I don't agree with that."
Clinton's plan calls for the U.S. to begin withdrawal within 60 days of her becoming president, in consult with military advisers. In her speech Wednesday, she questioned Barack Obama's commitment to achieving the same goal.
"Sen. Obama on the other hand says he will end the war, but his top foreign policy adviser said he won't necessarily follow the plan he has been talking about during this campaign, that his plan is just words," she said. "You can count on me to end the war safely and responsibly."
(UPDATE: McCain, Obama camps respond after the jump)
Clinton was referring to Obama's former adviser Samantha Power, who told the BBC in early March that it would be difficult for the next president to firmly commit to a campaign pledge to withdraw troops, when no one can predict what the situation on the ground in Iraq will be in January 2009.
Power, who resigned last month after calling Clinton a "monster," said Obama's plan to withdraw combat troops within 16 months is a "best-case scenario."
"That's the choice," Clinton continued. "One candidate will continue the war and keep the troops in Iraq indefinitely. One candidate only says he will end the war. And one candidate is ready, willing and able to end the war and to rebuild our military while honoring our soldiers and our veterans."
UPDATE: The Republican National Committee, reacting on behalf of the McCain campaign, blasted Clinton's comments. “Senator Clinton’s calls for retreat would leave Iraq to the terrorists, and lead the U.S. into a wider and more difficult war in the future," said RNC spokesman Alex Conant. "It’s clear Clinton is listening to her party’s left-wing base and not General Patraeus and Ambassador Crocker.”
Later, the Obama camp weighed in. "Hillary Clinton's tired and discredited attack is just the same old politics that won't end this war that she voted to authorize, and won't change the fact that she has repeatedly misled the American people about her Iraq record," said spokesman Hari Sevugan.
"We're happy to have a debate with Hillary Clinton over who the American people trust to end this war, since Barack Obama is the only candidate who had the judgment to oppose the war from the very beginning, not just from the beginning of a campaign for President."
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Go Hillary!!
The Obamazombies are ALL idiots.
If he gets the nomination, I will be looking forward to seeing him crushed in November. I am a democrat who has never voted for a republican. If Obama gets the nomination, I will happily pull the lever in the voting booth for John McCain.
If not Hillary, McCain in '08!!
We have all known all along that Hillary is the best canidate on a host of issues, from the war to healthcare, it will be a shame if she is not our president. Take note PA this women is the right choice.
Hillary 08
this womans hipocrisy knows no bounds,i am shock ansawed that she would bring up obamas adviser when penn and bill clinton went to the columbians.i am just shocked
guys do not take the challenge....
You know she fought in the Civil War, WW I, WWII, Desert stom and the war on terror.............. he combat experience is too great............:)
Let's get our troops home, and let the other regional powers that need stability to sell oil to us fix the situation.
Total withdrawal by 3/09? That's insane. I'm completely against the war, and I think it's insane.
Amazing. Simply amazing. HRC, who voted for the war, who argued against a "timetable" until well into the campaign, is now trying to cast Obama as the guy who wants to keep us in the war? Obama, the guy who risked his Senatorial career by speaking out against the war in the midst of a campaign?
Talk about your political charlatans! I trust Hillary on this about as much as I trust Bill Clinton when he says "I did not try to support a trade deal with that nation, Colombia."
Whatever.... Hillary is attempting to make an issue out of something that she is doing ALSO. Just like Obama, she has mentioned that she would consult with the generals to get a clear sense of a withdrawal procedures. What is the difference???????? If I was a supporter of Hillary, I would be furious.... She needs to get a new speech writer becasue clearly that "just words" phrase has not WORKED!!!
She need to stop.. The polls are getting closer and she is fishing for something to talk about to bring her back. Hillary is what the kids use today "thirsty"
Someone get her a sprite!
Hillary Clinton can't even manage a primary campaign that she was a supposed shoe-in to win the nomination.
How can she claim to be an effective president?
Anyone but Clinton '08!
Shame of you Hillary! Shame on you!
You PROUDLY voted to authorize George W Bush to start the war in the first place, and you didn't even bother to read the intelligene!
Barack Obama took a political risk in 2002 by speaking out against authorization. He didn't consult with a pollster...he knew that when it comes to waging war, you have to do what is right, not what is currently popular.
CNN, please post this comment, as it is important for states with upcoming primaries to hear. Despite many Clinton supporter's fear that CNN seems biased to Obama supporters, I want to say that I have not had a comment posted for weeks. This time I feel it is extremely important, and goes to the heart of my concern's about Sen. Clinton (which I had several months before becoming an Obama supporter).
I saw Sen. Clinton, in person, in Iowa at the beginning of this Presidential race. She was asked directly about the war in Iraq, and said specifically that she COULD NOT promise to get us out of Iraq, and that we may in fact need to leave troops there for months (she did not even rule out years). This answer concerned me, and in fact sounded similar to what McCain is saying. Other answers she gave seemed tailored to the particular audience she was speaking to, and I was not alone in wondering if she had a tendency to say what was politically expedient at the time.
Right now, Clinton seems to be saying that she will definitely get us out, completely, and in a very short time frame. It is important to know that this is very different from what she said to an audience of over 100 people just several months ago. If she has since had a change of mind/heart, she is not discussing this. Or is it that she is not caught in this difference, switching from a small state format with only local press to a national format, where larger news networks are not aware of her former statements? Perhaps we should go back and check some former footage from Des Moines or Omaha.
Go Hillary!!! Hillary 2008!
I wouldn't trust Hillary on anything after all her lies on:
Sniper fire in Bosnia
Negotiating open borders
negotiating peace in Ireland
helping to write the S-Chip program
supporting NAFTA
an "uninsured" woman dying after being denied care
and the list goes on.
Mr Davis, should fight another fight, McCain got endorsements from radicals and expressed delight, by the way my grandfather couldn't participate in many activities because he was Black American, he fought wars and wasn't welcomed on Main street, in other words the Reverend Wright only spoke truths. Get over it i had to. America is so hypocritical.
We do not trust you Mrs. Clinton. PERIOD
She voted for the war and now she challenges Obama... That's like starting a fire and then criticizing the fire department, for the way they are fighting the fire.....
Challenging who on what? She voted FOR use of force i.e. WAR! Who the heck does she think she's kidding?
Fellow democrats, Hillary Clinton should not be allowed anywhere near the Whitehouse.
I really have to back Clinton on this one...BRING THE TROOPS HOME!
No more sensless dying of American, British etc...troops.
Clinton thinks printing up little blue signs will make up for Obama's 20 million dollar advantage?
She still doesn't understand that sending out her surrogates to muddy Obama only helps Obama. It makes her look disloyal & self serving.
She is a great senator & should stay there.
What is wrong with this woman? You voted for the war. Obama oppsed the war even when it was unpopular to do so. If you agree with Samantha's statements (which by the way makes sense to me...I mean President Obama wil have to rely on the people on the ground before coming up with a careful plan...which he will...relax) then you also agree with the fact that she also called you a monster...and we have seen a lot of that in you. I think it is time to call it a day in this nomination process. Do it for yourself. nuff said!
SHE IS THE SAME OLD BS...SHE CANNOT POSSIBLE SAY THAT WE CAN COUNT ON HER FOR ANYTHING. SHE SAYS ANYTHING AND DOES ANYTHING TO GET ELECTED...IF HER LIPS ARE MOVING...SHE IS LYING....CANNOT WAIT TO SEE HER FACE OFF TV AND HER MOUTH SHUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OBAMA'S WORDS AND VOTE DID NOT GET US INTO THIS WAR AND
TIME AND TIME AGAIN HILLARY HAS PROVEN HER WORDS ARE
JUST LIES!!!
____STOP DISTRACTING FROM THE FREE TRADE ISSUE_____
The Clinton campaign acknowledges that BILL CLINTON supports
the Colombia free trade deal, while Hillary does not.
(Yeah right and we are suppose to believe her.)
*******READ******READ***READ****READ*****READ*****READ***
The New York Daily News adds,
“BILL CLINTON VOICED 'SUPPORT' for a controversial
COLUMBIA FREE-TRADE PACT that his wife has
fiercely opposed - and HE ACCEPTED -–$800,000-- in speaking
fees from a group boosting the agreement, it was revealed
yesterday.”
****************************************************************************
SO HOW IS HILLARY GOING TO CONVINCE THE LEGISLATURE
THAT FREE TRADE NEEDS TO BE REVAMPED IF SHE CANNOT
EVEN CONVINCE HER OWN STAFF AND HER OWN HUSBAND
WHO ARE LOBBYING FOR IT AND TAKING THEIR MONEY?????
You are really ridiculous... You were the first to vote for the war... You did sign the document you did not read... Give me a break... We do not trust you any more. You lost my vote with these negative attacks...