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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Senator Clinton, you should have not started this war at all. Why should we trust you now? Aah, and the Olymics boycott, will you support boycott for the London 2012 because the UK attacked Iraq illegally?
Oh shut up Hillary - we can't count on you to tell the truth let alone "end the war safely and responsibly'!!
Go away already!
Hillary go home. Nobody believes you anymore. I think that sniper fire got to your head. You and I both know you are not going to bring the troops home in three months. No more lies.. I would like to know what Mark Penn has on you, that you can't fire him.
Hey let's upset the CNN/Nation Of Islam/Rev. Wrigth conspiracy and elect a REAL President.
HILLARY 2008 and 2012
Hillary needs to focus on stopping Bush from the long term contract he is making with Iraq right now that will make her promises to end the war force her to backtrack. Watch and listen carefully as she back tracks on her words.
Let's compare words and votes. She voted for the war Obama did not. Whose word are you going to believe?
That's right, Hillary, let's keep it up the sound-bite politics that the Republicans are so good at. It diminishes you to keep drawing on old, repudiated statements just because they're the only ones that fit your message. It also insults your supporters that you expect them to eat it without smelling it first.
Your caveat "in consult with military advisers" is no different from anything Obama has ever said. Once in the White House, if you ever get there, you'll be telling us the "military advisers" advised you not to withdraw within 60 days. Count on it.
Its funny clinton is choosing now to talk about double-talking campaign mangers
IF THAT IS HOW YOU WANT US TO JUDGE, THEN YOU ARE A LIER AND DECIEVER FOR LETTING MARK PENN BE YOUR CHIEFT STRATEGIST!!!!!!
OBAMA 08!!!!!!!!!!!!
Same old Hillary strategy: devert the attention away from Bill and Penn's support of the Columbia Trade deal. Devert attention that Hillary lied about firing Penn. He is still there and on her pay roll.
Makes one wonder if Hillary is truly against Columbia deal after all. Just like hillary's supposed anti stance on NAFTA. Union members need to know the truth!
Hillary is such a loser!
All she knows about war is how to vote in favor of them, which shows her ability to use good judgement has not caught up with her so called experience.
Obama 08!
Yes We Can!
It sad to see more rhetoric and less of a definitive plan. Repeating the same generalized campaign speak is not the same as having a throughly vetted plan. I like the fact that Senator Obama is not rushing to a less than thought out exit strategy for leaving Iraqi. Haste makes waste!
although its doubtful mrs. clinton will be able to withdrawtroops within only 60 days ,it is without any doubt ,the only possible and realistic way to stop the killing of both american and iraqi people.to stop that war should be the main issue of either one of the presidential candidates. hopefully mrs. clinton will be the next president of the u.s.it would be a blessing for america and for the rest of the world ,because worldwide peace is in americas hands.greetings from germany, rebekka warnken.
What an utterly despicable & disgusting person Hillary is.
Sounds like just more Clinton "Cut and Run" strategy. No guts, no military experience, no diplomatic experience; just stick your head in the sand and give up. Good plan, Hillary!
Obama is incoherent on foreign policy. He says he will go back to the policy of the first President Bush. Then he ignores that policy, which was to ask Congress to approve force in order to threaten Iraq (After Iraq invaded Kuwait). Hillary did the same thing several years later and Obama bashes her for it. People are so willing to buy into the Obama brand that they don't even listen to what he says half the time.
SOUND OFF!
60 DAYS! SPEAKING AS A EX ARMY SSG THAT WOULD BE A DISASTER. THIS IS THE VERY REASON WOMEN ARE NOT IN COMBAT ARMS MOS'S. THEY CHOSE EMOTIONS OVER REASON 9 OUT 10 TIMES. 18-24 MONTH STAGE WITHDRAWL IS MORE REALISTIC. SHE DOES THAT 60 DAY IDEA SHE'LL BE BACK BY YEARS END. COSTING MORE MONEY AND MORE LIVES TRYING TO TAKE BACK IRAQ. NOT VERY SMART. AND FOR THE PEOPLE OUT THERE BLOGGING THEIR OPINION ABOUT THE WAR AND FREEDOMS THEY DONT DESERVE. PICK UP A RIFFLE AND TRY EARNING THAT OPINON YOU GOT. COWARDS SAY WHAT THEY BELIEVE..... WHILE MEN WILL FIGHT FOR IT.
Hilliary must think we are fools, it would be impossible to start pulling out the troops within 60 days of taking office. That just is not a realistic timeline. I'm an Army Veteran and believe me it would take longer to safely achieve this task.
Hillary says she will withdraw in 60 however with consult from her miltary advisors. "This code for we will evaluate the situation when the time comes"
Obama's foreign policy advisor says he has a plan to withdraws the troops immediately however that plan can be change base on conditions on the ground.
It sounds the same to me.
All either candidate has is words and good intentions at this time.
End this war. Just bring them home.
I really hope she is not talking about that guy who is only a part time consultant that really has no influence at all – I mean even I am referring to him as that guy, while on the other hand her top adviser (Mark Penn) was in Columbia promoting a deal that she says she opposes, not to mention Bill Clinton himself agrees with the trade deal with Columbia. She stupid!!!! LOL
Barack will take a more responsible route to ending the war. He's interested in region diplomacy. That's been missing ever since we went there. Barack is the only one with the temperament to handle it. That's why sensible super delegates are lining up with him.
The question is if voters realize it too. How many failures are they willing to accept before that happens?
Wow, this woman is unbelievable. She must think citizens are really stupid if she thinks that Obama, who opposed the war from the beginning, is less likely to end the war than she, despite her failure to take responsibility for her own decision to ENTER the war.
If I have to choose one intelligent person among the three to SMARTLY exit Iraq without creating a larger mess, then I trust Obama because of his original stance on the war, his critiques since then, and his handling of his campaign, which has proved far superior to both Hillary and McCain.
Obama '08!
This is exactly why Cinton should not be president. Any rational thinking individual would agree that the best you can promise right now is to put into motion with 60 days a plan to end the war. To make a promise today devoid of all of the facts which she, McCain and Obama do not currently have is pure lunacy and the kind of short sighted thinking that got us into this war in the first place. which I might add she voted for.
Our choice is clear... John McCain who will continue with our current strategy or Barack Obama who will end this war with the careful consideration neccessary to keep America safe.
I wouldn't trust OBAMA with knowing anything about getting out of the war considering he hasn't held ONE SUBCOMMITEE MEETING of the commitee he chairs since he was appointed to that position.
This... from the person who failed to read intelligence reports before voting to allow Bush to invade Iraq. Yeah, your credibility on this issue is non-existant.