Reactions to the MoveOn Iraq Forum Pt.5: Clinton

I'm going to post a series of short diaries about the candidates' comments on MoveOn's Virtual Town Hall on Iraq.

I'm writing this fast as each of the candidates speak, with quick reactions to each one. I hope others feel free to use the comments space for their own reactions. As a disclaimer, I'm an Obama leaner, but I also tend to like Edwards and some of the others a lot.

After an intermission, here's Clinton:

I don't typically support Hillary, but I like the way she starts out, talking about both what we should do now, and what she'll do in 2009 if elected.

She's talking up her bill to support our troops, defund the Iraqi gov't and convening an international summit on Iraq. I think this is good, bad, and ugly.
Good, to say that we need to start brining troops home, change their mission, and make sure (a la Murtha) that they're trained and supported.
Bad to put the blame for the disaster over there on the Iraqis. They've taken most of the brunt of casualties in this war, so I don't think it's fair to say they're being lazy and not trying to end the war.
Ugly because the summit thing is a sort-of pie in the ski idea, in that it's clearly a good idea, but won't work as long as the whole damn region blames us for the issues, and hates each other (just look at King Abdullah's comments).

She just got a tough question on permanent bases, long-term occupation, etc. She seemed to clarify a bit, although she wouldn't give any numbers of troops left behind, she made it clear they'd be for limited missions. I'm still awfully suspicious of talking about 'American interests' in the region, though, since I don't want more troops dying to defend oil companies. If she limited the mission to fighting Al-quaida, I'd be much more open to her leadership on the issues.

In general, she seemed to do ok, but I'm still not sold on Hil. How about you?



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Re: Reactions to Clinton (none / 0)

Hillary laid it all out in terms of "reality".  It IS time for the Iraqi Government to step up to the plate.  Remember Hillary visited Iraq and spoke at length with Maliki and she came away certain that he is not doing what he promised to do.  

Good for Hillary.


by marasaud on Tue Apr 10, 2007 at 08:21:36 PM EST

Base/ troops in Iraq (none / 0)

seems like she did a major dodge on it.


by okamichan13 on Tue Apr 10, 2007 at 08:22:54 PM EST

Re: Reactions to Clinton (none / 0)

I also appreciated Hillary's comments that Republicans in the Senate must be persuaded to join the Democrats in fighting Bush.  And I know Hillary works on this constantly.


by marasaud on Tue Apr 10, 2007 at 08:23:24 PM EST

Re: Reactions to Clinton (none / 0)

I wish she had mentioned her Iraq Oil Trust legislation.  But it's on her senatorial website.  She wants the Iraqis to own their oil.


by marasaud on Tue Apr 10, 2007 at 08:24:46 PM EST

Re: Reactions to the (none / 0)

About the permanent presence in Iraq, she's said before that protecting our "vital interests" in the region means oil, the geopolitical situation, and Israel.  Pretty much the opposite of what I'd want to hear.


"And so in the place of the palace of privilege, we seek to build a temple out of faith and hope and charity."-FDR
by jallen on Tue Apr 10, 2007 at 08:24:47 PM EST

Re: Reactions to the (none / 0)

Yeah, she didn't exactly retract that.


by James Gatz on Tue Apr 10, 2007 at 08:27:35 PM EST
[ Parent ]

MoveOn Iraq Forum Pt.5: Clinton (none / 0)

I give her credit for going before an interest group so hostile to her politics.


The sharpest criticism often goes hand in hand with the deepest idealism and love of country. ~RFK
by Vox Populi on Tue Apr 10, 2007 at 08:26:09 PM EST

Re: Reactions to Clinton (none / 0)

Read Hillary's Iraqi Oil Trust legislation.  She is not an imperialist trying to goad Iraq's oil.
But heaven forbid the oil fields should be set on fire.  It doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand what she means.
by marasaud on Tue Apr 10, 2007 at 08:28:18 PM EST

Re: Reactions to Clinton (none / 0)

I doubt she's an imperialist, but I don't think American troops should be sheilding Iraqi oil fields, regardless of whether they're trying to rob the oil from them or not. That's not our concern.


by James Gatz on Tue Apr 10, 2007 at 08:44:06 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Reactions to Clinton (none / 0)

I don't know ... I listen to Hillary and there is clarity; a true sense that she is realistic and not promising anything she knows is impossible.  I listen to the others and they sound either uncertain or completely out of touch with reality.

Dennis Kucinich has the ultimate dream plan.  If only he didn't turn people off so much.  My aunt said if Dennis looked like JFK, he'd be everyone's favorite.


by marasaud on Tue Apr 10, 2007 at 09:00:47 PM EST

Re: Reactions to Clinton (none / 0)

The transcript of Hillary's comments on the moveon.org Townhall that just took place.

http://www.hillaryclinton.com/blog/


by marasaud on Tue Apr 10, 2007 at 09:07:48 PM EST


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