Clinton sketches exit from "war we can't win"

Washington - Hillary Clinton sketched a three-prong plan for withdrawal from Iraq that includes the removal of 5,000 to 10,000 troops a month, the use of small strike forces to target al-Qaeda terrorists and a major diplomatic initiative. Speaking as the fifth anniversary of the war looms this week, Clinton, 60, who is running neck-and-neck against fellow Senator Barack Obama, 46, for the Democratic presidential nomination, outlined her Iraq strategy Monday at George Washington University in the nation's capital. She charged that President George W Bush and Senator John McCain, 71, the presumptive Republican nominee, were offering a blank check to the Iraqi government with their open-ended commitment that McCain has hinted could be 100 years. 'They both want to keep us tied to another country's civil war, a war we cannot win,' Clinton said. 'We can have hundreds of thousands of troops on the ground for 100 years, but that will not change the fact that there is no military solution to the situation in Iraq.' Clinton said that if she is elected president in November, she would ask for more United Nations involvement in bringing about the political reconciliation the Iraqis have been unable or unwilling to do. One of her first international meetings would be with allies and friends in the region, including Egypt, Jordan, the Gulf States and European allies. The goal would be to set up a regional stabilization group that would encompass Iraq's neighbours, including Iran and Syria, she said. Under the Bush administration, Iran has attended several such regional meetings. Clinton lags behind Obama by about 100 delegates in the scramble for nominating convention delegates in state-to-state voting since January. They next face off in Pennsylvania on April 22, a key, delegate-rich race in the rust belt of fading industry where the economy and jobs are major issues. In polling, Clinton is seen as stronger on economic issues. She could also benefit from a flap over Obama's close relationship with a fiery African-American minister, Reverend Jeremiah Wright Jr, whom he has called his spiritual advisor. Wright has made anti-white remarks from the pulpit. Obama's efforts to distance himself have failed to calm the controversy, and the African American candidate was preparing to deliver a major speech on race relations early Tuesday. In her speech, Clinton criticized the Iraqi government for failing to agree on distribution of oil revenues and to provide basic services. She charged that some of the oil revenues have ended up in private, foreign bank accounts. 'As we continue to police Iraq's civil war, the threats to our national security, our economy and our standing in the world continue to mount,' she said. Clinton estimated the war in Iraq would ultimately cost more than 1 trillion dollars. Nobel Prize economist Joseph Stiglitz puts the price tag at 3 trillion dollars in a recent book on Iraq. Clinton said withdrawal from Iraq would not be defeat, as Bush and McCain have argued, but would rather spur the Iraqis 'to take responsibility for their own future.' 'Defeat is keeping troops in Iraq for 100 years,' she said. To take up the slack in fighting the terrorist groups that have colonized in Iraq since the war began, Clinton would create small elite strike forces to engage in targeted operations against them.

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bellaMar 18th, 2008 - 07:17:39

Hillary is so positive about what she can do. But can she do it. Take the bait and put her into the White House and see if she can do all she promises. She'll have a million excuses why she cannot fulfil her promises, blaming others along the way.

NO one should promise as much as she does. How does she know what the situation will be next year. She acts as if she has a crystal ball to foresee into the future.

She has no humility when she talks, no doubts, just promises for the voters.

A wise person would not promise what may not be possible. A wise person would just give an honest answer and say that the situation will be analyzed at that time.

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robzMar 18th, 2008 - 07:25:03

Mrs.Clinton talks of 'policing Iraq's civil war' as if this war has nothing to do with American policy. The civil war in Iraq is at best a result of misjudgment in post invasion planning and at worst a deliberate attempt by the American military administration to divide and destroy. It is somewhat easier for the Americans to have the Iraqis at each others throats than to have the country united against them.

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rogerMar 18th, 2008 - 07:29:49

Hilary will not keep any of her campaign pledge when she is in White House, answering 3am phone call. That is guaranteed.

Clintons are power-monger. They will slush-n-burn anyone, say-anything along their way to clinch on power. But, Clintons legacy is full of scams & scandals! The second term of Clintons presidency was nothing but a sham!

I wonder why Hilary is still twiddle with Bill? Even though they don't have any personal intimate relation, but they hug only in public. Clinton is the only democratic President to be impeached! Shame on you Bill!

Hilary is chiming on Iraq because its not favorable to talk against the unpopular war. Imagine, if Iraq war is a success, what would Hilary do?

Hilary will be thumping her chest & stomp her foot!

Forget Hilary, vote wisely!

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tonny from belgiumMar 18th, 2008 - 15:25:58

Well Roger,you are somewhat at odds with reality and recorded history.Clinton was the most popular president in recent decades.Comparted to the candle Bush,Clinton's intelligence was a lighthouse .What more needs to be said exwcept that probably you vore McCain,right ?

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Sodame El SelamiMar 18th, 2008 - 18:04:12

Clinton is friend but must cover face or should be beaten with stick, yes?

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spfoolMar 18th, 2008 - 18:52:26

Sorry, but we can't let Hillbillary, or any other cowardly, defeatist-oriented, friend of the terrorists, anti-American demonrat tell us what we can not do about Iraq. Traitors are losers, and that's all they know how to do. There is no question for a patriot about winning the war on Iraq. We are winning now, we will continue to win, and we will win. All it takes is more time to kill enough enemy. But there is never an appropriate time to question the sacred mission of war, to do so makes the questioner an enemy of freedom, democracy, and America. The pathetic, libnazi, defeatocrats want us to lose. Forget about osama bin laden, al qaeda, and Afghanistan where we aready won. 9/11 changed everything.
Right now the war to be won is with the 9/11 terrorists in Iraq. We must not allow our enemies, including the treacherous demonrats, traitors, and so called peace freaks defeat us. We are doing God's work on earth with our war on Iraq, and after we win there, we will move to Armageddon and be on our God's side during the final battle of good and evil.

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hmm...Mar 19th, 2008 - 01:31:30

''We are doing God's work on earth with our war on Iraq, and after we win there, we will move to Armageddon and be on our God's side during the final battle of good and evil.''

Sounds just like Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

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McCain for victory in 08Mar 21st, 2008 - 05:06:51

Seeing as she can not get the delegates or the popular vote at this time I do not know why she is still an issue.

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