Sen. Obama's Attacks Today On Hillary Clinton and Iraq: Just Words

[bigtree]

3/19/2008 1:13:15 PM

From the Clinton campaign: http://facts.hillaryhub.com/archive/?id=6619


"If an attack isn’t backed up by facts, it’s just words. But that’s what we’ve come to expect from Senator Obama. The reality is that Senator Obama took practically no action to end the war until he started his White House run while Senator Clinton has been a consistent critic of Iraq for many years." -- Campaign Spokesman Phil Singer

Today, Sen. Obama falsely claimed that Hillary Clinton "started opposing it when they started preparing a run for President."

In fact, Hillary Clinton has been a consistent critic of the occupation for years . . .


**Fact Sheet: Hillary Clinton's Leadership on Iraq**

3/19/2008 1:21:09 PM

In January 2003, Hillary Clinton sent letter to Colin Powell, urges him to continue robust inspections. "If our words about supporting UN inspectors have any meaning and if we truly want the United Nations to be effective, we must act to support the UN arms inspectors and act to unite the UN Security Council behind the use of U2 aircraft in Iraq...Additionally if we are truly serious about supporting the UN inspections we should increase our intelligence support to the inspectors." Letter to Colin Powell, 1/31/03

In March 2003, Hillary argues that Iraq situation should be solved 'a peaceful manner through coercive inspection.' "'It is preferable that we do this in a peaceful manner through coercive inspection'...he senator said the Bush administration still had work to do at convincing the American public and the rest of the world that Hussein presented a real threat that might require military action. 'The administration should continue to try to enlist more support,' she added." AP, 3/3/03

In October 2003, Hillary goes to senate floor and asserts that the Bush administration 'gilded the lily' on Iraq war intelligence. "I think it is clear, and it is not just a mistake, it is not just a wrong assessment--I think now it is clear that, for a combination of reasons, the administration gilded the lily, engaged in hyperbole, took whatever small nugget of intelligence that existed and blew it up into a mountain, in order, I suppose, to make the case more strongly and convincingly to the American people. But at what a cost? The cost of our credibility, the cost of our national leadership, and even more so the cost of perhaps not being able to take actions in the future that are necessary to our well-being and our interests because we may look like the nation or at least the administration that cried wolf. It is a big price to pay.” Floor Speech, 10/17/03

Since 2005, Hillary has consistently support redeployment of U.S. troops from Iraq. Vote #322, 11/15/05; Vote #182, 6/22/06; Vote #75, 3/14/07; Vote # 147, 4/26/07; Vote #167, 5/16/07; Vote #345, 9/20/07; Vote #411, 11/16/07

In August 2006, Hillary grills Rumsfeld, slams 'happy talk' on failed Iraq war policy. "Under your leadership there have been numerous errors in judgment that have led us to where we are in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have a full fledged insurgency and full blown sectarian conflict in Iraq…Mr. Secretary, when our constituents ask for evidence that your policy in Iraq and Afghanistan will be successful, you don’t leave us with much to talk about. Yes, we hear a lot of happy talk and rosy scenarios, but because of the Administration’s strategic blunders, and frankly the record of incompetence in executing, you are presiding over a failed policy." Committee Statement, 8/3/06

In August 2007, Hillary sends letter to Pentagon pushing administration to start planning for Iraq withdrawal. “The Pentagon has issued a stinging rebuke to…Hillary Rodham Clinton, arguing that she is boosting enemy propaganda by asking how the U.S. plans to eventually withdraw from Iraq. Under Secretary of Defense Eric Edelman wrote a biting reply to questions Clinton raised in May, urging the Pentagon to start planning now for the withdrawal of U.S. troops. Clinton, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has privately and publicly pushed Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs Chairman Peter Pace two months ago to begin drafting the plans for what she said will be a complicated withdrawal of troops, trucks and equipment. 'If we're not planning for it, it will be difficult to execute it in a safe and efficacious way,' she said then." MSNBC, 7/19/07

In November 2007, Hillary calls on President Bush to explicitly state that the United States will not maintain permanent military bases in Iraq. "Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton called on President Bush today to clarify the recently signed Declaration of Principles for a Long-Term Relationship of Cooperation and Friendship Between the Republic of Iraq and the United States of America to confirm that the United States does not plan to place any permanent bases within Iraq and instead plans to begin the phased redeployment of U.S. troops." Press Release, 11/27/07

In December 2007, Hillary introduces legislation that would prevent President Bush from agreeing to create permanent bases in Iraq. "Senator Clinton introduced legislation today that requires the President to seek Congressional approval for any agreement that would extend the U.S. military commitment to Iraq… 'The Bush Administration must not circumvent Congress on the critical issue of the future U.S. presence in Iraq. The Administration must not be permitted to enter into agreements that could lead to permanent bases in Iraq which would damage U.S. interests in Iraq and the broader region without Congressional approval," said Senator Clinton.'" Press Release, 12/6/07

Sen. Obama co-sponsors Hillary's legislation in January 2008. Congress.gov


Prior to running for president, Sen. Obama said he pretty much agreed with how President Bush was handling the war and didn't do much of anything to end the war until he started running for president . . .



**Fact Sheet: Sen. Obama's Record on Iraq**

3/17/2008 10:01:52 AM
Obama on Iraq: Prior To Joining U.S. Senate

While running for senate in 2003, Sen. Obama acknowledged that he took his anti-war speech off his campaign website, calling it 'dated.' Specifically, State Senator Obama maintains that an October 2002 anti-war speech was removed from his campaign web site because “the speech was dated once the formal phase of the war was over, and my staff's desire to continually provide fresh news clips."

Obama in July 2004: 'There’s not much of a difference between my position and George Bush’s position at this stage.' In a meeting with Chicago Tribune reporters at the Democratic National Convention, Obama said, “On Iraq, on paper, there's not as much difference, I think, between the Bush administration and a Kerry administration as there would have been a year ago. <…> There's not much of a difference between my position and George Bush's position at this stage. The difference, in my mind, is who's in a position to execute.”

Obama on 2002 Iraq resolution vote: 'What would I have done? I don't know:' "When asked about Senators Kerry and Edwards' votes on the Iraq war, Obama said, "I'm not privy to Senate intelligence reports," Mr. Obama said. "What would I have done? I don't know. What I know is that from my vantage point the case was not made."

In September 2004, Obama says he ' would be willing to send more soldiers to Iraq.' AP, 9/19/04


Obama on Iraq: U.S. Senate Record

11 months after joining Senate, Sen. Obama delivers first speech devoted to Iraq, says 'US forces are sill part of the solution.' "he level of his criticism lowered when he arrived in Washington. In his first year in the Senate, he delivered one speech on Iraq, calling for a phased withdrawal by the end of 2006. But last November, Mr. Obama revised that time frame, saying the drawdown should begin in four to six months." Obama's Senate web site lists his address to the Chicago Council on Foreign Relations on November 22, 2005, 11 months after entering the U.S. Senate. Obama said, "I believe that U.S. forces are still a part of the solution in Iraq." New York Times, 2/12/07; obama.senate.gov

18 months after joining Senate, Sen. Obama gives first floor statement devoted to Iraq, opposes timeline for withdrawal. "…But having visited Iraq, I am also acutely aware that a precipitous withdrawal of our troops, driven by congressional edict rather than the realities on the ground, will not undo the mistakes made by this administration. It could compound them." obama.senate.gov

Upon arriving in the Senate, Sen. Obama supported every funding bill for Iraq, some $300 billion….until he started running for President. 2005 Vote # 117, HR1268, 5/10/05; 2005 Vote # 326, S1042, 11/15/05; 2006 Vote # 112, HR4939, 5/4/06; 2006 Vote # 239; 2006 Vote # 186, S2766, 6/22/06; HR5631, 9/7/06

As a Senate candidate in November 2003, Sen. Obama said he would have 'unequivocally' voted against war funding because it was the only way to oppose Bush on Iraq. "Just this week, when I was asked, would I have voted for the $87 billion dollars, I said 'no.' I said no unequivocally because, at a certain point, we have to say no to George Bush. If we keep on getting steamrolled, we are not going to stand a chance." Obama remarks, New Trier Democratic Organization forum, 11/16/03; Video

Since Obama entered the U.S. Senate, his record on Iraq is identical to Hillary's, with one exception. ABC News reported that, "In fact, Obama's Senate voting record on Iraq is nearly identical to Clinton's. Over the two years Obama has been in the Senate, the only Iraq-related vote on which they differed was the confirmation earlier this year of General George Casey to be Chief of Staff of the Army, which Obama voted for and Clinton voted against." ABC, 5/17/07; senate.gov; see chart

Top Obama advisor says, as president, Sen. Obama will 'not rely upon some plan that he’s crafted as a presidential candidate or as a US senator.' Samantha Powers, who has subsequently resigned her position, also described Sen. Obama's Iraq plan as a "best case scenario." BBC, 3/6/07


http://facts.hillaryhub.com/archive/?id=6619

[judaspriestess]

1. AND he continues to fund the war

he always seems to fail in bringing up this key point. If you were so against the war, then on your morals and principals you cannot vote for it. He is completely justified in doing so. No one would hold him at fault because they can't.

[rodeodance]

2. I do not trust that man.