Reply #43: 2004, 2005 and 2006

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In 2004, Sen. Obama said he was willing to support more troops in Iraq, said withdrawal from Iraq would be 'a slap in the face' to the troops fighting there." "Democratic Senate candidate Barack Obama said Saturday he would be willing to send more soldiers to Iraq if it is part of a strategy that the president and military leaders believe will stabilize the country …'A quick withdrawal would add to the chaos there and make it 'an extraordinary hotbed of terrorist activity,' Obama said. It would also damage America's international prestige and amount to 'a slap in the face' to the troops fighting there, he said." Christopher Wills, "Obama Willing To Support More Troops In Iraq," The Associated Press, 9/19/04

In 2005, Sen. Obama said that 'U.S. forces are still a part of the solution.'" "I believe that U.S. forces are still a part of the solution in Iraq….First and foremost, after the December 15 elections and during the course of next year, we need to focus our attention on how reduce the U.S. military footprint in Iraq. Notice that I say 'reduce,' and not 'fully withdraw.'" Obama speech to the Chicago Council on Foreign Relations, 11/22/05

In 2006, Sen. Obama opposed Sen. Kerry's amendment to withdraw troops, saying he opposed 'a precipitous withdrawal of troops.' Sen. Obama voted against an amendment by Senator Kerry requiring the president to begin withdrawing troops from Iraq in 2006 and have complete withdrawal by July 1, 2007. "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… A hard and fast, arbitrary deadline for withdrawal offers our commanders in the field, and our diplomats in the region, insufficient flexibility" 2006 Vote # 181, S2766, 6/22/06; Obama Remarks, Congressional Record, 06/21/06

Since Barack 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

source: http://facts.hillaryhub.com/archive/?id=5177


Sen. Obama's floor statement opposing the Kerry bill: http://obama.senate.gov/speech/060621-floor_statement_6 /



Hillary Clinton on Iraq

In January 2003, Hillary 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 Clinton's legislation in January 2008. Congress.gov

source: http://facts.hillaryhub.com/archive/?id=6548