February 01, 2007
Interview With Hillary Clinton: On Obama's Date Certain
From the Hotline's interview with Sen. Hillary Clinton
Hotline: We'd like to start with Iraq. Sen. Obama, last night, for the first time, called for a phased withdrawal with a date certain. In your estimation, what is wrong with that approach? Why haven't you signed on to an approach that includes a date certain by which troops would be redeployed?
Clinton: As I've said before, I've long been for beginning a phased redeployment from Iraq as soon as possible, and I have cosponsored legislation to that effect last year. I think we should begin to get U.S. troops out of Iraq as soon as we can and would urge the administration to do so as expeditiously as possible. I think it is the responsibility of this president to resolve our presence in Iraq before he leaves office. I've also, as I said last week, introduced legislation to cap the number of troops in Iraq at pre-escalation levels as of Jan. 1 and require both the Iraqis to meet certain conditions in order to continue funding the Iraqi security forces and to require that the administration meet additional conditions or require a new authorization resolution in order to keep our troops in Iraq. And I believe that that approach, keeping the pressure on both our government and the Iraqi government, trying to cap the troops, trying to get more leverage on the Iraqis to perform the way they have promised, is a comprehensive approach that, if it were pursued in addition to a diplomatic offensive, would be the best way to end our involvement in Iraq in the right fashion.
But what is the danger, then, in setting a precise date for the troops to be fully withdrawn?
Well, everyone has to do the best he or she can to try to resolve this terrible dilemma that we confront. And I've just explained what I believe is the best approach.
What did you think of Joe Biden's blunt language about your proposal [yesterday] morning?
Well, again, everyone has his or her opinion. Obviously, I disagree. I support the approach that has been taken to get the resolution of disapproval. I don't see what I'm proposing and what others are proposing as potential next steps to be in any way contradictory to trying to get a bipartisan statement of disapproval first.
Posted at 01:23 PM
Comments
hey. peeps. Hilary rocks
kari | 03.01.07 10:53 AM
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