Iraq War Returns as Prime Debate Issue [View All]

[Hissyspit]

Source: Boston Globe

Iraq war returns as prime debate issue

Globe Staff / February 1, 2008
LOS ANGELES - Democratic Senator Hillary Clinton last night defended her 2002 vote to authorize force in Iraq as a "reasoned" decision at the time, while her primary opponent, Senator Barack Obama, said Clinton's vote raised questions about whether she has the judgment to lead the country.

In the last debate before Super Tuesday and the first two-person face-off since the campaign began more than a year ago, Iraq - long dormant as an issue in the Democratic race - returned to the forefront last night. Obama said his consistent antiwar stance would make him a stronger candidate against Senator John McCain of Arizona, the GOP front-runner. Clinton, meanwhile, portrayed herself as the contender with the experience and gravitas to confront a Republican opponent in the general election campaign.

"I've said many times that if I knew then what I know now, I would never have given President Bush the authority" to attack Iraq, Clinton said, declining to apologize for her vote. But there was "a credible case" for the resolution, Clinton said, adding that she did not expect Bush to invade Iraq in March 2003 without letting the weapons inspectors first finish their work.

Obama, an Illinois lawmaker who was not in the Senate when the vote was taken in October 2002, countered that "everybody, the day after the vote was taken, understood that this was a vote to go to war." While Clinton has "fairly" espoused her experience and ability to take charge from day one, he said, "it is important to be right on day one."

Read more: http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/02/01/iraq_war_returns_as_prime_debate_issue