Retired general says Clinton has never opposed Iraq war

[BeyondGeography]

Retired general backs Clinton on Iraq
By JOHN DISTASO
Senior Political Reporter
Saturday, Oct. 6, 2007

A retired U.S. Army general visiting the state to campaign for Hillary Clinton said yesterday she does not oppose the Iraq war -- and she said she's never heard Clinton oppose it, either.

Retired Lt. Gen. Claudia Kennedy, the Army's first woman to reach the three-star rank, said she supports Clinton's promise to withdraw the majority of U.S. troops from Iraq if she is elected President. But Kennedy said she does not consider her position to be opposing the war as it is currently being conducted.

...Kennedy said, "I don't oppose the war. I think it's being very badly led by the civilian leadership." And, she added, "I have not ever heard (Clinton) say, 'I oppose the war.' I've heard her say that we need to begin withdrawal under a plan led by the military and defense secretary. I've heard her say we need to create a regional stabilizing group by allies, by leaders in the world and by all of the states that are bordering Iraq. That is a very important idea and the point of that group is to create incentive and assurances that will keep the neighboring countries from becoming involved and entering Iraq. That's a much more sophisticated thing than saying, 'I oppose the war.'"

http://unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Retired+general+backs+Clinton+on+Iraq&articleId=496162bb-d0bb-4aeb-8796-5e034699c0c3

Comment: This article illustrates the contortions that Hillary herself will have to engage in when she is finally called on her support for IWR, her subsequent support for the war and her late-in-the-day conversion to supporting a timed withdrawal. In fact, Hillary has never said the simple words that Obama says all the time: This is a war that never should have been authorized and never should have been waged. Her inability to point to a clear and consistent view on the war will be the stuff of cannon fodder in the GE should she be the nominee.

[William769]

1. I think the General misspoke. It happens.

America is ready for a leader who will end the war in Iraq and a president who will respect our Armed Forces by properly planning for the missions we ask our troops to undertake. If the Bush administration won't, as president and commander in chief, Hillary will end this war.

http://www.hillaryclinton.com/issues/iraq/

On EDIT: I misread the article.

[ShortnFiery]

2. Yes, both this General & Former Gen. Clark make their careers off of the welfare of our illustrious

Military Industrial Complex. You can bet HRC will be more than willing to feed The War Machine for her Sainted Generals. :evilgrin:

[William769]

3. Just as Obama will.

:evilgrin:

[ShortnFiery]

4. What does Obama have to do with this? Nothing. :-) n/t

[William769]

9. Considering what you posted.

And he made very clear in the last debate as did Edwards that their positions were the same as Hillary's, I'd say everything. :)

And of course you never ever post anything about Hillary in a thread thats not about her.

[flpoljunkie]

5. Didn't C-Span recently have a program on Hillary's positions on Iraq since 2002?

This from Claudia Kennedy, regarding Hillary Clinton, is not surprising. Hillary came late to the "get out of Iraq" position.

[mmonk]

6. The old they aren't doing the wrong thing right position.

Which means I have a problem with her character if that is true.

[Captain Hilts]

7. She never opposed the President's right to do so...

after watching 8 years of the R's trying to tie Bubba's hands.

[ShortnFiery]

8. Yes, and how is that "President's Right to do so" working out for the Average Iraqi native?

:grr: :nuke: :grr: :thumbsdown:

[geek tragedy]

10. Oops! A Clinton proxy tells the unvarnished truth.

Hillary would have Bush's foreign policy, but would execute it competently.

[MadHound]

11. Nice to see somebody in his position stating the obvious

Not only does she favor the Iraq war, she apparently wants to open it up to include Iran, at least that's what her vote on Kyle/Lieberman says to me.

She is not an anti-war candidate, and she is not going to pull the troops out during her first term. It will simply be a continuation of the war, only under new management.

This is one of the big reasons that I will not vote for her.

[truedelphi]

15. Except it's not "his"position - I think it's "her" (Claudia Kennedy) n/t

[killbotfactory]

12. Maybe it's because Clinton supports the war

And has always maintained that Bush just went about it all wrong?

[Froward69]

13. It would apear that Biden is ending this war

Before Hillary and the rest can get a chance to continue it.

[Colobo]

14. Good stuff.

[Zandor]

16. Semantics n/t