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Hillary Clinton sharpens her attacks on Bernie Sanders in Iowa

The Democratic presidential candidate bashed rival Bernie Sanders in Iowa Thursday, saying that the senator's ideas on reforming healthcare "in theory" are not enough if he can't make them a reality as president
Hillary Clinton slams Sanders over health care, foreign policy 01:45

INDIANOLA, Iowa -- With just eleven days until Iowans cast their first votes in the presidential election, Hillary Clinton opened a harsh line of attack on Bernie Sanders over his foreign policy experience.

"Sometimes, it can sound like he hasn't really thought it through," the former secretary of state said, speaking to more than 600 people at a campaign event at Simpson College. "For example, he has suggested that we invite Iranian troops into Syria."

Sanders, an independent senator from Vermont, has previously said that he is open to working with both Iran and Russia to combat the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and consistently emphasizes the need to have "Muslim troops" on the ground in Syria. Clinton, who also opposes using American ground troops in Syria, said that "Iranian troops are only going to make it worse."

Bernie Sanders on fight against ISIS: “We have got to learn the lessons from Iraq” 02:45

"That is like asking the arsonist to be the firefighter," she said.

Clinton's comments come as her campaign has stepped up its criticism of Sanders' plan to fight terrorism. On Tuesday, it released a statement by a group of former diplomats and other officials questioning his ability to see and understand all sides of the conflict.

"While we support de-escalation of Sunni-Shia tensions," the statement read, "his argument that Iran and Saudi Arabia - two intense adversaries - should join together in a military coalition is just puzzling."

On Thursday, ahead of Clinton's remarks, the campaign released a video featuring her senior policy advisor, Jake Sullivan, titled: "Why Bernie Sanders is wrong on ISIS and Iran."

Their message seemed to reach at least some voters in Iowa: One asked Sanders to talk about his foreign policy experience at a campaign stop on Tuesday. Sanders pushed back against the notion that he is unprepared.

"No one can deny that Secretary Clinton has a lot of foreign policy experience," Sanders said, "but experience does not necessarily equate to judgement."

Bernie Sanders defends government-run healthcare plan 00:43

Clinton, who has lost much of her lead to Sanders in Iowa and national polls, has also recently tried to put Sanders on defense when it comes to healthcare. Here on Thursday, she suggested that his proposal for a single-payer, "Medicare-for-All" system was unrealistic.

"In theory there's a lot to like," Clinton said, "but 'in theory' isn't enough. A president has to deliver in reality."

Clinton supports universal healthcare but has campaigned on "defending" and "building on" the Affordable Care Act, introducing measures to lower out of pocket costs and prescription drug costs. She said Thursday that now is not the time to restart a debate over healthcare.

"More gridlock in Washington won't help anyone," she said, "except maybe the Republicans."

Clinton will make two more stops in Iowa on Thursday. Sanders is campaigning in New Hampshire.

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