Hillary Talks Troop Levels, 2008 Run

Former First Lady Says She Knows Better Than Anyone How Hard It Is To Be President

(AP)  Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton said Monday she would not support a short-term increase in American troop presence in Iraq unless it was part of a more comprehensive plan to stabilize the country.

Clinton also offered the broadest indication yet that she was close to a decision on whether to enter the 2008 Democratic presidential field.

"I want to make sure the decision is right for me, my family, my party and my country," Clinton said during an interview on NBC's "The Today Show." She appeared on the show to promote the re-release of her best-selling book on child rearing, "It Takes a Village."

The former first lady said she knew more than any other potential candidate how hard it was to be president. "I saw it in an up close and personal way for eight years," she said. She reiterated that she would not disclose her decision until sometime after the first of the year.

Clinton's comments on the presidential race were her most expansive since winning re-election to the Senate from New York last month. Since then, she has been contacting potential supporters in key early voting states like Iowa and New Hampshire, but publicly has said very little about her plans.

She also offered praise for Sen. Barack Obama, the Illinois Democrat who has also indicated he may enter the race. Obama drew huge crowds on a visit to New Hampshire earlier this month.

"He's terrific. He's a friend and a colleague. I have very high regard for him," she said, while sidestepping a question about whether Obama would make a good president.

"I think he is a really exciting personality and someone who has a lot to contribute to the national dialogue," Clinton said.

Clinton, a member of the Senate Armed Services committee, said she was not in favor of a proposed "surge" of some 20,000-40,000 American troops into Baghdad to quell the sectarian violence there. President Bush is reportedly considering such a move as one of many options to improve the situation in Iraq.

Nevada Sen. Harry Reid, the incoming Senate Majority Leader, suggested over the weekend he would support a short-term troop increase if it would speed up the time frame for pulling troops out of Iraq.

Clinton indicated she was skeptical of such a proposal.

"I am not in favor of doing that unless it's part of a larger plan," Clinton said. "I am not in favor of sending more troops to continue what our men and women have been told to do, with the government of Iraq pulling the rug out from under them when they actually go after some of the bad guys."

Clinton, who voted in 2002 to authorize military intervention in Iraq, said she was wary of increased military presence in the war-torn country.

"I'm not going to believe this president again," Clinton said.

In an commentary published Monday in the Wall Street Journal, Clinton and Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., urged the Bush administration to press the Iraqi government to apportion that country's oil revenues so that "every individual Iraqi would share in the country's oil wealth."

Clinton has pushed for an "Iraq Oil Trust" modeled on the Alaskan Permanent Fund to give residents a share of the revenues. "A significant percentage of oil revenues would be divided equally among ordinary Iraqis, giving every citizen a stake in the nation's recovery and political reconciliation and instilling a sense of hope for the promise of democratic values," the senators wrote.

[gunnerv1]

The Banshee will NOT get my vote. I'm not into her health system.

[tenngrann]

Sounds like a winning team. Clinton for President and Obama for vice president. It just couldn't get any better. Obama needs a little more experience in foreign affairs before he goes after the big job. Maybe in eight more years. Hillary for President in '08.....

[bluestardad]

Here is a troop level for you for 08. ZERO! got that or you don't get our vote!

[bluestardad]

Stealing Oil from Iraq on an International Scale!

Remember what started the first Gulf War, where Kuwait was slant drilling from their territory under the border into oil reserves under Iraqi territory? Well it is going on again and this time by most of those in the Region that call themselves the allies of the United States. The Saudi and Kuwaiti oil drilling sites are both drilling oil starting on their side of the border with the slant of the drilling process going under the border and into Iraqi territory. It is in the best interest of those business parties, partners and nations who border Iraq to keep the Iraq conflict going and keep chaos in the Iraqi government as long as possible so that this massive oil theft can continue on an International Scale. This is happening now and being paid for by the American Tax Payer and the lives of American Soldiers each day.

[bluestardad]

Remember we called the Styrker Brigade back for 3 more months in Baghdad and all they did was get shot!

[randalds]

I think it's a given that she's going to run, but I just wish she and Obama would both put an end to the speculation one way or another now.

As for troop levels the latest CNN poll shows that only 11% support increasing and the majority support them coming home now or within a year. Bush however is determined to drag this out until 2008 so when the next president brings them home he can point a cynical finger of blame at them and say they should have "stayed the course" like he did. Everyone on all sides dying in Iraq right now and until then are dying to protect Bush's supposed legacy and his ego. That's disgusting and a waste of human lives for a president that deserves no loyalty at all.

[beacheshuman]

Clinton and Obama in '08. there's a ticket i could vote for. the old white men have had enough chances, lets get some new blood, color, and gender into the oval office. i can't believe that all of the other countries of the world who have or have had women as their chief exec have done so badly.

[fascistusa]

America is a FASCIST COUNTRY.

*** our Government.

[randalds]

I like Hilliary, but she can't win a general election. Not because she's a woman, but because she has too much baggage to make it. If she's nominated on the democratic side I will vote for her, but only because she'd be better then any of the republicans and not because she's my choice or that I think she can win. If she's at the top of the ticket in Nov. 08, we'll have a republican for president in Jan 09.

[bluestardad]

America will vote for anyone but a Republican we are all burnt out on the Fear and bungling.

[elgraz]

Hillary and or Obama bin laden...............you morons out there must be sniffing something.

[elgraz]

bluestardad
Get a job amigo........Democrats they are as infective and diseased as the Republicans.

[tibu987]

As a independent voter who leans toward the Dems I will NOT vote for very many being proposed for Dem Prez that has Hillary, Edwards, Kerry, Obama, Dean, Vilsack, Kucinich,Dodd, Biden, Gore.
Still, I would consider the following combinations. Possibles for me could be:

Gore/Obama Clark/Obama
Clark/Gore Clark/Gore
Feingold/Gore Feingold/Obama
Feingold/Clark
These, and I, may change, we'll see.

[randalds]

Sorry to disappoint you tibu987, but Russ Feingold has already said he's not going to run.

[cmayes2]

I'm a democrat and an african american, but I will not vote for Hillary clinton even if Obama does not run. I will not help a woman win before an African american.

[elgraz]

Maybe you need to get a job..............you have too much time on your hands.

[elgraz]

cmayes2
You are a nitwit amigo..........vote for yourself............I am sure that your decision will be the right one..................right.....................what a country the usa has turned into a bunch o morons.....................I am so happy that I have but a few years to meet The Creator.

[elgraz]

cmayes2
You are a nitwit amigo..........vote for yourself............I am sure that your decision will be the right one..................right.....................what a country the usa has turned into a bunch o morons.....................I am so happy that I have but a few years to meet The Creator.

[elgraz]

cmayes2
You are a nitwit amigo..........vote for yourself............I am sure that your decision will be the right one..................right.....................what a country the usa has turned into a bunch o morons.....................I am so happy that I have but a few years to meet The Creator.

[elgraz]

cmayes2
You are a nitwit amigo..........vote for yourself............I am sure that your decision will be the right one..................right.....................what a country the usa has turned into a bunch of morons.....................I am so happy that I have but a few years to meet The Creator.I would like to invite you all to join me as I crossover.

I really loved chatting with all you fools but now I must attend to most important and pressing issues..............Have a nice Christmas, Hannakah, Jihad..........whatever you Arabs worship............adios Amigos until 2007

[elgraz]

cmayes2
You are a nitwit amigo..........vote for yourself............I am sure that your decision will be the right one..................right.....................what a country the usa has turned into a bunch of morons.....................I am so happy that I have but a few years to meet The Creator.I would like to invite you all to join me as I crossover.

I really loved chatting with all you fools but now I must attend to most important and pressing issues..............Have a nice Christmas, Hannakah, Jihad..........whatever you Arabs worship............adios Amigos until 2007

[elgraz]

cmayes2
You are a nitwit amigo..........vote for yourself............I am sure that your decision will be the right one..................right.....................what a country the usa has turned into a bunch of morons.....................I am so happy that I have but a few years to meet The Creator.I would like to invite you all to join me as I crossover.

I really loved chatting with all you fools but now I must attend to most important and pressing issues..............Have a nice Christmas, Hannakah, Jihad..........whatever you Arabs worship............adios Amigos until 2007

cmayes2
You are not an African American but an American Amigo...............don't forget it..........I could be an Italo American but I am not. I am an American. Maybe all you Bozos out there should think about it...............time to go.

[tibu987]

RandalDS
Yes, I missed that. My favorite Evan Bayh also has dropped out.
As for cmayes2, that type of attitude is precisely what causes inept people to get into office. Unfortunately, I believe the majority of American voters are just that ignorant of the real issues and who best is to tackle them.
Most just vote for appearances, ***, and other things that have noting to do with qualifications.
And so it goes............

[rsoxfan1123]

cmayes2-hopefully not too many poeple vote based on skin colors like you do. when white people do it it's called racism. is it simply brotherhood when blacks do it? seems hypocritical to me.

[elgraz]

Hey Obama, go find a Baptist Church to pursue your selfish interests..........Merry Christmas Mr. Scrooge.

[spud-dog]

"! am so happy that I have but a few years to meet The Creator."

Finally, something we can agree on.

[j-whitman]

After 6 years of totally failed policies from domestic, to the wars on terror, & Iraq,,, It's totally disgusting republicans & SOB Bush lovers have the gumption to comment on any democrat.

[rharrin1]

gunnerv1
You're not for ANY democrat. Go back and read your posts.

[highthis]

People don't need Hillary, because she need to learn about how to be a president. This guy will work, but if Hillary is running then I know that I would vote for Repulbion besides Demucrat. People need to understand that she not the right one.

[cantshutup]

I know this is off subject but there are no comments associated with the story about bush and his nuclear deal with India...bush is like a rabbid energizer bunny on crack!!! With all the jobs outsourced to India, doesn't anyone think it probably isn't a good idea to also give them nuclear materials and technology? "Here India, have all our jobs...now have all our nuclear technology, cuz we won't need it cuz we're gonna populate the moon!...well, the rich folks will anyway..."

[lynnm0527]

Senator Clinton has done a wonderful job in New York State. She has seen first hand the rigorous and complex responsibilities of the presidency. She is intelligent, articulate, sensible, and committed to her constituents. She will not bite off more than she can chew. Wouldn't a leader like that be a refreshing change for our Nation?

[antoniof123]

I would love to have Bill back I voted for him to begin with and this way we would get him back. The fact is had the idiots George and *** just left everything alone and stayed out of Iraq the USA and the World would have continued to grow. But NOOOOOO the Stupid moron just could not leave well enough alone he had to act like the drug addict he is and invade Iraq. Good thing the baby boomer are getting older and are starting to leave the work force. Otherwise we would be in real trouble. I would vote for her without a doubt. In fact if the present king and vice king were running against anyone I would vote against them.

[kaliveotin]

RUN HILLARY RUN. The best candidate any party has offered in 22 years. Health Care, children
and education, environment, ethics in government.
Its no wonder the pea-brained right-wing idiotic ideologues are scared sh__less. She will kick the
racist homophobes a--. Smart and strong, she really would be our best president since JFK.

[bellal-2009]

It's nice of Mrs. Clinton to decide how the Iraqis use their oil revenues.

[frankly6]

janem4

What part of New York do you live in Jane?

[kaliveotin]

Someone needs to step up and be a COMPETANT decider.

[bluestardad]

Most of the Politicians are just as bad as the other. You are right. I am just tired of all the Fear and Suffering the Republicans have put on America to date. Me and my family have bled too much for this country for me to give up hope. I pray it is not misguided. But thank you for the rebuke.

[mjv2944]

Hillary, just try and be a good senator, you are not electable. I believe she and a lot of other people were taken in by the big Dubya lie so that "I'll show daddy" how to beat ole Saddam BS. Obama/Edwards or Edwards/Obama I could vote for. I don't buy the lack of experience bit, as I have witnessed "experience" for the last 62 years and look what it got us. We do need a national health care as too many people have no health care and thats not right. The dems better address this issue along with illegal immigrants (no amnesty), loss of middle class jobs, getting rid of the "free" trade agreements as they have not helped USA but cost us jobs and drove trade deficit out of site and attacking the lobbyists, they have all but ruint this country and congress.

[cathaleen]

Make no mistake, Hillary will run in 2008. The problem is who will run against her and who can beat her. She'll have the nomination locked up.
It was no coincidence that Bill teamed up with Bush 41 after Katrina. This has all been very well planned out.

[nadeau4201]

You need to look up www.newswithviews.com/Craig/Roberts before you vote for Dems. They have an agenda thats really scary. They want the borders open so the Untied States will become a third world country and drain our econmy so we have to rely on them for everything. Please if you had any sense you will read up on these people before you vote. They want to take away free speech, the right to bare arms will be taken away so we can not fight them when they make this a communist America. It has been going on since the 60s but the party lost control until Clinton and he opened the borders up to start the ball rolling. The dems knew if they were against the war too they would be voted into power once again. Remember Hillary wanted the war in the beginning along with most of sheeps in wolves clothing.

[nadeau4201]

sorry wolves in sheep clothing

[randalds]

It's nice of Mrs. Clinton to decide how the Iraqis use their oil revenues.

Posted by bellaL at 11:15 PM : Dec 18, 2006

Better then just stealing it. There's $13 billion missing in Iraqi oil revenues so far. And another $11 billion missing in reconstruction money. I'd be willing to bet that a healthy portion of each is sitting in off-shore banking accounts under the names of Cheney and Bush. Why do you think they're so terrified of Senate and Congressional investigations?

[randalds]

They want to take away free speech, the right to bare arms will be taken away so we can not fight them when they make this a communist America.

Posted by nadeau4201 at 09:09 AM : Dec 19, 2006

I'm a democrat and I strongly support the right to bare arms! In fact I'm wearing a short sleeve shirt right now!

Look, if you really believe the *** you just wrote then you're only watching FOXNews or only listening to Rush Limburger. If you're scared that someone is out to take away all of your Constitutional rights then you need look no further then the fascists in the White House right now. They're the ones who want to tap your phone, email and come into your house without a warrant, not the democrats. They're the Big Brother government of the future.

[nadeau4201]

randal...just wanted imput not sure if this was *** or not. I am neither a dem or rep I have no agenda I am just curiuos and read everything. I guess I should stop doing that. And I do not listen to Rush never have.

[randalds]

Curious is good. Everyone should be as to stay informed is to protect your country and your family and yourself. You should always be checking out what's going on and especially be keeping an eye on politicians and the government as they'll try to get away with cra*p when you're not looking. Still you have to be careful what the source is of the people you choose to believe. It doesn't make sense that the democratic party as it is today would want to take your rights away, but it is obvious that the current republican leaders are trying to do just that.

[randalds]

I shoulod proof read better. That is everyone should try to be as informed...

[changeit4]

nadeau4201, you've fallen--hook, line, and sinker--for the Republican fear bait. You're right where they want you: voting with your gut, not your brain while they pillage the country via the government in the name of abstractions like "patriotism," "safety," and "terror."

Fact is, this administration is the threat. You don't have to worry about bare arms, though. You'll get to bare arms along with everyone else in America who will need to do so to dig America out of the dark, worldwide black hole they've created economically, militarily, legally, and even worse, morally and ethically.

[getagrip54]

nadeau4201 wrote "You need to look up www.newswithviews.com/Craig/Roberts before you vote for Dems." "I am neither a dem or rep I have no agenda I am just curiuos and read everything."

Well it sure looks like you have an agenda when you claim in your comments that the democrats will "make this a communist America". Obviously you didn't read everything because you've missed the front page of the newspaper. If you read that you'd find out the rep's are lying pedophiles that kowtow to big business, send the poor to fight so Haliburton can steal billions in tax dollars, and have made America one of the most distrusted countries in the world.

[processor2]

Since comparing Republican vs Democrat is an argument which never goes anywhere,

let's instead compare Democrat vs Democrat, let's say JF Kennedy vs Clinton(s)


The Clinton(s) philosophy on government is:

1) "Big Government" will take care of you from "cradle to grave" (socialism)

2) Don't worry, "Big Government" will solve all your problems for you

3) It takes a village (Big Government)


Whereas , JF KEnnedy said:

"ask NOT what your country can do for you, but rather what you can do for your country.

These two philosophies (BOTH democrat) are completely opposite of each other.

I would much rather be a JF Kennedy democrat than a Clinton socialist.

Sounds like the NeoCommies (MoveOn.org types) have taken over a democrat party I once knew and repected.

[gslinger3]

This goes out to all you Liberal, God Hating, pot smoking, abortion loving, left wing radical kooks!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!