Clinton Would Keep Some Troops In Iraq

The Skinny: Democratic Presidential Hopeful Tells N.Y. Times Reduced U.S. Force Needed To Fight al Qaeda

(CBS)  The Skinny is Joel Roberts' take on the top news of the day and the best of the Internet.

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Sen. Hillary Clinton sheds new light on what she'd do about Iraq if she were elected president in a New York Times interview Thursday.

The Democratic frontrunner has advocated "bringing the troops home," but she tells the newspaper she'd keep a reduced U.S. military force in Iraq to fight al Qaeda, discourage Iranian aggression, protect the Kurds and perhaps assist the Iraqi military.

"I think we have remaining vital national security interests in Iraq” she said, which require the continued presence of American troops.

Clinton wouldn’t give precise figures on the size of the U.S. force she envisions remaining in Iraq, but she said it would not be involved in urban warfare in Baghdad or in trying to quell sectarian violence.

"It would be far fewer troops," she said. "We would not be doing patrols. We would not be kicking in doors. We would not be trying to insert ourselves in the middle between the various Shiite and Sunni factions. I do not think that is a smart or achievable mission for American forces."

She also criticized President Bush's troop buildup in Iraq, but said, "We’re doing it, and it’s unlikely we can stop it."

Clinton said she would vote for the Democratic resolution on Iraq now being debated in the Senate, which calls for the pullout of U.S. combat forces from Iraq by the end of March 2008. She noted that the resolution also calls for “a limited number” of troops to remain in Iraq after that date.

Has McCain Lost His Maverick Touch?

John McCain's invitation to match wits with him on his Web site on picking the NCAA tourney winners may be a first for a presidential candidate, but the Washington Post still wonders if the Arizona senator is losing the maverick spirit that invigorated his 2000 campaign.

After nearly riding his "Straight Talk Express" to the White House seven years ago, the Post says McCain "has become the very picture of the highly managed presidential candidate he once scorned."

And that, the paper says, is losing him support.

McCain backers say he remains a maverick who has publicly challenged President Bush over U.S. torture policy, judges and campaign finance reform. But the Post points out that McCain has loaded his campaign staff with former Bush aides and has been one of the staunchest supporters of the president's Iraq policy.

The GOP campaign landscape is also far different this time than in 2000, with both Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney taking up the mantle of Washington outsider.

"Among Republican voters, Rudy has become the John McCain of 2008," said Rep. Peter T. King of New York, a former McCain supporter who’s backing Giuliani now. "Being the guy who's tough, independent, an iconoclast – he is a newer version of John McCain."

Following The Obama Trail… To Indonesia

News organizations continue to roll up the frequent flier miles exploring Sen. Barack Obama's peripatetic childhood. The Los Angeles Times sent a reporter all the way to Indonesia to report on the four years Obama spent there as a boy and the impact living in a Muslim country had on him – and could have on his presidential aspirations.

The Times says that Obama "crisscrossed the religious divide" in Indonesia. "At the local primary school, he prayed in thanks to a Catholic saint. In the neighborhood mosque, he bowed to Allah."

Obama's campaign has emphasized his strong Christian beliefs and says he "has never been a practicing Muslim." A false report earlier this year that he attended a radical madrasa in Jakarta caused a brief stir before it was shot down.

Still, the Times says that while an understanding of the Muslim world might seem an advantage for a White House hopeful, any "connection with Islam is untrod territory for presidential politics."

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[smartmoney70]

Looks like the Democratic Party has a new Presidential candidate to tag with "flip flop" for a nickname. Of course the ACTUAL number of a 'reduced U.S. military force' varies, depending on the definition of the word "reduced". And to whom she is speaking to that day. And what the polls suggest. And where the money is coming from...

[navychief8]

she'd keep a reduced U.S. military force in Iraq to fight al Qaeda, discourage Iranian aggression, protect the Kurds and perhaps assist the Iraqi military. but she said it would not be involved in urban warfare in Baghdad or in trying to quell sectarian violence.

"It would be far fewer troops," she said. "We would not be doing patrols. We would not be kicking in doors.

Hillary Clinton

How the heck is she going to do all that with fewer troops? If you want to find "torrorist" kicking in doors in urban areas is exactly where you have to be. Someone explain this to me as I am confused. It's either all or nothing. And right now I am thinking call it a day and go home because we don't have the ability to do the "all" option.

[mbcsmith]

30 days into the troop buildup in Baghdad and violence is down sharply. The buildup is working and still the LIBS are calling for DEFEAT.

[chuckabn]

I think Americans are finally seeing Hillary for who she really is, a carpetbagging, phony, poll-watching, cold, calculated loser. I wouldn't vote for her for anything. There's a war on, she should flee to England to protest, like her husband did during Vietnam. Clintons are virtually worthless. Yeah, Bill did a couple of nice things, but basically rode the coattails of an economy driven by..... drumroll... that evil "big, corporate America" everyone is so angry about, yet millions work for and everyone supports by purchasing their goods and services. McCain in 08!!!!!

[hawksprings]

Hillary will say anything to get elected.
I know politicians always do that, but she's the worst I've seen.

[boatdocster]

I've lost all respect for McCain. A guy who was a POW and tortured, said no to the president's torture bill then flip flopped and supported. Used to be pro-choice and now he is pro-life, flip flopping for right wing christian votes.

He and Hillary are in the same bed these days - saying whatever to win a few votes. Straight Talk Express is out of coal and out of steam...

[jebby_one]

notice that there is no CBS news story about
John Dean's attempt at a coup d'etat.

CBS seems to routinely exclude news stories about Democrats who make fools of themselves :)

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0307/3142.html

[motherjones-2009]

Hillary Clinton must have a hide like a rhino. She inspires astonishing vitriol in her detractors. What did she do to become the target of such insane hatred? Besides being female, how is she different than other politicians?

[boatdocster]

Sorry, but I don't see how passing a bill to set up secret courts, avoid due legal process and not have to answer to anyone in any way limits the government's control of the American people.

Did a lot of 'detainees' do bad things? Yes, so take them to court and show everyone what we know. It's a fine line between the good of the many and winning the war but Bush and crew and doing a lot of damage in the name of a bogus cause.

Secret prisons and courts typically belonged to the Nazis, Stalin and the KGB and other governements who care nothing about people rights. When we give up those last rights (since Bush has taken away so many other things), we become just like them. Maybe that was GB 41's idea of a new world order.

[jebby_one]

"Did a lot of 'detainees' do bad things? Yes, so take them to court and show everyone what we know...

------------------------

Civil rights pertain to CIVILIANS, not enemy combatants. Civilized society gets to act civilized only after the military has made it safe.

It doesn't work the way neo-commie Democrats proclaim. They know that. Neo-commies have a long history of denying people of their rights and are experts at thinning the ranks of those who disagree by sending them to the firing squads following a 2 minute administrative review.

Any rhetoric from the neo-commies about "rights" is all about political opportunism.

[bushfan3]

OH, now she will keep some troops in Iraq when she wants us to pull them out. What will she think of next.

[musty2u]

How many years were far fewer troops (whatever that means) in Germany, South Korea, Okinawa, Japan, Phillippines, etc.?

The only way this will work is to flat out knock 'em senseless first. Make them bleed, make them hurt. Fill their sand with bodies. It is too bad that there will be lots of collateral damage in this process, but this could have been avoided if we would extracted enough damage four years ago.

[marcodele]

Wow. If you want to catch a bunch of idiot neocons, you just put the word 'Hillary' in the rat trap.

[Razzl]

Hillary's comments shouldn't bring any special reaction, we would expect after the major withdrawals happen that any president will try to leave some residual forces in sympathetic areas.

Barack has absolutely nothing to hide from about his childhood--he should not make any emphatic statements about not being a Muslim. If his parents put him in various kinds of religious schools during his early childhood that is commendable, doesn't make him somehow sympathetic to Islamism, and makes everyone who claims otherwise a bigot whose upon should not be courted or catered to.

As for McCain, it's tragic that a man who could see the moral light and take the high ground against torture hasn't been able to follow those insights all the way to opposing the rest of the Bush program. I'm grateful for his one act of resistance, but that's not enough. And I think even rank and file Republicans feel that it's not enough.

[nadeau4201]

zoo....Ron Paul is a honest decent man but unfortunately people will not see beyond the fact he is a republican from Texas. I first saw him in the documentary "Americas freedom to fascism" then I saw him announce on c-span. He wants to clean up Washington starting with the federal reserve. But people don't care about things like that. They would rather hear about gay rights and abortion.

[thgdriver]

I love being right, oh how I love it so. When all you libs were posting how it would not be long till we are out of Iraq now that the Demoncrats Control things.

I tried to tell you all that no matter who was in the white house, we are never leaving, we will have permanent bases there, that is just the way it will be. Now even Your "goddess" Hillary can see the big picture.

Name one "Strategic" country (except China & Vietnam) the United States ever got a foothold in and then left. We are in the middle East to stay! Get used to it!

[musty2u]

You'll get more than a cookie at the site that forthepeaple wants you to look at.

[forthepeaple]

I was once proud to be american and proud to say i i'm a vet,now i just want out.You all in congress and capital hill and white house should be working for america and the americans that elected you to protect us,that isn't the case and i know why. I have been looking and found something that all america has forgotton.Who said this statement: If the personal freedoms of all americans by the Constitution and bill of right are Inhibiting the Government ability to (Govern)that meant control, the people of united states of america..Than we Should look to Limit those GUARANTEES #2.The united states Government CAN'T BE so fixed on our desires to preserve the RIGHTS of ORDINARY AMERICANS #3.I can do any ********* thing i want,I'm president of the united states and you dont forget that.....who am I..... so you all have been following your orders well i want you all to know that i hold all of you accountable for the murders of thousends of americans that have died and wounded in a war we have no buisness being in, you all are makeing large sums of money on americans lives and you all will pay a big price for that someday,heavens gates will never open its golden gates to you.. i hope someday that america and true americans will wake up and see that this washington crime family has sold our country to the highest bidders, china being # 1 and is # 1 in the world now, they are the supper powers of the world now. THANKS..DAVID A BELANGER,FOR AMERICANS FOR AMERICA,AT [e-mail]

[lieber1881]

As usual, Libs gutless, clueless, hacks of MoveOn.Org's American brand of Hitlerism. And now here's the cuckolded shrew saying she'd keep troops in Iraq to fight Al Qaeda...

Hello??? What do you think they are doing now, silly little girl. Why don't you go home and fight pervert? Show you are really a woman and not some silly lil' a%%.

Oh yeah, she doesn't want us to get involved in an ethnic war, so tell me, dear Shrill Shrew, what the f*ck were we doing in Kosovo. And where were you after pervert lied and was impeached when he sent the B-52s - not to bomb terror targets in Afghanistan on a regular basis - remember Al Qaeda had just struck our Embassies in Africa -but to bomb innocent, pro-American Serbs in downtown Belgrade??

Where were you, stupid little girl?

Oh, probably baking cookies while the draft dodger was getting bj's from his pet Pig NotBright.

[us_infidel]

I notice a new book coming out about Bill's continued infidelity after leaving office (along with other sordid tales of this "happy domestic family"), but we see noting of it on CBS' website.

Yet, they publish 3 days worth of a DeLay book slamming Gingrich and other republicans.

Nope....no bias at CBS that I can see.

[us_infidel]

Oh, probably baking cookies while the draft dodger was getting bj's from his pet Pig NotBright.
Posted by Lieber1881 at 05:43 AM : Mar 16, 2007

And writing about how it "takes a village" to raise children. For democrats, it's a village of idiots!

[airmanc5]

We1l Well. looks like we have censorship going on at CBS. My posting of Hillary Clinton keeping troops in Iraq, a full 24 hours ahead of CBS reporting it and my comments on Bill 'the wildman"Clinton leading us to 911, since he took no action toward the terroist, was taken down. Or maybe it was my comment about Sandy Berger Stealing classified documents and shredding them, to keep them from the 911 commission,that made CBS take my post down, since THEY did not report on Berger doing this. Or it might be a comment i made about the former head of the ACLU in Va. (a democrat) being arrested for child pornography, and CBS not reporting it, nor did NBC, ABC, or NYTs. OR maybe i just misplaced it ha ha, in which case I'm sorry ha ha Remember freedom of speech is not free, Thank a veteran today for his service.

[zootallures2]

Airmanc5,
Sensorship...LOL. No stories at all about Ron Paul for president. Just the communists and national socialists candidates appointed by banks, corporations, and AIPAC.

[lars008-2009]

Appeal for Redress
Sign this Appeal.
This site is an Appeal For Redress in support of our mission in Iraq.
An Appeal For Redress is an authorized means for active duty military to submit a grievance to Congress. It can be signed by Active Duty, Reserve, or National Guard military personnel.
It is authorized by DoD Directive 1325.6 and DoD Directive 7050.6.
The wording of the Appeal for Redress is:
As an American currently serving my nation in uniform, I respectfully urge my political leaders in Congress to fully support our mission in Iraq and halt any calls for retreat. I also respectfully urge my political leaders to actively oppose media efforts which embolden my enemy while demoralizing American support at home. The War in Iraq is a necessary and just effort to bring freedom to the Middle East and protect America from further attack.
If you are active duty, reservist or national guard, please Sign this Appeal.
Most service members fully support the war in Iraq and feel calls to retreat by Congress and attacks by our media on our conduct and mission act to motivate our enemy while demoralizing our support at home, directly increasing the threat we face and resulting in greater American casualties. This Appeal for Redress provides a way in which individual service members can appeal to Congress to fully support us and actively oppose media attacks on our mission and our morale.
This Appeal will be delivered to members of Congress.
http://www.appealforcourage.org/

[lars008-2009]

It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace--but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death! March 23, 1775 Patrick Henry

[euge005]

Sounds like ol Lars is a Chaney staffer. THe big lie he conveniently ignores is that the war is to allow ***'s chronies to steal Iraqi oil, DUH!!. Never was another reason, just excuses, one after another and the lie with each. It destroyed the only honorable man that this crew could find to serve them. That applies to Colin Powell. Probably done intentionally to insure he never becomes the President. A conservative these days is most often only a warmed over clostet bigot anyway. The other posts in this series are proof enough of that. That anyone would shamelessly present this administration as something other than criminal is hard to understand, until you recall the saying from Dallas - once you get past integrity the rest is easy. Listen to these guys a while and you would think being liberal was a bad thing, lol.

[pakaal]

Lieber1881 !? Wasn't it Lieber881 half an hour ago? And lieberman18 before that, janem4, Janeymcgreevey, etc.

Girl, you really should tone down your shallow, vicious smears so you don't your latest name(s) banned from the CBS site so often. You're gonna run out of user names in a couple weeks at this rate!