Clinton: Iraq Is On The Right Track

In Surprise Visit To Baghdad Says U.S. Will Help In Creation Of Non-Sectarian Security Force

(CBS/AP)  During a surprise visit to Baghdad Saturday - her first visit to Iraq as America's top diplomat - Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said the U.S. wants to help the Iraqi government create a "non-sectarian security force."

She envisions a force that "will not tolerate either sectarian actions or any kind of armed assault on the people of Iraq."

Clinton said Iraq had made great strides, despite the latest violence that has killed dozens of people.

The secretary of state arrived in Baghdad a day after back-to-back suicide bombings killed 71 people outside the most important Shiite shrine in Baghdad.

Those attacks came after 88 people were killed by suicide bombers in Baghdad and Muqdadiyah, north of the capital, on Thursday.

Although the violence is at its lowest levels since the months following the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, the latest bombings came amid an increase in high-profile sectarian attacks that raised concerns about the abilities of Iraq's security forces.

They exposed gaps in security as Iraq takes over from U.S. forces in protecting the country. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki ordered a military task force to investigate the attacks and how the assailants were allowed to slip through.

The Pentagon plans to hand over responsibility for most urban security in about three months as part of the Obama administration's goal of a complete exit of U.S. forces by the end of 2011.

U.S. officials say they are still committed to the June 30 deadline to move all forces outside major cities, including Baghdad.

But the top U.S. commander in Iraq, General Raymond Odierno, has said American troops could "maintain a presence" in some cities if requested by the Iraqis.

Speaking to reporters ahead of her arrival in Baghdad, Clinton praised Iraq's progress and said that this week's deadly suicide bombings are a sign that extremists are afraid the government there is succeeding.

"I think that these suicide bombings ... are unfortunately, in a tragic way, a signal that the rejectionists fear that Iraq is going in the right direction," Clinton said.

"I think in Iraq there will always be political conflicts, there will always be, as in any society, sides drawn between different factions, but I really believe Iraq as a whole is on the right track," she said, citing "overwhelming evidence" of "really impressive" progress.

"Are there going to be bad days? Yes, there are," Clinton said. "But I don't know of any difficult international situation anywhere in the world or history where there haven't been bad days."

Clinton, who made three trips to Iraq while she was serving in the Senate, was met at the airport by the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, who was also on an unannounced trip to Baghdad, and America's new ambassador to Iraq, Christopher Hill, who presented his credentials to the Iraqi government late on Friday.

She attended a closed-door briefing from Mullen and Odierno to discuss the upsurge in violence.

Clinton then met the U.N. representative to Iraq before meeting Iraqi war widows and holding an unprecedented "town hall" style meeting with Iraqi aid workers and others at the U.S. embassy.

Separately, there is word that Iraq's Cabinet is drafting a law to allow the government to delay payments for its large-scale reconstruction projects.

In a statement issued Friday, the government says plummeting oil prices and limited exports have made it difficult to secure the
cash needed to pay for reconstruction projects.

[CLoverNYC1]

Hope they had a lot of barf bags in that room, 'cause anyone having to stare at Hillary for an hour is going to need one. Just look at that photo; it makes my eyes hurt. No wonder 'ole Bill has chased every other woman for 25 years.
Posted by richardj3901
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I'd hit it ! ha ha ha
Posted by dsr57 at 5:16 AM : Apr 26, 2009
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Hope you own a winch and a blowtorch

[CLoverNYC1]

That's amazing.

In only 100 days, President Obama was able to turn the Iraqi war around with his policies.

There is "overwhelming evidence" of "really impressive progress" according to Hillary Clinton, the official voice of truth.

All that bowing to the muslims really pays off.

[pepperwood2]

Isn't this the same thing Bill said to the Hutu Extremists on his watch when they killed a Million Tutsis in 1994?? Yep - you're on the right track. Is this is all Hagliary learned, as she brags about her 55 years of experience in Washington.

Lying is one of her strong suits though. Fund raising is another. Its all about me wheeeee, she saids, show me the money. This is fun and I'm just warming up. So sad for The Ghosts of Rwanda & Iraqi People to face this conniving liar. Like Husband - Like Wife - Dejevuo all over again.

[budmag06]

Duh, gee, thanks Hillary! Years of Democrat criticism of Bush and the war, and now that Comrade O has been in power 3 months and it's "on the right track"? Gee, I wonder what Comrade Barack did to change the outcome of the war?? Did the Dems support the war in the beginning? Most did. Did the Dems support any part of the ongoing war? No. Did the Dems support the "surge"? No. Do the Dems deny any success in Iraq at first, then take credit for the Bush's success with the "surge" in Iraq? Yes. Did Barack and Hillary lie about immediate troop pullouts from Iraq during the campaign and now, want to continue the Iraq war? Yes. Do the Dems treat their supporters as being stupid. YES.

[tommygun083]

Clinton is world famous for telling lies (mis speaking) and misrepresenting the truth. She has no credibility at all. Whatever she says, it is assumed to be a lie. When she goes to Lebanon and tells them that they should not let outsiders interfere in their election, and that we will cut off our military aid if they don?t vote the way we want, they assume she is mis-speaking. Especially when she is standing in the middle of Lebanon when she says it.

[slownewsday05]

The Bush administration said that there was progress in Iraq, and the Democrats pointed at terrorist bombings and said "No, the violence shows you are lying" - a Democrat administration is in office and there are terrorist bombings, and the Democrats say "Iraq is heading in the right direction"....a good object lesson in how you can fool all of the people all of the time!
Posted by 6591Hou

Time for a new party to replace both the Dems and Repubs.

[slownewsday05]

The dumbocrats are an embarrassment to our nation. The most naive childish comments and actions in history.

Lying Leftist Liberals... LLL is the new KKK
Posted by Export_the_Liberals


Read your own statement - that was about as childish as it gets.

[6591Hou]

The Bush administration said that there was progress in Iraq, and the Democrats pointed at terrorist bombings and said "No, the violence shows you are lying" - a Democrat administration is in office and there are terrorist bombings, and the Democrats say "Iraq is heading in the right direction"....a good object lesson in how you can fool all of the people all of the time!

[dsr57]

Hope they had a lot of barf bags in that room, 'cause anyone having to stare at Hillary for an hour is going to need one. Just look at that photo; it makes my eyes hurt. No wonder 'ole Bill has chased every other woman for 25 years.
Posted by richardj3901

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I'd hit it ! ha ha ha

[Export_the_Liberals]

So let me see here, if Obama inherited the economic mess from Bush, then the success in Iraq now is something he inherited from Bush as well?
Posted by dkhorse11 at 11:27 PM : Apr 25, 2009

Well said! The Lying Leftist Liberals (LLL) will take credit for everything good and blame everything bad on someone else, even if they voted for the bad.

Barney Frank, Dodd = Economic Mess
Obama & Dodd take more money from AIG lobyist than anyone else and then change the lay to allow bonuses.

Lying Leftist Liberals