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A day after Bush visits Iraq, Hillary Clinton calls for new U.N. role
Associated Press ^
| 11-28-03
| By JIM KRANE
Posted on 11/28/2003 9:40:50 AM PST by Oldeconomybuyer
BAGHDAD, Iraq, Nov 28, 2003 (AP WorldStream via COMTEX) -- A day after U.S. President George W. Bush made a surprise trip to Baghdad, U.S. senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and Jack Reed flew in Friday, saying it isn't too late to bring the United Nations back to Iraq.
The senators said the administration of Iraq - a huge expense - should be spread among a wider group of nations.
"I'm a big believer that we ought to internationalize this, but it will take a big change in our administration's thinking," said Clinton, a Democrat from New York. "I don't see that it's forthcoming."
Hours after Bush's 2 1/2-hour visit to Baghdad's airport, Clinton and Reed, a Democrat from Rhode Island, spent a day meeting with military brass and troops, top officials of the occupation administration and aid workers.
Both senators cautioned that new plans to speed up the trasnfer of power to an Iraqi government is risky given the country's political and social upheaval. Reed said a "critical factor" for coalition authorities was securing the blessing of Iraq's majority Shiite Muslim community, especially Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Husseini al-Sistani, who has criticized the plan.
"We're caught in a dillema, possibly of our own making," Reed said. "A quick, hasty election might bring to power a person who doesn't share the values we're trying to encourage. But the more we wait, the more it looks like an occupation."
Clinton supported a resolution granting Bush congressional authority to wage war against Iraq. At the time, she said it was "the hardest decision I've ever had to make."
"I supported the US$87 billion. I thought it was neccessary," Clinton said. "I probably would have structured it differently. But the money is flowing."
But Clinton said the main purpose of her trip was to show support for U.S. troops.
"I wanted to come to Iraq to let the troops know about the great job they're doing," she said.
Reed, who voted against authorizing war against Iraq, said his opposition has been confirmed by his visit, as well as by an earlier visit in July.
He said the Bush administration was too hasty in dismissing the U.N. search for weapons that probably would have shown that Iraq represented no imminent threat to the United States. He said the links between Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida terrorist network and Saddam also appeared to be exaggerated.
TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Arkansas; US: New York; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: beast; clintonalumni; electionpresident; hillary; iraq; irrelevant; un
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
No comment....
2
posted on
11/28/2003 9:49:32 AM PST
by
Victor
To: Oldeconomybuyer
Well, what should one think? She goes to Iraq to support our troops only to open her crevice and to show lack of support by bashing the Pres......
3
posted on
11/28/2003 9:52:15 AM PST
by
illiac
To: Victor
Yes, it's hard to comment while puking...
To: Victor
Maybe her higness can show us a UN success story.
5
posted on
11/28/2003 9:52:53 AM PST
by
itsahoot
(The lesser of two evils, is evil still...Alan Keyes)
To: Oldeconomybuyer
What or who is stoppin' them?
6
posted on
11/28/2003 9:53:15 AM PST
by
SwinneySwitch
(Freedom isn't Free - Support those who ensure it!)
To: Oldeconomybuyer
"But Clinton said the main purpose of her trip was to show support for U.S. troops. " tough to swallow; coming from "it; that loathes the military..."
did she visit with any new york troops?
7
posted on
11/28/2003 9:54:15 AM PST
by
hoot2
To: Oldeconomybuyer
The Roadrunner and the Coyote make a quaint little morality tale. The intrepid Roadrunner is being pursued by the Coyote, and at times it looks like the Coyote may finally gain the upper hand. But the elaborate plan designed to catch the Roadrunner gets ruined again, and as the Coyote is lying broken and confused in the trap of his own making, the Roadrunner goes "Beep, beep!", makes a big razzberry,and speeds away to the horizon.
The interplay between Dubya and Herself is a live-action play of the cartoon characters, with Herself playing the Coyote. Herself just got the razzbery and "Beep, beep!"
To: Oldeconomybuyer
Wonder how many soldiers in Iraq lined up to get their photograph taken with her and requested her autograph?
To: Oldeconomybuyer
bookmarking
10
posted on
11/28/2003 10:02:06 AM PST
by
prairiebreeze
(The President flew in to visit our troops in Iraq on Thanksgiving!! That folks, is being a leader.)
To: Oldeconomybuyer
A day late and a dollar short......
11
posted on
11/28/2003 10:04:39 AM PST
by
76834
To: Oldeconomybuyer
Opportunistic scheming hag with a brass pair.
12
posted on
11/28/2003 10:05:28 AM PST
by
stanz
(Those who don't believe in evolution should go jump off the flat edge of the Earth.)
To: Oldeconomybuyer
Hillary should wear a burka while in a Muslim nation. In fact, I think it would be a good thing for her to wear one all the time.
13
posted on
11/28/2003 10:07:10 AM PST
by
boycott
To: Oldeconomybuyer
After reading the book Legacy about the Clinton administration, I am more convinced than ever that the LAST thing we need is the UN to help in our war on terror. If Hillary really gave a darn about this, she of all people would know better. This is a political speech of course.
14
posted on
11/28/2003 10:09:00 AM PST
by
ladyinred
(The Left have blood on their hands!)
To: Oldeconomybuyer
The appropriate role for the U.N. is handling the PARKING. They UN staff has mastered that in New York.
15
posted on
11/28/2003 10:10:42 AM PST
by
pointsal
To: Oldeconomybuyer
I've yet to see this visit on TV. FNC is currently showing Bush but still no Shrillary. Even had it on CNN earlier but nothing.
To: Oldeconomybuyer
I've yet to see this visit on TV. FNC is currently showing Bush but still no Shrillary. Even had it on CNN earlier but nothing.
To: Oldeconomybuyer
11/27/03:
the more we wait, the more it looks like an occupation
3/21/03: Airstrike in Baghdad
Several large blasts detonated to the west of Baghdad tonight as reports suggested the expected night of colossal "shock and awe" bombing was beginning. Time elapsed: 8 MONTHS.
-----------------------------------------------------
5/2/03: ABOARD THE USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN -- US President George W. Bush declared the major fighting in Iraq over...
Time elapsed: 6 MONTHS.
-----------------------------------------------------
Germany (Territory Under Allied Occupation, 1945-1955) Records
Time elapsed: 10 YEARS.
-----------------------------------------------------
"OCCUPATION": WE REPORT, YOU DECIDE.
18
posted on
11/28/2003 10:15:27 AM PST
by
nicmarlo
To: Oldeconomybuyer
Bush has asked the UN to help out. Unfortunately they are feckless and unable to defend themselves, so even the small units in Iraq and Afghanistan are being withdrawn.
The UN, as an institution, is incapable of dealing with issues like terrorism, war, and violence. They have shown that again and again. The sole exceptions have been when, as in Korea, the UN mantle was used to "legitimize" American and allied forces. But it was nothing but a label.
19
posted on
11/28/2003 10:25:32 AM PST
by
Cicero
(Marcus Tullius)
To: Oldeconomybuyer
Yawnnnn...
20
posted on
11/28/2003 10:36:28 AM PST
by
CommandoFrank
(Peer into the depths of hell and there is the face of Islam!)
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