Sen. Clinton to spend Thanksgiving with troops in Afghanistan, visit Iraq
By DEVLIN BARRETT
Associated Press WriterNovember 25, 2003, 5:45 PM EST
WASHINGTON -- Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton will spend Thanksgiving in Afghanistan before traveling to Iraq with a former Army paratrooper turned senator to meet with soldiers and ask questions about the United States' ongoing nation-building efforts.
The former first lady and Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., have both been critical of the administration's handling of post-combat problems in the war on terrorism, particularly after major military operations ended in Iraq.
Clinton and Reed said Tuesday they were concerned about the current efforts to win the "hearts and minds" of Iraqis.
"This administration is run by people who have been obsessed with Saddam Hussein for more than a decade," Clinton said. "And the fact that they could have been so poorly informed and prepared raises a lot of serious questions about the decisions they are making now."
Reed said he is worried "the administration seems to be rushing toward an exit strategy" in Iraq by transferring power as quickly as possible to civilian police authority.
The trip marks Clinton's first fact-finding mission abroad as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
The trip marks Clinton's first fact-finding mission abroad as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Perhaps this is the place to focus first. She was there representing the Senate, and the Armed Services Committee specifically.
U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services (full committee members)
I don't think she was interested in finding any facts. Her mind was made up before she got there.
I saw exactly one report of Clinton (her) in Iraq before the President Bush / Iraq story broke. After that, she disappeared from public view all day Thursday, and did not reappear from under her wet rock until a brief TV clip on Friday.
Not only did Bush drive her out of the media, notice the contrast in the receptions that these two elected officials received from the troops on the ground. (The national media were careful not to mention this, but the visuals and audio told the story without any commentary.) The contrast was this:
The troops showed their enthusiasm for Bush as someone who understands, respects and supports their mission, by cheering as soon as he entered the room. The troops showed their "enthusiasm" for Clinton (her) by not throwing food at her, like the cafeteria scene in Animal House. Notice that Bush interacted with all possible troops, whereas Clinton (her) targeted black soldiers in the 10th Mountain Division (based in New York?), which gave her the best chance to find a few individuals who would take her seriously. From the appearance on their faces and their body English, even this targeted group did not like her.
Bottom line: FReepers should spit on Clinton (her) -- figuratively of course -- to provide for her the reception that the American troops were thinking, but were too polite by training to do. She needs it, she earned it, we should do it.
Does that about cover the waterfront?
John / Billybob