(Bill) Clinton Opposed to Iraq Withdrawal Deadline

AP ^ | July 9, 2005

[West Coast Conservative]

Former President Bill Clinton says setting deadline for a U.S. withdrawal from Iraq would aid terrorists trying to destroy a growing democracy.

"They are dying beside us in the service of what they hope will be an independent country," said Clinton, speaking at the 2005 Aspen Ideas Festival on Friday night.

"I wouldn't give it up yet. I'd stick in there and try to make it work. And I wouldn't set a deadline either. I think that's a mistake. If we set a deadline, (the terrorists) will believe all they have to do is wait. So unless you know you can take out all these insurgents coming in from other countries ... you shouldn't set a deadline, otherwise they will wait us out and it would be demoralizing for the Iraqis," Clinton said in a speech at the Aspen Ideas Festival.

He noted 58 percent of Iraqis voted in their national election, more than in some recent U.S. elections. "It's clearly a legitimate process and the people want it to work, so I think we can try to make it work," he said.

"The key thing is to put them in a position to defend themselves to protect their gains as quickly as possible. The more they are capable of defending themselves, the less it'll look like an American takeover, the less there'll be sympathy for terrorists coming in from the outside, and the more incentive there'll be for the various factions to join the government and be full participants," he said.

Clinton scoffed at comparisons with Vietnam. "This not Vietnam. It might be a quagmire, but it won't be for the reason it was in Vietnam. Our problem (in Vietnam) was we didn't have a legitimate government to back. ... The government itself never had enough confidence to stand up."

Clinton predicted this week's bombings in London will strengthen the resolve of the British to fight terrorism.

"I actually think they made a tactically bad decision to do this thing in London, from their point of view (the terrorists)," Clinton said. "The British underwent the (Irish Republican Army) terrorism and the blitz bombing (from the Germans in World War II), and they are tough as nails. And they can take it and dish it out."

[Paleo Conservative]

He noted 58 percent of Iraqis voted in their national election, more than in some recent U.S. elections.

Like 1992 and 1996.

[river rat]

MSM should be shoving their mikes up Clinton's clymer -- not into his face...

Clinton is so pre-2001 - as to be totally irrelevant...

Semper Fi

[neodad]

"This not Vietnam. It might be a quagmire but it won't be for the reason it was in Vietnam

So its more like . . . . . Kosovo?

[neodad]

"This not Vietnam. It might be a quagmire but it won't be for the reason it was in Vietnam

So its more like . . . . . Kosovo?

[NutCrackerBoy]

These might be helpful comments, but ex-Presidents should retire from the limelight. I would like to hear this from more than one or two (current) leading Democrats.

[shield]

'toon was a lousy president....soooooooo who gives chit what he says!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[janetgreen]

Isn't Clinton Barbara Bush's new son and Poppy's new golf partner?

[Jeff Chandler]

Our problem (in Vietnam) was we didn't have a legitimate government to back. ... The government itself never had enough confidence to stand up."

Our problem in Vietnam was the fact that Johnson and McNamara managed the war themselves. Our problem in Vietnam is the fact that Cronkite and the rest of the media lied to us about the Tet offensive. The problem with Vietnam is the fact that the left actively sought to subvert the war effort in order to gain power for themselves. The problem with Vietnam is the fact that the rat congress cut off aid to South Vietnam.

Shut up, cigar man.

[sofaman]

Good one...the "quagmire" word was a nod and a wink to the "psychiatric wing" of the Dem Party

[Names Ash Housewares]

Despite the quagmire towing the party line comment, there is a lot here to shove in liberals faces when their hero Clinton says a lot of things that back up Bush.

Use this!

[lilylangtree]

Odd what comes out of this ex-prez who should have been prosecuted for being a sexual predator will say sans Hitlery.

[strategofr]

"Despite the quagmire towing the party line comment, there is a lot here to shove in liberals faces when their hero Clinton says a lot of things that back up Bush."

True. But as far as I am concerned, Bill is just a piece of Hillary's strategy now. His "turn" is over and now its her "turn". This is just part of the image that implies, "Hillary is a strong-on-defense moderate now, not Left Wing anymore."

[saquin]

I have a feeling the "quagmire" word was used in the question to him, as in "Is this a quagmire like Vietnam?"

I actually think these comments are pretty good, given the source. As "Names Ash Housewares" said, this will make many Democrats apoplectic and it should be thrown in their faces that their "hero" essentially agrees with President Bush.

[EdHallick]

Bull Clintoon as well as Hitlery need to wear meat hats and get out of the spotlight once and for all.

http://www.hatsofmeat.com/

[sofaman]

The comments are certainly far more positive than those coming from the likes of Dick Durbin, Ted Kennedy, Nancy Pelosi and Hairy Reid...and it is certainly welcome ammo against the left

[Aliska]

Clinton's comments are supportive and realistic. I'm not going to trash him but thank him. I just got off the Guardian thread.

To make this work, we are going to need all the positive help we can get from wherever it comes.

Thank you, Bill Clinton.

[Da Bilge Troll]

"Don't look a gift horse in the mouth."

[Mia T]

"Clinton is so pre-2001 - as to be totally irrelevant... "
Perfect, rr.

2 stale jokes in suits trying to pass for human.
(hillary's positioning on national security is almost funnier than her risible rape-victim advocacy pose.)

hillary talks:ON TERROR


(viewing movie requires Flash Player 7, available HERE)

HILLARY IS NIXON-PLUS ^{part 2}
BEWARE THE SYNERGY
Nixonian paranoia and fascistic mindset combine with
clintonian megalomania, ineptitude and, most important, easy betrayal of America
to make hillary clinton deadly dangerous for us all.


also: HILLARY IS NIXON-PLUS ^{part 1}

[sharktrager]

Don't fool yourself. He is doing this to help his wife's "move to the center" and to avoid leaving sound-bites that can be used against her should she become President.

Scared Bunny Blog
Not for the timid