Presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., delivers remarks at the Planned Parenthood Action Fund annual public affairs conference in Washington Tuesday, July 17, 2007. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Posted on 07/20/2007 9:59:21 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON - Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton hit back Friday at a Pentagon aide who charged that her questions about Iraq withdrawal planning have the effect of helping the enemy — calling the accusation a spurious dodge of a serious issue.
Clinton, the Democratic front-runner for president, had asked the Pentagon to detail how it is planning for the eventual withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Iraq. She first raised the issue in May, pointing out that whenever troops leave, it will be no simple task to transport the people, equipment and vehicles out of Iraq, possibly through hostile territory.
Eric Edelman, the Defense Department's undersecretary for policy, offered a sharply worded response, saying such discussions boost the enemy.
"Premature and public discussion of the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq reinforces enemy propaganda that the United States will abandon its allies in Iraq, much as we are perceived to have done in Vietnam, Lebanon and Somalia," Edelman wrote.
His tough language in a letter obtained Thursday by The Associated Press was surprising in part because it came in correspondence with a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, which has oversight of the Pentagon.
Clinton responded Friday in a letter to Edelman's boss, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, asking if he agreed with Edelman's charge.
The New York senator said Edelman had ducked her questions and "instead made spurious arguments to avoid addressing contingency planning."
"Undersecretary Edelman has his priorities backward," Clinton wrote, calling his claim "outrageous and dangerous."
She repeated her request for a briefing — classified if necessary — on the issue of end-of-war planning.
The senator's spokesman Philippe Reines said: "We sent a serious letter to the Secretary of Defense, and unacceptably got a political response back."
As she runs for president, Clinton has ratcheted up her criticism of the Bush administration's war effort, answering critics of her 2002 vote to authorize the Iraq invasion by saying she would end the war if elected president.
Edelman is a former aide to Vice President Dick Cheney, and a public feud between him and Clinton may win her points among anti-war voters and liberal Democrats, a critical constituency in primary voting.
Among her top Democratic rivals, Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois has argued that he opposed the war from the start when he was serving in the Illinois legislature. John Edwards, the former North Carolina senator, has disavowed his 2002 vote giving President Bush the authority to oust Saddam Hussein's regime.
Her response to Edelman also suggests Democrats are still smarting from what they claim were rough Republican tactics during the 2004 presidential race. Democrats also directed some of their ire at nominee John Kerry, contending that he did not respond quickly or forcefully enough to broadsides such as the unsubstantiated allegations from the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth.
Kerry came to Clinton's defense after the Edelman letter, and the two are discussing legislation they will offer that would force the Pentagon to brief Congress and offer a full report on troop withdrawal plans.
If she ultimately wins the White House, Clinton may find herself overseeing a troop withdrawal, but others have also raised the issue, including Republican Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana.
Edelman's letter does indicate the Pentagon might be planning how to withdraw, saying: "We are always evaluating and planning for possible contingencies. As you know, it is long-standing departmental policy that operational plans, including contingency plans, are not released outside of the department."
Presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., delivers remarks at the Planned Parenthood Action Fund annual public affairs conference in Washington Tuesday, July 17, 2007. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
So the New York Slimes can print it all on the front page?
Lying treasonous Beast.
Dear Senator Clinton, as Fitzy from Townienews.com would say. “GFY”.
What a major hag! She thinks she is sooo very intelligent and she’s a moron!
I think he struck a nerve.
Carville, Begala 101.
Don’t respond to the criticism. Attack the attacker.
See Clinton response to Scooter Libby commutation.
When she loses the Primary Nomination of her own party to Obama, then she will really be mad.
that is a wonderful and accurate description
That’s so 1992.
All the SBVT claims against Kerry were true; none were “unsubstantiated” as claimed in a little throwaway line here!
She is going to lose.
I can just hear that fingernails-on-a-blackboard shrill as she was saying this. I wish someone would drop a safe on this woman.
I was going to say the exact same thing. The truth hurts, doesn’t it Hildebeast?
Clinton, the Democratic front-runner for president, had asked the Pentagon to detail how it is planning for the eventual withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Iraq.
.
She’s never been in the Military.
This is her and every democrat's dream. Running with our tail tucked under like scared little pacifists.
She’s a loser. Using the same stupid rhetoric being used by the moonbat public...shame on you senator...couldn’t you think of a better come back...proving once again you just ain’t that smart.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.