Campaign Pledge Out The Window: Hillary Won't Ban Security Contractors

[mod mom]

CLINTON CONFIRMATION: Clinton Won’t Ban State Department Security Contractors
By SPENCER ACKERMAN 1/13/09 12:07 PM

“We have seen the abuses by contractors,” Clinton says, lamenting the overall trend of moving to a contracted State Department security workforce. “It’s been contractors across the board … I think we have to take a hard look about whether we want the U.S. government to be a contractor agency.” She declines to say, as she did during her presidential campaign, that the State Department should ban “mercenaries.”

Oh! Wait! There she goes: “Our civilian employees need to be protected. As we withdraw our troops, we have to get assurances of their protection by Iraqi troops, or we have to use contractors.” Well, so much for the campaign promise. Doug Brooks, you called it.

http://washingtonindependent.com/25232/clinton-confirmation

[wyldwolf]

1. I guess if Hillary was the President-elect, your OP would be relevant

[crikkett]

2. my first thought too

[hedgehog]

12. Same here.

I'm really wondering if Hillary will last 6 months as SOS or if she will be forced to resign over policy differences!

[mod mom]

4. Boston Globe: Blackwater donation may pose conflict for Clinton

"Read the last paragraph: "That could cost Blackwater its contract to protect U.S. diplomats. The next secretary of state will make that call." The Money Party raises it's ugly head. :mad:


Blackwater donation may pose conflict for Clinton
December 18, 2008

WASHINGTON—The future of security contractor Blackwater Worldwide just got a little more politically sensitive.

Newly released records show the largest security contractor in Iraq donated between $10,000 and $25,000 to former President Bill Clinton's foundation. Assuming Hillary Rodham Clinton is confirmed as Secretary of State, she will have final say on whether Blackwater will keep its contract despite a deadly shooting last year.

Five Blackwater guards are under indictment and a sixth has pleaded guilty for their roles in the shooting, which left 17 Iraqis dead. Prosecutors say the guards unleashed grenades and machine gun fire on innocent civilians.

That could cost Blackwater its contract to protect U.S. diplomats. The next secretary of state will make that call.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2008/12/18/blackwater_donation_may_pose_conflict_for_clinton/

[wyldwolf]

5. still 100% irrelevant

Hillary has no final say on anything. Sorry.

Clinton smears are now Obama smears.

[mod mom]

6. So Hillary has no power? and you know more than the Boston Globe journalist.

BTW I question Obama's decision in placing Money Party candidates such as HRC in positions of authority. I'm hoping he is placing them to diffuse their power. We'll have to wait and see but if he adopts a corporatist/Money Party agenda, I'll be the first to criticize his decisions as well.

The last 28 years (that's right it includes the Clinton Administration which repealed Glass Steagall -banking de-reg; gave MF trade status to China, pushed free trade & thus outsourcing w/o regulation; handed over media to very few through Telecom Act of '96; etc) of corporatist rule/war mongering has done immense damage to this country. It's time to expose it and make major change to how this country is run.

[Name removed]

7. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[karynnj]

20. Actually, she does have say because I doubt Obama will

review each and every decision made by every cabinet member.

I do think though that this is premature- as she hasn't done anything. I do think that it will be fair to criticize a decision - if it is made - to have Blackwater protect the diplomats. If it happens, it will be fair to ask her to defend the decision in light of the charges they face. It might be that - if it happens - she will defend them as being the best alternative and not related to any contributions.

The main word in tha above paragraph is "IF". If it happens, it may become an issue - first for the SOS and then for the President if it becomes a big enough issue. He could then ask her to change her ruling.

I absolutely disagree that this is a "smear" - it is a valid concern and is written as such. In addition, while any "smears" or real conflicts of interests of the Clintons will impact the reputation of the Obama administration - it goes too far to say that Clinton smears are Obama smears.

I think there should be no SMEARS of anyone - not even Bush or Cheney - and certainly no smears of any Democrat. But I think that we have the responsibility to be honest and speak against any corruption or conflict of interest of any elected official - even Obama or Clinton. (not to mention, we have the right to criticize policies.)

[blm]

27. SoS doesn't control State Dept. or who has access to it?

.

[wyldwolf]

28. The presidency doesn't control the SoS?

[ronnykmarshall]

36. Well you know how THAT WOMAN is??

She's going to take all the spot light from President Obama for her own evil ways.

I think she'll declare "Marshall Law" and overthrow him.

It's in The Plan.

I seen it!

[niceypoo]

3. Campaign promise?

Did she win?

[DevonRex]

17. We must have missed that long campaign for SoS. LOL.

[karynnj]

22. She made that promise just last year while

running for the Democratic nomination for the Presidency. A run I assume you are familiar with - are you claiming that all those positions were no longer operable as soon as she lost to Obama. Running for President is suppose to allow a person to completely define positions and values - essentially who they are.

I was not surprised to see Kerry or Dean fight for things they spoke of in 2004 for the last 4 years in their jobs as Senator and DNC head. Had they shifted 180 degrees on something, I would have wanted and expected an explanation of why they had changed their position.

[wyldwolf]

24. yet now, as the future Secretary of State, she speaks for the Obama administration

[DevonRex]

25. The primaries are OVER. She is going to be SoS. nt

[karynnj]

29. Yes, I watched the hearings yesterday

She did a good job. There is nothing I wrote that deserves your knee jerk response. Being SoS does not mean that she can't be criticized. She was criticized as an elected Democratic Senator - as were every other elected Senator. Here, I think their are questions - and she will answer them. At minimum, if Blackwater is retained, I assume she will issue new quidelines on their behavior.

This is a question of policy - not who to vote for in an election that was over more than a half year ago.

[ronnykmarshall]

32. I had SO much fun at the Hillary for SoS rallies.

They always played ABBA's "SOS" when she took the stage.

Oh good times!

[DevonRex]

38. Shame on you for not inviting me. Heh. Apparently that was the first time

the MSM evah missed an opportunity to trash the Clintons. Either that or those massive rallies were always held during Monday Night Football or something. Or opposite Survivor: Island from Hell.

Grumble, grumble. Now I have an earworm that I just can't shake in addition to visions of ABBA costumes runnin' 'round my brain.

Off topic, but I should would like to see some more pictures of you and your husband and your pets, preferably when you're all snuggled on the couch to watch the inauguration. :)

[wyldwolf]

8. will somone explain to the OP that Hillary is no longer a free agent?

Anything she says is either approved by the Obama team or she is almost completely certain it is. That the answers she gave in her hearing have been anticipated and rehearsed. Hillary CANNOT break a campaign promise now because SHE DID NOT WIN THE ELECTION.

The OP seems to be missing that point.

[IndianaJones]

9. so which is it for you PUMA's, she has no power, or she does? nt.

[Onlooker]

10. Good to see that others are starting to criticize the Obama administration

As the OP implies, Obama is letting us down in various ways. The OP offers yet another example (on top of Obama's choice of Warren, his silence on Gaza, and his apparent desire to maintain Reagan privatization policies with his bailout). Progessives need to keep the pressure on Obama, just as they did on the liberal administrations of the 1930s and 1960s.

[wyldwolf]

11. Obama isn't mentioned in the OP

[RaleighNCDUer]

13. Agreed. Obama is not mentioned.

This crap belongs entirely to Hillary.

[wyldwolf]

15. Does she work for Obama or doesn't she? Be consistent

[RaleighNCDUer]

18. That's rich. When Hillary flip flops you blame it on Obama.

Talk about consistent.

[wyldwolf]

19. Hillary is promoting Obama's policies, not her own. Ouch! Ooh! Truth burns.

[Yukari Yakumo]

39. It's Onlooker, what do you expect?

He slimes Obama every chance he gets.

[Onlooker]

45. I suppose you don't blame Bush for Rummy?

If you don't, then you have some logic to your reasoning, but if you do, then it seems to me that when you disagree with the presumptive Secretary of State, you disagree with the president-elect.

[dionysus]

40. " Good to see that others are starting to criticize the Obama administration"

free republic is thattaway --->

[Cha]

44. "As the OP implies"..NO as you

mo%+&#r#U(^3*!ng IMPLY. You've been criticizing Obama since the primaries and you're fucking nitpicking old.

[Zuiderelle]

14. Wait. She CAMPAIGNED to be Secretary of State???

:eyes:

[crikkett]

23. It was pretty slick, too.

Have to admire it.
:thumbsup:

[Kalyke]

30. Actually, she probably did.

Just not for a voting public, but for the Obama transition team.

[Zuiderelle]

31. And now she's gone rogue and calling all the shots even though Obama's her boss?

Whatever :eyes:

[ronnykmarshall]

33. I voted for her !!

In California US Sec of State Primary and the GE.

[DevonRex]

16. Newsflash: 1) The primaries are OVER. 2) She isn't in a position to fulfill that anyway.

[AtomicKitten]

21. There is a logistical problem: There are as many contractors as soldiers in Iraq.

The military simply doesn't have enough personnel to fill the gap. They will have to be pulled out commensurate with the military withdrawal.

This isn't anywhere in the ballpark of black and white as some seem to think.

[Occam Bandage]

26. That seems like a reasonable position. She wants to get rid of contractors,

but recognizes that we can't do that until we get protection from Iraqi troops. I don't think Hillary's campaign promise was "If appointed secretary of state, I will immediately fire every security contractor."

[Beacool]

34. Bingo, the voice of reason.

Just like Obama closing Guantanamo. It's probably going to take months before it truly closes.

;)

[Jennicut]

35. Hillz is president! Since when? Where was I?

This is utterly ridiculous. Hillary is SoS, a very important position but not the presidency or even vice presidency. Hill and Obama disagree on a few things here and there, that will have to be worked out down the line. But the ultimate authority goes to Obama. Unless she puts a gun to his head of course, but we don't need to go there. If he does not want contractors, we will not get contractors. If he wants talking done to our enemies, Hillary better get on a plane and go talk. She is working for Obama now. To those who think she won't or Obama will let her, well Obama did not go through 2 years of crap to just let someone control him. He is not Shrub. And Hillary knows better, she ruffles and feathers and her power gets cut off completely. I think she would want to keep what she can get.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

37. Clinton is not the President Elect. Obama is.

It is his ultimate responsibility to oversee how business in the SoS department is conducted.

[Froward69]

41. Just Another reason

I never trusted her Any way.

So I am
1)not surprised
and
2) not hurt.

*without any sexual bias.

[SaveOurDemocracy]

43. Did she win??? I must have missed something.

Doofus ...

*without any sexual bias.

[SaveOurDemocracy]

42. Pathetically bogus claim.

Guess some people don't mind looking clueless.

[EraOfResponsibility]

46. What was the campaign promise again?

[ddeclue]

47. I thought we stopped throwing things out the window and started throwing things under the bus...