Do I smell an election year? (Clinton: Iraq Troop Withdrawal in 60 Days)

[Earth_First]

Clinton Defends Iraq Votes in Increasingly Heated Democratic Race

Clinton said if elected president, she will start pulling troops out of Iraq 60 days after her inauguration. Her plan envisions a quick beginning to the withdrawal followed by the removal of one to two brigades a month.

"...And my commitment to begin withdrawing our troops in January of 2009 is a big factor, as it is with Senator Obama, Senator Edwards, those of us on the Democratic side. It is a big factor in pushing the Iraqi government to finally do what they should have been doing all along,” she added."

http://youdecide08.foxnews.com/2008/01/14/clinton-would-pull-troops-from-iraq-60-days-after-entering-oval-office/

The proof is in the pudding as it were. I was foiled once by the Democrats in Congress during the midterms.

We all fell for the smoke and mirrors on empty promises to win votes.

I'll be god-damned to get fooled a second time; so put the bullshit away unless you plan to deliver Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Obama, Mr. Edwards et. al.

[dmallind]

1. Well the difference here

is that anything the Dems elected in 06 could do to stop the war would be political suicide and lose us the majority in 08 (yes I know most people are against the "war" but that's a PR battle no Congress can win - just ask Newt).

Whereas if HRC dramatically reduces the occupation force on any putative win of hers, it will be entirely within her power, and will not be able to be spun as a Congress trying to micromanage foreign policy, remove protection from the "troops" (because you know even with no funding Bush will leave em there to die to make the point) and usurp CIC authority.

[Terry_M]

4. Not political suicide if they grew some balls and

used some good PR tactics to play it out the opposite way the republicans were trying to. But then that's too much to ask from those roaches we vote for. Or hell, if they decide it is suicidal and there's no way around it, vote the right way and don't stand up for reelection so it can't be used against em, unless their precious political careers are too valuable, gotta spend a few years networking with lobbyists to get a million dollar lobbying or executive position out of it before leaving huh.

[dmallind]

6. But we are biased

What has happened every time anyone has floated the idea of even ASKING for voluntary timelines - the full media PR swarm goes into "safety of the troops!" mode and nobody even listens to anything else other than those like us who are already persuaded. It just will not sell to end this one with the purse. Bush has less honor and decency (yes hard to imagine I know) than the Reps during the end of Vietnam - he'll just leave em there to die and blame Congress and we'll never see another Dem majority or president for 30 years. The sad part is most people are political idiots - and no amount of balls or PR will change that.

[ThomWV]

2. Sure, and it will rain flakes of gold and all the hungry children will have oatmeal

Horseshit.

[bryant69]

5. So what is your suggestion?

Reading this and the other one - if the Democrats can't actually stop the war, what should we, as opponents of the war, do?

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Dhalgren]

3. Yeah, she'll "start the withdrawal", but then stop it at around

60 to 100 thousand troops for long-term occupation. It is the same plan that Bush has now espoused - the one Clinton talked about a year ago. I do not believe that any of the "top three" democrats will "end the occupation of Iraq", they will just modify it to one degree or another...