David Trimble, who helped broker peace in Northern Ireland blast Clinton's foreign policy claim

[Hope And Change]

Irish blast Clinton's foreign policy claim


Published: March 9, 2008 at 8:18 AM

BELFAST, Northern Ireland, March 9 (UPI) -- David Trimble, who helped broker peace in Northern Ireland said Sen. Hillary Clinton's role in those negotiations was that of a cheerleader, not a participant.

Presidential contender Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., told CNN Wednesday that she "helped bring peace to Northern Ireland" as foreign policy experience becomes the latest issue in the Democratic presidential race.

"I don't know there was much she did apart from accompanying Bill (Clinton) going around," Trimble said, adding, "I don't want to rain on the thing for her but being a cheerleader for something is slightly different from being a principal player," The Sunday Telegraph reported.

Conall McDevitt, who served as the chief negotiator during the Good Friday Agreement talks that ended the conflict between England and Northern Ireland, said there was "no contact with her" during the negotiating processes.

McDevitt said Clinton played a supporting role following the signing of the agreement.

"So in a classic woman politicky sort of way I think she was active ... She was certainly investing some time, no doubt about it. Whether she was involved on the issue side I think probably not," McDevitt said.

The Clinton campaign responded to the statements saying they were "quite surprised that anyone would suggest that Hillary Clinton did not perform important foreign policy work as First Lady."

http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Top_News/2008/03/09/irish_blast_clintons_foreign_policy_claim/9676/">Link

[Lucinda]

1. Hillary in Ireland:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4966883&mesg_id=4966883

[Alamom]

2. Nobel laureate John Hume disagrees with Baron Trimble as do others.

Nobel Peace Prize , Gandhi Peace Prize, Martin Luther King Award. The only winner of all three Awards speaks along with others: Hillary's Irish Leagacy

John Hume

I included both men's bio below due to Baron Trimble giving a different opinion


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hume

John Hume (born 18 January 1937) is a former Northern Irish politician, founding member of the Social Democratic and Labour Party and co-recipient of the 1998 Nobel Peace Prize, with David Trimble.

He was the second leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), a position he held from 1979 until 2001. He has served as a Member of the European Parliament and a Member of Parliament for Foyle, as well as a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

He is regarded as one of the most important figures in the modern political history of Northern Ireland and one of the architects of the Northern Ireland peace process there. He is also a recipient of the Gandhi Peace Prize and the Martin Luther King Award, the only recipient of the three major peace awards.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Trimble

William David Trimble, Baron Trimble, PC (born 15 October 1944), is a politician from Northern Ireland who served as leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) and the first First Minister of Northern Ireland. He shared the 1998 Nobel Peace Prize with John Hume of the Social Democratic and Labour Party. He served as Member of Parliament for Upper Bann from 1990 until 2005, when he was defeated in the British general election and resigned the leadership of the UUP soon afterwards. On 6 June 2006 he became a member of the House of Lords as The Right Honourable William David Trimble by the name, style and title of Baron Trimble, of Lisnagarvey in the County of Antrim.<1> On 17 April 2007 he announced that he was to leave the UUP and join the Conservative Party.<2>


http://www.irishecho.com/newspaper/story.cfm?id=18626

Hillary's Irish Legacy
Prominent backers cite relevant role in peace process
By Ray O'Hanlon
3/5/08

"I am quite surprised that anyone would suggest that Hillary Clinton did not perform important foreign policy work as first lady. I can state from firsthand experience that she played a positive role for over a decade in helping to bring peace to Northern Ireland," said former SDLP leader and Nobel laureate John Hume in a statement responding to critical press reports.


"She visited Northern Ireland, met with very many people and gave very decisive support to the peace process. In private she made countless calls and contacts, speaking to leaders and opinion makers on all sides, urging them to keep moving forward," said Hume.
>

Anyone criticizing her foreign policy involvement should look at her very active and positive approach to Northern Ireland and speak with the people of Northern Ireland who have the highest regard for her and are very grateful for her very active support for our peace process," Hume concluded in his defense of Hillary's Irish legacy. Not surprisingly, some of the senator's most vocal defenders have been women activists from Northern Ireland.


In a series of statements compiled by labor and fair employment advocate Inez McCormack, Clinton was lauded for her "decade-long support" of the peace process.
"We believe it is important for others to know the pivotal role Mrs. Clinton played in helping us in Northern Ireland at critical junctures in the peace process. She supported us over many years and we will always be grateful to her," said McCormack

>

O'Leary said that in her forthcoming book she would be including tributes to Clinton for her role in the peace process from individuals including Bertie Ahern, Cherie Blair, Gerry Adams, Bono and John Hume.
"Based on the tributes I received, the people of Ireland are profoundly grateful to Senator Clinton for taking an interest and giving her time to inspire us to pull together and build a better life for the people of Northern Ireland.


Long, but wonderful read & a book to come.

[Lucinda]

4. Thank You! We really should keep this kicked.

:hi:

[kikiek]

5. K&R

[Lucinda]

7. Thanks!

[libbygurl]

6. Kick for the truth! nt

[Lucinda]

8. :)

:hi:

[Lucinda]

3. kick

[ellisonz]

9. George J. Mitchell deserves credit too.

[SoxFan]

10. There was a Democratic woman who did what Hillary claims

Her name is Nancy Soderberg.

http://www.boston.com/business/personalfinance/articles/2008/03/10/credit_where_it_isnt_due/