| Veterans
News Flash 
Hillary
Clinton Sits Down With
Young War Veterans
By DAVID ESPO,
AP Special Correspondent
 Democratic
presidential hopeful, Sen. Hillary Rodham
Clinton, D-N.Y., is accompanied by MTV
News Correspondent Sway Calloway as she
arrives for a taping of "Choose or Lose" where
she met with Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans
at Lancaster Brewing Company in Lancaster,
Pa., Tuesday, March 18, 2008. (AP Photo/Charles
Dharapak) |
Hillary
Rodham Clinton told a group of young veterans Tuesday
that one lesson of the Iraq War is not to commit
troops "unless
you are prepared to go all the way and are prepared
to be successful."
Questioned politely about her plans to begin withdrawing
troops within 60 days after taking office, the
former first lady also said U.S. forces already
have fulfilled the mission they were assigned.
She said the Iraqi government
has failed to create a stable political system
despite the U.S. effort. "Does
that mean we stay for 10 years, 30 years, 50 years?
And if at the end of it the Iraqis still haven't
gotten their act together, we're going to be facing
the same tough questions."
The New York senator made her comments at a discussion
to be broadcast by MTV to mark the fifth anniversary
of the U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein
from power. The show is sponsored by The Associated
Press and MTV.
Campaigning in Pennsylvania with an eye toward
its April 22 presidential primary, Clinton was
endorsed by Rep. John Murtha, a decorated Vietnam
veteran and outspoken opponent of the Iraq war.
For the veterans, it was the second political
meeting in two days, following a conversation with
Barack Obama on Monday.
Seven of the eight said they suffered from post-traumatic
stress disorder, and Clinton promised to increase
spending on Veterans Administration programs to
help them and millions like them.
One, Max Nitze, noted
that Clinton had voted for the 2002 legislation
that authorized military action and asked whether
she felt "responsible for
the fact that in large part the day-to-day quality
of life for Iraqis is worse" than before the
invasion.
In response, Clinton said she would have taken
stronger steps than President Bush has to make
the Iraqi government accountable for corruption
and for the failure to spend more of its oil revenue
to restore basic services.
"I don't take responsibility for that and
I don't think it's an American problem," she
said.
In a discussion on the
use of power, she said the nation was at its
strongest "at the point
before you commit forces.."
Criticizing Bush, she said he went into Iraq without
the necessary preparation, including enough armor
and machinery for the troops, adding it was maddening
to her to see the consequences.
The lesson, she said,
is "don't do it unless
you are prepared to go all the way and are prepared
to be successful."
A second veteran, Christina Correa, asked Clinton
if she had any special concern about a president's
duties as commander in chief.
Clinton said it was
daunting. "I watched
my husband do it. I know from a lot of firsthand
observation what goes into making those decisions,
because any time you commit our forces to military
action you're taking a risk."
In announcing his endorsement,
Murtha said Clinton has a "similar position" to
his on the war.
"Senator Clinton is the candidate that will
forge a consensus on health care, education, the
economy and the war in Iraq," he said.
Murtha had a reputation as a military hawk before
going public with his opposition to the war in
2005 and calling for it to end. A retired colonel
in the Marine Reserves, Murtha chairs the powerful
appropriations subcommittee that controls defense
spending.
He also is one of nearly 800 superdelegates, prominent
party officials and elected leaders who can support
whichever they choose at the party's national convention
in late summer.
SOURCE:
Yahoo News
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