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Clinton Criticizes Defense Dept. for Reply to Her Iraq Request


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Clinton Criticizes Defense Dept. for Reply to Her Iraq Request

By KATE PHILLIPS

July 21, 2007

 

 

WASHINGTON, July 20 - Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton strongly criticized the

Pentagon on Friday, calling it "offensive and totally inappropriate" for a

Defense Department official to suggest that information she requested about

departmental plans for withdrawing troops in Iraq would help enemy

propaganda.

 

Joined by Senator John Kerry, Democrat of Massachusetts, in a conference

call with reporters on Friday, Mrs. Clinton said they would introduce

legislation to require the department to prepare reports and brief Congress

on proposals for a phased withdrawal of American troops.

 

The legislative move was a direct response to a letter written earlier this

week by Under Secretary of Defense Eric Edelman, who rebuffed her May

request for an outline of the military's ideas for removing troops from

combat in Iraq.

 

In rejecting her request, Mr. Edelman wrote in the letter, dated Monday,

"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."

 

"Such talk," he said, "understandably unnerves the very same Iraqi allies we

are asking to assume enormous personal risks."

 

Mr. Edelman also cited departmental policy that forbids the public release

of military operational or contingency plans, while acknowledging that the

Pentagon was always working on such proposals. (His letter was originally

obtained by The Associated Press on Thursday, and immediately denounced by

Mrs. Clinton's Senate aides.)

 

Mrs. Clinton, who is seeking the Democratic presidential nomination in 2008,

protested to Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates in a letter on Friday. In it

the senator, who is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee,

reminded Mr. Gates that he had testified at a Congressional hearing that

open debate about the war in Iraq helped to pressure the Maliki government

of Iraq.

 

Mrs. Clinton said in the conference call, "I sent a serious letter on a

matter of national security to the secretary of defense, and in return

received a political response."

 

"Both Senator Kerry and I were shocked at the timeworn tactic of once again

impugning the patriotism of any of us who raise questions" about the

administration's war strategy, she said.

 

Late Friday afternoon, Mr. Gates issued a short statement, saying he would

look into the issues raised by Mrs. Clinton and respond more fully next

week. "I have long been a staunch advocate of Congressional oversight, first

at the C.I.A. and now at the Defense Department," he said. "I have said on

several occasions in recent months that I believe that Congressional debate

on Iraq has been constructive and appropriate."

 

Mrs. Clinton has faced stiff criticism from antiwar activists and the

liberal base of her party for her 2002 vote authorizing military force in

Iraq. She has declined to apologize for that vote; she now says she would

not have voted that way had she known what is apparent today.

 

In recent months, she has stepped up her opposition to the war and to

President Bush's troop buildup in Iraq by calling for a de-authorization of

the use of force and by voting to set a timeline for getting American troops

out of combat zones.

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/21/washington/21clinton.html

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Guest MioMyo

Obviously the TRUTH hurts liberals like hitlery.

 

BTW- the military brass are professional & don't get political. Hitlery's

coy attempt to turn this into a liberal talking point got snubbed and

rightfully so!

 

 

"Roger" <rogerfx@hotmail.com> wrote in message

news:46a1ec39$0$4651$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...

> Clinton Criticizes Defense Dept. for Reply to Her Iraq Request

> By KATE PHILLIPS

> July 21, 2007

>

>

> WASHINGTON, July 20 - Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton strongly criticized

> the Pentagon on Friday, calling it "offensive and totally inappropriate"

> for a Defense Department official to suggest that information she

> requested about departmental plans for withdrawing troops in Iraq would

> help enemy propaganda.

>

> Joined by Senator John Kerry, Democrat of Massachusetts, in a conference

> call with reporters on Friday, Mrs. Clinton said they would introduce

> legislation to require the department to prepare reports and brief

> Congress on proposals for a phased withdrawal of American troops.

>

> The legislative move was a direct response to a letter written earlier

> this week by Under Secretary of Defense Eric Edelman, who rebuffed her May

> request for an outline of the military's ideas for removing troops from

> combat in Iraq.

>

> In rejecting her request, Mr. Edelman wrote in the letter, dated Monday,

> "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."

>

> "Such talk," he said, "understandably unnerves the very same Iraqi allies

> we are asking to assume enormous personal risks."

>

> Mr. Edelman also cited departmental policy that forbids the public release

> of military operational or contingency plans, while acknowledging that the

> Pentagon was always working on such proposals. (His letter was originally

> obtained by The Associated Press on Thursday, and immediately denounced by

> Mrs. Clinton's Senate aides.)

>

> Mrs. Clinton, who is seeking the Democratic presidential nomination in

> 2008, protested to Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates in a letter on

> Friday. In it the senator, who is a member of the Senate Armed Services

> Committee, reminded Mr. Gates that he had testified at a Congressional

> hearing that open debate about the war in Iraq helped to pressure the

> Maliki government of Iraq.

>

> Mrs. Clinton said in the conference call, "I sent a serious letter on a

> matter of national security to the secretary of defense, and in return

> received a political response."

>

> "Both Senator Kerry and I were shocked at the timeworn tactic of once

> again impugning the patriotism of any of us who raise questions" about the

> administration's war strategy, she said.

>

> Late Friday afternoon, Mr. Gates issued a short statement, saying he would

> look into the issues raised by Mrs. Clinton and respond more fully next

> week. "I have long been a staunch advocate of Congressional oversight,

> first at the C.I.A. and now at the Defense Department," he said. "I have

> said on several occasions in recent months that I believe that

> Congressional debate on Iraq has been constructive and appropriate."

>

> Mrs. Clinton has faced stiff criticism from antiwar activists and the

> liberal base of her party for her 2002 vote authorizing military force in

> Iraq. She has declined to apologize for that vote; she now says she would

> not have voted that way had she known what is apparent today.

>

> In recent months, she has stepped up her opposition to the war and to

> President Bush's troop buildup in Iraq by calling for a de-authorization

> of the use of force and by voting to set a timeline for getting American

> troops out of combat zones.

>

> http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/21/washington/21clinton.html

>

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MioMyo wrote:

> Obviously the TRUTH hurts liberals like hitlery.

 

What truth is that?

 

What happened was that an underling responded very poorly on Gates behalf.

 

Here is what Gates says now:

 

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said he would look into the exchange.

 

"I had not seen Senator Clinton's reply to Ambassador Edelman's letter

until today. I am looking into the issues she raised and will respond to

them early next week," Mr. Gates said, adding that he supports both

congressional oversight and congressional debate on Iraq.

 

<URL: http://washingtontimes.com/article/20070721/NATION/107210045/1001 />

 

If a few days you will see a more appropriate response from Gates

himself, as opposed to Edelmans flippant answer.

 

Jeff

>

> BTW- the military brass are professional & don't get political. Hitlery's

> coy attempt to turn this into a liberal talking point got snubbed and

> rightfully so!

>

>

> "Roger" <rogerfx@hotmail.com> wrote in message

> news:46a1ec39$0$4651$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...

>

>>Clinton Criticizes Defense Dept. for Reply to Her Iraq Request

>>By KATE PHILLIPS

>>July 21, 2007

>>

>>

>>WASHINGTON, July 20 - Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton strongly criticized

>>the Pentagon on Friday, calling it "offensive and totally inappropriate"

>>for a Defense Department official to suggest that information she

>>requested about departmental plans for withdrawing troops in Iraq would

>>help enemy propaganda.

>>

>>Joined by Senator John Kerry, Democrat of Massachusetts, in a conference

>>call with reporters on Friday, Mrs. Clinton said they would introduce

>>legislation to require the department to prepare reports and brief

>>Congress on proposals for a phased withdrawal of American troops.

>>

>>The legislative move was a direct response to a letter written earlier

>>this week by Under Secretary of Defense Eric Edelman, who rebuffed her May

>>request for an outline of the military's ideas for removing troops from

>>combat in Iraq.

>>

>>In rejecting her request, Mr. Edelman wrote in the letter, dated Monday,

>>"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."

>>

>>"Such talk," he said, "understandably unnerves the very same Iraqi allies

>>we are asking to assume enormous personal risks."

>>

>>Mr. Edelman also cited departmental policy that forbids the public release

>>of military operational or contingency plans, while acknowledging that the

>>Pentagon was always working on such proposals. (His letter was originally

>>obtained by The Associated Press on Thursday, and immediately denounced by

>>Mrs. Clinton's Senate aides.)

>>

>>Mrs. Clinton, who is seeking the Democratic presidential nomination in

>>2008, protested to Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates in a letter on

>>Friday. In it the senator, who is a member of the Senate Armed Services

>>Committee, reminded Mr. Gates that he had testified at a Congressional

>>hearing that open debate about the war in Iraq helped to pressure the

>>Maliki government of Iraq.

>>

>>Mrs. Clinton said in the conference call, "I sent a serious letter on a

>>matter of national security to the secretary of defense, and in return

>>received a political response."

>>

>>"Both Senator Kerry and I were shocked at the timeworn tactic of once

>>again impugning the patriotism of any of us who raise questions" about the

>>administration's war strategy, she said.

>>

>>Late Friday afternoon, Mr. Gates issued a short statement, saying he would

>>look into the issues raised by Mrs. Clinton and respond more fully next

>>week. "I have long been a staunch advocate of Congressional oversight,

>>first at the C.I.A. and now at the Defense Department," he said. "I have

>>said on several occasions in recent months that I believe that

>>Congressional debate on Iraq has been constructive and appropriate."

>>

>>Mrs. Clinton has faced stiff criticism from antiwar activists and the

>>liberal base of her party for her 2002 vote authorizing military force in

>>Iraq. She has declined to apologize for that vote; she now says she would

>>not have voted that way had she known what is apparent today.

>>

>>In recent months, she has stepped up her opposition to the war and to

>>President Bush's troop buildup in Iraq by calling for a de-authorization

>>of the use of force and by voting to set a timeline for getting American

>>troops out of combat zones.

>>

>>http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/21/washington/21clinton.html

>>

>

>

>

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Guest GW Chimpzilla's Eye-Rack Neocon Ut

MioMyo wrote:

> Obviously the TRUTH hurts liberals like hitlery.

>

> BTW- the military brass are professional & don't get political.

 

Dream on, you ignorant slut.

> Hitlery's

> coy attempt to turn this into a liberal talking point got snubbed and

> rightfully so!

>

>

> "Roger" <rogerfx@hotmail.com> wrote in message

> news:46a1ec39$0$4651$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...

>> Clinton Criticizes Defense Dept. for Reply to Her Iraq Request

>> By KATE PHILLIPS

>> July 21, 2007

>>

>>

>> WASHINGTON, July 20 - Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton strongly criticized

>> the Pentagon on Friday, calling it "offensive and totally inappropriate"

>> for a Defense Department official to suggest that information she

>> requested about departmental plans for withdrawing troops in Iraq would

>> help enemy propaganda.

>>

>> Joined by Senator John Kerry, Democrat of Massachusetts, in a conference

>> call with reporters on Friday, Mrs. Clinton said they would introduce

>> legislation to require the department to prepare reports and brief

>> Congress on proposals for a phased withdrawal of American troops.

>>

>> The legislative move was a direct response to a letter written earlier

>> this week by Under Secretary of Defense Eric Edelman, who rebuffed her May

>> request for an outline of the military's ideas for removing troops from

>> combat in Iraq.

>>

>> In rejecting her request, Mr. Edelman wrote in the letter, dated Monday,

>> "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."

>>

>> "Such talk," he said, "understandably unnerves the very same Iraqi allies

>> we are asking to assume enormous personal risks."

>>

>> Mr. Edelman also cited departmental policy that forbids the public release

>> of military operational or contingency plans, while acknowledging that the

>> Pentagon was always working on such proposals. (His letter was originally

>> obtained by The Associated Press on Thursday, and immediately denounced by

>> Mrs. Clinton's Senate aides.)

>>

>> Mrs. Clinton, who is seeking the Democratic presidential nomination in

>> 2008, protested to Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates in a letter on

>> Friday. In it the senator, who is a member of the Senate Armed Services

>> Committee, reminded Mr. Gates that he had testified at a Congressional

>> hearing that open debate about the war in Iraq helped to pressure the

>> Maliki government of Iraq.

>>

>> Mrs. Clinton said in the conference call, "I sent a serious letter on a

>> matter of national security to the secretary of defense, and in return

>> received a political response."

>>

>> "Both Senator Kerry and I were shocked at the timeworn tactic of once

>> again impugning the patriotism of any of us who raise questions" about the

>> administration's war strategy, she said.

>>

>> Late Friday afternoon, Mr. Gates issued a short statement, saying he would

>> look into the issues raised by Mrs. Clinton and respond more fully next

>> week. "I have long been a staunch advocate of Congressional oversight,

>> first at the C.I.A. and now at the Defense Department," he said. "I have

>> said on several occasions in recent months that I believe that

>> Congressional debate on Iraq has been constructive and appropriate."

>>

>> Mrs. Clinton has faced stiff criticism from antiwar activists and the

>> liberal base of her party for her 2002 vote authorizing military force in

>> Iraq. She has declined to apologize for that vote; she now says she would

>> not have voted that way had she known what is apparent today.

>>

>> In recent months, she has stepped up her opposition to the war and to

>> President Bush's troop buildup in Iraq by calling for a de-authorization

>> of the use of force and by voting to set a timeline for getting American

>> troops out of combat zones.

>>

>> http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/21/washington/21clinton.html

>>

 

--

There are only two kinds of Republicans: Millionaires and fools.

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Guest qwerty

"GW Chimpzilla's Eye-Rack Neocon Utopia" <gw@hotmail.com> wrote in message

news:sEroi.17387$Xa3.2906@attbi_s22...

> MioMyo wrote:

>

>> Obviously the TRUTH hurts liberals like hitlery.

>>

>> BTW- the military brass are professional & don't get political.

>

> Dream on, you ignorant slut.

 

Indeed, Edelman was Cheney's man & is a Bush crony! Edelman was a "Recess"

appointment by Bush!

 

Aug, 2005

 

"Bush Bypasses Senate: Installs Eric S. Edelman as Undersecretary of

Defense for Policy"

 

" he was a national security assistant to Vice President Dick Cheney from

February 2001 to June 2003."

 

http://www.mindfully.org/Reform/2005/Bush-Edelman-Undersecretary9aug05.htm

 

>> Hitlery's

>> coy attempt to turn this into a liberal talking point got snubbed and

>> rightfully so!

>>

>>

>> "Roger" <rogerfx@hotmail.com> wrote in message

>> news:46a1ec39$0$4651$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...

>>> Clinton Criticizes Defense Dept. for Reply to Her Iraq Request

>>> By KATE PHILLIPS

>>> July 21, 2007

>>>

>>>

>>> WASHINGTON, July 20 - Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton strongly criticized

>>> the Pentagon on Friday, calling it "offensive and totally inappropriate"

>>> for a Defense Department official to suggest that information she

>>> requested about departmental plans for withdrawing troops in Iraq would

>>> help enemy propaganda.

>>>

>>> Joined by Senator John Kerry, Democrat of Massachusetts, in a conference

>>> call with reporters on Friday, Mrs. Clinton said they would introduce

>>> legislation to require the department to prepare reports and brief

>>> Congress on proposals for a phased withdrawal of American troops.

>>>

>>> The legislative move was a direct response to a letter written earlier

>>> this week by Under Secretary of Defense Eric Edelman, who rebuffed her

>>> May

>>> request for an outline of the military's ideas for removing troops from

>>> combat in Iraq.

>>>

>>> In rejecting her request, Mr. Edelman wrote in the letter, dated Monday,

>>> "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."

>>>

>>> "Such talk," he said, "understandably unnerves the very same Iraqi

>>> allies

>>> we are asking to assume enormous personal risks."

>>>

>>> Mr. Edelman also cited departmental policy that forbids the public

>>> release

>>> of military operational or contingency plans, while acknowledging that

>>> the

>>> Pentagon was always working on such proposals. (His letter was

>>> originally

>>> obtained by The Associated Press on Thursday, and immediately denounced

>>> by

>>> Mrs. Clinton's Senate aides.)

>>>

>>> Mrs. Clinton, who is seeking the Democratic presidential nomination in

>>> 2008, protested to Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates in a letter on

>>> Friday. In it the senator, who is a member of the Senate Armed Services

>>> Committee, reminded Mr. Gates that he had testified at a Congressional

>>> hearing that open debate about the war in Iraq helped to pressure the

>>> Maliki government of Iraq.

>>>

>>> Mrs. Clinton said in the conference call, "I sent a serious letter on a

>>> matter of national security to the secretary of defense, and in return

>>> received a political response."

>>>

>>> "Both Senator Kerry and I were shocked at the timeworn tactic of once

>>> again impugning the patriotism of any of us who raise questions" about

>>> the

>>> administration's war strategy, she said.

>>>

>>> Late Friday afternoon, Mr. Gates issued a short statement, saying he

>>> would

>>> look into the issues raised by Mrs. Clinton and respond more fully next

>>> week. "I have long been a staunch advocate of Congressional oversight,

>>> first at the C.I.A. and now at the Defense Department," he said. "I have

>>> said on several occasions in recent months that I believe that

>>> Congressional debate on Iraq has been constructive and appropriate."

>>>

>>> Mrs. Clinton has faced stiff criticism from antiwar activists and the

>>> liberal base of her party for her 2002 vote authorizing military force

>>> in

>>> Iraq. She has declined to apologize for that vote; she now says she

>>> would

>>> not have voted that way had she known what is apparent today.

>>>

>>> In recent months, she has stepped up her opposition to the war and to

>>> President Bush's troop buildup in Iraq by calling for a de-authorization

>>> of the use of force and by voting to set a timeline for getting American

>>> troops out of combat zones.

>>>

>>> http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/21/washington/21clinton.html

>>>

>

> --

> There are only two kinds of Republicans: Millionaires and fools.

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"MioMyo" <USA_Patriot@Somewhere.com> wrote in message

news:0kooi.10087$eY.929@newssvr13.news.prodigy.net...

> Obviously the TRUTH hurts liberals like hitlery.

>

> BTW- the military brass are professional & don't get political. Hitlery's

> coy attempt to turn this into a liberal talking point got snubbed and

> rightfully so!

 

Another witless reply from a stupid Repug who spews garbage that is way off

the mark. It WASN'T the "brass" who criticized Sen. Clinton. It was a

CIVILAN Bush appointee.

 

>

>

> "Roger" <rogerfx@hotmail.com> wrote in message

> news:46a1ec39$0$4651$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...

>> Clinton Criticizes Defense Dept. for Reply to Her Iraq Request

>> By KATE PHILLIPS

>> July 21, 2007

>>

>>

>> WASHINGTON, July 20 - Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton strongly criticized

>> the Pentagon on Friday, calling it "offensive and totally inappropriate"

>> for a Defense Department official to suggest that information she

>> requested about departmental plans for withdrawing troops in Iraq would

>> help enemy propaganda.

>>

>> Joined by Senator John Kerry, Democrat of Massachusetts, in a conference

>> call with reporters on Friday, Mrs. Clinton said they would introduce

>> legislation to require the department to prepare reports and brief

>> Congress on proposals for a phased withdrawal of American troops.

>>

>> The legislative move was a direct response to a letter written earlier

>> this week by Under Secretary of Defense Eric Edelman, who rebuffed her

>> May request for an outline of the military's ideas for removing troops

>> from combat in Iraq.

>>

>> In rejecting her request, Mr. Edelman wrote in the letter, dated Monday,

>> "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."

>>

>> "Such talk," he said, "understandably unnerves the very same Iraqi allies

>> we are asking to assume enormous personal risks."

>>

>> Mr. Edelman also cited departmental policy that forbids the public

>> release of military operational or contingency plans, while acknowledging

>> that the Pentagon was always working on such proposals. (His letter was

>> originally obtained by The Associated Press on Thursday, and immediately

>> denounced by Mrs. Clinton's Senate aides.)

>>

>> Mrs. Clinton, who is seeking the Democratic presidential nomination in

>> 2008, protested to Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates in a letter on

>> Friday. In it the senator, who is a member of the Senate Armed Services

>> Committee, reminded Mr. Gates that he had testified at a Congressional

>> hearing that open debate about the war in Iraq helped to pressure the

>> Maliki government of Iraq.

>>

>> Mrs. Clinton said in the conference call, "I sent a serious letter on a

>> matter of national security to the secretary of defense, and in return

>> received a political response."

>>

>> "Both Senator Kerry and I were shocked at the timeworn tactic of once

>> again impugning the patriotism of any of us who raise questions" about

>> the administration's war strategy, she said.

>>

>> Late Friday afternoon, Mr. Gates issued a short statement, saying he

>> would look into the issues raised by Mrs. Clinton and respond more fully

>> next week. "I have long been a staunch advocate of Congressional

>> oversight, first at the C.I.A. and now at the Defense Department," he

>> said. "I have said on several occasions in recent months that I believe

>> that Congressional debate on Iraq has been constructive and appropriate."

>>

>> Mrs. Clinton has faced stiff criticism from antiwar activists and the

>> liberal base of her party for her 2002 vote authorizing military force in

>> Iraq. She has declined to apologize for that vote; she now says she would

>> not have voted that way had she known what is apparent today.

>>

>> In recent months, she has stepped up her opposition to the war and to

>> President Bush's troop buildup in Iraq by calling for a de-authorization

>> of the use of force and by voting to set a timeline for getting American

>> troops out of combat zones.

>>

>> http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/21/washington/21clinton.html

>>

>

>

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