Clinton’s Best Offense, Good Defense on Iraq

ABC News’ David Chalian and Paul Fidalgo Report: Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., offered strong words at the Democratic National Committee winter meeting on Friday as she continued to grapple with the potential vulnerability that her 2002 vote for the war presents as she begins a historic campaign for the White House.

Facing a few spirited howls from Code Pink protesters and at least one Iraq war veteran, Clinton raised her voice when she arrived at the Iraq portion of her address, asked the audience to listen, and declared, "If I had been President in October of 2002, I would not have started this war," before adding, "If we in Congress don’t end this war before January of 2009, as President, I will."

Speaking to the efficacy of the Senate’s non-binding resolution against the President’s war plan, which had been derided by some of the day’s previous speakers, Clinton countered, "If we can get a large bipartisan vote to disapprove this President’s plan for escalation, this will be the first time that we have said ‘no’ to President Bush, and begin to reverse his policies."

Asserting her political bona fides, the former First Lady recalled her husband’s successes saying, "I know a thing or two about winning campaigns," and insisted, "When our party and our candidates are attacked we have got to stand up and fight back."

Listing the issues she intends to tackle as president, Sen. Clinton assured, "I’m not running for president to put a band-aid on our problems," and proclaimed, "I believe that I can, with my lifetime of experience and qualifications, make it possible for us, once again, to believe in ourselves, because we can actually see results."