Sens. Clinton, Kerry Part Ways on Iraq War
June 13, 2006 — -- While President Bush met with the new Iraqi government and American troops in Baghdad, the Democratic Party's continued division over the Iraq War displayed itself at the Campaign for America's Future annual conference this morning in Washington, D.C.
Before the White House reported that President Bush was in Baghdad, Iraq, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., delivered a 30-minute partisan, red-meat speech to a gathering of liberal Democratic activists.
When Sen. Clinton started speaking about Iraq -- 23 minutes into her speech -- a hush settled over the audience, broken by a smattering of boos that replaced the cheers and applause the audience showered on Clinton during the earlier portion of her remarks on domestic issues. Clinton acknowledged that Iraq provided for a "difficult conversation," something she is often made aware of by the protesters who regularly show up at her public events because of her support for the war.
"Now that there is a new Iraqi government, something that many of us have been waiting for and pushing for, then this Iraqi government needs to be told they have to take responsibility for their own security and stability," Clinton said.
"There must be a plan that will begin to bring our troops home ... because they have to take the priority of making sure that they have a unified government that stands up to the militias, stands up to the death squads. That is not the job of the American military," she added.
Clinton didn't specify exactly how she would begin to bring the troops home if she were commander in chief, but she did rule out two options in what, perhaps, can be considered her search for a Clintonesque third way.
"I do not think it is a smart strategy either for the president to continue with his open-ended commitment, which I think does not put enough pressure on the new Iraqi government, nor do I think it is smart strategy to set a date certain. I do not agree that that is in the best interest of our troops or our country," Clinton said.
Clinton also decried the Bush administration for what she said was a rush to war, a refusal to allow inspections to continue, and "blunder after blunder," which has "undermined America's leadership in the world and put at risk the long-term war on terrorism."
Kerry's Plain Talk Gets Cheers
In marked contrast to his potential 2008 rival for the Democratic nomination for president, Massachusettes Sen. John Kerry -- putting aside his reputation for embracing complexities -- made a straightforward anti-war declaration to the liberal crowd.
"Speak out and stand up against a war that is rooted in deceit, sustained by a constantly shifting rationale, and paid for in the blood of young Americans who are being sent into harm's way to save politicians' pride and to obscure mistakes," Kerry said to the receptive crowd.
In his 40-plus minute speech, he showed some of the fire he demonstrated in his famous 1971 testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and said he regretted his vote for the Iraq War.
"Let me say it plainly," Kerry said. "It's not enough to argue with the logistics or to argue about the details or the manner of the conflict's execution or the failures of competence, as great as they are. It is essential to acknowledge that the war itself was a mistake ... to say the simple words that contain more truth than pride. We were misled. We were given evidence that was not true. It was wrong, and I was wrong to vote for that Iraqi War resolution."
The audience erupted into huge applause, whoops and shouts, as well as a standing ovation. Kerry added, "You cannot change the future if you are not honest about the past."
At that point it became apparent that the contrast between Sens. Kerry and Clinton -- as well as the important role a candidate's war stance is likely to play in the fight for the nomination -- was not lost on those assembled. "Tell Hillary," shouted one of attendees in the crowd.