July 19, 2007
Pentagon Not Endorsing Clinton Anytime Soon
Like the rest of her competition for the Democratic presidential nod, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton wants U.S. troops out of Iraq. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, she's in a particularly good position to pressure the Bush administration on the war.
So it's a little surprising that the Pentagon would rebuke her for simply asking a few questions.
"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,'' Undersecretary of Defense Eric Edelman scolded in a written response to the senator.
Oh no he didn't!
AP obtained a copy of the stinging missive (wonder how?), and reports that Clinton will be taking the matter to Edelman's superior, Defense Secretary Robert Gates. A Clinton spokesman characterized the letter as "at once outrageous and dangerous."
That argument -- that premature withdrawal of the troops will "embolden the enemy" -- is hardly new to this White House. But what is new is the swelling tide of opinion in this country that the U.S. mission in Iraq must end, even if it does embolden the enemy. Other withdrawal advocates argue that the enemy is emboldened enough, and Americans could not possibly embolden them much more.
Edelman also told the senator that "such talk understandably unnerves the very same Iraqi allies we are asking to assume enormous personal risks.'' There's no doubt something to that. Behind every suicide bomber or insurgent sniper are plenty of Iraqis who want the insurgents gone and a chance to restore normalcy to their country. But for now, they are outgunned.
More and more Americans, Clinton among them, have concluded that the U.S. has done just about all it can do in Iraq. (This is up for debate.) The Iraqi government's trademark is less young democracy than sprawling body incapable of agreeing on anything. There's not much Washington can do about that.
Iraqi lawmakers are not deaf to the political climate in the U.S., and have begun steeling themselves for a U.S. military withdrawal. Clinton was asking the Pentagon to draw up a plan for an orderly pullout, so that the U.S. would be ready when that time comes. Republicans John Warner and Richard Lugar have asked for the same.
They were also shut down by the administration. When national security adviser Stephen Hadley was asked whether the White House would do as the Republicans asked, Hadley simply said, "No."
Arguably a little nicer than accusing them of giving comfort to the enemy.
Posted at 6:25 PM
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Campaigns, Democrats, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Iraq, Middle East, Military, WH 2008
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