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The Pentagon told Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton that her questions about how the U.S. plans to eventually withdraw from Iraq boosts enemy propaganda.
In a stinging rebuke to a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Undersecretary of Defense Eric Edelman responded to questions Clinton raised in May in which she urged the Pentagon to start planning now for the withdrawal of American forces.
A copy of Edelman's response, dated July 16, was obtained Thursday by The Associated Press.
"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," Edelman wrote.
He added that "such talk understandably unnerves the very same Iraqi allies we are asking to assume enormous personal risks."
Clinton spokesman Philippe Reines called the response "at once outrageous and dangerous."
"Redeploying out of Iraq with the same combination of arrogance and incompetence with which the Bush administration deployed our young men and women into Iraq is completely unacceptable, and our troops deserve far better," said Reines, who said military leaders should offer a withdrawal plan rather than "a political plan to attack those who question them."
Kerry jumped to Clinton's defense, deriding what he called smear tactics by the administration.
"They will say anything, do anything, and twist any truth to avoid accountability," said the Massachusetts senator.
Keith Olbermann put together a speech that sums up what this President and his administration has become and how they will be looked on in history.
What say you?
The Pentagon told Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton that her questions about how the U.S. plans to eventually withdraw from Iraq boosts enemy propaganda.
In a stinging rebuke to a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Undersecretary of Defense Eric Edelman responded to questions Clinton raised in May in which she urged the Pentagon to start planning now for the withdrawal of American forces.
A copy of Edelman's response, dated July 16, was obtained Thursday by The Associated Press.
"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," Edelman wrote.
He added that "such talk understandably unnerves the very same Iraqi allies we are asking to assume enormous personal risks."
Clinton spokesman Philippe Reines called the response "at once outrageous and dangerous."
"Redeploying out of Iraq with the same combination of arrogance and incompetence with which the Bush administration deployed our young men and women into Iraq is completely unacceptable, and our troops deserve far better," said Reines, who said military leaders should offer a withdrawal plan rather than "a political plan to attack those who question them."
Kerry jumped to Clinton's defense, deriding what he called smear tactics by the administration.
"They will say anything, do anything, and twist any truth to avoid accountability," said the Massachusetts senator.
Keith Olbermann put together a speech that sums up what this President and his administration has become and how they will be looked on in history.
What say you?
18 comments:
The Bush Administration only has one tactic and it keeps using it: slander anyone who questions Iraqmire. "Aiding and abetting the enemy," "helping the terrorists," etc. The Far Right has been spewing out these same slogans since the Vietnam war.
Remember, during Clinton's war in Kosovo and Serbia in 1999, Bush said it was important to have a specific withdrawal timetable. I wonder what changed his mind.
Who Hijacked Our Country
Oil tom harper, oil.
As much has people dislike Hillary, do the Repugs actually think Bush has any credibility toward Hillary, or anything else?
Kieth also put his special comment first in the show. These Neo Con maniacs get crazier and slimier and more traitorous to the Constitution Daily. Its gonna back fire on em -big time. Shit, Hilary is a Hawk, dumb and they give her this partisian grief..They have NO SHAME.
They may have just put Hilary in Office in 08.
The fact that 80% of Iraqis want us out of their country is apparently a small, unimportant detail to the pentagon. News Flash: you can't call them allies if they don't want us on their side!!!
larry, Bush and his Republicans are in a world of their own. They are only concerned about Americans leaving them alone, so that they can do what they wish.
Anyone getting in between that will feel their rod and slander.
proudprogressive, I think the Republicans would much rather run against Hillary with slander and lies.
FunkyTown Fighter, he piss me off as well. Now if we can get him out of office, I would feel much better.
Leo, With Oil being the issue here, George cares not what Americans or the Iraqi's think. He has his people set up in the pentagon and every branch of government to say and do his will.
Senator Clinton is a threat to the NeoCons regaining the WH in '08.
Olbermann was right on target and he had Bush exactly where he should be... resigning or impeached now!
It was about time someone actually told this guy to resign or face impeachment. Just maybe they have put the President office into the hands of Hillary. Now that would really be one on them.
Olbermann was right on, as always. I wish he was running for Prez.
Yes he did tell it like it is Lizzy.
Keith for President. I like that, Lizzy!
Today on CNN, pundits were talking about how the question has already gotten past "when do we get out of Iraq" and on to "what's the plan for when we leave?" The assumption is now that yes, we will start getting out of Iraq during the next couple of years. So, rightly, the questions asked need to now be about how we plan to minimize the bloodshed when we do leave.
LT, THANKS for posting your comment about the 7/17/07 Executive Order at J. Marquis' blog "Major Conflict". I took a close look at it, and it's frightening. And, after reading your post, it looks like this order was issued the day after Edelman's response. I'll take a look at the Olbermann commentary and comment further.
Looks to me like the order has been issued as a warning, giving people who disagree with Bush an "And don't try to stop me, or you'll be punished" threat.
I checkout out Olbermann... Why is he just about the only person in the media who makes sense? I'm sure that if he starts to become more influential, the administration will try to find ways to suppress him.
It would seem that it's scary time for a stop to this man's conttro; of America. He's now able to control what you say about Iraq.
Now will shall see if he will enforce it.
I thought Olbermann was very brave also, but Bill Maher just stole the show for the next week.
While this administration is stealing away powers from Congress and taking away the freedoms of Americans, they want everyone to shut up and take it.
I think our biggest issue today is that we have to put a halt to the obstructionist Republican party in the Senate. We have the majority, but the Democrats aren't insisting on using that. They are letting the Republican Senators run roughshod over them with their threats to filibuster every Democrat bill.
I believe the Democrats will start using their new found power, now that they know we are very angry and want take their mess nor the mess of the Republican party any more.
Bush spoke? I can never hear anything he says because the background noise is always the same: A deafening crowd of people saying "Bullshit!" While I detest Hil, and I really, really do, I detest Bush even more.
Mandelbrot's Chaos, Welcome to Let's Talk and thank you for the comment about this post.
I think everyone detest Bush and the things he is doing to this country and it's citizens.
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