Eye on Iraq: Clinton's Confusing Conclusion

Hillary Admits That New Strategy In Iraq "Is Working," But Continues To Support Old Liberal Tactic Of Retreat

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Yesterday, Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) Admitted That The New Iraq Strategy "Is Working":

Hillary: "We have begun to change tactics and in some areas, it is working." (Sen. Hillary Clinton, Remarks At The Veterans Of Foreign Wars Convention, Kansas City, MO, 8/20/07)

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But When The New Strategy Was First Announced In January, Hillary Said It Would "Continue To Take Us Down The Wrong Road":

Hillary: "The President simply has not gotten the message sent loudly and clearly by the American people, that we desperately need a new course. The President has not offered a new direction, instead he will continue to take us down the wrong road - only faster." (Sen. Hillary Clinton, "Statement Of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton On The President's Speech On Iraq," Press Release, 1/10/07)

Hillary: "As I have said, as the American people have demanded, and as the facts on the ground require, we need a new course and an end to the current failed policy." (Sen. Hillary Clinton, "Statement Of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton On The President's Speech On Iraq," Press Release, 1/10/07)

Hillary Twice Voted To Advance Legislation Opposing The New Strategy In Iraq. (S. 470, CQ Vote #44: Rejected 49-47: R 2-45; D 46-1; I 1-1, 2/5/07, Clinton Voted Yea; S. 574, CQ Vote #51: Rejected 56-34: R 7-33; D 48-0; I 1-1, 2/17/07, Clinton Voted Yea)

And Hillary Has Been Calling For A Withdrawal From Iraq Since 2005:

Hillary Voted For An Amendment To The FY 2006 Defense Authorization Bill "That Would State That U.S. Military Forces Should Not Stay In Iraq 'Indefinitely,' And Require The President To Report To Congress Within 30 Days Of The Bill's Enactment With A Timetable For Withdrawal And A Campaign Plan, Including Dates, Outlining Phased Redeployment Of U.S. Troops From Iraq." (S. 1042, CQ Vote #322: Rejected 40-58: R 1-53; D 38-5; I 1-0, 11/15/05, Clinton Voted Yea)

• Hillary: "[W]e have to tell the new government we are not going to be there forever; we are going to be withdrawing our young men and women, and we expect you to start moving toward stability." (Noreen O'Donnell, "Clinton Supports Call For Eventual, Scheduled Withdrawal Plan," The [Westchester, NY] Journal News, 11/22/05)

Despite Signs Of Progress, Hillary Still Insists The "Right Strategy" Is To "Start Bringing Our Troops Home":

Hillary: "The right strategy before the surge and the right strategy now -- post-escalation -- is the same. Start bringing our troops home." (Sen. Hillary Clinton, Remarks At The Temple For The Performing Arts, Des Moines, IA, 7/10/07)

Hillary: "I think the best way of honoring [U.S. troops'] service is by beginning to bring them home." (Sen. Hillary Clinton, Remarks At The Veterans Of Foreign Wars Convention, Kansas City, MO, 8/20/07)

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