A day after Bush visits Iraq, Hillary Clinton calls for new U.N. role

Associated Press ^ | 11-28-03 | By JIM KRANE

[Oldeconomybuyer]

BAGHDAD, Iraq, Nov 28, 2003 (AP WorldStream via COMTEX) -- A day after U.S. President George W. Bush made a surprise trip to Baghdad, U.S. senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and Jack Reed flew in Friday, saying it isn't too late to bring the United Nations back to Iraq.

The senators said the administration of Iraq - a huge expense - should be spread among a wider group of nations.

"I'm a big believer that we ought to internationalize this, but it will take a big change in our administration's thinking," said Clinton, a Democrat from New York. "I don't see that it's forthcoming."

Hours after Bush's 2 1/2-hour visit to Baghdad's airport, Clinton and Reed, a Democrat from Rhode Island, spent a day meeting with military brass and troops, top officials of the occupation administration and aid workers.

Both senators cautioned that new plans to speed up the trasnfer of power to an Iraqi government is risky given the country's political and social upheaval. Reed said a "critical factor" for coalition authorities was securing the blessing of Iraq's majority Shiite Muslim community, especially Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Husseini al-Sistani, who has criticized the plan.

"We're caught in a dillema, possibly of our own making," Reed said. "A quick, hasty election might bring to power a person who doesn't share the values we're trying to encourage. But the more we wait, the more it looks like an occupation."

Clinton supported a resolution granting Bush congressional authority to wage war against Iraq. At the time, she said it was "the hardest decision I've ever had to make."

"I supported the US$87 billion. I thought it was neccessary," Clinton said. "I probably would have structured it differently. But the money is flowing."

But Clinton said the main purpose of her trip was to show support for U.S. troops.

"I wanted to come to Iraq to let the troops know about the great job they're doing," she said.

Reed, who voted against authorizing war against Iraq, said his opposition has been confirmed by his visit, as well as by an earlier visit in July.

He said the Bush administration was too hasty in dismissing the U.N. search for weapons that probably would have shown that Iraq represented no imminent threat to the United States. He said the links between Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida terrorist network and Saddam also appeared to be exaggerated.

[Wild Irish Rogue]

" We're caught in a dillema, possibly of our own making," Reed said. "A quick, hasty election might bring to power a person who doesn't share the values we're trying to encourage. But the more we wait, the more it looks like an occupation."

Reed also told the world press,(within feet of our troops in harm's way) that our intelligence stinks,we don't have enough agents on the ground,etc. Can you imagine someone traveling to Nazi Germany or Japan,during WWII and announcing to the world that the intel services of the US are garbage? Typical Democrat- more concerned with the feelings of the terrorists,than the safety of the military and the US. The soldier with his hands behind his back,might be better served using them to guard his eyes and other important parts from a spontaneous rage by Hillary. She always appears very uncomfortable around men . And her facial expressions and body language make her look like a hyena slavering over a wounded water buffalo.

[SkyPilot]

But Clinton said the main purpose of her trip was a Photo Op!

[maggief]

[nightdriver]

"I wanted to come to Iraq to let the troops know about the great job they're doing," she said.

Suuuure, your Heiness.

Notice how all the soldiers are crowding around her trying to get their pictures taken with her? NOT!!

[Jeff Chandler]

Crusty black pantsuit: $135.00
Trip to Afghanistan with entourage: $150,000.00
Expression on the face of the guy to the left: PRICELESS!

[Tamzee]

President Bush went to Iraq to boost morale. Hillary went to Afghanistan and Iraq to hurt morale (Clinton trademark, hurting morale)

Yep... the bottom line.

[StriperSniper]

Maybe her higness can show us a UN success story.

That is what the leftists fear most, proving the irrelevance of their vehicle to global dominion.

[rodeo-mamma]

What did HIllary bring Reed along for?

So that he can be her mouth piece and suggest to the world that the United States looks like it is "occupying" Iraq?!

Thanks Hillary once again for doing your part to enrage all the terrorists against the United States. Not only that, but these types of comments only serve to further enrage the opposition, thereby ensuring more American Casulties.

[At _War_With_Liberals]

W should issue a statement thanking her for her helpful criticism of military operations

[maxwellp]

We've now seen President Bush a million times in Iraq on TV. Hillary - nothing. I think her reception by the troops was so bad that liberal TV won't show it.

[maxwellp]

Compare Hillary's reception from our troops to President Bush's. Hillary was just being politely received while the troops went freaky wild for Bush. If she is ever elected President, she will remember this and it's frightening. Very scary. Where would America be without the greatest military ever? God Bless our Military and God Save us from Hillary Clinton.

[Jeff Chandler]

Where would America be without the greatest military ever?

We wouldn't exist. The military is professional, however, and would even obey the command of hillary as CIC.

[geedee]

"Yes, ma'am. You just go a few clicks to the north, take a right, and you'll run right into Tehran. Ayatollah Daschle said he'd meet you there."

[SAMWolf]

"Take your "U.N. Role" and that nasty pantsuit and get the hell off my Post!"

[snippy_about_it]

LOL.

I don't think anyone even wants to stand close to her! I'm so glad this went bad for her. She's so full of herself to think any of our military wanted to see her.

[SAMWolf]

Hillary: "I notice that when Presidnet Bush shows up for the troops they all yell "Hoo-ah", why do they yell "Soooo eeeeeee" when I show up?"

[motherof 3]

I detest and loathe her.

[Consort]

[PeoplesRepublicOfWashington]

"I wanted to come to Iraq to let the troops know about the great job they're doing," she said.

What an arrogant bitch. I have no doubt that our troops are well aware of the great job they are doing. The last thing they need is this seditionist witch implying that the only way they would know that is by her telling them.

I must admit that her safe departure attests to the high discipline of our troops. If I were among them, I'd have had to have been restrained from grabbing a man portable anti-aircraft missile...

[PhilDragoo]

"A urine sample is mandatory for all visitors to this area of operations.
Take your cup into that pit marked Unexploded Ordnance Disposal."