Posted on 01/07/2008 8:07:53 PM PST by InvisibleChurch
Hillary Clinton on Monday warned that Al-Qaeda watched US elections, urging Americans not to risk electing an inexperienced president, in her latest implicit swipe at rival Barack Obama.
In one of her most overt plays of the national security card yet, the senator from New York noted that days after Gordon Brown became British Prime Minister, militants planted bombs which failed to explode.
"I don't think it was by accident that Al-Qaeda decided to test the new prime minister," Clinton said here, referring to two devices which did not go off in London and a car which was crashed into Glasgow airport in June.
"They watch our elections as closely as we do ... they play our allies."
The former first lady's comments day before the New Hampshire primary, in which Obama is poised according to opinion polls to inflict a second damaging defeat on her White House campaign, after his Iowa caucuses victory last week.
"Let's not forget, you are hiring a president not just to do what a candidate says he or she will do in an election," Clinton said.
"You are hiring a president who will be here when the chips are down, and problems pile up, because that's when you really need somebody who knows exactly what has to be done, to make the tough decisions."
"I hope I don't face any of those in my first 100 days, but if it do, I think I will be ready," Clinton said.
Clinton has argued that Obama, a 46-year-old freshman senator from Illinois is too inexperienced to serve as US commander in chief, and held up what she says is her own years of experience at the pinnacle of US public life.
Obama has discounted her claims to have foreign policy expertise, and argued that her foreign policy judgement is faulty, after her vote in the Senate in 2002 to authorize President George W. Bush to wage war in Iraq.
Last month, former president Bill Clinton made a pointed reference to the September 11 attacks in 2001, arguing that the next president had to be ready for sudden, national security challenges.
"You have to have a leader who is strong and commanding and convincing enough ... to deal with the unexpected," he was quoted as saying by the Washington Post in New Hampshire.
"There is a better than 50 percent chance that sometime in the first year or 18 months of the next presidency, something will happen that is not being discussed in this campaign," he added.
© 2008 Agence France Presse. All rights reserved.
Nah, this is still trading jabs in the tail end of the first round. We are still in the “poor Hillary” phase as the setup for a one two in the second or third from the Clinton Camp.
Does America need national security advice from a Clinton?
I'll tell you something else - the picture that's been posted a few times of Hill on stage, wearing a brown pantsuit? She looks awfully tired in that one. I even mentioned to my son that something seemed off -
Every candidate I've seen has his 'game face' on when in front of a crowd. I remember GWB outside in front of crowds, his underarms wet from perspiration, but the guy was smiling. Kerry looks like an ass when he does it, but he was smiling. Barack is smiling all the g-d time.
You want the people's attention, you better look happy to see them, not like you can't wait to get to bed.
Huh ? Hillary plays the republican ?
“We wont dont worry. We wont elect you either.”
Anyone but me notice the NON-STOP Clinton-o-thon CNn has been running all night??
I cant believe the amount of idiots at DU that buy her BS.
On the other hand I am surprised by the number of them that are onto her.
Guess what? As long as there’s speculation about her pulling out of the race, no one is talking about Obama.
Isn’t this the exact same thing that Hillary! supporters have been accusing Republicans of since 2001?
Good post Phil.
Now, I don’t want either of these jokers to win, but if I was Obama, my comeback would be:
“Don’t elect a woman, Al-Qaida is watching.”
I think Al-Qaeda would also be delighted with President Hillary who would pander to the anti-war left and retreat in Iraq and leave anti-terrorism to the likes of Janet Reno.
How convenient.
Hillary acknowledges Al Quaeda threat to make Obama look vulnerable.
Hillary discounts Al Quaeda threat to make Bush look foolish.
Which is it Hill???
It’s obvious from the polls that large numbers of Dems, and even larger numbers of independents, don’t like Hillary. If Hillary ends up “winning” the nomination, the Dem party will destroy itself.
I saw the title and expected satire.
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