John Edwards has NEVER been to IRAQ?

[Tellurian]

Wouldn't a presidential candidate like John Edwards, think the troops are important enough to visit at least once, during the five long years they've been fighting? Why hasn't this question been brought up in the past?

What is holding John Edwards back from checking out the situation in Iraq? Wouldn't it be incumbent for a presidential wannabe running for the Top Job showing concern for anything he can do in the way of ensuring our troops have the proper combat equipment and are as comfortable as possible during their tour of duty?

It's an appalling state of affairs if Edwards has never taken a trip to Iraq and proposes to be their Commander and Chief by virtue of a popularity contest. When troops are dying and maimed every day because of his co-sponsorship of the Iraq War Resolution.

Edwards lack of interest in the troops who risk their lives daily and his shunning responsibility for his actions, presents very troubling issues for anyone considering him a viable candidate for their vote.

Please explain, if you have a justifiable defense for Edwards lack of interest in the well being of troops and the IWR.

[Dawgs]

1. Another post to deflect from Hillary's bad week.

Not surprised, just funny.

[liberalnurse]

48. To be honest,

I never thought about it.....I really can't recall ever when John Edwards went to Iraq. I truly surprised!

Now I know, John Kerry has as a Senator and Presidential Candidate....but dang!...Edwards is empty on this one.:shrug: :wow:

[struggle4progress]

75. Right! He should grab a plastic turkey for the troops, meet all the REMFs, get a Potemkin village

tour of the Baghdad market while surrounded by a security team so huge he can't actually see or learn anything, and then he can come back home and post phots of calm Turkish streets to show how safe the Iraqis are and how grateful they should be :eyes:

[Tellurian]

85. Edwards should go to Iraq as their Liberator.. strewning flowers

After all, he backed Bush 100% for the Iraq War by posting his support and statement on the White House website..."because he was afraid of being demonized"..he said that himself!

[ginchinchili]

108. No. He should have gone there to see things first hand & talk to the troops.

It's only the most important issue of the election, and this leaves Edwards with very little credibility on the subject.

[struggle4progress]

116. U.S. Troops in Iraq: 72% Say End War in 2006

02/28/06 Zogby

An overwhelming majority of 72% of American troops serving in Iraq think the U.S. should exit the country within the next year, and nearly one in four say the troops should leave immediately, a new Le Moyne College/Zogby International survey shows ... http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article12103.htm

[struggle4progress]

117. Active-duty US troops become outspoken critics of Iraq war (CSM 8/29/07)

Their public critiques represent a shift in the military's culture.
By Brad Knickerbocker | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor

from the August 29, 2007 edition

... "You could almost construct an equation to predict the rate at which dissension in the ranks will reach the public as support for a war sours," says military analyst Loren Thompson of the Lexington Institute, a public policy think tank in Arlington, Va.

"I have to tell you as somebody who deals frequently with the military, there's been a lot of disagreement for a long time about this war," he adds. "It just tends to get expressed obliquely and in private." ...

http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0829/p01s04-usmi.html

[struggle4progress]

118. Two War Critic Soldiers Killed in Iraq (Sept 07)

By MARCUS BARAM
Sept. 12, 2007

... Sgt. Omar Mora, 28, and Staff Sgt. Yance T. Gray, 26, two of the authors of "The War as We Saw It," were killed in Baghdad Monday when the five-ton cargo truck they were riding in overturned.

Another of the authors, Staff Sgt. Jeremy Murphy, was shot in the head while the group was working on the article.

The controversial Aug. 19 editorial gained international attention for its skepticism about the American war effort: "To believe that Americans, with an occupying force that long ago outlived its reluctant welcome, can win over a recalcitrant local population and win this counterinsurgency is far-fetched." ...

http://www.abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=3594058



The War As We Saw It
By Buddhika Jayamaha, Wesley D. Smith, Jeremy Roebuck, Omar Mora, Edward Sandmeier, Yance T. Gray and Jeremy A. Murphy
The New York Times
Sunday 19 August 2007
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/081907A.shtml

[struggle4progress]

120. Why we're against the war (IVAW FAQ)

http://www.ivaw.org/faq

[truebrit71]

2. I believe he is a private citizen. Whom is supposed to provide him with security?

Blackwater? The Troops? Imagine the fun the presstitutes would have with that? They already went apeshit over a haircut....

How does that show a lack of interest in the troops? By not endangering himself or others? Even for flamebait that's a pretty fucking stupid thing to say....

[PresidentObama]

3. I've never been to Iraq, but I know the war should be ended.

Point?

And nice try with saying troops are dying and being maimed because of Edwards support for the IWR. You'll do anything to beat your opponents, even say bad things about them that your OWN candidate, Hillary, did as well. Not only that but she says she's going tp end the war as President in a nice little slogan, but leaves out the part where she won't bring all the troops out and will continue combat missions. Double talk at it's finest.

Nice try, but DU is onto you. You and the His44 crowd are vile people. Not Hillary supporters, I have no problem with them and respect their choice and admire Hillary, but the His44 crowd are beyond disgusting.

[creeksneakers2]

61. Edwards said he'd continue combat missions too

The only difference with Edwards' plan is the troops would be based in Kuwait and would have to carry all their gear, have no cots to sleep in,have no hot Halliburton stew at the end of the day,have no base of semi-safety to rest at.

Edwards is the double talker. Iraq is just one example.

[goodgd_yall]

76. Just pretend you are an Iraqi

If combat troops were still within your country's borders, wouldn't you still consider yourself occupied? It may not make any difference to Americans who only care about America, but to Iraqis there IS a difference between having a foreign government's combat troops inside their country or not.

[creeksneakers2]

113. It won't make any difference to Iraqis

The troops will still be there.

[Tellurian]

86. Edwards is an idiotic, grandstanding tool..

an opportunistic, gutless, wonder.

[liberalnurse]

99. He does his share of

Showboating! Shallow rhetoric is all I'm feeling. You know, Joe Biden is explaining issues in detail and I listen as I did on Sunday when he was on Face the nation. I just keep waiting for Edwards to get to the facts.......

Edwards will not fair well in Iowa.............I believe Joe Biden will be second to Hillary, then Obama then Kucinich....the Edwards.

[Tellurian]

106. I agree with your analogy..

I think there will be an upset. Biden will be the dark horse in this race finishing second. (if we equate it to a horse race..that is)

[Silence Dogood]

91. Would you vote a gameshow host for president?

[ieoeja]

4. "Why hasn't this question been brought up in the past?"

Because it is a stupid question.

[Tellurian]

19. Stephanopolous brought the question up..

apparently the people thinking this question is not a concern have never given it a thought..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADwjvAs9J-0

[gateley]

55. Boy. I felt uncomfortable watching that interview. nt

[NewHampster]

72. It was not John's best performance

sort of made hi feel like Hillary did when she got attacked from all sides.

I loved the interview.

[ieoeja]

105. I would think Stephanopolous bringing it up bolsters my opinion. n/t

[last_texas_dem]

5. Perhaps a visit to Iraq would help Edwards politically

but I disagree with the idea that going to Iraq somehow makes someone more qualified, in any substantial way, to make judgments about the war or the troops. Think how many of the Republicans have been to the region numerous times- and they don't particularly give a shit about how the troops are doing. They mostly just do it for the photo op- which is probably what most of the Edwards haters would say he was doing it for if he *did* decide to make a trip to Iraq.

[Tellurian]

21. Edwards said in May he was going...that was 6 mos ago..

What stopped him from visiting the troops when he had protection if that is his lame excuse?

[MonkeyFunk]

As a fellow Clinton-supporter

I want to ask you to please stop these ridiculous attacks. They're dumb.

[PresidentObama]

7. THANK YOU!! I admire and respect Senator Clinton, but this is dumb.

Hillary supporters should be coming out against people like the OPer who are part of this His44 crowd whose only agenda is to lift Hillary up, while beating everyone else down. It's shameful. Senator Clinton has ran a great campaign so far, and it's horrifying to see morons claiming to represent Senator Clinton flaming and bad mouthing other candidates.

[Tellurian]

20. Baloney...JE attacking Hillary on her Foreign policy..is as lame as it gets...

Edwards didn't go to Iraq when he was a Senator...How come?

[PresidentObama]

25. GOPers go to Iraq, and they're about as false as it gets on Iraq. So whats your point?

You're getting pretty desperate in your attacks on Edwards.

[Tellurian]

27. You seem to be having trouble disseminating words. .A question is not an attack

suit yourself it you're into self gratification designating my question an attack..

The lame diversions are getting lamer!

:rofl:

[PresidentObama]

30. It is an attack. Just like the multiple attacks on Edwards you've been a part of...

...since Hillary's awful performance at the debate, and Edwards incredible performance. It's getting desperate when you have to attack Senator Edwards for not going to Iraq. Why does it matter? It really doesn't. Plenty of Republicans have been to Iraq several times, and they're still wrong. Just because they've been to Iraq doesn't make them right or wrong. I haven't been to Iraq, but I'm still smart enough to know the war should be ended.

[Tellurian]

32. You need to get a life...If you keep track of who is posting what about who!

Smart enough..?

:rofl:

[PresidentObama]

34. I'm a regular poster. I see the bullshit you post.

It's quite disgusting. Why you would believe for an instant that DUers trust you is beyond me. The His44 banner in your sig is enough to ignore anything that comes out of your mouth. You aren't comfortable enough with your own candidate, you have to attack other ones. Your hatchet jobs on Senator Obama are even more desperate and lame.

[Tellurian]

44. No one is stopping you from being comfortable with your candidate..

You do not maintain ownership or censorship of 1st Amendment Rights. It is my RIGHT to post whatever I feel compelled to write what I think is important to discuss. For you to profess speaking for all of DU is just a sampling of the total arrogance you and yours exemplify when challenged with an Inconvenient Truth.

The fact is that coward you are promoting has never done one GD thing for the troops fighting in Iraq. Not even so much as a visit. John Edwards stands alone on that issue..in the safety of his bought and paid for Hedge Fund compound.

If you somehow get your jollies from spewing your vitriolic bile as a method of discouraging contrary opinions. I can only feel pity for you and yours if your opinion hold any sway at at in propagating a pathetically, depraved mentality for no other reason than preventing me from holding John Edwards accountable for a serious flaw in his candidacy for the US Presidentcy.

[Name removed]

56. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[liberalnurse]

101. And your point is.........

What? That is as relevant as..........

[PresidentObama]

95. No one is trying to limit your rights. But your agenda is quite clear. The vile bullshit you post...

...on behalf of the morons at His44 is disgusting. The way you're more willing to attack other opponents than to lift Senator Clinton up is quite revealing, isn't it? After all, how many of the posts you've made in the last two months have been anti-Obama posts? I would venture to say at least half. And since Edwards creamed Senator Clinton in the debates, my daily adventures on DU have been ruined by you attacking Senator Edwards for everything under the sun. It's gotten pretty desperate.

Senator Edwards doesn't have to go to Iraq for a meaningless photo opt to know the war needs to be ended. Plenty of Republican Senators and Congressmen who want to continue the war at it's status quo have been to Iraq several times. They're still wrong, however. Going to Iraq doesn't make you anymore right or anymore wrong. I've never been to Iraq, but I still know what we should be doing. Perhaps you should be concerning yourself with fighting back against the double talk of Senator Clinton who says slogan like that she'll end the war if Bush doesn't, then on the other side of the coin says she'll keep troops there and continue combat missions. I admire her, but perhaps you should be spinning your own candidate and trying to lift her up instead of posting desperate and pathetic attack threads that are all sizzle but no steak.

[mtnsnake]

66. It's you who's full of shit. All you do is run around making up shit about people & their "agendas"

"His or her agenda is to get a reaction and blah blah blah."

If you don't like someone's thread, all you do is butt in with insults and lies and you attack their character, and for YOU to attack someone elses character is a fucking joke!!

[PresidentObama]

94. I post at this board every day. The bad apples are easy to pick out. And their agendas are too.

The His44 crowd are vile people.

Hillary supporters should start speaking out against these morons who attack, attack, attack on "behalf" of the great Senator from New York, Mrs. Clinton. Hillary doesn't deserve to be represented by such morons.

[liberalnurse]

100. Your Edwards sigline is

barely noticeable....I almost missed it. :wow:

[JDPriestly]

60. I don't usually pay attention to who is posting what about whom,

but you kind of stick out. And, I'm sorry to be so personal, Tellurian, but your criticisms of Edwards are not only overly frequent, but they lack substance. And you seem to be all negative all the time.

[mtnsnake]

70. Can you believe them keeping track of that kind of stuff? Someone has too much time on their hands!

lol

[PresidentObama]

93. This coming from the person who used to prey on the Kerry threads to attack.

Yawn.

[robinlynne]

51. So why do you support fake Iraq photo ops? There is no other reaosn to go there.

The senators who go there don't actually learn or do anything real.

[Clark2008]

102. Because he's been running for president ever since he got

elected to the Senate - that's why. He has no time to go to Iraq and see what his vote has wrought.

Oh - and I don't HAVE a candidate, so this isn't a partisan statement.

[creeksneakers2]

65. I'm a reluctant moron

I said nothing negative about Edwards up until a couple weeks ago. Edwards and his supporters insist on taking the low road and running sleazy distortions about Hillary. The only logical response is to trash Edwards on the net. That's where the Hillary haters Edwards is trying to impress hang out.

[Tellurian]

88. You are absolutely CORRECT!

You can read John Edwards statement right here. If you can get through it without :puke:!

The whole point of his statement is absolving himself of all blame and trashing Hillary!

http://johnedwards.com/news/speeches/20071105-a-new-strategy-for-iran/

[onelittleindian]

6. John Edwards

John Edwards did not get the troops in harms way, BUSH did and John Edwards does not have to go overseas to talk to troops for a photo opp. Edwards is showing interest in getting the troops home.
Whats he going to do over there, show up and see how bad it is? We all know how bad it is without going. Besides, bush and his army will only show things they think are good anyway.

Edwards says he will bring home troops asap, that is for the well being of troops. Tellurin, what do you want him to do, show up in a flak jacket in Iraq and complain or stay here and do what the troops want, to get them home!

[FrenchieCat]

10. Welcome!

And it is unfortunate that your first post is full of inaccuracies.

John Edwards' co-sponsorship of the IWR while he sat on the intelligence Committee makes him more culpable for getting us into Iraq than any other Democratic candidate running. Him writing an OP-ed in November of 2005 saying "I made a mistake" doesn't really ease the burden of his responsibility of being a Democratic Senator that helped George Bush make his case at the time for war prior to congress voting on the resolution because the damage had been done way before John Edwards realized his "Mistake".

[onelittleindian]

13. john edwards

Frenchiecat,

You stated that my post had inaccuracies, list them, and remember inaccuracies is plural! so list all of them. The bottom line is that if bush came out in 2005 and said he made a mistake alot of lives would have been saved. And when was the last time a politician admitted a mistake. Edwards and other politicians that voted to give bush power were hood winked.

[FrenchieCat]

16. Well......

"John Edwards did not get the troops in harms way" - I believe that he was part of the problem on this.

"bush and his army" - That's our military, not Bush's.

"Edwards says he will bring home troops asap, that is for the well being of troops."- He stated that he doesn't see all of the troops home even by 2012! Remember that debate? :shrug:

[onelittleindian]

17. john edwards

Frenchiecat, I might agree on the first point, only because the other points are off base.
As far as the Bush military comment, it is our military but if someone goes to Iraq for a fact finding mission they are led to where the bush team wants them led, and that team includes military. And Yes, he can't bring them home at once and trying to would be wrong, asap is as soon as possible doing it responsibly. He does want them home and going to Iraq does nothing.So even though I reluctantly agreed on the first point, your other inaccuacies don't hold water.

[FrenchieCat]

24. Sorry to mess up that welcome that I earnestly gave to you......

but please note that I was not the "inaccurate" one. I only pointed out that you had some inaccuracies in your post.....and when asked to point those out, I did. I believe that my job here is done.

What we do agree on is that Edwards going to Iraq at this point would not help him with brownie points.

[zalinda]

18. Then in essence you are saying that mistakes

are unforgivable. Please tell that to any spouse that found out that they made a mistake in getting married to the person they are now bound to. Hindsight is 20/20, with EVERY situation. I have no problem what so ever with any person who voted or co-sponsored the IWR. Absolutely NO ONE who voted for it ever thought that Bush would stupidly attack Iraq, okay......maybe some repubs did. We did not realize how dangerous giving anything to Bush is. But, I cannot and will not forgive ANY dem who voted for Kyl/Lieberman........they DID NOT learn anything about Bush. And THAT is dangerous!

zalinda

[FrenchieCat]

26. Mistakes are forgivable, but not forgetable.......

and therefore saying "I made a mistake" does not absolve one of the deed done, and therefore should not provide the opportunity for great rewards.

[zalinda]

40. And, what would you have him do?

Should he wear sack cloth and ashes? Should he whip himself repeatedly? Should he get down on his knees to you? What is enough?

And as far as great rewards, I don't think he's running for President for a reward. I think he's running because he truly believes that the average American has been given the shaft, and his is the only voice that is saying that. Kucinich is not taken seriously, and who else is championing the poor?

I think when he was a Senator he saw all that was wrong in DC and he wanted to do something about it. In 2004 he listened to those "in the know" on how to run his campaign. I think that now he is running it the way he wants to, and putting out what he wants to fix.

Whether or not he will be able to change what is wrong, I can see by his actions that he is a worker. He goes to places other candidates have not. He talks to Americans that other candidates have forgotten. So far, he has run a race that he said he was going to run.

I gave EVERY candidate a fair chance, starting from when they began their campaign. Edwards spoke to me and for me in just about every way, no other candidate has done that.

zalinda

[FrenchieCat]

41. Maybe do some advocacy work.....and considering his worth, not get paid for it.....

in other words....."do" some fucking penance....instead of hankering for the position of chief decider for 8 long years!


and so, what does John Edwards do with all of his sorries? What were his "actions"?

He "worked" for $500,000 in part-time play money at an Hedgefund to "learn about poverty.
He "runs" for the presidency again in search for the top "prize"!

Such penance! Such large price paid for his mistake! NOT!

[Tellurian]

42. Ah, another brave Hillary supporter...

welcome to the fray!

Can you just imagine 150,000 troops being asked to cast their vote in the General and they say..John Who, Obama Who?

Who the Hell are they? Edwards co-sponsored this nightmare and he's never taken the time to evn visit us just once!

I know Hillary has visited the troops w/Jack Reed and (I think Bayh) over the holidays.

[madmunchie]

114. So you shouldn't be POTUS either

"I have no problem what so ever with any person who voted or co-sponsored the IWR. Absolutely NO ONE who voted for it ever thought that Bush would stupidly attack Iraq, okay..."

Many Many of us knew that voting for the IWR was a HUGE mistake. Why didn't they know? They SHOULD have known more than us, not less. Gore, Kucinich, Dean, Clark, Feingold, Byrd, Scowcroft, McGovern and Grahme all were against it.
Even Obama knew. There is no real excuse for what they did and it is not for me to forgive, but it is something very important when considering how in the world somebody that could make such an unecessary horrific error in judgement can be trusted to use judgement in other critical judgements soon to come.

[Lucinda]

8. I don't think it matters that he hasn't been to Iraq.

Especially since he has no position in the government at this time.

[Vickers]

9. I've never been to Iraq, but I feel safe in saying that this thread

is stupid.

[johnaries]

11. Maybe becaue he's a private citizen and he can't get security? nt

[yardwork]

12. Would the bush administration give him permission to go? I doubt it.

Private citizens can't just walk into countries we are occupying as part of a war. Edwards hasn't been a senator since 2004. How many private citizens have "toured" Iraq? How many senators are allowed to go there?

This is a bit silly.

[itsrobert]

14. Sen Clinton has been to Iraq but what good has it done?

She still voted for Kyl/Lieberman.

[cali]

15. So what?

Neither of my Senators have either. No, they're not running for prez, but Leahy and Sanders both think that you don't get anything real from a sanitized visit to Iraq.

[jillan]

22. Not cool. Biden on the other hand has been there 8 times.

[QueenOfCalifornia]

33. Biden

Is a US Senator.

Edwards is not.

Big difference.

if he went the Hillary supporters would lambaste him for grandstanding.

[TwilightGardener]

23. If he's not in an elected position, a trip to Iraq would be needless

grandstanding, and possibly put some people in danger for nothing. Hell, half the people who ARE in elected office who go are doing needless grandstanding. He's right not to go.

[QueenOfCalifornia]

28. Holy shit!

STOP THE PRESSES!

Edwards is a POS because he doesn't care about the troops!!!!!!! YOU BASTARD EDWARDS!!!!! Hillary loves the troops. She has been to iraq.

Typical Hillary supporter tactics. Hillary who supports a never ending war and who wants to bomb Iran... Yet you scream at Edwards for his HATRED OF THE TROOPS!

Another reason for me to go out to lunch and have a MARGARITA.

[creeksneakers2]

67. Tactics?

You just said Hillary supports never ending war and wants to bomb Iran, neither of which are true.

[rucky]

29. I bet he's never been waterboarded, either. n/t

[Basileus Basileon]

31. I agree this is slightly upsetting. However, your "support the troops" business is BS. nt

[Tellurian]

35. Oh, by all means I agree. Edwards can get all the information he needs by reading about in the paper

or watching msnbc news! I'm sure the troops are oblivious to this little wiggle as well. Thanks for the tip!

[Basileus Basileon]

36. And you think the average grunt is upset that an ex-Senator

hasn't come to Iraq for a handshake tour through the Green zone?

[Tellurian]

45. How insulting to the forces risking their lives in Iraq..

Hang your head in shame if thats your best answer for protecting John Edwards from legitimate criticism.

[dionysus]

57. i think *you* need to be hanging your head in shame right about now

[Tellurian]

81. You're hanging out in the wrong thread..

and I don't remember giving you permission to judge me.

[Forkboy]

109. LOL...you never gave me permission either but I have.

:rofl:

[Basileus Basileon]

63. Now how is that insulting? Personally, I would think that saying,

"The average soldier has no greater concerns than whether an ex-Senator has gone on a handshake tour of the Green Zone" is rather insulting to them.

[Tellurian]

82. Really? When a hypocrite is asking them to vote for him as their CIC?

And hasn't got the guts to go where he sent them by his co-sponsorship and his Vote?

Wow..

[Basileus Basileon]

87. Let's play a little thought experiment.

You are sitting down with a soldier in Iraq. You ask him to name the twenty things he's most concerned about. Where does "Whether an ex-Senator goes on a photo-op tour of the Green Zone" fall on the list?

[Tellurian]

89. Soldiers read here..

They have the internet and know exactly what is going on.

[Basileus Basileon]

90. That's very true. Good job. It also doesn't address my point,

but at least you're posting things that are true now.

[zulchzulu]

37. Having someone go there that helped start the war is more stupid in my view

So Edwards hasn't been to Iraq... what's actually worse are people who voted for the war going over there to get shown what kind of bullshit they have on their bloody hands. Then they come back and say it's either going great or want to tell us that it isn't going well.

Having photo ops in Iraq are worse than not going there in my view.

[Canuckistanian]

38. Why does he have to go there?

What purpose would it serve?

The only parts of Iraq he's going to see are the Green Zone and maybe some extremely safe areas being escorted by pro-Bush military types on a "dog-and-pony show".

Also, he won't be able to meet with anyone not on the official "approved" list of people.

In fact, I question whether ANY politician can make any meaningful pronouncements on a quick tour of a hostile country.

[JDPriestly]

64. If and when he goes, he would or will be criticized for needlessly

distracting the troops. This is a blame game. It has nothing to do with Edwards' ability to analyze the situation in Iraq or to know what is going on there. All of the candidates except Hillary agree with Edwards that the War in Iraq must be ended as soon as reasonably possible. All except Hillary want to end combat engagements sooner rather than later. So, why are the Hillary supporters criticizing Edwards on this? They should be criticizing their own candidate for talking out of both sides of her mouth on Iraq.

[Bluebear]

39. Do you suggest he bring a plastic turkey for a photo-op?

What a ridiculous assertion, that he can't tell what's going on without "visiting" Iraq. And saying he has no interest in the troops is scandalous.

[Tellurian]

47. I would expect Edwards to "send" a "picture" of a Turkey and a Christmas Card..

we wouldn't want him to feel any kind of obligation or risk!

[Hieronymus]

43. I figure the ones that go are doing it for photo ops, and they never leave

the green zone. Has Hillary been to Iraq?:eyes:

[Tellurian]

46. Yes, Hillary has been to Iraq at least twice..and A-stan

U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton Visits Iraq


January 13, 2007 -- U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton, a Democrat who is considering running for president, arrived in Baghdad today for talks with top Iraqi officials and U.S. military commanders.

Clinton's visit comes days after President George W. Bush this week announced plans to dispatch more troops as part of a new U.S. strategy for Iraq.

Clinton has criticized Bush's plan as a "proposed escalation of the war in Iraq." Clinton is visiting Baghdad with another fellow Democratic senator, Evan Bayh, and a Republican Congressman, John McHugh.

http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2007/01/77339bc2-e7f5-4f27-9702-9c4bdb5f3a40.html

details at her site here:

http://clinton.senate.gov/issues/nationalsecurity/iraq/trip.cfm


Hillary Clinton visits Iraq with US senators

AFP, February, 2005

BAGHDAD (AFP) — US senator Hillary Clinton, wife of former president Bill Clinton, was in Baghdad as part of a delegation from the US Congress led by senator John McCain that met Iraqi and US military leaders.

Clinton, who along with McCain has often criticized US management of the Iraq conflict, said that after meeting the country's prime minister as well as the US commander in charge of training and equipping Iraqi forces, her impression was one of "cautious optimism."

"Cautious because there are so many challenges, cautious because there are neighbours of Iraq that are not necessarily enthusiastic about the success of the Iraqi people in creating and sustaining a multi-ethnic, multi-religious democracy," she told reporters.

[Hieronymus]

97. Good for her, as a senator, to visit the green zone. I don't think there's

precedent for a civilian, like Edwards to go to a war zone. Perhaps when he's the nominee, he will go.

[surfermaw]

49. Hate to burst your bubble, but Edwards has indeed been to Irarq

[Cameron27]

59. I don't believe that's correct.

Do you have any facts to back up your assertion?

[robinlynne]

50. Have you been to Iraq? I personally don't think any Americans should be in iraq.

Besides those fake visits are just photo ops.

[robinlynne]

52. I don't need to go to Iraq to know the war is criminal.

[JMDEM]

53. Tellurian is remarkably successful

In tying you all up in this worthless thread. Just walk away from it. It doesn't matter what you say, he'd come after you from a different angle if you supported Edwards. As many have already pointed out, if Edwards DID go to Iraq, then Tellurian would bash him about a "photo op" that needlessly put lives at risk.

Just walk away and let the thread die.

[goodgd_yall]

78. So true. A real Edwards-basher. n/t

[Name removed]

54. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Basileus Basileon]

68. Wait, most soldiers are

packing twelve inches? Holy shit, no wonder the Republicans love the military so much!

[smoogatz]

73. Republican penis envy explains American political history

since Herbert Hoover, at least.

[JDPriestly]

58. He is an ordinary civilian guy. He does not have an officially

sanctioned reason for going. Can just anybody safely go? He does not have Secret Service protection. How does that work? Also, if he went as an ordinary citizen, how would he get access to the military or any other leadership? And couldn't the Bushies railroad him? I would not put that past them. They are not exactly known for playing fair.

Also, while it might be nice for him to go if his safety and free access to sources and information could be guaranteed, why should he take the time of the troops away from their jobs to go? Further, was Bush every in any country other than Scotland before he became president? That is not a requirement for the presidency.

[NCarolinawoman]

71. He never went when he was a Senator and he is from a state with lots otf military.

I would think he would have gone out of intellectual curiosity, if nothing else. Even Russ Feingold has made the trip.

[GreenArrow]

119. he could have gone,

but Iowa was a lot closer.

[cuke]

62. Cheap shot

[Tellurian]

83. What is so cheap about soldiers dying in a war Edwards helped promote?

[jtrockville]

69. How many candidates have NEVER been to NOLA?

[EVDebs]

74. Dude, you don't have to jump into a septic tank to find out if it stinks

The BushCo Iraq policy is a fiasco. Occupation while secretly (well THAT went out the window long ago) trying to build PERMANENT BASES , as if the locals wouldn't notice -- or the taxpayers the costs-- and voila ! a fouled up mess that only a hairbrained neocon could love.

[goodgd_yall]

77. Going to visit the troops doesn't mean a damn thing

Bush and every war-loving neocon and more have visited; you think that means they care about the well-being of troops?

This is a trumped up crock of crap to further malign Edwards. What matters is what he'll do to bring the troops home. He has stated that he will dramatically draw down their numbers in Iraq within his first term. That's good enough for me.

[Tellurian]

84. Edwards is an ambulance chaser...He'll tell you anything you want to hear!

If he can make a sale!

[goodgd_yall]

121. You're quickly losing any sliver of credibility you ever had n/t

[calteacherguy]

79. Dude, don't be concerned with Edwards. He's done. nt

[PresidentObama]

92. Dude, no he's not. Just like Kerry was done this in 2003, right? HA.

[Apollo11]

96. Maybe someone should tell Iowa Democrats to cancel their caucuses?

The whole point of the primaries is to let the people decide who the nominee should be.

Many people have not yet decided who they will support in the primaries.

I think Hillary would not be very happy with some of what her so-called supporters are posting here on DU, which shows their disregard for democracy and their contempt for the other candidates.

[durrrty libby]

80. K & R

I must agree with Calteach...

Outside of DU, does anyone care about JE?

[last_texas_dem]

98. Yes

The question I'm more concerned with is, outside of DU, are the Clinton supporters as obnoxious as her biggest fans on here are?

[durrrty libby]

104. Thanks for your "concern" and the sweet irony and personal attack

[last_texas_dem]

112. You're very welcome. nt

[Forkboy]

110. That's not possible.

;)

[Alamom]

103. k&r

[SOS]

107. Double standards?

From the OP:

"When troops are dying and maimed every day because of his co-sponsorship of the Iraq War Resolution."

Did Clinton's yes vote on the IWR lead to troops dying and being maimed?

Or do Clinton's two days in the Green Zone cancel that out?

[Forkboy]

111. I'm sure you actually give a shit about this.

:rofl:

[Auntie Bush]

115. He's been too busy running for President 24/7 for the past 6 years

to go to Iraq. No time for menial things like facing the troops after pushing for the IWR which would make him look strong of foreign defense if/when he ran for president. It's the same reason Hillary and Biden and any other Democrat voted for it. They'd look wimpy and would have been severely criticized if they voted against going to war...just like John Kerry was being ridiculed for voting against the Viet Nam war at the very same time as the IWR was voted on. It's all politics folks...has nothing to do with right or wrong or principals. All politicians make me sick!