Hillary explains her Iraq vote
http://www.nysun.com/article/26667
‘Deliberate’ Neglect Laid to Bush In Policy on Katrina’s Aftermath By JOSH GERSTEIN - Staff Reporter of the Sun January 30, 2006
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A question about Mrs. Clinton’s 2002 vote on the Iraq war, prompted the senator to launch into a nine-minute-long response. Mrs. Clinton never conceded that the pivotal vote was about going to war in Iraq, although the resolution in question was titled, “To authorize the use of United States armed forces against Iraq.”
Mrs. Clinton insisted that the vote was, in essence, about getting U.N. weapons inspectors readmitted to Iraq. She said she never expected Mr. Bush to go to war before the inspections were complete.
“I did vote to give the president authority based on what the president said he was going to use the authority for,” the senator said. “I thought we did need to get inspectors back into Iraq…. I don’t regret my vote. I regret the way he used the authority.”
Mrs. Clinton said she does not agree that the Bush administration should have authority to keep American troops in Iraq indefinitely. However, she said she also disagrees those who are calling for an immediate withdrawal.
“I believe it’s a much more complicated calculation,” she said. “We cannot root for failure. We cannot take actions now that would further undermine whatever chance for stability the new Iraqi government might have,” Mrs. Clinton said.
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