What is the position of Senator Hillary Clinton on the War in Iraq?

Amos Ajo, Ph.D.

In a speech delivered by Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton on October 10, 2002, for a Resolution to Authorize the Use of United States Armed Forces against Iraq, she said, “This is a very difficult vote. This is probably the hardest decision I have ever had to make -- any vote that may lead to war should be hard -- but I cast it with conviction. And perhaps my decision is influenced by my eight years of experience on the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue in the White House watching my husband deal with serious challenges to our nation. I want this President, or any future President, to be in the strongest possible position to lead our country in the United Nations or in war.”

There are two important observations about this statement. (a) “I cast it with conviction”, (b) “--- my decision is influenced by my eight years of experience on the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue in the White House watching my husband deal with serious challenges to our nation.”

On November 29, 2005, Sen. Clinton in her letter to Constituents on Iraq Policy, she said; “In October 2002, I voted for the resolution to authorize the Administration to use force in Iraq. I voted for it on the basis of the evidence presented by the Administration, assurances they gave that they would first seek to resolve the issue of weapons of mass destruction peacefully through United Nations sponsored inspections, and the argument that the resolution was needed because Saddam Hussein never did anything to comply with his obligations that he was not forced to do.”

This type of track record for Sen. Clinton is really going to hurt her chance of becoming a serious contender in the up coming presidential election. This type of deceptive and manipulative flip-flop is very dangerous -- from “voting with conviction based on my eight years of experience with my husband” to “voting on the basis of the evidence presented by Administration.”

Up till today we do not know where Sen. Clinton stands on this war in Iraq. While Congress discusses this serious matter about more troops, we have been told that she went to Iraq. For what purpose? If there is any good that will come out of the war in Iraq, this war serves as a gauge to measure the decision making ability of our future president.

With clearity you can hear from Sen. Obama what he said about the war below: