Hillary Clinton to visit Iraq, Afghanistan
Hillary Clinton to visit Iraq, Afghanistan
WASHINGTON (AFP) - New York senator and 2008 presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton is to visit Iraq and Afghanistan this weekend to meet government officials and US military leaders, her office said
The former first lady, who voted for the Iraq war in 2002 but has since turned into a vocal critic of the campaign, was traveling with fellow Democratic Senator Evan Bayh (news, bio, voting record) and Republican Congressman John McHugh (news, bio, voting record).
"Our nation continues to face serious and growing challenges in both Iraq and Afghanistan. At this critical juncture, I am eager to express my gratitude to our troops on the ground," Clinton said in a statement ahead of the visit.
"I am eager as well to hear from our commanders on the ground a frank assessment of our missions in those countries.
"I am also looking forward to meeting Iraqi leaders and American civilian officials to hear their view on the current situation in Iraq," she said.
The statement did not mention any details of Clinton's schedule on the four-day visit and her spokeswoman was not immediately available for comment.
Clinton summarily came out against President George W. Bush's proposals announced this week to send some 20,000 more US troops into Iraq, describing the plan as a "proposed escalation of the war in Iraq."
"The president's Iraq policy has been marred by incompetence and arrogance as his administration has refused to recognize the military and political reality on the ground," she said.
Clinton is expected to run for the Democratic Party nomination in the 2008 presidential election, with opinion polls currently putting her as the clear front runner.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070112/pl_afp/uspoliticsiraq_070112152222
WASHINGTON (AFP) - New York senator and 2008 presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton is to visit Iraq and Afghanistan this weekend to meet government officials and US military leaders, her office said
The former first lady, who voted for the Iraq war in 2002 but has since turned into a vocal critic of the campaign, was traveling with fellow Democratic Senator Evan Bayh (news, bio, voting record) and Republican Congressman John McHugh (news, bio, voting record).
"Our nation continues to face serious and growing challenges in both Iraq and Afghanistan. At this critical juncture, I am eager to express my gratitude to our troops on the ground," Clinton said in a statement ahead of the visit.
"I am eager as well to hear from our commanders on the ground a frank assessment of our missions in those countries.
"I am also looking forward to meeting Iraqi leaders and American civilian officials to hear their view on the current situation in Iraq," she said.
The statement did not mention any details of Clinton's schedule on the four-day visit and her spokeswoman was not immediately available for comment.
Clinton summarily came out against President George W. Bush's proposals announced this week to send some 20,000 more US troops into Iraq, describing the plan as a "proposed escalation of the war in Iraq."
"The president's Iraq policy has been marred by incompetence and arrogance as his administration has refused to recognize the military and political reality on the ground," she said.
Clinton is expected to run for the Democratic Party nomination in the 2008 presidential election, with opinion polls currently putting her as the clear front runner.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070112/pl_afp/uspoliticsiraq_070112152222
posted by presgore19 at 1:06 PM
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