Hillary Clinton, presidential hopeful for 2008, has been searching for a way to distance herself form the fact that she voted in favour of the Iraq war back in 2002.
Now, she may have found a way to lance this boil.
She is asking her fellow senators to support her, and Senator Robert Byrd's, plan for a new vote on the Iraq war.
Clinton has written a letter to all the 98 other senators, saying that Congress should request that there be a new war vote when the Senate debates the 2008 military spending bill in the next few weeks.
The letter argues that the 2002 vote for the war, which Clinton backed, is hopelessly out of date.
Quote:
"That authorisation, which references the government of Saddam Hussein and weapons of mass destruction, is no longer relevant.
Our troops have toppled the dictator. The Iraqis have voted in a new government.
The American public and our troops in the field are entitled to a new debate about this war."
Whilst many people may dislike Clinton, and her opportunism, one has to grudgingly respect her shrewd political skills. This letter, and possible vote, may well be an effective means of distancing herself from the vote in 2002.
Whether it helps the Iraqi people, is another matter!
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Mission Accomplished
Iraq is now the world's second most unstable country, behind Sudan, according to the 2007 Failed States Index. This despite the fact, or maybe because of the fact, that President George W. Bush ordered the U.S. invasion to topple Saddam Hussein.
The 2007 Failed States Index is produced by Foreign Policy magazine and the Fund for Peace. The index said that Iraq has suffered a third straight year of deterioration in 2006; with diminished results across a range of social, economic, political and military indicators.
Iraq ranked fourth last year.
Afghanistan, six years into a US invasion, was in eighth place.
The reports says:
"Iraq and Afghanistan, the two main fronts in the global war on terror, both suffered over the past year.
Their experiences show that billions of dollars in development and security aid may be futile unless accompanied by a functioning government, trustworthy leaders, and realistic plans to keep the peace and develop the economy."
Mission Accomplished!
The 2007 Failed States Index is produced by Foreign Policy magazine and the Fund for Peace. The index said that Iraq has suffered a third straight year of deterioration in 2006; with diminished results across a range of social, economic, political and military indicators.
Iraq ranked fourth last year.
Afghanistan, six years into a US invasion, was in eighth place.
The reports says:
"Iraq and Afghanistan, the two main fronts in the global war on terror, both suffered over the past year.
Their experiences show that billions of dollars in development and security aid may be futile unless accompanied by a functioning government, trustworthy leaders, and realistic plans to keep the peace and develop the economy."
Mission Accomplished!
It's Official - No WMD
The hunt for Saddam Hussein's alleged weapons of mass destruction is now reaching its final conclusion, having found nothing.
The US and Britain have proposed that members of the United Nations Security Council "terminate immediately the mandates" of UN weapons inspectors.
This means the end of the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission.
The US and Britain have proposed that members of the United Nations Security Council "terminate immediately the mandates" of UN weapons inspectors.
This means the end of the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission.
Monday, June 18, 2007
Saddam's Golden Gun
Australia is to display Saddam Hussein's golden gun in its war museum.
Today, the Australian War Memorial accepted a golden Tabuk rifle (an Iraqi version of the AK-47) from the Australian military, which itself had received it from U.S. troops in thanks for taking part in the Iraq war.
The rifle was found by American soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) during the clearance of buildings around Kirkuk, in northern Iraq.
Today, the Australian War Memorial accepted a golden Tabuk rifle (an Iraqi version of the AK-47) from the Australian military, which itself had received it from U.S. troops in thanks for taking part in the Iraq war.
The rifle was found by American soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) during the clearance of buildings around Kirkuk, in northern Iraq.
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