Trump criticised USA policy in Iraq from the time of Republican President George W. Bush, who ordered the American-led invasion in 2003 in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, al Qaeda attacks on the United States. “Now, that is not just unpatriotic and insulting, to the people of our country as well as to our commander in chief, it is scary”, Clinton said.
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If anything was clear from Hillary Clinton’s appearance at the “Commander in Chief” forum on NBC, it is that she can not escape her past. The Republican defended his preparedness to be commander in chief despite vague plans for tackling global challenges and the Democrat argued that her controversial email practices did not expose questionable judgment. She also flushed out several national security priorities if she is elected, including trying to take out the leader of the Islamic State and vowing to defeat the extremist group without putting USA troops on the ground in Iraq or Syria. Trump then attacked Obama and Clinton, the president’s first secretary of state, for their roles in the USA troop withdrawal from Iraq.
There is no evidence to date that shows Trump came out against the Iraq War early on, and in fact, he initially said he supported the conflict. But that’s not going to happen because that’s not what Trump thinks, and it’s not how Trump says he would govern.
Clinton called the North Korea test “outrageous and unacceptable”, saying she supports imposing additional USA and United Nations sanctions. “I’ve already said he is really very much of a leader”. “I find it frustrating, but it’s part of the landscape we live in”. While the candidates never appeared on stage together, the session served as a preview of sorts for their highly anticipated presidential debates.
Clinton voted for regime change in Iraq, saw the results and proclaimed them a mistake, and then pushed for regime change in Libya while secretary of state, achieving similarly disastrous results. But she defended her support for USA military intervention to help oust a dictator in Libya, despite the chaotic aftermath. “I communicated about classified material on a wholly different system”, she said.
Friday’s meeting and press conference, held at the storied New-York Historical Society, appeared staged to draw a stark contrast with Trump, whose comments this week raised further questions about his readiness to be commander in chief. She vowed to defeat the Islamic State group “without committing American ground troops” to Iraq or Syria. “So I am proud of the people who are supporting me”.
“Here is what is important, I now have more endorsements from retired flag officers than any Democrat other than an incumbent president has ever had”, Clinton said. “And I could see myself working that out”. In particular, Trump’s false claim that he had opposed the Iraq War and his comment that Russian President Vladimir Putin is a better leader than President Barack Obama drew fierce criticism. Clinton actually had referenced one such occasion when Trump voiced support for the war, during an interview with Howard Stern. He replied: “No. But when I do come up with a plan that I like and that perhaps agrees with mine, or maybe doesn’t – I may love what the generals come back with”.
With just two months until Election Day, national security has emerged as a centerpiece issue in the White House race.
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The years that Clinton has spent building a ground game in the swing states have allowed her to put Colorado, Virginia, and New Hampshire out of reach for Trump.
