(Bill) Clinton calls Iraq 'civil war,' against withdrawal timetable

[sabra]

http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/blogs/politicalticker/2006/11/clinton-calls-iraq-civil-war-against.html

Clinton calls Iraq 'civil war,' against withdrawal timetable

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Former President Bill Clinton told CNN Thursday he agrees with those who have labeled the situation in Iraq a "civil war," but -- differing from top congressional Democrats -- said he's against setting a definite timetable for withdrawal.

"We probably shouldn't set a definite timetable right now because we don't want to lose all the leverage we have to get others in the surrounding countries to work with us, and to get the Iraqi political forces to try to get more and more people to choose politics over violence," Clinton told Soledad O'Brien on "American Morning."

In the ongoing semantics debate over what to call the situation in Iraq, Clinton said he would call it a 'civil war.' "That's a big definitional argument, but most Americans would say that's pretty much what it is," Clinton said. "You've got not only the Sunni, the Shia, the Kurds, you've got the tribal conflicts, the intra-Shiite conflicts."

[w4rma]

1. Par for the course with that guy.

It's my understanding that Clinton has been advising Prime Minister Blair since before the start of this whole thing.

[acmavm]

2. Good old Bill. Making another royal pronouncement that flies

in the face of what is good for the US and what the poor US soldier on the ground wants as well as what the majority of Americans want.

Too bad he didn't go into detail about what 'leverage' it is that we have over there now.

Bill's another one who didn't serve, isn't he?

[JoFerret]

8. ...and serving in Vietnam

was a good thing for the country to ask Americans to do?

[acmavm]

9. F**k no! But this clown recommending that we not set a

date for a pull out NOW is such hypocrisy.

[saigon68]

15. This is Hillary's position

She is beholden to a certain faction in New York for $$$$$ and other key support

[elehhhhna]

3. He's been sleeping at Poppy's feet too long.

God knows BC's had problems with Father figures but CHRIST ON A RAFT could he pick one who's no the goddmaned DEVIL already?

[LonelyLRLiberal]

4. What "leverage"? We don't have any and everyone knows it.

I am disappointed in BC. This is probably just politics for Hillary's run - don't want her to look weak, you know.

[tularetom]

5. Clinton is perhaps the only person in American politics

who is anywhere near as irrelevant as *. I'm disappointed but not surprised in his response. He needs to model himself after Jim Webb and quit trying to be like Joe Loserman. And I don't believe he realizes the damage this kind of fence sitting is going to do to Hillary's hopes to be elected prez in 08.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

6. Damn easy for him to say...

his ass isn't getting fired at daily in Iraq. :mad:

He of ALL people should have learned the lessons from Vietnam.

[acmavm]

10. How the hell would he have learned anything from Viet Nam?

Hell, bush** has more service time in than Clinton.

[nolabels]

14. The first problem is he is wrong person to be saying these things.

But on the other hand it, the bad hand, * looks quite intractable from ever wanting to leave so this will only help the polarization.
All of what is going on just seems too inevitable and the violence will be at a scream when the troops pull back, bet on it x(

[Tellurian]

7. Well, Lucky me..

I've been right there with Blair, King Abdullah, Maliki, and all the important people that know exactly whats going on in Iraq. I've talked to ALL the troops, their Commanding Officers...I've even had coffee with Condi and she told me all the bad stuff thats really going on behind the scenes..

So, "I" only "ME" has enough information to make an informed decision about what to do in Iraq..

Give me a break...yada, yada, yada,...the blind leading the blind with nothing more than tear downs in the offing.

pfffffffffttt!

[MannyGoldstein]

11. Covering For The Missus?

Last I heard, Mrs. Clinton's sticking to her guns on the Iraq war being a good thing. Anyone hear different lately?

[Doctor_J]

12. He'll still be triangulating when he's three days dead

He's sure smart and charismatic though.

[wisteria]

13. Unfortunately, Clinton seems to be playing politics with this war.

The leverage comment is ridiculous. What leverage do we have now even though we are there currently with no date to begin withdraw. It is an excuse to stay the middle ground and not make any tough choices. Positioning for 08 it appears. Still being able to criticize the war and it's handling but not taking a leadership position on it.
And you know, no DLC Democrat will suggest cutting off funding.
So this amount to Clinton saying- stay the course till whenever.

[BenDavid]

16. What, are you all pissed at

Clinton because what he says makes damn good sense. If one would just drop back a moment and remember it was after Clinton handed Chris Wallace his ass on the Faux News program that democrats finally decided to grow a set and became more forceful and upbeat about the November elections. Not saying it was all Clinton cause there were a lot of other Democrats that we hardly heard from and then afterwards the party has a whole stood up and starting hitting republicans and the media hard with the big hammer....

[Buck Rabbit]

17. Hmmm, sounds remarkably similar to Wes Clark's USA OpED. No? n/t

[keopeli]

18. My, how DU has changed. Every post (except one) is pissed at Clinton

Have you considered listening, even comprehending his comments? Are you open to compromise of your position? Or are you just radically entrenched, unmovable stalwarts of your cause? Not a very Democratic trait, wouldn't you say?

Such smearing and hatred from people at DU. We used to save that for the bad guys.

Peace, everyone.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

19. Maybe because there's a lot to be pissed about.

I saw Clinton speak at San Jose State University when he was on the campaign trail the first go round. I came away from the event excited about what I had heard and actually hopeful about the future under his Presidency. I fiercely defended him during impeachment -- that was the thing that got me radicalized and involved with online activism. I joined Move-On when they called an end to the witchhunt.

With that said, as time goes by, my impression of him has done one, long nosedive. During the Bush Administration -- when his country needed him most -- he has been wrong much more often than right. Yes, his exchange on Faux engergized and liberated the Dems, but that hasn't made up for what he has failed to do.

Once again, he takes the triangulated approach to Iraq. This while our troops are in a fucking meat grinder and Iraq is going to hell.

I'll start listening to him when he has something worthwhile to say.

[Doctor_J]

20. I am one of his biggest fans

He's the only one who can go onto Fox News and leave with Chris Wallace's ass in his briefcase. But he has this irritating habit of equivocating on alot of issues. Like gays in the military, for example.

[Tellurian]

22. Well, I for one am not pissed at Clinton..

I don't understand why or how people can form such defined opinions based on a news report?
It is as Spock would say..."illogical conclusions", something humans are prone to do. How can
anyone judge Clinton by what you hear in the news.. Is it logical or smart to show your cards
to the opposition when you're sitting at the poker table?

What I see is not triangulation but Clinton juxtaposing. Just as he has been doing for the last 6 yrs.
Leave the man alone and let him work.

[IndianaGreen]

21. Bill is on the ball, but Hillary is lagging far behind

She is still stuck on "sectarian violence."