Clinton the strongest candidate on Iraq

Today, I received a poll request from MoveOn.Org asking which of the Democratic candidates I think is "best able to lead the country out of the war in Iraq."

I voted for Senator Clinton as the candidate best able to lead us out of Iraq for five reasons. 

First and foremost, it is clear that the next President, not GW Bush, will be the President that will lead us out of Iraq. 

Two, I am not at all willing to to concede that a unilateral withdrawal is a good outcome.  We must assure an Iraqi government is in place by the end of the withdrawal.

This means that the Coalition Occupation will be ended and withdrawal will take place in phased manner.

The phases will be subject to negotiation between us, the Iraqi government, our allies and other governments with legitimate interests in the outcome.

Alone among the candidates, GOP and Democratic, Senator Clinton has no outstanding statements binding her to a course of action. 

As President she will be unencumbered by her political promises and will be able to negotiate  a withdrawal solely on the strategic security requirements of this country and our allies.

Third, I think Senator Clinton has the political authority and strength to withstand the enormous new pressures that will be brought to bear from all sides after the Inauguaration to make the deal a certain way. She will accurately measure the strategic factors and focus the deal exclusively on that.

Fourth, I think Senator Clinton has the moral strength to do the right thing. 

When President Carter took on the Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty there was no indication that he would succeed. His moral strength and his beliefs tided him through and he made the only peace treaty that has stood in the Middle East.

Senator Clinton has the qualities of steely determination, moral courage and self confidence that will enable her to make a good settlement the basis of our withdrawal from Iraq.

Fifth, Senator Clinton has the strategic vision to enhance our position on the Gulf.  Like President GHW Bush, Senator Clinton is a cold-eyed realist who understands power and how to motivate the powerful.

She will be able to broker the best possible deal, but more importantly, she will be able to make it work. 

Senator Clinton cast a vote in 02 that retained the President's power and flexibility in foreign affairs.

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