Mini-debate (live blogging continued)
INTERNATIONAL PORTION
McJoan: We all hope we’re out of Iraq in 2009…given where we are now, given the intransigence of the Republicans, is Kucinich right that we can use the power of pursestrings to get out now?
Hillary: It’s tough for the Senate because they can filibuster. We need to keep the pressure on. I’ve got a 3 point plan for getting out. If we’re there when I get in in Jan 2009, I’ll put it in…Bush isn’t even planning how we’ll get out!
Now, others follow-up
Kucinich: I believe we should start by impeaching Dick Cheney…the Democrats in Congress have not kept faith with the American people who want us out now, not in 2008, not in 2009…if Bush can’t be made to do it, he should be impeached.
Dodd: It’s important to do something real, not symbolic. Better 25 votes for real change than 51 for nothing…let’s have a round of applause for our servicemen.
Richardson: I have a one point plan for Iraq: get out. And no residual force. Really get it out. We should also put in an all-Muslim peace-keeping force…we need to deauthorize the war.
Gravel: When they say they don’t have the vote in the Senate, they do. They just need how to go get them….but that’s not what they’re doing….why?
Shifting to terrorism….
Matt Bai: Recently there was debate about whether American policy contributed to the rise of Islamic terrorism? Do you believe this?
Obama: Well, there’s no excuse for 9/11, that’s for sure. That was evil and we need to hunt down the perpetrators…who weren’t in Iraq. We invaded a country that was not responsible for 9/11…and that has made things worse…we need to get past the conventional thinking…I said all along this would possibly lead to a civil war in Iraq and would flame anti-US sentiments in the mideast.
Edwards: America is not safer because of George Bush…more enemies, less allies, is not safer…he’s made global war on terror a bumpersticker to justify warrantless wiretapping (and so on)…there has been long-term policy to keep America safe…it’s been a foreign policy of convenience.
Clinton: Your question Matt was not pointed the right way…there’s been a lot of anti-Bush sentiment worldwide, but it’s not anti-American
I’M OUT OF BATTERIES!
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