U.S. Presidential Candidates Debate Iraq
4/9/2008 7:37:00 AM
CHAN:
In the United States, the war in has become a political challenge for the Democratic and Republican candidates-- one that will most certainly be a major issue in the general election.
STORY:
At two long-awaited Senate hearings that focused exclusively on the results of a year-old U.S. troop build-up in Iraq, three U.S. Senators who hope to be the next Commander-In-Chief weighed in on the progress of the so-called "surge" and the future of U.S. involvement in Iraq.
Arizona Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, is the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
[Senator John McCain, Presidential Candidate]:
"Since the middle of last year, sectarian and ethnic violence, civilian deaths and deaths of coalition forces have all fallen dramatically. This improved security environment has led to a new opportunity, one in which average Iraqis can in the future approach a more normal political and economic life."
For McCain, the success or failure of the U.S. war effort in Iraq could?well determine his success or failure in the November election.
Tom Fiedler is with Harvard's Kennedy School of Government.
[Tom Fiedler, Visiting Fellow, Harvard University]:
"Unfortunately, if it drops off the list of concerns for the American electorate, then they're gonna be thinking even more about the economy as a deciding factor. So his success in Iraq could end up costing him votes in November."
Hillary Clinton, also a member of the Senate Armed Service Committee, said that while the level of violence is down since since the troop build-up in Iraq last year, the surge has yet to yield political results in the country.
[Senator Hillary Clinton, Presidential Candidate]:
"I think it's time to begin an orderly process of withdrawing our?troops, start rebuilding our military, and focusing on the challenges posed by Afghanistan, the global terrorist groups and other problems that confront Americans."
Like Senator Clinton, Barack Obama, one of the most junior members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has also called for U.S. troops to withdraw from Iraq -- proposing that they do so within 16 months of the new administration.
Senator Barack Obama, Presidential Candidate:
"I believe that we are more likely to resolve it in your own words Ambassador if we are applying increased pressure in a measured way. I think increased pressure in a measured way in my mind and this is where we disagree includes a timetable for withdraw."
For Obama, the Democratic frontrunner, the hearing with Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, gave the Illinois Senator an opportunity to prove his knowledge of defense matters and foreign affairs--two areas in which polls show -- voters believe he lacks experience.
Tom Fiedler, Visiting Fellow, Harvard University]:
"He has got to be able to demonstrate to the public- certainly his supporters who don't want us to be there-- and at the same time demonstrate to those who are very concerned about the military commitment-- how he is going to extract the forces from Iraq without doing further harm to that country or to our military there."
Although the lraq status hearing focused on the policy challenges of the Iraq war, for all three White House hopefuls the war has also become a political challenge-- one that will most certainly be a major issue in the general election.
