O’Reilly-Clinton Interview Shows Dem Flaw

[deltecs]

  O’Reilly-Clinton Interview Shows Dem Flaw
Friday , May 02, 2008

By Dick Morris & Eileen McGann

 Bill O'Reilly asked Hillary Clinton the key question about the war in Iraq: What happens if we pull out and the Iranians move in? She talked around the issue, but never gave a convincing answer to O'Reilly's question. She said she would replace force with diplomacy. But, as Frederick the Great said, “Diplomacy without force is like music without instruments.” If our troops are long gone from Iraq, the Iranians will snub our diplomacy and laugh at our entireties. They will add Iraq to their other trophies in the region: Syria, Lebanon and Gaza.

Hillary's inability to answer O'Reilly's question reveals a larger flaw in the Democratic arguments as the election approaches. Obama will be the Democratic nominee (take that to the bank). How will the Iraq War play in the race? On the surface, it would appear to be a disaster for the Republicans. With American deaths now over the 4,000 mark and the seriously wounded at around 15,000, we are sick and tired of this war. It has destroyed George W. Bush and could well do the same to John McCain.

But maybe not. McCain's position is simple: win in Iraq. The experience and the success of the past year indicate that it may be quite possible to do so. But, whatever you may think of it, his is a simple solution.

What do the Democrats propose? Obama and Hillary both want to pull out as soon as technically feasible. OK. But what happens if Iran moves into the vacuum and takes over Iraq? And what if Al Qaeda takes advantage of the American absence and sets up a permanent base and sanctuary in Iraq, beyond our reach — a situation akin to the Taliban in Afghanistan where they could develop the capacity to hit us on 9-11 in their privileged, protected home territory? And what if hundreds of thousands of Iraqis who used to work with us start to be killed as happened when we pulled out of Vietnam? And what if the Iraqi oil falls into Iranian hands, sending the price even higher? And what if … The list goes on.

Obama really has no answer for these questions. Once he pulls out of Iraq, it will be politically impossible to go back in. Iran and Al Qaeda both realize this just as North Vietnam knew it when they negotiated an end to American troop presence in the South. In the context of an election debate, Obama is going to look weak and confused and without a clue as he tries to address these “what ifs.” Americans will sense the uncertain hand on the helm and will begin to second guess their decisions and move toward McCain.

If, by some chance, Hillary is the nominee, then the same problem will land in her lap and she showed in trying to parry O'Reilly's thrust, that she won't be any better at answering the doubts than Obama would be.

The truth is that the Democrats are cashing in on a mindless impatience with Iraq and an unwillingness to think through the consequences of pulling out. They are capitalizing on an emotional “no” in reaction to the war. But when the alternatives are carefully explained and examined, as they will be in a presidential debate, they are not going to embrace the answers Obama or Hillary will have to the “what ifs.” They will see the Democratic position as extremist and unworkable and will come to see the Democratic candidate who is pushing them as unprepared and unrealistic. If the candidate is Obama, their concerns will resonate with their perception that he is inexperienced and doesn't know his way around foreign policy. This will raise more and more doubts about his ability to lead us in a time of crisis.

This unholy mess in Iraq, which has almost destroyed the Republican party and has destroyed the Bush presidency, may yet rebound and work against the Democrats in the election this year.



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Dick Morris served as Bill Clinton's political consultant for twenty years, guiding him to a successful reelection in 1996.     

[deltecs]

Have the 'John' charges been dropped against Dick M?  Is he out of his financial troubles?  Did Bill O seem sober for the interview?  Just wondering ; cause I dropped Fix News.  Anyway, interesting article...I guess.

...TM7

Just what has that got to do with the article's context, written by a Democratic political consultant for Bill Clinton?

[deltecs]

The article was an opinion of the interview between O and Hillary.  It is his opinion from a Democrats point of view that was published in conservative media.  So what if he has skeletons.  We know for sure that Clintons have skeletons, Obama has skeletons, and probably McCain too.  Paul has skeletons.  Bush has skeletons.  News, media, political debates, commentaries, and opinions from whatever source, all are slanted and misconstrued to some extent or another.  It is up to us to determine conclusions based upon the facts as we know them and make our own judgments. 

[SHOOTALL]

bash people they don't like , you say that like it is a bad thing !
one must first find out why they don't like them , they may deserve bashing !
many may agree with the bashing thus. the success of their shows !
Would this be linked to the brain washing of 1930's Germany ? !

[deltecs]

Similar to Oprah and Bill Mahyer as fair and balanced, much like Rev. Wright's diatribe, refusal to admit Al Quada has confessed to 9/11.  We all know Bush and the Reps are leading us to NWO.  The Dems are leadings us to NWO through communism.  Enough said.

[SHOOTALL]

Ratings , Money , power etc.
fair and what ?
it entertainment , just like Jerry Springer ,

[deltecs]

Similar to Oprah and Bill Mahyer as fair and balanced, much like Rev. Wright's diatribe, refusal to admit Al Quada has confessed to 9/11.  We all know Bush and the Reps are leading us to NWO.  The Dems are leadings us to NWO through communism.  Enough said.

By God...you're getting it.!  Except the Repubs will probably get us to totalitarian communism (i.e. fascism) must faster if the past 7 years is any indication.  I don't watch Maher or Oprah much at all....but seems they allow some actual exchange of ideas once in a while.

...TM7

I posted that with tongue in cheek.  The NWO must have gun control to exists and most Repubs are not for that.  I've always understood the concept of NWO, but am reluctant to universally apply it to either leading party as supporters.  I see the Dems are more in line with its policies than Repubs on this issue.  I see big business as its most ardent supporters though. 

[Bob Riebe]

Similar to Oprah and Bill Mahyer as fair and balanced, much like Rev. Wright's diatribe, refusal to admit Al Quada has confessed to 9/11.  We all know Bush and the Reps are leading us to NWO.  The Dems are leadings us to NWO through communism.  Enough said.

By God...you're getting it.!  Except the Repubs will probably get us to totalitarian communism (i.e. fascism) must faster if the past 7 years is any indication.  I don't watch Maher or Oprah much at all....but seems they allow some actual exchange of ideas once in a while.

...TM7

Democrats are the socialist party, being Communist loving does not work to well for them even though the love notes they still send to Cuba and Venezuela, so now they are the new fascist party and to say otherwise one is either naive or ignorant.