October 17, 2007 - 6:30pm
Torricelli on Clinton & Iran
By Robert Torricelli
Tags: Hillary Clinton
A firestorm has developed over Hillary Clinton's vote to designate an element of Iran's Revolutionary Guards as "Terrorists". Pundits declared the decision as the beginning of the general election campaign. Critics claimed that the non binding resolution would provide a foundation for a military attack. Everybody seemed to have everything to ask except for one thing. Is it true?
The real measure of whether Hillary's vote was correct is whether it's an honest assessment of the situation. Because Bush lied about Iraq it can't be wrong to tell the truth about Iran. The simple fact is that the Iranian regime does sponsor terror.
She's made clear that she doesn't support a military strike at Tehran. It's equally clear that American soldiers in Iraq are getting killed and maimed by weapons sent from Iran to create chaos in that troubled nation.
I don't think that the burden is on Hillary to explain her vote. The burden is on those who opposed the resolution. It's fair to assume that someone opposing the resolution doesn't consider the Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organization. Just exactly what are those road side bombs with Iranian markings? What were those Iranian missiles striking Israel last year?
The debate about this Senate resolution raises the prospect of one more casualty of the Bush Presidency. We so fear his misrepresenting facts and endangering our country that we engage in national denial. That can't be a formula for leadership. Hillary was right. The Iranian revolutionary Guards are terrorists and it can't ever be wrong for a leader to speak the truth.
I share the concern about how Bush interprets support for this resolution. I'm also concerned with how the Iranian Mullahs interpret a vote against it. Hillary was right.
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Senator, Whose side were you on?
I seem to remember Torricelli siding with Saddam Hussein. Libs, if you don't believe me, heres a quote from the New York Slimes:
"The investigation into Mr. Torricelli was first reported by The Financial Times. The newspaper reported that in the 1990's, Mr. Torricelli met several times with Iraq's ambassador to the United Nations at the time, Nizar Hamdoun. At those meetings, according to the newspaper, Mr. Torricelli, a Democrat who was then a House member, allegedly urged Iraq to help a campaign donor, David Chang, and Mr. Chang's company, Bright & Bright Corporation, get oil-for-food contracts.
In 2002, the Senate Ethics Committee "severely admonished" Mr. Torricelli for accepting improper gifts from Mr. Chang, and the senator decided not to seek re-election. Two years earlier, Mr. Chang pleaded guilty to obstructing justice and funneling $53,700 in illegal donations to Mr. Torricelli's 1996 Senate campaign."
-New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/20/nyregion/20torricelli.html?n=Top%2FRef...
You will need to be more specific
"Because Bush lied about Iraq it can't be wrong to tell the truth about Iran. " - Which lie are you speaking of? Weapons? Bill, John, Hill All believed they were there. Shouldn't be in Iraq? Remember the SECOND, demanded, resolution to go? Was in all the papers, demanded by the dims.
Can someone explain how this once former civil servent hasn't explained his shake down of the Boy Scouts?
Say What?
Did he actually just say: "...it can't ever be wrong for a leader to speak the truth"? Talk about being in denial. This website has become a bad joke.
Say What?
Did he actually just say: "...it can't ever be wrong for a leader to speak the truth"? Talk about being in denial. This website has become a bad joke.
Hillary and the war
Hillary has more positions on Iraq than Carter has pills!
It's classic Clinton. She is simply unqualified to serve as Commander-in-Chief. She lacks any understanding of the battle with Islamic terrorism and is incapable of leading the military.
Like Torricelli, she is a career politician with no sense of foreign policy or battle operations. Hillary would be the least qualified individual with the exception of maybe her husband to occupy the White House in a time of conflict.
8 years of cutting ribbons and sipping tea and crunching on cookies is not my idea of experience to serve in the presidency. Her only tangible policy initiative was an utter failure. Why would anyone believe she would succeed as president?
James McGregor Burns would agree that Hillary lacks the temperment or character to succeed as the leader of the free world.
Hillary Clinton as president and Nancy Pelosi as Speaker is a scary propostion for America.
"Hillary Clinton as
"Hillary Clinton as president and Nancy Pelosi as Speaker is a scary propostion for America."
very good point. were at war with terrorists- this is a time for strength
Big stick, not big mouth
Campaign kickoff or not, Hilary's loose cannon diplomacy with the "terrorist" remark doesn't bode well for any aspirations to the presidency. I have already sensed blind ambition on her part for some time now. Let us hope that in the event she succeeds to this high office, she has some first principles explained to her about forbearance and restraint
The CIA says thanks for Nothing
If our CIA was intact we would have had better
intel in Iraq.
If our CIA was better we would know the full story
regarding the mad man in Iran.
Hillary as commander in chief ? A women who voiced her
contempt for the military while in the Whitehouse.
A women who cant tell the difference between an IED
and an IUD
Enough said
...Ft Lee Republican, let me add..
..if our intelligence were stonger...no thanks to Torricelli who while in the Senate helped diminish its effectiveness and got our agents killed. Thanks Bob, you JO.