Exclusive: Hillary's Stinging Letter To Sec Def Gates Obtained-This Is Really Something...

Exclusive: Hillary's Stinging Letter To SecDef Gates Obtained
By Greg Sargent | bio
This is really something.


July 19, 2007

The Honorable Robert M. Gates
Secretary of Defense
The United States Department of Defense
The Pentagon
Suite 319
Washington, D.C. 20301

Dear Mr. Secretary:

On May 22, 2007, I wrote to you to request that you provide the appropriate oversight committees in Congress – including the Senate Armed Services Committee – with briefings on what current contingency plans exist for the future withdrawal of United States forces from Iraq. Alternatively, if no such plans exist, I asked for an explanation for the decision not to engage in such planning.

I am in receipt of a letter from Eric Edelman, the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy who wrote that he was responding on your behalf. Under Secretary Edelman's response did not address the issues raised in my letter and instead made spurious arguments to avoid addressing contingency planning for the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq.

As I noted in my original letter, "the seeds of many problems that continue to plague our troops and mission in Iraq were planted in the failure to adequately plan for the conflict and properly equip our men and women in uniform. Congress must be sure that we are prepared to withdraw our forces without any unnecessary danger."

Rather than offer to brief the congressional oversight committees on this critical issue, Under Secretary Edelman – writing on your behalf – instead claims that congressional oversight emboldens our enemies. Under Secretary Edelman has his priorities backward. Open and honest debate and congressional oversight strengthens our nation and supports our military. His suggestion to the contrary is outrageous and dangerous. Indeed, you acknowledged the importance of Congress in our Iraq policy at a hearing before the House Armed Services Committee in March, when you stated, "I believe that the debate here on the Hill and the issues that have been raised have been helpful in bringing pressure to bear on the Maliki government and on the Iraqis in knowing that there is a very real limit to American patience in this entire enterprise."

Redeploying out of Iraq will be difficult and requires careful planning. I continue to call on the Bush Administration to immediately provide a redeployment strategy that will keep our brave men and women safe as they leave Iraq – instead of adhering to a political strategy to attack those who rightfully question their competence and preparedness after years of mistakes and misjudgments.

Other members of this Administration have not engaged in political attacks when the prospect of withdrawal planning has been raised. At the June 7 Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing on Lieutenant General Douglas Lute, I asked General Lute "what level of planning has taken place" and "whether the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chiefs have been briefed about the level of planning." I also asked General Lute to determine "what kind of timeline would exist if a decision for either military or political reasons were taken to begin withdrawal" and if he considered this kind of planning to be part of his responsibilities.

General Lute replied, "Thank you Senator. I do think such an adaptation, if the conditions on the ground call for it, will be part of this position."

I renew my request for a briefing, classified if necessary, on current plans for the future withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq or an explanation for the decision not to engage in such planning. I also renew my concern that our troops will be placed in unnecessary danger if the Bush Administration fails to plan for the withdrawal of U.S. Forces. Finally, I request that you describe whether Under Secretary Edelman's letter accurately characterizes your views as Secretary of Defense.

I would appreciate the courtesy of a prompt response directly from you. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely yours,
Hillary Rodham Clinton

http://electioncentral.tpmcafe.com/blog/electioncentral/2007/jul/20/hillary_to_secdef_gates

her most enduring asset is her ability to get under their skin

this is going to be as dramatic as the showdown at the OK Corral.

told her it was NONE OF HER BUSINESS! It's quite easy to say we have one or several plans, it's quite another thing to have to explain them!

That letter moves me another step closer to supporting Hillary for President! She was professional, direct, and justifiably demanding. By submitting her request in writing, whe eliminated the standard excuse of "we don't want to tip our hand" and the right answer should have been, "Senator, I will be glad to brief you on this subject in a private meeting."

is exactly what he should have said.

from you."

Good one.

let your lackeys save their paper.

Perfect response. I especially liked the way she made this an attack on congressional oversight, not just on her. And I liked that she threw the generals' words back at the Pentagon. I also just loved that she told Gates to respond to her himself and not through some underling.

The audacity.

has Hillary (consistently) said that she's in favor of the prompt, complete withdrawal of all US forces from Iraq?

Who else is getting National attention on this?

answer my question.

It seems to me that there was this all-nighter thing in the Senate recently about a withdrawal time-table. And I seem to recall that getting a fair amount of coverage.

Edelman kind of fell into a trap. The first thing that came to my mind when I listened to him was "Why would we not have a plan for safe withdrawl?" When you tie that in with all the idiotic mistakes this admin has done, it just makes sense to work out a plan even thou this administration probably will never leave Iraq.

Keep it up! :)

"Stinging" is hardly the word I would have selected. Mild toned would be about the best I would give it considering the circumstances. Either way it will prove useless. Gates won't respond.

July 19, 2007

The Honorable Robert M. Gates
Secretary of Defense
The United States Department of Defense
The Pentagon
Suite 319
Washington, D.C. 20301

Dear Mr. Secretary:

YOU'RE A TOTAL FUCKING DOUCHEBAG! CUT THE SHIT ASSHOLE AND STOP BEING A FUCKTARD!

Yours etc.,

Hillary Cliton

did you hear Keith's Special Comment last night? It summed up the predicament nicely and excerpts from it would have made a better letter.

just in Washington, you get the nicities more often than the blunt summary.

That was the first draft of her letter I suspect. :)

that budget (impeachment reason 10,183 on my list) and move money to do whatever he wants, she still can add prohibitions on spending for items Gates wants - or even God forbid - cut the budget.

Excellent response.

I ask it in a somewhat rhetorical fashion, but I'm still trying to figure the method to Edelman's (cheney's) madness here. Why pick a fight with Hilary now?

Is it to throw red meat to the "base"...knowing that Hillary generates millions in much-needed donations and singling her out at this stage is to remind the big money that their worst nightmare as a president but wet dream as a candidate is leading in the polls.

Or is it to test Hillary and test her "cajones". Can she be tatooed as the "Democrat who lost Iraq"? If so, it's one of the GOOP's lone hopes in keeping power in '08. Someone's gotta take the blame and now's the time to start creating the meme that she's the cause...say it loud enough, long enough and it could create some doubts and problems for her...first in the primaries and then in the general election. Too harsh a reaction and she gets pummeled by the corporate media for being the "b" word. No reaction and she's "weak". It's a fight too tempting for a wingnut not to want to pick.

Or, lastly, is it a softball to move Hillary along...ramp up some sympathy/support for her to make sure a "moderate" Democrat advances rather than a Progressive or "Librul" like Obama or Edwards?

Just some questions on a Friday morning....Washington Journal sucks this morning!

I don't think they are "ramping her up," I believe they truly despise her on a visceral level.

I think it's about the base. If we've got anything on our side, it's the cabal's stubborn insistence on playing to their by now woefully inadequate base. They no longer give a damn about electing RRRs to Congress next year--and the re-up RRRs would be wise to realize that. some are wising up, but far too slowly.

I've no candidate yet, I'm not even close, but I think so far all of them have done well against the RW smear machines. She handled this with reserve and cunning--and quickly. Very smart.

I think this may have some serious blowback. Let's hope.

Everything must be thought of in political terms these days.

She fired this one on all cylinders.

He sent out his pit bull. Now he is going to get his just rewards. Good job, Hill. First for sending such a sensible request on May 23 and then for your follow-up when they finally and stupidly responded in such an unabashedly snotty manner. Just like a three year old tantrum. If you have not seen the video of Keith O's response to this vitriolic "under"ling's letter, do NOT miss it. He is MAD! By the way, I love the way Hillary continuously refers to Edelman as "under."

and has to salvage so many damaged parts of the government. I give points to HRC on this round. We can watch for comments from the other candidates.

I want follow-through! What happens when they ignore those letters as they have from Conyers and Feingold for years? What happens when they ignore subpoenas like Condi did a few months ago, and Mier did recently?

I want follow-through

Forum Name Latest Breaking News Topic subject Pentagon rebukes Clinton on Iraq ("reinforces enemy propaganda") Topic URL http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2923380#2923380 2923380, Pentagon rebukes Clinton on Iraq ("reinforces enemy propaganda")
Posted by Barrett808 on Thu Jul-19-07 01:21 PM

Source: Associated Press

Pentagon rebukes Clinton on Iraq
By DEVLIN BARRETT, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - The Pentagon has issued a stinging rebuke to Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton, arguing that she is boosting enemy propaganda by asking how the U.S. plans to eventually withdraw from Iraq.

Under Secretary of Defense Eric Edelman wrote a biting reply to questions Clinton raised in May, urging the Pentagon to start planning now for the withdrawal of U.S. troops.

A copy of Edelman's response, dated July 16, was obtained Thursday by The Associated Press.

"Premature and public discussion of the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq reinforces enemy propaganda that the United States will abandon its allies in Iraq, much as we are perceived to have done in Vietnam, Lebanon and Somalia," Edelman wrote.

He added that "such talk understandably unnerves the very same Iraqi allies we are asking to assume enormous personal risks."


Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070719/ap_on_el_pr/clinton_iraq

was Wa-a-a-ay over the line, completely inappropriate.

there would be a certain justice to her becoming commander in chief and exacting some revenge on the incompetents at the Pentagon who permitted this fiasco to happen and had the gall to single her out for attack at this stage of the game. If I were her and got in that position, I would take a proverbial machete to Defense on day one.

Which ones do you really believe can successfully smack these guy down?

My assessment is 2 of them MAYBE! Hillary sure can. She proved that today! The only other possibility I can see is Biden.

Biden can be a real terror when he wants to be.

Edwards, Obama, Dodd & Richardson are just too nice!

Kicinich is not only a nice guy, he 100% for peace EVERYWHERE!

Each candidate has advantages & disadvantages, but we need that one candidate who is not only smart, but savy enough to chop the Pubs off at their knees!

This is hay I tells ya, HAY!

:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: