Clinton vs. Obama and Clinton on Speaking with US Enemies

Hillary Clinton has joined John Edwards (previous post) in attacking Barack Obama today. Clinton’s attack was over a statement in last night’s You Tube debate:

Democratic presidential hopefuls Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama tangled over Obama’s statement at the YouTube debate Monday that he would be willing to meet in the first year of his presidency with the leaders of countries antagonistic to the United States.

Clinton called Obama’s comments “irresponsible” and “naive.”

The rebuttal comes from Hillary Clinton, to quote her from April:

Hillary Rodham Clinton on Sunday criticized President Bush’s foreign policy, and said if she were president she would do things differently, including beginning diplomatic talks with supposed enemies and sending envoys throughout the world.

“I would begin diplomatic discussions with those countries with whom we have differences, to try to figure out what is the depth of those differences,” said Clinton, who spoke to about 1,000 people at Luther College in Decorah in northeastern Iowa.

“I think it is a terrible mistake for our president to say he will not talk with bad people. You don’t make peace with your friends — you have to do the hard work of dealing with people you don’t agree with,” said Clinton, who is seeking the Democratic presidential nomination.

Opening talks with other countries doesn’t mean the U.S. won’t defend its interests whenever necessary, she said, “but what it means is that we should discuss other routes before we decide we’re going to pursue military options.

“We cannot provide the leadership we need unless we are willing to try engage the other countries,” she said,

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