Clinton assails rivals on Iraq plans

[Ron Burgundy]

AP - Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton said Wednesday she is the only presidential candidate who will begin a prompt drawdown of U.S. troops in Iraq next year.

One day after she and her two rivals Democratic Sen. Barack Obama and Republican Sen. John McCain questioned the top U.S. military commander for Iraq, Clinton said McCain is unwilling to withdraw troops, and Obama cannot be trusted to do so.

"One candidate will continue the war," she told an audience at Hopewell High School, near Pittsburgh. "One candidate only says he'll end the war. And one candidate is ready, willing and able to end the war."

The New York senator did not say why she believes Obama would not carry out his pledge to bring most U.S. troops home within 16 months. A campaign news release quoted her as saying, "his adviser says you can't count on that."

It was a reference to a former Obama adviser, Samantha Power, who told a Scottish newspaper that Obama might take longer to end the war if conditions are not favorable. His aides have said Power was not speaking for the campaign.

Clinton hopes for a solid win in Pennsylvania's April 22 Democratic primary. That would sustain her hopes of persuading the party's "superdelegates" to give her the nomination despite Obama's lead in pledged delegates, which are won through primaries and caucuses.

Clinton struck two familiar themes Wednesday: She has the experience and steeliness to be commander in chief, and Obama is a talker, not a doer. His plan to end the Iraq war, she said, "is just words."

She called on President Bush to explain his "end game" plan for Iraq. She also said Congress should be allowed "to review and vote on any long-term agreement" that the Bush administration makes with Iraq.

Those joining Clinton on a high school auditorium stage were retired military — Rear Adm. David Stone, Brigadier Gen. Michael Dunn and Brigadier Gen. John M. Watkins Jr. She was endorsed by Gregory Erosenko, mayor of Monroeville, Pa., and an Army veteran.

Clinton was scheduled to attend a fundraiser later Wednesday in New York City, featuring singer Elton John.

source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080409/ap_on_el_pr/democrats_pennsylvania [link]