Obama advisor grossly distorts Hillary's record on foreign policy

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Distorting Hillary’s record won’t address the doubts voters have about Senator Obama’s readiness to be Commander in Chief. - Campaign Spokesperson Phil Singer

Today on a campaign conference call, Obama aide Greg Craig issued three false attacks on Hillary’s record:

For seven years she aligned herself with Sen. McCain in putting all our eggs in General Musharaf's basket," Craig said. "And she aligned herself with Sen. McCain when they both criticized Barack Obama for taking action against al Qaeda leadership, which has taken safe havens in Pakistan. She aligned herself with Sen. McCain in supporting the Kyl-Lieberman resolution," which many Democrats fear raises the specter of war with Iran.

First: Craig falsely asserted that Hillary aligned herself with McCain and supported General Musharaff. This is incorrect. Hillary actually issued a release calling Musharraf to cancel the state of emergency, and criticized the Bush administration’s failed policies in Pakistan:

Hillary called on General Musharraf to restore Constitution, said Bush Administration's policies had failed. I call on General Musharraf to cancel the state of emergency, restore the Constitution, release arrested opposition leaders, and hold free and fair elections on schedule. The failed policies of the Bush administration are part of the reason we are in this difficult and dangerous position. The policies of this administration have diverted resources and attention from the fight against terrorism on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, while inciting radical elements inside Pakistan. We now find ourselves having to cope with yet another threatening challenge made worse by the failed policies of this President." [Clinton Senate Office press release, 11/5/07]

Hillary criticized Bush Administration for not sending presidential envoy to help in Pakistan and Afghanistan.When asked how to deal with alliances with countries like Pakistan, which is "not a democratic country," Senator Clinton said: "Well, it's a really important question, because we have been supporting Pakistan through President Musharraf now for a number of years. And it is clear that he has not moved toward democracy, but has solidified his rule and become quite anti-democratic, with his removal of the chief justice and many of the other moves that he's taken. At the same time, we depend upon him to try to control the tribal areas out of which come the resurgent Taliban and Al Qaida fighters who cross the border into Afghanistan. Again, this is an area where I think the United States needs to be just focused, like the proverbial laser. [CNN, Manchester Debate, 6/3/07]

Second: Craig distorts Hillary’s criticism of Sen. Obama regarding Al Qaeda. Hillary didn’t criticize Obama for wanting to take action against al Qaeda; she criticized Sen. Obama for recklessly threatening an adversary:

Clinton countered by saying that while U.S. forces might have to pursue action inside Pakistan ‘on the basis of actionable intelligence,’ it was ‘a very big mistake to telegraph that and to destabilize the Musharraf regime, which is fighting for its life against the Islamist extremists who are in bed with al Qaeda and the Taliban.’” [CNN, 8/7/07]

Third: Craig distorts the truth about the Kyl-Lieberman resolution. Hillary aligned herself with Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), a staunch anti-war Bush critic and prominent Obama supporter. Hillary was also one of the earliest and staunchest opponents of Bush’s saber rattling on Iran. She spoke out on the issue back in February, and co-sponsored the Webb bill prohibiting use of funds for military action in Iran without congressional authorization.

Sen. Obama missed the vote Craig is now using to attack Hillary.