Washington – Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, a potential Democratic presidential candidate, on Wednesday called for capping the number of U.S. troops in Iraq and linking funds for Iraqi security forces to the government’s control of the violence-plagued nation.
Back from a trip to Iraq and Afghanistan, the New York senator also called for increasing U.S. forces in Afghanistan, arguing more troops are necessary as Taliban forces are waiting to attack when weather permits.
Clinton was quick to seize the spotlight the day after Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., took a major step toward entering the 2008 race. She made a round of appearances on network television and radio and participated in a Capitol Hill news conference.
Clinton said she would offer legislation that would not cut funding to U.S. troops, as some lawmakers want, but would, after a six-month period, cut off money for Iraqi troops.
She said cutting off funds for security forces and private security contractors who guard many Iraqi leaders would show that the U.S. government is serious about imposing “real-world consequences” to failing to reduce the sectarian conflict killing tens of thousands civilians a year.
“I do not support cutting funding for American troops, but I do support cutting funding for Iraqi forces if the Iraqi government does not meet set conditions,” Clinton said, appearing at a news conference with the two lawmakers who traveled with her to Iraq and Afghanistan, Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., and Rep. John McHugh, R-N.Y.
Clinton said the Bush administration has failed to put any real pressure on Iraqi leaders as the president is escalating the U.S. commitment there by sending 21,500 more troops.
“I think we will eventually have to move to tougher requirements on the administration to get their attention,” she said.
