MyDD :: Edwards addressed Iraq and Blackwater aka private security forces in Portsmouth NH

Edwards addressed Iraq and Blackwater aka private security forces in Portsmouth NH

by merbex, Wed Oct 03, 2007 at 08:53:08 PM EST

I attended the John Edwards Portsmouth NH Iraq forum ( I liveblogged the forum for the blog BelowBoston.com) in which he discussed the Iraq war, and Blackwater and his policy for dealing with private security forces in Iraq and elsewhere.

What made this forum with Edwards unusual is that he read from notes when he was discussing Blackwater/private security forces because he laid out a specific plan in how he as President would deal with entities such as Blackwater. I have attended a number of Edwards events in NH and this is the first tiime I have ever seen him read from prepared remarks( albeit they were short and to the point). It certainly lent a serious air to the event because that in and of itself is not typical with how he engages voters in NH.

We took video of his remarks which I have on the flip

The video below is the opening remark - references to Blackwater is in the successive videos ; the first video is notable for how he directly, calling Hillary Clinton by name a number of times, (unlike Obama yesterday) made a clear distinction between his postion and hers with regard to combat troops and how many he and she will leave in Iraq.

Saying

"Senator Clinton seems to want to have a debate about how much war we want to have"

and

We can't be just a little different from the Republicans we need to give voters a clear choice"

There are a lot of noteworthy quotes in the first video.

You can watch all three videos at BelowBoston.com or follow the links below straight to youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeuutsPLe 6Y
The second and third videos are when he begins to read from notes. There are serious policy goals laid out here and worth watching and listening to.

Calling Blackwater/private security forces "doing an end run around our military" and saying that this must stop he explained that the all volunteer army was established primarily to prevent unpopular wars from dragging on ( my words) and that these private contractors are circumventing the spirit of the volunteer army's purpose; these are compelling arguments and statements by a candidate who has consistently been on the cutting edge of bringing issues to the forefront and to the public's attention. In my estimation Edwards really has been the candidate to drive the debate and the topics that are being discussed on the campaign trail.

I think his plan for dealing with this issue is worthy of discussion and with I extend my thanks to Jeremy Scahill for writing the book about Blackwater which has done so much for bringing this issue to light.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAg6Q8QjM no

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhFv8V8ui TI

He got serious questions from the audience and I have to look over my notes - I'll add any thoughts in the comment section if I have difficulty updating the diary.

Tags: John Edwards, Iraq, Blackwater, Hillary Clinton, volunteer army (all tags)

Permalink :: 11 Comments :: Post a Comment

Re: Edwards addressed Iraq and Blackwater (2.00 / 4)

Great report. Thanks!

by TomP on Wed Oct 03, 2007 at 09:10:56 PM EST

Very impressive diary, (2.00 / 4)

Good job!

The bold progressive leader is the most electable candidate. Reclaim the Democratic Party! Support John Edwards.

by Michael 4 Edwards on Wed Oct 03, 2007 at 09:39:24 PM EST

Always nice to see a first hand report (2.00 / 2)

Thanks for sharing it with us!

Stop blaming the media. The FACTS have a liberal bias.

by McSnatherson on Wed Oct 03, 2007 at 11:38:46 PM EST

Re: Edwards addressed Iraq and Blackwater (2.00 / 2)

He also was on Keith Olbermann discussing Blackwater. It was a great video and should be added to this DD if you can! He spoke on the difference of war between HRC and himself. This needs to be repeated often.

Thanks for the diary.

by searchforsolidarity on Thu Oct 04, 2007 at 12:12:38 AM EST

Good coverage on a relevant topic (2.00 / 2)

Having a plan is better than no plan...

Waiting for the Glorious Train Wreck.

by Rooktoven on Thu Oct 04, 2007 at 12:15:05 AM EST

thanks so much merbex! (2.00 / 1)

Always appreciate these first hand reports.

Hillary/Obama08

by annefrank on Thu Oct 04, 2007 at 12:59:21 AM EST

Usually when I have seen John Edwards in NH this (2.00 / 1)

past summer he is dressed in jeans and his shirt sleeves are rolled up; he speaks extemporaneously without notes and varies his stump speech enough that when a listener( or a blogger like me) returns to hear him after a few weeks the words are just different enough from the other appearnce that they sound fresh and new although the themes are the same.

I had never seen him in a suit when he is engaging voters and yesterday he was wearing one, definitely making me realize how serious this statement would be- he spoke about Blackwater using a written statement which is unusual and he emphasized that what he was about to read was "new policy for him".

I was particularly struck at his explanation about one of the reasons for establishing a volunteer army - so that the very thing that we find ourselves in - a quagmire( my words) would not occurr and that the use of private security contractors is a "way to end run around the military" and the true intent of the volunteer army.

I thought he framed that beautifully.

Then his concise 5 point plan for how he would deal with private security contractors enabled him to start talking about accountability, cronyism etc.

I thought his opening remarks and short use of written remarks was extremely effective and then he still managed to take questions!

I love NH audiences because they ask good questions and this audience even stayed on topic ( albeit oil and Middle East, wasn't exclusively Iraq and Blackwater but all the questions were good)

Very strong appearance by John Edwards about a serious topic.

by merbex on Thu Oct 04, 2007 at 08:15:11 AM EST

Re: Usually when I have seen John Edwards in NH th (none / 0)

Agree. Edwards stock went up with me after that one. I don't have a candidate yet. But I must admit that his statement on Blackwater and Obama's on a nuclear freeze were encouraging.

Born Questioning

by KathyinBlacksburg on Thu Oct 04, 2007 at 11:29:38 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Edwards addressed Iraq and Blackwater aka priv (2.00 / 1)

Excellent diary!

by DoIT on Thu Oct 04, 2007 at 09:28:12 AM EST

I've had a couple of days to continue to think (none / 0)

about the significance of his Iraq and Blackwater remarks and I struck by the flexibility of the Edwards campaign.

They captured the news cycle.

The House oversight Committee is having hearings on Blackwater and Edwards statement on what he would do about private security contractors extended the news cycle about an important matter all Americans should be aware of and more importantly for his campaign he got coverage.

I wrote in my live blog that it was the most MSM i had seen at an Edwards NH event( at least since his initial foray into NH last Dec anyway). That's key.

The other campaigns are either so filled with consultants who probably need 6 round table discussions to come up with a similar plan to deal with private contractors or they are too inept to seize the moment to put their thoughts on the line about a serious issue of the day.

Coming out with that statement about private security contractors while the news cycle was already focused on that subject was comparable to stealing second base without sliding - and the opposing team was his competitors for the nomination.

Edwards and his campaign are agile and flexible and that he happens to be right on issues and leads on issues is not a fluke - he's steals the bases all the time against them.

by merbex on Fri Oct 05, 2007 at 09:23:18 AM EST

Re: I've had a couple of days to continue to think (none / 0)

I love your description of the Edwards campaign. And I agree.

Edwards and his campaign are agile and flexible and that he happens to be right on issues and leads on issues is not a fluke - he's steals the bases all the time against them.

He is getting better and better.

I am an Edwards Democrat. Visit EENR blog for Progressives

by pioneer111 on Fri Oct 05, 2007 at 01:05:34 PM EST
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