Correct me if I'm wrong (as I suspect many will) -- but in tonight's MSNBC Democratic Forum, it was the first time, I've heard Hillary Clinton, actually using Bernie Sanders' signature line, "that war should be the last resort" after all diplomacy has failed. Without so much as a 'Hat/Tip', for the quote ...
Clinton on being considered 'hawkish'
The Rachel Maddow Show -- 11/6/15 -- with Video
Hillary Clinton explains her views on military action, saying it's "irresponsible" to entirely rule out using force, but that force should "always be a last resort, not the first choice."Hillary Clinton Transcript:
I want us to use Diplomacy -- which is why I spent 18 months putting together the sanctions against Iran, so that we could force them to the negotiating table, to try and prevent them from getting a nuclear weapon. And end the talk of bombing them, and going into war against them. But instead using Diplomacy. So that is how I will approach these issues. However, I will not -- I think it is irresponsible to rule out force. I just will not do that. But it should always be the last resort, not the first choice.
Funny, in that first Democratic Debate, Senator Sanders 'famously' was the only one to use the phrase "last resort" in context of American on-going global conflicts (and roundly criticized for it, by the pundits):
SANDERS: I am not a pacifist, Anderson. I supported the war in Afghanistan. I supported President Clinton's effort to deal with ethnic cleansing in Kosovo. I support air strikes in Syria and what the president is trying to do.Yes, I happen to believe from the bottom of my heart that war should be the last resortthat we have got to exercise diplomacy. But yes, I am prepared to take this country into war if that is necessary.
A quick read of the Secretary of State's campaign issue page however -- shows that it is long on leveraging America's 'Military Might' -- and rather short on the 'Diplomatic Options' route ...
Issues: National security -- hillaryclinton.com
[...]
Defending America and our core values is one of the cornerstones of Hillary’s campaign. When America leads with principle and purpose, other people and governments are eager to join us. Hillary’s framework of American leadership includes:•Establishing a strong foundation. Our economy provides the foundation for our leadership, our diplomatic influence, and our military might. We succeed when we invest in our people, our infrastructure, and our technological edge. As secretary of state, Hillary went to bat for American companies and workers around the world, helping open markets and boost exports that created jobs back home.
•Keeping our homeland secure. As secretary of state, Hillary expanded global anti-terrorism cooperation and helped step up our efforts to go after terrorist recruitment, propaganda, and safe havens. As president, she’ll keep America safe and strong, while upholding our core values and principles.
•Making sure that our military is on the cutting edge. [...]
Hillary understands the importance of leading for the long term. We can’t stop the world from changing, but we can help to shape those changes. If America is smart, our advantages position us to meet new challenges and emerge safer and more prosperous. Smart, long-term leadership means:•Never allowing Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon. America and our allies, especially Israel, will be safer if we vigorously enforce the nuclear agreement with Iran and implement a broader strategy to confront Iran’s bad behavior in the region.
•Defeating ISIS. ISIS and the foreign terrorist fighters it recruits pose a serious threat to America and our allies. We will confront and defeat them in a way that builds greater stability across the region, without miring our troops in another misguided ground war. Hillary will empower our partners to defeat terrorism and the ideologies that drive it, including through our ongoing partnership to build Iraqi military and governing capacity, our commitment to Afghanistan’s democracy and security, and by supporting efforts to restore stability to Libya and Yemen.
•Holding China accountable. [...]
•Standing up to Putin. [...]
That "War is a Last Resort" line is nowhere to be found there, on Clinton's offically-stated positions page.
Check back in a few days, and this newest "me too" line, will probably be quietly tucked in there somewhere. And all will be right in the electioneering world, again.