5 Quotes to Explain Hillary Clinton's, Donald Trump's Plans as Commander-in-Chief
Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump had 30 minutes apiece Wednesday night to demonstrate to the American people how the rhetoric they've espoused in recent days focusing on national security would actually materialize into decisions as a commander-in-chief.
Each took to the stage and faced questions from Matt Lauer, co-host of the "Today" show on NBC, which hosted the event along with MSNBC and the veterans advocacy group the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.
Neither had the time to provide any sort of in-depth response to the rapid-fire questioning, but here are a few key quotations from the two candidates that offered a glimpse into what a Situation Room meeting would be like.
Hillary Clinton:
On the most important characteristic for a commander-in-chief:
"Steadiness."
Clinton did not have to think before providing an answer, immediately supplementing it with, "mixed with strength." She cited her actual experience as secretary of state helping President Barack Obama decide to launch the raid that would kill Osama bin Laden.
On her Senate vote in favor of the Iraq War:
"We must learn what led us down that path so it never happens again. I think I am in the best possible position to understand that and prevent it."
Clinton used this answer as part of her defense against criticism she actually possesses a hawkish foreign policy, having also supported Obama's intervention into Libya in 2011. She added that "there is no difference between my opponent and myself" in their support for the Libya campaign.
On whether Iran is 'playing us':
"In the nuclear issue, no."
Clinton said her contributions to the Iran nuclear negotiations as the nation's chief diplomat have created a safer Middle East. But she expressed concern with "all the other malicious activity of the Iranians," including their experimentation with ballistic missiles and support for terrorist groups like Lebanon's Hezbollah or the Palestinian group Hamas. She did not reference the recent incursions between elements of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps' navy and U.S. ships in the Persian Gulf.
On accusations Clinton doesn't believe there are fundamental flaws at the VA:
"I will not let the VA be privatized ... and I do believe there is an agenda out there, supported by my opponent, to do just that."
Clinton went on to say there must be a "better fit" for those forced to leave military service who then enter the Veterans Affairs care system.
On deploying troops abroad:
"We are not going to put ground troops into Iraq ever again."
This was one of the boldest and most specific statements of the evening. Clinton did not mention the roughly 5,000 U.S. forces in Iraq and 300 in Syria which Obama has deployed, after first making similar claims, and later explaining his promises to avoid sending troops to war were not at the same scale of his predecessor, George W. Bush.
Donald Trump:
On his experience that prepares him to be commander-in-chief:
"I've built a great company, I've been all over the world. I've dealt with foreign countries. I've done tremendously well."
Trump went on to tout his own "great judgment" due to the fact that he has "called so many of the shots."
On what happens after defeating the Islamic State group:
"Take the oil."
Trump explained that "a certain group" of troops would stay behind and protect U.S. specialists to extract Iraq's oil supplies. U.S. News has previously reported on the illegality and danger of a mission to extract Iraq's oil for U.S. use.
On proving he has a plan to defeat the Islamic State group:
"When I do come up with a plan that I like, and perhaps agrees with mine, or maybe doesn't -- I might love what the generals come up with."
Trump has previously criticized the top officers who advise Obama as leashed by political correctness. When pressed on how he would differentiate between their advice and his own goals for defeating the Islamic State group, Trump said, "there'll probably be different generals." He repeatedly cited the 88 generals and admirals -- largely from the Cold War era and 1990s -- who formally endorsed him this week.
On embracing Russian President Vladimir Putin's support of him:
"He does have an 82 percent approval rating."
When questioned about the virtue of receiving support from the former KGB officer who orchestrated the annexation of Crimea, the invasion of Ukraine and is the main suspect behind the hack of the Democratic National Committee, Trump said, 'When he calls me brilliant, I'll take the compliment."
On the kind of preparation required to become commander-in-chief:
"I think I have a common sense on a lot of the things we're talking about."
This served as Trump's concluding point after citing the four generals in attendance that night, including his key adviser, former Army Lt. Gen. Mike Flynn, as well as the 88 generals and admirals who endorsed him this week. When pressed about how he would make the decision to put U.S. troops in harm's way, he said, "My theme is to make America great again. We're going to make America great again," adding, "we also have to make America strong again. And right now we are not strong. Believe me."
Paul D. Shinkman is a national security reporter for U.S. News & World Report. You can follow him on Twitter or reach him at pshinkman@usnews.com
