Hillary Clinton says Iraq war vote 'biggest political regret'

Hillary Clinton says Iraq war vote 'biggest political regret'
Hillary Clinton has expressed regret for voting for the 2003 invasion of Iraq during a recent TV interview, and wishes that things had turned out differently in the country.
2 min read
22 April, 2016
Clinton apologised for her vote to invade Iraq in her 2014 memoir “Hard Choices” [Getty]
Democratic presidential forerunner Hillary Clinton has voiced regret for voting in favour of the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq during a TV interview.

The Democratic Party presidential candidate told viewers on ABC News' Good Morning America that the invasion of Iraq - which resulted in a bloody civil war which continues to this day - was her biggest political regret.

After more than a decade of fighting in Iraq which has left hundreds of thousands dead, Clinton says she wishes things turned out differently in the country.

"It did not turn out the way I thought it would based on what he had said, and I regret that. I've said it was a mistake and it's something I wish hadn't turned out the way it did."


Clinton was responding to a question by an audience member who was leaning towards voting for her rival, Bernie Sanders.

The admission was a stark departure from her stance when she was running for the Democratic nomination eight years ago against President Obama. 

Clinton had apologized for her vote to invade Iraq in her 2014 memoir Hard Choices.

During the publicity tour she explained her initial stance saying that although for her "personally" it was a mistake, she knew how important for the troops who served in Iraq and the families of those who lost their lives in the war to feel supported. 

Sanders has repeatedly criticised Clinton's voting record, questioning the ability of someone who voted for a war  - viewed as the country's biggest foreign policy blunder - to lead a country.

The former secretary of state is also viewed as a "hawk" on foreign policy, but following extremist attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, California, Americans are becoming increasingly alarmed about a major attack on US soil.

This is leading to believe US intervention overseas might be necessary to protect American lives at home.

In a recent interview with The New York Times, one of Clinton's top advisors, Jack Sullivan, said that Clinton's election strategy was twofold.

On the one had she will tell voters she has a clear plan to deal with the threat of Islamic terrorism, while exposing the lack of foreign policy and national security experience of her Republican opponents.