Clinton Maps Approach to Iraq, Afghanistan at Confirmation Hearing

WASHINGTON --- The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will be top priorities for President-elect Barack Obamas administration, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, Obamas nominee to be secretary of state, told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee at her confirmation hearing here yesterday.> The president-elect is committed to ending the war in Iraq responsibly and expanding the nations strategy in Afghanistan, Clinton said.>> In Iraq, the withdrawal is being worked on within the context of the status-of-forces agreement that the U.S. and Iraqi governments created together and which took effect Jan. 1, she said. The two governments also signed a companion document an agreement of friendship and cooperation that includes several areas the State Department will be working on, such as rule of law, education, health care, and technical assistance for the energy industry, she said.>> It is my intention that we will very quickly, in consultation with the Iraqi government and other agencies within our own government, put together the teams and activities that we will be offering that will support the withdrawal of our troops, and also fulfill the agreement that we have with the government of Iraq, Clinton said.>> In Afghanistan, the new administration plans to conduct a comprehensive review of both the military and civilian policy, she said, noting that Obama believes that if the United States commits more troops and resources, NATO also needs to provide more support.>> Clinton said that if confirmed, she would look at Afghanistan and Pakistan together, and would try to persuade the two countries to work together to protect their own security.