Sen. Hillary Clinton recently jibed that she is the better candidate to deal with Usama Bin Ladin considering her experience with bad and evil men. How true, how true. She thinks that she can make them behave. My unreliable source says that Bill Clinton was at McDonald’s devouring a big Mac after a short jog when he heard the quote on the radio and he almost choked. We already know what Hillary did to the bad boy she knows best. By that measure, Usama need not worry. He will get a pardon too.

*** On the Iraq war, she declares that if Pres. G. W. Bush does not withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq during his term, “I will bring them home as soon as I can possibly can.”

Leading Democrats, including majority leader Sen. Harry Reid and Sen. Barbara Boxer say that the mission of the U.S. troops should change to training Iraqi security forces, protecting American personnel and fighting Al Qaeda. It does not look like it is much different from what the US troops are now doing in Iraq, except that they also build schools and public works. And if you want American forces to go after Al Qaeda in Iraq, shouldn’t we provide them with all equipment and personnel they believe would be necessary to effectively carry out their mission? Do politicians know more than military officers about troop strength needed to fight a war? This “bring them home” rhetoric appeals to Cindy Sheehan and her fellow marchers. But it is vaguely crafted that you can’t rely on it any more than you could rely on the “red my lips” promise of the elder Pres. Bush on taxes. The reality is that America is at war against people who want our destruction. We went into Afghanistan to go after Al Qaeda. They are now fighting Americans in Iraq. If it is in our best interest to defeat Al Qaeda, why should we retreat from the battlefield that they have chosen to make a stand?

The troop strength may change in Iraq as military commanders adapt to the situations in the ground, but it is unlikely that any president from either party will bring home all the troops from Iraq when America’s sworn enemies are trying to make a safe haven there. The war against America was declared by the terrorists before America went after Saddam. Any responsible president cannot just yield to the slogans in the streets and ignore the real threats to American security.

America of course cannot be Iraq’s policeman forever. The Iraqis must not squander the opportunity to seize control of their destiny if they are to deserve continuing American support.

***

As First Lady in the Clinton administration, Mrs. Clinton was charged with formulating a health care plan for America. Her initiative however was soundly rejected by Congress. Now as presidential candidate, she is promising health care coverage for all. I believe Fidel Castro when he mandates free health care for all Cubans. I worry however when I hear Sen. Clinton making this promise.

There are probably millions of Americans going to bed and waking up without health insurance coverage. If you calculate the cost of providing health insurance of these millions of uninsured even at a discounted rate, your hand calculator may not have the power to compute. It will surely be in the billions of dollars. Guess who is going to pay for it?. The government is not just going to print money to cover the cost. All of us hard working and tax paying citizens will be forced to eke out more dollars so that the strangers you meet on the streets can go to bed and wake up with health insurance. With the future of Social Security solvency in doubt and Medicare saddled with the heavy burden of providing prescription benefits, can we afford another gigantic budget buster? Charity and fiscal prudence are not synonymous.