Clinton: ‘I view force as a last resort’

Hillary Clinton told a room full of veterans that her vote in favor of the Iraq War was a mistake and that she will engage in military interventions going forward only when there are no other options.

“I view force as a last resort, not a first choice,” the Democratic presidential nominee said Wednesday night at military-focused forum in New York City.

{mosads}“I’ll do everything in my power to ensure our men and women are prepared for any challenge, but I’ll also be as careful as I can in making the most significant decisions … about sending men and women into harm’s way.”

Clinton was responding to a question from a self-described liberal veteran who expressed uneasiness with the former senator’s record of “hawkish” foreign policy.

The vote Clinton cast for the Iraq War in 2002 continues to hang over her with progressives, and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has sought to use it against her.

Clinton earlier on Wednesday noted that Trump voiced support for the Iraq War during an interview with Howard Stern.

The former secretary of State was also seen as a hawkish voice in the Obama administration, where she advocated for force in Libya.

But Clinton said she would be cautious in sending troops overseas as president.

“We are not putting ground troops into Iraq ever again,” Clinton said.

She also said ground troops would not be put into Syria to fight the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

Several dozen service members in the room raised their hands when anchor Matt Lauer asked who had served in the Iraq War, but Clinton continued on, making the case that the U.S. should not have invaded the country.

“I have said that my voting to give President Bush that authority was from my perspective a mistake,” Clinton said. “I also believe that it is imperative that we learn from the mistakes … we must learn what led us down that path so it never happens again. I’m in the best possible position to understand and prevent it. I’m asking to be judged on the totality of my record.”

Clinton also defended the decision to invade Libya to protect citizens there from murderous dictator Moammar Gadhafi. Clinton was secretary of State at the time and was critical in shaping the U.S. offensive there.

“We were able to save lives, we did not lose a single American in that action,” Clinton said in defense of that action.

She also hit Trump, saying that he supported both military interventions, even if he denies it now.