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Re: A Few Thoughts on Trump's ISIS Comment - For What They Are Worth

From:lrosenberger@hillaryclinton.com To: Jeff.Bialos@sutherland.com CC: john.podesta@gmail.com, johnpodesta@hillaryclinton.com Date: 2016-01-03 20:18 Subject: Re: A Few Thoughts on Trump's ISIS Comment - For What They Are Worth

Thanks very much Jeff, and happy new year. Agree we need to effectively combat this narrative (which others have tried to pedal and I'm quite sure will continue to surface). We've been doing a bit of a combo of 2, 3 and 4 (but for the reasons you note a very light version of 3 that is focused on her foresight, and on SOFA Obama also supported renewing it so less of a distinction) and appreciate voices like yours helping to press the case as well. My best, Laura On Sun, Jan 3, 2016 at 3:25 PM, Bialos, Jeff <Jeff.Bialos@sutherland.com> wrote: > Greetings and Happy New Year: > > > > I read with interest and some concern Trump’s latest > assertion – namely, that the policies of President Obama and Hillary > “created ISIS.” This appears to be part of a concerted recent effort to > tag Hillary with something that sticks – along the lines of his successful > assertion that Bush was “low energy,” which resonated because it appeared > to have some degree of merit. > > > > While I’m sure you are all on top of this, I thought to mention a few > points for what they are worth. While on one level Trump’s assertion is > somewhat silly and superficial, on another its potentially clever because > it could possibly lead to a new spate of articles on how ISIS came to be > and the US role in it. Frankly, it also may resonate somewhat as well > (especially with respect to Obama) because of the widely shared perception, > rightly or wrongly, that the Obama Administration was slow to address ISIS > and that its resulting strategy is limited in nature and ineffectual > (witness terrorist incidents in Europe and the United States). > > > > I guess there are at least several options for inoculating Hillary on this > theme (and its admittedly a matter of politics as well as policy): > > > > 1. Treat it lightly (almost as a joke – “you’ve got to be kidding me > – did she create [x] too?”) and dismiss it as silly or largely ignore it; > > > > 2. Note that the Arab spring and civil war in Syria largely created > the environment in which ISIS could emerge, not US policy. > > > > 3. Draw distinctions between Hillary and Obama, noting her support > for continuing the Status of Forces Agreement in Iraq and the decision to > arm the Syrian rebels several years ago (which Obama rejected and which > arguably did play a role in causing ISIS). (This has been highlighted > effectively in the past). > > > > 4. Respond by highlighting Hillary’s more robust anti-ISIS and > anti-terrorist policies she recently laid out. > > > > I guess I’d vote for some combination of 1, 2 and 4. While “less” is > generally “more” in these things, I don’t see how you can let this go > entirely as it can have some legs. While there may be a time for the > third point, I worry its too defensive and gets into a more complex > discussion more useful for policy wonks than the general public. > > > > Best Regards, > > > > JPB > > Jeff Bialos | Partner > > Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP > 700 Sixth Street, NW, Suite 700 | Washington, DC 20001-3980 > 202.383.0363 direct | 202.637.3593 facsimile > jeff.bialos@sutherland.com | www.sutherland.com > Biography <http://www.sutherland.com/People/Jeffrey-P-Bialos> | Download > vCard > <http://www.sutherland.com/webportal/perform.v?obj=ve_oid:poid:Z1tOl9NPl0LPoDtRkf3DsSZC&action=vCard> > > > > * This e-mail message is intended only for the personal use of the > recipient(s) named above. This message may be an attorney-client > communication and as such privileged and confidential. If you are not an > intended recipient, you may not review, copy, or distribute this message. > If you have received this communication in error, please notify us > immediately by e-mail and delete the original message. * >