Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, locked in a fierce contest for Democratic presidential nomination, have asserted that they would stand by their commitment to begin removing combat troops from Iraq shortly after election and try to build a wider security alliance in the region.

Facing off in a debate, which at times turned bitter, Obama said his policy would also take into account the rising al-Qaeda actives in Pakistan and Afghanistan while pulling troops off Iraq.

But Clinton was more cautious in the reply, stressing that while her decision to pull off troops is firm, she would listen to the advice of field commanders on the tactics of withdrawing the soldiers and equipment which is complicated logistically.

She would ask the commanders to give a timetable within 60 days on the withdrawal.

Replying to a question, she said president as commander-in-chief makes the policy decision which the armed forces carry out as they had done admirably in Iraq despite the decision being "wrong".

But it is for the commanders to decide the strategy to use and for that the president has to listen to them.

In a debate hosted by ABC television network last night, the two  firmly said they would stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and talked of building a wider alliance of nations in the Middle East to achieve that aim. Clinton also spoke about giving a security umbrella so that others in the region do not think in terms of making atomic bombs.

Asked how would they respond if Iran were to attack Israel, Clinton said such an action on the part of Tehran would "trigger a massive retaliation".

Obama only said that it would be an attack on "our strongest ally in the region" but did not specify what action would he take he were to become the president.

On Iraq, they agreed that they could not be sure of the consequences if the troops were withdrawn but questioned how long the American forces could continue to fight in Iraq.

Iraqis would know that they do not have a "blank cheque", Clinton said.

In sharp criticism of Bush's policies, they said they would try to work diplomatically to achieve the aims in the Middle East. While Obama was for talks with all, Clinton was clear that she would not talk with Iranian leadership before groundwork has been done and hinted that she would favour starting dialogue at lower diplomatic level.

Source : PTI