Clinton touts presidential plan to defeat Islamic State

Highlighting her foreign policy credentials after recent terror attacks, Democratic frontrunner vows to keep America safe

By JUSTIN JUOZAPAVICIUS 12 December 2015, 5:07 am

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Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks during a campaign event at the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame in Tulsa, Okla., Friday, Dec. 11, 2015. (AP Photo/Brandi Simons)

TULSA, Oklahoma (AP) — Hillary Clinton said Friday her opponents are all talk when it comes to defeating the Islamic State group, and she’s the only presidential candidate with a specific plan.

Speaking in Republican territory, the Democratic presidential candidate and former secretary of state sought to emphasize her foreign policy credentials in the aftermath of a major terrorist attack in Paris and a massacre in California currently under investigation by the FBI as an act of terrorism.

“The others, they talk a lot, they throw out all of these approaches,” Clinton said at a rally in Oklahoma. “But I’ve been in the situation room in the White House and I know what it’s going to take and I will keep America safe.”

Republican candidates have assailed President Barack Obama as being weak on responding to the rise of the Islamic State and are seeking to link the White House to Clinton’s record on foreign policy. Clinton has sought to offer an extensive plan to dismantle the terrorist group from the air, ground and online, and plans to outline her strategy for homeland security next week.

Iraqi security forces take combat positions at the front line with Islamic State fighters as Iraqi Army and allied Sunni volunteer tribal fighters supported by US-led coalition airstrikes tighten the siege of Ramadi, the capital of Iraq's Anbar province, Nov. 30, 2015. (AP Photo/Osama Sami) — Iraqi security forces take combat positions at the front line with Islamic State fighters as Iraqi Army and allied Sunni volunteer tribal fighters supported by US-led coalition airstrikes tighten the siege of Ramadi, the capital of Iraq’s Anbar province, Nov. 30, 2015. (AP Photo/Osama Sami)

Clinton reiterated she would not send American ground troops to the region if elected president, saying it was “not smart” and is what terrorists would want to happen.

Clinton was campaigning in Oklahoma, a safe Republican state in general elections, and among several “Super Tuesday” states holding Democratic primary contests on March 1. The former first lady is the overwhelming front-runner against two rivals for the Democratic nomination.