The first sparks to fly at today's Des Moines debate were on Iran. NPR's moderator Steve Inskeep asked Clinton if she regretted voting for a resolution labeling the Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization -- which cited Iran's potential weapons of mass destruction capability. Yesterday's National Intel Estimate found that the regime had stopped working on those weapons several years ago.
Clinton didn't give a direct answer but cited interviews where John Edwards advocated a "surgical strike" if Iran threatened Israel and a quote from Barack Obama saying he'd consider military action.
"It’s a little bit misleading," Obama shot back, "I was asked if iran was developing nuclear weapons, how could we respond."
Edwards and Obama continued to describe the vote as a rush to war; Clinton said it has already resulted in a reduction of Iranian intervention in Iraq.
Glenn Thrush