October 25, 2008. “In this anxious autumn for America, one fact looms above all others,” began Hillary Clinton. The audience of supporters stilled at her measured tone. With the polls tied in the pounding contest for the presidency, the Clinton campaign presented this foreign policy speech as the pinnacle of the candidate’s pledges.

“One tragedy challenges all men dedicated to the work of peace. One word shouts denial to those who foolishly pretend that ours is not a nation at war.

“This fact, this tragedy, this word is: [Iraq].

“A small country, [Iraq], has been the battleground for the costliest foreign war our country has fought, excepting the two world wars [and Vietnam]. … It has been another historic field of honor for the valor and skill and tenacity of American soldiers.

“All these things it has been – and yet one more thing. It has been a symbol — a telling symbol — of the foreign policy of our nation.

“It has been a sign — a warning sign — of the way the Administration has conducted our world affairs.

“It has been a measure — a damning measure — of the quality of leadership we have been given.

“Tonight I am going to talk about our foreign policy and of its supreme symbol: the [Iraq] war. I am not going to give you elaborate generalizations — but hard, tough facts. I am going to state the unvarnished truth. …”*

Mrs. Clinton reviewed the facts of the occupation of Iraq, beginning with the inconclusive United Nations Security Council resolutions of 2002 and including the military efforts in 2006 and 2007 to bolster the poor record of the Iraqis to secure and govern themselves.

Mrs. Clinton was scrupulous in praising the valor of the American soldiers, who, she said, had honorably answered the appeal of their country throughout the tragedy.

“Now — in this anxious autumn — from these heroic men there comes an answering appeal. It is no whine, no whimpering plea. It is a question that addresses itself to simple reason. It asks: Where do we go from here? When comes the end? Is there an end?

“These questions touch all of us. They demand truthful answers. Neither glib promises nor glib excuses will serve. These would be no better than the glib prophecies that brought us to this pass.

“To these questions there are two false answers — both equally false. The first would be any answer that dishonestly pledged an end to war in [Iraq] by any imminent, exact date. Such a pledge would brand its speaker as a deceiver.

“The second and equally false answer declares that nothing can be done to speed a secure peace. It dares to tell us that we, the strongest nation in the history of freedom, can only wait and wait and wait. Such a statement brands its speaker as a defeatist.

“My answer — candid and complete — is this:

“The first task of a new Administration will be to review and re-examine every course of action open to us with one goal in view: To bring the [Iraq] war to an early and honorable end. This is my pledge to the American people. …”*

Mrs. Clinton also pledged that she would travel again to the region. “I shall go to [Iraq],” to learn how “to serve the American people in the cause of peace.” The candidate also pledged to work with the “cooperating members of the United Nations.” Mrs. Clinton’s fourth pledge was that the new administration would acknowledge the lesson that, “To vacillate, to appease, to placate is only to invite war — a vaster, bloodier war.”*

Interrupted repeatedly by spirited applause, Mrs. Clinton continued her remarks somberly, “For a democracy, a great election, such as this, signifies a most solemn trial. It is the time when — to the bewilderment of all tyrants — the people sit in judgment upon the leaders. …

“In the great trial of this election, the judges — the people — must not be deceived into believing that the choice is between isolationism and internationalism. That is a debate of the dead past. …

“Today the choice — the real choice — lies between policies that assume that responsibility awkwardly and fearfully, and policies that accept that responsibility with sure purpose and firm will. The choice is between foresight and blindness, between doing and apologizing, between planning and improvising. …

“In rendering their verdict, the people must judge with courage and with wisdom. For — at this date — any faltering in America’s leadership is a capital offense against freedom. …”*

Mrs. Clinton did not use the word “crusade,” though it was in her level eyes, when she closed quietly.

* Credit to Emmet Hughes, author of Dwight Eisenhower’s “I shall go to Korea” speech, October 25, 1952, abridged above in quotes with the proper ellipses and with the only substitutions in brackets.

Mr. Batchelor is host of “The John Batchelor Show,” now on hiatus.