Clinton: Trump 'totally unqualified'

In a rare news conference, Hillary Clinton on Thursday rebutted remarks made by her Republican opponent at a forum the night before. Before flying off to a campaign event, the former secretary of state offered her usual policy proposals for foreign affairs and the fight against terror, and then she also made an impassioned plea to voters to reject Donald Trump, a flamboyant billionaire who beat out 16 rivals, generally regarded as more politically seasoned, to win the Republican nomination.

"The Republicans are just in a terrible dilemma trying to support a totally unqualified nominee," said Clinton. "I have no sympathy for them: He's their nominee."

Questions for Republicans

At Wednesday's forum, the two major presidential candidates each received 30 minutes on stage to answer questions submitted by an audience of military veterans. Unchallenged by moderator Matt Lauer, Trump contradicted statements he had made in the past and repeated his praise for Russian President Vladimir Putin: "a leader - far more than our president has been a leader."

"Every Republican holding or seeking office in this country should be asked if they agree with Donald Trump about these statements," Clinton said, referring to Trump's praise of Putin.

Clinton argued that Trump was not qualified to be commander in chief and has been supported by a group of Republican national security experts who have chosen to back her rather than their own party's candidate.

US President Barack Obama said the property developer proved himself unfit for the job "every time he speaks." Obama added: "The most important thing for the public and the press is to just listen to what he says and ask questions to what appear to be either contradictory or uninformed or outright wacky ideas."

'I would never'

On Thursday, Clinton also chastised Trump for using security briefings given to presidential candidates as campaign material.

"I would never comment on any aspect of an intelligence briefing I received," she said.

Trump has dismissed Clinton's endorsements from military officials, saying US brass had been "reduced to rubble" under Obama, and added that the briefings "shocked" him: "Our leadership, Barack Obama, did not follow what our experts … said to do."

On security, Clinton said she would focus on finding "Islamic State" leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

"Getting al-Baghdadi will require efforts at the top levels, but it will send a resounding message that nobody directs or inspires attacks against the United States and gets away with it," she said on Thursday.

"Unhinged and dishonest"

Facing Senator Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primaries, Clinton received repeated criticism for her Senate vote to allow President George W. Bush's 2003 invasion of Iraq, which many blame for contributing to instability in the Middle East and the Islamic State's rise.

Trump has said he did not support that invasion, but audio has since emerged of him answering radio shock jock Howard Stern "I guess so" after being asked if he was in favor of attacking Iraq.

Trump's campaign said Clinton resorted to "unhinged and dishonest" attacks in her comments to reporters on Thursday.

"These are the desperate attacks of a flailing campaign sinking in the polls, and characteristics of someone woefully unfit for the presidency of the United States," Jason Miller, senior communications adviser for Trump, said in a statement.

The tycoon, who has seen four of his companies file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, has never held elected office.

mkg/sms (Reuters, AFP, AP)