What Kerry Won't Tell Americans

[Larkspur]

http://www.commondreams.org/views04/0922-06.htm

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To describe what he would do in Iraq if he becomes president, Kerry put forward a vague, four-point program. ... Kerry said he would immediately call together the America's allies to mobilize them to help out in Iraq. But, as an example, would Canada actually get directly involved there, even if the U.S. president were Kerry, and a Democrat with whom Canadians tend to feel comfortable, rather than Bush? To ask that question is to answer it.
<snip>

Kerry's policy... is ... the worst option of all. ... He would start withdrawing troops next year and bring them all out in four years, or by the end of his first term.

During the Vietnam War, public opinion turned against the conflict once Americans realized they were sacrificing their lives in a futile mission.

This time, although far less confidently than at its start, public opinion still supports the war in Iraq. The reason is that Americans remain convinced that cost of a withdrawal would be an increase in attacks upon them in their own homeland.

Until that attitude changes, Kerry cannot tell his voters the truth — that they've lost the war and the sooner they turn their backs on it the better.
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[Trajan]

1. This is not an accurate rendering of Kerry's policy ....

He would pull troops out AFTER he gains the support of recalcitrant allies and muslim states in the region ..... He intends to RE-internationalize the issue ..... lets face it: the status of Iraq is an international problem, and with the Bushist Neocons out of the way, the problem can be approached as it should have been from the start ...

[Larkspur]

3. Internationalizing the Iraqi mess sounds nice, but

what if the Iraqi people say "Butt out!" And other countries don't want to sacrifice their children to Moloch, the god of oil and the military-industrial complex.

What Kerry's international plan is really about is re-invading Iraq with a multi-national force. No where have I seen Kerry willing to deal with Iraq's natural leaders, like Sistani. Most Iraqi's hate Americans and the American puppets -- Iraq's exiles -- and they would extend that to other nations, in fact they have. Iraqis are very nationalistic. They did kick the Brits out last century, so why would they welcome an international force that will prop up the puppets Bush has installed?

[Village Idiot]

2. I can see Canada involved in Iraq

only as part of a greater UN or NATO mandate...

This being said, if Kerry seeks approval from the UN or NATO, or says that he will do so publicly, I think the polls would tip in his favour. I really don't think that most Americans are content to have the US "go it alone" in light of recent failures and the overall cost...