Reply #7: Kerry's Plan Makes Sense...

[Native]

During a phone interview with Kerry on the Imus in the Morning show around the time Kerry was running for the democratic nomination, Imus asked Kerry why he was so sure he could get the international community to help out in Iraq when Bush wasn't able to do so. Kerry reminded Imus that Bush, prior to asking for support, made it publicly known that France, Germany, etc... would not be able to bid for any of the reconstruction efforts. Kerry said something along these lines, "how can one expect these countries to send in troops to risk their lives when they won't be getting any monetary incentive or recompense - not to mention the fact that cutting them out from any possibility of making any money on the reconstruction efforts totally alienated them." He then said that he would open up the bidding process to all countries helping out. He also asked Imus if he really thought that the European countries wouldn't do anything about Iraq if the U.S. pulled out. And he reminded Imus that the leaders of these countries aren't stupid. They know that they can't leave Iraq in the state that it currently exists, i.e., a breeding ground for terrorists. These countries are Iraq's neighbors and are much more likely to bear the brunt of future attacks. Kerry said they (the other countries) have a vested interest in seeing a stable Iraq....If the U.S. pulled out, they would have to do something, so why not cooperate. Right now we're going it alone, so they don't have to participate, and there's no incentive for stepping in. Kerry made a lot of sense.