Kerry Says He Plans for Iraq Negotiations | LA Times

[Ediacara]

Kerry Says He Plans for Iraq Negotiations

By NEDRA PICKLER, Associated Press Writer

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry said he plans to use private negotiations to persuade other heads of state to assist in reconstructing Iraq, but he does not envision sending more U.S. troops there.

Kerry said on CBS' "Face the Nation" that a new president can make a "fresh start" with world leaders who opposed the war.

"If we demonstrate an America that has a foreign policy that is smarter, more engaged ... and more respectful of the world, we're going to bring people to our side," Kerry said. "We're not only not going to put additional troops there, that's the way to bring our troops home."

In a separate interview broadcast Sunday on CNN's "Late Edition," Kerry declined to specify a precise timetable for withdrawing the 140,000 U.S. in Iraq. But he did say, "I would consider it an unsuccessful policy if I hadn't brought significant numbers of troops back within the first term."

More at the Los Angeles Times

[bemildred]

1. Starting to make sense ...

The world does have an interest in a stable and prosperous Iraq.
Just not as a fiefdom of the USA.

[Zhade]

2. A vast majority of the world's countries...

...have a vested interest in sitting back and watching the American empire fail in Iraq.

Why would they save our bacon? I'd imagine, after so many decades of American dominance, more than a few countries - including some of our allies, like Japan - would like nothing better than for American power to suffer, forcing us to retreat from our imperial overstretch.

I honestly can't say I blame them. America should not be an empire.

[Rose Siding]

3. Here's a link- I can't find the article at yours, Dino

I wish he wouldn't push that cabinet level intel chief. The existing agencies should already be answering to the executive- if there's any new position, it should answer to Congress. They just need someone to bust through the turf wars.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/federal/20040801-0804-democrats.html

"I believe it belongs there and I'm very comfortable with that decision," Kerry said in the CBS interview. "... If you're really gonna lead a war on terror, I think it's critical to have the kind of direct accountability to the president, and I think the American people want that."