Kerry Lays Out Plan to Bring Peace in Iraq

[DoYouEverWonder]

September 20, 2004

NEW YORK -- Sen. John Kerry is challenging President Bush to immediately begin taking steps to stop increasing violence in Iraq as he tries to offer a persuasive alternative to Bush's management of Iraq's reconstruction and the overall war on terror.

Kerry was laying out a four-part plan to bring peace to Iraq during a speech Monday at New York University, while arguing that Bush has not been honest about the rationale for war or its costs, according to Kerry campaign officials.

With six weeks remaining until Election Day, the Massachusetts senator was inviting debate on an issue that has given him trouble in his bid for the White House.

Kerry's rivals have accused him of staking unclear, even contradictory, positions on Iraq. His speech was aimed at explaining his stance and drawing clear differences with Bush's leadership at a time when troubles in Iraq are mounting.

http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-kerry,0,1109736.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines

[AnnitaR]

1. Should be a good speech!

Seems he got a lot of input from Wes Clark over the last week or so. No one has laid out what needs to happen in Iraq better than Wes. Seems this speech has a lot of what Wes has been saying for quite some time.

If Kerry's smart he'll have Wes at his side for every campaign stop up until the election. Wes is an asset that needs to be utilized to the fullest!

[Guaranteed]

2. As a Dean supporter,

I have to say that it's really good to see Clark's input on this issue being heard. This was certainly his strength, and the whole party should take note of what he has to say.

[Disturbed]

3. Clarke is a great asset.

I believe that he should have been the VP choice.

[SKKY]

5. I agree with you...

Although I'm not totally nonplussed about Edwards. I just think Clarke brings the "moxie" I'm looking for in a VP.

[demoman123]

18. Here is the text

http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/speeches/spc_2004_0920.html

[leQ]

4. note to newsday: why didn't you include what the plan was in your story?

this is why the media really pisses me off. they say that kerry has a plan, yet never bother to publish what it is. no wonder people say they're in the dark about kerry. the media refuses to inform them.

[underpants]

6. "People are still uncertain as to what his plan ACTUALLY IS!"

That is why they didn't include it (I would assume they got an advance copy) so the talking heads can bemoan how unfamiliar or uncertain people are about Kerry.

YOU ARE THE MEDIA! INFORM!

[JoFerret]

12. Newsday is better than most

...not to make media excuses...

This is a much better headline!
Kerry blasts Iraq invasion as historic failure
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20040920/wl_mideast_afp/us_vote_kerry_040920154108
(don't forget to rate it!)

[Blue_Roses]

7. This is BULLSHIT!

Polls show that most voters think Bush is the better leader in Iraq than Kerry would be. But Democrats say Kerry could turn public opinion by pointing out problems there -- plans for a January election are in doubt, troops are stretched thin and more than 1,000 U.S. troops have been killed. No weapons of mass destruction have been found, even though that was Bush's main rationale for war.

But whenever the debate turns to Iraq, Republicans are quick to turn Kerry's sometimes confusing positions on the war against him. After voting to give Bush authority to invade Iraq, Kerry criticized the president for doing so and said Bush should have pursued more diplomacy first.

Recently, he's said he voted for the authorization because of possible weapons of mass destruction. But he's also said that even if he knew then there were no weapons of mass destruction, he still would have voted for the authorization.

The ONLY reason Bush is leading in "public opinion" on Iraq is because people with these "opinions" are too afraid to let new leadership try to figure out this caotic mess caused by Bush's reckless policies.

Secondly, WHEN will they (reporters) get it right: Kerry voted for the authorization to use force, after all diplomatic efforts were exhausted!

:eyes:
*sigh*

[NNN0LHI]

9. Agree this is bullshit

Bu due to the fact that I am not a one issue voter I am still voting for Kerry.

Don

[Nancy Waterman]

8. I am not so sure international help will be forthcoming in this mess

I think we need something more radical like dividing Iraq up into a very loose federation. Let the Sunnis police the Sunnis, the Shiites police th Shiites, and the Kurds police the Kurds. Let each group have their own laws and culture. Only let the oil revenues be pooled as part of the larger federation. Let the economic ties grow and let everything else be separated cultures that are respected not suppressed.

Let each of the three federated states elect x number of representatives based on population and two each no matter the population (like our Senate and House) that mostly work locally within the individual state. They can all get together for foreign policy and economic issues.


The above isn't a whole lot different than the mess we already have.

[maxsolomon]

10. so, partition it is!

2 theocracies, and one i dunno. military dictatorship? no one talks about the kurds much.

that ought to make for a STABLE, DEMOCRATIC situation.

[NNN0LHI]

11. Quit jiving

You know that there are groups of Kurds who hate other groups of Kurds more than they hated Saddam. Same situation for the Shiites and the Sunnis. Its a bloody mess. There is no good outcome from this blunder. The only two outcomes are bad and worse. Thats all folks.

Don

[tedzbear]

13. Good idea.

After all, Iraq was artificially created by Great Britain when it occupied it and turned it into a colony. Before that, it was separate entities.

Can anyone elaborate on this?

[aneerkoinos]

14. Colonialism

Making up "countries", dividing them, drawing borders... that's what colonial powers do.

Why is so hard to get through some thick Murikan skulls that Iraq is country that belongs to Iraqi people which has the sole authority to decide what to do with their country, not some wannabe colonialist Murikans... :(

[AlabamaYankee]

15. It's an Absolute Must Read!

Strong, blunt and to the point. He's calling out Bush in no uncertain terms. Read it here: http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/speeches/spc_2004_0920.html

It will put the starch back in your shorts.

[Night Gal]

16. I watched the speech and then....

it was promptly pushed to the back burner for the "more important" crap about CBS/Rather's admission.

Kerry just can't seem to get a break. He had a wonderful and inspiring speech today, but it will be "ugly stepchild" to the CBS bs.

He mentioned Lugar in the speech, then almost immediately Lugar was slamming JK for missing some SFR meetings. Jeez... I thought Carville and Begalia were going to help straighten all the miscues out.

[progressivebydesign]

17. Was a GROUNDBREAKING speech!!

I'm so glad that the media is allowing Kerry to SPEAK, finally! ABout something of substance! The speech is available on www.cspan.com it's listed on the front page. Also, the speech from the National Guard Convention (at which he was wildly applauded, with lots of whistling, etc.).

[Indie Media Magazine]

19. I LIKE IT!

Mch better than the so called 'plan' that BOOOSH has in mind.

[Zorra]

20. What is Bu$h's peace plan? Oh yeah - "War is Peace"

[Fiendish Thingy]

21. Great Speech! Go Johnny Go! n/t