Kerry on the clock

[capriccio]

I figure he has two weeks at the most to turn the corner on the Iraq issue. And he will only do it by issuing a definitive, man-on-the-street friendly action statement that will outline a simple, forthright plan that should include something like the following:

First, a timetable for bringing the troops home in no more than 12-18 months (and when they come after him, as they will, by saying the terrorists will just wait us out, he should use that as his opening to say 1) the worldwide terrorism threat is greater now than it was before the fall of Saddam and we can no longer afford to be tied down in one place; and 2) no one in the US Senate voted for an open ended commitment to Iraq, nor did Bush ask for such a commitment.)

Second, a call for the Saudis to come before the UN and explain what they have done since 9/11 to combat their homegrown terror networks and demonstrate to the world the ways in which it is now safer from Saudi-bred terrorism.

Third, creation of a NATO-like, treaty-bound worldwide alliance that commits member nations to sharing intelligence, material resources, and armies to fighting terrorists.

Whatever, the details, the bottom line is clear: Kerry must once and for all get beyond his Iraq vote, give the voters a clear alternative vision of the US future, and demonstrate control of this issue. The current campaign strategy of linking Iraq to the economy is fine as far as it goes, but it will not go all the way to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

[faithnotgreed]

1. the media and undecided voter is building towards this. i agree

that kerry must come out prior to debates and present himself regarding iraq. given that the media has now decided iraq may not be so stabilized as they have been saying, given that they dont demand bush answer etc

this is the hard truth. we have to take offense on this issue asap. i dont normally put my opinion out there about what i think kerry should do but now is the time fwiw

hes tough, experienced, intelligent and thats what this country needs. but the more this builds (a la smear boats) then the worse position hes going to be in.

the mantra we hear is that kerry doesnt have a plan, that kerry doesnt stand for things. well he does, and i want to hear him to tell this country.

we have to talk about the now.