Kerry Says He Wouldn't Have Ousted Saddam

[Cheswick2.0]

Kerry Says He Wouldn't Have Ousted Saddam

38 minutes ago

By RON FOURNIER, AP Political Writer

NEW YORK - Staking out new ground on Iraq (news - web sites), Sen. John Kerry (news - web sites) said Monday he would not have overthrown Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) had he been in the White House, and he accused President Bush (news - web sites) of "stubborn incompetence," dishonesty and colossal failures of judgment. Bush said Kerry was flip-flopping.

Less than two years after voting to give Bush authority to invade Iraq, the Democratic candidate said the president had misused that power by rushing to war without the backing of allies, a post-war plan or proper equipment for U.S. troops. "None of which I would have done," Kerry said.


"Saddam Hussein was a brutal dictator who deserves his own special place in hell," he added. "But that was not, in itself, a reason to go to war. The satisfaction we take in his downfall does not hide this fact: We have traded a dictator for a chaos that has left America less secure."


Bush hit back from a campaign rally in New Hampshire, interpreting Kerry's comment to mean the Democrat believes U.S. security would be better with Saddam still in power. "He's saying he prefers the stability of a dictatorship to the hope and security of democracy," the Republican incumbent said.


"Today, my opponent continued his pattern of twisting in the wind," Bush said. "He apparently woke up this morning and has now decided, No, we should not have invaded Iraq, after just last month saying he would have voted for force even knowing everything we know today."

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[skooooo]

1. Synopsis of Right-wing argument..

"Has John Kerry stopped beating his wife?"

[Cha]

3. I think they are more than a little bit

scared that Kerry is out there telling the truth..they don't want even a little bit to seep out..might mushroom, doncha know?

[Cha]

2. Love your sig line, Cheswick!

And I love this statement from Kerry..

"Saddam Hussein was a brutal dictator who deserves his own special place in hell," he added. "But that was not, in itself, a reason to go to war. The satisfaction we take in his downfall does not hide this fact: We have traded a dictator for a chaos that has left America less secure."

I really liked Kerry's speech tonight! Gave me hope!

[xray s]

5. this is good

we are having the debate we should have had in 2002. better late than never.

Now Kerry has to take the next step and explain how he would have kept Hussein neutralized and focused on al-Quada, without creating the anarchy and terrorist havens Bush has in Iraq.

This is getting very interesting.

[stevedeshazer]

7. And, indeed, what you've quoted here is what he actually said

He *did not say* what Mr Fournier says he did.

Another media liar.

[gmoney]

4. "Kerry agrees with Bush Sr" should be the headline

Even Poppy knew that deposing Saddam back in '91 would only lead to anarchy...

[hexola]

6. Hussien is portrayed as a Super-Human by BushCO...

They have made him out to be some non/super human evil force...as if Saddam Hussien would have lived forever if it werent for BushCO.

Hussien is nothing but an old man...

He would have died in the next 10-15 years and 1000 Americans would be alive...

Why didn't we wait and take advantage of this point of weakness to try to institute democracy...?

[mike_c]

8. I watched that speech on CSPAN...

...and while I was heartened by Kerry's criticisms of the Bush administration's incompetence, I was VERY disappointed to hear that his basic message regarding Iraq has not changed, even in light of the loss of U.S. credibility and international moral authority that he cited. He doesn't yet acknowledge the reality that the war is illegal and immoral, and that continuing it is just as illegal and immoral as starting it was, no matter who occupies the oval office. Kerry seems to share many of Bush's core assumptions about the just nature of the war's objectives, even while pledging to seek a "different course" toward achieving them. I find those very objectives deeply offensive, so kerry's comments did little to sway me.

[Roland99]

9. ALREADY POSTED HERE

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=847879&mesg_id=847879

[Poiuyt]

10. So what?

Why are Repubs so incredulous at the thought of Saddam still in power? As if Saddam was 5 minutes away from blowing up the entire world. So what if Saddam would still be in power? Who was he bothering? Hell, even if they DO find WMD, he wasn't using them. Patrolling the no-fly zone and the UN weapons inspectors were doing such a good job at keeping Saddam from doing anything that it just boggles my mind that some Americans felt that we just HAD to invade Iraq.

[JI7]

11. the focus should be on Bush ruining things

it's not a matter of ousting saddam in itself. it's about how bush had no plans and that getting rid of saddam itself does not make up for the rest of his fuck ups .