Well, more like a broken record than someone who shifts his position as the GOP would like people to believe. And if he's repetitive it's because Bush keeps doing the wrong things Kerry has warned him about.
The Republicans are trying to criticize Kerry for the speech in which he said we were safer for the capture of Hussein. In that same speech, he also explained why this administration's actions in Iraq had made us less safe despite of Hussein's capture.
Moreover, Kerry also warned against
some of the very missteps he yesterday criticized Bush for making since. Namely,
- inadequately training Iraqi security forces,
- stretching our military thinner yet,
- failing to turn the capture of Hussein into an opportunity to forge a truly broad coalition,
- and generally, failing to renounce unilateralism and ideologically preemptive war.
This was
December 15, 2003.
Saturday evening, halfway around the world, in a dark hole beneath a mud shack on a sheep farm, Jefferson's promise was fulfilled again. Saddam Hussein was a totalitarian who waged a reign of terror against his people and repeatedly endangered the peace of the world. And no one can doubt that we are safer - and Iraq is better - because Saddam Hussein is now behind bars.
... Saddam Hussein's capture also represents a two-fold opportunity. For President Bush, it is still another chance to transform the situation in Iraq from an American occupation to a global coalition. And it is an opportunity for America to reclaim the best of our historic role overseas and to once again lead the world toward progress and freedom.
... But today, we confront a dual danger - two major detours from the true path of American leadership. On one side is President Bush who has taken America off onto the road of unilateralism and ideological preemption. On the other side are those in my own party who threaten to take us down a road of confusion and retreat.
... We need ... a President who will rally democratic countries to join in a lasting coalition to address the common ills of a new century - terrorism, loose nukes, and drug trafficking, environmental destruction and epidemic disease. And with your help, that's the kind of President I will be.
I believe it was right to hold Saddam Hussein accountable for violating UN agreements. I believed then - and I believe now - authorizing force was the only way to get inspectors in, and the only way ultimately to enforce Saddam Hussein's compliance with the mandate he had agreed to, knowing that as a last resort war could become the ultimate weapons inspections enforcement mechanism.
And I also believe that those who doubted whether Iraq or the world would be better off without Saddam Hussein, and those who believe we are not safer with his capture don't have the judgment to be President - or the credibility to be elected President.
... this Administration's go-it-alone attitude has endangered our interests and enraged those who should be our friends.
Nowhere is that clearer than in Iraq ... We cannot expect other nations to join us now if the Administration prohibits them from sharing the reconstruction because they opposed us previously. That not only defies common sense - it's childish retribution which puts our troops at greater risk. It's time we leave no doubt what we believe: Iraq belongs to the Iraqi people, not Halliburton and Bechtel.
... Saddam's capture also represents a vital chance for the United States to build the coalition to win the peace that we should have built to win the war. To offer a real invitation to the rest of the world that says: "Join us. Share the burden of creating a peaceful and stable Iraq because your security depends on it too."
The threat of Saddam himself is gone. But the threat of terror continues to reach from the streets of Baghdad and the Middle East to the streets of Asia, Europe, and America itself. We must not waste this opportunity to rebuild alliances, both in Iraq and against global terrorism.
... With Saddam in custody, with others who did not join us in Iraq now celebrating that fact, we must reach out to the U.N. and our allies - and internationalize the reconstruction of Iraq. I hope that the President exercises that kind of leadership.
As we internationalize the work in Iraq, we need to add 40,000 troops - the equivalent of two divisions - to the American military in order to meet our responsibilities elsewhere - especially in the urgent global war on terror. In my first 100 days as President, I will move to increase the size of our Armed Forces. Some may not like that. But today, in the face of grave challenges, our armed forces are spread too thin. Our troops in Iraq are paying the price for this everyday. There's not enough troops in the ranks of our overall armed forces to bring home those troops that have been in Iraq for more than a year.
... Iraqi police forces also need adequate training and mentoring. Here at home, a police officer has four to six months of training. We may not have that luxury in Iraq, but training must be sufficient - not just speedy. And the police forces too need real support, equipment and pay.
So leadership is the issue - abroad and at home.
... I am here to say that holding Saddam accountable was important, even if not always popular. I am here to say that doing nothing would have been the most dangerous path of all. But I am also here to say that the price of unilateralism in Iraq is too high, and Americans are paying it - in resources that could be used for health care, education, and our security here at home. We are paying that price in respect lost around the world - respect we need to win the war not just in one country, but the global war on terror. And most important, the price is paid in the lives of young Americans forced to shoulder the burden of this mission alone.
We must change a course of unilateralism and pre-emptive war that is radically wrong for America. Saddam's capture offers even this Administration the chance to make change. And if we as Democrats are to change America, we cannot seek to replace the Bush unilateralism with confusion and retreat. Let's bring in our allies, take the target off our troops, and let's finally win the peace in Iraq. In a time of fear, in a uncertain world, let's affirm that America's security depends on our own strength, but also on our ideals, and on the will and wisdom to forge a new era of internationalism where this nation truly and proudly is, as Lincoln said, the "best hope of earth."
Anyone who knows what Kerry's message has been cannot honestly accuse him of shifting positions on Iraq since the capture of Saddam Hussein.
On Iraq, Kerry has been consistent - and more importantly,
right from the start. Thanks to the Internet anybody who wishes can read his
floor statement explaining why he was voting for the Iraq authorization, and what steps must be taken after Bush got the authorization:
Bush claim: Today, my opponent continued his pattern of twisting in the wind, with new contradictions of his old positions on Iraq.
Kerry reality, 2002: In giving the President this authority, I expect him to fulfill the commitments he has made to the American people in recent days - to work with the United Nations Security Council to adopt a new resolution setting out tough and immediate inspection requirements, and to act with our allies at our side if we have to disarm Saddam Hussein by force. If he fails to do so, I will be among the first to speak out.
Bush claim: "He apparently woke up this morning and has now decided, no, we should not have invaded Iraq, after just last month saying he still would have voted for force, even knowing everything we know today."
Kerry reality, 2002: "Last week the Secretary of State and on Monday night the President made clear we would go to war only to disarm Iraq ... If we do wind up going to war with Iraq, it is imperative that we do so with others in the international community, unless there is a showing of a grave, imminent - and I emphasize "imminent" - threat to this country which requires the President to respond in a way that protects our immediate national security needs."
There are other examples of Bush Jr. talking to himself yesterday about Kerry's position, but as this is long enough already,
here's a a few juxtaposed excerpts from Jr's yackety-yack yesterday and Kerry's October 9, 2002 speech for those interested.
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