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Bob Woodward: Decision Iraq (Kerry Dodges Interview About Iraq)
Washington Post ^ | October 24, 2004 | Bob Woodward

Posted on 10/24/2004 12:19:13 PM PDT by West Coast Conservative

The role of commander in chief is clearly one of the president's most important jobs. But a presidential campaign provides voters little opportunity to evaluate how a candidate would handle that role, particularly if the candidate isn't an incumbent.

At the end of last year, during 3 1/2 hours of interviews over two days, I asked President Bush hundreds of detailed questions about his actions and decisions during the 16-month run-up to the war in Iraq. His answers were published in my book "Plan of Attack." Beginning on June 16, I had discussions and meetings with Sen. John Kerry's senior foreign policy, communications and political advisers about interviewing the senator to find out how he might have acted on Iraq -- to ask him what he would have done at certain key points. Senior Kerry advisers initially seemed positive about such an interview. One aide told me, "The short answer is yes, it's going to happen."

In August, I was talking with Kerry's scheduler about possible dates. On Sept. 1, Kerry began his intense criticism of Bush's decisions in the Iraq war, saying "I would've done almost everything differently." A few days later, I provided the Kerry campaign with a list of 22 possible questions based entirely on Bush's actions leading up to the war and how Kerry might have responded in the same situations. The senator and his campaign have since decided not to do the interview, though his advisers say Kerry would have strong and compelling answers.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; Political Humor/Cartoons; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: iraq; kerry; kerryiraq; woodward
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To: conservative in nyc
The WAPO would endorse a mangy yellow dog if it was on the ticket as a DEMOC.
21 posted on 10/24/2004 12:33:10 PM PDT by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
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To: dmw
There has been talk that the comPost was going to endorse President Bush.

If I am not mistaken, Woodward is the editor......which brought my question.

22 posted on 10/24/2004 12:34:57 PM PDT by OldFriend (It's the soldier, not the reporter who has given US freedom of the press)
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To: West Coast Conservative
"What a wimp."

Link to Linda's cartoon thread.

23 posted on 10/24/2004 12:36:11 PM PDT by Jackknife (.......Land of the Free,because of the Brave.)
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To: West Coast Conservative
If Woodward feels so strongly, why did he and his paper endorse Bush?

Bob Woodward is a real creep.

24 posted on 10/24/2004 12:37:37 PM PDT by what's up
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To: West Coast Conservative

Kerry THE COWARD has no plan for IRAQ:

This is a President Bush Talking Point.

Email this to:

BushCheney04@GeorgeWBush.com

president@whitehouse.gov

vice.president@whitehouse.gov

Chairman@gop.com,Info@gop.com

RNCommunications@gop.com,

brit.hume@foxnews.com,

dayside@foxnews.com,

Hannity@foxnews.com,

jim.angle@foxnews.com,

special@foxnews.com,

oreilly@foxnews.com

 

25 posted on 10/24/2004 12:38:00 PM PDT by crushelits
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I guess it wouldn't have been a rush to war if we took 16 months and one day...


26 posted on 10/24/2004 12:39:23 PM PDT by oolatec
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To: OldFriend

Yeah, it's just the way the ball bounces when it comes to MSM. Kerry and the democRATS can do no wrong. He will get the endorsement of most liberal newspapers just because they HATE Bush so bad. But it doesn't matter how hard they try to swing the election towards Kerry, Bush is gonna win by a landslide! ;-]


27 posted on 10/24/2004 12:45:03 PM PDT by dmw
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To: OldFriend

The WaPo has already endorsed Kerry. They're more interested in being invited to state dinners and the increased social scene in Washington, than in staying alive or in the lives of the 50 million people who have been liberated. We all know where the WaPos stand.


28 posted on 10/24/2004 12:47:40 PM PDT by McGavin999 (We have planted the seeds of democracy and watered them with our blood, now let freedom reign)
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To: Jose Roberto

Indecision on Iraq. Indecision on the terrorists.

That is his Plan he keeps talking about. Indecisiveness is KEY to his Plan.


29 posted on 10/24/2004 12:48:37 PM PDT by rineaux (hardcore for W04)
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To: West Coast Conservative

I think this article, with its list of things Bush did or did not do, is really intended to point out Bush's failures. It's just that the only way he could do this was to start out by appearing to be down on John Kerry for not accepting the interview. By the time the reader completes the piece, he'll be ranting about Bush, not Kerry.


30 posted on 10/24/2004 12:54:28 PM PDT by Another Thought
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To: West Coast Conservative

Question 23.

Why haven't you signed the SF180?

Why haven't you answered questions about your discharge?


31 posted on 10/24/2004 1:06:26 PM PDT by bitt (F'n, Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?)
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To: bitt

ask Bob about those questions he left off the list:

Bob Woodward: woodwardb@washpost.com
Assistant managing editor, reporter


32 posted on 10/24/2004 1:09:17 PM PDT by bitt (F'n, Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?)
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To: West Coast Conservative
The senator and his campaign have since decided not to do the interview, though his advisers say Kerry would have strong and compelling answers.

Best laugh I have had in a long time.

33 posted on 10/24/2004 1:13:47 PM PDT by Irish Eyes
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To: West Coast Conservative

Well, permit me to say that this is a REALLY WIMPY HEADLINE, which does NOT inform readers that Kerry refused to talk about Iraq.

The article, too, is constructed so you have to read down into the third paragraph before you begin to understand what it is about--namely that Kerry dodged answering any questions.

I think Woodward let kerry off very easy with this.


34 posted on 10/24/2004 1:26:36 PM PDT by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: West Coast Conservative


"Would Kerry Have Done Things Differently?"

Why the title Bob? You asking us? It's your job to find out, your the reporter remember. The American public have been trying to figure that one out for quite some time. What's wrong, no deep throat to help you out.

Woodward should have blasted skerry for not doing the interview but he completely let him off the hook, just like the rest of the MSM. Worthless.


35 posted on 10/24/2004 1:27:56 PM PDT by SeaBiscuit (God Bless President GWB and our Brave Troops)
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To: West Coast Conservative
Portrait Of A True Leader!

Kerry Demonstrates his method of the famous Goose Step


36 posted on 10/24/2004 1:30:03 PM PDT by Fiddlstix (This Tagline for sale. (Presented by TagLines R US))
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To: Fiddlstix

The Post endorsed Kerry? And Kerry wouldn't answer Woodwards' questions? I'm cancelling my subscription.


37 posted on 10/24/2004 1:40:04 PM PDT by outofhere2
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To: outofhere2
......And Kerry wouldn't answer Woodwards' questions.....

Maybe he is just tired from all those flip-flops. Maybe he decided that it is easier to not answer than spend a lot of time flipping and flopping like a fish out of water.

38 posted on 10/24/2004 1:45:53 PM PDT by Fiddlstix (This Tagline for sale. (Presented by TagLines R US))
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To: West Coast Conservative

At least Woodward brings a little bit of attention to this. John Kerry has gone through this election cycle without subjecting himself to anything more difficult than a Jon Stewart *ss-kissing interview for laughs. The press has ignored any vetting of this candidate: his 20+ year record in congress, his VVAW stuff, his many "plans", and all the lies he's been throwing about W.

Way to go, MSM. You've proven what you're good for: nothing.


39 posted on 10/24/2004 1:46:43 PM PDT by ReleaseTheHounds
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To: West Coast Conservative

I'm always skeptical of what Bob Woodward says or reports. I view him as someone who is more interested in promoting himself rather than being an honest reporter.

By the way, I am also skeptical of the Woodward and Bernstein claim of the real (not imaginary) existence of a "Deep Throat."


40 posted on 10/24/2004 1:48:46 PM PDT by LjubivojeRadosavljevic
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