Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

John Kerry: ‘I’ve argued for the use of force’ in Syria
Hot Air.com ^ | October 3, 2016 | JOHN SEXTON

Posted on 10/03/2016 10:31:30 AM PDT by Kaslin

Leaked audio of Secretary of State John Kerry reveals he argued for the use of force in Syria and is frustrated that the U.S. can’t do more there. From CNN:

Kerry’s comments came at a meeting that took place at the Dutch Mission to the United Nations on the sidelines the UN General Assembly, where Kerry was going from session to session in a frenzied effort to resuscitate a ceasefire that seemed poised to collapse.

“I think you’re looking at three people, four people in the administration. I lost the argument. I’ve argued for the use of force. I’m the guy who stood up and announced that we’re going to attack Assad for the use of weapons,” Kerry is heard telling the Syrian attendees, referring to internal deliberations within the administration of President Barack Obama that followed Assad’s use of chemical weapons in 2013.

Kerry also faulted Congress for failing to support such a retaliatory strike, saying, “The bottom line is that Congress refused even to vote to allow that.”

Kerry may be blaming Congress but his real argument is with Barack Obama. It was Obama who originally drew the red line over the use of chemical weapons in Syria and it was Obama who backed away from it later on, deciding at the last minute to engage in diplomacy with Russia.

Given the mess in Libya, and before that Iraq, it’s easy to write of U.S. intervention abroad as a costly mistake that never turns out well. We spend billions and lose American lives for what? In the end taking out one dictator (Saddam or Qaddafi) only seems to make room for something worse. In Iraq we got ISIS. In Libya we got the Ansar al Sharia goons who killed our people at Benghazi.

That’s fair enough but it must be said that the alternative, non-intervention, also hasn’t worked out very well. Assad’s regime has killed several hundred thousand people in the past five years and seems to be trying to kill a few hundred thousand more in Aleppo right now. Some of those people were militants but many are not. The U.S. is standing by while the regime creates a massive humanitarian disaster.

Assad’s bombing of his own people has also set off one of the largest refugee crises in recent memory. Millions of people have fled the fighting and resettled in Europe (notably in Germany). ISIS has taken advantage of that refugee flow to send fighters who have been responsible for terror attacks in France, Belgium and Germany already. And there’s almost no doubt in anyone’s mind they would love to send people here as well.

Even if you believe none of that is the United States’ problem to solve, our failure to act has other consequences. For one, it has clearly emboldened our number one geopolitical foe, Russia. The United States, in the form of Sec. Kerry, is left stamping its feet impotently as Russia and Syria commit war crimes. Russia apparently bombed a UN relief convoy last month and Syria was accused of dropping chemical weapons once again. There is a story of another hospital being bombed today.

Our perceived weakness in the face of these acts will be noticed. We already have seen Russia and Iran harassing our ships in the Persian Gulf and elsewhere. North Korea is letting us know they are working hard on longer range nuclear missiles. Non-intervention only works until your enemies get right up to your front door. Weakness always invites challenge. At some point down the line we may come to regret the choices we are making now.

Here’s a CNN clip featuring audio of some of John Kerry’s statements from the leaked tape:

Leaked Audio: Man Who Promised 'Unbelievably Small' Strike On Syria Says He Fought For Use Of Force


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Government; Russia
KEYWORDS: barack0bama; johnkerry; russia; syria
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-22 next last

1 posted on 10/03/2016 10:31:30 AM PDT by Kaslin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

Rudolf Hess spent life in solitary for something similar.


2 posted on 10/03/2016 10:33:08 AM PDT by Psalm 144 (Je suis, Deplorables. Marchons, marchons!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

Democrat view of things:

On the one hand, we should probably start a global war with Russia. It’s just in our best interests to go toe-to-toe with those guys.
On the other hand, we should not elect Donald Trump, because that guy is crazy!


3 posted on 10/03/2016 10:34:18 AM PDT by ClearCase_guy (Abortion is what slavery was: immoral but not illegal. Not yet.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

Jinjiss Kawn himself


4 posted on 10/03/2016 10:34:32 AM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either satire or opinion. Or both.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

Get a formal declaration of war against whomever or GTFO. It’s not rocket science Johnny.


5 posted on 10/03/2016 10:34:47 AM PDT by Spruce
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

“All we are saying, is ‘Give War a Chance.’”


6 posted on 10/03/2016 10:34:59 AM PDT by dfwgator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

....and been overruled.

There. Finished it for ya, John.


7 posted on 10/03/2016 10:35:39 AM PDT by Buckeye McFrog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ClearCase_guy

Shorter version: “Democrat wars good, republican wars bad.”


8 posted on 10/03/2016 10:36:00 AM PDT by jpl (Obama lied when Stevens died.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

“John Kerry: ‘I’ve argued for the use of force’ in Syria”.....with less evidence and fewer strategic reasons than Bush did when he went into Iraq.


9 posted on 10/03/2016 10:47:44 AM PDT by cincinnati65
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

Kerry doesn’t seem to understand that Russia plans on WINNING that war, which means kill/destroy your enemy or force them into an Unconditional Surrender. Cease fires or temporary peace treaties only serve to allow the enemy to regroup and re-supply. Maybe they left that out of Kerry’s military education before he “won” his make believ Purple Hearts (Barf).


10 posted on 10/03/2016 10:49:45 AM PDT by Old Retired Army Guy (frequently.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

Traitor kerry is quick to put others in a position of being killed. What a rich boor and putz.


11 posted on 10/03/2016 10:50:49 AM PDT by hal ogen (First Amendment or Reeducation Camp?.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

John Kerry has been a traitor to the United States of America for four decades.


12 posted on 10/03/2016 11:06:25 AM PDT by Carl Vehse
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin
John Kerry: ‘I’ve argued for the use of force’ in Syria

Why?

Aren't you a dove?

13 posted on 10/03/2016 11:26:29 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

We didn’t belong there in the first place. It was a civil war.


14 posted on 10/03/2016 11:28:27 AM PDT by Sacajaweau (that's)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Comment #15 Removed by Moderator

To: Kaslin
He is so stupid that he does not see that Syria would end up ISIS controlled. Oh wait...that must be what Obama and Kerry want. This is just asinine.

Trump needs to pound these fools.

The complicit media is worthless too.

What a sad mad situation, the best choice is to support Russia or GTHO of there.

I'm bloody revolution mad.

16 posted on 10/03/2016 11:40:44 AM PDT by right way right (May we remain sober over mere men, for God really is our one and only true hope.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

Sure, let’s go to war with Russia to prevent them from destroying ISIS. Great idea.


17 posted on 10/03/2016 11:41:12 AM PDT by pepsi_junkie (ui)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: jpl

“Democrat wars good, republican wars bad.”

As if the huge economic/a doubled, 20 trillion dollar debt and social messes/a fractured America on edge that Obama is leaving Trump aren’t enough, Bathhouse instructs Lurch to leave us with a stinking `rat war in Syria.
Yeah, we need to spend more American blood and treasure so more military-age muslims can be dispersed into the civilized world. Good thinking boys.


18 posted on 10/03/2016 11:58:01 AM PDT by tumblindice (America's founding fathers, all armed conservatives)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

Kerry The Brave. He fought the Commies for a while in Vietnam then worked for them to win by abandoning our allies.

Did the same thing re the communists in Nicaragua and El Salvador.

Then sold out the people of Iraq and Syria while building up Iran.

He makes Benedict Arnold seem like an amateur.


19 posted on 10/03/2016 1:43:26 PM PDT by MadMax, the Grinning Reaper
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

put swiftie John Kohn aka Kerry on the FRONT LINE AT POINT....
see how much war he wants after a few days....
very aggressive with other people’s lives isnt he...
guess he wants to help out his iranian family and friends with American lives....
no thanks scumbag


20 posted on 10/03/2016 3:27:10 PM PDT by zzwhale (no way)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-22 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson