Posted on 03/08/2004 4:34:31 AM PST by BigWaveBetty
Edited on 03/08/2004 4:52:05 AM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]
Kerry 1997:The administration... don't believe that they even need the U.N. Security Council
During a 1997 debate on CNN's "Crossfire," Democratic presidential front-runner John Kerry made the case for launching a pre-emptive attack against Iraq, according to Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., who appeared with Kerry on the program.
King recounted the debate for WABC Radio's Monica Crowley on Saturday, recalling that at the time, the U.N. Security Council had just adopted a resolution against Iraq that had been watered down at the behest of the French and the Russians.
According to King, Kerry argued: "We know we can't count on the French. We know we can't count on the Russians. We know that Iraq is a danger to the United States and we reserve the right to take pre-emptive action whenever we feel it's in our national interest."
"Crossfire" transcripts from 1997 are no longer available, but King said he'd share a copy of the Kerry tape with Crowley, who said she looked forward to broadcasting it. Stay tuned. Link
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So far this post at a blog is all been able to find on these Kerry remarks:
In my earlier post today I commented about a news story from Newsmax which reported that in an 1997 episode of CNN's Crossfire John Kerry, who by the way served in Vietnam, advocated a pre-emptive strategy in dealing with Saddam. Now my frequent commentor and fellow blogger Jaws has fished the transcript from the bowels of LexisNexis and provided me with it, the relevant parts are as follows:
JOHN SUNUNU:...This whole process gave our allies an opportunity not only not to follow America's leadership, not only not to allow us to lead, but to tell us we'd better not do what the president is now saying he might do.
KERRY: Well, John, there's absolutely no statement that they (France, Russia) have made or that they will make that will prevent the United States of America and this president or any president from acting in what they believe are the best interests of our country.
SUNUNU: But isn't what he has seen is a loss of U.S. leadership and an erosion under an administration that has failed to lead?
KERRY: On the contrary. The administration is leading. The administration is making it clear that they don't believe that they even need the U.N. Security Council to sign off on a material breach because the finding of material breach was made by Mr. Butler. So furthermore, I think the United States has always reserved the right and will reserve the right to act in its best interests.
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Now the words aren't exactly the same as reported in the earlier story but there's no doubt Kerry, in 1997, thought that a resolution from the UNSC was not needed because proof of Saddam being in material breach had been found. Further more he then believed a president doesn't need to worry about the concerns of other countries when the "best interests of our country" are at stake. hmmmm...now between '97 and 2004 what has changed?...hmmmm, it brings his world renown perchant for flip floppage to a whole new level. Link
I agree with you about the wives - I know I sure wouldn't want the scrutiny, invasions of privacy and the long absences of a political campaign.
Unrelated link: the left-wing Village Voice has published an article on how Kerry worked against Vietnam POWs and their families, Senator Covered Up Evidence of P.O.W.'s Left Behind - When John Kerry's Courage Went M.I.A.
Of course she would have. The adrenelin flows and you put one foot in front of the other. She was young, and there's no doubt in my mind she had the stamina to face life on the campaign trail.
Campaigns at the federal level are so very very different that what you and I know about campaigning E. A federal candidate has 'handlers', drivers, schedulers, whateverers. A candidate and spouse just go where they're told to go, everything is taken care of for them.
The media are treating this as Kerry getting caught in an algore-type exaggeration. But I believe it's likely that Kerry HAS been getting feedback from foreign leaders. For over a year now, the Dems' major foreign policy platform has been "repairing relations with our allies".
I've been harping on this for months, but remember the October 23rd article in Aftenposten, Norway's leading newspaper?
Norway's Labour Party is joining other European social democrats in linking up with the Democrats in the US. The goal is to be prepared with common strategies if a majority of them on both sides of the Atlantic come back to power.I was listening to the news about Kerry's "gaffe" this morning when...up pops Biden...and I instantly thought of this article. Is Biden the conduit to foreign leaders? I honestly believe the Dems are coordinating strategy with Euro leaders to undermine U.S. policy. (Twice since that Norway meeting the Euros have placed tarrifs on products from ELECTORALLY IMPORTANT STATES, Florida and Pennsylvania.) I'm beginning to think the White House also has its suspicions.A group of European social democrats, led by former British Foreign Minister Robin Cook, met last week with several top Democratic politicians and party officials. They included US senators Hilary Clinton and Joseph Biden.
They also had meetings with Ron Klain of presidential candidate Wesley Clark's campaign, and Stan Greenberg, former US President Bill Clinton's campaign strategist in 1992.
On the agenda was European concern over current US foreign policy and the effects of globalization.
FROM DICK CHENY (who will be interviewed by Brit today on Fox):
"Senator Kerry said, `That's none of your business,' but it is our business when a candidate for president claims the political endorsement of foreign leaders. At the very least, we have a right to know what he is saying to them that makes them so supportive of his candidacy.''
New thread on the way....
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