Would Kerry Insist We Accept Al Qaeda's Terms Like He Insisted We Accept The Vietcong's?

Congressional Record ^ | March 15, 2004 | John Kerry

[Hon]

The Vietnam Veterans Against The War (VVAW) sent several delegations to Paris to meet with the representatives of the National Liberation Front (AKA Vietcong) and North Vietnamese in 1971. John Kerry went on at least one of these trips and met and "negotiated" with representatives of the VC and the government of North Vietnam.

First peace meeting between VVAW and the NLF, Paris, 1971

John Kerry was so proud of having gone to meet with the enemy and negotiate with them, it was the first thing he brought up after he finished his remarks before the Senate:

LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS RELATING TO THE WAR IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 1971

UNITED STATES SENATE;
COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS,
Washington, D.C.

The committee met, pursuant to notice, at 11:05 a.m., in Room 4221, New Senate Office Building, Senator J. W. Fulbright (Chairman) presiding.

Present: Senators Fulbright, Symington, Pell, Aiken, Case, and Javits.

The CHAIRMAN. Do you support or do you have any particular views about any one of them you wish to give the committee?

Mr. KERRY. My feeling, Senator, is undoubtedly this Congress, and I don't mean to sound pessimistic, but I do not believe that this Congress will, in fact, end the war as we would like to, which is immediately and unilaterallyand, therefore, if I were to speak I would say we would set a date and the date obviously would be the earliest possible date. But I would like to say, in answering that, that I do not believe it is necessary to stall any longer. I have been to Paris. I have talked with both delegations at the peace talks, that is to say the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and the Provisional Revolutionary Government and of all eight of Madam Binh's points it has been stated time and time again, and was stated by Senator Vance Hartke when he returned from Paris, and it has been stated by many other officials of this Government, if the United States were to set a date for withdrawal the prisoners of war would be returned.

[snip]

I would, therefore, submit that the most expedient means of getting out of South Vietnam would be for the President of the United States to declare a cease-fire, to stop this blind commitment to a dictatorial regime, the Thieu-Ky-Khiem regime, accept a coalition regime which would represent all the political forces of the country which is in fact what a representative government is supposed to do and which is in fact what this Government here in this country purports to do, and pull the troops out without losing one more American, and still further without losing the South Vietnamese.

[snip]

The CHAIRMAN. The Congress cannot directly under our system negotiate a cease-fire or anything of this kind. Under our constitutional system we can advise the President. We have to persuade the President of the urgency of taking this action. Now we have certain ways in which to proceed. We can, of course, express ourselves in a resolution or we can pass an act which directly affects appropriations which is the most concrete positive way the Congress can express itself.

But Congress has no capacity under our system to go out and negotiate a cease-fire. We have to persuade the Executive to do this for the country.

Mr. KERRY. Mr. Chairman, I realize that full well as a study of political science. I realize that we cannot negotiate treaties and I realize that even my visits in Paris, precedents had been set by Senator McCarthy and others, in a sense are on the borderline of private individuals negotiating, et cetera. I understand these things.

[snip]

I am talking about a vote here in Congress to cut off the funds, and a vote to perhaps pass a resolution calling on the Supreme Court to rule on the constitutionality of the war, and to do the things that uphold those things which we pretend to be. That is what we are asking. I don't think we can turn our backs on that any longer, Senator.

Source

Here are all eight of Madam Binh's points (Binh was the Foreign Minister for the Vietcong) spelled out in the "People's Peace Treaty" that Kerry and the VVAW and signed, and which they demanded the US sign with North Vietnam and the National Liberation Front:

Joint Treaty of Peace

Between the People of The United States of America, South Vietnam and North Vietnam

Preamble

Be it known that the American people and the Vietnamese people are not enemies. The war is carried out in the names of the people of the United States and South Vietnam, but without our consent. It destroys the land and people of Vietnam. It drains America of its resources, its youth, and its honor.

We hereby agree to end the war on the following terms, so that both peoples can live under the joy of independence and can devote themselves to building a society based on human equality and respect for the earth. In rejecting the war we also reject all forms of racism and discrimination against people based on color, class, sex, national origin, and ethnic grouping which form the basis of the war policies, past and present, of the United States government.

Terms of Peace Treaty

1. The Americans agree to immediate and total withdrawal from Vietnam, and publicly to set the date by which all U.S. military forces will be removed.
2. The Vietnamese pledge that as soon as the U. S. government publicly sets a date for total withdrawal: they will enter discussions to secure the release of all American prisoners, including pilots captured while bombing North Vietnam.
3. There will be an immediate cease-fire between U. S. forces and those led by the Provisional Revolutionary Government of South Vietnam.
4. They will enter discussions on the procedures to guarantee the safety of all withdrawing troops.
5. The Americans pledge to end the imposition of Thieu-Ky-Khiem on the people of South Vietnam in order to insure their right to self-determination and so that all political prisoners can be released.
6. The Vietnamese pledge to form a provisional coalition government to organize democratic elections. All parties agree to respect the results of elections in which all South Vietnamese can participate freely without the presence of any foreign troops.
7. The South Vietnamese pledge to enter discussion of procedures to guarantee the safety and political freedom of those South Vietnamese who have collaborated with the U. S. or with U. S. -supported regimes.
8. The Americans and Vietnamese agree to respect the independence, peace and neutrality of Laos and Cambodia in accord with the 1954 and 1962 Geneva Conventions and not to interfere in the internal affairs of these two countries.
9. Upon these points of agreement, we pledge to end the war and resolve all other questions in the spirit of self-determination and mutual respect for the independence and political freedom of the people of Vietnam and the United States.

Pledge

By ratifying this agreement, we pledge to take whatever actions are appropriate to implement the terms of the People to people Treaty and to insure its acceptance by the government of the United States.

Source

[Hon]

Why should we expect Kerry to treat the terrorists any differently from the Vietcong and North Vietnamese?

[Steven W.]

Because he will apologize to the terrorists first before he opens up for concessions (it's the only French thing Hanoi John could do)

[KQQL]

Spaniards already did.

[DustyMoment]

It takes courage to stand before one's enemies and refuse to capitulate. Kerry, France, Germany and Spain lack that courage. Will we be next? Britain? Canada?

Sometimes, it is more courageous to withstand the attacks of a bully and fight back, than to forever be cowed and beholden to the bully.

AQ is a bully. Capitulation is NOT an option. Surrendering to them is to obligate ourselves to Islam. That's NOT happening.

[TERMINATTOR]

Lurch Kerry

[Hon]

"Spaniards already did."

Yeah, that was one of the things that brought this to mind. Sadly.

[Hon]

"AQ is a bully. Capitulation is NOT an option. Surrendering to them is to obligate ourselves to Islam. That's NOT happening."

Think of it this way. All AQ wants is for us to leave the Middle East and for Israel to be destroyed.

All the North Vietnamese (and the USSR and China) wanted was for the US to leave South Vietnam (and SE Asia in general) so that they could have all of Vietnam and the surrounding areas.

Kerry was down with that. So why wouldn't he accede to Al Qaeda's demands? It's not like our country is involved?

"Nobody wants to be the last person to die defending Israel (or middle east oil)," as he likes to put things.

[SAMWolf]

Excellent points. Don't you just wish someone would ask him that question?

[GeronL]

Didn't he suggest we could avoid the first Gulf War by giving Saddam some islands???

[Travis McGee]

Selling out his country and our soldiers in time of war is Kerry's MO right to his core.

[MJY1288]

One more example of John Kerry standing up for our enemies

[DustyMoment]

Would Kerry Insist We Accept Al Qaeda's Terms Like He Insisted We Accept The Vietcong's?

You have to ask!!??

[Right_in_Virginia]

BTTT

[madison10]

Why should we expect Kerry to treat the terrorists any differently from the Vietcong and North Vietnamese?

We shouldn't & he would. He'd prostitute the USA, selling us out & giving away our freedoms. The man is a liberal pimp.

[kabar]

Just heard on C-SPAN that they will show the full tape of Kerry's testimony before Congress and his debate on the Dick Cavett show in 1971. It will air on March 28 on the Washington Journal. Everyone should get their VCRs ready.

[Hon]

"Just heard on C-SPAN that they will show the full tape of Kerry's testimony before Congress and his debate on the Dick Cavett show in 1971. It will air on March 28 on the Washington Journal. Everyone should get their VCRs ready."

That's great. I hope I remember to tape it. I have the Congressional Report record. Maybe I'll post it. It's got a lot of humdingers in it.

[kabar]

I will try to remember to remind you abvout the C-SPAN show. Supposedly, Marvin Kalb will be providing some background on the times. Nothing is as damning as Kerry's own words and image.

[Hon]

Kerry's Testimony Before The Senate Foreign Relations Committee, April 22, 1971 - Entire Transcript

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1097982/posts

[Hon]

Another reminder for C-SPAN viewers.