The Boston Fog Rolls Over Kerry's Response to Iraqi Prisoner Abuse

George W. Bush ^ | May 13, 2004

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The Boston Fog Report
An ongoing examination of John Kerry’s “nuances and shades of gray in both foreign and domestic policy.” (Editorial, “A Primary Endorsement,” The New York Times, 2/26/04)

for·a·gainst adverb.

1. To be both for and against something at the same time: e.g. “I actually did vote for the $87 billion before I voted against it.” (Glen Johnson, “Kerry Blasts Bush On Protecting Troops,” The Boston Globe, 3/17/04)

"John Kerry first attacked the Administration for moving too slowly, and now he says it's moving too fast. Only John Kerry could flip-flop on his own political attack." -Steve Schmidt, Bush-Cheney '04 Spokesman

LAST WEEK, KERRY SAID THE ADMINISTRATION WAS MOVING TOO SLOWLY

Kerry Calls Administration Response "Slow."  "'The horrifying abuse of Iraqi prisoners which the world has now seen is absolutely unacceptable and inexcusable and the response of the administration, certainly the Pentagon, has been slow and inappropriate,' the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee said in a noisy lunch area." (Lois Romano, "Kerry Decries Prison Abuse," The Washington Post, 5/6/04)

BUT NOW, KERRY SAYS THE ADMINISTRATION IS MOVING TOO FAST

Kerry Calls Administration Response "Rushed."  "The military already has initiated courts-martial for 10 soldiers, and Kerry acknowledges it's beyond his power to stop them - nor is he suggesting that any officers found responsible should be tried first. 'It's very important to have a full understanding of all the people that were involved, and not cloud it with a bunch of trials that are rushed,' he said." (Mark Silva and Jim Stratton, "Kerry says soldiers' abuse scandal trials should not be rushed," The Orlando Sentinel, 5/13/04)

Kerry Criticizes Doing Things "Immediately."  "'I think it's sort of a panicked move to try to display to the Arab world and others that we are going to, you know, do things immediately,' Kerry said of impending hearings. 'But I think you have to think of morale of the military and the chain of command.'" (Jim VandeHei, "Kerry Assails Bush on Iraq," The Washington Post, 5/13/04)

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'Nuff said!