Posted on 05/29/2004 1:11:06 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -
Democratic White House candidate John Kerry (news - web sites) vowed on Saturday to rebuild U.S. alliances "shredded" by President Bush (news - web sites) and to restore America's international respect.
The Republican incumbent and his likely challenger in the Nov. 2 presidential election both attended the dedication of the World War II Memorial but Kerry told reporters: "There are no politics today. It's just a really nice day, a really special day for America."
Hours before the ceremony on Washington's Mall, Kerry declared in the Democrats' weekly radio address that it was "time to answer the call to greatness and lead the world."
"It's time to put away pride and stubbornness," he said. "We must rebuild alliances that have been shredded because an America respected in the world will be an America stronger in the world and safer here at home."
The Massachusetts senator, who voted for the congressional resolution authorizing Bush to use force in Iraq (news - web sites), has since charged the president rushed to war without adequate international help or a plan to win the peace.
"America has always drawn its power not only from the might of its weapons, but from the trust and respect of nations around the globe," Kerry said. "From the World Wars to the Cold War and beyond, American-led alliances have been a driving force in the survival of freedom."
During the 2000 election campaign, Bush promised a humble foreign policy built on stronger international alliances, but since taking office he has angered some of Washington's traditional friends with moves like abandoning a global warming treaty and invading Iraq.
FOREIGN POLICY FOCUS
Kerry, a decorated Vietnam War veteran, has begun an 11-day focus on national security built around Saturday's dedication ceremony, Memorial Day on Monday when the United States honors its war dead and the 60th anniversary of D-Day on June 6.
In the same period, Bush plans to give a major speech on Iraq, travel to Normandy, France, for the D-day celebrations and host the G8 summit of the leaders of Japan, Germany, Britain, France, Italy, Canada and Russia on Sea Island, about 90 miles south of Savannah, Georgia.
Kerry painted the broad strokes of his foreign policy priorities in Seattle on Thursday, promising to forge a coordinated global alliance against terror, free the United States from its "dangerous dependence" on Middle East oil and end what he described as Bush's divisive bullying tactics.
On Iraq, Bush and Kerry both believe the United States should stay the course to bring stability to the country. Neither is ready to set a date for withdrawing U.S. troops.
But Kerry, a 20-year veteran of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said he would give greater prominence to international organizations like the United Nations (news - web sites) and NATO (news - web sites).
"Some of the best armor we could ever give our troops will be allies to fight by their side," he said. "And it's because of those who fought before and those who fight today that it's time to do what it takes to build an America that's once again respected in the world."
Kerry attended the World War II memorial dedication with Joseph Lesniewski, of Erie, Pennsylvania, one of 18 living paratroopers from the Easy Company of the 101st Airborne Division who on D-Day parachuted into enemy territory behind the Normandy beachhead.
Those alliances aren't worth rebuilding. They only worked when they needed us. We needed them with us this time and we got the one finger salute instead.
Let's dance with them who came to the dance with us, and the others can go to hell.
China and India, amoungst others, are EXEMPTED in the protocol.
The funny thing was Al Gore going to Kyoto and signing on to this POS after the Senate voted!
And what will our so called allies, France, Germany and Spain, ask Kerry to do when he crawls on his hands and knees asking forgiveness?
"Put Your Butt A Bit Higher In The Air John"
America can't afford to let this man win!
Gee...that's real hard to guess....;))
Yea, and I wanna win the lottery.
How about the details Mr. Kerry.
He thinks he can take his "bib and knee pads" to Europe and they'll come running, why, because they like him.
Sounds like Al Franken to me.
Notice how they really play up the democrat"ic" candidate as if the GWBush is UNdemocrat"ic". kerry is the democat party candidate periods.
Most important. With friends like Kerry who needs enemies.
(SARC) RRRRiiiigggghhhtttt! Just like Clintoon. And the next repeat of 911 will be a nuke on American soil. Yeah, Ketchupman, you're rebuilding spells doom for the rest of the civilized world.
Pray for W and Our Troops
Democratic White House candidate John Kerry (news - web sites) vowed on Saturday to rebuild U.S. alliances "shredded" by President Bush (news - web sites) and to restore America's international respect.
Is Kerry refering to the "shredders" that Saddam used on his victims?
My question is this Kerry rebuilds our alliances with Cowards, then we have another terror incident, Kerry wnats to make a move, (I know thats pretty hard to believe, )
He wants to make a move ,and his alliance friends say NO
What does he do then?
Does he do what GWB did when the UN and the French and German cowards said no ? Or does he sit on his hands and say there was nothing I could do , our pals said NO. Guess we just have to wait for another day.
On Second thought Bush didnt shred any alliances the Frogs did, the germans did and the UN did. The UN refused to act on their own resolution and the Frogs and Germans were busy supplying arms and getting oil in violation of Sanctions, THe US has nothing to apologise for Our supposed Allies do.
What a P***Y. You can see the French in him now.
http://www.crushkerry.com/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=41
The french and kerry's presidential campaign
its from http://www.crushkerry.com
It defines kerry
Translated: "Kerry vows to give up American nation sovereignty to achieve a global unity for his own personal political gain".
You made some serious claims. Could you please provide evidence that Germany has been involved in the oil for food scandal, or that the German government actively supported Saddam Husseins regime? After all, it paid 1/3 of the costs of the war in 1991.
I don't want to get into an argument about this. But Schroeder loyally supported Chirac all through the run-up to the Iraqi war. And there's not much question that France and Russia had corrupt dealings with Saddam and his oil. Otherwise, I'll let the party you address answer your question.
:-) Ahhh! Here we go: Russia and France! No doubt. But it´s important to me that there are no false allegations against my country (there are enough justified, I fear).
Having freedom of speech (and freedom of opinion), I cannot see that the pure verbal opposition to the war helped Saddam: After all, he gave Turkey, Israel and Kuwait all the support the US wanted him to give (for their security; and the US striked when its forces were ready (-> deployments didn´t arrive until end Feb/beg March. This correction is really important to me, it makes my country looking no THAAAAAAT bad. ;)
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