Posted on 09/01/2004 12:40:13 PM PDT by kattracks
(CNSNews.com) - Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry Wednesday criticized President Bush's approach to the war in Iraq and the post-war reconstruction efforts, saying he would have done "almost everything differently."
Speaking at the National American Legion in Nashville, Tenn., Kerry said the president had "no real plan for post-war political transition."
"When it comes to Iraq, it's not that I would have done one thing differently. I would have done almost everything differently," the senator said. "I would have relied on American troops in Tora Bora, the best troops in the world, when we had Osama bin Laden in our sights trapped in the mountains.
"I would not have sent Afghans up into those mountains, who a week earlier were fighting on the other side. I would have sent the best trained forces in the world to get the number one criminal and terrorist in the world," he added.
Kerry said he would never have "diverted resources so quickly" from Afghanistan before capturing bin Laden.
Kerry added that he would have given weapons inspectors in Iraq more time to search for weapons of mass destruction, not because inspectors would have found all the weapons, "but because by doing do, we could have brought other countries to our side."
That way, he said, "you provide the best protection" and "you provide America with the greatest chance of success."
In addition, Kerry said he would have listened to senior advisers, provided state-of-the-art body armor, humvees and equipment to soldiers in Iraq, and built a "strong, broad coalition" of allies worldwide.
Kerry bashed Bush's use of the term "catastrophic success," saying the U.S. must bring "our allies to our side," share the burden of the war that is currently costing the U.S. taxpayer, and reduce the risks to U.S. soldiers.
"I don't think we need what President Bush has defined as a catastrophic success. I think we need a real success," Kerry said. He suggested that the military "more rapidly train Iraqi police and military" to take over the protection of Iraq.
The Democrat also criticized President Bush's original comments on Monday about the war on terror in an interview with NBC's Matt Lauer, in which Bush said, "I don't think you can win it. But I think you can create conditions so that those who use terror as a tool are less acceptable in parts of the world. Let's put it that way."
On Tuesday, Bush told the American Legion, "We may never sit down at a peace table, but make no mistake about it, we are winning and we will win." Bush repeated the phrase "we will win" a number of times.
"I know he said something different to you yesterday, but I absolutely disagree with what he said in that interview in a moment of candor," Kerry said.
"With the right policies, this is a war we can win, this is a war we must win, and this is a war we will win, because we're the can-do people and there's nothing we can't do if we put our mind and our muscle to it," he said. "In the end, the terrorists will lose and we will win because the future does not belong to fear, it belongs to freedom."
Kerry's solution to winning the war on terror includes adding 40,000 active duty troops to the military, although not in Iraq.
"Nine out of ten of our Army divisions are now either in Iraq, going to Iraq, coming back from Iraq, getting ready to go to Iraq... even as Iran and North Korea get more dangerous. Our troops are overstretched, overextended, under pressure. I intend to double our special forces to conduct anti-terrorist operations," he said.
Kerry also said he would end the "back-door draft of the National Guard and reservists that is taking place today."
See Also:
Democrats Accuse Bush of 'Flip-Flopping' on Winning the War (Sept. 1, 2004)
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Aside from the fact we had troops at Tora Bora, for the sake of argument, let us say it was a 100% American effort, and we took heavy casualties. Why is it I think he would be saying today "I would have relied on Afghanistan Troops to go into areas they know best instead of sending our brave men to be butchered."
Looking backwards it is easy to see where we could have improved, what do have for the future Mr. Kerry?
"I have a different plan than this administration, but you'll have to vote for me to find out what it is."
I listened. Kerry bombed so badly that I thought they would call in EOD.
TORA BORA IS IN IRAQ?
"TO LOOSE....
Don't you mean "TOO LOOSE"???
No, joesnuffy meant "TO LOSE".
I thought he meant "Two Lou's"
Ha! Ha!
He could have meant tolouse, also. : -)
Responding to John Kerry speeches is like responding to New England weather. Depending on poll numbers, focus groups, and whims, he'll say something totally different next week. The relevant point is not that he says stupid things, but that he says almost anything at any time.
Unless I am wrong, the Kerry campaign is in a completely reactive posture. They come out with stuff in response to events, in response to Republican initiatives, in response to perceived Bush gaffes, etc. They come out with NOTHING that actually emanates from a principled program. My record of prognostication on elections is pretty poor, but this kind of reactive approach is a sign of impending disaster for the Dims. And it couldn't happen to a more distateful bunch of guys.
What can I say more?
I should be the Dem candidate, because I can at least play backseat driver. When I tell you I would handled everything differently, I'll exhibit 20-20 hindsight, and list for you all the brilliant moves I would have made, had I been in the driver's seat. This guy is even blind in hindsight. What kind of Democrat is that?!
But we didn't need to "capture" bin Laden; he was already "sleeping with the virgins," as Don Ayatollah would say.
They could have finessed it, Americans love a good mea culpa.
Now the Swiftees will take him down in October to levels he has not heretofore seen. Just as Americans love a good mea culpa they hate rat bastards.
I am suddenly reminded of that wonderful commercial with Brett Favre second-guessing normal people on the street.
1) Is John Kerry a military tactician? If not, who did he consult with to come up with this strategy? What General advised him?
2) Given (1) above, John Kerry would fight the war on terror like every other liberal.....from the White House in consultation with polling advisers that would end up over-ruling the commanders on the scene.
KERRRY = phonybaloney,plasticbanana
The veterans should have asked Kerry what he would have done in Korea. Would he have helped turn South Korea into a starving nation? Would he have campaigned against American fighting soldiers and spread lies about them? Would he have kept them making expensive sneakers for chump change like the Vietnamese? No LPGA stars? No Kia's or Hyundia's for the left to buy? South Korea can thank God that Kerry was born too late to put them into the same Communist hole he helped place the Vietnamese into when he turned traitor.
This guy is such a joke.
...good time rock 'n roller.
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