Posted on 09/06/2004 10:09:59 AM PDT by yonif
CANONSBURG, Pennsylvania (Reuters) - Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry has called the invasion of Iraq "the wrong war in the wrong place at the wrong time" and said his goal was to withdraw U.S. troops in his first White House term.
Under pressure from some Democrats to change the subject from national security -- regarded by many as President George W. Bush's strongest issue -- Kerry tried to focus exclusively on the economy and other domestic topics at a neighbourhood meeting but supporters raised Iraq.
The Massachusetts senator, who has said he would have voted to give Bush the authority to use force if necessary against Iraq even if he had known at the time that Saddam Hussein had no weapons of mass destruction, has struggled to draw clear contrasts with the president.
"I would not have done just one thing differently than the president on Iraq, I would have done everything differently than the president on Iraq," Kerry said on Monday.
He denied that he was "Monday morning quarterbacking."
"I said this from the beginning of the debate to the walk up to the war. I said, Mr. President don't rush to war, take the time to build a legitimate coalition and have a plan to win the peace."
Kerry said Bush had failed on all three counts. He called the president's talk about a coalition fighting alongside about 125,000 U.S. troops "the phoniest thing I've ever heard."
"You've about 500 troops here, 500 troops there and it's American troops that are 90 percent of the combat casualties and it's American taxpayers that are paying 90 percent of the cost of the war," he said. "It's the wrong war, in the wrong place at the wrong time."
GETTING OUT OF IRAQ
Kerry, like Bush, promised that the United States would stay the course in Iraq until the country is secure, saying: "We have to do what we need to do to get out and do it right."
He pledged to internationalise the forces in Iraq and do a better job of fighting "a more effective, smarter" war on terror that he said would actually make Americans safer.
Although he declined to set a precise timetable for pulling out U.S. troops, Kerry said it would be possible if certain conditions were met, such as bringing allies to the table to help with security and reconstruction.
He also said Washington should make it clear to the world that the United States had no "long-term designs to maintain bases and troops in Iraq.
"We want those troops home and my goal would be to try to get them home in my first term and I believe that can be done," he said.
If Kerry were to beat Bush in the November 2 presidential election, his first four-year term would end in January 2009.
Kicking off a Labour Day offensive in three crucial battleground states -- Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio -- Kerry focused on pocketbook issues as he tried to reinvigorate his campaign after new polls showed him trailing Bush by double digits.
On the front porch of Dale and Jody Rhome's house in Canonsburg, he assailed the president's economic policies and said if Americans wanted four more years of losing jobs and health care "then you ought to go vote for George Bush."
Keep the soldiers and just withdraw Kerry, much more effective and simpler to do.
"He also said Washington should make it clear to the world that the United States had no "long-term designs to maintain bases and troops in Iraq."
This guy is amazing. I suspect a part of the reason the US invaded iraq involved forward air-power projection without the vulnerabilities carriers are beginning to have). He is going to give this up??
It's his French heritage. In his genes. White flags akimbo. Etc.
Just as he wanted the US to do in Nam. And succeeded in his mission.
Looks like Kerry's looking to fire up his base to save face.
What happened to F'n's plan to put more boots on the ground? I'm thinking I heard that out of one side of his mouth not too long ago.
"and said his goal was to withdraw U.S. troops in his first White House term. "
So now his "goal" is to get them out by 2009 ?
His "goal" is not to stabalize Iraq so our support will no longer be needed - his "goal" is simply to withdraw ?
Saddam is hoping Spitball wins.
He'll be back on that fence before you know it. If you don't like Kerry's position, just wait...
Makes you wonder if Jesse Jackson isn't ghost writing his speeches.
He was dead wrong on both counts.
"He is going to give this up??"
Why should his position on Iraq be any different than VietNam?
Sure he'll 'cut and run'.
That's his nature.
No, he wants to send 40,000 more troops overseas, but NOT to Iraq. I think he wants to send them to Germany. He was very clear that he did not mean Iraq.
Headline should have been:
Mr. Kerry, since as you are well aware it is not possible for the President to "create" any jobs but instead must rely on creating a favorable economic climate for business owners and entrepreneurs which causes them to require more workers-- what plans to you have to improve the business conditions for these business owners?
Do you plan to reduce their tax burden-- thereby freeing up money for new employees?
Do you propose getting rid of government regulations which cost them money that could be used to hire workers?
Do you propose reigning in the trial lawyers that increase the cost of doing business through excessive (and often frivolous) litigation?
Do you propose opening up our education system to private competition through vouchers to ensure that our children are more employable as they enter the work force?
Please don't mumble, Mr. Kerry, and I have a followup question...
BUT YOU VOTED FOR IT!
I know, I know...you don't have to remind me.
Kerry base in fractured, that is obvious.
Or Johnny Cochran. Heheheh.
Yep, by openly calling it the 'wrong war', as presidential candidate, he is instilling in the minds of the enemy the idea that their cause is righteous.
Once again, he is helping the enemy kill American servicemen.
I hear the sound of rubber flip flops again!
P.S. We are at war, DUMBASS!
(Have you forgot 9/11 already?)
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