Posted on 09/23/2004 9:18:29 PM PDT by Rokke
I just watched the rerun of O'Reilly's 2001 interview with Kerry discussing the need to invade Iraq. In that interview, Kerry said the following: "I mean, I was in Safwan. I went there when the signing of the armistice took place at the end of the war." I've watched the video of the cease-fire signing at Safwan. It was still in a combat zone. I don't remember seeing anyone but military officers. Can anyone provide additional insight, or has Kerry lied again.
I have to agree. I don't think he was there. However, before accusing him a lying we need to find out who was with him on this supposed trip to Safwan.
"It's unbelievable," Sen. John Kerry said, congratulating the troops yesterday. "A lot of those of us who served in Vietnam found a new breath of air in your courage and optimism."The senators later returned to Kuwait City, where they met with Crown Prince Saad Abdallah Salem Sabah, who pledged that his country will move toward democracy, but only after reconstruction from the ravages inflicted by Iraq is complete.
(snip)
Earlier yesterday, the delegation was briefed by Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf, commander of US forces in the gulf, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and senators said he did not give them the impression that US troops would get involved in Iraq's civil war.
Once a formal cease-fire is signed, the senators said, troops would be heading home.
"Gen. Schwarzkopf wants to get everybody out as soon as he can," Kerry told a group of soldiers from Massachusetts, predicting that as many as 5,000 to 8,000 soldiers a day could begin coming home between now and Easter.
The senators said President Bush has left open the door for involvement should Iraq use chemical weapons to quell the rebellions. But most appeared to favor turning again to the United Nations for guidance.
Kerry, who voted against the use of force in the gulf, said yesterday he has no regrets about his vote. But as he chatted with soldiers, he added he was "delighted by the outcome" of the war.
As Kerry jotted down soldiers' names and addresses, Pfc. Thomas Dardas, 19, of Lawrence told him that the military mail was slow. Lt. Carl Taylor 25, of Buzzards Bay described the 1st Division's stand against the Republican Guard. And one soldier interjected with a vital question: "Are the Celtics still No. 1, sir?"
"No, but they're doing all right," Kerry replied.
Nearby, Sen. Joseph Lieberman, Democrat of Connecticut, chatted with Lt. Robert Law, 23, of Ridgefield, Conn., about the war. "You are going to be greeted like heroes, which you are," Lieberman said.
[Illustration] PHOTO; CAPTION:1. Sen. John Glenn of Ohio takes a souvenir snapshot yesterday at the 1st Armored Division's position in Safwan, Iraq, during a tour by US politicians. In back is a captured Iraqi T-72 tank. / REUTERS PHOTO (First edition photo) 2. Sen. John Kerry joins the chow line at a US base near Kuwait City yesterday during a gulf tour with a group of congressional leaders. / AFP PHOTO
Ping to 282 above... he was there.
No, but I will go do that, however I found this in the meantime.
Kerry was on a C 135 Transport Plane, bound for Kuwait with John McCain.
http://www.showmenews.com/2004/Feb/20040201Feat016.asp
Bummer, but he still wasn't AT the signing like he SAID. So its not a lie, its yet another embelishment.
Well at least they cannot say we FReepers are like CBS. Quite the opposite aye?
"I mean, I was in Safwan. I went there when the signing of the armistice took place at the end of the war."
Kerry's odd choice of words suggests he was more likely windsurfing in the Persian Gulf than witnessing the signing of the Gulf-War cease fire. (His prior relevant vote, as well as his dilettantish tendencies, support this view.)
hahahaaaa! Good pic, devolve.I've watched the video of the cease-fire signing at Safwan. It was still in a
combat zone. I don't remember seeing anyone but military officers. Can
anyone provide additional insight, or has Kerry lied again.Kerry LIE??? You gotta be kiddin' !!
As Grampa Dave said: "Christmas, 1968: Kerry with his Swift Boat Crew
in Scambodia. Kerry is wearing his CIA hat that came from Richard Nixon
a month before Nixon was sworn in as President."
see post 287 and thx for the heads up
- "I mean, I was in Safwan. I went there when the signing of the armistice took place at the end of the war." -Kerry to O'Reilly, 2001
Kerry's odd choice of words suggests he was more likely windsurfing in the Persian Gulf than witnessing the signing of the Gulf-War cease fire. (His prior relevant vote, as well as his dilettantish tendencies, support this view.)
Kerry is UNFIT #21:
THUMBSUCKER SERIES
-BOARDHEAD TO THE RESCUE-(viewing movie requires Flash Player 7, available HERE)
NEW! compleatjohnkerry.blogspot.com
NEW! unfitforcommand.blogspot.com
johnkerryisdangerousforamerica.blogspot.com
Hanna: Bummer, but he still wasn't AT the signing like he SAID. So its not a lie, its yet another embelishment.
Embellishment... or just a poor choice of words. It now definitely looks like this is not something to email to the media! LOL.
I'm not sure if anything was signed on March 3rd, or not. I found this article that indicates discussions were ongoing:
The Washington Post Company Mar 18, 1991(snip)
A coalition delegation led by the U.S. Central Command chief of staff, Maj. Gen. Robert B. Johnston, met today with 10 Iraqi military officers at the same isolated airbase in Safwan, Iraq, where Iraqi commanders and coalition military officers met March 3 and formally agreed on terms for a cease-fire.
"The talks centered on cease-fire agreements," said a communique issued by the Central Command after today's session.
The communique added, "In the past several days, the U.S. has learned that the Iraqis have flown some of their military airplanes." The command said this violated the terms of the temporary cease-fire set by Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf, the commander of Operation Desert Storm, at the first round of peace talks in Safwan.
"Now the Iraqi military has indicated that it intends to fly more airplanes, to move them around within Iraq," the command said. "This, too, would violate the terms of the temporary cease-fire."
Today's meeting was held to hear why the Iraqis want to fly some of their aircraft, according to U.S. officials quoted by the Associated Press. The command said it would consider the request.
He must've flown over in the same SR-71 Bush Senior used to make a secret deal with the Iranians just before the 1980 elections. (smirk)
Whadda mean, Saddam says no deal unless Kerry's military records are upgraded, including a Silver Star with a combat V and his discharge is changed from General to Honorable.
The ceasefire was a military activity. There is no evidence of POLITICAL participation. Why would a senator who opposed the war be there, but NO HIGH RANKING DoD OFFICIALS, and no senators who voted for the war? Also, for any civilian (including a senator) to have been at the signing, they would have had to have been cleared, and transported there by the DoD. There should be DoD and Army records of attendees and their being transported to the site. Also, Kerry's whereabouts immediately before, during, and after the ceasefire signing should be traceable through his office. If Kerry's office can't "authenticate" his trip, maybe Dan Rather would like to break the story on 60 MINTUES.
Well Kerry certaintly was in the region prior to war...but in MARCH '91?
1990-09-02
DHAHRAN, Saudi Arabia (UPI) -- Fourteen senators visited American troops Saturday in Saudi Arabia, and pro-Israeli members said they now back greater U.S. military support for the kingdom to bolster its defense against Iraq.
Saudi Defense Minister Prince Sultan said, meanwhile, Riyadh would object to the United States unilaterally using its ground forces in the kingdom.
``Saudi Arabia will not be a theater for any action that is not defensive for Saudi Arabia,'' he told reporters, when asked how the kingdom would view a U.S. military action to free Western hostages being held by Baghdad as a human shield to protect vital facilities.
The senators said after a day-trip to American positions in eastern Saudi Arabia that they endorsed the kingdom's request for more arms, reported to include 48 F-15 fighters, Stinger anti-aircraft missiles and some 300 M1 Abrams tanks.
``I think given the present circumstances and (the Saudis') great cooperation, we should make available what they need,'' said Alan Cranston, D-Calif. ``I was the leader of the opposition, but not any more. Now (the Saudis) are allied with us. They are sitting on the front lines. They will take the first casualties.''
Cranston is a fervent supporter of Israel, and opposed the first F- 15 sales to Saudi Arabia in 1976, the sale of AWACS reconaissance planes in 1981, and the planned sale of Maverick anti-tank missile and Stingers in 1985-6.
``If the Israelis feel that they need excess weaponry to counter what has been provided to the Saudis, we should make that available to them,'' Cranston said.
Greater leniency toward Saudi Arabia was also proposed by Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan, D-NY, another pro-Israeli member who said:
``Obviously we will be a lot more receptive than I was previously'' to a Saudi arms package.
Sen. William Cohen, R-Maine, said: ``Perhaps if we had not been pursuing a policy of appeasement toward Iraq we would not have the nature of the threat posed toward Saudi Arabia that we have today.''
The party also included Claiborne Pell, D-RI, Jesse Helms, R-NC, John Glenn, D-Ohio, John Heinz, R-Pa, Paul Sarbanes, D-Md, Dave Durenberger, R-Minn, Carl Levin, D-Mich, Larry Pressler, R-SD, Christopher Todd, D-Conn, and John Kerry, D-Mass.
They flew out to spend the night in Bahrain, and on Sunday were to fly to the Saudi city of Jeddah and on to Egypt for talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
The senators will visit Oman and the United Arab Emirates on Monday, and a 22-member bipartisan House delegation is to visit U.S. positions Sunday.
The senators were given a briefing by Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, the overrall commander of the U.S. forces now exceeding 60,000 personnel, who told them the main mission was to deter any attack by Iraq and defend Saudi Arabia, and that no swift assault on Baghdad was planned.
The party numbering about 40 people flew in four Black Hawk helicopters to the headquarters of the 101st airborne division, where the politicians spoke with about 200 personnel and collected messages to deliver to loved ones.
``We're going to get rid of Saddam Hussein, and then we'll bring you guys home,'' Levin told one group.
The group travelled by a C-130 Hercules to a staging area for the 7th Marine Expeditionary Brigade, and were briefed by Lt. Gen. Walt Boomer and Maj. Gen. John Hopkins.
Choppers whisked the party north to forward marine units, flanked by two Cobra gunships which swooped low over the desert terrain.
Col. Carl Fulford explained at a logistics base that the marines held a 15-mile-long front with orders to block any Iraqi advance should Baghdad decide to move down the main highway leading from Kuwait.
Cranston huddled around an M-60 tank with California soldiers beneath a camouflage net, fielding requests for more mail, newspapers and special foods, and questions about whether war would erupt.
I think this is referring PRIOR to the war and not AFTER. Kerry did visit the area with other senators PRIOR to 1991 and did visit troops at the Kuwati border. I think it is these events the story is referring to. See #295.
What is the link to this story? Also see #295.
SENATORS DOUBT US WILL INTERVENE IN IRAQI STRIFE
Published on March 17, 1991
Author(s): Elizabeth Neuffer, Globe StaffAn abstract is available, or the full article can be purchased at the Boston Globe website. I retrieved the article from my public library (online), therefore I don't have a link.
I did read Post 295... thanks.
Seems pretty simple to me. He claims to have been in Safwan when the Safwan Accords were signed. If he wasn't there, he's in deep doo-doo.
An armistice and a ceasefire aren't necessarily the same thing.
I highly doubt that Kerry was in Safwan for the ceasefire signing, because of the speed with which it was laid on and the high security, bordering on paranoia, surrounding the event.
I doubt even more that Kerry was in the tent during the signing. Even Fred Franks had trouble passing the guards to get inside, and they were largely troops from his own command, 7th Corps.
There might have been some sort of "official signing event" after the ceasefire, but if it was at Safwan, it was in Frank's AO unless it took place at least 30 days after the ceasefire, and I don't recall reading a word about it in his autobiography, "Into the Storm".
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