JOHN KERRY'S CAN'T-DO ATTITUDE

On September 23, 2004, Interim Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi addressed a joint session of the U.S. Congress. Below are some excerpts from that speech, and the hurried and predictably pessimistic response to it by John F. Kerry from a firehouse in Columbus Ohio. I am also including a few other recent statements by Senator Kerry concerning the Iraq War, the alternative positions of President Bush, and my own comments (preceded by the * symbol) regarding the issues raised.

Furthermore, flecked throughout this article are quotes from several historical figures, added for the purpose of sharpening the contrast between the forward thinking, hopeful attitudes of Allawi and Bush, and the persistent negativity and short-sightedness of Kerry. They have also been included in order to infuse a modicum of perspective into the overall debate surrounding the war on terror.

Ayad Allawi's address to Congress - "First, we are succeeding in Iraq. It's a tough struggle with setbacks, but we are succeeding. I have seen some of the images that are being shown here on television. They are disturbing. They focus on the tragedies, such as the brutal and barbaric murder of two American hostages this week... There are no words that can express the debt of gratitude that future generations of Iraqis will owe to Americans. It would have been easy to have turned your back on our plight, but this is not the tradition of this great country."

John Kerry's response - "The prime minister and the president are here obviously to put their best face on the policy."

* I can't imagine any president ever taking it upon himself to put a BAD face on his own war policies, but that aside, I also cannot imagine what sort of man could bring himself to intentionally focus, almost exclusively, on the most negative aspects of a war in which his fellow Americans are engaged, merely for the purpose of gaining political power. With each and every one of his speeches, which are designed to cast doubts upon our war strategies, and undermine the veracity of our Commander-in-Chief, John Kerry strengthens the resolve of our enemies, while simultaneously lowering the morale of our troops in the field.

Whether this is done out of blind ignorance, deaf arrogance, or with malice of forethought is unknown to me, but there can be no doubt that such behavior is detrimental to the war effort, as well as being hazardous to the lives of the American military men and women currently fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. Regardless of his motives, his is not the sort of mentality I would ever trust in anyone seeking the highest office in our land, primarily because it is one of utter irresponsibility. Moreover, such actions exhibit a marked indifference to the welfare of those who are the most deserving of our consideration and respect. That is something which I cannot abide in any person, at any level of authority.

"Liberty means responsibility. That is why most men dread it." - George Bernard Shaw

Ayad Allawi's address to Congress - "I am a realist. I know that terrorism cannot be defeated with political tools only. But we can weaken it, ending local support, help us to tackle the enemy head-on, to identify, isolate and eradicate this cancer. Let me provide you with a couple of examples of where this political plan already is working. In Samarra, the Iraqi government has tackled the insurgents who once controlled the city. Following weeks of discussions between government officials and representatives, coalition forces and local community leaders, regular access to the city has been restored... In Talafa, a city northwest of Baghdad, the Iraqi government has reversed an effort by insurgents to arrest, control (inaudible) the proper authorities. Iraqi forces put down the challenge and allowed local citizens to choose a new mayor and police chief."

John Kerry's response - "I think the prime minister is, obviously, contradicting his own statement of a few days ago [on ABC's 'This Week'] where he said the terrorists are pouring into the country."

Ayad Allawi's remarks on ABC'S 'This Week' - "Foreign terrorists are still pouring in, and they're trying to inflict damage on Iraq to undermine Iraq and to undermine the process... the democratic process in Iraq, and, indeed, this is their last stand, so they are putting a very severe fight on Iraq. We are winning. We will continue to win. We are going to prevail."

* For as long as I can remember, one of the most powerfully influential heroes of American history has been, for me, the late General George S. Patton. The impact of his words and deeds upon my worldview cannot be overstated. I admire him because he was the personification of patriotism, grit and determination. The man never accepted defeat, and he never tolerated the idea of it slithering its way into the minds and hearts of the men he commanded. Wars weren't for fighting - not to George Patton - they were for WINNING!

This same steadfastness and resolve is evident in the words and actions of Mr. Allawi, and I find it unconsciounable that John Kerry would stoop so low as to belittle this brave individual for the sake of political expediency.

Ayad Allawi's address to Congress - "Elections will occur in Iraq on time in January because Iraqis want elections on time... At every step of the political process to date the courage and resilience of the Iraqi people has proved the doubters wrong. They said we would miss January deadline to pass the interim constitution. We proved them wrong. They warned that there could be no successful handover of sovereignty by the end of June. We proved them wrong. A sovereign Iraqi government took over control two days early. They doubted whether a national conference could be staged this August. We proved them wrong. Despite intimidation and violence, over fourteen thousand citizens, a quarter of them women, from all regions and from every ethnic, religious and political grouping in Iraq, elected a national council. And I pledge to you today, we'll prove them wrong again over the elections."

John Kerry's response - "The United States and the Iraqis have retreated from whole areas of Iraq... There are no-go zones in Iraq today. You can't hold an election in a no-go zone."

* There ARE "no-go" zones in Iraq because we're planning our next set of moves, and not charging ahead like a bull through a pit of vipers. I sort of got the impression that being cautious at times was precisely what John Kerry wanted us to be, but I could have been mistaken.

John Kerry giving foreign policy address on September 20, 2004 - "The President claims it [the Iraq War] is the centerpiece of his war on terror. In fact, Iraq was a profound diversion from that war and the battle against our greatest enemy."

"Iraq may not be the war on terror itself, but it is critical to the outcome of the war on terror." - John Kerry on CBS's 'Face The Nation', December 15, 2003

"The true hypocrite is the one who ceases to perceive his deception, the one who lies with sincerity." - André Gide

George W. Bush speaking at campaign reception on March 3, 2004 - "Senator Kerry has been in Washington long enough to take both sides of just about every issue."

John Kerry giving foreign policy address on September 20, 2004 - "Invading Iraq has created a crisis of historic proportions."

* Why not just scream QUAGMIRE and get it over with, Mr. Kerry? The lord knows that such words served your political interests well in the early '70s.

John Kerry giving foreign policy address on September 20, 2004 - "And if we do not change course, there is the prospect of a war with no end in sight."

* No end in sight you say? Well, there's also the "prospect" of a terrorist regime springing up overnight in Iraq if you ever assume the office of President, and pull our troops out of that country prematurely because you haven't got the cajones God gave a chipmunk. In fact, there's any number of "prospect"s to be considered in the near future, another one of them being that you'll inevitably crash and burn on the second of November just like the Luftwaffe did over the English Channel near the end of WW II.

"It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace - but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!" - Patrick Henry

George W. Bush speaking at press conference on September 23, 2004 - "Iraqis and their leaders are engaged in a great and historic enterprise, to establish a new democracy at the heart of a vital region... I said yesterday that our military cannot be defeated by these thugs... what they do is behead Americans so they can get on the tv screens. And they're trying to shake our will, and they're trying to shake the Iraqis' will, that's what they're trying to do. Like all Americans I'm disgusted by that kind of behavior, but I'm not going to yield. We're not going to abandon the Iraqi people... my message to Mr. Zarqawi is you cannot drive us out of Iraq by your brutality. It's hard work, but we cannot allow the actions of a few to determine the fate of these good people, as well as the fate of the security of the United States."

John Kerry giving foreign policy address on September 20, 2004 - "In the dark days of the Cuban missile crisis, President kennedy sent former Secretary of State Dean Acheson to Europe to build support. Acheson explained the situation to French President de Gaulle. Then he offered to show him highly classified satellite photos as proof. De Gaulle waved him away saying the word of the President of the United States is good enough for me. How many world leaders have that same trust in America's president today?"

John Kerry speaking on CNN's 'Crossfire' in 1997 - "We know we can't count on the French. We know we can't count on the Russians. We know that Iraq is a danger to the United States and we reserve the right to take pre-emptive action whenever we feel it's in our national interest."

"Going to war without France is like going deer hunting without an accordion. You just leave a lot of useless, noisy baggage behind." - Jed Babbin

John Kerry giving foreign policy address on September 20, 2004 - "in Iraq, this administration has consistently over-promised and under-performed."

"The Iraqi people have met every deadline that anyone put before them... We transferred sovereignty on time, they have their national conference on time (and) they are now preparing for those elections... This government has only been in power three months, and they've already achieved a great deal." - Condoleeza Rice on NBC's 'Today', September 21, 2004

George W. Bush speaking at press conference on September 23, 2004 - "On television sets around the world we see acts of violence, yet in most of Iraq, children are about to go back to school, parents are going back to work and new businesses are being opened. Over one hundred businesses are now listed on the Iraqi Stock Exchange, and an average of five new companies are joining each week. Electricity has been restored above pre-war levels. Telephone service has increased dramatically. More than two thousand schools have been renovated, and millions of new text books have been distributed... In the next several months, over nine billion dollars will be spent on contracts that will help Iraqis rebuild schools, refurbish hospitals and health clinics, repair bridges, upgrade the electricity grid, and modernize the communications system."

* To say that President Bush has "over-promised" the American people anything or "under-performed" his tasks throughout the course of the entire Iraq War, are contentions too asinine to remark upon... so I won't. I will, however, say this... if you look in the dictionary under the word "inadequate", you will see a picture of John F. Kerry.

Ok, that's a lie, but it's not as big a lie as half the whoppers that have been told by Senator Kerry over the past year or so.

By any means, I think now is a good time to allow the observations of John Stuart Mill to round out this article, mostly because when it comes to telling people, especially liberals, what they really need to know about war, Mr. Mill, in the following single paragraph, imparts more wisdom than I ever could with ten thousand written words.

"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature, and has no chance of being free unless made or kept so by the exertions of better men than himself."

Excellent piece of work. I especially appreciate the fact that Mr. Daley reached back into history to help prove his point. I did the same, in spades, in this week's column. Click below.

Congressman Billybob

Latest column, "Kerry Hasn't Read a History Book"

If you haven't already joined the anti-CFR effort, please click here.

Thanks for your excellent analysis and commentary.....and for showing for everyone to see what a SCUMBAG the Democrats have put up as their candidate for president of our great country.

I was greatly embarrassed by Kerry's hateful remarks. It wouldn't surprise me a bit to hear that his were the last words the kidnapped victims will now be hearing before they are beheaded. He's still harming America 30 years since Viet Nam.

"...what sort of man could bring himself to intentionally focus, almost exclusively, on the most negative aspects of a war in which his fellow Americans are engaged, merely for the purpose of gaining political power."

The same man who turned his back on his fellow vietnam soldiers, and called them war crimals.

Sen. sKerry is no good, watch out!

Holtz
JeffersonRepublic.com

He's still harming America 30 years since Viet Nam.

Which explains why the lefties luv him, because they hate America.

This has been Kerry's MO thoughout his whole career. In the 60's and 70's he slandered and belittled our South Vietnamese allies in order to betray them to the communists. In the 80's he slandered and belittled the Contras and El Salvadorians in order to betray them to the communists. Last year he slandered our coalition partners as the "bribed and coerced". This year he is slandering Allawi in order to betray the Iraqis to the Jihadis. Betrayal is Kerry's stock in trade.

John Kerry's response - "The prime minister and the president are here obviously to put their best face on the policy."

Kerry, tell us about putting your "best face" on your book cover:

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