Posted on 12/09/2004 11:24:43 AM PST by areafiftyone
WASHINGTON - Former Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry (news - web sites) will travel to Iraq (news - web sites) next month as the war-torn country prepares for elections.
The Massachusetts senator, who lost his bid for the presidency in November, is expected to visit several Middle East countries, with the focus on the situation in Iraq and the war on terror.
A decorated Vietnam War veteran, Kerry also plans to meet with U.S. troops, including some from Massachusetts, to thank them for their services, spokeswoman April Boyd said Thursday.
During the campaign, Kerry criticized President Bush (news - web sites)'s handling of the Iraq war. Although Kerry voted in October 2002 to give Bush the authority to wage war, he later voted against additional funds for Iraq and Afghanistan (news - web sites) reconstruction, arguing that the commander in chief didn't have a solid plan to restore peace.
Kerry is a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
In addition to his Iraq trip, Kerry will take time during the holidays to host events in Massachusetts and Iowa in which he will thank his campaign supporters. He travels to Iowa on Friday.
Kerry's solo overseas trip comes after several senators endured a harrowing flight out of Baghdad, and amid increased security concerns as violence there continues to escalate.
Last week, a group of senators, including Sen. Lincoln Chafee (news, bio, voting record), R-R.I., traveled to Iraq and found conditions far more dangerous than during a similar trip a year ago. Chafee described a frightening helicopter flight out of Baghdad as the aircraft weaved to avoid enemy fire.
The Iraqi elections are scheduled for Jan. 30 and will be the first popular vote since Saddam Hussein (news - web sites)'s ouster.
I guess he'll be meeting with the insurgents and will then come home and recommend we give in to them.
Will he be travelling with Jane Fonda?
Shall we tell Bin Laden that Kerry will be visiting him soon?
Shall we tell Bin Laden that Kerry will be visiting him soon?
Why don't these politicians stay away and let these soldiers/marines do their jobs? They shouldn't have to burdened with extra protection for politicians during the middle of a war.
He loves the terrorists so much, maybe they could arrange guest quarters and a TV for him while he is there.
Actually, he was dodging the rats asking him to join the political arm of the KKK and the pubbies who were tryinbg to push him out of the chopper.
Three items:
1. Is he going to come back and tell stories about the atrocities of US service personnel?
2. I wonder how those troops he visits will react to "the wrong war at the wrong place at the wrong time." After not voting to fund the war, HE's the one who should be asked why the guys don't have the armor and equipment they need. The guy should be ashamed of himself, and,
3. Sounds like there might be some opportunities here. Iraq is a VERY dangerous place these days, and anything can happen...
Once untrustworthy, always untrustworthy!
Well, anyways, I hope he brings some of the $87 million dollar package with him so the boys can have some extra necessary equipment. Ooops, I forgot, he voted against that.
With this little announcement, we can now be certain as to where the setup that took place with Rummy the other day came from.
I heard he had better be paying those camaign supporters. Some of them havent been paid since August.
What does Kerry expect to gain from this trip? What's his real agenda? Is he taking Tereeeeesa with him? Maybe he'll leave her there, or visa versa.
Maybe he and slick willie can jump in a ditch together to protect Israel.
Another thought: Who's paying for this trip (like the trip to France in 1971 to meet with the N. Vietnamese)?
Sounds like trouble to get into. Oh the horrors he shall see and tell us about!
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