Kerry meets Assad in Damascus

AP ^ | January 8, 2005 | By ALBERT AJI

[Prost1]

A fitting picture

Two neo-Facists Plot!

[John Lenin]

I guess Kerry is reduced to pretending that he's President now.

Thank God.

[Becki]

I guess Kerry is reduced to pretending that he's President now.

Didn't he always?

Becki

[andie74]

Isn't there some sort of law against impersonating a President?

[Ooh-Ah]

This is a good article to send to people who understand the Middle East and may have voted for Kerry.

[Arizona Carolyn]

I saw this on FOX. What's the deal? I have to say this really bothers me -- a lot! So many thoughts going through my head on this; none of them good... this after his meeting over there with Jimmy Carter!

[StoneGiant]

Following in the steps of his mentor, Hanoi Jane.

I wonder what his next book cover will look similar to this one?

[mtntop3]

Kerry is such an ass - and enemy of our nation beneath his moneyed veneer. And the "spontaneous" appearance of the adoring child is so typical of a totalitarian society - they usually come bearing flowers but obviously a drawing was thought more theatrically appropriate for this contrived occasion. The Arabs would love to have a spaniel such as Kerry as President - especially for the fact that he has Jewish blood, which the Arabs would ultimately utilize to attempt to indicate that he, a Jew, is the very embodiment of the U.S.- the U.S. would be lumped even more with Israel as the archenemy. A suicidal prospectus for both the U.S. and Israel.

[SerpentDove]

"Peace in our time."

[monkapotamus]

"The more terrorists you can send into Iraq, the better for my party, Mr. Assad"

[tarheelswamprat]

Furthermore, the Bush administration continues to demonstrate a dangerous incompetence in media and PR matters by allowing these types of stunts by political opponents.

I agree, but realistically how could the Bush administration put a stop to it?

Unfortunately, there is no easy solution. That is one of the problems with allowing inappropriate and dishonest ideas and actions to set precedents which become so entrenched they are almost impossible to undo.

In this particular case, if I were Bush I would make a high-profile public statement that Senator Kerry does not speak for the American government and any foreign leaders who treat with him do so at their own risk. I would further amplify this by stating that this same stricture applies to any other non-administration officials or former officials, such as Jimmy Carter or Bill Clinton, unless they are explicitly authorized by the administration. In addition, I would have our ambassador to Syria formally call on Syrian President Assad and inform him of this policy position face-to-face.

I realize this would cause an incredible media firestorm against Bush and would entail enormous political risk, but I believe the potential gain justifies the risk. It is my sincere belief that there is a huge potential of untapped energy and support in the American populace that is simmering under the surface and is just waiting for the right leader to inspire it, galvanize it and direct it into action.

I believe that the vast majority of Americans are just flat-out fed-up with the MSM, political correctness run amuck and the shameful dishonesty and venality of our self-annointed ruling elites. I believe the people are just waiting for someone with the courage to challenge these corrupt institutions head-on while they are still reeling from the blows they sustained during the recent election campaign. I believe Americans would rise-up and cheer and support President Bush if he stepped forth and loudly issued the call.

In order for this to happen, however, Bush has to make the leap of faith and courage. As long as he continues to tiptoe through the politically correct minefields of media approval and world opinion, the people will continue to merely watch and observe. This is precisely analogous to the situation in Iraq, where the people are waiting and watching to see if we have the national will and determination to stay the course before they're willing to commit themselves.

In practical terms, the Bush administration needs to adopt a policy of immediately and forcefully responding to each and every instance of kibitzing, grandstanding and deliberate attempts to subvert official policy by the Kerry/Carter/Clinton types. The Logan Act needs to be publicly invoked and explained to the American people, and then enforced. And to do this, they must get some forceful, articulate spokespeople to compensate for Bush's communication deficiencies. What they need are more Zell Miller types, not the pathetic White House press spokeman they have now. The Clinton administration had a "war-room" response team for just such a purpose, and regardless of our personal dislike of them, it was damned effective, even when used to defend their obvious lies. Imagine how effective it could be when used to defend the truth.

[F.J. Mitchell]

You Know Kerry:

"I actually spilled my guts to Assad, before I decided to tell him nothing."

[John O]

see post 23.

But then again I understand that Mrs Heinz's poodle was in Vietnam so maybe there's a loophole!?