Posted on 02/04/2005 7:46:22 AM PST by areafiftyone
WASHINGTON (AP) Sen. Edward M. Kennedy criticized President Bush Friday for not mentioning Osama bin Laden in his State of the Union speech, and said Sunday's historic election in Iraq could escalate the violence there.
``Sunday's election is not a cure for the violence and instability,'' said Kennedy, D-Mass., in remarks prepared for delivery at the University of Massachusetts-Boston. ``Unless the Sunni and all the other communities in Iraq believe they have a stake in the outcome and a genuine role in drafting the new Iraqi constitution, the election could lead to greater alienation, greater escalation, and greater death for us and for the Iraqis.''
And he complained that although Bush mentioned terror 27 times in his State of the Union address, he never mentioned the man who launched the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
``What world is he living in?'' Kennedy said. ``He started a war we never should have fought. He stopped fighting a war we hadn't won, and left our greatest enemy in the world still at large, planning his next 9/11.''
Kennedy, who has kept up a constant barrage of criticism against the war, also talked about how it has touched his own family.
He said soldiers, such as wife Victoria Reggie Kennedy's 23-year-old nephew who is getting ready to do another tour in Iraq receive just 13 weeks of training before heading to war, while military police receive 21 weeks.
``If America can train the best military in the world in 13 weeks, why can't we train the Iraqis in eight or 12 or 15 months to fight and die for their country?'' said Kennedy. He said his wife's nephew, who is from Shreveport, La., was supposed to get more training in Kuwait, but instead was sent straight to Mosul to serve as a gunner in a Stryker brigade.
Kennedy's speech was the second in eight days in which he called for America's withdrawal from Iraq over the next year to 18 months, and said at least 12,000 troops should be brought home immediately since at least that many were there primarily to guarantee security for the election.
Kennedy also paid tribute to the 32 Massachusetts soldiers who have been killed in Iraq, and 122 who have been wounded including 1983 UMass graduate Kyran Kennedy, a chief warrant officer who was killed in Tikrit in November.
The first senator to call for a withdrawal plan, Kennedy has received both praise and criticism for his latest assault on Bush.
Republicans have blasted him for his pessimism and partisan tone. While others, including former national security adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski, praised his courage and predictions on the state of the war.
The Bush administration has rejected calls for a timetable for troop withdrawal, saying the goal is to ensure the Iraqis are capable of maintaining their own security before military forces are scaled back.
He finally sobered up enough to take a step..
He ran out of Cutty Sark and is on a hangover.
I'm sure Kennedy's nephew just loves being used as a political pawn while he's getting shot at.
He's on a roll.
Within 2 days AQ or a radical cleric will you talking points from Kennedy's statement. They always do.
do any freepaers know the email address to ted the swimmer so we can email him the story of the villagers in iraq attacking and killing 5 terrorists and wounding 8 others
It's good that he's digging a hole.
Enough. 2006 should be a target for conservatives worldwide to work on getting rid of this pompous windbag. He is an international annoyance.
I suggest William Weld be persuaded to run against him - he may be the only Republican who can do it, and get the Libertarian endorsement.
Regards, Ivan
[In a desperate yet unsuccessful attempt to appear relevant,] Kennedy steps up criticism against Bush over war on terror!
There are very few people that I wish would depart this earth soon. The fat sperm whale is one.
Let me get this straight. Ted's saying that we must make a seat at the table for the guys who tied a bomb to a Down's syndrome kid and boycotted the elections?
The Great SubMARinur speaks!
"Sen. Edward M. Kennedy criticized President Bush Friday for not mentioning Osama bin Laden in his State of the Union speech,"
I don't know why the drunken traitor is complaining, after all, he covered Bin Laden in his incoherent rant about Barack Obama....er, that guy from Chicago.
Just damn.
If you want on the list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...
I wonder how it feels to be on the wrong side of history EVERY time!??
From yesterday:
"When are the Iraqis going to fight for their own country? When are they going to start shedding their own blood ... as American servicemen with this amount of training are ready to shed theirs," said Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Massachusetts.
What world are YOU living in, you fat fraud?
Move to the head of the class, friend!
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