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June 28, 2005
The Speech Kerry wanted Bush to Give
And here, in the New York Times, is the speech that John Kerry says the president should have given:
The reality is that the Bush administration's choices have made Iraq into what it wasn't before the war - a breeding ground for jihadists. Today there are 16,000 to 20,000 jihadists and the number is growing. The administration has put itself - and, tragically, our troops, who pay the price every day - in a box of its own making. Getting out of this box won't be easy, but we owe it to our soldiers to make our best effort.
So getting out is the objective? No, fool, winning is the objective.
So what should the president say tonight? The first thing he should do is tell the truth to the American people. Happy talk about the insurgency being in "the last throes" leads to frustrated expectations at home.
I covered this lie in the post below. What he really wants is the president to say that we're losing, so that he can have his Vietnam II.
The president must also announce immediately that the United States will not have a permanent military presence in Iraq. Erasing suspicions that the occupation is indefinite is critical to eroding support for the insurgency.
The president has only said this about a million times.
And the insurgent terrorists hate us and the new Iraqi government because it represents democracy, an idea that is antithetical to their Jihadist fanatacism.
He should also say that the United States will insist that the Iraqis establish a truly inclusive political process and meet the deadlines for finishing the Constitution and holding elections in December.
Someone get this guy a newspaper subscription.
He also needs to put the training of Iraqi troops on a true six-month wartime footing and ensure that the Iraqi government has the budget needed to deploy them.
Ditto my last comment.
The administration must immediately draw up a detailed plan with clear milestones and deadlines for the transfer of military and police responsibilities to Iraqis after the December elections. The plan should be shared with Congress.
Why, so your pals can compare it to concentration camps and gulags?
Iraq's Sunni neighbors, who complain they are left out, could do more to help.
Uh, like the Saudis? Oh yeah, that'll help. The Saudis are well-known promoters of democracy. None of their people ever commit terrorist acts.
Further, does he not realize that Sunni troops would inflame the Shi'ites? Sure "Sunni" Arab countries want to send in troops. They want to "protect" their co-religionists. These Sunni nations; Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Kuwait, Syria, are not exactly known for promoting democracy. Far from helping the situation, they would make it worse.
The next months are critical to Iraq's future and our security.
Yes they are. And thank heaven that since you weren't elected president Iraq stands a chance.
Posted by Tom at June 28, 2005 10:48 PM
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Comments
Will someone please tell Kerry to save his wartime-negative-hand-wringing editorial for another time.....like AFTER the war? Can you imagine how pumped up our troops would be after a high-ranking jihadist offered a belly-aching submittal like this for all to read???
HEY JOHN!...YOU LOST THE ELECTION...GET OVER IT!!!
Posted by: Larry at June 29, 2005 8:33 AM
