Guest BlackJesus Posted November 3, 2004 Report Share Posted November 3, 2004 It is from over a week ago, but still relevant John Kerry Loses When Voters Finally Get It By Paul Gillman Oct. 23, 2004 During the first presidential debate, Senator John Kerry compared attacking Iraq after 9/11 to the U.S. attacking Mexico after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. The comment was a great sound bite and probably won a few debate “pointsâ€Â. Upon consideration, the analogy has merit if you remove the laughable part about Mexico. What John Kerry didn’t say was that right after Pearl Harbor, Roosevelt and Churchill established a total war strategy that emphasized Germany as the most ominous threat, not Japan. To the disappointment of the U.S. public and even some of our military, Roosevelt committed the majority of U.S. resources at the beginning of the war toward fighting Nazi Germany, not Japan. Indeed, Germany did declare war on the U.S. soon after Pearl Harbor, but the American public wanted immediate revenge against Japan. Roosevelt had a global strategy and historians have lauded his controversial decision. Like Roosevelt during WWII, Bush took a global approach and viewed Iraq as a serious threat that needed to be addressed after 9/11. The Iraq threat analysis supporting Bush’s decision was far more ominous than the Al Qaeda threat intelligence prior to 9/11. (Remember the outcry against both Clinton and Bush from members of the 9/11 commission for not acting more decisively before the attack?) Iraq was centered in a region of the world where terrorism flourished and Saddam’s regime was the most openly hostile threat to the U.S. and it’s neighbors with a history of aggression. For 12 years, he flaunted UN resolutions and maintained covert weapons programs that presented a real and substantial threat to the region. Although not tied to the 9/11 attack, his regime maintained a relationship with Al Qaeda. This was supported by both the 9/11 Commission and the Senate Intelligence Committee reports. The major difference between Bush and Kerry in fighting the war on terror is that Bush has a long term strategy and Kerry has none. Kerry’s debate remark isolates the war on terrorism to bin Laden. Retired General Tommy Franks said this during a recent interview with the New York Times. “Contrary to Senator Kerry, President Bush never "took his eye off the ball" when it came to Osama bin Laden. The war on terrorism has a global focus. It cannot be divided into separate and unrelated wars, one in Afghanistan and another in Iraq. Both are part of the same effort to capture and kill terrorists before they are able to strike America again, potentially with weapons of mass destruction. Terrorist cells are operating in some 60 countries, and the United States, in coordination with dozens of allies, is waging this war on many fronts.†Kerry criticizes the Bush plan and politicizes any tactical failures or setbacks, while offering no long term strategy to defeat the terrorists. When public opinion supported Bush prior to the Iraq invasion, Kerry, as a member of the intelligence committee and not a presidential candidate, gave persuasive speeches supporting the use of military force in Iraq and the removal of Saddam Hussein. During the primary debates, Kerry continued this support, but only until he found himself trailing Howard Dean, the anti-war candidate. When the fight in Iraq got tough and public opinion started waning, Kerry saw an opportunity to further his own political ambition at the expense of the president’s plan and our national interest. He politicized the cost of this war, both in terms of dollars and precious lives. But no one can counter his arguments when he offers no specific plan to do better. Setting vague exit dates, referencing broader coalitions of unknown countries, and convening international conferences are nice talking points, but fall short of a specific strategy for winning the war in Iraq. Amazingly, political pundits are still advising Kerry about WHAT his Iraq position should be. The issue of going to war should be based upon a conviction of what is right and wrong, not what is politically expedient and advantageous. Kerry, the candidate, has the luxury of criticizing Bush and altering his weekly position based upon the latest polls. Without a conviction, Kerry will continually change positions depending upon his audience and the day- to-day course of the war. Senator Kerry offers great sound bites but no substance. He clearly won the most “style†points during the first presidential debate. If given the choice of whom to elect president of a debate team, Kerry wins hands down. However the stakes are higher than winning a simple debate - we cannot afford a defeat in this war on terror. No matter how eloquently Kerry denies it, Iraq is a battleground in this war. The terrorists know it. Why else are they pouring over the borders as both Kerry and Bush acknowledge. The Iraqi government knows it, our military knows it, and Bush knows it. But Kerry doesn’t get it. When the American voters finally get it, however, John Kerry loses. Thus the Kerry campaign paints Iraq as the “wrong war†and a “diversionâ€Â. Yeah keep selling those toys fuckers, because we have some other ones on the way now with Bush getting to reload Still Pissed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean Posted November 3, 2004 Report Share Posted November 3, 2004 Great article! I couldn't agree more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bengalrick Posted November 3, 2004 Report Share Posted November 3, 2004 we're coming for you OSAMA!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BlackJesus Posted November 3, 2004 Report Share Posted November 3, 2004 Their hopes are crushed.... and to believe they just dropped out of highschool with hopes of free medical Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bengalrick Posted November 3, 2004 Report Share Posted November 3, 2004 Their hopes are crushed.... and to believe they just dropped out of highschool with hopes of free medical <{POST_SNAPBACK}> that is classic... i'm still trying to figure out what the sign means... btw... my generation is not the smartest generation ever... i didn't fall for the lies... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STRAYCAT Posted November 3, 2004 Report Share Posted November 3, 2004 Hardy har har! 4MORE YEARS! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STRAYCAT Posted November 3, 2004 Report Share Posted November 3, 2004 that is classic... i'm still trying to figure out what the sign means... btw... my generation is not the smartest generation ever... i didn't fall for the lies... <{POST_SNAPBACK}> They are not too bright. Some are. But alot are not. One jackass in Oxford called police and ripped them on the phone,called them everything and they had it on tape. Guess what? jackass forgot where he parked the car and thought the cops towed it. So he had a tantrum. The good thing they didn't rock the vote huh! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STRAYCAT Posted November 3, 2004 Report Share Posted November 3, 2004 Looks like iran is next to me,or hmmm maybe N. Korea? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingStripes Posted November 3, 2004 Report Share Posted November 3, 2004 If you think that osama has the harder way with bush, then why in hell did he come out with his comments just before the election. He is not that stupid and he knew that it would help bush. So why the hell did he still do that??? BTW Osama is in China and he´s as hard to get as it can come. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bengalrick Posted November 4, 2004 Report Share Posted November 4, 2004 Looks like iran is next to me,or hmmm maybe N. Korea? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> iran is a huge threat, but bush needs to put together a good plan to fix the palestinian-isreal problem... we won't need soldiers for that, just a sharp pencil... one good thing, is bush has no political future in the future, so he will do what is right for the country... iran better start listening to us, or there will be another huge monkey on our shoulders, but we must do, what have to do.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean Posted November 4, 2004 Report Share Posted November 4, 2004 iran is a huge threat, but bush needs to put together a good plan to fix the palestinian-isreal problem... we won't need soldiers for that, just a sharp pencil... one good thing, is bush has no political future in the future, so he will do what is right for the country... iran better start listening to us, or there will be another huge monkey on our shoulders, but we must do, what have to do.... <{POST_SNAPBACK}> None of the other countries have U.N. sanctions against them. If we were to attack them it would be the beginning of World War III Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bengalrick Posted November 4, 2004 Report Share Posted November 4, 2004 None of the other countries have U.N. sanctions against them. If we were to attack them it would be the beginning of World War III <{POST_SNAPBACK}> they are not threatning us right now, necessarily... if they do, who cares if they have un sanctions on them... thats why i think palestine and israel need to be focused on right now... do u agree w/ that??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean Posted November 4, 2004 Report Share Posted November 4, 2004 they are not threatning us right now, necessarily... if they do, who cares if they have un sanctions on them... thats why i think palestine and israel need to be focused on right now... do u agree w/ that??? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Yes, I agree. But only when Iraq is completely taken care of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bengalrick Posted November 4, 2004 Report Share Posted November 4, 2004 at least more stable than what it is... the elections will be a thermameter of how well we are doing in iraq, imo... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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