Bush, Kerry need to level with public about involvement in Iraq

From the editorial page of today's Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch
http://www.dispatch.com/editorials-story.php?story=dispatch/2004/05/02/20040502-C4-00.html

The whole truth
Bush, Kerry need to level with public about involvement in Iraq
Sunday, May 02, 2004
AP PHOTO
President Bush used his April 13 news conference to address concerns about the Iraq war policy.

President Bush owes the American people a fuller explanation of his short- and long-term goals for Iraq, including a U.S. exit strategy.

His Democratic opponent, U.S. Sen. John Kerry, should explain how he would do this task better.

Fast-changing events in Iraq already have forced some policy changes, such as greater involvement of the United Nations in plans to turn over sovereignty to Iraqis.

Bush attempted to answer some of these questions in an April 13 news conference, but some of his responses were incomplete, and a lot of bloodshed has occurred in Iraq since.

EDITED BY ADMIN: COPYRIGHT

it clear that the Iraq war was a MISTAKE, that he was WRONG for appoving the IWR, that Iraq's thousands of years of history have a great influence on the modern Iraqi state, and that building a Western Democracy in Iraq CANNOT happen.

John Kerry needs to give us a clear plan as to how he would stabilize the region. As soon as Iraq is stabilized, we MUST leave and let Iraq govern itself. It will not be a democracy, but as we Americans have no other choice. We cannot govern them forever.

This war was a mistake, the biggest Foreign Policy blunder since Vietnam. We at DU knew better, but our elected "leaders" did not.

:-(

explanation for all this tragedy caused by our administration, congress, and TO BEGIN WITH THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES by stealing the election.
But as far as the war goes, the tutu-democrats really messed up royally: how could they believe BUSH of all people? It was evident he is a liar from the beginning! That is why I would not like either Gephardt or Edwards as vice-presidential options. That would only make our position weaker vis a vis Bush.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=1514141&mesg_id=1514154

I will NOT tolerate V.P Gephardt!

"the broken land that the United States bears responsibility for fixing" while the people trying to fix things are being shot at and ambushed.

That's why we should just get the hell out.

Give them the money, give them back their oil and let them fix it themselves.

This will happen, though, when pigs fly. No, it won't even happen then. It will happen when GOP elephants fly--maybe.

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=145-04302004

I don't see how Kerry can be more specific than this - especially with the fluid situation in Iraq.

I copied that speech and fired it right back to the editor at the newspaper.....

:thumbsup:

Per DU copyright rules
please post only four
paragraphs from the
news source.

Thank you.


DU Moderator

Kerry has made it clear, over and over, that he believed this war was a mistake. He has outlined some of his ideas on the Iraq situation, and like his statements or not, he has answered them to the degree that he has knowledge. He didn't make the Iraq policies and could only advice changes as he saw fit, such as the use of the UN and making the international community and Iraqi people more involved in the hand over.

We can't expect him to have the same information as the WH to base his statements on. He is not our President yet, and not privileged to classified info. from all the involved departments. He doesn't have tons of years of intelligence from past administrations at his disposal now and prior to going into Iraq. He is not briefed daily by his aides and military commanders, the budget office, strategists etc.,.

For the media to throw Kerry in the mix in my opinion, is just another way for the Republicans to try to divide some responsibility for their actions, and make sure we question the confidence we put in our candidate. Nothing more. IMHO anyway.