President Kerry's first official act

(my fantasy)
An Open Letter to the Iraqi People:

I know that no apology can begin to make up for the horrors brought upon your country and people by the previous administration, however my conscience demands that I offer one, both personally and for the American people.

Today we are awakening from the nightmare of the last four years. It will be a very difficult undertaking to re-establish the reputation that we previously enjoyed among the community of nations, but we begin that task here and now.

Nothing that I can say or do will restore the lives lost, bodies maimed, families torn apart, or homes destroyed, but I will do the best I can to make amends. I have just signed my first Executive Order, directing the immediate recall of all military personnel from Iraq. This will be accomplished as fast as is humanly possible. All I ask is that you give them safe passage as they travel through your villages and towns enroute to debarkation points.

If it is your desire that civilian contractors remain to help rebuild your nation's infrastructure, that shall be done. Although no amount of money can begin to repay our debt to you, the treasury of the United States is at your disposal.

Again, our deepest and sincerest apologies to you.
Never again.
John F. Kerry, President
United States of America

but there's nothing there but a bad IOU written by the Bush crime family.

Why stop there? Should the offer not be made to Native Americans, Vietnam, Korea and everyone else we beat up?

n/t

...would be ordering the immediate arrest of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney to stand trial for their crimes in office. Have them put in shackles and leg irons right on the podium where the live TV cameras can capture all the action...

:-)

Not that letter, but something to the effect that the past administrations views do not reflect ours in referance to our historic allies would be good.

so he will not "immediately" withdraw our troops from Iraq.

Immediate withdrawl of US troops would result in utter chaos erupting throughout the middle east. The current alignment of the Iraqi religious factions against their common enemy (us) would dissolve into civil war, with Russia, Iran, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia jumping in for their share of the spoils.

I cannot think of a move that would be more short-sighted and ultimately disasterous than "immediate" withdrawl.

For the outline of an intelligent policy toward Iraq, go here:

http://johnkerry.com/issues/iraq/