John Kerry's Floor Speech on the President's Pending Speech Tonight

John Kerry's Floor Speech on the President's Pending Speech Tonight
28 June 2005



LightUpTheDarkness has received this advance copy of John Kerry's floor speech. Tune into to C-Span2 for live coverage in about 3 minutes (time approximate).

"Mr. President, tonight President Bush will speak to the nation about the situation in Iraq. And I think we all have a sense of what he'll say. He'll talk about the march of democracy and the courage of our troops across the world. He'll speak with pride about Iraqi elections and the end of tyranny, and stress the importance of fighting terror. And that's fine - we all agree with that - but those words alone won't be enough to improve a situation clearly headed in a perilous direction. We need new, strong policy to get it right in Iraq. Today, we have no realistic strategy to reduce the risks to our soldiers and achieve our goals. While our military has done a superb job, our civilian leadership has not, and our soldiers are paying the price every day. We need a realistic plan for success. To do that, we must tear down the wall of arrogance. When the Vice President absurdly claims the "insurgency is in its last throes" he insults the common sense and intelligence of the American people, and diminishes our stature in the world. And how can we expect the Iraqi people to take us seriously and do their part when the White House says the insurgency is fading, yet they live in constant fear, the explosions waking them up at night, reminding Iraqis of the danger inherent in even the short walk to work or school the next morning.

While we shouldn't dwell on mistakes, we need to understand their consequences on our ability to effectively move forward. With allies reading the Downing Street memo, and the American people realizing the rationalization for this war changed midstream, it becomes that much harder to rally the collective strength of the nation and the world to our cause.

We have to acknowledge the past to overcome it, because the truth is the stubbornness of this Administration matters. It hurts our chances for success. It leads to frustrated expectations at home, makes it so much more difficult for the Iraqi people to embrace this cause, and makes it so much easier for sidelined nations to turn their back on a common interest and say: "OK, it's their deal." And the bottom line is that when it comes to war and the safety of American troops, there is no time for excuses. It's time for the Administration to tell the truth about what's happening on the ground and open up to new ideas about how to get the job done. Admitting mistakes is a necessary hurdle and a constructive tool for this Administration if it wants to build the strength necessary to get it right in Iraq. Admitting mistakes paves the way for elected officials and the American people to come together to move forward. Admitting mistakes lays the groundwork for a climate of cooperation that allows allies to add to our own strength. Admitting mistakes eases the concerns of the Iraqi people, and helps us make them understand that there will be no success unless they embrace the burden of their own future.

MORE - http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/default.asp?view=plink&id=1174

"Every missed step, every measure untaken, every wise course not followed carries an unbearable cost. The American people have a right to expect accountability from their leaders. We need to decrease the risk to our troops and strengthen our chances for success. Our troops deserve better than what they're getting. They deserve leadership equal to their sacrifice." - John Kerry, 6/28/05

DemBloggers is working on getting the video online soon for those who missed it on C-Span

kerry makes it clear that this is not about "Bush hating liberals"- our ALLIES are reading the DSM.

I'd rather DEMs not refer to it as "mistake"- but I'll take what I can get.

This is a good speech- too bad no one but the Base & CSPAN watchers will ever hear it, unless Kerry goes on interview shows and quotes it himself, that is.

White House 'courting disaster' with Iraq policy: Kerry
28 June 2005

Just of the wires from APF News:

President George W. Bush is "courting disaster" with his Iraq policy, former presidential contender John Kerry wrote in a newspaper opinion piece, ahead of a major speech by the president on the situation in Iraq.

"It's long past time to get it right in Iraq. The Bush administration is courting disaster with its current course -- a course with no realistic strategy for reducing the risks to our soldiers and increasing the odds for success," the Democratic US senator from Massachusetts wrote in the New York Times.

"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," Kerry wrote.

"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," Kerry said, adding that such a program would be one of the conditions that would "set the stage for American forces to begin to come home."

And, here’s a preview of tonight’s speech from Bush: Bloodshed in Iraq Is 'Worth It'.

http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/default.asp?view=plink&id=1176

(With free subscription:)


<snip>
TONIGHT President Bush will discuss the situation in Iraq. It's long past time to get it right in Iraq. The Bush administration is courting disaster with its current course - a course with no realistic strategy for reducing the risks to our soldiers and increasing the odds for success.

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.

Our mission in Iraq is harder because the administration ignored the advice of others, went in largely alone, underestimated the likelihood and power of the insurgency, sent in too few troops to secure the country, destroyed the Iraqi army through de-Baathification, failed to secure ammunition dumps, refused to recognize the urgency of training Iraqi security forces and did no postwar planning. A little humility would go a long way - coupled with a strategy to succeed.

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. It also encourages reluctant, sidelined nations that know better to turn their backs on their common interest in keeping Iraq from becoming a failed state.
<snip>
.... TBC

Kerry is doing the right thing by taking his message straight to readers.

We often make the mistake of WAITING for talkingheads to repeat our talking points for us- aint gonna happen- you have to do what kerry did today- SAY IT YOURSELF.

Now they will need a new excuse for not covering Kerry's pre-emptive strike.

:kick:

Kerry was the lead guest on Larry King Live tonight. He did about 8 minutes on what was left out of the Shrub's speech and what should be done instead of just sticking your head in the sand.

As if that's the only reason Bush's policies are failing.

That's all Costas wanted to hear and that's what Kerry gave him. Just like he did in the campaign, but, the media wouldn't listen.

I was watching Kerry on CSpan, when they cut him off for some vote!
I thought he was supposed to speak after the *?
:hi:

don't you think?

What have your candidates done? Just curious cause you seem to pick on Kerry alot.

audience that DOES NOT demand justice and impeachment re: war crimes and is aware of the proof thereof.

John Kerry was my candidate in 04. I like John Kerry. But I am not compromising on principle. The election was a fraWd and the war was illegal. We have proof of each and I demand as a citizen the right to justice and truth.

nuff said.