So... does Kerry really mean what he said about still voting for the war

knowing what he knows now, or is this some shit he thinks he has to say to win?

Either way, it makes me wanna puke.

“This was the hardest vote I have ever had to cast in my entire career,” Kerry said. “I voted for the resolution to get the inspectors in there, period. Remember, for seven and a half years we were destroying weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. In fact, we found more stuff there than we thought we would. After that came those four years when there was no intelligence available about what was happening over there. I believed we needed to get the weapons inspectors back in. I believed Bush needed this resolution in order to get the U.N. to put the inspectors back in there. The only way to get the inspectors back in was to present Bush with the ability to threaten force legitimately. That’s what I voted for.”

“The way Powell, Eagleberger, Scowcroft, and the others were talking at the time,” continued Kerry, “I felt confident that Bush would work with the international community. I took the President at his word. We were told that any course would lead through the United Nations, and that war would be an absolute last resort. Many people I am close with, both Democrats and Republicans, who are also close to Bush told me unequivocally that no decisions had been made about the course of action. Bush hadn’t yet been hijacked by Wolfowitz, Perle, Cheney and that whole crew. Did I think Bush was going to charge unilaterally into war? No. Did I think he would make such an incredible mess of the situation? No. Am I angry about it? You’re God damned right I am. I chose to believe the President of the United States. That was a terrible mistake.”

http://www.liberalslant.com/wrp121003.htm

Thanks.

it doesn't explain why he would still vote to authorize now. A sovereign nation, no WMDs, no involvement in 911, no imminent threat. Why the hell would he still support this criminal misadventure? This is pure political bull-speak.

He is standing by his decision based on the situation then.

He is not, nor should he, speculate with hindsight, that is a losing proposition just asking to give ammo to bush.

And your OP was pure political bullshit.

I just posted this on another thread, but it might help with your queston.

Boston Globe headline:

Kerry says he'd still vote to authorize Iraq war

Here is what Kerry actually said yesterdy:

In response, Kerry, distinguishing between invading Iraq and authorizing the action said, ''Yes, I would have voted for the authority. I believe it was the right authority for a president to have." Kerry has said the decision to invade rested with the president.

<snip>

the Massachusetts senator said, ''My question to President Bush is: Why did he rush to war without a plan to win the peace? Why did he rush to war on faulty intelligence and not do the hard work necessary to give America the truth? Why did he mislead America about how he would go to war? Why has he not brought other countries to the table in order to support American troops in the way that we deserve it and relieve a pressure from the American people?

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/president/articles/2004/08/10/kerry_says_hed_still_vote_to_authorize_iraq_war/

Why did he rush to war on faulty intellegence?
Because he would lose support as it became clearer that Iraq had no WMD's, knowing the intelligence was faulty.
Had to put an end to those millions of protestors.


Truth to American people?
Since when did Bush ever tell the truth?

Why did Bush mislead America?
Because it was so easy, no press, no dissenting Dems


Does that answer your questions senator? Need not be a brain surgeon to figure out what the evil, demonic administration was up to?

that diplomacy would be followed, that UN would be worked with, that our allies would be worked with, that the inspectors would be allowed to do their job, that they would do everythng they could to disarm saddam w/o invading.

People trusted powell

Unfortunately, now we know Powell was "out of the loop"

to say something along these lines:

"What we know NOW, that we didn't know then, is that BushCo is incompetent and cannot be trusted to exercise sole discretion about such grave matters.

Since the question is what we know NOW, then No, I would not have voted to give BushCo the authority to decide to go into Iraq without being required to return to Congress to state their case for specific authorization to invade, per Biden-Lugar.

With what I know NOW about BushCo's incompetence and deceit - I would have fought much harder for Biden-Lugar. I do regret I trusted BushCo. I won't make that mistake again."

Speaking of Biden-Lugar - let's all remember Kerry would have had the opportunity and, I have no doubt, would have voted for Biden-Lugar except that Gephardt and Lieberman stabbed Biden in the back and totally pulled the rug out from under Biden-Lugar by secretly co-operating with BushCo to kill it, just as it was about to pass.

edited to add the reminder about Gep's and Joe's bloody handiwork in this tragedy.

"Not if this bunch was running it."

(I didn't get any replies in my thread on this line, so here goes again.)

it doesn't matter what he says if people don't pay attention to whether they are reacting to what he said or what someone else falsely reporsts he said.

It sucks, its unfair, its unjust, but its true. So he avoids politically foolish hindsight speculation. He stands by his actions at the time, he thinks Bush screwed up big. Thats where he stands, its a good place to stand.

Authority to go to war as THE LAST RESORT, but before that Diplomacy, inspections, allies etc etc etc etc/ / /

Then there was a big "BUT" which the media dont want to talk about.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/10/politics/campaign/10kerry.html?ex=1093148035&ei=1&en=be262e45751d6d66

snip

"I believe it's the right authority for a president to have," said Mr. Kerry, who has faced criticism throughout his presidential campaign for that October 2002 vote.

But Mr. Kerry, the Democratic nominee, extended his attack on President Bush's prosecution of the war, saying he had not used the Congressional authority effectively.

"My question to President Bush is, Why did he rush to war without a plan to win the peace?" Mr. Kerry told reporters here after responding to Mr. Bush's request last week for a yes-or-no answer on how he would vote today on the resolution authorizing the use of force in Iraq.

"Why did he rush to war on faulty intelligence and not do the hard work necessary to give America the truth?" he said. "Why did he mislead America about how he would go to war? Why has he not brought other countries to the table in order to support American troops in the way that we deserve it and relieve a pressure from the American people?"

snip

I haven't even heard that part of it...I knew it wasn't what they were reporting..its rediculous...and with *'s response in FL yesterday...its just stupid...why isn't anyone asking him to answer THOSE questions???? ugghh sickening...

was Countdown on MSNBC. . .all the others cut him off before the questions for Bush.

He voted for the resolution giving Bush backing for making a decision after going to the UN for inspections.

What was on the table was NOT "ignore UN, kick inspectors back out, rush to invade without a plan, skip the part about forming a coalition of allies" -- vote "yes" or "no."

I know it seems like a small distinction between voting for the resolution and voting for the Chimp's war, but it's important.

Here's a thread I started to try to clear up the language and other things:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x608357

voted Nay at the time. For his remarks:

http://www.counterpunch.org/byrd1004.html

he voted for presidential authorization
which included, after a SERIES OF OTHER MEASURES
to have war available as a LAST RESORT

and then, of course, Bush screwed us all over
and went to war as a FIRST resort

thats the truth of the situation
and every time I hear the news channels
saying that Kerry voted 'for the war'
it makes my blood boil