Statement from John Kerry on One Year Anniversary of Invasion of Iraq

Statement from John Kerry on One Year Anniversary of Invasion of Iraq

March 19, 2004
For Immediate Release


“Today marks the one year anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. It is an important day to recognize the courage and enormous skill of the United States military. Our men and women in uniform are the best and the brightest the nation has to offer, and their efforts to defend Democracy should be honored each and every day. We also must remember those that have given their lives in the fight for freedom.

“Before the war started, I repeatedly called on the President to build a genuine coalition to reduce the military and financial burden on the United States, to go to war only as a last resort, and to have a plan to win the peace. I voted to give him the authority to go to war only when he promised me and other members in Congress that he would do these things. He broke those promises.

“He misled the American people in his own State of the Union Address about Saddam’s nuclear program and WMD’s, and refused – and continues to refuse – to level with the American people about the cost of the war. Simply put, this President didn't tell the truth about the war for the beginning. And our country is paying the price.

“It's time for George Bush to start being consistent on Iraq. It's time for him to finally find the right policy for Iraq. It's time to take the target's off the backs of U.S. soldiers, reduce the burden on America’s taxpayers, and finish the job in Iraq.”

:-)

Nicely said.

in the fight for freedom."

BULLSHIT! The have "given their lives" for the pursuit of U.S. global hegemony and control of the world's oil supply. They have "given their lives" so that the weapons industry and multinational corporations can keep increasing their profits. They have "given their lives" so that an amoral sociopath can prance around campaigning as a "war president".

The only "freedom" they died for is the freedom of the wealthy elite to impose their "New World Order" feudalism on the whole planet.

Tell the damn TRUTH, John Kerry! Tell the damn TRUTH! :mad:

sw

Your disrepect of our fallen soldiers is nauseating.

They have been used as tools of a corrupt President, but their sacrifice is no less, and they deserve our respect.

I urge you to seek out the father of a fallen US soldier and repeat to him in person the comments you've made here. Maybe you'll receive the answer you deserve.

:puke:

The dead have families who are grieving. I don't want to see any politician exploiting their deaths for political advantage. I think it's disgusting the way some DUers think Kerry should exploit every death (ex. Spain, Iraq, etc)

Do you think Kerry mentioning them while attacking Bush was a coincidence?

or is that too complicated for you?

Obviously, Kerry NOT telling the truth is the "political advantage" that's operational here.

There's a world FULL of grieving families, whose losses are DIRECTLY due to U.S. imperialism. I'm not going to apologize for pointing that out on a damn message board!

sw

I'm not going to apologize for pointing that out on a damn message board!

You also want Kerry to say it to the nation, so it's disingenous for you to suggest that it only affects DU.

Get a grip!

sw

You did suggest that Kerry say that.

Come on. Pointing out that someone is made to do (and die for) something that is not what it is made out to be is NOT disrespectful. Telling the truth is. This is the same argument as during the vietnam war. Or during the red-baiting McCarthy nigthmare. Just because one says that our troops are being ordered to to something other than the right thing, that person is not showing disrespect. That person is showing courage to say this, knowing full well the automatic, red-baiting like response that always follows. However, repeating the drum-beat of the big lie IS disrespectful. If you repeat the big lie, that we went to Irag to liberate the people there and that is what we are doing, then go vote for *, as that is what he says now!

It is also a lie to say that anyone who does not phrase things in exactly the way you want is lying.

Those soldiers who died in Iraq did so because they wanted to serve their country.


Bush is evil. Bush is to blame for our failed policies and our invasion of Iraq.


Saying that Kerry is not telling the truth because he makes comments showing his respect for our fallen troops is both dishonest and disrespectful of their sacrifice.

Show me where in my post that I said ANYTHING disrespectful about soldiers. I'm sorry people have died, and continue to die for lies.

If you think it's disrepectful to speak the truth, then you'd better just put me on "ignore". I'm posting on a message board, not writing in the guest book at a funeral. I'm perfectly capable of telling the difference -- are you? A parent of a fallen soldier would hear nothing but sympathy from me.

sw

I don't think "it's disrespectful to speak the truth" - of course I never said any such thing.

:hi:

when they were not. They were misled.

I'm posting on a message board, not writing in the guest book at a funeral.

And you suggested that KERRY say the same thing. Unless you were suggesting that Kerry say that on DU, and not to the general public, then it's disingenous to imply that your comment was meant to be seen only on DU, when it's obvious you want the entire nation to hear Kerry say it.

But I'm not surprised that the person who made the comment doesn't see the disrespect.


Still, I will try to politely explain:


They have "given their lives" so that the weapons industry and multinational corporations can keep increasing their profits.


That is disrespectful to the troops because the troops didn't enlist in the service and make the commitment to follow orders even if it meant their deaths, "so that the weapons industry and multinational corporations can keep increasing their profits".

They didn't give their lives for the reasons you assign to them -- they gave their lives for the reasons they had in their hearts when they enlisted to serve our country.

Bush abused the power of the Presidency by lying us into a war and it is Bush who spent their lives so that the weapons industry and multinational corporations can keep increasing their profits.

I never said the soldiers themselves were in it for the oil/corporate profits/etc. -- OBVIOUSLY they're just as much the victims of the lies as the Iraqis are.

Let me repeat that, the soldiers are VICTIMS. I think it's unconsionable. They are being used and their blood is being spilt for lies. Just because someone believes a lie doesn't make it true. Just because they think they are fighting for "freedom" doesn't change the reality that they are being used in pursuit of Empire.

I lay the blame strictly where it belongs; on the LEADERS who are doing the using, NOT on the ones who are being used.

So spare me all your sanctimonious "you're disrespecting the troops" bullshit.

sw

You didn't say "Kerry should tell them how Bush* lied to their children and fooled them into thinking they were fighting for freedom when they were really fighting for oil"

You said something like "Kerry should say they were fighting for oil"

Your statement is, at best, insensitive as it did not take into account how the statement would sound to people who are not Bush*. Specifically, you did not consider the possibility that the WAY you said it would be hurtful to their families (because it makes it sounds as if the soldiers knew they were fighting for oil).

IOW, what you said is not wrong. But HOW you said it was. The WAY you said it was insensitive to the dead's family because it was unclear. When people die, we should be sensitive to the surviving family members.

if you understand why I said it -- great. If you think I'm 'sanctimonious' -- fine.

Their lives were TAKEN, and NOT in the cause of "freedom". What the soldiers think they are doing, and what their families think they are doing is obviously something else, but that doesn't change the facts of what REALLY brought them to their deaths.

I'm well aware that Kerry's not going to change his message just because I write a post on DU saying, "Tell the damn TRUTH!" It's part rhetorical flourish and part letting off steam -- you know, the kind of things people do occasionally, when writing on a message board.

I sometimes yell at my TV too, btw.

sw

Many, if not most, of them thought they were fighting for freedom, and it is disrespectful for someone to tell their families that they were fighting for Empire.

that doesn't change the facts of what REALLY brought them to their deaths

You didn't say what REALLY brought them to their deaths, which was the lies that Bush* told. You said that they were fighting for oil and Empire.

It's part rhetorical flourish and part letting off steam -- you know, the kind of things people do occasionally, when writing on a message board.

Yeah, and what I posted is called criticism of another posters posts --you know, the kind of things people do occasionally, when writing on a message board

As far as I'm concerned, you and whatshisname have been tag-teaming me over what you two perceived I said in my post. I maintain that you both have misinterpreted and distorted what I actually wrote.

I've spent some effort in attempting to clarify my points, however, if you find my point of view unacceptable, so be it. I stand by what I've written.

sw

I think you were clear.

I have said over and over that I have no problem with the soldiers telling themselves they are fighting for freedom - or their families. If I had family over there, I would want to believe that b/c I absolutely could not take thinking about what they are really having to fight for.

I understand that you were venting your frustration in your reply up above. I, for one, would never suggest seriously that Senator Kerry force the soldiers and their families to face the facts - it is just too terrible a thing for them to admit. To force that issue on them would be cruel IMO.

It's kind of like being between a rock and hard place. It is frustrating to NOT point out the truth. But for our candidate to do so would cause greater harm than good, IMO. At least, at this point. I don't mean harm to him, either. I mean mental anguish to our soldiers and their families.

That being said, I do feel that WE need to have the freedom to express our feelings amongst ourselves, if for no other reason than to relieve our frustration.

I've seen two fathers of fallen soldiers in my state(Mo) alone who have basically said the same thing. On television and in print. I've also seen others fallen soldiers' families making similar statements early in the war, or have you forgotten that poor father who was on national TV blaming Bush for his son's death?

Stop using the "deserve our respect" BS as an excuse not to question both Kerry and Bush. It is a tactic tried during previous wars, and it rings no less hollow now than it did then.

I stated my opinion and I stand by it. If you disagree with me, fine. I'll continue to state what I think in spite of your command to stop, and you misrepresentation of what I said as an effort to "not to question both Kerry and Bush" that is not in any way my intent, and I find your attempt to define my views instead of stating your own to be a weak and unpersuasive form of argument.

I'm simply reading your posts. As in: "Saying that Kerry is not telling the truth because he makes comments showing his respect for our fallen troops is both dishonest and disrespectful of their sacrifice." Sounds to me like you are trying to do some stifling of criticism around here, and judging by other posts, I'm apparently not alone in reaching that conclusion.

Perhaps if you wouldn't come across as a moralizing member of the Kerry cop corp. you wouldn't get called on your attitude. But hey, it is America, and there is the right to free speech in this country. Just don't be suprised when it blows back on you.

Instead, I'll just point out that if you say: "Sounds to me like you are trying to do some stifling of criticism around here"

You are attributing to me something I didn't say.


"Saying that Kerry is not telling the truth because he makes comments showing his respect for our fallen troops is both dishonest and disrespectful of their sacrifice."


In what way is my criticism of someone else's comment 'an attempt to stifle criticism' ?

Is it because you don't want to hear my viewpoint?

Sorry, I will continue to speak my mind, and if you don't like it, too bad.

just like Kerry was- this war is not about defending freedom. But, while that may be the case, it doesn't take away from the sacrifices that our soldiers are making.

Somebody does need to take responsibility for this fraud of a war, though.

Thank you for the demonstration.

how exactly is this disrespectful of the fallen soldiers?

In my book it is disrespectful that Bush* sent them over there to DIE for NO GOOD REASON.

It is our DUTY to them to give Bush* every possible kind of hell for throwing their lives away thoughtlessly.

I didn't see that post as a slam on the soldiers who have died...it's a slam on the selfish bastard who sent them.

they volunteered to be part of the american fascist 'boot smashing a human face'.

Kerry had it right in 1971.

Kerry made in 1971. He placed the blame squarely on the leaders, not on the soldiers who carried out the failed policy.

Noting that everything you said was ABSOLUTELY true and that I'm sure most folks here agree with your assesment of the facts as they apply to BushCo I have to say your pissed off, ranting, and let's storm the winter palace rhetoric would not suit Kerry's chances one bit. Rove would eat up that wild eyed approach and serve it back to JK, along with his head on a platter. You do realize that although that is
true that he can't possibly say those things an get elected, which is the whole point, is it not ?? Having said all that, a little humility
on your part for the people who fought and died or were horribly injured due to this charade would be nice. They are after all not just cannon fodder or soldiers of the evil empire but real live Americans who have folks that grieve them terribly as I write this.
Go ahead and be pissed, you have every right to be, but lighten up on the folks who are REALLY paying the price for this bullshit war.

I didn't say ANYTHING against the soldiers. I'm sorry for EVERYONE who dies for the cause of imperialism, soldiers and civilians alike. I think it ALL sucks.

But you're probably correct about the truth not winning elections. After all, the American public has been gobbling up lies for so long now, it would no doubt be too much of a shock to change their diet now. Hard to say, really, since no one with a big enough platform to do so actually wants to give it try.

Btw, do NOT call me a "chick".

sw

"We're talking about the essential mission of government -- and John Kerry is going to need a lot of help. He may not be able to say the things he needs to say, so we need to say the things that must be said. We need to present the issues. We need to set the priorities of our party, and we need to set a direction for the Democratic Party, so when people come in November they’ll be lining up outside the polls." -- Dennis Kucinich in speech to PUSH Coalition.

IMO, what you said in your post is true. I do not believe that the majority of Americans understand this at this time. But it seems to me that until Bu$h is out of power, virtually no positive changes can be effected through democratic processes. And if he is not removed from office, no positive changes will ever again be possible in this country. At this time, the only realistic way we are going to begin to take steps in the right direction is to elect Democrats to the Presidency, and to a majority in the House and Senate. Then we must relentlessly pressure our new administration and legislative majorities to really do what is best for our country....

...beginning with identifying and removing from influence all economically elite special interests that have insidiously corrupted our democracy, and instituting safeguards to insure that they never again have any influence on our government whatsoever.

“Before the war started, I repeatedly called on the President to build a genuine coalition to reduce the military and financial burden on the United States, to go to war only as a last resort, and to have a plan to win the peace. I voted to give him the authority to go to war only when he promised me and other members in Congress that he would do these things. He broke those promises.

“He misled the American people in his own State of the Union Address about Saddam’s nuclear program and WMD’s, and refused – and continues to refuse – to level with the American people about the cost of the war. Simply put, this President didn't tell the truth about the war from the beginning. And our country is paying the price...."
(end of excerpt)

This is the bottom line, and I'm glad Senator Kerry has stated it so clearly. Bu$h and his Administration deliberately misled Congress and the American people. We all saw and heard them do this month after month, week after week, day after day, and hour after hour in the months preceding the war.

They were undeniably dishonest, and the people of the US need to recognize this and fully understand that on this indisputable fact alone, Bu$h does not have the moral/ethical personal character to be elected President. He deliberately lied to all of us about one of the most important national issues of our lifetime. Period. How much worse can you get? He is not morally fit to lead any country.

Personally, if Bu$h were the leader of my son's Boy Scout troop, I would take my son out of the Boy Scouts immediately, and demand that Bu$h be terminated from Troop leadership due to his proven lack of character.

ROFLMAO!!! What a thought. They'd kick him out.

Kerry's public statements were this tough against Bush...they are not, especially when it comes to Iraq and national security.

:wtf: are you talking about?