Kerry Would Expand Military As President

[Freddie Stubbs]

Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry said Tuesday he would expand the U.S. military within his first 100 days as president, contending 40,000 more troops are needed to meet America's responsibilities around the world.

Kerry told supporters at Drake University that the occupation of Iraq as well as the global war against terrorism require more troops.

"In the face of grave challenges, our armed forces are spread too thin," said Kerry, a Massachusetts senator and one of nine Democratic candidates.

Kerry said the capture of Saddam Hussein opens the door to building a coalition for peace in Iraq. He criticized President Bush for what he says has been a "go-it-alone attitude (that) has endangered our interests and enraged those who should be our friends."

more: http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/bw-elect/2003/dec/17/121705027.html

[Spentastic]

1. Brilliant

Pork anyone?

[OrAnarch]

2. dupe

n/t

[bowens43]

3. Oh well

I'm no longer torn between supporting Dean or Kerry. Dean it is.

[Guaranteed]

4. Yup, Kerry's gone back to his pre-war position. nt

[zulchzulu]

5. And what about Dean...

Dean has flipped on this issue many times, but here is one example where he alludes to the fact that he would increase troops:

MR. RUSSERT: Let's talk about the military budget. How many men and women would you have on active duty?

DR. DEAN: I can't answer that question. And I don't know what the answer is. I can tell you one thing, though. We need more troops in Afghanistan. We need more troops in Iraq now. I supported the president's invasion of Afghanistan for the obvious reasons, what had gone on and the murder of people. But I do not support what the president's doing there now. We need more people there. We cannot be making alliances with warlords in the hope that we're one day going to have the democracy in Afghanistan. And what I would do in Iraq now is bring in NATO and bring in the United Nations, because our troops on the ground deserve better support than they're getting.

http://www.fresnocountygop.com/news.htm

[Spentastic]

6. Hmm I'm no Deanie

But that's not what this infers at all.

"what I would do in Iraq now is bring in NATO and bring in the United Nations, because our troops on the ground deserve better support than they're getting."

That would free American troops from Iraq to deal with Afghanistan no?

[joeybee12]

8. You're right about the inference

As for Kerry, it's clear that whichever way the wind is blowing, he'll go with it.

I am bitterly disappointed with him, because at one time I supported him, and I thought he was better than your run-of-the-mill politician. I was wrong.

[NWHarkness]

9. Apples and oranges

Saying we need more troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, and saying that we need a larger military overall, are two different things.

[ewagner]

7. So how does he plan to do that?

He doesn't say.

I'm interested in the details.

[Guaranteed]

10. Not being George Bush is a good start nt