John Kerry Rejects Kennedy's Call For Iraq Troop Withdrawl

[Itsthetruth]

Kerry rejects call for Iraq troop withdrawal
By Bill Van Auken
Axisoflogic.Com
February 1, 2005

Appearing on the NBC television news program “Meet the Press,” Kerry was shown a videotape of his fellow Massachusetts senator, Edward Kennedy, calling for a timetable for the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq, beginning with the immediate removal of at least 12,000.

“Do you agree with Senator Kennedy that 12,000 American troops should leave at once?” asked NBC’s Tim Russert. “No,” replied Kerry. “Do you believe there should be a specific timetable of withdrawal of American troops?” Russert continued. “No,” Kerry repeated.

“Now, obviously, you’ve got to provide security and stability in order to turn this over to the Iraqis and to be able to withdraw our troops,” Kerry declared in the interview. Asked if he would vote to approve the Bush administration’s request for $80 billion in additional funding for the Iraq war, he responded, “The likelihood is yes.”

Interviewer Russert quoted to Kerry an article that appeared in Newsweek magazine citing a post-election meeting of Democratic Party supporters at AFL-CIO headquarters in Washington. Kerry, according to the report, “told the group they needed new ways to make people understand they didn’t like abortion. Democrats also needed to welcome more pro-life candidates into the party.” The magazine reported, “There was a gasp in the room.” Asked if the report was accurate, Kerry replied, “It’s pretty accurate, sure.” He went on to say he would support federal legislation to require parental notification of planned abortions, a measure that would drastically undermine abortion rights, threaten the health of minors, and criminalize a legal form of medical care.


http://www.axisoflogic.com/artman/publish/article_15429.shtml

[WI_DEM]

1. he doesn't even believe a timetable should be in effect?

that is a bit troubling.

[KoKo]

2. We already discussed this week before last! It's old news...why

bring it up again? :shrug:

[Itsthetruth]

11. It's News To Me!

I didn't see the article until today.

[ICantBelieve]

3. This confuses me...

Didn't we pull out 15,000 troops? Weren't there "extra" troops there for election security?

[merh]

4. Yada Yada Yada

Been there, discussed this -

Welcome to DU - hope you enjoy yourself. :hi:

[paineinthearse]

5. Kerry has a major speech on this topic 4PM this afternoon.

In Worcester, MA. See details in the MASSACHUSETTS forum. I'd like to go if I can re-arrange my schedule.

Watch for video clips at www.necn.com.

I'll apend a transcript to the post in the Mass forum.

[blm]

6. This article twisted Kerry's replies to make them sound antiKennedy.

Typical approach of those trying to divide the party and party leaders.

Any reasonable person who watched that MTP appearance knows Kerry foresees a different timetable that can't be predicted at this point.

That doesn't mean he wants the troops to stay longer than necessary.

You don't see Kennedy admonishing Kerry do you? In fact, the two made a joint appearance together as close allies just last week.

Who is working to overblow any slight differences into rifts between Dem leaders?

David Horowitz' proteges?

[whometense]

7. Tim Russert

SEN. KERRY: I understand exactly what Senator Kennedy is saying, and I agree with Senator Kennedy's perceptions of the problem and of how you deal with it. I would--in fact, last summer, if you'll recall, I said specifically that if we did the things that I laid out--the training, the international community, the services and reconstruction, and the elections and protection--we could draw down troops and begin to withdraw them. I think what Senator Kennedy is saying--and here I do agree with him--is that it is vital for the United States to make it clear that we are not there with long-term goals and intentions of our presence in the region. I agree with Senator Kennedy that we have become the target and part of the problem today, if not the problem. Now, obviously, you've got to provide security and stability in order to be able to turn this over to the Iraqis and to be able to withdraw our troops, so I wouldn't do a specific timetable, but I certainly agree with him in principle that the goal must be to withdraw American troops.

Tim Russert, doing his bit for the administration.

[robertpaulsen]

13. Great spotlight! Liberal media bias my ass!

Thanks whometense. Everyone should read your post to see through the propaganda.

[Itsthetruth]

12. Can't "Cut And Run" From Iraq?

"That doesn't mean he wants the troops to stay longer than necessary."

Necessary???!!!! And for how long is it "necessary" to keep our troops in Iraq? Six months? A year? Two years. Until a stable puppet government is established?

I heard that during the Vietnam war. "We can't withdraw until the war is won" or "We can't just cut and run from Vietnam and let that nation suffer at the hands of terrorist communists".

How many more U.S. soldiers and Iraqi's must die until the occupation ends?

[imenja]

15. it sounds like the interview to me

I saw Kerry on Meet the Press. His comments were just as described.

[Zeke]

8. I wish Bish Was Not Prez...

And I'm glad Kerry lost, too!

Damn, give me a real Democrat whose
Yes means Yes and whose No means No.

[Zeke]

9. CORRECTION...

That's Bush, not Bish.

Sorry.

[Evacuation7]

10. Levin, Dayton, Biden and Bayh also disagree with Kennedy

Has anyone come forward that agrees with Kennedy? I haven't heard of anyone.

[Itsthetruth]

14. Perhaps Senator Byrd?

There must be someone. Perhaps Senator Byrd. He's been the lonely consistent opponent of the invasion and occupation of Iraq for two years now.