What did John Kerry mean by this statement?

[sfecap]

From "Inside Politics with Judy Woodruff", 3 Sept, 2003.


WOODRUFF: You said in your speech yesterday it was wrong to rush to war without building an international coalition. But the resolution you voted for gave the president the authority to go to war without having to have an international coalition.

(CROSSTALK)

KERRY: You know us better than that. You're a professional. You know how this works.

The president and Colin Powell said to us, They're going to build the coalition. Colin Powell came to our committee and said that war would be the last resort and the only reasons were weapons of mass destruction. Now there's more than just the vote. I think the vote was the right thing to do.

Bill Clinton, incidentally, went into Kosovo without any authorization from Congress. The president didn't need our authorization. What we were doing was creating a one-voice message to the United Nations, the world and Saddam Hussein. It was the right message to send and I stand by it.

WOODRUFF: But the resolution you voted for didn't require the international coalition...

KERRY: No, Judy, but the president ought to be held to his word. No, no, no, no. I said it then. I was very clear.

WOODRUFF: But you still voted with the president.

KERRY: You bet I did, because it was the right thing to do...

http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0309/03/ip.00.html

[DuctapeFatwa]

1. The Crusade is popular with the affluent voting class

And it is even more popular with corporations, AIPAC and other PACS.

Any candidate who wants serious money must make it clear that he is 100% behind the PNAC military and economic goals and objectives.

[madmax]

7. Kerry doesn't take PAC money as far as I know.

"In 1984, after winning election as Lieutenant Governor in 1982, Kerry ran and was elected to serve in the United States Senate, running and winning a successful PAC-free Senate race and defeating a Republican opponent buoyed by Ronald Reagan's reelection coattails. Like his predecessor, the irreplaceable Paul Tsongas, Kerry came to the Senate with a reputation for independence -- and reinforced it by making tough choices on difficult issues: breaking with many in his own Party to support Gramm-Rudman Deficit Reduction; taking on corporate welfare and government waste; pushing for campaign finance reform; holding Oliver North accountable and exposing the fraud and abuse at the heart of the BCCI scandal; working with John McCain in the search for the truth about Vietnam veterans declared POW/MIA; and insisting on accountability, investment, and excellence in public education."

http://www.JohnKerry.com

[sfecap]

10. Better check again.

Kerry certainly does take PAC money. Lots of it.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

16. As for as I know from checking on it, you are wrong.

So would you care to back up your statement?

[sfecap]

21. Sure...

Presidential Cycle 2003 - 2004:

Contributor's Name Date Amount Image Number

CONTRIBUTIONS

CITIZENS ACTION PAC 06/27/2003 1000.00 23991605743

CITIZENS WATCH 2000 PAC (FEDERAL) 06/27/2003 1000.00 23991629941

DOMINO PAC 06/27/2003 1000.00 23991390394

FLORIDA CRYSTALS INC PAC 06/27/2003 1000.00 23991393357

FULBRIGHT & JAWORSKI L L P FEDERAL COMMITTEE 05/29/2003 2500.00 23991269658

KIRK, RONALD
VIA RON KIRK FOR U S SENATE 06/26/2003 1000.00 23020331974

O'MELVENY & MYERS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE 04/24/2003 1000.00 23990937147

O'MELVENY & MYERS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE 06/03/2003 -1000.00 23991424616

PHILADELPHIA SUBURBAN CORPORATION H20 PAC 03/14/2003 1000.00 23990665907

RIEGLE, DONALD W JR
VIA RIEGLE FOR SENATE COMMITTEE 04/07/2003 1000.00 23020283165
SANDERS, ALEXANDER M JR

VIA ALEX SANDERS FOR THE US SENATE 06/26/2003 1000.00 23020283142
SANDERS, ALEXANDER M JR

VIA ALEX SANDERS FOR THE US SENATE 06/26/2003 1000.00 23020283142
SANDERS, WADE ROWLAND

VIA FRIENDS OF WADE SANDERS 02/20/2003 2000.00 23990705752
TORRICELLI, ROBERT G

VIA TORRICELLI FOR U S SENATE INC 03/08/2003 1000.00 23020163322
TORRICELLI, ROBERT G

VIA TORRICELLI FOR U S SENATE INC 03/08/2003 1000.00 23020163321

Senate Cycle 2000 - 2001

CONTRIBUTIONS

AMALGAMATED TRANSIT UNION-COPE 04/16/2002 5000.00 22990920220
AMALGAMATED TRANSIT UNION-COPE 06/11/2002 -5000.00 22991417097
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL SURGEONS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE 06/28/2002 2500.00 22991428318
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL SURGEONS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE 08/23/2002 -2500.00 22991820090
AMERICAN DENTAL POLITICAL ACTION CMTE. 09/16/2002 1000.00 22991982163
ARMENIAN AMERICAN PAC (ARMENPAC) 09/20/2002 1000.00 22992043929
ARMENIAN AMERICAN PAC (ARMENPAC) 11/06/2002 -1000.00 23990059044
ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY INC PSYCHOLOGISTS FOR LEG ACTION NOW (PLAN) 10/11/2002 1000.00 22992320368
ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY INC PSYCHOLOGISTS FOR LEG ACTION NOW (PLAN) 11/01/2002 -1000.00 22992823281
BSG HOLDINGS INC POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE 06/04/2002 1000.00 22037662346
BSG HOLDINGS INC POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE 07/22/2002 -1000.00 22037774223
CITIGROUP INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE-FEDERAL (CITIGROUP PAC-FEDERAL) 05/25/2001 2500.00 21990146064
CITIGROUP INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE-FEDERAL (CITIGROUP PAC-FEDERAL) 08/29/2001 -2500.00 21990462419
COMCAST CORP. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE 08/16/2001 1000.00 21990494188
COMCAST CORP. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE 08/29/2001 -1000.00 21990494190
COMMITTEE FOR A DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY 06/06/2001 1000.00 21990232614
COMMITTEE FOR A DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY 08/22/2001 -100.00 21990461053
COMMITTEE FOR DEMOCRATIC ACTION (FKA METZENBAUM FOR SENATE - 1988) 09/24/2002 100.00 22037762684
CVS CORPORATION FEDERAL PAC 05/15/2002 500.00 22991186882
CVS CORPORATION FEDERAL PAC 12/31/2002 -500.00 23990122989
CWA-COPE POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS COMMITTEE 10/16/2002 1000.00 22992473235
CWA-COPE POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS COMMITTEE 12/24/2002 -1000.00 23990273217
DLA PAC 04/29/2002 200.00 22990977694
DLA PAC 07/30/2002 -200.00 22991560333
FRIENDS OF SBDCS PAC 09/30/2002 1000.00 22037803004
FRIENDS OF SBDCS PAC 11/14/2002 -1000.00 22037883008
GILLETTE COMPANY POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE, THE 09/27/2002 1000.00 22037754410
GLACIER PAC 05/17/2002 1000.00 22991141296
GLACIER PAC 07/30/2002 -1000.00 22991625170
GUARDIAN INDUSTRIES CORP FEDERAL POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (GUARDIAN FEDERAL PAC) 10/01/2002 1000.00 22992375839
GUARDIAN INDUSTRIES CORP FEDERAL POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (GUARDIAN FEDERAL PAC) 10/28/2002 -1000.00 22992914401
HOME DEPOT INC. BETTER GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE, THE 09/23/2002 1000.00 22991998810
HOME DEPOT INC. BETTER GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE, THE 11/18/2002 -1000.00 22992827254
INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY BANKERS OF AMERICA POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE 06/24/2002 1000.00 22991192951
INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY BANKERS OF AMERICA POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE 07/30/2002 -1000.00 22991556238
JOHNSTON, J BENNETT
VIA JOHNSTON SENATE COMMITTEE 06/06/2001 1000.00 21020192403
MORTGAGE BANKERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE 06/05/2001 1000.00 21990197911
MORTGAGE BANKERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE 09/05/2001 -1000.00 21990532382
NEA FUND FOR CHILDREN AND PUBLIC EDUCATION 02/12/2002 5000.00 22990536681
NEA FUND FOR CHILDREN AND PUBLIC EDUCATION 03/31/2002 -5000.00 22990769560
NEA FUND FOR CHILDREN AND PUBLIC EDUCATION 06/19/2002 5000.00 22991424117
NEA FUND FOR CHILDREN AND PUBLIC EDUCATION 10/10/2002 5000.00 22992467505
NEA FUND FOR CHILDREN AND PUBLIC EDUCATION 10/30/2002 -5000.00 22992950187
NEA FUND FOR CHILDREN AND PUBLIC EDUCATION 10/30/2002 -5000.00 22992950187
PLUMBERS LOCAL UNION NO 27 POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE 10/16/2002 1000.00 22992347155
ROUSE COMPANY EMPLOYEE POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE 02/26/2002 1000.00 22990533193
ROUSE COMPANY EMPLOYEE POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE 03/13/2002 -1000.00 22990769351
SANDERS, WADE ROWLAND
VIA FRIENDS OF WADE SANDERS 04/25/2001 1000.00 21037212305
SANDERS, WADE ROWLAND
VIA FRIENDS OF WADE SANDERS 08/31/2001 1000.00 22037444209
SCHROEDER, PATRICIA
VIA SCHROEDER FOR CONGRESS COMMITTEE, INC 03/27/2002 1000.00 22037691046
STATE DEMOCRATIC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF ALABAMA 08/20/2001 -500.00 22990590166
TROPICANA RESORT & CASINO POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE 10/07/2002 1000.00 22992325869
TROPICANA RESORT & CASINO POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE 11/05/2002 -1000.00 22992739610
UBS AMERICAS FUND FOR BETTER GOVERNMENT 10/22/2002 3000.00 22992722874
WASHINGTON STATE DEMOCRATIC CENTRAL COMMITTEE 07/10/2001 248.00 22991507522

http://herndon1.sdrdc.com/cgi-bin/cancomsrs/

[Fabio]

23. All for Citizen Soldiers Fund.

Sorry your wrong.

[sfecap]

24. Gee, you might want to notify the FEC.'''

They must not know as much as you.

Here's a random one. Note the name of the committee it was donated to.

[Fabio]

22. Actually, Kerry has never used

PAC or soft money in any of his four senate campaigns. I defy you to show me otherwise. If you point to the citizen soldier fund started two years ago, dont bother -- that was a PAC Kerry started to fund other democratic candidates election in the 2002. But not his.

[sfecap]

25. How about another one...

...just for fun?

Gee can't seem to find anything about a Citizen Soldier PAC, but I do see Kerry (for Senate) Committee was the recipent...

[Fabio]

29. And furthermore

Just to point out how incredible your bias is, and how silly your state that Kerry, "takes lots of PAC money" is -- let's review the disbursment schedule for his 2002 race.

Total Receipts: $8,975,344
Transfers From Authorized Committees: $0
Individual Contributions: $8,852,000
Non-Party (e.g. PACs) or Other Committees: $17,000

or, put another way, according to the FEC, 0.18% of all his funding came from "PACs" Sounds like he is bought off to me.

The link
http://herndon1.sdrdc.com/cgi-bin/cancomsrs/?_02+S4MA00069


In 1996, you can see he took a wopping $14k from non-individuals.
http://www.fec.gov/1996/states/ma_02.htm

[Fabio]

26. Nice try

but that's not using the funds. That's receiving them. JK's campaign has returned soft money contribution many times.

[clar]

2. I really like Kerry

think he'd make a fine President, but I found his vote so disturbing that it precluded my supporting him in the primary. Reading this just makes me angry all over again. I wish he'd just say I made a mistake, I should have known better than to trust the administration on this. It's not like there wasn't evidence to the contrary of what bushco presented. And Kerry was privilege to that information.

[DJcairo]

4. Kerry and Dean agreed that unilateral action should be a last resort.

The President went to the UN and got a unanimous vote for inspections as promised. It wasn't until January that he broke his promise and made it clear that he would go into Iraq unilaterally. At that point every Dem called for Bush not to rush to war and to value the international process. There is no issue here except for blind one issue voters who won't bother or can't comprehend complex issues.

[dpbrown]

18. Kucinich and 126 House Democrats voted against the resolution

I'm not faulting Kerry's logic in saying that he was voting to give a unified face to Iraq, but I am saying that there was another way of looking at it then, as well as now.

From CNN:

Most opposition came from Democrats, who were sharply divided on the issue. Minority Leader Richard Gephardt, D-Missouri, said giving Bush the authority to attack Iraq could avert war by demonstrating the United States is willing to confront Saddam Hussein over his obligations to the United Nations.

"I believe we have an obligation to protect the United States by preventing him from getting these weapons and either using them himself or passing them or their components on to terrorists who share his destructive intent," said Gephardt, who helped draft the measure.

But Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, said Congress and the administration were being driven by fear.

"It is fear which leads us to war," Kucinich said. "It is fear which leads us to believe that we must kill or be killed. Fear which leads us to attack those who have not attacked us. Fear which leads us to ring our nation in the very heavens with weapons of mass destruction."

Six House Republicans -- Ron Paul of Texas; Connie Morella of Maryland; Jim Leach of Iowa; Amo Houghton of New York; John Hostettler of Indiana; and John Duncan of Tennessee -- joined 126 Democrats in voting against the resolution. A total of 215 Republicans and 81 Democrats voted for it.

http://www.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/10/10/iraq.us/

The point is not that Kerry was wrong to vote for the use of force, but that there was another rationale available at the time - one that took into account that Bush may have been lying.

Dan Brown
Saint Paul, Minnesota

[MrPeepers]

30. But should the Congress

really be in constant fear that the Administration is lying out of its ass? By this point everyone knows that to be the case, and won't make that mistake again. But I think that it would have been rash, at the time, to assume the Administration was trying to screw everyone over and use that authorization to jump into a unilateral war.

Peepers

[clar]

19. Bullshit

sorry to put it so bluntly. Neither of my Senators voted for this travesty. Both it explained their respective votes eloquently. Don't try and snow me.

[mourningdove92]

6. Remember the 'climate" of that time.

Even Hillary voted for this along with the words "We trust you, Mr Prsident". Does anyone really think she EVER trusted him. Of course not, but at that time, Dubya was still riding the 911 wave and anyone that spoke out against him was immediately villified and labeled treasonous. This policy only got worse after the preemptive strike actually took place. I was very angry with the Dems for a very long time, both before and after that vote. My anger calmed somewhat when I heard Hillary on a radio program explain that the Dems had not criticized Bush as much as we wanted them to because of the "war on terror" (911), and that during a presidents term congress needed to rally behind the president but that during the election year, that was the time to speak out about the differences. I am not quoting her exactly, but this is the gist of what she said. It certainly looks like the dems are now speaking out, in great numbers.

[LuminousX]

17. Especially since Byrd

was so clear headed and vocal about why the Iraq war was a really, really bad idea. Kerry just proved he doesn't listen to wisdom, he listens to idiots.

[DJcairo]

3. Another IWR debate

Go back and read he 100s of other posts ont eh subject. Is it all you Dean freaks have? You would split the dem party over a resolution which called for war as a last resort and urged the president to seek out peaceful means through working with the UN.

Sad. Really sad.

[sfecap]

8. "You know how this works. "

Interesting...

Obviously too stupid and too devious to be President.

"You know how this works."

IOW...you know that we just pander to the voters and vote whichever way the political winds tell us to. We really have no courage of our convictions. We have to have political cover necause we are running for office.

Yes, John, WE know how it works.

www.too_stupid.com

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

11. Wink, wink, nudge, nudge.

Say no more. Say no more.

[MrPeepers]

31. Another baseless attack.

John Kerry has been fighting tooth and nail for decades for the issues he believes in. If you want to talk about political winds, lets talk about capitalizing on a wave of anti-Bush sentiments. Lets talk about baselessly attacking other candidates, throwing about phrases like "Bushlite." You are obviously too stupid and too devious to understand that. Let's try to avoid tossing around such groundless accusations as these, please, in a vain attempt to stain the name of a hard-working, courageous man who has time and time again stood up for his beliefs, even when they were unpopular.

Peepers

[sfecap]

32. Yes, you are right...

...Kerry has capitalized on the current wave of anti -bush statements.

He never opened his mouth until he found it played well.

Typical.

[MrPeepers]

33. Actually...

Kerry opened his mouth as soon as he took objection to Bush's policy decisions, even when his opinions ran contrary to popular opinion. Public opinion happens to coincide with what Kerry believes in, because the American People are sick and tired of the Bush administration. Yet you insist on making unfounded attacks on Senator Kerry, tossing general ignorance around with great zeal. Typical.

Peepers

[clar]

35. Just go read

the October pre-vote speeches from the Senate floor by those Senators (23 of them) who opposed the resolution. And shame on you for suggesting that the anger and sadness I feel about this is politically motivated. I like and admire Kerry, but he was dead wrong on this one. And it was a big deal.

[MrPeepers]

37. You may feel it was dead wrong...

but I would disagree. Kerry voted for the resolution because he felt it was nessicary for the United States Congress to give the Administration the power it needed to sucessfully bargain with Hussein. Kerry voted for the resolution because he thought it would avert war. As soon as it became apparent the Bush Administration was going into Iraq regardless of international support and without sufficient justification, Sen. Kerry voiced his outrage along with the rest of us. Of course it was a big deal, but all of us are human. Senator Kerry couldn't have known the Administration would act the way it did. It would have been irresponsible for him to have assumed the administration would act the way it did. He had two choices: vote for the resolution and hopefully give the President the leverage he needed to force Hussein to back down, or vote against the resolution, which had two possible out comes. First, he garners the support needed and defeats the resoltion. Would that have stopped Bush from going into Iraq? I think not. Then Kerrry is faced with pondering whether or not an approval of the resolution could have prevented the mess in the first place. Or second, the resolution passes anyway, and it makes no difference. Sen. Kerry made a judgement call. He overestimated the integrity of the Administration. He won't make the same mistake again. It was a big deal. It still is a big deal. But that resolution is over and done with, and we can't do anything about it. What matters now is that John Kerry has a cohesive plan for how to win the peace in Iraq, prevent any further bloodshed, get the International Community involved in the re-building process, and start erasing some of the ills the Bush Administration has created. You can find it at his webpage, www.johnkerry.com. You may disagree with Kerry's vote on the resolution to authorize force, but I argue that Kerry is making up for that mistake with his efforts to remedy the situation in its current state. That's why I support Kerry, because he has a concrete plan of how to go about fixing things, and dosn't spend all his time screaming about how evil Bush is. But that's just my take on things.

Peepers

[Upfront]

27. Kerry Is Dead In The Water

Why fight about history? Both my Michigan Senators voted against Bush on this. They knew it was bull shit, why didn't Kerry and the rest of them? The reason was they beleived a anti- war vote would hurt them when they ran for President.

[JackSwift]

5. Bush promised to get UN approval

and Kerry believed his promise. Bush ignored and thereby broke his promise as soon as Kerry (and others) performed their end. Kerry was had because he believed that when Bush gave his word he would keep it. He believed Bush had some honor and integrity. Why he believed that is beyond me, but lots of members of Congress believed it. Judy is a whore for Bush to not let Kerry make his point.

[DJcairo]

9. The Congress, mainly the Senate, limited the language of the IWR

and hoped it would contain Bush and his chickenhawks. The Dems int eh Senate hoped it would pursuade Bush to go to the UN which he did do and he got the inspectors back in and for a time it looked like war might be avoided. However, once it became painfully clear that Bush would not be deterred from war the Dems, all Dems, spoke out against Bush's rush to war. It is wrong to demagogue this issue. Let's not be divided. Let's not attack eachother. Let's keep the heat on Bush and not show our repuke enemies any cracks in our will or our message.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

12. They hoped alright....

[Feanorcurufinwe]

14. It's not simpy a matter of believing Bush.

Writing, negotiating, and passing laws is very similar to bringing or responding to a lawsuit. Just 'knowing' that the other side is full of shit doesn't do you any good. You've got to prove it.

[clar]

20. Again,

bullshit. How come many of Kerry's friends in the Senate not only voted no, but explained their votes most lucidly? Revisionism of the worst kind.

[LuminousX]

28. Kerry would rather listen to Bush than Byrd (n/t)

[Pez]

41. see reply #40

kerry and byrd had different approaches to the issue...

[Feanorcurufinwe]

13. He meant what he said.

I know that is a tough concept for a Dean supporter to understand, because it is so foreign...

[sfecap]

15. It's perfectly clear to this Dean supporter.

"You know how this works."

Yes we do. We know exactly how it works. It's been "working" for years.

It's called "bidness as usual" in DC.

[Pez]

34. teetering on the brink of insanely comical

bidness as usual for kerry consists of fighting for women's rights, the environment, civil rights, education, the arts, veterans, health care, etc... his record fighting for liberal causes is impressive. i am glad he has been re-elected so many times by everyday peeps such as you and me, being there on the "inside", making sure the repukes don't trample our rights out of existance.

kerry does not sit up at night salivating over ICBMs and carpetbombing.

flipping this around to somehow blame kerry for bush's hard-on is to deprive every american the right to hold bush accountable for his hasty actions. don't hold kerry personally responsible for bush's total lack of commitment to the iwr itself. who would believe that even dubya would put a cleated foot in the face of the rest of the planet? i thought it would be political suicide. and guess what; -->it was political suicide<--. bush is toast. the only people out of touch with americans are bush and his team; their collective ego (and presumption that somehow EVERYONE believes their media mouthpiece of choice) is their downfall. i am just happy to finally witness the fall of BUSH INC... we have a fine field of candidates-- all ready to layeth some well deserved smacketh down on Jackholes 'R' Us.

here's to dems 04-- *clinky*

[clar]

36. I don't blame him

for Bush's hard on. I hold him responsible for his vote. And as I've said a hundred times before here, 23 Senators were wise enough not to vote for it. Read their speeches. It was clear as the water in my spring that voting with Bush was a Gulf of Tonkin moment.

[Pez]

38. i blame bush...

...for his blatant deception. i've read the threads (been lurking for quite some time), i've read the speeches. i didn't even think dubya would be such a loon as to start a war just because he felt like it. the resolution was not a blank check, it was not an outright declaration of war. it was a series of steps to be followed to investigate whether or not saddam was producing wmd. inspectors were to be let in to perform their duties, which they had not been allowed to do. the outcome wasn't necessarily war-- it was to verify whether or not we were to disarm hussein. bush mangled the resolution and jumped the gun.

i would much rather BUSH INC. had persued bin laden, but fact was bush said "iraq" and the you.s. had to deal with iraq. the problem with this whole situation was that bush made iraq the focus. the president of the united states (no matter what kind of moron we think he is) can't just "take back" accusations like that against another nation. i know why the other senators disagreed, and perhaps in the same situation i would have done the same; but regarding bush's claims against another nation, something had to be done. kerry felt that it was best to follow a plan that could quite possibly lead us to the conclusion that iraq did NOT have wmd and we would NOT have to go to war. bush is in the wrong here. not kerry, for voting for a plan that he thought bush would follow. if you read kerry's speech before the vote, his intentions and demands of the president are obvious. the outcome did not always mean war. that is not to say the people who voted against it are wrong, but different people come to different conclusions, something our democracy thrives on.

bottom line is, bush hijacked america's trust.

[LuminousX]

39. Robert Byrd wasn't fooled by Bush

but Kerry was.

Why did Kerry take his lead from Bush instead of Byrd?

[Pez]

40. well...

...if there had been a "make up with europe" resolution as well, we would be in an entirely different situation right now. byrd said it was foolish for the you.s. to continue with the iraq business before making amends with france and germany in particular. he did not say that iraq didn't have wmd; in fact, in later speeches he places the blame on the you.s. for supplying them with the means for creating bio/chem/nuclear weapons. his opposition to the iwr was not that iraq was innocent; it was that BUSH INC. had been foolish in alienating our allies. kerry voted to go to the u.n. as a nation, possibly the closest bush would get to making up with and working with our allies, and saving face for america, which had become in many europeans' eyes a warmongering bully.

it was not a question of whether byrd trusted BUSH INC.; it was which step we should take first. since there was no "kiss europe's ass first" resolution, he was against it. it was a diplomatic issue, not whether or not he trusted BUSH INC. when they said saddam had wmd.