Wade Sanders - Good for John (Kerry): Attaboy!

[kerrygoddess]

Good for John: Attaboy!
Posted by Wade Sanders
April 5th, 2006 @ 9:58 am

John Kerry’s argument in today’s New York Times hits the nail on the head.

As someone who has known him since we both served on Swift Boats in Vietnam, I know that John at his best is a voice of reason and action and conscience.

Today he clearly understands that we have allowed ourselves to become referees in the middle of burgeoning Civil War, an untenable and unwinnable position.

John calls for the right mix of toughness, diplomacy, involvement of the other Middle Eastern States and the United Nations (all of who have at least as big a stake in a secure, stable, and peaceful Iraq as the United States) to address the situation.

Most importantly, he gets tough – he sends a mandate to the members of the Iraqi Provisional Government to set aside their own personal agendas and seriously assume responsibility for their own governance and security.


MORE - http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=2532

Wade Sanders is a Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy and retired Navy Captain (and lifelong JK friend)

[politicasista]

1. Nice piece from a fellow Swift Boat Vet.

Kicked and recommended. :kick:

[kerrygoddess]

2. yes it is

I met Sanders in NH during the primary - really nice guy!

[kerrygoddess]

3. Kerry's Plan Gets Nods

http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=2533

[BeFree]

4. A Threepeat

What Kerry has said is that we have fought three wars: First against Saddam and WMD, second against the insurgents, and the third is now a civil war.

And we don't know which side were on in that one. Its all become rather muddy, eh?

Bring our troops home and let the Iraqis be free.

[kerrygoddess]

5. It's mired in the mud

Quaqmire style!

[IowaGuy]

6. Wades a cool guy...

he came to Iowa to volunteer for Kerry back during the caucuses...own time and own dime. Not a paid staffer....a true believer. Had breakfast one day with him. Incredibly interesting conversationalist. We talked about everything from music to French and German philosophers to political strategies, his history w/ JK - my life and family (as pedestrian as they are compared to his - he still seemed genuinely interested)...and we talked about IRAQ, a lot.

I was drawn to JK's campaign for purely personal reasons. I've got a son that will soon turn 18 and I do not want him getting trapped in a situation where he ends up bleeding to death on a sand dune somewhere to protect somebodies business interests....and I felt that JK had the best inner sense and compass as to what our military should be used for.

At that time in 2002, I was fairly ignorant as to the intricacies of what was happening or could happen in Iraq. I just knew I didn't like it or trust it...had a bad feeling.

At that breakfast, Wade explained in great detail his personal vision of how this would play out. He was right about everything, every single thing...the faux reasons for going in, the quick military victories over non-existent foes, the introduction of terrorist elements in Iraq, the deep divisions and discord between the various sects, the difficulties with militias and the ultimate weakening of our political and military positioning within the world. Quite frankly...I would vote foe Wade as President.

He is a guy I'm stayin' in touch with and watching, because his world view is so prescient and informed...anybody he supports, will automatically be at the top of the list of people I would seriously consider for elected positions. There aren't many people I would take a back seat too regarding overall knowledge and vision of the world..I'm just arrogant enough to think my view is as good or better informed than most peoples, however...Wade...definitely my intellectual superior and I would be a real dumb ass to not realize that and take full advantage of his experience and intellect.

[TayTay]

7. Wow! What a story.

Thanks for sharing that. I saw Del Sandusky on a New England Cable Networks event online and he is another person who has had an interesting life.

That is an impressive story.

[kerrygoddess]

8. Iowa Guy

I had the pleasure of meeting Wade Sanders in NH during the primaries. I never got to talk to him as much as you did, but he is a great guy and yes very well informed. The Swift Smearers did a number on him as well during the campaign. He used to have a regular column on Military.com and do commentary for NBC I think. He's a longtime friend of Kerry, if you read Tour of Duty or watched Going Up River he's in both.

Edited to add: Thank you for sharing your story about Sanders.

[IowaGuy]

12. thanks...

I read Tour of Duty...have not read Going Up River, will definitely sometime.

Read it after I met Wade..was surprised to learn Kerry used to crash on his couch in Cali.
Although it was apparent from talking w/ Wade they went through some stuff together in Nam and they had kept in touch since that time,,,I had no idea they had that much other history together.

Somethin' about a guy (JK) that has long relationships of that caliber over the decades that speak volumes of his integrity and character (unlike some in this world who just skate by on Daddy's connections)

Guess I was pretty dismissive of the Swift smearers within about the first 10 minutes of my realization they existed on the planet...I'm still shocked that anybody put any credence in them whatsoever. Was not aware of anything they said about Wade...I could imagine though.

[karynnj]

9. He really sounds amazing

It says a lot that he has stayed so loyal to Kerry. The fact that there were so many people of the caliber of Wade Saunders and Max Cleland who were so strong in their support really makes the MSM story that John Kerry was a loner pretty unlikely.

[blm]

11. The media was given a mission in the 70s and 80s - tear down Kerry.

Everything you read today has been filtered through those many planted stories from Nixon, Reagan and Bush1 administrations.

Today's journos just repeat memes and "conventional wisdom" tripe that have been passed down for years. They are too lazy to research the truth or the origins of those memes for themselves.

[ProSense]

10. Excellent story! Thanks for sharing it. n/t