John Kerry Statement on George Tenet's Speech today on Iraq intelligence

[flpoljunkie]

http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/releases/pr_2004_0205f.html

February  05,  2004

For Immediate Release


“Today, the CIA Director, George Tenet, admitted that the intelligence agencies never told the White House that Iraq posed an imminent threat.  But that’s not what the Bush White House told the American people.  They said Iraq posed a ‘mortal threat,’ an ‘urgent threat,’ an ‘immediate threat,’ a ‘serious threat,’ and, yes, an ‘imminent threat’ to the people of the United States.

“Today, we found out that George Bush, Dick Cheney, Don Rumsfeld, and the rest of the Administration weren’t passing on sound facts on Iraq to the American people - they were playing politics with our national security.

“Americans should be able to trust that what the President tells them is true - especially when it comes to the life and death decisions of war and peace. 

“We need to restore America’s credibility around the world and the trust of the American people in their government at home.  That’s not going to happen with a sham commission hand-picked by George Bush to look into how these faulty facts on Iraq made it to the American people.  It’s not going to happen while the Bush White House continues its stalling and stonewalling.  What we need is for this President to take responsibility - to face the truth - and to finally tell the truth to the American people.  And we need that now.”

[Feanorcurufinwe]

1. Kerry focuses on what's important - Bush's deception.

[THUNDER HANDS]

2. the debate is going to be must-see TV

when Kerry and Bush line up head-to-head.

It'll get bigger ratings than the Superbowl.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

3. I don't see how Bush will survive this

really I don't.

[mikehiggins]

4. Thank God he noticed.

Now that Senator Kerry is on the case, things should straighten up real quick, you betcha.

Too bad about them other fellas what was saying this stuff. Now that Kerry has said it the truth has become clear.

Just like when that Clark feller was talking about AWOL and stuff, and Kerry sorta walked away from it as fast as he could. Now its in the papers and he's all over it.

Now that's some kinda leader, goldang it! Can't do better than that, now can we?

[For PaisAn]

9. agree with you

again you hit it on the head. Kerry takes no stand, lets others test the water and face the fire, then steps in when all's clear and starts spouting like he's making a bold statement and like he's leading the way in calling it like it is. Just more BS and maneuvering.

[Old and In the Way]

20. Kerry takes no stand?

Did you bother to read the release, or is this just a knee-jerk, feel good post?

[BootinUp]

14. mike...I was just trying to warm up to

Kerry, and you just through a bucket of ice water on me. Thank You Sincerely for waking me from the trance I temporarily fell in to.

:toast:

[NewYorkerfromMass]

15. I appreciated your warmer response down below.

Truth is truth. Let them have at Bush.

[joanski01]

5. I've been hearing people

on the TV say that Senator McCain will be appointed to the Independent Commission. The bushies must really have something on McCain. And as everyone probably already knows, McCain was out campaigning for bush*.

[Skip Intro]

6. Well, I'll give credit where credit is due

That is a forceful statement, and I'm glad to hear it, especially coming from Kerry. I hope he'll say it the next time cameras are on him as well.

I still have problems with Kerry, but this was a very good statement. It would have been good coming from my guy Dean, or Kucinich, or anyone.

I'll be Dean as long as Dean's in, and if it comes to choosing a second, I'm strongly leaning Clark. But Kerry scored some points with me by saying what he has said here.

[Punkingal]

7. Kerry just called Bush a liar!!!!

OMG...what a great day!

[For PaisAn]

10. Too little, too late for Mr. Kerry

as far as I'm concerned.

[killbotfactory]

12. It would have been nice if he realized this before he voted for IWR

If he was taking Bush at his word, instead of the CIA or his own analysis of the facts, then his judgement needs to be questioned.

[Old and In the Way]

21. Yes, he should have been a mindreader!

Too bad Tenet didn't give the speech before the IWR, too.

I know it's important for you to spin the IWR vote against Kerry to prop up your candidate (whoever that may be), but it really was Bush who made the decision to invade Iraq.

All Kerry and the Democrats did was give George the rope....George tied the knot, slipped the noose over his head, tied off the other end to the tree. Then he jumped.

[Jacobin]

22. Gee, I guess we were all "mindreaders" here at DU

or maybe just readers of the foreign press and articles by paleo-cons warning against the war.

Kerry doesn't read the NYT editorial page?

Guess he is apt to be easily fooled then.

[BeatleBoot]

8. Rock on, John, Rock on...

I dig it!

[Clark4Prez]

11. It's exactly this sort of statement

That will make it no problem for me to fully support John Kerry if he wins the nomination.

Keep giving them hell, John.

[anarchy1999]

13. Kucinich saw through the deception, why didn't Kerry?

n/t

[maxr4clark]

17. So did Clark and Dean. n/t

[cindyw]

24. Bull on Dean. He argued to give Bush the authority for going to Iraq.

Don't come here thinking people don't know the truth on Dean and his mindreading.

[maxr4clark]

16. "they were playing politics with our national security"

Kerry is taking statements from all the other campaigns, isn't he? This one is from Clark.

Welcome to the bandwagon, Johnny-come-lately!

[Leilani]

25. Exactly

One of the news shows on cable blasted Clark today, for saying this was political decision.

Maybe it was Tucker Carlson; he inferred Clark was crazy, which our Edwards friends are now repeating.

[buff2]

18. That's a good response.......

If....and it looks like Senator Kerry will be our nominee,I hope he doesn't let up on these thugs.....I hope he fights them tooth and nail. It's time the dems stood up to these bullies,once and for all.I'm sick and tired of our party rolling over and playing dead.It's crucial we take out the trash in Nov.

[Native]

19. Kerry obviously knows how to play a good game of chess...

Remember when he came out calling for Tenet's resignation and everyone thought that was lame because he wasn't directly attacking Bush? And now we have Tenet defending himself and giving up just enough for Kerry to make this statement. I think Kerry's timing is impeccable. I don't think it has anything to do with letting others test the water for him. Kerry is smart, and he knows when to play his hand - obviously. This, in my humble opinion, is the difference between a blowhard and a statesman.

[Miramar]

23. Kerry is certainly a statesman.

But I don't think he was mislead by Bush, he knew the information was false. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) as are most of the DLC members, including Clark, Gephardt, Lieberman, Clinton, Bush I, etc. I'm not sure about Edwards. Anyway, because of Peak Oil, I believe that CFR policy is pushing toward U.S.hegemony in the ME so we can have access to and control of oil as the supplies diminish. Our way of life would otherwise be on the line in a few years. It's that serious. Not only Iraq, the war against Afghanistan was to get an oil pipeline through that country. Not even alternative energy source development is going to get us out of this pickle. If we had continued on the path Carter had started with Alternative energy we would be a lot further along. But, no one is even giving it straight to the American people and saying, look you have to cut back - buy fuel-efficient cars, car-pool, build energy efficient houses - buy locally - grow gardens, etc.

Kucinich knows why we are over there and would get us out and do the honorable thing. I think any of the other candidates would keep us quagmired in Iraq. However, I will back whoever gets the nomination.