Edwards, Kerry and Kucinich on the issues: Iraq

[maddezmom]

Candidates on the issues: Iraq

The Associated Press
Thursday, February 19, 2004
(02-19) 11:35 PST (AP) --

The Associated Press chooses an issue three times a week and asks the presidential candidates a question about it.

IRAQ: Was the United States justified in going to war with Iraq?

Democrats:

Sen. John Edwards: "I believe that Saddam Hussein being gone is good for America's national security, the security of the Middle East, and the Iraqi people. But I have consistently argued that we had to do this with allies by our side, and with a real plan to win the peace. We should immediately take the American face off this occupation by turning over civilian control to the United Nations; give the Iraqi people more control over their destinies; and seek out allies -- specifically NATO -- for a larger security force in Iraq."

Sen. John Kerry: "The Bush administration told the American people in 2002 that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction. It was on that basis that he sent America's sons and daughters marching off to war. Now Bush is changing his story and backing off the claim of imminent threat in Iraq. George Bush needs to set the record straight and tell America precisely what he knew when he launched the war and why he is saying something so different today. We should never go to war on the basis of misused intelligence."

Rep. Dennis Kucinich: "The war in Iraq was wrong. It is a diplomatic and foreign policy failure, and the administration led America into it based on false pretenses. There has never been credible evidence that Iraq possessed WMDs -- weapons that, according to the administration, posed an immediate and imminent threat to our nation and our allies, and could not be eliminated through international weapons inspectors. I am the only presidential candidate with an official exit plan to this occupation which has turned into a quagmire. My plan to get the U.N. into Iraq and the U.S. out will bring our troops home quickly and increase American security."


more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2004/02/19/politics1435EST0647.DTL

[NuckinFutz]

1. As always Kucinich

lays it out straight, "The war in Iraq was wrong."

[FloridaPat]

2. Yes, Kucinich has it right. He was one of the few that tried to

get the OK from congress rescinded before the war. Someone with principals and backs them with action.

[IrateCitizen]

3. Too bad that doesn't translate to "electability"

Someone with principals and backs them with action.

Apparently, it's much more "electable" to be all things to all people. That's how "real change" comes about, I am told. :eyes:

[NuckinFutz]

4. Hmmm..

"Apparently, it's much more "electable" to be all things to all people."

Maybe that's why Kerry never really answered the question, but just railed against Bush.

At least Edwards and Kucinich have a plan to talk about.

[BeFree]

8. Real Change?

Ya want real change? Change either occurs slowly - as in evolution - or it occurs quickly - as in earthquakes.

Change is good. We need change. But most of the electors do not want earthquake type changes. They want it nice and easy, an evolution, if you will. We who wish for earthquake like changes are seen as radicals, outsiders, troublemakers. Kuch represents earthquakes to most of the sheeple who vote.

That's the way it is. That's why he is unelectable. Even KJ will have a hard time getting elected. But get elected, he must, if we are to have even a chance at evolutionary change.

[GreenArrow]

9. change

The appearance of change is enough for most people. They fear change, even as they crave it. By and large, they'll settle for the comfortable, the familiar, the safe and secure.

But even earthquakes don't happen overnight. They build, over very long periods of time.

[revcarol]

5. Bumpety, bump.

Do we DU-ers want to educate ourselves or not?:kick:

[no name no slogan]

6. I'll see your bump and raise you a kick (nt)

:kick:

[RichM]

7. DK the best, as usual. The whole truth, the straight truth.

That's what it means to be "unelectable."

[LWolf]

10. truth is unelectable

That's what our nation has come to.

How many democrats value truth enough to vote for it?