Kerry DOES Support a Trial For Saddam

[liberalpragmatist]

Recently many have come under the impression that John Kerry does not support a trial for Saddam Hussein. Kerry has ALWAYS said Saddam Hussein should have a trial. All he did was to express amazement that Howard Dean implied that he did not know whether or not Saddam Hussein was guilty. Here is a recent speech by Kerry.

http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/speeches/spc_2003_1216.html

“Foreign Policy in a Post-Saddam World: Rebuilding Our Alliances and Iraq”
Remarks by John Kerry at Drake University

December 16, 2003

Des Moines, IA

... the question of how to structure the trial of Saddam Hussein is not just a legal issue; it is a test of our values and our intentions. Saddam Hussein committed heinous crimes against the Iraqi people and the international community, but we cannot try him in some kind of kangaroo court without due process of law. To do so would reinforce our image as an occupying power and set back the cause of a new beginning in Iraq. We need to work with the Iraqi leadership to create a path to true justice that is fair and credible – in their eyes, in the eyes of other Arab and Muslim people, and in the eyes of the international community.

After working with the Cambodian government and the United Nations for years to form the upcoming genocide tribunal in Cambodia, it is clear to me that we cannot and must not ignore the emotional and political stake the Iraqi people have in this issue. But as I saw in Cambodia, the international community also has a major stake in the quest for justice.

The Iraqi people should see the trial firsthand because that will prove once and for all that Saddam Hussein is gone. It was important that Nazi war criminals be tried in Germany, just as it will be important that those responsible for the Killing Fields be tried in Cambodia. Trying Saddam Hussein in Iraq will provide an essential sense of closure for the Iraqi people. And we and the world have a deep interest in showing the Iraqi people that a judicial process with transparency, fairness, and justice can provide accountability and a penalty that fits the crime.

That’s why I believe a mixed tribunal, in which international judges, prosecutors, and investigators work alongside Iraqis, is the best guarantee of a fair and valid process. While setting up a credible mixed tribunal in Iraq may be more difficult then going to an international tribunal in the Hague, I believe it will be more credible in the long term; it will give Iraqis a place and a stake in the process – and it will lead to a stronger judicial system in that country for years to come.

[Egnever]

1. Of course he does he was for the war wasnt he?

or was he?

Who the hell knows what kerry is for on any given day. He is a master of saying absolutely nothing but using a lot of words to do it.

[kerrygoddess]

37. No in reality he was not

If you can't understand what Kerry is about, I suggest you read his speeches before you make remarks like that.

Dean is the one who keeps twisting his platforms, not John Kerry!

[Demobrat]

2. Just more desperate flailing.

I sure wish Kerry would drop out and end the humiliation for himself, and the embarassment for everyone else.

[imhotep]

4. I hope Kerry stays in

he brings balance on the dark side.

[blm]

12. Don't forget to say Kerry's corrupt, too.

Frankly, Dems should be embarrassed that they are so ignorant about the last FULL 30 years of Kerry's contributions to progressive Democratic ideals and his historic investigative work that exposed more government corruption than any lawmaker since Teddy Roosevelt. His work on the major issues throughout the 90s is also without compare.

But, some people have NO shame and no sense of history.

[Scott Lee]

3. Kerry muffs it again!

"To do so would reinforce our image as an occupying power and set back the cause of a new beginning in Iraq. "

Uhm, John....are we NOT an occupying power in Iraq at this very moment?

[Feanorcurufinwe]

6. No, Bush muffed it.

[Sean Reynolds]

16. No Kerry did.

He should have known that Bush would fuck the war up. He didn't and now has to pay for it.

Remember, Kerry could have voted no on the resolution, but he didn't. You can't deny that and don't try. Yes in the end it was Bush that had the final say, but before that Kerry could have stood up to Bush.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

35. Your argument is specious, your reasoning is faulty,

and your post is unpersuasive.

Blame Kerry for whatever you want. I blame Bush.

[JVS]

44. I blame both! They worked together. There is enough blame to go around

[JVS]

14. We are the bringers of liberation through shock and awe!

Isn't that great? :eyes:

[killbotfactory]

29. You don't get to make 100 gaffes a day and still be president...

[Sean Reynolds]

5. Flip flop Kerry!

Remember when Kerry attacked Dean for attacking Bush on a war Kerry supported and then turned around and attacked Bush over the war as well? Kerry makes my head spin with his crazy flip-flops.

Kerry supports a trial for Saddam. Dean comes out and says the same thing, Kerry attacks Dean for saying such a thing. :crazy:

[Feanorcurufinwe]

7. You aren't paying close enough attention.

Your characterizations of Kerry's positions are dead wrong.

[Sean Reynolds]

8. You're not checking the facts.

Yesterday Kerry attacked Dean for talking about a fair trial. Thus saying he didn't believe Saddam should have a trial.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

9. Again, your characterization is nonsense.

Good luck in your career as a pundit. lol

[Sean Reynolds]

10. I didn't say it, KERRY said it!

SCHIEFFER: Well, do you think it would be dangerous to have Howard Dean as president?

Sen. KERRY: Well, How--listen, Bob, it's up to a lot of other voters to make decisions about this race. What I'm trying to do is point out that for us to beat George Bush, we need a candidate who has theability to go face to face with him on the issue of national security.

George Bush himself has said national security will be the central issue of this campaign. And it's very clear that--that Howard Dean has been all over the place. I mean, if you don't know that Saddam Hussein is guilty and you think he has to have a jury trial, if you make statements suggesting that we can't protect ourselves without the permission of the United Nations, that we have to prepare for the day when America is not the strongest military in the world, that we're not safer with Saddam Hussein captured, I think those will raise serious doubts in the minds of Americans about whether or not this is the Democratic Party of retreat and confusion or whether it is the Democratic Party in the tradition of Roosevelt and Truman
that knows how to make America safe.

I know how to make America safe and fight a war on terror that does not overextend our troops, that does not put America at greater risk. And we need a nominee about whom there are no questions on the subject of national security.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/12/28/ftn/main590384.shtml

HOW is that not clear?

[Monte Carlo]

19. What you are hearing is the problem.

Kerry knows Saddam is going to get a trial, and supports it. Dean is a nutball for making an issue of Saddam's guilt. You don't need a trial to know he's guilty.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

22. Ding ding ding

[Sean Reynolds]

25. Again....

...I mean, if you don't know that Saddam Hussein is guilty and you think he has to have a jury trial...

HIS exact words. He said, if you THINK he has to have a jury TRIAL....

Hm, I think you need to read what he said again.

[Monte Carlo]

28. ...a jury trial to know he was guilty...

I think you need to read what he said again, and maybe for once, give him the benefit of the doubt.

[Sean Reynolds]

30. No.....

So you believe we shouldn't find out whether or not he's guilty? Isn't that the rule of law? Wouldn't you suspect Bush's motives if he were to by-pass a jury trial and just convict him? It's quite clear Kerry undermines the rule of law here.

[Monte Carlo]

31. Rule of law has nothing to do with knowledge.

Courts and trials are not about making someone guilty or innocent, just determining it. We KNOW that Saddam is guilty, the whole country of Iraq knows his crimes. Rule of law has nothing to do with it.

[Sean Reynolds]

33. Yes it does.

We knew Ted Bundy was guilty as well, but we gave him a jury trial, did we not?

[Monte Carlo]

36. Sure, that's why we're giving Saddam a trial...

... and that's why Kerry supports a jury trial. But if you have to wait for a judge and a jury's blessing to know that Saddam is guilty, you haven't been paying attention for the past 25 years.

[Sean Reynolds]

39. He doesn't support a jury trial.

He said so yesterday.

[Monte Carlo]

41. OK, so now we're back to square one.

Good night.

[Sean Reynolds]

43. Night!

:hi:

[Monte Carlo]

18. Kerry is attacking Dean for wasting valuable air time.

In this election, the Democrats are going to have to choose their battles because there's only time for a certain amount. Dean wants to make a big friggin' spectacle about the status of Saddam's guilt? He is going to get his trial, but let's not pretend that Saddam is just any accused man. If you have to have a jury trial to know Saddam is guilty, you're crazy.

[killbotfactory]

26. He also attacked Dean for "shooting from the hip"

When Dean suggested sanctions against Saudi Arabia...

Then a month later proposed the same thing.

[JI7]

11. of course he does

doesn't mean he can say osama and saddam are guilty just like i can say gwbush is guilty of crimes. and i would still support a trial for bush,cheney and the rest of the bunch. and kerry was talking about osama there but made a mistake and said saddam. supporting war based on evidence like osama is declaring guilt.

[Sean Reynolds]

13. If that is the case he needs to correct himself.

Until he does I will still believe he does not support a fair trial for Saddam.

[trumad]

15. It's basically Kerry putting his foot in his mouth

and now trying to pull it out.... Dean suckered him on this one big time...

[adadem]

23. When I saw the interview

I thought that's what Kerry said...but if you read the interview one can see that he was paraphrasing the earlier comments that Dean had made...Dean made those comments and Kerry was differentiating himself from them.

[JVS]

17. Attacking Dean for the same view on a trial is low. He should apologize.

[blm]

21. He didn't. He was criticizing the way Dean said it

as far as a public perception matter. There is NO reason why Dean can't say Usama or Saddam is guilty when there is plenty of documentation of their crimes already.

Kerry never said that Saddam or Usama shouldn't get a trial, that was pure spin by those looking to spin his remarks disingenuously.

[JVS]

24. This is America, we aren't supposed to do trial by public opinion

It saddens me that Kerry cannot stand up for the American way, but would rather help Bush ruin our fine land.

[sandnsea]

38. Dean said shoot Osama on sight

Now if that isn't declaring the man guilty, as of yesterday, then I don't know what is. Good lord. The lengths people will go to fling shit.

[Sean Reynolds]

40. He said if we HAVE to shoot him on sight....

I agree, that if he's attacking American troops, we should shoot to kill. But if he gives up like Saddam, we should not.

[sandnsea]

20. Is Osama guilty?

Yes or no. And if you don't know that after the man admitted his guilt and continuously releases tapes threatening the U.S., then I just don't know what to say to you.

Kerry mixed up Osama and Saddam yesterday. It was a gaffe, mistake, whatever you want to call it. But he never said either Osama or Saddam didn't deserve a trial. If you're going to beat him over the head, at least do it for the right reasons.

[Sean Reynolds]

27. Until he corrects himself I'll only believe he meant Saddam.

And if Kerry doesn't believe bin Laden should have a trial, well I question Kerry's leadership.

Don't you think bin Laden should be put on trial? OR do you support him just being tossed way for life?

[killbotfactory]

32. Maybe he mistakes Saddam for Osama...

Which would explain why he thought the Iraq war was a good thing.

[Sean Reynolds]

34. lol

[deacon]

42. kerry is this campaigns bill simon

the man is lost and confused and disorganized.

[adadem]

45. Let's see

It's perfectly OK for the good doctor to stick his foot in his mouth nearly every day but when another candidate does it it's considered a major blunder...I can accept the few Kerry (and others) have made...the good doctor has made for too many.