Any Questions for Senator Kerry?

[wisteria]

He is being interviewed by the USA Today editorial board Tuesday and they are giving the public a chance to ask a couple of questions too. Of course, you supply the question and they get to ask it, but still I think it might be nice to have him answer a question or two that has been on our minds.
If you are interested the link is below, but there isn't much time left to post. Registration is easy if you aren't already registered.


http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2009/11/thankful-americans--9.html?csp=34

[Luftmensch067]

1. Thanks so much!

I wouldn't have seen this!

[blm]

2. Senator, I note that you hired Doug Frantz who is tracking AQ Khan and his funding

and I am wondering if there is any chance at all that the too-quickly closed BCCI books will be re-opened and its many serious and outstanding questions answered?

[YvonneCa]

3. Thank you for the link. Here's...

...my question:

Senator Kerry,

Could you talk about the significance to our country of Copenhagen? Do you think it is important for President Obama to attend?

Thank you, Senator. :)

[wisteria]

4. All good questions, I can't wait to see if they use one or two. n/t

[beachmom]

5. Thanks, Wisteria. Here is my question:

Senator Kerry,

You played a pivotal role in diplomacy in Afghanistan, persuading President Karzai to agree to a runoff. However, since that time, the runoff was called off when Karzai's opponent dropped out and we have seen no evidence that Pres. Karzai is actually going to do much in the way of cleaning up the corruption that has plagued his government. You have said that a legitimate government is a primary piece of an effective counterinsurgency strategy. But if Karzai's government does not change, do you think our strategy should be reevaluated and an exit strategy be put together? Should our troops have to die for a government that does not serve its own people?

[wisteria]

6. Great question. It is very relevant to the times right now. Let's hope they decide to ask it. n/t

[karynnj]

7. Nice question

It would be interesting to hear his answer. While I do think that Karzai agreeing to a runoff was better than it would have been had he refused to budge, especially as some in the administration had the week before Kerry was there said that they considered Karzai the winner and they likely would not have turned from that if he refused, Karzai seems to have, if anything, dug in his heels refusing to change since then. Kerry's entire plan explicitly works only when there is a credible partner per his own words. Is there any government, national, provincial, or local that meets that criterion?

[Luftmensch067]

8. Q&A plus audio is up!

http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2009/11/q-a-kerry-obama-right-to-question-general-.html

[karynnj]

9. Great interview - thank you (and Wisteria) so much for finding it.

I really liked this last question and answer:

Q: We've talked about many challenges today, but in the current U.S. political system, do we have the ability to make the difficult, long-term choices that come with costs?

A: It takes leadership to change it. The president is offering leadership. But we're witnessing literally the most obstructionist Congress that I've seen in 26 years here. And the pressure that is put on our colleagues on the other side of the aisle not to work with us is just enormous. None of us has cornered the market on virtue, but we can have an honest debate and have a give-and-take. We don't have to lie about things and come up with phony studies that cloud the scene. But that's the nature of the battle, and we just have to keep plugging away.

I liked his Afghanistan and Pakistan answers, but the 4 or 5 years estimate will cause explosions here and elsewhere in teh blogoshpere, where that is all they will see and will miss that Kerry has been one of the strongest, most persuasive voices pushing back what McChrystal planned. (My own ignorance was shown when I was stunned that he said that Pakistan bordered on Iran - until I pulled up a map - and of course, it does.)

Overall, I was struck by the serious, above politics tone that Kerry strikes here repeatedly. The idealism and values of 2004 are still there, as is his concern that the soldiers are operating under a policy that the leaders really have a gut feel is the best they can find, but there is no hesitation to give the type of complicated answers that are more insightful, but less likely to be politically powerful soundbites - such as many things he said in 2008 as a surrogate for Obama. In someways, it reminds me of watching the confirmation hearing of Dr Rice and realizing that the brilliant Kerry of 2004, was in reality even smarter and more serious than when running for President. The voice here is more like the relaxed, serious Kerry as he is chairing the SFRC.

[beachmom]

10. Guys, I messed up big time!!! I should check my gmail account more!

An e-mail message I received 2 days ago:

Hey beachmom,
This is Eileen Rivers, Web content editor for USA TODAY's Editorial Page. I'm writing in reference to the question you posted for Sen. John Kerry. Your question is one of several we are considering for our editorial board meeting with the senator. Do we have permission to use your question? Also, do we have permission to use your first and last name and the city and state that you are writing from during our meeting and on our blog when we post the questions later along with Kerry's audio answers? If so, please e-mail both your name and city and state to me at [e-mail]. If you have any questions, please feel free to call me at xxx-xxx-xxxx.
Thanks,
Eileen Rivers
Web Content Editor
USA TODAY
Editorial Page

I just read it right now. D'oh!!!!

[karynnj]

11. Too bad - I would have loved to here his answer on that

It was a great question.

[Luftmensch067]

12. Argh!

But it's a lesson for all of us and you know there will be future situations! It really was (is!) a great question.

[wisteria]

13. Aww, to bad. But, they did ask your question indirectly. n/t