KERRY CALLS FOR WITHDRAWAL BY MAY 15TH

[WildEyedLiberal]

NEW NYT op-ed: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/05/opinion/05kerry.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

WE are now in the third war in Iraq in as many years. The first was against Saddam Hussein and his supposed weapons of mass destruction. The second was against terrorists whom, the administration said, it was better to fight over there than here. Now we find our troops in the middle of an escalating civil war.

Half of the service members listed on the Vietnam Memorial Wall died after America's leaders knew our strategy would not work. It was immoral then and it would be immoral now to engage in the same delusion. We want democracy in Iraq, but Iraqis must want it as much as we do. Our valiant soldiers can't bring democracy to Iraq if Iraq's leaders are unwilling themselves to make the compromises that democracy requires.

snip...

Iraqi politicians should be told that they have until May 15 to put together an effective unity government or we will immediately withdraw our military. If Iraqis aren't willing to build a unity government in the five months since the election, they're probably not willing to build one at all. The civil war will only get worse, and we will have no choice anyway but to leave.

WOW. Just, wow.

[globalvillage]

1. Holy shit!!!

This is awesome. Is it posted in GD?

[WildEyedLiberal]

3. I think I saw it in GD: P

You might want to take it over to GD. You're less controversial than me around those parts. :evilgrin:

[SuzyC]

12. Georgia10 on Kos

has a front-page diary on it right now.

[TayTay]

13. Excellent

This is a very good plan. I think it should garner some good support from the Dems.

[WildEyedLiberal]

14. That thread needs our help, kiddos

Lots of nasty hateful BS from people who couldn't hold beat JK in a 100 m dash if they were given a 10 second head start.

[Island Blue]

I agree WOW!

This is what we've all been waiting for someone to say. Damn he's good. He lays it out in simple, easy to understand language.

[ProSense]

2. Sweet!

Delicious! Wonderful! Home by summer!

[TayTay]

4. Wow indeed.

That process needs a good swift kick in the arse. The Iraqis have to be told, in no uncertain terms, that unless they get serious and start to form a real government, that we will withdraw our troops. This is tough stuff.

And if the Iraqis do get serious and form a coalition government, then we can withdraw in 8 months at the end of the year.

Yeah, a real plan!

[fedupinBushcountry]

5. WOW is right

He's tired of the crap, and Bush has let this happen.

[karynnj]

6. This is excellent

I really hope that Bush sees it for the life raft it is. This has to be the best shot a jolting the Iraqis to a solution with the help of their neighbors. There really is no more we can do. I just wish he were President.

[YvonneCa]

7. He is...

...acting as if he were the elected President. Thank you, Senator Kerry.:patriot:

[_dynamicdems]

8. WOW! This is something REAL to call for. Let's see how many DEMS

support this. I'd also like to see how many Repug scum take the bait and launch an attack on Kerry over this. That will only SINK them even further in the polls. I hope the do attack him...oh yeah.

We are taking Congress back and we are going to be out of Iraq by the end of the year. And NO permanent bases.

This is going to happen!

:woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

[fedupinBushcountry]

9. Is there some way

I can read the whole piece. I screwed up on my password to NYT a long time, and I have not been able to get a new account. They keep on telling me I already have an account and for some reason even with a new password I still can't get in.

[ProSense]

10. Love it!

Two Deadlines and an Exit
By JOHN F. KERRY

Snip...

Iraqi politicians should be told that they have until May 15 to put together an effective unity government or we will immediately withdraw our military.

[fedupinBushcountry]

11. Got it

THANKS :hug:

[kerrygoddess]

15. Responding to fools

If anyone needs help responding to fools there some stuff on the Dem Daily Kerry Forum. This is just the beginning - expect more.

[WildEyedLiberal]

18. There's a lot of crap over at Kos

Typical, erm, supporters of another primary candidate who can't get over their loss two years ago who insist on shitting on everything JK does. georgia10's kos thread needs some TLC, stat.

[kerrygoddess]

22. I posted once - will post again.

Thanks - I've hit the comments on C&L, Atrios, NewsBlog and a few other's with the bullet points and also JK's consistent history on Iraq - http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=2526

[kerrygoddess]

16. Brief Outline of JK's plan

John Kerry’s plan offers a responsible military and diplomatic transition for Iraq.

• U.S. troops critical to finishing the job of training Iraqi forces will remain in the country.
• American Special Operations forces will be redeployed to garrisoned status for security back up, training and emergency response.
• The U.S. will immediately bring the leaders of the Iraqi factions together at a Dayton Accords-like summit that includes our allies, the Arab League and the U.N..

o At this summit, the Iraqis will be made to reach a political agreement that includes security guarantees, disbanding the militias and reconstruction efforts.

Kerry’s plan for Iraq focuses on how to make America more secure at home and around the world.

• We will defeat Al Qaeda faster when we stop serving as their best recruitment tool.
• Iraq will not be the breeding ground for terrorism that Afghanistan was because Iraqis ultimately will not tolerate foreign jihadists on their soil.
• Leaving Iraq will strengthen our hand in addressing the nuclear threat from Iran.
• Leaving Iraq will allow us to repair the damage flag officers fear has been done to our armed forces.

MORE - http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=2527

[politicasista]

17. Wow! Thanks everyone

Kicked, recommended, and spread the word.

:yourock: :grouphug: :hi:

[wisteria]

19. I am stunned-just stunned!

JK and I are on the same page on this issue-although he has the the smarter more developed ideas.
Now I have to prepare for the anti-Kerry spin on both sides.

[JI7]

20. this is keeping in line with what he has said many times before

he always warned that unless certain steps were taken things will just get worse and we wouldn't have much choice on what to do. Bush misses all those steps, refusing to see, accept or care. so it just gets worse .

[ginnyinWI]

21. Kerry just keeps being Kerry!

This is wonderful! We should have known something was up, because things have been kind of quiet from him lately. Then, bam!

:patriot: :patriot: :patriot:

[karynnj]

24. Also, if you were handed that editorial with no name on it,

you would easily be able to identify who the likely author was.

I really like that he compared Vietnam to Iraq, reiterating that Vietnam continued long after their was a chance to win - and that he used the word immoral. That it has embedded in it the last remaining possible diplomatic/political effort is great. I hope at least some part of the party follows. (i also wonder if another audience could be Blair or the Iraqis themselves.)

[ProSense]

23. This is about

Leadership, courage and common sense. Stand up with a plan.

[Blaukraut]

25. he remains consistent

I love that about him. Yet, he is able to adapt his plans according to changes - unlike bush who can only stay the course like a stubborn ass, even if it leads off a cliff.

[kerrygoddess]

26. Keeping JK in the forefront

I posted on the Dem Daily forum the other night about keeping JK in the forefront. If you haven't checked out the thread please do and add ideas as well. http://forum.thedemocraticdaily.com/viewforum.php?f=6 - (Note Dem Daily JK members must login)

[BlueIris]

27. I knew there was a reason I still loved this man.

Why couldn't he have made it May 14th, though? That's my birthday. Oh well, close enough.

[ProSense]

28. Where is

media?

[ProSense]

29. Where

are the loud mouth bloggers? An attempted censure of Bush is worth more knee-jerk coverage than saving troops lives.

[beachmom]

30. Officially, * will condemn the plan and send his goons out after him

Unofficially, they'll tell the Iraqis -- see, another Senator is asking for withdrawal, so you better get it together! Carl Levin pretty much told the Iraqis that the troops aren't going to stay if they don't reach a compromise, and * said that was good that he said that.

So keep that in mind when the Right attacks.

I really had to go to bed early last night, so I just looked at the Georgia10 thread, and the first few comments are positive, and then I didn't feel like reading it anymore. It's okay -- a lot of people won't read 500 comments, so they'll probably miss the godawful ones.

Anyway, I am in complete agreement with JK on this. He has been very responsible about Iraq unlike many Lefties on the blogs, but he wasn't going to support being there forever. I really like how he said we're now in the 3rd war. I hope the media doesn't ignore this, because it needs to be big enough that the Iraqis know that the former presidential candidate has said enough is enough.

[Mass]

31. Excellent - We need this type of leadership.

Kerry is formalizing in this editorial what he has been hinting in different radio interviews.

As somebody who has ranted again and again about him not taking the lead on this issue, I am very happy to read that.

I'd just hoped that Bush would listen. I know unfortunately it will not happen. (Well, I wished he was at Bush's place right now, of course).

[Mass]

33. Be ready to see the far-left say "too little too late"

I saw the first editorial appear while I was googling to find what was the answer to this.

F* them.

[ProSense]

34. Yeah

Bush has been at this for years, but censure wasn't too little too late. Maybe they could drop the BS for a time and focus on actually trying to bring the soldiers home.

If they can't, I'm with you F* em. They do not represent the country with that attitude.

[WildEyedLiberal]

45. I've already seen SO many comments like that.

It's disgusting.

One idiot said that on DKos, and I replied "It's too late to get the troops out of Iraq? Tell that to Cindy Sheehan."

The idiot responded with, "Uh, her son's dead, so yeah, it is too late for her." ASSHOLE - I guess he didn't notice that she actively campaigns to end the war?

I said "well, I guess she'd better just pack it in and quit protesting, then, since her son already died and according to you it doesn't matter when the other soliders leave."

What I hate is knowing full well that if this was Clark, Feingold, ANYONE except maybe Hillary, the blogosphere would be going nuts with praise. But because it's Kerry, it's "too little too late." He's not allowed to have any more ideas, apparently - they just want him to go off into a corner and stop interfering with their favorite's quest to become 2008 nominee.

It shows that they don't really care about Iraq or issues at all, but more about playing stupid political games.

[ProSense]

48. Why wasn't

censure too little too late? These people are just as stupid as Bush's base. I take friggin offense to people saying well Feingold supports it so I blah blah blah.

No offense to Sen. Feingold, but these people are assholes.

[WildEyedLiberal]

50. I know

Feingold himself supports Kerry's plan. Clearly he's a bigger person than the majority of those who claim to support him.

[ProSense]

32. Left Coaster: Kerry Offers A Democratic Ultimatum On Iraq

I posted this is TayTay's GD-P thread.

Tuesday :: Apr 4, 2006

Kerry Offers A Democratic Ultimatum On Iraq

by Steve Soto

Kerry http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/05/opinion/05kerry.html">sticks his neck out on Iraq tonight:

So far, Iraqi leaders have responded only to deadlines — a deadline to transfer authority to a provisional government, and a deadline to hold three elections.
Now we must set another deadline to extricate our troops and get Iraq up on its own two feet.

Iraqi politicians should be told that they have until May 15 to put together an effective unity government or we will immediately withdraw our military. If Iraqis aren't willing to build a unity government in the five months since the election, they're probably not willing to build one at all. The civil war will only get worse, and we will have no choice anyway but to leave.

Snip...

This, coupled with Murtha’s redeployment proposal and Condi’s assurance today that there will not be permanent bases in Iraq beyond their ability to sustain their own security needs can be the basis for the Democrats’ policy on Iraq. Both Murtha and Kerry are approaching Iraq with an eye towards not repeating our Vietnam mistakes again. Setting a time-limited commitment reflects the views of more and more Americans, while telling the Iraqis that they have to demonstrate a commitment to self-governance quickly, which is exactly the message Rice gave to the Iraqis herself this weekend. The only difference is that the Bush Administration doesn't have the guts to publicly say what the consequences would be if the Iraqis keep stringing us along. At least Kerry says the obvious.

http://www.theleftcoaster.com/archives/007286.php

[MH1]

39. Excellent!

Good op-ed by JK, and I like Soto's post (although many of the comments are vile).

[ProSense]

35. John Kerry Sets a Deadline to Withdraw

John Kerry Sets a Deadline to Withdraw
Submitted by MikeHersh on Wed, 2006-04-05 07:00. Congress | Iraq War
Democracy Cell Project April 4, 2006

In Wednesday's New York Times, Sen. John Kerry issues a call for ending the war in Iraq: if the Iraqis cannot form a government by May 15th, Kerry wants to withdraw U.S. troops immediately. And if they beat this May 15th deadline, Kerry wants the new government to accept the withdrawal of all U.S. combat troops by the end of 2006.

Kerry's proposal overlaps Rep. John Murtha's previous withdrawal proposal, but Kerry goes one better than Murtha by setting specific dates and conditions. Read more and comment at the Democracy Cell Project blog

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/9957

[TayTay]

36. Digby: (Hullabaloo) Nice!

John Kerry On Iraq's Civil War

by tristero

And that's what he calls it. And calling it like it is suggests a sensible plan.

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/

[Mass]

37. I think I give up - I will never understand some people.

What is important for them:

- that troops leave Iraq.

OR

- that it is not their guy who is saying it right now.

This is amazing and distressing for me. I just dont understand what these people want.

:mad::mad::mad:

[TayTay]

38. These people are not yours to 'get'

They have their own agenda. We cannot possibly convince every person on the blogs to switch to another position. What you do is try to clearly explain your position and hope for some people who were on the fence or open to other arguments to talk to you.

It is fruitless to waste time with those who will never, ever agree with you because they have a vested interest in not agreeing with you.

[wisteria]

40. The only thing some of these posters care about is seeing their guy win.

Winning is everything. Kerry didn't win so they have moved along and chosen someone who they feel should have won or can win now. They ignore or bash Senator Kerry's works because it reminds them of what their guy hasn't or can not do. These are not issues people they are involved because it is sport to them. I am bothered by these types, they overlook many important issues simply because they think their guy can win. I think they are bad for our party.

[beachmom]

41. I think their guy isn't even their guy anymore

Lately, I've really liked Howard Dean, and am pleased with his 50 state strategy as well as what he has said on talk shows. He came across as confident, mature, and very reasonable, and I'm now happy he is the DNC chairman. If I'm beginning to like Dean, then I guess the Lefty Freepers will have to find someone else -- I suppose it's Feingold for the moment, until he commits a mortal sin, and then they'll move on to yet another "their guy".

I'm not going to take them seriously.

[JohnKleeb]

42. Feingold will commit the sin of likely voting

to confirm Dick Kempthorne to replace Gale Norton at the interior department, and if this news I ehar about a shakeup in the treasury department is true, whoever replaces Snow. Feingold trust me I admire him a lot like I do Kerry but he will do something to fall out of their graces. By the way I Read the op-ed and heard him on Franken, he's right though sad to say I don't think Bush will listen because Bush is a fucking moron who only hears what he wants to hear about Iraq.

[wisteria]

43. I was thinking the same thing about Dean. I saw him on CNN last

night and he did a very good job. As far as I am concerned he answered everything appropriately.

[ProSense]

44. Exactly! Why else would anyone

try to frame a censure res. that may die in committee and has no Repug support as more important than trying to get our troops out of Iraq?


Article is up:

http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0405-22.htm

[karynnj]

46. Some simply assume that that is what there guy is saying

by selective interetation. What I don't understand are those who simply think this is identical to Murtha or Clark. Feingold seems the only one in real agreement.

[Mass]

47. Be ready for the next series of attacks. It will be on India.

[sandnsea]

49. "war turf"

That's what I called it last night. I don't think it's so much that their particular guy says this, but rather that anybody but Kerry says it. I did like WelshTerriers post though, that was good at least.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2552353&mesg_id=2552353