On President Bush’s focus on Iraq to the exclusion of North Korea and Iran, which he describes as “more compelling threats”:
“This administration has been almost myopic in its view on Iraq itself, to the exclusion of those things that are necessary to in fact make the world safer. I think that this administration is high on rhetoric and high on ideology and low on actual strategic thinking and truth. And the fact is that they have broken alliances across the planet that have served us well for years, they’ve left our reputation in tatters. There’s no one who deals with the global community who doesn’t understand the degree to which we’ve isolated ourselves, and I think we’re less safe because of that.”
On negotiating with hostile powers:
“We have to be more artful in seeing what they see, not just thinking about it from our point of view. War is the ultimate failure of diplomacy; or use of force is the ultimate failure of diplomacy. But I know the difference between when you’ve really tried to give meaning to the words `last resort’ and when you haven’t.”
On comparisons between Iraq and Vietnam:
“Sure, there are increasing similarities. It’s never been Vietnam. It’s not Vietnam. It doesn’t have to be. But there are growing similarities. Whether or not it becomes that is truly up to this administration and the leadership over the course of the next months.”
On the possibility that a new Iraqi government would push American forces from the country:
“There’s an enormous crapshoot in the approach of this administration on this, which is not exactly the best way to be approaching something like this. Which is why I am saying that as president I would want to be proceeding from the greatest position of strength. I would want to be proceeding from the best prospects of success in the mission. And the best prospects of success and the greatest position of strength come from a maximum number of countries on the ground and involved, and come from a maximum share in local responsibility. None of which this administration has yet embraced or truly pushed for.”
On America’s role in the world:
“I think it’s an insult that when the world is twice as large as it was in the cold war, I mean half the world was shut to us during the cold war, the Peace Corps is smaller today than it was when President Kennedy started it. That tells you a lot.
“Our budget today for foreign policy, for everything we do — for drugs, for embassies, for foreign commercial service, for all of our efforts, including foreign aid — is smaller than it was under Ronald Reagan in 1986. We need some leadership to project our country into the world in a way that shows our values and our ideas and restores our influence and reputation. I think this administration has taken us to a low point unlike anything that I’ve seen in the entire time I’ve been in public life.”
If these remarks don’t show his true colors – - then I don’t know what will.
In his remarks he shows that he:
Supports appeasement
Is more concerned with what the other guy thinks than the safety of Americans
Cannot remember comparing and calling Iraq Vietnam numerous times
Ignores the military numbers that dwindled throughout the Clinton administration and rather stated Peace Corps numbers.
And numerous other things
These may all be small issues on their own, but when put together in the mind of one person who wants to be President of the United States – - they’re huge.
Peace Corps- And where do the young people hear about it? Are there ads going to the schools? I have not heard any advertising! Why does he need to be PRes to promote this?
Foriegn Aid- You bet its down! Isn’t the purpose to get them stable and on their own feet? Not create a welfare system of the aid?
He is right about war being the ultimate failure of diplomacy..we never should have let this go on for 12 years. We treated this as many parents treat their child, “I mean it” “I am going to count to 20″ “Iam going to give you 12 years”
And as for our reputation- It is where it should have been. We will not sit back and kiss another countrys ass, as they are selling us out to cover their sins!
Typical. Exactly what I was waiting for him to say, rather admit. I cannot stand him anymore, and it’s only May. In my school there are no advertisements for the Peace Corp, plus I don’t think any student would join it. They all want to do something extraordinary. They all want to join the marines, army, navy, or airforce. Those are what my school has info on such as brochures, posters, and some come to my school!
“We have to be more artful in seeing what they see, not just thinking about it from our point of view…”
and our point of view would be???
let’s see, we were attacked on 9-11 and we knew who did it and who participated in it or contributed to it, and we went after them… so I guess to appeasers like John Kerry that makes US the warmongers??? this man can not be President…
Hello, john… we were attacked first… duh…
seeing what they see… they have a “religion” that says to go and kill the infidels… and they consider us the infidels, how are we supposed to look at that from their point of view??? “hmmm, I think we should kill those damn infidels…?” “oh, wait, that’s me… uh, never mind” what a bone headed comment to say… “look at it from their point of view” I hate that man and I have a reason for it, not like the liberal hate for Pres. Bush, just because.
God bless G. W. Bush.