Here We Go Again! "Secretary of State John Kerry Pushes for Endless War Authorization"

[KoKo]

Secretary of State John Kerry Pushes for Endless War Authorization

'We do not think an AUMF should include a geographic limitation,' Kerry told Senate committee
by
Andrea Germanos, staff writer
http://www.commondreams.org/news/2014/12/10/secretary-state-john-kerry-pushes-endless-war-authorization

Secretary of State John Kerry on Tuesday urged lawmakers to act at their "bipartisan best" and authorize new power for the U.S. to wage, without geographical constraints, open-ended war on Islamic militants.

Kerry made the comments in testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

His specific ask was for new authorization for use of military force (AUMF) "that provides a clear signal of support for our ongoing military operations against Daesh," referring to ISIL as it is regionally called.

The White House has faced criticism for using the 2001 and 2002 AUMFs as justification for its current war against militants in Iraq and Syria, and AUMF critic Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) has called the authorization "an overly broad, deeply concerning law that gives any president the authority to wage war at any time, in any place, for nearly any purpose."

In his opening remarks, Kerry said, "It will be years, not months, before [ISIL] is defeated."

"We’re determined to work with you, first and foremost to develop an approach that can generate broad bipartisan support, while ensuring that the President has the flexibility to successfully prosecute this effort," he said.

"We do not think an AUMF should include a geographic limitation," he said, adding that "we would not want an AUMF to constrain our ability to use appropriate force against ISIL in those locations if necessary. In our view, it would be a mistake to advertise to ISIL that there are safe havens for them outside of Iraq or Syria."

Though he said the administration believes not deploying ground troops is "the soundest possible policy," he added that the option shouldn't be ruled out of a new authorization, saying that "it doesn’t mean we should preemptively bind the hands of the Commander-in-Chief or our commanders in the field in responding to scenarios and contingencies that are impossible to foresee."

Reiterating claims by President Obama, Kerry said, "we can be sure that this confrontation is not going to be over quickly." Though he said that the administration supports the proposal put forth by Sen. Menendez (D-N.J.) to put a three-year limitation into the new AUMF, he urged flexibility with the addition of provision that would allow "for extension in the event that circumstances require it."

----------------

Such "flexibility" to wage war has critics sounding alarm.

"Coming from someone who began his political career fighting against an open ended, disastrous war, Sec. Kerry's remarks are deeply troubling," Stephen Miles of Win Without War told Common Dreams. "Hopefully, the President—who also owes his political success to his strong antiwar positions—will support clear, strong limits imposed by Congress on our latest war in the Middle East."

"History will remember Obama harshly if he squanders his legacy by enshrining endless, worldwide war into law," Miles said.


This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License
http://www.commondreams.org/news/2014/12/10/secretary-state-john-kerry-pushes-endless-war-authorization

[Thinkingabout]

1. What strategic move would you take to halt ISIS?

[liberal_at_heart]

4. It was strategic moves that created ISIS. We need to be focusing more on

how to decrease our military actions abroad so that we don't create more terrorists.

[blm]

7. Kerry's doing that - people don't want to understand how he is doing it.

Targeting ISIL, specifically, instead of 'nations' should be seen as progress.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/04/world/middleeast/iran-airstrikes-hit-islamic-state-in-iraq.html?_r=0

[liberal_at_heart]

11. Nothing we are doing right now is decreasing the number of terrorists.

You kill one, five more are recruited to the cause.

[blm]

20. That was before Kerry's negotiations to bring Muslim nations

to the front of the confrontation with ISIL.

Apparently you are rooting for Kerry's strategy to fail, without offering a better strategy to effectively achieve the goal you claim to seek.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/04/world/middleeast/iran-airstrikes-hit-islamic-state-in-iraq.html?_r=0

[Scuba]

24. "Rooting for"? No. Realistic about.

[blm]

28. Reality - Kerry's goal has always been the right one:

CNN/2004:
>>
In the magazine article, a largely analytical cover story by Matt Bai, Kerry is asked "what it would take for Americans to feel safe again." (Special Report: America Votes 2004)

''We have to get back to the place we were, where terrorists are not the focus of our lives, but they're a nuisance,'' the article states as the Massachusetts senator's reply.

''As a former law enforcement person, I know we're never going to end prostitution. We're never going to end illegal gambling. But we're going to reduce it, organized crime, to a level where it isn't on the rise. It isn't threatening people's lives every day, and fundamentally, it's something that you continue to fight, but it's not threatening the fabric of your life.''

Kerry was a prosecutor before he got into politics, and made fighting organized crime a priority.

Bush campaign Chairman Marc Racicot, in an appearance on CNN's "Late Edition," interpreted Kerry's remarks as saying "that the war on terrorism is like a nuisance. He equated it to prostitution and gambling, a nuisance activity. You know, quite frankly, I just don't think he has the right view of the world. It's a pre-9/11 view of the world."
>>>

REALITY IS that Kerry has been successfully convincing leaders of Muslim nations in the region that THEY are the ones who have the most at stake with the rise of ISIL, and that THEY need to confront it, with US transitioning to a backseat position.

[Scuba]

29. Yeah, you just keep believing that fantasy.

[blm]

32. Sorry, Scub - I deal only with reality. You want to join the smears on Kerry

hog ahead - You are the one relying on imagery instead of facts based in the effectiveness of Kerry's efforts to transition our role in the region, so far.

Easier to believe the fantasy woven for you that he and Obama are 'just like Bush' right?

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/04/world/middleeast/iran-airstrikes-hit-islamic-state-in-iraq.html?_r=0

[Scuba]

34. I'm still waiting for that link where Kerry advocates humanitarian aid to prevent terror.

[blm]

37. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2014-09/09/c_126964123.htm

I'm still waiting for a reason why Kerry's goal of transitioning away from wide scale use of military force to fight terrorism is a bad one to you?

Because it's 'frivolous' or because it 'won't work'?

[Scuba]

39. So you have no link where Kerry advocates humanitarian aid to end terrorism. Got it.

Interesting how you characterize widening the use of military force as "transitioning awy from wide scale (sic) use of military force".

[blm]

42. Because that has always been his mindset, Scub…whether you want

to acknowledge it or not.

You didn't mind his being targeted for that view back in 2004 did you? Do you mind his working with Muslim nations currently in order to target ISIL and extremists narrowly instead of targeting entire nations?

What, exactly, do YOU think the goal is, since you distrust Kerry's views of shrinking terrorism down to a law enforcement for the US, requiring and using only specially trained military forces, like the action that targeted BinLaden?

[Scuba]

44. What part of "We do not think an AUMF should include a geographic limitation" do you interpret as ..

... "shrinking terrorism down to a law enforcement" issue?

[blm]

48. Because it isn't ABOUT geography. It's a worldview and you know it.

The region's MUSLIM NATIONS need to be leading it and Kerry has been aggressively pursuing that goal so it would have the best chance of succeeding. You don't WANT to see that as possible, so you categorize the efforts to be those of a warmongerer.

Neocons don't see it being possible, either. You share common ground, whether you like it or not.

[Scuba]

53. I don't see Kerry advocating use of any tools except the hammer. That's disappointing.

[blm]

55. See what you want. I've seen and heard it in plenty of his

papers and speeches over the years.

But then, I'm a freak for National Security Archives and watching speeches most would consider boring.

[Scuba]

56. Yet you can't provide a single link.

[blm]

58. A single link to Kerry's views on roots of terrorism and humanitarian

solutions as part of the effort combatting it? JEEEEEEZUS Keerist, Scub…..where have you been the last 40 years?

Humanitarian component is NOT being pushed aside.
>>>
“As we build this coalition, I want to underscore that almost every single country on earth has a role to play in eliminating the ISIL threat and the evil that it represents,” he said.

“For some that will mean military assistance, both direct and in the form of training, arming, and advising, equipping. For some it will mean contributing to the desperately needed humanitarian relief effort. For some it will mean helping to identify, track, and cut off ISIL’s funding, and prevent the flow of foreign fighters,” Kerry continued.

“For still others it will mean demolishing the distortion of one of the world’s great peaceful religions and counteracting the propaganda ISIL uses to recruit new supporters,” he said. “And for all it will mean publicly supporting the new inclusive government in Iraq.”

Kerry outlined what several countries have already offered, including the provision of military assistance (Canada, Britain, France, Estonia, Albania, Australia) and humanitarian aid (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, France, Britain, Japan, Australia).

“The UAE [United Arab Emirates] has agreed to take on ISIL’s support networks and beat back against its militant ideological propaganda,” he said.

More from transcript of key meeting:
>>>>
From Jeddah we then went to Paris, in which we had the Paris conference hosted by President Hollande, and that was focused on support for Iraq in its fight against ISIS. And the statement that issued in Paris, 26 nations signed up to a very comprehensive and broad-scale campaign to defeat ISIS. That then led into the Security Council meeting on Friday hosted by Secretary Kerry with almost 40 nations offering their very clear support for Iraq and a comprehensive global campaign, again, to defeat ISIS along these multiples lines of effort.

And this is all anchored by Chapter 7 Security Council Resolution 2170 that was passed right before the NATO summit, which basically discussed the need for all member-states around the entire world to cut down on foreign fighter flows, to restrict the financing of extremist groups like ISIL and associated movements, and also to stop the incitement and legitimization that these groups tend to get.

And this will flow in, of course, to the historic Security Council meeting we’re having tomorrow. And I’m using the word “historic” because I really think if you look at what’s happened over the last six weeks, it truly is historic, which gets to what happened last night and today. I know when we were on the road with a lot of you last week, there was some skepticism of what the coalition was about. We tried to emphasize that this was not only a military coalition; the military piece is only one part of it, but there is a military component. The support I know was described in some articles as tepid.

Obviously, we couldn’t talk about everything that was going on behind the scenes, but behind the scenes we are very actively building a military coalition in order to target ISIL and some of the associated groups in a very effective and fairly comprehensive way with the target packages, and now everybody can see what happened last night.
So that then led into today. And today we had – the meeting I can talk about was President Obama and Secretary Kerry with the new prime minister of Iraq, Prime Minister Abadi, and with the countries from the region who were involved in the operation last night, so UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar – all around the table discussing the common threat of ISIL. And I think I would just say the President was very clear in terms of actually laying out where we are, talking about the fact that this is a threat that unifies everybody. And everybody’s head around the table was nodding at the fact that this is a threat that unifies everybody. Everybody around the table agreed that there are times in the world where you need to make a stand, and this is a time in which the world needs to come together and make a stand, but particularly the region needs to come together and make a stand, because this is a threat that is most prominently affecting our partners in the region.

So strong unanimity around the table, the fact that it is time to make a stand, the fact that this is going to be a long-term campaign, the fact that everybody around the table is in it for the long haul. And that was really what this meeting was about. And what made it quite interesting was the fact that Iraq was not only a key component of this meeting, but also a lead participant in talking about the wishes and desires of Iraq to open a new page in the region for all of the regional partners who were also around the table to fully restore relations, to open embassies, to work with bilateral and multilateral forums to help strengthen this new Iraqi Government as it takes on the very, very, very difficult fight that it confronts against ISIS.

So I think, again, if you look at the continuum of what’s happened over the last six weeks and the pretty extraordinary level of diplomacy not only in the region but also around the world, if you look at all the countries that have been brought together at the Security Council last Friday and Paris and of course at NATO, at Jeddah, and Cairo, and then of course, all the bilateral meetings we’ve had, that Secretary Kerry has had in Ankara and Cairo and Baghdad over the last few weeks, you can now see some of the – what we were building towards.

But again, this is only a start. Nobody is looking at this as something that is going to be short-term. We would like to defeat ISIL as fast as we can, but that’s not going to be possible. It’s going to be long-term and there’s going to be a military component; there is going to be a financial component; there is going to be a foreign fighter component, which is key because the foreign fighters are the oxygen that gives these movements their very lifeblood, and that’ll be a focus of the Security Council session tomorrow; there is a humanitarian component; and there is a de-legitimization component. All of these things have to work harmoniously and in an integrated fashion, and that is one reason also that General Allen has been brought on board to help integrate this entire effort and to match coalition contributions to the needs and to make sure the whole thing is synchronized, because this is a very, very difficult endeavor.
>>>

Read more: http://translations.state.gov/st/english/texttrans/2014/09/20140924308819.html#ixzz3LbrbCywb

>>>>>

Really, Scub…you want to claim you don't know Kerry's 40 year record at this point, I direct you to National Security Archives.

If this nation had been smart enough to acknowledge Kerry's efforts on terrorism and act on them back in the 90s, then there never would have been a rise in global terrorism, let alone a 9-11. The humanitarian efforts wouldn't even have become so exploited and so pressing now.

Apparently you, along with corporate-media fed America, ignored his 90s book warning about global terrorism and how it needed to be fought…. legally: The New War

http://www.amazon.com/The-New-War-Threatens-Americas/dp/B006QS9H36

[Scuba]

59. I've never previously heard of Kerry's book, let alone read it. Can you cite passages ....

... where he advocates humanitarian aid as a means of stopping the recruitment of future terrorists?

I scanned the excerpt you provided above and found only "For some (nations) it will mean contributing to the desperately needed humanitarian relief effort" and "there is a humanitarian component" mixed among lots of military components and "foreign fighters". This comus up far short of what I'm advocating.

I'd love John Kerry to be a strong advocate for using humanitarian and economic aid to end the oppressive conditions that motivate the oppressed to become terrorists. Just haven't seen it. There needs to be more from him than obscure references to it.

[blm]

60. I'm horrified and sorry that so many rely on corporate media for their news about

Last edited Thu Dec 11, 2014, 03:52 PM - Edit history (1)

the lawmaker who has had the most positive input to this nation's historic record of the last 4 decades.

I have a tendency to expect frequent DU participants to know more about key figures by now without being directed.

National Security Archives would be a great source.

April/2010
SFRC Chair Kerry:

John Kerry (D-MA) opened the hearing by calling food insecurity “a challenge to our broader development efforts” as well as a challenge to our national security. He also referenced the proposed $4 billion cut in international affairs spending in the budget resolution passed out of the Senate Budget Committee, saying, “Even in a tough budget environment, short-changing programs like these, in our judgment, will deliver little budget relief at enormous negative consequence to our global efforts… And it seems to me that it is wrong, and we will fight against any efforts to reduce the president’s request for a small increase, which is essential to the transformation of our foreign policy efforts and frankly to the recalibration of the allocation of resources between defense and diplomacy and humanitarian efforts.”

Perhaps this hearing was too dull for corporate media and many here at DU at the time. I like to focus on that which corporate media ignores. It gives me a much fuller picture of the various layers to most every issue.

[Scuba]

62. My apologies for being so ignorant as to not know about a passing reference Kerry made to ...

... food insecurity four and a half years ago. But then I've never been a member of his fanclub.

What would move me toward being a Kerry-backer would be if he would use his current position of Secretary of State to make issues like food insecurity the centerpiece of our diplomatic stragegies.

He's not come close to doing that.

BTW, I have a tendency to expect frequent DU participants to know that our military actions almost always make matters worse and are clearly doing so in the so-called "war on terror".

[blm]

74. You've paid as much attention to Kerry's work as corporate media wanted you.

Congratulations.

Sorry this exchange has come to this after all these years.

[Scuba]

77. So your position is that issues like food insecurity are the centerpiece of Kerry's diplomacy?

Yet the only reference you can find to such is a four year old reference and yet you claim I am the one mislead by the media.


Sounds like someone's convinced you that Kerry is doing things that he's not.

[blm]

80. LOL - I swing by here when I can spare a minute

and here you are pretending that I have spent hours researching an answer for you and this was all I could find. I can't MAKE you read more, Scuba…I am just seriously disappointed in that you refuse to put forth the effort yourself in your rush to smear Kerry.

[Scuba]

81. You're hilarious. Kerry abandoned any ideals he had and now touts more failed militarism ...

... as the key to ending terrorism. Yet you insist, without any justification, than ending oppressive conditions is the centerpiece of his diplomacy.

Do you work for him or something?

[blm]

83. I can't MAKE you read, Scuba.

And I am very disappointed in your decision to cling to a narrative filled with smears for Kerry and directed towards me.

After all these years…..I really thought you were someone who took pride in paying attention.

[Scuba]

84. You've got nothing.

[blm]

85. Only to someone who refuses to READ.

I formed a GD post. I understand DU Democrats shouldn't be blamed for not knowing more about real matters these days. I don't blame individuals - I do blame corporate media for keeping you from issues you say are most important to you.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025962829

[Scuba]

86. Yet you only have one four-year-old link.

[blm]

87. Nope. What I have is little time to guide you along

since you must have no true interest in the subject. Don't blame you, since many Democrats rely on MSM for news, and even left sites ignore Kerry's efforts and remarks - must be too boring for them.

Very disappointing, Scub.

[mylye2222]

67. Oh it is NOT a fantasy. Just facts.

But some people here are so ready to bash the ones they onces voted for....

[Scuba]

71. Read the thread.

[VanillaRhapsody]

8. Just ignore the beheadings on the other side of the room....

[Thinkingabout]

15. Do you seriously think ficusing on decreasing military actions abroad is going to

Stop ISIS? We had decreased, we left Iraq, guess what, ISIS is there now, it did not work.

[liberal_at_heart]

16. Wow. More Democrats who favor war. Somehow not surprising.

[Thinkingabout]

18. Okay, I will give you a shot at an intelligent strategic mive here, you tell me

How you would handle this situation? Don't accuse me of being for war for I am not.

[Scuba]

25. Instead of bombs, send them food, medicine, iPads and Wii's.

[LordGlenconner]

36. iPads and Wiis?

[Thinkingabout]

40. To ISIS, are you serious? They have lots of modern items, they are still cutting off heads

and attacking people. This is not going to go away with Ipads and wii.

[Scuba]

43. They don't recruit well cared for citizens with ample leisure activities.

[Thinkingabout]

46. who do you think they are recruiting? so you think they are going to sit down all day and play

video games, no, they are playing real games with real bullets, killing real people and the leaders are in need for power over everyone. No ipads and wii will not end this war on the world.

[LordGlenconner]

47. Naviety

Breathtaking naivety.

[msanthrope]

61. Why not hookers and blow? I mean, maybe that will keep them from kidnapping, raping, and killing

women who don't wish to be part of their movement.....

After all, as you suggested below...men with plenty of access to leisure don't become raping terrorists.

[JI7]

68. they already have food, ipads and other shit, you do realize most of the terrorists live well

like that british rapper.

the ones who carried out the 9/11 attacks .

[Scuba]

65. Surprising? No. Disgusting? Yes. The willful disregard for the simple fact that our military ...

... interventions almost always make matters worse is literally killing people.

[Scootaloo]

2. Well, I suggest Kerry get his helmet out of the closet and take to the front lines

Show us how it's done, Lieutenant.

[Vattel]

3. I dont think we should be fighting this war. But given that we are gonna fight it,

Kerry is correct: we shouldn't do it in a half-assed way by putting restraints on the CIC.

[liberal_at_heart]

5. So instead of giving them approval, let's tell them to end the war and vote for

politicians who will end the war. Saying well if we have ok will only ensure indefinite, unending war.

[blm]

10. Nope. This is progressive use of military instead of targeting entire nations.

It's smart and NARROWING the target to ISIL.

[liberal_at_heart]

12. You can justify it all you want. It is part of the endless war in the Middle East that we have

no business in. What happens when this terrorist organization morphs into a different one? We go after that one. It morphs into another one. We go after that one. It is endless.

[blm]

13. Hard to argue with someone who hasn't a clue what's driving this tact.

If you can come up with a more effective strategy for the region than Kerry's efforts to negotiate Muslim nations to target ISIL and to confront the disastrous world Bush's invasion left behind, then please submit it.

[liberal_at_heart]

14. Oh, give me a break. If you think it is helping you are fooling yourself.

If the Democratic Party wants to embrace war then they can face the consequences that come with it just like the Republicans have had to. I refuse to be part of it. I have always been anti-war, and I will not become pro-war just because the Democratic Party has decided to embrace it. Have a good day. I have better things to do than squabble with you all day.

[blm]

19. If you were truly a THOUGHTFUL anti-war person, you'd understand exactly

how Kerry is transitioning this nation away from its reliance on wide scale military 'solutions'.

You don't WANT to know what is driving the change, because you have invested yourself in opposing use of US military forces for anything.

Kerry is NOT widening war with this request, he's narrowing it, but you will oppose this and smear Kerry because it's hard to control a knee when it starts jerking.

[Scuba]

26. How is it narrowing when there's no geographical boundaries? I guess Kerry thinks we ...

... should be able to proclamin anyone, anwhere, a terrorist and bomb the shit out of their neighborhood.

[blm]

30. If that is what you think Kerry's goal is, then please don't complain when

your knee starts swelling from all that knee jerking, Scub…I like you far too much to see that happen. ; )

I am guilty of knowing the mindset at work here and staying on top of most every strategic effort and action taking place the last 2 years in order for Kerry to EFFECTIVELY transition the US away from a perpetual state of WAR.

CNN/2004:
...
In the magazine article, a largely analytical cover story by Matt Bai, Kerry is asked "what it would take for Americans to feel safe again." (Special Report: America Votes 2004)

''We have to get back to the place we were, where terrorists are not the focus of our lives, but they're a nuisance,'' the article states as the Massachusetts senator's reply.

''As a former law enforcement person, I know we're never going to end prostitution. We're never going to end illegal gambling. But we're going to reduce it, organized crime, to a level where it isn't on the rise. It isn't threatening people's lives every day, and fundamentally, it's something that you continue to fight, but it's not threatening the fabric of your life.''

Kerry was a prosecutor before he got into politics, and made fighting organized crime a priority.

Bush campaign Chairman Marc Racicot, in an appearance on CNN's "Late Edition," interpreted Kerry's remarks as saying "that the war on terrorism is like a nuisance. He equated it to prostitution and gambling, a nuisance activity. You know, quite frankly, I just don't think he has the right view of the world. It's a pre-9/11 view of the world."
……


People understand what they WANT to understand.

[Scuba]

31. Please link to where Kerry advocates for humanitarian aid as a means of preventing terror.

[blm]

35. Good thing OTHER nation's news organizations respect Kerry:

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2014-09/09/c_126964123.htm
….
The top American envoy will have bilateral discussions with Jordanian and Saudi officials as well as consultations with "key partners and allies" in the region, spokeswoman Jennifer Psaki said in a statement.

She said coalition-building will be the "focus" of the trip, with possible stops in other countries in addition to Amman of Jordan and Jeddah of Saudi Arabia.

"There are obviously a range of capabilities or capacities that different countries have," Psaki told reporters at a daily news briefing. "The focus will be on multiple lines of effort, including military support to our Iraqi partners, stopping the flow of foreign fighters, countering ISIL's financing and funding, addressing humanitarian crises, and de-legitimizing ISIL's ideology."
….

[L0oniX]

82. Yeah LOL People trying to portray our military as being a humanitarian aid org is a bad joke.

I cringe when I am told by the oh so much more intelligent grunts that our military is there to help and provides humanitarian aid. Like handing out candy bars is humanitarian aid and that makes up for killing grandma.

[Vattel]

51. I agree, Cheers!

[blm]

6. Altered to target ISIL/extremists specifically. They aren't expanding war, just narrowing the TARGET

to those involved instead of entire countries.

One would call that intelligent, careful, and progressive response to the reality of ISIL - that is - if one were to actually apply thought to the reality.

Are you also angered that Kerry brought together Muslim nations like Iran together against ISIL, in order to better transition the US away from being the face of the 'war' with ISIL?

Or, do you agree with the Republicans and neocon media that Kerry's work bringing Muslim nations together to confront their own extremists is 'frivolous'?

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/04/world/middleeast/iran-airstrikes-hit-islamic-state-in-iraq.html?_r=0

[VanillaRhapsody]

9. thank you.....and THANK GOD cooler heads will prevail

[Thinkingabout]

17. YES

[G_j]

21. do you have a link

to the wording where it is altered to target ISIL specifically?

[blm]

22. I know Kerry's work and know that is exactly what he's been working on

the last 2 years in negotiating with the region's Muslim nations. ISIL may change names over the course of the years, but, they are still the same extremists being targeted in ALLIANCE with the region's Muslim nations, and with the goal of US taking a fra-back seat in these confrontations.

People have accustomed themselves to smearing Kerry completely ignorant of his lifelong values, his informed mindset, and his negotiating skills with other nations and their leaders.



http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/04/world/middleeast/iran-airstrikes-hit-islamic-state-in-iraq.html?_r=0

[Autumn]

41. Do you have a link to the where the AUMF has been altered to target ISIL specifically?

I didn't see it in that. Pardon me if I don't take your word for it just because you say you know exactly what Kerry's been working on, I don't know who you are in real life and it's clear from reading other posts by you and THIS one you do have an agenda. Here on DU you are simply an anonymous poster who goes by the name of blm. Your link in this post does not bear out what you claimed.

[blm]

45. LOL - Sorry I have the ability to connect ALL the historical dots.

Pretty sure it wasn't a planned agenda to have that ability. You are welcome to pretend it is something else if you wish.

Was my agenda when I came here to focus attention on RW takeover of US news industry? Yes. blm stands for bushlovesmoonies. Longtimers here are pretty aware of that. Sorry it escaped your notice and you concluded I have a nefarious 'agenda'.

Yep - someone who focused on RW takeover of news industry based in my 90s involvement with FAIR (Fairness and Accuracy In Reporting) must have an agenda, since you don't want to believe her views factoring in the entirety of Kerry's lifetime efforts in his current goal to transition the nation away from wide scale war footing.

I certainly do have an agenda - to get people to pay attention to REAL news and historic documents, instead of corporate media pablum.

You think someone who refers constantly back to corporate media propaganda, IranContra, BCCI, and CIA drug running has an 'agenda' worthy of your suspicion?

Enjoy your fantasy.

[Autumn]

49. Then your post is indeed a fantasy and the wording HAS NOT been changed to target ISIL

specifically as you claimed, except for in your mind. You live in a fantasy world and I think you are not telling the truth about the wording being changed. Pardon me if I don't share your faith in a politician because you connect the dots. Although I did enjoy those fantasy puzzles as a child. Yes I am suspicious of anyone who makes a claim about a historical document being changed when it hasn't. If it were changed you should have a link showing it.

[blm]

54. I was referring to the changes being sought as per the OP article.

Sorry, you want to make it into something more.

It stands to reason that eliminating geographical boundaries is to target extreme terrorism where it exists. Since you deliberately want to ignore the entirety of the record of the man responsible for the requested change and ignore his worldview, longtime goals, and the potential to effectively transition this nation from being the driving force in the confrontation with terrorism in that region, then you are welcome to enjoy your version.

[hughee99]

23. If you want to make sure ISIL never goes away,

Then they should pass this. Future presidents will be "finding" ISIL in all sorts of places and they will live on forever.

[blm]

27. They can shrink it to a regional law enforcement effort.

With Muslim nations confronting their own extremists and US involved only on a targeted use of special forces basis.

Kerry spoke about the need to do this back in 2003-4 and was mocked roundly for it. Yet, he has always been right.

CNN/2004:
>>>
In the magazine article, a largely analytical cover story by Matt Bai, Kerry is asked "what it would take for Americans to feel safe again." (Special Report: America Votes 2004)

''We have to get back to the place we were, where terrorists are not the focus of our lives, but they're a nuisance,'' the article states as the Massachusetts senator's reply.

''As a former law enforcement person, I know we're never going to end prostitution. We're never going to end illegal gambling. But we're going to reduce it, organized crime, to a level where it isn't on the rise. It isn't threatening people's lives every day, and fundamentally, it's something that you continue to fight, but it's not threatening the fabric of your life.''

Kerry was a prosecutor before he got into politics, and made fighting organized crime a priority.

Bush campaign Chairman Marc Racicot, in an appearance on CNN's "Late Edition," interpreted Kerry's remarks as saying "that the war on terrorism is like a nuisance. He equated it to prostitution and gambling, a nuisance activity. You know, quite frankly, I just don't think he has the right view of the world. It's a pre-9/11 view of the world."
>>>>

[brooklynite]

33. Common Dreams...of course

[Autumn]

38. Is common Dreams a RW site or just one you don't like?

[brooklynite]

50. Common dreams is a left-wing sites that takes an extreme view on issues with a lot of hyperbole

e.g. "endless war"

[Autumn]

57. Okay. As a Democrat I like left wing.

[brooklynite]

63. And as a centrist, I have no objection to it...

I just find over-the-top headlines tiresome...just like they are for the RWers on Fox News.

[Autumn]

66. There's Nothing in the Middle of the Road but Yellow Stripes and Dead Armadillos

is one of my favorite books and it comes to mind every time I see the word center or centrist. Have you ever read it?

[brooklynite]

70. No, because I'm not a philosophical centrist...I'm a POLICY centrist

I have nothing against most progressive policies, but my years in politics indicate that most of them can't get enacted as is (single-payer for example). Rather than insist on purity and get nothing, I'll aim for partial improvement and advance incrementally.

[Baclava]

52. got the shirt

[Aerows]

64. Fuck John Kerry

and the perpetual war machine.

[mylye2222]

69. Say better F... HRC and her faar more hawkish inclinements!!!!

[woo me with science]

72. Kick for corruption

[blm]

75. What corruption would that be? Any actual Details?

.

[woo me with science]

76. I was surprised you guys missed that keyword before now.

Usually there's an immediate response from Administration Defense Message Control to the use of that word in connection to the administration. Was there a glitch this time, that it took you so long?

Monied corruption, of course, driving the corporate wars-for-profit and the propaganda to defend them. Kerry is now a tool of this corrupt administration, which is actively continuing the policies of, defending, and trying to cover up the crimes of the previous administration, while extending and expanding their agenda of perpetual war for profit. And making sure no one is ever held accountable for the use of TORTURE to extract false confessions to dupe Americans into supporting this outrageous perpetual war policy is a big part of the corruption.

Time to repost this by William Pitt: Refresher Course on PNAC
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025518146

Refresher Course in PNAC: This was planned a long time ago.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025518146

Only two countries remain on the PNAC agenda: Syria and Iran ...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023540654


Report shows torture program deliberately used to extract false confessions to propagandize Americans to support War
Is the Media Focusing on the Wrong Senate Torture Report?http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025959095

Obama Administration Presses on Two Fronts to Prevent Disclosure of the Panetta Report & Durham Memo
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025949936

Obama did not ban torture and now makes sure there is no real accountability.
"The LEFT needs to realize that TORTURE is OVER"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025952831

What Is Obama Doing At Bagram? (Part One): Torture Under the Obama Administration
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x540433

Target of Obama-era rendition alleges torture
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x6277906
(original discussion missing)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/11/target-of-obama-era-rendi_n_256499.html

Pres. Obama Never Rescinded Bush Memo On Torture- Still Part of Military Interrogation Doctrine
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025347198

Obama Justice Department indicts ex-CIA agent for exposing torture
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002528908

Obama has stated flat out the USA does not Torture, BUT does it ...
(original discussion missing)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8817920

Obama's Torture Problem (Cover-up of torture at Guantanamo and CIA black sites)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9640662
(original discussion missing)
http://www.nybooks.com/blogs/nyrblog/2010/nov/18/obamas-torture-problem/

Fellow Nobel Peace Laureates to Obama: Stain of US Torture Your Job to Repair
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025722026

Obama's Torture Bind (Torture, CIA "black sites&quot
(original discussion missing)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x5454518

The ACLU on Obama and Core Liberties
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2069714
(original discussion missing)
http://www.salon.com/2011/09/07/liberties_3/

Note how many of these discussions are now missing from DU. I had to go looking for many of the original sources online. This is why it's important to title articles with the actual titles of the sources...

Neocons and neolibs sure have a lot in common. So much in common that they almost seem like the very same people:

When the DLC connections to the Koch Bros. became well known, they just rebranded the infiltration
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=4165556

When you hear "Third Way", think INVESTMENT BANKERS
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024127432

GOP Donors and K Street Fuel Third Way’s Advice for the Democratic Party
http://www.democraticunderground.com/101680116

The Rightwing Koch Brothers fund the DLC
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x498414

Same companies behind the GOP are behind the DLC
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1481121

[blm]

78. Kerry is NOT a tool and he's not corruptible.

Your brush is broad. I asked for specifics to why you are claiming Kerry is part of the corruption, since this thread has been about Kerry.

[L0oniX]

79. He's Superman!

[blm]

88. Well, you are welcome to name one other lawmaker who has

had a more positive effect on this nation's HISTORIC RECORD the last 4 decades than Kerry has had.

No one says he is Superman, but, he has been an important figure in investigating and exposing more government corruption than any other lawmaker.

The smearing being done has been lazy minded.

[L0oniX]

89. "not corruptible" was your words not mine so yea ...Superman.

[blm]

90. LOL - iow, you can't name one.

No one else has been able to do it, either.

Great idea: Say whatever it takes to undermine Kerry's actual record so the RW propaganda efforts aimed at him over the last 50 years will prevail.

[L0oniX]

91. I have no problem with you thinking rich people like Kerry are not corruptible. That's your thing.

Oh yea real smart ...if I am not for Kerry I am helping the RW. You've been on DU for how long and that's your thinking ...good for you.

[blm]

92. Doesn't bother me that you don't know your history -

However, you should be old enough, by now, to show at least a small ability to show discernment.

[L0oniX]

95. Doesn't bother me that you think rich people are uncorruptible.

[woo me with science]

93. Bwah!

Yep.

It's impossible even to parody it anymore, isn't it.

[woo me with science]

73. kick

[fadedrose]

94. Now I always have to wonder

Are these Kerry and Obama speaking, or Citigroup?

Top secret. Like UFOs. Need to know. They figure we have no need to know anything any more.

I have come to interpret "need to know" as a euphemism for "mad as hell" if found out.