Kerry Says Iraq Solution May Be New President

[NNN0LHI]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20040418/us_nm/campaign_kerry_dc&cid=1896&ncid=1473

MIAMI (Reuters) - Democratic White House challenger John Kerry (news - web sites) on Sunday accused the Bush administration of being "stunningly ineffective" on Iraq (news - web sites) and said the only solution may well be a new U.S. president.

During an hourlong appearance on NBC's "Meet the Press," Kerry called for a new mission authorized by the United Nations (news - web sites) to help rebuild Iraq, blamed President Bush (news - web sites) for failing to lay out a clear strategy and charged he had misled top aides in his administration as well as the American public.


The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, who has been criticized by Bush's Republican allies for failing to say what he would do differently in Iraq, vowed to reach out immediately to the international community though he conceded other countries were reluctant to help.


"That is the dilemma," Kerry said. "That is exactly the quandary that President Bush and this administration have put the United States of America in."

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[David Dunham]

1. Very good report.

[truthisfreedom]

2. here's the link to the transcript at NBC News "Meet the Press" website

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4772030/

NBC News

MEET THE PRESS

Sunday, April 18, 2004

GUEST: Sen. John Kerry, D-MA, presidential candidate

MODERATOR/PANELIST: Tim Russert, NBC News

This is a rush transcript provided for the information and convenience of the press. Accuracy is not guaranteed. In case of doubt, please check with MEET THE PRESS - NBC NEWS(202)885-4598 (Sundays: [phone])

Meet the Press (NBC News) - Sunday, April 18, 2004

MR. TIM RUSSERT:  And we are here in the battleground state of Florida, Florida, Florida.

Senator Kerry...

SEN. JOHN KERRY, (D-MA):  It's Florida.

MR. RUSSERT:  ...welcome.

SEN. KERRY:  Glad to be here.  Thank you, Tim.

MR. RUSSERT:  As you well know, this is a 50-50 race between Bush and Kerry, but there is one area where the president has opened up in a significant lead. And in the interest of candor and clarity, I want to give you a chance to answer a question right up top, and I promise we'll talk about the nuance later on.  But the American people, I think, would like a yes or no answer: Do you believe the war in Iraq was a mistake?

SEN. KERRY:  I think the way the president went to war is a mistake.

MR. RUSSERT:  Let me show you what the American people have been saying about statements the candidates have been making:  Which candidate says what he believes?  Bush, 53; Kerry, 38.  Senator Kerry says what he believes, just 33; thinks--he says what he thinks people want to hear, 57.  The AFL-CIO has been a focus group, and Lee Strope of the Associated Press got a copy of that.  And this is what they found--this is a supporter of yours--that "Kerry's image is still vague.  The Bush campaigns flip-flopping attack has made inroads against many of the participants hearing or seeing comments."

SEN. KERRY:  Tim, you know, I have to tell you something.  I'm thrilled with where I am right now. The Republican Party has spent $50 million in a matter of about seven weeks to distort my record, to completely mislead Americans about me and about my record.  Now, we're in a position now to be able to respond and introduce myself to the country.  I look forward to that.  I look forward to Americans getting to know who I really am.

Let me give you an example.  George Bush has no record to run on.  He has a record to run away from. He can't come to a city and talk about creating jobs, because he hasn't created them.  He's lost them.  He can't come anywhere and talk about health care for all Americans, because he has no plan.  He can't come and talk about keeping the promise to our children and our schools because he broke it and he doesn't fund it.  He can't talk about cleaner air or cleaner water because he's going backwards on those policies.  So what does he do?  He distorts my record.  This president not only misleads America about my record; he misleads his own administration.  He misleads his security adviser.  He misleads his secretary of state about his own planning for a war.

I think the American people, over the next months, are going to get to see that I have a plan.  I have a plant to get people back to work.  I have a plan to provide health insurance to all Americans.  I have a plan to cut the deficit in half and move us down a road of fiscal responsibility.  And Americans are going to hear the truth, which has been sorely lacking from the political discussion of our country.

MR. RUSSERT:  But do you have a plan to deal with Iraq?  This is what you...

SEN. KERRY:  Yes.

MR. RUSSERT:  This is what you wrote in The Washington Post last Tuesday: "Our country has
committed to help the Iraqis build a stable, peaceful and pluralistic society.  No matter who is elected president in November, we will persevere in that mission."

SEN. KERRY:  Yes, we will.

<snip>

[Malva Zebrina]

3. weary of spin

"I think the way the president went to war is a mistake."

That he went in the first place, though, was not a bad idea, right?

I am beginning to think all of the persons in power, including the CIA, who I do not believe screwed up the intelligence at all, really wanted to invade Iraq and many were glad to see Bush do it. I think that is why Tenet is covering for Bush. I mean that. There is no outher reasonable explanation. Kerry wants Iraq and all of it's opportunities it offers to the United States. He cannot deny he voted for the war--but now I do believe he actually wanted the war. Of course he is going to criticize the "way" Bush did it--he is running against Bush

I am so weary of spin.

[Dr Fate]

5. It's not spin if it's the truth...

The way the president went to war was a mistake.

Sounds 100% accurate & truthful to me.

Kerry's plan to bring in NATO & the UN is much more responsible than Bush's "stay the course" rhetoric...

I am "buying" the "power vaccum" argument against leaving Iraq to its own devices- unless someone has a good counter argument...

[skooooo]

4. yes! i love john kerry

[wasichu]

6. Kerry needs a better plan

The occupation of Iraq is illegal and nothing he can say changes that fact.
Even if the rest of the world wanted to die for Bush's lie, it is still unconstiutional and still damages national security.

[Just Me]

7. Hmmmm,....didn't I just say that,...within the last 24 hours,....

I guess that, although I am wanting to see that "Kerry on Fire" which he was,...I can definitely say: I am for him, not against him *LOL*!!!

Kerry,...you will make a GREAT president!!!

:bounce:

[JoFerret]

9. Kerry goes Wild

is the actual title he uses I think.

[JoFerret]

8. Well it sure won't hurt

.