I think Kerry is going to announce he will pull the troops from Iraq soon

[NNN0LHI]

Looks like Kennedy is testing the waters to me. I am probably wrong? Its just a feeling.

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGAOXPH0PSD.html

Kennedy Says Iraq Is 'Bush's Vietnam,' Assails Administration as Deceitful

WASHINGTON (AP) - Iraq has become "George Bush's Vietnam," Sen. Edward M. Kennedy said Monday, calling the president deceitful and for the first time comparing him to former President Nixon, who resigned in disgrace.

Saying that truth has become the biggest casualty of the Bush administration, Kennedy said Bush misled the public about the war, the economy, health care and education, eroding the nation's reputation at home and abroad.

"As a result, this president has now created the largest credibility gap since Richard Nixon," Kennedy said in a speech at the Brookings Institution, a think tank. "He has broken the basic bond of trust with the American people."

The senator said the government has cut unemployment benefits, failed to pay for education overhaul and is spending $134 billion more than expected on a Medicare plan.

more

[xultar]

1. Kerry can't pull the troops. Until things are straightened out. n/t

[Jacobin]

6. Yeah, we're really "straightening" things out over there.

The longer we stay, the worse it gets.

When we leave, chaos will reign.

Either way, we're screwed.

Will you send your son/daughter there to accomplish the impossible?

I won't

[xultar]

17. There is a way to command to set things right. n/t

[Aidoneus]

15. Nothing under occupation will be "straightened out"

except maybe the ropes that the officials will one day swing from.

As for Kerry making an announcement, it is ridiculous that he would deviate from his pro-occupation stance.

[xultar]

18. Yes, we can help them, GWB and Rummy's post war planning sux

WE shouldn't have ever gone over there. Now we are there, we need to rebuild the infrastructure we blew up.

We need to rebuild the hospitals.

WE need to fix the SHIT we broke. It is SHIt that woudn't have been broken if we hadn't gone there in the first place.

You are right. Kerry cannot flip on this.

[Mari333]

2. Good. My mother asked me today "would Kerry take our kids out?"

and wondered if he would say anything about it.
Good. Bring them home now.
http://www.bringthemhomenow.com

[wasichu]

3. Lets give him an incentive

I will give $100 to Kerry if he announces (before the convention) that he will pull troops out.

[Hippo_Tron]

4. I don't think that we can just leave the place in a total mess...

I believe that the right thing to do is to restore their infrastructure and leave them with some sort of police force. It may be Bush's fault but I think as better people we should try to the best of our ability to make up for it. However, as far as government goes, I don't think that we should demand democracy if the Iraqis are not ready for it. We tried that with Germany after World War I and we all know how that turned out.

[m-jean03]

5. That is a mission for international peacekeepers

Not scared to death kids with "Bloodlust" and "Kill Them All" painted on their tanks to make them feel tough.

[Jacobin]

7. Which countries do you see participating in this?

And I'm not talking about the bribed "coalition of the paid" that Smirky used as a fig leaf for stealing the oil.

[m-jean03]

8. Bush will have little luck , you are right.

Kerry's diplomatic skills are the only hope we have for internationalizing this mess.
I always speak of my highest hope for the future in these debates.
A bunch of scared, angry, fatalistic kids surely aren't the greatest idea for charging w/rebuilding infrastructure! I have images of these guys with rifle in one hand and hammer or drill in the other... They know they are there to fight and the Iraqis know that too. Recipe for disaster.

[Jacobin]

12. I'm not as optimistic about that. I hope you are right

I think the Iraqis have had just about enough of infidels from any country "helping" them out.

[G_j]

11. what about the Arab league?

and/or Arab/Islamic countries?

[Aidoneus]

16. Iraqis do not need another occupation

The one they have is bad enough, and is one more than they will ever need.

[Eureka]

9. Incidentally, the opposition leader in Aus

said he would have our guys out by Christmas but the PM got him with the "we don't cut and run" line. Now we all know that's bullshit, criticizing someone trying to develop an exit strategy when you don't even have on of your own.... BUT.... the Opposition leader lost 14 points in the polls over the weekend.

I guess the moral from over here is, making an early call on removing the troops might not work out so well in terms of getting elected.

There are many caveats to that, of course, and I'm not saying he shouldn't commit to bringing them home, but I think it's worthy of consideration.

[mmm]

10. Give them what they want, it's their country

Negotiate with Sadr and Sistani.
Let the UN and the countries of the Middle East
work with them, as well as Europe (sans England) if all parties agree.
Start pulling US troops out in thirty days. Pull all US
troops out within a year.
Iraq will then be an enemy of the US and of Israel. This is,
of course, inevitable. Time to get out.
Put Bush and Co in prison. Hold them there until they die of old age
and go to hell.

[joanski01]

13. From what I have been reading,

I'm not so sure that it's the troops that the Iraqi's want out of there. It's Paul Bremmer. If the US would give some of the contracts to the people that the Iraqi's want, it would help. Iraqi's know that the US is selling their country's infrastructure to foreigners.

I also read that the only thing that is being turned over to the Iraqi's are the hospitals.

[DrWeird]

14. I'll believe it when I see it.

I'm a little concerned Kerry will be another Nixon.

[against all enemies]

19. Doctor,

you are wierd.

[Old and In the Way]

20. I think Kerry should promote a single solution. Dissolution of Iraq.

This was an artificial country created after WW1 and I see no future that will be anything but chaotic for the people of Iraq. Better to create terrorities where each majority can control their own government and live in relative peace. It's apparent to me that only a tyrant in the mold of Saddam could keep the factions in check. A western style democracy will favor the shi'ites, so I don't see the Sunni's or Kurds going along with this.