What's the first thing President Kerry tells Iraqis?

[HamdenRice]

During these dark days, sometimes, it's good to look to the light at the end of the tunnel and think about real problem solving.

It's January 20, 2005, President Kerry's Inauguration. You are one of his hard working speechwriters, and you have been asked to skip the balls and parties to prepare several speeches.

As you outline President Kerry's speech on Iraqi television to the Iraqi people, what are some of the main points you want to make?

And what about the bullet points you would present to President Kerry as he thinks about his speech to the UN and Nato?

[Not Me]

1. Kerry to Iraqis: "You talk, we'll listen."

n/t

[HamdenRice]

21. I like that one

because it's weird that we don't actually know what the Iraqis are saying among themselves -- blame the lazy international media.

Think of how much we knew about what the black South Africans wanted, what the Vietnamese wanted, what the Irish Catholics of Northern Ireland wanted, even what the Palestinians want.

Iraq reporting is so bizarre because all we have to represent Iraqi opinion is shadowing groups shooting at us, bystanders shaking their fists and chanting in Arabic, the muzzled and at any rate largely corrupt "governing councile" sitting around at tables, and photos of glowering "renegade" clerics. Polls just ask short answer questions.

Can't some reporter (other than those in the New Yorker) just have intelligent conversations interviews with a variety of Iraqis?

Kerry's first step indeed should be to ask them what they think.

[lebkuchen]

2. Adios. Buena suerte.

[ezee]

3. PLEASE FORGIVE US , HOW CAN WE HELP?

[HamdenRice]

4. Wouldn't you want him to

disavow the Bush policies? apologize? Ask for time to get the UN in ? Call for a cease fire?

[greatauntoftriplets]

16. Absolutely yes!

n/t

[onehandle]

5. I don't see him addressing the Iraqis on that day.

Inauguration day is about America.

You make it seem like you want us to apologize.

That's Bush's job.

[HamdenRice]

9. It's just a hypothetical question and ...

In my post, I didn't say Kerry would address the Iraqis on inauguration day. I said imagine you are a speechwriter who is skipping the parties to begin working on Kerry's talking points to Iraqis to be delivered sometime later.

As for the apology, Bush will never apologize. I'm not saying that Kerry should apologize for something Kerry did, but to distance himself from the disasterous Bush policies in the hearts and minds of Iraqis.

As someone who has travelled and lived in South Africa, I believe that even the most horrific relationships between peoples can be mended and the start is often an apology.

[onehandle]

10. Regardless...

Presidents don't apologies for their predecessors' mistakes.

[HamdenRice]

11. President de Klerk ...

apologized for his predecessors policies of apartheid. Maybe American presidents haven't, but in this case it would be both the moral and pragmatic thing to do.

[onehandle]

19. Apologizing is taking the blame.

Never going to happen.

Bush has apologized before. It's up to him.

[HamdenRice]

20. Apologizing is saying we are sorry

Apologizing does not necessarily mean that Kerry would be taking the blame. De Klerk was not taking the blame for apartheid; he was the person to end apartheid and was expressing remorse on behalf of his people. Clinton considered an apology for slavery, and he certainly wasn't saying that he was blameworthy as a slave holder.

Public apologies in this kind of setting is sometimes necessary as a public psychological breakthrough. It is the one thing that could get us a cease fire and real negotiations in Iraq toward a reasonable outcome, just as de Klerk's apology paved the way for a negotiated end to apartheid in S. Africa

[onehandle]

24. American Presidents do not Apologize like that.

Except Bush. He may apologize again this Fall when he's ten points behind.

[AgentLadyBug]

18. this one will........ if he knows what's good for him.....

and in any case, Ford essentially apologized for Nixon.... I don't know the history, but it's entirely conceivable that Grant's successor apologized for him.... Mebbe even FDR/Hoover....

[spanone]

6. We're changing the name of America and starting over. Dear world.....

[Blue-Jay]

7. "You want to be a democracy? Fine. Be a democracy."

"Let's take a vote on if/how soon we should bring our boys back home."

[heidiho]

8. "My predecessor was a flaming asshold - I'm not"

I want to help you, really help you, out of this mess. Let's figure this out together with the rest of the world."

[napi21]

12. My first official act it to file criminal charges against BushCo.

For making policy to ignore humane treatment of POW's
For ignoring the looting that destroyed so much of your history.

Etc..........

[stellanoir]

13. "please excuse us. . .

we experienced an slight though devastatingly unfortunate coup d'etat on December 12, 2000 and all our magnanomous acts towards the global community have been undermined swiftly by a total idiot. We will commence the restitution immediately. Thank you in advance for your patience, tolerance, and understanding."

[HamdenRice]

23. LOL!

n/t

[cspiguy]

14. please release the 20,000 soldiers captured during the October uprisings..

and we will bring the appropriate officers to justice at the U.N.

[greatauntoftriplets]

15. This was a monumental blunder. Troop pull-out beging NOW.

The US will not kill another Iraqi. And hopefully no more of ours will get killed. How much money do you need to rebuild?

[Jacobin]

17. Au revoir, adios, good luck, see ya later, goodbye

"I'm sending Smirk and company to Iraq for you to conduct war crimes trials."

[TrogL]

22. Relief supplies, under the mandate of the US, are on their way

as is an international peacekeeping force, headed by the Canadians.

[KG]

25. 'we'll be leaving tomorrow'

[Aidoneus]

26. "If you think you're free, you're not."

"I may have occasionally pretended to oppose the war, but the people who made me President want me to maintain the occupation that has ruined so many of your lives. Sorry, but it's for your own good. Bend over."

These are not the points I would make, but the truthful version of what I would expect. I doubt it would be phrased so honestly.

If being the 'Left Opposition' this year is difficult, next year it may be even more interesting.