Kerry lays it out on Iraq in major foreign policy speech. GOP, take note!

[flpoljunkie]

http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/releases/pr_2004_0430.html

Kerry: This Moment in Iraq is a Moment of Truth
Lays Out Key Steps to Win the Peace in Speech at Westminster College

For Immediate Release
Fulton, MO

On the eve of the one-year anniversary of George Bush declaring Mission Accomplished in Iraq, Democratic Presidential candidate John Kerry traveled to Westminster College – site of Winston Churchill’s historic Iron Curtain speech – to talk about America’s way forward through an increasingly deteriorating situation in Iraq.

Kerry’s speech, which elaborated on a plan he first called for months ago, discussed the hard truths facing America in Iraq and laid out the steps America has to take to accomplish our objective: a stable Iraq with a representative government secure in its borders.

“What anniversaries give us is the time to reflect—not about where we have been—but about what might be possible—possible for our men and women in the military, the Iraqi people and our allies around the world,” Kerry said. “This anniversary is not a time to shout. It is not a time for blame. It is a time for a new direction in Iraq and for America to work together so that once again this nation leads in a way that brings the world to us and with us in our efforts.” 

Kerry began by praising the sacrifice that American men and women have displayed in Iraq, and he offered condolences to the families who have lost loved ones. As American service men and women, the Iraqi people and civilians from countries around the world find themselves living through days of great danger, Kerry said we face a moment of truth.

“This moment in Iraq is a moment of truth,” Kerry said. “Not just for this administration, the country, the Iraqi people, but for the world. This may be our last chance to get this right. We need to put pride aside to build a stable Iraq. We must reclaim our country’s standing in the world by doing what has kept America safe and made it more secure before—leading in a way that brings others to us so that we are respected, not simply feared, around the globe.”

While saying it will not be easy and that events in Iraq have been complicated and jeopardized by mistakes, Kerry said failure is not an option.

“As complicated as Iraq seems, we’ve gotthree basic options:  one, we can continue to do this largely by ourselves and hope more of the same works; two, we can conclude it’s not doable, pull out and hope against hope that the worst doesn’t happen in Iraq; or three, we can get the Iraqi people and the world’s major powers invested with us in building Iraq’s future,” Kerry said.

To move forward, Kerry elaborated on his strategy to win the peace with three points today: one, make Iraq part of NATO’s global mission; two, authorize a High Commissioner for governance and reconstruction; and three, launch a massive effort to build an Iraqi security force.

First, Kerry said that NATO is now a global security organization and creating a stable and secure environment in Iraq must be one of its global missions.

“The US will lead, but we must also listen,” Kerry said. “We must share responsibility and we must share authority. When NATO members have been treated with respect, they have always – always – answered the call of duty. Every member of NATO has a huge stake in whether Iraq survives its trial by fire or is consumed by fire and becomes a breeding ground for terror, intolerance and fear.”

Second, Kerry said an international High Commissioner should be authorized by the UN Security Council to organize the political transition to Iraqi sovereignty and the reconstruction of Iraq in conjunction with the new Iraqi government. Kerry said the Commissioner should be an individual who is highly regarded by the international community and who has the credibility and capacity to talk to all the Iraqi people.

Third, Kerry called for a massive training effort to build an Iraqi security force that can actually provide security for the Iraqi people. He said training must be done in the field, on the job as well as in the classroom.

“Will all this be difficult to achieve? Yes,” Kerry said. “Is there a guarantee of success? No. In light of all the mistakes that have been made, no one can say that success is certain, but I can say that if we do not try this, failure is all too likely.”

[Old and In the Way]

1. The reasoned position. Thanks for posting. nt

[judy]

2. Ah, why NATO and not the United Nations?

This is sooooo frustrating. Yet I will vote for Kerry, but I am having a hard time donating to his campaign and instead I had to send my hard earned $$ to Kucinich whose Iraq plan is the only possible solution.

"The US will lead". Why? The US should apologize to the world and let the United Nations lead in order to defuse the Resistance.
On Edit: NATO does not represent the United World, but only a group of former allies in the Second World War. How would NATO be able to defuse the idea that a group of "white" Nations are taking over an Arab country?

But what do I know?!

[LandOLincoln]

3. Well, I'm afraid one of the things you don't seem to know

is that the UN has its hands full with Afghanistan (remember Afghanistan?) and doesn't particularly want to get involved in Iraq.

NATO, on the other hand, does.

Plus, we Dems have a former NATO commander on our side, a man with well-established relationships with the NATO leaders, a man who, moreover, led NATO to victory in the only war it's ever fought. He's been calling for NATO involvement in Iraq all along.

Looks like John Kerry's been listening to him. ;-)

[Devils Advocate NZ]

4. Is that the same war where ethnic cleansing is STILL going on?

Where NATO troops sit back and watch as whole villages are burned to the ground?

[StephNW4Clark]

5. Actually...

there is a token NATO force and the mission has been shared with the United Nations.

Besides, which there is a substantial Muslim population there directing their anger at the situation in the Middle East to UN and NATO forces.

That said, what exactly is your option? There is only one significant military coalition in the world, and that's NATO. There's only one global diplomatic institution and that's the UN.

What exactly are our other choices?

[cyclezealot]

9. Don't agree

NATO represents the interests of only a part of the world.The UN is the only force with the crediability to speak for the non-aligned of which Iraq should and is a part of. With funding and troop committments the UN can be as much a part of the solution as any other international orgainization..
Certainly the non-aligned would be much more sympathetic to UN oversight over a western alliance. Third world forces would not participate in a NATO command. Iraqi's would respect non-aligned forces far more than Western Europeans with their interests in Middle Eastern oil.
Malyasian or Indonesian soldiers will not be a part of NATO forces, the UN they would...Obviously, the Iraqi's will have more respect for non-western forces helping to keep the peace.

[sandnsea]

10. It's more than that

A High Commissioner, one truly respected by everybody, puts together a true political process. Contracts go to through grassroots groups directly to Iraqis, not bureaucracies and no-bid contracts. Once that is in place, the UN will hopefully authorize the action. At that point, more countries in the region will hopefully come forward and participate. NATO is for security purposes only, to create security forces, both military and police. And, hopefully again, we will also have regional countries participate eventually. Totally change the dynamics so that it isn't an American occupation with an American puppet government directed only by Americans. It's a plan that puts the Iraqis in charge of their government, economy and security. And once you've got that, you're on the way to having a functioning country for the people again.

Hopefully. Or leave and let the various factions fall into civil war, let terrorists move in, have another Saddam take over and start threatening other countries in the region again, let who knows what happen.

[Merlin]

11. NATO is more cohesive and pre-coordinated to act as a multinational unit.

That's the whole point behind NATO. Issues such as translation, coordination of fire, promulgation of missions, rotation of troops, etc.--all extremely complex and important in a war theater--have already been resolved within the NATO units, who practice these things routinely.

NATO can get in there and become effective quickly.

Plus, getting NATO on board nearly guarantees the support of the UN, and opens the doors to greater multinational support down the road.

[NMDemDist2]

14. Nato has troops, the UN doesn't also he called for "non" Nato

to come in to (read other arab states)

[Guaranteed]

6. Yes, Kerry, that's great, and that would be better than

what we have now, but the truth is that it's just not going to work as long as we don't have a goal.

We need to leave.

[Merlin]

12. Well, try selling that to the American public. But don't do it in my name.

It was a mistake to allow Bush to take our bull into the Iraq china shop. But he did it, and we have a duty to fix it before we leave.

If you thought the chaos was outrageous after the initial combat ended, you can't imagine what it would be like if we flat ass pulled out.

We broke it. We bought it.

[Guaranteed]

13. Okay, so what are we going to do?

I agree that we should "fix it." But what does that mean? We don't have a GOAL- not plan- GOAL. What are we working toward? And why can't it be done NOW?

[yellowcanine]

7. And the best part was he took the high road which contrasted

nicely with the big Dick's partisan hack job earlier in the week. He was interrupted numerous times by huge applause. Best part was he laid out a plan for Iraq and urged Shrub to follow it. Very statesmanlike.

[IndianaGreen]

8. C-SPAN will replay the speech at 6:30 and 9:30 PM on Sunday

I only caught the end of Kerry's speech when he mentioned Churchill's speech about the Iron Curtain.

[NMDemDist2]

15. Watch if you can, he had a bazilliion applause breaks

the crowd was great