Kerry CAN'T Win Unless He Offers A CLEARLY DIFFERENT ETHICAL SECURITY POLI

[Dancing_Dave]

Some people seem to think we should ignore what's wrong with Kerry's present position on Iraq and "pre-emptive" wars, because that way we help Kerry to win. But if you think it all through realistically and think of some of the tricks the Bush Gang can pull before November, you'll realize that just won't work.

Kerry would like to say "Hey, I'm a soldier and I can run a war", and then quickly switch the topic to the Economy. But that's not really a seperate topic. The international backlash against our occupations of Iraq, and the chaos which just today drove oil prices to an all time record high, are destroying the economy as we speak.

There is already a majority who think the War in Iraq is a terrible mistake, and about a million of 'em will be demonstrating against the Republican Convention in New York. They don't like whats happened to the economy and the two are connected. There is a coherent position there, and if Kerry mobilized with a clear and realistic ethical vision, he could withstand the tricks the Bush Administration can always use to raise the conflict and threat levels. Of course, he has to call the Bush Administrations bluff on that.

His idea that he'll be able to get a bunch more international support for the U.S. in Iraq is unrealistic, and he's smart enough that he must realize it's at best a long shot. He hasn't even put himself in a good position to criticize any new war Bush-Cheney creates, because Kerry's going along with the insane and totally illegal under treaties we've signed, Bushite doctrine of "pre-emptive wars".

And at that, point all the other issues we're talking about will be driven from peoples minds.

American's will ultimately be unwilling to pay the price in blood for oil, and this is a point Kerry could use he'd made it clear that he isn't willing to either. And actually the occupation of Iraq is back-firing in that respect, driving up the price for oil to record levels.

In short, right now Kerry is walking right into exactly the kind of trap that the Bush-Cheney gang can set. The best thing we can do for him is get out and protest and educate and be in his face with "Peace" signs at his ralleys. I hope there is a way to do it constructively and awaken the side himself that became a Vietnam Veteran Against the War in the '70's. More of that must show in a clear ethical way if he is to survive the perils of this election season. It's no time to waffle.

[Cocoa]

1. Kerry is NOT going to change his Iraq position

if he was going to do that, he would have done it in the primaries, when there were candidates who were challenging him on that issue.

Speaking of the primaries, people were very strongly asserting that Kerry COULDN'T win because of his Iraq vote. Edwards too, of course.

[Old and In the Way]

2. Who knows what state Iraq will be in on 1/05?

I don't disagree that this quagmire was avoidable and totally uncalled for. But Bush did it. And Bush could turn Iraq into a glass parking lot or expand his war into Iran or move on Syria. Who knows what ideas might be in this man's unstable mind? Whatever it is, it's impossible for Kerry to anticipate. He'll have plenty of time to develop his strategy after the election and before his inaugaration. There are seems to be 3 viable options...pull out unilaterally, build a coalition that will help the Iraqi's move towards an independent and functional government, or Balkanize the country into 3 or 4 basic entities. I'll leave it to Kerry and the capable team he'll assembly to do the right thing.