Dean On Preventive War

[Indiana_Dem]

This statement on Dean's website under the above title kind of scares me:

The Bush Administration has been almost single-minded in its focus on preemptive war as a means to combat proliferation. As President, I would not make this mistake: all means to combat the threat of WMD, cooperative and coercive, multilateral and UNILATERAL, would be employed.

What do you think?

[revcarol]

1. God

we're cooked if he becomes President.

Man, with that statement out of the mouth of the leading candidate, how can we sleep at night?

[BurtWorm]

2. Could you please post a link so we could see the whole quote in context.

Like how (or if) it is qualified. Thanks!

[Indiana_Dem]

5. Here it is:

http://beta.deanforamerica.com/site/cg/index.html?type=page&pagename=policy_policy_foreign_issue_preventivewar





"There is also no doubt that a sovereign state has a right to fight a preemptive war against an imminent threat to its vital national security interests. But I have stated many times that the situation in Iraq did not come close to meeting this criterion. A comprehensive effort to curb the spread of weapons of mass destruction, especially nuclear weapons, will be a critical priority for a Dean Administration. Success will require a combination of diplomacy and deterrence, with our military strength making our efforts more effective. On the diplomatic side, our ability to enter into long-term steady and reliable alliances and our policy of extended deterrence have made nuclear weapons acquisition unnecessary for many nations. Effective US diplomacy, with international support embodied in the Non-Proliferation Treaty, has reversed proliferation in some countries. Export controls and Cooperative Threat Reduction have denied weapons technology to proliferators. Sound WMD technical intelligence helps to ensure that we have an accurate picture of potential threats. The US also deters potential WMD attacks by our ability to generate an overwhelming and devastating response to their use. Finally, the deployment of defenses against ballistic missile and chemical and biological weapons attack addresses this threat. The Bush Administration has been almost single-minded in its focus on preemptive war as a means to combat proliferation. As President, I would not make this mistake: all means to combat the threat of WMD, cooperative and coercive, multilateral and unilateral, would be employed."

[FubarFly]

6. Thanks for the context.

"There is also no doubt that a sovereign state has a right to fight a preemptive war against an imminent threat to its vital national security interests. But I have stated many times that the situation in Iraq did not come close to meeting this criterion.


This is nothing new.

[worldgonekrazy]

10. What a surprise...people trying to make something out of nothing

to attack Dean.

The thing that really gets me is that I know people who post this shit don't believe it. They are just trying to score some points in a VERY dirty way.

[FubarFly]

12. Ah, they're just bored.

;-)

I've been bedridden for the last couple days; I've been pretty bored myself. :-(

[Indiana_Dem]

23. What the heck?

I'm just trying to look at the fine print! Geez.
I haven't looked at Clark's fine print yet and I will go through his language, too! I want to make the right decision is all.

[KittyWampus]

25. The Neo Cons Have Purposely Switched The Word Pre-emptive

for Preventative. What Junior did in Iraq is PREVANTATIVE War.

There's a real difference between the two terms... it is NOT just semantics.

Pre-emptive War is the correct term for striking an imminent threat that is actually known to exist.

Preventative War is what the Neo-Cons are doing. Invading to prevent a currently NON EXISTANT threat.

[redqueen]

26. Very true

If they'd have called it what it actually was, though... WOW! I'd love to have seen them try it!

[Indiana_Dem]

28. But that's what word Dean used on the webpage for the title n/t

[Cheswick2.0]

18. if we know the plane are flying from Japan to bomb Pearl Harbor

We have a right to hit them first so that the can not do that. That is what that means. Now where us your problem exactly.

[Mattforclark]

3. The word unilateral

is not necessarily negative. It is only one of many words that Bush has hijacked.

IE 'unilateral disarmament'

[Indiana_Dem]

7. I know it!

He's made me not trust the word! lol
Since we've been "Bushwacked", I find it difficult to trust politicians sometimes. I just don't want it to happen again!
Please don't take me as not liking Dean--I just pay more attention to what all the politicians say now.

[ThirdWheelLegend]

4. I am searching deanforamerica for that quote...but I did find this.

I have not found the original quote, but I did find this.

"Now, I am not among those who say that America should never use its armed forces unilaterally."

http://beta.deanforamerica.com/site/cg/index.html?type=page&pagename=policy_speech_foreign_drake


TWL

[diamondsoul]

9. That's the one that scares me

half to death.

I'm not going to say Dean is as foolish as Bush, but the words "use its armed forces unilaterally" all together make me cringe and want to run as far from the person saying them as possible.

It's sort of the same reaction I get when people suggest a Clark/Kerry or Kerry/Clark ticket. I admire both men a great deal and I suspect either would be fine Presidents, but the combination of two military men creeps me out. And yes it definitely IS a direct result of Bushco.

[Leilani]

8. Only problem is

Dean wouldn't know what a war is...

Oh, I forgot, the battle of Aspen.

Let's face it: the military would fall over laughing if this guy is nominated.

The similarities with that other "Commander-in-Chief", Shrub Bush, become more apparent daily.

[worldgonekrazy]

11. Like Clinton?

If memory serves me right he executed a number of successful wars despite being a "draft dodger."

Try again.

[Leilani]

13. Unfortunatly

The military never respected Bill Clinton, because he had said "I detest the military", back during the ROTC flap.

But his biggest problem was due to Somalia. Remember Black Hawk Down?
The military called for more backup during that mission & didn't get it. Les Aspin was Sec of Defense at the time, I believe, & he had to resign.

That was also why the military was so oppose to Bosnia & Kosovo.

I think Clinton made some mistakes, however he was an expert in foreign policy campared to Dean.

[mouse7]

14. Military didn't seem to mind AWOL chimps and actors

I don't like suggestion that military service is a prerequisite for being President.

Military service clearly has not been a prerequisite for the chickenhawks.

[FubarFly]

15. I don't like the idea that we will never be able to run a

governor again- no foreign policy experience don't ya know. :scared:

And of course legislators aren't electable- only three have made it in US history,

so what does that leave us...

I hope there are enough generals to go around. :shrug:

[Leilani]

16. I Don't Believe

that a President needs military service; I never said that.

I believe a Pres needs Foreign Policy experience, & know enough about the military to handle military situations.

FDR was a great Commander, WW II, but he was a military expert. The Navy was his passion, & he worked there before becoming Pres.

You are right about the Commander-in-Chimp. He gained authenticity, because the military trusts the Repukes. I think it's wrong, & that is why I hate him so much. Because he is an AWOL deserter.

The Repukes have been screwing the military & vets, & I think the Dems have a really good chance to turn this vote around this election. I really believe if the Dems handle this right, it can help them in the future, & make more states competitive.

[Cheswick2.0]

17. I think you left a lot out

post the link so we can all read the statement and tell you what we think.

[maddezmom]

19. see post 5

http://beta.deanforamerica.com/site/cg/index.html?type=page&pagename=policy_policy_foreign_issue_preventivewar

[Clark Campaigner]

20. Sounds like he's no different

from leaders past and present.

Do we really want to go back down that road all over again?

[Forkboy]

22. What leaders past?

Nixon,Reagan,Bush? The ones Clark voted for? Those leaders?

[quaker bill]

21. Once again context is all

The policy statement speaks of all sorts of manners that our government can reduce the threat of WMD. Most of it focuses on diplomacy and defense. Diplomacy and defense measures can be taken both multilaterally and unilaterally.

An aggressive approach to defend this country from WMD that uses all the tools available to us, rather than the single minded focus on pre-emptive war that we have seen is proposed.

This merely represents a return to the non-proliferation and threat reduction approaches that have been policy for the last 50 or 60 years (pre-Bush*).

[redqueen]

24. Nothing to worry about, really

Any President would be failing his duties if he did not attack pre-emptively and unilaterally if we had good knowledge that we were going to be attacked. It is one of the duties the President swears to in the oath of office.

Even Kucinich would not hesitate to attack unilaterally and pre-emptively if there were credible intelligence that we were in danger. The wording is scary, but that's just because we're being intentionally scared by the bushistas.

He wasn't fooled by Powell's dog & pony show, so I'm not too worried about it.

[RetroLounge]

27. Poop

is what I think