Juan Cole does a great job debunking the "global test" smear.

[milkyway]

The repugs are desperate, but after Thursday night their tired attempt to use Kerry's "global test" phrase to scare voters won't convince anyone except for their hardcore supporters. The American people know what they saw on Thursday, and what frightens them now is the horrifying thought of four more years of a delusional incompetent as President of the United States. Nevertheless, for the record Juan Cole thoroughly destroys the repug smear.

http://juancole.com/

<snip>
Kerry very clearly meant no such thing. He started by saying that he would not give up the prerogative of going to war preemptively. How much clearer could he have been? Bush has invented a so-called "Kerry doctrine" out of the air. Obviously, Kerry's critics need a better dictionary. They don't know what "global" means. Let us look, for instance, at Merriam-Webster Online.


Main Entry: glob·al
Pronunciation: 'glO-b&l
Function: adjective
1 : SPHERICAL
2 : of, relating to, or involving the entire world : WORLDWIDE (global warfare) (a global system of communication); also : of or relating to a celestial body (as the moon)
3 : of, relating to, or applying to a whole (as a mathematical function or a computer program) (a global search of a file)
- glob·al·ly /'glO-b&-lE/ adverb

Kerry said, "that passes the global test where your countrymen, your people understand fully why you're doing what you're doing and you can prove to the world that you did it for legitimate reasons."

What does "global" mean in this sentence? Well, let's work down. It clearly does not mean "spherical," so that is out.

But it clearly also cannot mean "worldwide," which is what the attack ads, and Condi Rice, are implying. The "global test" Kerry speaks of relates in his mind to convincing "your countrymen" of the legitimacy of what you are doing, first and foremost. Convincing your own citizens cannot possibly be a "worldwide" matter. It is only in the last clause of the sentence where the rest of the world comes up. And there, Kerry is not suggesting that it be asked its opinion beforehand. He used the past tense. He is saying that only by first passing the global test with Americans could the US hope, after the fact, to prove to the world that what had been done was legitimate. W. from all accounts was never much good with things like tenses of verbs.

So, if "global" here does not mean "spherical" and does not mean "worldwide," then what does it mean? Kerry was obviously using the word in the third sense above, of "complete." Military action has to pass a complete test, in order to gain the entire confidence of the US public, in preparation for making a convincing case in the aftermath of the war to other countries.
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[DulceDecorum]

1. The United States of America

needs to acquire
"a decent respect to the opinions of mankind."

[clydefrand]

2. I knew this all the time. But Bush didn't. And neither do his

surrogates that I saw on TV all day today.

Do you think we should send all the reporters of the news on CNN, Fox, et al the link to this article so "they" can get educated too. I sent a few emails today to the reporters on CNN, but this one says what they need to hear. And Bush's surrogates need to see and understand it also. Ed Gillispie was practically yelling at Terry McAuliff? today on Blitzer's show. He looked really worn out and wild eyed, and Terry looked so calm and composed. He even told Terry not to interrupt him when it was Wolf who had tried to interrupt his ranting. Terry spoke up and told him that he didn't know who he was talking to. That probably got his goat too.

[Lugnut]

3. I'm not that smart but

I knew exactly what Sen. Kerry was saying. :shrug:

[Guaranteed]

4. Forget "global."

Kerry meant that we need PROOF. VERY SIMPLE.

YOU DON'T INVADE OTHER COUNTRIES WITHOUT ***PROOF*** OF A THREAT. I DON'T GIVE A SHIT WHAT ERA YOU LIVE IN, YOU DAMNED WELL HAD BETTER HAVE SOME PROOF THAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO SOMETHING.

[life_long_dem]

5. Has Kerry tried to sum up

what he meant, to make it a little clearer? I haven't seen any news clips of this.

[PurityOfEssence]

6. It's that the President makes the call of whether it's best for the world

That doesn't give anyone veto or control over our destiny, it just points out the the President should bear in mind what's best for the world, because WE'RE A PART OF THE WORLD. Even from selfish conservatism, it's obvious that what goes around comes around, so you don't stomp and smash everything for short-term gain.

It's just such a sissy thing for a conservative to ever consider anyone else. Only losers care.

[WiseMen]

7. Pedantic, but logically the correct meaning behind Kerry's use of "Global"

as in "Global Variable." Kerry is unfortunately too smart for
that little job called "President."

[shockingelk]

8. It should pass in other countries too

You have to be sure what you're doing is right. If it is it will pass muster with the world.