Kerry to Pull No Punches Taking on the Bush Administration in Iraq Speech

[kerrygoddess]

C-SPAN will be taping the film today - It's not clear yet, whether they will braodcast live - I will update as soon as I know.

Kerry to Pull No Punches Taking on the Bush Administration in Iraq Speech Today
October 26th, 2005

John Kerry will be delivering a speech on Iraq, today, at 1:00 p.m. est, at Georgetown University. In his speech he will will leave no doubt about his position on the Iraq war. From advance excerpts of Kerry’s speech, it’s clear that he will hold no punches…

Kerry will be offering a detailed, concrete plan from troop draw-down, to Iraqi troop training, to regional security arrangements, to political solutions, to reconstruction. He will propose a 12-15 month plan that will help stabilize Iraq and bring our troops home, starting with the process of reducing our forces by withdrawing 20,000 troops over the course of the holidays.

In his speech today, Kerry speaks truth to power. As he did thirty five years ago with his Fulbright Commission testimony, John Kerry will take on those who say we can’t ask tough questions because we are at war, and he will insist instead that in a time of war we must ask the hardest questions of all. Kerry will argue, “no matter what the President says, asking tough questions isn’t pessimism; it’s patriotism.” This belief is fundamental to John Kerry’s character.

In stark and honest contrast to the Bush Administration’s shifting rationales for war, John Kerry will tell the truth that this country and the Congress were misled into war. He will reiterate, as he said more than a year ago that, knowing what we know now, he would not have gone to war in Iraq.

“The country and the Congress were misled into war. I regret that we were not given the truth; as I said more than a year ago, knowing what we know now, I would not have gone to war in Iraq. And knowing now the full measure of the Bush Administration’s duplicity and incompetence, I doubt there are many members of Congress who would give them the authority they abused so badly. I know I would not.”

John Kerry will offer the only real path forward in Iraq.

MORE - http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=950

[karynnj]

1. I am so glad they're taping it - this really will be good

I wonder given:

In his speech today, Kerry speaks truth to power. As he did thirty five years ago with his Fulbright Commission testimony, John Kerry will take on those who say we can’t ask tough questions because we are at war, and he will insist instead that in a time of war we must ask the hardest questions of all. Kerry will argue, “no matter what the President says, asking tough questions isn’t pessimism; it’s patriotism.” This belief is fundamental to John Kerry’s character.

if he might have Father Drinan who is a Georgetown law school professer introduce him.

[rox63]

2. Excerpts on his web site

Fairly lengthy excerpts here. It must be a pretty long speech if this is just part of it.

http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/speeches/spc_2005_10_26.html

[babylonsister]

3. This just in from Will Pitt, RE: Kerry's speech:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=5176882&mesg_id=5176882

[kerrygoddess]

4. Posted this around

It's over on Kos if anyone can give it some love over there!
http://kerrygoddess.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/10/26/115739/17