Kerry Dives into Iraq Topic with Reporters
by Pamela LeaveyJohn Kerry was at the White House today to be on hand when Bush signed the legislation honoring Rosa Parks with a statue in her image at the Capitol. After the event, reporters were on hand with questions for Kerry in the White House driveway. From the looks of the photos they all seemed anxious to ask a few questions, although Steve Holland of Reuters reports that Kerry “quickly dove into the Iraq topic.” RIGHT. Looks more like the reporters were diving…
Kerry said Democrats, “are all in agreement that there has to be a profound shift of admitting the reality on the ground and beginning to establish a schedule that we can understand on behalf of the American people about transfer of authority.”
The Massachusetts senator described a scaled-down role for U.S. troops, to help guard oil pipelines and guard people working on construction projects.
“You don’t need 160,000 people to be doing what we’re doing in Iraq today, this is not World War Two, this is not Korea, this is not Vietnam. The principal enemy are IEDs (improvised explosive devices) and suicide bombers,” Kerry said.
Kerry was at the White House for a ceremony honoring the late civil rights activist Rosa Parks, but quickly dove into the Iraq topic in talking to reporters on the White House driveway.
UPDATE: Mass notes in our comments that this quote is probably taken out of context by Reuters – “The Massachusetts senator described a scaled-down role for U.S. troops, to help guard oil pipelines and guard people working on construction projects.”
This morning, on the Today Show, Kerry addressed these missions as those that the Iraqi troops could do very easily.
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“The Massachusetts senator described a scaled-down role for U.S. troops, to help guard oil pipelines and guard people working on construction projects.”
This quote by Reuters is probably an error. This morning, on the Today Show, Kerry addressed these missions as those that the Iraqi troops could do very easily.
Thanks Mass… I made note of your comment as an update in the post.
Accidentally on purpose?
Kerry Succinctly Answers a Question: All Shocked!
Who is this being that looks and sounds like John Kerry but responds succinctly and directly?
Standing outside the big white government mansion he had hoped to call home, Sen. John Kerry on Thursday offered a terse assessment of how he lost last ye…
At least Kerry’s answers are far more coherent and rational (even if not always succinct) than the writing at Indepdent Sources.
Considering the problems we face, it is far more important to have someone who shows the degree of knowledge of the issues that Kerry does. Sure, sometimes he might talk too much by looking at all sides of the issues, but this sure beats those who lack this knowledge.
[...] ked of him. Kerry’s other comments given at the news conference are covered by the Democratic Daily. ***** Update: What does one reader at the Democratic Daily have to say about us: [...]
The anti-Kerry forces are out, minimizing and mocking grown-up speech and actual planning served up at this quasi-press conference. Raw Story can always be relyed upon for the sensational out of nothing.
The Move-on crew, and maybe Nancy Pelosi, are trying to make false competition out of these exit plans with their latest e-blast. When Kerry speaks it’s about all Democrats, but our activist liberal and media wing think dissention is what get’s people off their couches.
Barbara Boxer is proud of her Harry Reid, and gives the December 1st date as the start of it all, when he stopped the Senate for rule 21.
Call me quaint, but why can’t we show a united front on what is needed, instead of playing to our angry anti-war group with raw meat. We need our grassroots to show passion to get this big battleship steered differently, but why can’t we do it with a little understanding of the big picture.
I agree Marjorie. It would be nice if they were all on the same page.
Marjorie, quaint is alright with me.
When my frustration level grows as high as it has this past month, I lose the ability to speak. The game-playing and positioning I see all around, “who said what first, who calls themselves liberal, who was anti-war when, etc. etc. etc.” god, my stomach turns.
Here in Rural Red, liberals are hiding under their blankets and die-hard conservatives are calling themselves “left of center.” OY.
Fear and grasping all around, and, in my opinion, little comprehension what is being grasped. Much blindness and scurrying. I guess this is all part of the great waking up.
For now, I’ll watch from the sidelines. Have already been hit by the fallout. What can I say? “Swift boating” is all the rage, at every level.
As for understanding the big picture… sigh. Again, I think the positioning for personal power is destroying the ability for progressives to join hands and pull UP. In the meantime, the mountain we’re climbing (to see the big picture) is being cut away from below.
For some of us, that cutting away is personal and a direct result of our “speaking truth to power.” For others, it’s Katrina, for others, simply the cutting away (jobs, healthcare, economy, education) that’s being done in the name of “freedom on the march.”
So much needs to be done.
We’re (the left) killing ourselves with our inability to understand that “diversity” encompasses more than skin color, choice of religion, gender or sexual orientation… it can include differences in perception, approach and styles of communication.
The dems in leadership and on the left better stop trashing each other and come up with a plan that can encompass several viewpoints into one cohesive argument or they will be doomed in 06. The dems that will run in 06 will run as a dem but will not follow the dem leadership so the leadership is shooting itself in the foot.
By they way I don’t count Kerry in the leadership as they haven’t treated him with much respect this year in my opinion.
Pen, I agree. The ambition to serve should not get in the way of actual service, you know?
Many hands make light work.