The terrorists in Iraq share the same ideology as the terrorists who struck the United States on September the 11th. This is an enemy without conscience, and they cannot be appeased. If we're not fighting and destroying this enemy in Iraq, they would not be idle. They would be plotting and killing Americans across the world and within our own borders. By fighting these terrorists in Iraq, Americans in uniform are defeating a direct threat to the American people. Against this adversary there's only one effective response. We will never back down; we will never give in, and we will never accept anything less than complete victory.
Later in the speech, he said:
Senator Lieberman is right. Setting an artificial deadline to withdraw would send the message across the world that America is weak and an unreliable ally. Setting an artificial deadline to withdraw would send a signal to our enemies that if they wait long enough, America will cut and run and abandoned its friends, and setting an artificial deadline to withdraw would vindicate the terrorist tactics of beheadings and suicide bombings and mass murder and invite new attacks on America. To all who wear the uniform, I make you this pledge: America will not run in the face of car bombers and assassins so long as I am your commander-in-chief. (wild applause)
This upset the Democrats and a rather over the top John (I voted for the war before I voted against it) Kerry, was "forced to give a Democrat reply:
[...] What it did on the Democratic side seek to do [sic], was set an estimated timetable for success, which will permit the withdrawal of our troops. Everything that we have presented has been presented on the basis of how you succeed. The president today in his speech said, I quote, "America will not run in the face of car bombers and assassins so long as I am commander-in-chief." Well, so long as Jack Reed is a United States Senator and John Kerry is a senator and the rest of us are senators, none of us, no one, has ever suggested or believes that we should run in the face of car bombers or assassins.
[...]
[...]"debate is not about an artificial date for withdrawal"[...]
He's right! Debate isn't an artificial date for withdrawal, but the Democrats haven't been debating. They have been pontificating, propagandising and politicizing since this war started, but not debating.
Kerry also said, (I'm not sure that this is from his speech or to reporters afterward):
said Bush is falsely trying to suggest that Democrats want to set an artificial date for a pullout. Kerry said that's not the case, and that Democrats just want an "estimated timetable" for success
Anybody with the memory of a gnat knows that's a crock!
From the main page of Russ Feingolds Senate web page:
Feingold Proposes Timetable for Iraq Withdrawal
I believe that the American people deserve clarity from the administration regarding the United State's commitment in Iraq. I have proposed a target timeframe for the completion of the military mission in Iraq and suggested December 31, 2006 as the target date for the completion of the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq.
Representative John Murtha, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations defense subcommittee:
"It is time for a change in direction. Our military is suffering, the future of our country is at risk. We cannot continue on the present course. It is evident that continued military action in Iraq is not in the best interests of the United States of America, the Iraqi people or the Persian Gulf region,"
Yahoo News on House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi:
"We should follow the lead of Congressman John Murtha, who has put forth a plan to make American safer, to make our military stronger and to make Iraq more stable. That is what the American people and our troops deserve."
Senator Clinton Calls for Withdrawal From Iraq to Begin in 2006
Kerry Urges U.S. to Start Withdrawal From Iraq
Senator's Timetable Specifies 15 Months
Thursday, October 27, 2005; Page A03
News Flash: Biden Calls for Withdrawal Timetable
Thursday, January 27, 2005
GUARDIAN/(AP): Amid constant harangues that "Iraq is Bush's Vietnam," Teddy Kennedy has now explitictly called for the immediate "withdrawal" of US troops from Iraq.
Kucinich Renews Calls For The US Withdrawal From Iraq, a press release from July 28, 2003, by Kucinich's office in Congress
WASHINGTON (Oct. 25, 2005) Rep. David Price, D-4th, and Rep. Brad Miller, D call for troop withdrawal from Iraq
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I could go on but this is getting tiresome!
Shouldn't someone let Kerry know? (especially since he has been one of those doing the calling)
3 comments:
Debate isn't an artificial date for withdrawal, but the Democrats haven't been debating. They have been pontificating, propagandising and politicizing since this war started, but not debating.
All this yapping about setting a date for withdrawal is dangerous to the efforts we are making in Iraq. The enemy is listening.
You got that right AOW.
Great post Warren. You did a great job, as always, in lifting the Oz curtain to reveal the hypocrisy all around us...in this case...smack in the face of the democratic party.
Let me give you a little inside information:
We are reducing troop levels in Iraq in 2006, and this has been planned and stated since early this year by the Pentagon.
So the Democrats are on the "pull the troops out now" train so they can milk credit for it when it force-level reductions do happen as planned next year.
It's cheap and easy to be a Democrat. You never, ever, ever have to present an idea.
I'm pretty sure they're not going to like the backlash of military personnel that vote who are pretty f*ckin' tired of hearing the Dems calling them losers for the past 3 years.
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