What if Kerry admitted his every foreign policy statement from his "winning" performance last week was baked wind, and nobody (from the major media) carried the story?
Rowan Scarborough and Stephen Dinan have the story:
Democratic presidential nominee Sen. John Kerry conceded yesterday that he probably will not be able to convince France and Germany to contribute troops to Iraq if he is elected president... "Does that mean allies are going to trade their young for our young in body bags? I know they are not. I know that," he said.So in other words, not only was what you said BS, and you knew it, but you're showing your chops as a diplomat yet again!
Asked about that statement later, Mr. Kerry said, "When I was referring to that, I was really talking about Germany and France and some of the countries that had been most restrained."And those would be...
"Other countries are obviously more willing to accept responsibilities," he added, as he took questions from reporters in a school yard in Tipton, Iowa.
...the countries Bush already has on board? The "Bribed and coerced"?
Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie said Mr. Kerry's attitude toward Poland and Mr. Kwasniewski's response shows that Mr. Kerry wouldn't be able to put together the coalition he's claimed.
"President Kwasniewski has been resolute in understanding the importance of achieving victory in Iraq, unlike Senator Kerry, who has vacillated with every shifting political wind," Mr. Gillespie said.No matter. If you read blogs, you know that France and Germany disclaimed any interest in involvement in Kerry's Koalition over a week ago:Even before Mr. Kerry made his admission, France and Germany had made it clear that their absolute opposition to sending troops to Iraq was not a political calculation involving the U.S. election.Hm - Laura Billings, that's yet another disturbing fact we didn't "read first" in the mainstream media.
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has categorically ruled out sending any soldiers, even to protect U.N. officials overseeing new elections, adding that "that's where it's going to remain." French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier said his government will not send troops "either now or later."Hm.
Posted by Mitch at October 6, 2004 07:12 AM | TrackBack
During the debate, I really wanted Bush to nail Kerry on France and Germany's reluctance to join the coalition no matter who gets elected. He didn't, of course, and that upset me at the time. But elsewhere in the blogosphere I've read commentary suggesting that Bush couldn't point this out because he still wants to work with France and Germany, and pointing out their reluctance wouldn't exactly help to that end. (Kerry, on the other hand, sees no problems with bashing our allies while claiming that he'll get more of them to do more of the work.)
I think Bush got his point across anyway, but it would have been a nice reality check, though.
Posted by: Drew at October 6, 2004 04:14 PM