John Kerry Responds to Bush Comment on ‘America’s strained psyche’

[whometense]

Below is a statement from Senator John Kerry responding to President Bush’s press conference today:



“President Bush is profoundly wrong about Iraq, and profoundly wrong about the American people. Today President Bush said America’s “psyche” has been “strained” by “challenging times.” Americans are a strong people. The American psyche isn’t the problem. The problem is this Administration’s disastrous Iraq policy.



Our military has been strained by the Rumsfeld policy of going to war with too few troops, sending troops into battle with inadequate body armor, and overextending the National Guard. Faith in this Administration has been strained by exaggerations and miscalculations from the promise of “mission accomplished” to Vice President Cheney’s declaration of an insurgency “in its last throes.” Patience is strained because almost five years later, Osama Bin Laden is still on the loose, and gone is the promise of ‘wanted dead or alive.’ The Administration’s credibility is strained because the President’s mantra that “U.S. troops will stand down as Iraqis stand up” is another misleading myth, and “stay the course” is a recipe for disaster when the course is broken. Budgets are strained by record deficits, while critical needs, from homeland security to Katrina rebuilding go unaddressed while each week we spend two billion dollars in Iraq.



This Administration’s Iraq policy has been an unmitigated disaster and has set us back in the War on Terror. Iran is profiting because the United States is bogged down in Iraq. Our troops are stuck in a civil war. The violence is worse than ever. 100 Iraqi civilians are being killed every day in a brutal civil war that Administration still denies, and it’s getting worse every month. Over 9,000 Iraqis have died in the last three months alone. Since the bombing in Samarra, 182,000 Iraqis have fled their homes due to sectarian violence and intimidation. IED attacks against American troops have nearly doubled since January.



We must change course in Iraq. We need to set a date to force Iraqis to stand up for Iraq, force the Administration to finally do the diplomacy necessary to find the political solution our generals say is needed, move American troops to an over the horizon position, and refocus the United States on waging and winning an effective War on Terror.”





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[wisteria]

1. Good counter response- real good! n/t

[Blaukraut]

2. excellent response!

The only thing that is straining America's psyche are all the lies, failures and bullshit we've been put through in the name of the WOT. ugh

[blm]

3. This is the page ALL Dems need to get on and STAY ON. GD please.

.

[whometense]

4. beat you to it

Already there: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[ginnyinWI]

5. Well said,Senator!

Why does * try to blame the American people? Why does he hate America?

Chimp, stop treating the American people like pawns in your game of global chess (which you are losing, by the way). Give them some policies and governance that succeeds for once, that's all they ask! And take some responsibility for your mistakes.


It looks like JK has swung into full campaign mode for the fall elections. A very welcome voice.

[ProSense]

6. Excellent statement. Republicans are really

despicable and disingenuous:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[demdiva]

7. He's right on top of it as ususal

as are you whometense!

[JI7]

8. talk about the "blame America" crowd

blame the soldiers, blame the mothers of dead soldiers, blame the wives of terror victims . blame anyone but .......