WP: Kerry Says Security Comes First (less emphasis on Democracy)

[kskiska]

Less Emphasis on Democracy Abroad

Sunday, May 30, 2004; Page A01

Sen. John F. Kerry indicated that as president he would play down the promotion of democracy as a leading goal in dealing with Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, China and Russia, instead focusing on other objectives that he said are more central to the United States' security.

Kerry, in a one-hour interview Friday night, also rejected setting a date for the withdrawal of U.S. soldiers from Iraq. Although the notion is gaining favor with some Democrats, the party's presumptive presidential nominee said "it is not a good idea just in a vacuum" because the timetable for reducing U.S. troops must be dictated by success in holding elections and establishing security and stability.

In many ways, Kerry laid out a foreign policy agenda that appeared less idealistic about U.S. aims than those of President Bush or even fellow Democrat Bill Clinton. Although Kerry said it is important to sell democracy and "market it" around the world, he demurred when questioned about a number of important countries that suppress human rights and freedoms. He said securing all nuclear materials in Russia, integrating China in the world economy, achieving greater controls over Pakistan's nuclear weapons or winning greater cooperation on terrorist financing in Saudi Arabia trumped human rights concerns in those nations.

"Sometimes we are dealt a set of cards that don't allow us do everything we want to do at once," he said.

During the interview, he eschewed the soaring rhetoric on freedom and democracy that are commonplace in Bush's speeches and news conferences. At one point, he stumbled over the words when he tried to emphasize his interest in promoting American values: "The idea of America is, I think proudly and chauvinistically, the best idea that we've developed in this world."

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A1443-2004May29.html

[Career Prole]

1. I read your subject line and thought "Here we go again..."

I thought the Post meant Kerry was choosing security over democracy here...but that's bush*'s gameplan.
Turns out you were talking about JK putting a stop to the preemptive spreading of democracy at gunpoint.
That, IMO, is a very good thing. :)

[murielm99]

2. It is a very good thing, yes.

I agree with you, and him.

It is one of those nuanced positions he has though, that the pukes are going to distort. I can just see the negative ads now.

Damn them to hell. They are going to treat President Kerry the same way they treated Clinton.

[PartyPooper]

5. I read it the same way.

Thanks for your post. I agree with your statement.

:hi:

[kskiska]

7. I should have added

the word "abroad," but wasn't sure it would fit. Sorry.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

10. We are more effective...

If we are a shining example of Democracy, not a thug who mouths the word.

[Career Prole]

11. Truer words were never spake... n/t

[wellst0nev0ter]

3. So Kerry Is Now "Flip-Flopping" As A Paleocon

First he supports Bush's efforts to democratize the Arab world, now he's against it, will he EVER make up his mind

</Kool Kidz narrative contrivance>

[Massacure]

4. Kerry never supported attacking Syria, Saudia Arabia or Iran.

Or at least I haven't seen him.

[Solidarity]

6. Just Iraq

Just Iraq. Isn't that just wonderful? He's A regular "peacenik"!

Let's try and clean up our democracy at home before we preach to others. So if Senator Kerry doesn't want to export freedom abroad, let him at least support freedom and liberty at home. He can begin defending our Bill of Rights by proposing the entire Patriot Act be dumped! And he should also pledge to repeal all White House orders that have weakened the Freedom of Information Act. Has Kerry said anything about the FOIA? He should.

[C_eh_N_eh_D_eh]

One thing at a time, dude...

[Media_Lies_Daily]

8. How are we to spread democracy anywhere if we don't have it at home?....

First things first, okay?

[kodi]

9. ah, so 'Real Politik' comes at last to the Democratic Party?

it stunk with nixon and kissinger, it stinks now.

we can all agree that we must work towards the best of worlds as we best can, but when that path makes us fellow travelers with authoritian governments who dont give a flying fuck about human rights, i want to know the GOD DAMNED EXIT STRATEGY.

at what point do we get off the bus with these nasty people?

what kerry said can lead to some bad juju and what i would request from him is an idea of where the line is drawn in kerry's philosophy and mind that he stands up for "the one over the many."


is that an unfair question to have about a president?

[Voltaire99]

12. You're perfectly right

Kerry's cold, technocratic vision of "security" fails to satsify on at least two counts.

One, it's devoid of much deep understanding of the blunders and calamities in US foreign policy that have got us where we are: terrorized, isolated, and mired in war.

Two, more specifically, he is still a fellow traveler to the neocon and neoliberal Iraq tragedy who has yet to renounce US imperial ambitions in that land.

I'm getting tired of waiting for you to get it, Kerry. The election is in five months...

[AP]

13. Kennedy ran as the bigger anti-communist than Nixon.

Why? To remove national security from the table as a criticism of the Democratic party.

When he was president, he was far from the person he campaigned as.

[Solidarity]

14. Your right.

It's hard to say who was the biggest red-baiting "anti-communist", Nixon or Kennedy. But, as you point out, JFK was certainly a big one. And it was not just election campaign rhetoric.

[Solidarity]

15. Not So Sure About That

"When he was president, he was far from the person he campaigned as."

I don't know about that AP. I remember the Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba. And the so-called missile gap. Kennedy promised to be a more effective and stronger opponent of the Cuban Revolution than Nixon. He sure tried.