Kerry Says U.S. Will Win War on Terror

[RedEarth]

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Keying in on President Bush (news - web sites)'s recent suggestion that victory against terrorism might be impossible, presidential candidate John Kerry (news - web sites) was declaring that he has a plan to defeat those who threaten the United States.


In a speech to the American Legion on Wednesday, Kerry was highlighting Bush's recent admission that his administration "miscalculated" how fiercely insurgents would fight after the initial "catastrophic success" of U.S. troops in Iraq (news - web sites), campaign advisers said. And he was taking issue with the doubts Bush raised about whether the war on terror can be won.


A new 30-second ad by Democrats to air later this week in battleground states will make the same arguments. It accuses Bush of "a failure in leadership." "Mounting casualties, costing $200 billion and counting," the ad says. "Now they call it a 'catastrophic success.' They say they 'miscalculated.' And now they say the war on terror is unwinnable."


Bush on Tuesday said repeatedly that the United States will win its war against terrorism as he tried to contain political damage from the doubts he expressed a day earlier. Still, Kerry kept on the heat late Tuesday at a Nashville rally.


"Let me tell you something: We can, we must and we will win the war on terror," Kerry said.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040901/ap_on_el_pr/cvn_kerry&cid=694&ncid=2043

[grytpype]

1. Yeah son!

[dennis4868]

2. huh?

Kerry is on the offensive? WTF? Did Rove okay this?

[goclark]

3. Go John!

Call W on his Wishy - Washy stuff!

Like that.. "We can, We Must and We Will "

Great Meme that the American people, who don't read newspapers, can repeat.

[mike_c]

4. this is so #@*&^%!%& stupid!

Kerry is acting as a neo-con mouth-piece. The WOT is a scam, just like the WOD. It CANNOT be "won."

[NewYorkerfromMass]

6. You don't understand

Of course it can't be won, but Bush failed the "cheeerleading" test with his gaffe. People do not want to hear such pessimistic crap.
Truth, justice, and the 'murikan way will prevail.
Bush just ceded a huge block of swing voters to Kerry.

[CWebster]

10. It can't be won

when Kerry holds neo-con views on Israel.

"Terrorism" is a symptom.

[demoman123]

23. This is the whole trouble with the Kerry candidacy

Look how many posts in this thread, including yours, are critical of Kerry. I am, too. On the war, Kerry and Bush are twins. So the anti-war part of his base, which is a lot of people, have to find other reasons to support him--e.g., Social Security. We have to just forget his views on the war and terrorism. He and Bush cancel each other out. He is better than Bush on domestic issues, and has a record to prove it. That's why I'm going to vote for him. But without enthusiasm. To win, he needs enthusiasm--people knocking on doors, etc.

[REVOLT823]

25. I totally agree with you on this,

until we realign our position on Israel. This is the major reason for terrorist attacks on our country

[redstateblues]

15. When Bush Makes A Gaffe Like This You Attack Mercilessly

A frothy ten minute ad explaining the complexities and nuances of this issue is a ticket to permanent minority status

[mike_c]

20. if the truth is a "nuance" then we've already lost....

eom

[independentpiney]

21. FLIP FLOP ! Why isn't Kerry saying it?

Every Dem in every appearance needs to be pounding that into the heads of the sheeple

[emulatorloo]

9. So terrorists do not exist, and they don't want to attack the US?

Sorry, getting into a philosophical discussion w W about his use of grammar is not going to advance the campaign.

and quite frankly what I have heard of Kerry's plans (strengthen ties w allies, win hearts and minds of moderate muslims, strengthen borders and ports, fund first responders) makes sense and is not "NEO-CON."

[grytpype]

14. I don't farking care if it can be won!!!!

Kerry is saying the right things. He has to say he can win the WOT, or he's doomed.

[mike_c]

18. that's part of the problem....

People want to hear slogans rather than reality. Our leaders are marketed, and we act as consumers in the political marketplace.

The "war on terror" is marketing, plain and simple. It's a catchy jingle and nothing more. It's the slogan that shrubya and his neo-con cronies coined to market the PNAC's campaign for global military and economic hegemony. So yes, of course it has important geopolitical consequences, but those consequences occur within the context of a lie and a scam. And yes, in repeating that slogan, and in trying to coopt it as his own, Kerry is carrying water for the neo-cons who coined it and who depend upon it to maintain their power.

[parasim]

5. It still begs the question...

How can you win a war on a technique?

[emulatorloo]

7. sorry, this is like a grammar post

War on Terrorists, does that sound better?

[Red Fox]

17. It's not so much the technique

Bush admin has raped the word "terrorism" so much that, when one thinks of terrorism, one thinks of brown, turban wearing people who all, coincidently, worships satan, hate Americans and "hate freedom".

As much as that is true, it's also plausible that winning the WOT is possible, as long as you're using that definition. Plus, the difference between one who thinks it can't be done and one who believes he can and makes it his duty to make it happen is a huge difference.

JK is finally showing some backbone again.

[emulatorloo]

8. ARTICLE IS BEING FREEPED - Go Rate it up!

now rated at 1.88 (!?!?) w 290 votes

[independentpiney]

22. done!

2.89 with 421 votes

[ima_sinnic]

11. he blew it again

he's addressing veterans and (from what I see in the article) made NO MENTION of G "Wuss" Bush's dissing and attacks on veterans, from budget cuts to collusion with SBVs to Purple Heart bandaids. Wuss has been forking over the vets since Day 1--why isn't Kerry hammering this to vets??

[lancdem]

13. He hasn't even given the speech yet

Maybe we ought to wait to see what's actually in it?

[redstateblues]

16. I live in Nashville and didn't even hear about a rally til it was over

Jeez- fairly disappointing

[madrchsod]

12. well johnny

you should come up with a policy that doesn`t back Israel, apologizes to the world for what has happened in the last 4 yrs,restores all the treaties bush rescinded, and instead of using our power to destroy people we use it to lift the weak up from their poverty..then maybe we can make a start on winning the war on terror....oh yes and maybe we should start on our own terrorists also....

[NYC Liberal]

19. He's back!

[REVOLT823]

24. That's what I am talking about!!!

This is an excellent ad, sock it to to the Repubs and refocus on the issue of Iraq and the mounting dead and wounded. Bush really stepped into it with "catastrophic success" and "WOT is unwinnable".

[leesa]

26. Not in a millions years if we don't stop trying overthrow

peoples governments and steal their resources. Stupid thing to say!