Kerry Flip-Flops On Iraq's Ties To Al Qaeda
Tonight's Flip: In Response To Question Four John Kerry Said Iraq Was Not Close To The War On Terror Until The President Invaded It.
Yesterday's Flop: Kerry Warned Of Saddam's Ties To Terrorism. SEN. JOHN KERRY: "[T]here are set of principles here that are very large, larger in some measure than I think has been adequately conveyed, both internationally and certainly to the American people. Saddam Hussein has already used these weapons and has made it clear that he has the intent to continue to try, by virtue of his duplicity and secrecy, to continue to do so. That is a threat to the stability of the Middle East. It is a threat with respect to the potential of terrorist activities on a global basis. It is a threat even to regions near but not exactly in the Middle East." (Sen. John Kerry, Press Conference, 2/23/98)
Kerry Confuses His Position On The Iraq War
Kerry Tonight: ?The President And I Have Always Agreed On That, And From The Beginning, I Did Vote To Give The Authority Because I Thought Saddam Hussein Was A Threat.? (Sen. John Kerry, First Presidential Debate, Miami, FL, 9/30/04)
Kerry Earlier This Month: Iraq Is "The Wrong War In The Wrong Place At The Wrong Time." "Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry on Monday called the invasion of Iraq 'the wrong war in the wrong place at the wrong time' and said his goal was to withdraw U.S. troops in his first White House term." (Patricia Wilson, " Kerry on Iraq: Wrong War, Wrong Place, Wrong Time", Reuters, 9/6/04)
Kerry In May 2003: In First Dem Debate, Kerry Strongly Supported President's Action In Iraq. SEN. JOHN KERRY: "I said at the time I would have preferred if we had given diplomacy a greater opportunity, but I think it was the right decision to disarm Saddam Hussein, and when the President made the decision, I supported him, and I support the fact that we did disarm him." (ABC News, Democrat Presidential Candidate Debate, Columbia, SC, 5/3/03)
Kerry's False Statement On Supporting Our Troops
In Response To Question Four John Kerry Said, "My Message To The Troops Is Also Thank You For What They're Doing But It's Also Help Is On The Way. I Believe Those Troops Deserve Better Than What They Are Getting Today." (Sen. John Kerry, First Presidential Debate, Miami, FL, 9/30/04)
The Real Record: Kerry Voted Against $87 Billion In Funding To Equip Our Troops In Iraq And Afghanistan With Essential Supplies Like Ammunition And Body Armor.
Kerry Has Already Taken Eight Positions On The $87 Billion:
* Kerry Said It Would Be "Irresponsible" To Vote Against Funding Troops. Doyle McManus (LA Times) : "If that amendment does not pass, will you then vote against the $87 billion?" Kerry: "I don't think any United States senator is going to abandon our troops and recklessly leave Iraq to ? to whatever follows as a result of simply cutting and running. That's irresponsible." (CBS' "Face the Nation," 9/14/03)
* Kerry Claims "I Actually Did Vote For The $87 Billion Before I Voted Against It." (Sen. John Kerry, Speech In Huntington, WV, 3/16/04)
* Kerry Later Said He Was "Proud" That He And Edwards Voted Against $87 Billion In Funding For U.S. Soldiers. "Here is the value that John Edwards and I will put in place. I'm proud to say that John joined me in voting against that $87 billion when we knew the policy had to be changed." (John Kerry, Remarks at "Women's Voices: A Luncheon with John Kerry," Boston, MA, 7/12/04)
* Kerry Then Said His Vote Against Body Armor And Supplies For Troops Was "Complicated." (MSNBC's "Imus in the Morning," 7/15/04)
* Kerry Even Said His Vote For The War And Against Funding For Our Troops Was "Not A Flip-Flop."(CBS' "Evening News," 7/21/04)
* Kerry Then Defended His Vote Against The $87 Billion By Saying President Bush "Didn't Have A Plan To Win The Peace, It Was Irresponsible To Give [President Bush] A Blank Check That Gave $20 Billion That Was Going To Go?To Halliburton And All These Other Companies." (Mike Allen And Lois Romano, "Closing Laps In Race To November," The Washington Post, 9/4/04)
* Kerry Said He's "Glad" He Voted Against The Iraq Supplemental. KERRY: "Because I saw what was happening. I voted against it -- absolutely voted against it. I'm glad I voted against it. Because we now see that that $20 billion hasn't even been spent effectively. Most of it's going to Halliburton in fraud and no-bid contracts which is completely inappropriate. I'd fire Halliburton tomorrow." (CBS' "The Late Show With David Letterman," 9/20/04)
* Kerry Said His Vote Against The Iraq Supplemental "Was A Protest. Sometimes You Have To Stand Up And Be Counted." KERRY: "But it reflects the truth of the position, which is I fought to have the wealthiest people in America share the burden of paying for that war. It was a protest. Sometimes you have to stand up and be counted, and that's what I did." (ABC's "Good Morning America," 9/29/04)
Kerry's False Statement On The President's Truthfulness
In Response To Question Nine John Kerry Claimed He?s ?Never, Ever? Used Word ?Lying? In Reference To President Bush On Iraq. JIM LEHRER: ?New question, Senator Kerry. Two minutes. You?ve repeatedly accused President Bush, not here tonight but elsewhere before, of not telling the truth about Iraq. Essentially, of lying to the American people about Iraq. Give us some examples of what you consider to be his not telling the truth.? SEN. KERRY: ?Well, I?ve never, ever used the harshest word as you just did.? (Sen. John Kerry, First Presidential Debate, Miami, FL, 9/30/04)
In September 2003, Kerry Said Bush Administration ?Lied? And ?Misled.? ?This administration has lied to us. They have misled us. And they have broken their promises to us. The president promised to the people and the Congress that he would build an international coalition, respect the United Nations? process and only go to war as a last resort. I will tell you that from my war fighting experience, I believe there is a test for a president as to how you go to war. And that test is whether or not you can look in the eyes of parents and say to them, ?I did everything possible to avoid the loss of your son and daughter, but we had no other choice in order to protect the security of our nation,? and I know this president fails that test in Iraq.? (Sen. John Kerry, Campaign Event, Claremont, NH, 9/20/03)
Kerry Flip-Flops On Preemption
Tonight's Flip: In Response To Question 13 John Kerry Said "The President Always Has The Right, And Always Has Had The Right For Preemptive Strike.? (Sen. John Kerry, First Presidential Debate, Miami, FL, 9/30/04)
Yesterday's Flop: In 2003 Boston Globe Guest Commentary, Kerry Denounced "The Threat Of Military Preemption Against Terrorist Organizations." "It is troubling that this administration's approach to the menace of loose nuclear materials is long on rhetoric but short on execution. It relies unwisely on the threat of military preemption against terrorist organizations, which can be defeated if they are found but will not be deterred by our military might." (John Kerry, Op-Ed, "Moscow Treaty Is Full Of Holes, The Boston Globe, 3/5/03)
Kerry Criticizes President Bush's "Doctrine Of Preemption." GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: "(Off Camera) ... you would have your own doctrine of preemption, then?" SENATOR JOHN KERRY: "George, every president from the beginning, uh, of time, has had a sufficient doctrine of preemption. Throughout the Cold War, the entire first strike doctrine was based on a doctrine of preemption. But that's very different from the Bush doctrine of preemption. I don't subscribe to the George Bush doctrine as he has described it, which is very different. It's a preemptive war for the purpose of removing, simply removing the dictator." (ABC's "This Week," 2/22/04)
Kerry's False Statement On UN Involvement
Kerry's False Statement: Kerry Denigrates The UN Coalition. In response to question nine John Kerry said, ?The United Nations, Kofi Annan, offered help after Baghdad fell and we never picked them up on that and did what was necessary to transfer authority and to transfer reconstruction. It was always American run. Secondly, when we went in, there were three countries: Great Britain, Australia and the United States. That's not a grand coalition. We can do better.? (Sen. John Kerry, First Presidential Debate, Miami, FL, 9/30/04)
A Multinational Force Of Some 30 Nations Continues To Help Secure A Free Iraq. PRESIDENT BUSH: "The multinational force of some 30 nations continues to help secure a free Iraq, and we are grateful for the service and sacrifice of all." (President's Radio Address, 9/25/04)
In Addition to the United States, Other Coalition Members Are Providing Approximately 25,000 Troops To Assist Our Efforts In Iraq.