The Kerry Line: Kerry's Nonproliferation Rhetoric

George W. Bush ^ | June 1, 2004

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"John Kerry's embrace of nonproliferation goals and objectives already laid out by President Bush is a welcome step, but his failure to accept the success of negotiations with Libya and his criticism of a multilateral approach to confront the threat from North Korea demonstrate that John Kerry can't help but play politics with national security."

-Steve Schmidt, Bush-Cheney '04 Spokesman

Kerry Promises To Elevate Nonproliferation To The Top Of The Global Agenda – A Step Already Taken By President Bush And His G-8 Colleagues

In December 2003, Kerry Promised To "Elevate Non-Proliferation To The Top Of The Global Agenda." (John Kerry, Address to the Council on Foreign Relations, 12/3/03)

But The President And His Fellow G-8 Leaders Had Already Declared That The Spread Of WMD And International Terrorism Constitutes "The Pre-Eminent Threat To International Security."

• G-8 Declaration On Nonproliferation. "We recognise that the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and their means of delivery poses a growing danger to us all. Together with the spread of international terrorism, it is the pre-eminent threat to international security." ("G-8 Nations Declare Support for WMD Nonproliferation Regime; North Korea, Iran specifically identified as problem countries," State Department, 6/2/03)
• G-8 Nations Back The President's View On Proliferation. "Bush won G8 backing for his view that the spread of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and terrorism are 'the pre-eminent threat to international security (and) a growing threat to all of us.' The leaders of the United States, Russia, Japan, Germany, France, Britain, Italy and Canada explicitly urged North Korea and Iran to curb their nuclear programmes, accept tougher U.N. inspections and renounce atomic weapons." (Paul Taylor, "Analysis: G8 summit -- a Franco-American draw," Reuters, 6/3/03)

Kerry Disparages The Success Of The UK And The US In Persuading Libya To Start Dismantling Its Nuclear Program

Kerry Asserts That The Deal With Gadhafi Was Deliberately Delayed. KERRY: "And the deal with Gadhafi, mostly, might I add, pursued and brokered by Tony Blair and the British, could have been achieved some time ago. It's now happening partly to make it look like it's causal with respect to the war on terror. I disagree." (CNN's "Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer," 12/21/03)

But UK Defense Secretary Geoff Hoon Said "I don't think you can separate out the relevance of military action in Iraq from the decision the Libyans have taken." "[UK] Defense Secretary Geoff Hoon said the agreement with Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi reflected Blair's 'policy of engagement' and dialogue, but that the example of Iraq may have played a part in Libya's decision. 'It shows that the policy of engagement can work, but it also shows that that policy has to be backed with the threat, or if necessary the use, of force to be successful,' Hoon told Sky News. 'I don't think you can separate out the relevance of military action in Iraq from the decision the Libyans have taken,' he added. 'We showed, after Saddam Hussein had failed to cooperate with the U.N., that we meant business and Libya - and I hope other countries - will draw that lesson.'" (Jill Lawless, "Libya weapons breakthrough vindicates Blair foreign policy, ministers say," The Associated Press, 12/21/03)

UK Foreign Secretary Called The Deal The Result Of "Painstaking Diplomacy" That Went Back At Least Six Years. "[UK Foreign Secretary Jack] Straw said Saturday the Libyan breakthrough was the result of 'painstaking diplomacy ... going back for six or seven years where we had sought to re-establish a diplomatic relationship.'" (Jill Lawless, "Libya weapons breakthrough vindicates Blair foreign policy, ministers say," The Associated Press, 12/21/03)

A USA Today Editorial Agrees That The Threat Of The Bush 2002 Pre-Emptive Strike Doctrine May Have Played A Role In Discouraging Nuclear Proliferation. "While the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists has not changed its 57-year-old clock officially, the world is breathing easier. India and Pakistan are beginning to talk peace. North Korea hints it may follow fellow rogue states Libya and Iran in allowing nuclear inspections... Though time will be the ultimate judge, certainly a case can be made that these tentative peace overtures were spurred by the threat of Bush's 2002 pre-emptive strike doctrine. It warns those who might use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons that they are vulnerable to a first strike from the U.S. A similar argument is made by many historians who credit President Reagan's military buildup and 'Evil Empire' rhetoric for pushing the Soviet Union toward collapse." (Editorial, "Assertive U.S. foreign policy produces diplomatic payoff," USA Today, 1/12/04)

Kerry Rejects Multilateral Efforts To Persuade North Korea To Dismantle Its Nuclear Programs

Kerry Criticizes The President For Not Holding Bilateral Negotiations With North Korea. Kerry: "And as president, I will engage Iran and I will renew bilateral negotiations immediately with North Korea, and I will seek a new international protocol to track and account for existing nuclear weapons and to deter the development of chemical and biological arsenals in the future." (John Kerry, Address to the Council on Foreign Relations, 12/3/03)

But Kerry Dismisses The Ongoing Multilateral Diplomatic Process In Which The Republic Of Korea, Japan, The People's Republic Of China, And The Russian Federation Are Playing Vital Roles.

Other Than This Immediate Concession To North Korea, Kerry Has Offered No Policy Proposals For How To Ensure That North Korea Dismantles Its Nuclear Programs.

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Dork.