Posted on 08/18/2004 9:35:57 AM PDT by Reagan Man
Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry on Wednesday criticized President Bush's proposal to recall up to 70,000 foreign troops as a hastily announced plan that raises more doubts about U.S. intentions and commitments than it answers.
"Nobody wants to bring troops home more than those of us who have fought in foreign wars," Kerry said in speech prepared for delivery to the Veterans of Foreign War. "But it needs to be done at the right time and in a sensible way. This is not that time or that way,"
Bush announced his plan to bring home troops from Cold War-era bases in Europe and Asia on Monday before an earlier session of the same gathering of 15,000 members of the VFW.
Kerry argued that Bush's policy would dangerously reduce forces at a time when the nation is fighting the al-Qaida terrorist network in 60 countries across the globe.
Kerry said the redeployment would undermine relations with U.S. allies needed to help fight in Iraq and in the war on terror. It also would endanger national security as the United States is working to deter North Korea's nuclear program, he said.
"Why are we unilaterally withdrawing 12,000 troops from the Korean Peninsula at the very time we are negotiating with North Korea -- a country that really has nuclear weapons?" he said.
Kerry also said the redeployment does nothing to relieve the problem of an overextended military in Iraq.
Kerry's campaign cited a three-month-old Congressional Budget Office report that said pulling back troops from overseas would produce at best only small improvements in the United States' ability to respond to far-flung conflicts. The report also said a large reduction of the U.S. military presence overseas could cost $7 billion up front, although annual savings could be more than $1 billion.
Pentagon officials who spoke on condition of anonymity this week said the CBO study used different assumptions than the president's redeployment plan. They said the amount of savings for the Bush plan could not be calculated until officials determine precisely which units will return to the United States, what domestic bases they will use and what overseas installations will be closed.
Pentagon officials also say plans to trim about 12,000 of the 37,000 U.S. troops in South Korea would not give North Korea an advantage. Military officials have said that advances in U.S. military firepower and a stronger South Korean military mean there can be more military power in the south with fewer soldiers.
In response to Kerry's criticism, the Bush campaign released a list of statements from Republican senators and others praising the president's proposal as essential to fighting a new kind of war.
"The Kerry campaign's attacks on realignment demonstrate a pre-9/11 world view that doesn't address the threats facing our country today," said former Sen. Fred Thompson, R-Tenn.
The Bush campaign also pointed out that Kerry appeared receptive to the idea of troop redeployment just two weeks ago.
"If the diplomacy that I believe can be put in place can work, I think we can significantly change the deployment of troops, not just there but elsewhere in the world -- in the Korean peninsula perhaps, in Europe perhaps," Kerry said on the Aug. 1 broadcast of ABC's "This Week."
With voters focused on the war on terror, the VFW convention was the perfect backdrop for both candidates to tout their war plans. The convention was set in Ohio, a top battleground state, with a live audience targeted by both campaigns.
Besides describing his redeployment plan, Bush used his appearance before the veterans to criticize Kerry for saying he plans to reduce the number of U.S. troops in Iraq during his first six months in office.
Although veterans lean Republican, Kerry also is seeking their support in this election. Kerry touts his own service in the Vietnam War as a mutual connection and is even bucking the tradition of suspending campaigning during the opposing party's national convention to speak to the American Legion.
Kerry plans to speak to the group at their convention in Nashville on Sept. 1, in the middle of the Republican National Convention. Kerry spokeswoman Allison Dobson said it's the only event he has scheduled during the GOP gathering in New York City.
Kerry's criticism of Bush comes as the Democratic challenger tries to cut the president's advantage on terrorism and national security. Bush is often seen as the stronger leader on those issues in public opinion polls, but Kerry's aides say the president is vulnerable, especially as voters learn more about Kerry's record of service.
The Vietnam-era military records of both candidates remain an issue in the race, with former sailors accusing Kerry of exaggerating his war record and Democrats questioning whether Bush showed up for duty in the Texas Air National Guard.
Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona, a decorated Vietnam veteran who campaigns with Bush but has worked closely with Kerry in the Senate, has called for a cease fire.
"I wish we would stop opening wounds from a war of more than 30 years ago and talk about the war we're fighting now," McCain told The Associated Press on Tuesday. "I believe they both served honorably."
Kerry is not only unprincipled, he lacks conviction.
I saw only a brief glimpse but he looked shaken and unsure. He wasn't interrupted by applause during the time I watched. I was also wondering if anyone heard boos from the audience. I was at the health club and the sound was low, but it seemed he was really unhappy as he gave the speech.
Fox news reported that when PresBush spoke to the VFW last week,, he was interrupted 36 times and received 3 standing ovations. No info on Kerry's speech.
As to South Korea, what does he think would happen to those 35,000 US troops if North Korea and it's 5 million strong hord decided to come across the border? They would be nothing more than a speed bump. We can do more from the sky and from carriers than with land troops.
Rush is absolutely having "kittens" over Kerry's speech about the troops and U.N.....lol
Rush is freaking out today.
Rush is cool. He's breaking for a chill pill now.
Unilaterally withdrawing?? I think he was just trying to work unilaterally in there but that makes no sense.
IF THE MSM IS NOT REPORTING IT ---- HE MUST HAVE BOMBED.
War veterans Jere Hill, middle, from Warham, Mass., and Robert Gibson, right,
from Lexington, Ky., stand with their backs turned during Democratic
presidential nominee John Kerry (news - web sites)'s speech at the 105th
Veterans of Foreign Wars National Convention in Cincinnati on Wednesday,
Aug. 18, 2004.
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