Allawi's Speech

Kerry looks, er, very small today. I mean, was this statement for real? In its discombobulation, utter lack of grace (all but calling Allawi a liar--a man almost axed to death by Saddam's henchmen in the U.K. and under constant threat of assassination today), near absurdities ("Let me tell you, if the 4th Infantry Division and the diplomacy had been done (ed. note: whatever "done" means) with Turkey, you wouldn't have had a Fallujah"), pleading tone ("And ask the military leaders. Go ask the military leaders")--it reads more like a bona fide Deanian (or Goreian?) meltdown than a serious policy statement/press conference.

And am I the only one concerned that Kerry opened his remarks by proclaiming: "I want victory. I want to win." Er, shouldn't that go without saying? Why does a candidate for the U.S. Presidency even need to say that? How very odd. Of course, if he is serious about us winning--he should instead act like a statesman, head to Washington, and assure the new Iraq PM that there is a bipartisan consensus to support Iraq during its perilous path towards democracy whoever wins in November.

But no. Instead, a sour, rambling statement from the sidelines. As I said, small. Very small. I'm tempted to say he needs new advisors--but he's already gone through quite a few batches. At some point, the buck stops with the principal, no?

More on the Allawi speech and Kerry's remarks hopefully later tonight London time.

UPDATE: Heh. Matt Yglesias has a slightly different take (Hat Tip: Memeorandum). Needless to say, I guess, I think Matt's being a tad generous to Mr. Kerry. Or maybe, as one of B.D.'s smartest commenters (who runs an erudite left-of-center blog) contends--I'm being unfair to the Senator.

ANOTHER UPDATE: I just got off a special dial-in teleconference to hear Iyad Allawi speaking at the CFR (I trust it's on the record as the Council's main webpage mentions it is to be broadcast live on C-SPAN). Someone in the audience pointedly asked Allawi about Kerry's comments that I blog above--ie, that Allawi was in heavy-spin mode to give Bush political cover. Allawi responded: "I'm a tool of nobody." And then something about not getting involved in the internal politics of the U.S., that it's "none of our business."

Senator Kerry is an embarrassment to the United States. This is a man who is telling us he's a great leader and will work with other nations. Maybe the MSM did not do him a favor by giving his comments so much exposure which have been picked up by other countries including the ones who are part of the coalition of the willing.

The only people in the world whom Kerry thinks are not beneath him are the French. Yet the French are easily considered the most arrogant and stuffy people who will have none of Kerry, no matter how much he kisses their feet. Chirac has already publicly said so and the way Kerry has pimped himself in this campaign simply assures that the rest of world sees Kerry as a doormat on which the despots can wipe their feet.

Wait a minute!
I thought Fallujah was the 82nd Airbornes AOR! Wasn't the 4th Div Inf. to the west and north of Baghdad proper going up the Tigris into towns like Al Ramadi, Balad, Tikric etc.?
If the answer is yes............then once again Lurch blearts out stuff that is wrong in hopes of misleading the voters.
Can anyone verify who had Fallujah during OIF I?
I am quite aware that the 1MEF took over Fallujah when they deployed during March of this year. And I know that they relieved the departing 82nd Airborne in all Al Anbar province. Becuase I read articles at MC web site OIF II when the handover took place.

Kaptain Ketchup's first move was to insult the Iraqi Prime Minister, calling him a liar. My impression is that is a deadly insult in the Arab culture. Kerry has the diplomacy of a rampaging bull elephant, absolutely none. Kerry is the proverbial snob, considering himself to be above everyone else, how dare the peons do anything but worship him.

All commentators on the cable news channels tonight agreed that Kerry's remarks re: Prime Minister Allawi were disgraceful and hurt him badly.

This guy has about the most dangerous job in the world and they belittle him. I don't even think the rats are serious about a Kerry Presidency. I think the rats are instructing Kerry to be as psychotic as possible so that their last minute replacement will look relatively acceptable.

I don't know exactly how Kerry will be replaced, only Ted Kennedy knows for sure. Paul Wellstone's ghost thinks he knows. Kerry will probably bow out voluntarily though.

7 posted on 09/23/2004 10:31:45 PM PDT by Jim_Curtis (Liberals lie at the premise, accept their premise and you can only lose the argument.)

The Clintonites are now running the show in visible mode.
Ted hickup Kennedy has no say in what goes on. Either this guy is a blithering A_S H_LE at this point or he really want's nothing to do with the presidency or they are lining up Madamn Hillary to replace him, and the trial lawyer will go along with the deal. Of course even naive moms and live long demos might say no way to her occupying the office with Iraq, Afganistan etc., taking front page.
Something just really stinks about the whole deal. I think like Rushbo said a few months back and probably others, that it is set up for 2008 for the Hillary to run.
Unless Kerry is finally caving in.......

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