Posted on 09/25/2004 2:38:52 AM PDT by kattracks
Published September 25, 2004Thank you.
Two of the most powerful words ever spoken. Unless you are John Kerry.
Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi spoke before a joint session of Congress earlier Thursday and thanked this country for its efforts in his country.
First, he offered an optimistic outlook on Iraq’s future and the willingness of his fellow countrymen to rid the country of the terrorists and insurgents who are murdering people in an effort to stop freedom. Then he got around to the most powerful part — in our view — of his speech.
“The second message is quite simple and one that I would like to deliver directly from my people to yours. Thank you, America. We Iraqis know that Americans have made and continue to make enormous sacrifices to liberate Iraq, to assure Iraq’s freedom,” Allawi said. “I have come here to thank you and to promise you that your sacrifices are not in vain. The overwhelming majority of Iraqis are grateful. They are grateful to be rid of Saddam Hussein and the torture and brutality he forced upon us.
“Grateful for the chance to build a better future for our families, our country and our region. “
So, one of the leaders of the new Iraq — recognized by this country as well as the United Nations as a spokesman and leader of post-Saddam Iraq — comes to Congress, says thank you and the presidential hopeful from the Democrats tells him to basically shove it.
“The prime minister and the president are here obviously to put their best face on the policy,” Kerry jawed less than an hour after Allawi received a standing ovation from both sides of the aisle. “But the fact is that the CIA estimates, the reporting, the ground operations and the troops all tell a different story.”
Really? Talk about Mr. Glass Is Half Empty — or rather the glass is empty and we are in a drought.
Kerry went on to say that Allawi’s statement that free elections would be held on schedule by January was bogus. We are sure he and others were skeptical of the turnover of the governance of the country which took place early.
Luckily Allawi showed backbone.
“They warned that there could be no successful hand-over of sovereignty by the end of June. We proved them wrong. A sovereign Iraq, Iraqi government took over control two days early,” he told Congress. “They doubted whether the national conference could be staged this August. We proved them wrong. Despite intimidation and violence, over 1,400 citizens, a quarter of them women, from all regions and from every ethic, religious, and political grouping in Iraq, elected a national council.
“And I pledge to you today, we’ll prove them wrong again over the elections. Our independent electoral commission is working with the United Nations, the multinational force, and our own Iraqi security forces to make these elections a reality, and 15 out of 18 our Iraqi provinces we could hold elections today.”
Are things perfect in Iraq? No.
Could they hold secure elections in all 18 provinces of the country today? No.
But the deadline is January, not Sept. 25.
So, we ask you: Who would know better of the situation in Iraq and the willingness of a people to be free? Would you put credence in the word of say, Saddam Hussein, as to the status of the United States’ freedoms?
No. But John Kerry seems more willing to speak as if he is the communications director for the Iraqi insurgents than show support for a country looking to find its way to democracy and freedom.
While we weren’t there to witness first hand, we are sure the initial years of establishing freedom in this country were not perfect nor actually all that clean. In fact, it is still a daily struggle.
But, give us the daily struggle for freedom over tyranny any day. We are sure Allawi and the majority of his people believe the same.
— T.J. Aulds
Sun managing editor
Kudos to TJ Aulds - he gets it. I suppose the Boston Globe agrees with Kerry not showing up for the speech. A small town Newspaper editor in a working class town has more gumption than a huge metro daily. Massechusetts should hang it's head in shame that it no longer represents the spirit of Freedom and Liberty for all. Kennedy is an ass but at least he showed up for the speech. The voters of Mass. should excise Kerry from their midst once Bush wins re-election.
Does John Kerry get a second chance to make a first impression? Are there do-overs in diplomacy?
Thanks for the ping!
Kerry said "But the fact is that the CIA estimates, the reporting, the ground operations and the troops all tell a different story.”
How would the man know anything? Not only was he not there for the speech, he has not been to ANY meeting of the Senate for months...he's a disgrace!
Unfortunately many of the electorate believe what “their betters” tell them – with out any independent thought on their part.
The author has it exactly right. Kerry's behavior is shameful.
Subtle point.
At this time, 33 non-U.S. military forces are contributing to the ongoing operations throughout Iraq. These countries are Albania, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Estonia, Georgia, Honduras, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Thailand, the Philippines, Romania, Slovakia, South Korea, Spain, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.
That despicable, self aggrandizing, lying, backstabbing traitor – Hanoi John Kerry – claims we have no support from Europeans! We don’t have Germany or Hanoi John’s greatest interest – France, but do we really need them? Hanoi John puts great faith and prestige in France (so what if he’s a Francophile and has an estate in France?). When is the last time France or Germany actually won a war? What have either country contributed to World Peace and Democracy over the last 60 years?
Pretty much.
Kerry is a creep, and that's putting it by understatement.
I can't say what he RERALLY is, this being a family forum and all.
very appropriate description
No! He was supposed to be taking the day off from campaigning due to losing his voice but shortly after Allawi's historical and eloquent speech, so offended was Kerry that he hastily made his appearance to denounce.
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