Posted on 09/25/2004 7:34:44 AM PDT by Valin
Thank 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
If any of my family had treated a guest in our home like that, there would have been a really ugly scene and an apology or a whuppin'.
Maybe both.
Poor John Kerry - he was born with a silver FOOT in his mouth!!
It seems that he-who-wants-to-be-perceived-as-a-uniter has just burned a bridge with Iraq if he should get elected. Personally, I think it's funny - a man who has never been to Iraq telling the Interim PM that he doesn't know what's going on in his own country.
Very well-stated editorial.
Kerry is extremely desperate to go after Allawi the way he did. Here the man is thanking us, and our countrymen who died over there, and Kerry can't even accept that without thinking there are ulterior, political motives behind the statement.
If any of my family had treated a guest in our home like that, there would have been a really ugly scene and an apology or a whuppin'.
Maybe both.
If you want to deliever it, I'm sure we can get a fund together to pay your way. Fot what it's worth I have a nice new thick leather belt I'll be glad to contribute.
New tagline!
No Class Kerry.
what a great editorial, thanks
"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."
man talk about a direct hit
Kerry will fall on his face in the debate Thursday. Whether or not huge numbers of people watch the debate, Kerry's hubris makes him stiffly condescending and blinds him to errors and internal contradictions. Even if he miraculously obtains a personality before Thursday, he will not be able to be positive, optimistic, or likable.
The clueless career he has enjoyed in the senate was possible only because Kerry remained mostly below the achievement horizon, not really doing anything, voting negatively on anything that did not limit liberty or ensure the national security. He remained in the senate only because Massachusetts voters don't get out much beyond the black hole of coastal liberalism, and they actually think Kerry amounts to something.
In the limelight, exposed to national scrutiny, Kerry will appear to be what he is: without substance and consistency, lurching toward historical oblivion, and dangerous for America.
John Kerry continues to be an insufferable, rude TRAITOR who will do or say anything to get elected.
Fortunately, everything he says and does seems to be taking him farther away from his goal.
Keep praying for this election! May the TRUTH be known to the American people!
Four years after the Treaty of Paris was signed, things in this country became desperate enough to have the Constitutions convention. Things weren't finally settled for another 78 years when Abe brought down the hammer.
John Kerry: once a traitor, always a traitor.
Amendment XIV
Section. 3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.
The continued meltdown is pretty awesome.
Wonderful editorial. I've been working on letters along this vein myself. Kerry should be ashamed of himself. His behavior now is almost identical to his behavior after his return from Vietnam. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
John Kerry can't say:
Thank you.
Sorry.
Pardon me.
That was my fault..
Oh my God, did I really say that?
How silly of me.
How can I ever make amends?
How stupid of me. That must have made you feel terrible.
We
I nsist
F orthrightness
T ruth
V eracity
E thics
T rustworthiness
S ervice
From the ridiculious
Letters from readers (Mpls (red) Star Tribune)
September 25, 2004
The truth hurts
The Republicans must be really nervous about the election.
Not only did they get interim Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi to campaign for President Bush in front of a joint session of Congress, but they are now saying that John Kerry is "emboldening" the enemy, "destructive" to the effort in Iraq, and saying things that "undermine" troops.
Why are they so nervous about someone telling the truth about the war in Iraq? Kerry is simply saying what everybody knows: Our policies have failed to win the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people and disappointed Muslims around the world.
John Rettger, Coon Rapids.
To the sublime
Believe Allawi
Interim Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi gave a rousing speech to Congress telling of the great progress being made in Iraq for a new free country.
Then Sen. John Kerry came out and basically called Allawi a liar and a dupe of President Bush.
Why would he do this? If everything is going well in Iraq, it makes President Bush look too good.
Kerry portrays the Iraq war as a stumbling effort with no apparent accomplishments, but now the prime minister tells a different story.
Who do you think knows best: Kerry or the prime minister?
Harold Olson, Circle Pines.
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