"The Kerry Record: Using Force help of Allies Among Three Key Themes"

The Washington Post ^ | October 20, 2004 | Helen Dewar and Thomas e. Ricks

[Salty Cobra]

In Senate debates and media interviews over the years, John F. Kerry has repeatedly returned to three axioms on the use of military force: Win as much allied support as possible before going to war, listen to advice from the professionals, and, most significant, heed the many lessons of the Vietnam War. NATO and the United Nations appear to be touchstones for the Democratic nominee, not just the troublesome hurdles that they appear to be to President Bush. In speeches over the years, Kerry repeatedly has denounced unilateral action. Kerry's belief in working with allies runs so deep that he has maintained that the loss of American life can be better justified if it occurs in the course of a mission with international support.

[Salty Cobra]

Kerry cannot get away from equating the war in Iraq with the Viet Nam war. He has a fixation that has blinded him to the differences in fighting terrorism. This has resulted in his wrong thinking about "Global Approval". When this country accepts protecting it's freedom by committee we will be down the drain!

[C210N]

heed the many lessons of the Vietnam War

as opposed to the lessons of World War II

[My2Cents]

John F. Kerry has repeatedly returned to three axioms on the use of military force:

1. Win as much allied support as possible before going to war, (Bush: 40 some-odd allies -- check)

2. listen to advice from the professionals (Bush: Cheney, Rumsfeld -- check) and, most significant,

3. heed the many lessons of the Vietnam War. (Bush: "We're there to win!" -- check)

[counterpunch]

It took two people to write this?
You'd think that at least one of them would have done the research to discover that NATO is taking an active role in Iraq, rather than being a so-called "hurdle" to the President.

Regarding the UN, has the Washington Post done any investigation into the Blood Money for Oil scandal?
We want the UN to have a continuing role in Iraq why, exactly..?

[C210N]

Win as much allied support as possible before going to war

"as possible" defined as, whatever support the other party is able to get after months of lobbying, arm-twisting, and after over a decade of UN Resolutions, PLUS some other amount of support. Without that undefined "other amount", then its not as much support "as possible".

[Danno]

Re: Post's observation that Kerry values, first, getting international support for military action.

---

Excuse me but is this the same Kerry that voted against Bush One in the first Gulf War after a coalition of 140 countries was acquired?

[Oztrich Boy]

1. Win as much allied support as possible before going to war, (Bush: 40 some-odd allies -- check)

But how many of them are French?