JF Kennedy's speech (Applicable to justification for Iraq War)

JFK Library ^ | Oct. 22, 1962 | J.F. Kennedy

[FairOpinion]

"Neither the United States of America nor the world community of nations can tolerate deliberate deception and offensive threats on the part of any nation, large or small.

We no longer live in a world where only the actual firing of weapons represents a sufficient challenge to a nation's security to constitute maximum peril. Nuclear weapons are so destructive and ballistic missiles are so swift, that any substantially increased possibility of their use or any sudden change in their deployment may well be regarded as a definite threat to peace.

The 1930's taught us a clear lesson: aggressive conduct, if allowed to go unchecked and unchallenged ultimately leads to war.

My fellow citizens: let no one doubt that this is a difficult and dangerous effort on which we have set out. No one can see precisely what course it will take or what costs or casualties will be incurred. Many months of sacrifice and self-discipline lie ahead--months in which our patience and our will will be tested--months in which many threats and denunciations will keep us aware of our dangers. But the greatest danger of all would be to do nothing.

The path we have chosen for the present is full of hazards, as all paths are--but it is the one most consistent with our character and courage as a nation and our commitments around the world. The cost of freedom is always high--and Americans have always paid it. And one path we shall never choose, and that is the path of surrender or submission.

Our goal is not the victory of might, but the vindication of right- -not peace at the expense of freedom, but both peace and freedom, here in this hemisphere, and, we hope, around the world. God willing, that goal will be achieved."

[FairOpinion]

I think this addresses the liberal leftist whine that we shoud wait until Saddam attacks us and not take pre-emptive action.

JFK would be a Republican, if he were alive today. Or conversely, today's leftist communist anti-Americans calling themselves Democrats have nothing in common with the old time Democrats, who may have had some unrealistic social ideas, but were patriots.

[Cato the Censor]

Precisely. JFK was a veteran, war hero, tax cutter, pro-military-defense and was a conservative by any measure. Today's group of gutless whining liberals calling them selves DEMOCRATS HAVE ZERO IN COMMON WITH TRUMAN AND JFK.

[TheDon]

"We no longer live in a world where only the actual firing of weapons represents a sufficient challenge to a nation's security to constitute maximum peril."

Who is the quote from:

A) George W. Bush
B) Ronald Reagan
C) JFK

I wonder how the anti-war crowd would do with this quiz?

[TigersEye]

I wonder how the anti-war crowd would do with this quiz?

A lot of them would ask you what the letters JFK stood for. Apparently even old Ham Head Teddy doesn't know what the man stood for. He has spent his life disgracing his brother's memory.

[veronica]

As we fight the war on terrorism, I often think of these words as well, from JFK's inaugural address, one of the all-time great speeches.

"Let the word go forth from this time and place. . .to friend and foe alike. . that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans. . . born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage. . .*and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today. . .at home and around the world.*

*Let every nation know. . .whether it wishes us well or ill. . . that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and the success of liberty.*"