Former Sen. Kerrey criticizes colleagues on Iraq pullout
Posted: Thursday, May 24, 2007
OMAHA (AP) -- Former Democratic Sen. Bob Kerrey said Wednesday that the United States needs to make a global case for its long-term fight against terrorism that acknowledges that Iraq is today's primary battleground for that fight.
"I've heard too many of my Democratic friends saying that's not the case. It is the case," the former Sept. 11 commissioner said Wednesday. "And it's not because we invaded, it's because we invaded for the purpose of allowing Iraqis to establish a democracy."
Kerrey argued for fighting terrorism in Iraq the same day as Bush, who declassified bits of intelligence to contend that bin Laden was setting up a terrorist cell in Iraq to attack U.S. targets.
Kerrey said a new unified strategy is needed that states that the United States is the primary target of terrorism, terrorists are adapting their tactics and technology, and they are difficult to identify because they do not stand out.
The former Nebraska governor from 1983-1987 and current president of the New School University in New York said public opinion is leading many in Congress to care more about getting out of Iraq quickly than anything else.
"They're getting swept along in public opinion that's saying get out of there, and they don't care how just get out of there, and I think it matters how," Kerrey said.
Kerrey wrote in an opinion piece for Tuesday's editions of The Wall Street Journal that "unilateral withdrawal from Iraq would hand Osama bin Laden a substantial psychological victory."
He qualified that Wednesday as Democrats lost a fight with President Bush and Republicans over timetables for troop withdrawal.
"I don't think it's a psychological victory at all, I think it's a victory period (for bin Laden), if done incorrectly," Kerrey said.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi indicated she likely will vote against the current Iraq war funding bill because it does not contain the timetables. Other House Democrats said they would also oppose it.
Kerrey said he supported the idea of withdrawal only if the United States continued to support Iraq's efforts economically and militarily.
"It's not withdrawal that bothers me," he said. "It's withdrawal that says that we've been defeated and that we're weak and that we're not going to confront the violent radical Islamic extremists that are an existential threat to us."
"I've heard too many of my Democratic friends saying that's not the case. It is the case," the former Sept. 11 commissioner said Wednesday. "And it's not because we invaded, it's because we invaded for the purpose of allowing Iraqis to establish a democracy."
Kerrey argued for fighting terrorism in Iraq the same day as Bush, who declassified bits of intelligence to contend that bin Laden was setting up a terrorist cell in Iraq to attack U.S. targets.
Kerrey said a new unified strategy is needed that states that the United States is the primary target of terrorism, terrorists are adapting their tactics and technology, and they are difficult to identify because they do not stand out.
The former Nebraska governor from 1983-1987 and current president of the New School University in New York said public opinion is leading many in Congress to care more about getting out of Iraq quickly than anything else.
"They're getting swept along in public opinion that's saying get out of there, and they don't care how just get out of there, and I think it matters how," Kerrey said.
Kerrey wrote in an opinion piece for Tuesday's editions of The Wall Street Journal that "unilateral withdrawal from Iraq would hand Osama bin Laden a substantial psychological victory."
He qualified that Wednesday as Democrats lost a fight with President Bush and Republicans over timetables for troop withdrawal.
"I don't think it's a psychological victory at all, I think it's a victory period (for bin Laden), if done incorrectly," Kerrey said.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi indicated she likely will vote against the current Iraq war funding bill because it does not contain the timetables. Other House Democrats said they would also oppose it.
Kerrey said he supported the idea of withdrawal only if the United States continued to support Iraq's efforts economically and militarily.
"It's not withdrawal that bothers me," he said. "It's withdrawal that says that we've been defeated and that we're weak and that we're not going to confront the violent radical Islamic extremists that are an existential threat to us."
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Doug wrote on May 24, 2007 8:38 AM: