WTF is wrong with John Kerry?

[CBGLuthier]

Secretary of State John Kerry said Tuesday that the “rationale” for the January attack on a French satirical magazine made more sense than the attacks in Paris last Friday.

During remarks at the U.S. Embassy in Paris, CBS News reports that Kerry said the Friday attacks, which killed 129, were not the same as the attack on Charlie Hebdo, which left 12 dead. “There’s something different about what happened from Charlie Hebdo, and I think everybody would feel that,” Kerry said. “There was a sort of particularized focus and perhaps even a legitimacy in terms of—not a legitimacy, but a rationale that you could attach yourself to somehow and say, ‘Okay, they’re really angry because of this and that,'” he continued. “This Friday was absolutely indiscriminate.”

http://time.com/4117525/kerry-charlie-hebdo-massacre-had-clearer-rationale-than-paris-attacks/

I may not be a secretary of state or anything like it but I know that ALL terrorist attacks have exactly the same rationale. To spread fear and well, gee, TERRORIZE people.


Saying there is a rationale for one vs the other is stupid. By his "logic" the US deserves every attack it gets for what we have been doing to muslims for the last two decades.

Idiot.

[villager]

1. hmm. Yeah. I work as a journalist, too. Thanks for "having my back," Kerry

Good thing he's not running for President again with an utterance like that.

[arcane1]

2. The guy who ran for president saying he would've invaded Iraq too, if he had been in office then.

By framing this as some sort of baseless irrational madness, he can avoid talking about why we're intervening in the middle east in the first place.

"They hate us for our freedom!"

[CentralMass]

3. He must need a rest.

[flamingdem]

4. This analysis is being repeated by many people on msnbc

today. The point being that the cartoonist attack came out of a longstanding grudge but this was a change to attacking an entire culture.

I see it hitting people that way in social media. People who identify with France are very much impacted. I remember that cartoon artists took Charlie Hebdo personally at the time.

[tavernier]

39. Yes

Yes, many others said the same today.

I understand their points. I don't think Kerry's opinion is far off base.

[greytdemocrat]

5. Sometimes

It just pays to keep your mouth shut.

[patsimp]

6. kerry is a complete bozo on this

idiot

[Bluenorthwest]

7. I am furious with him. Both attacks involved targeting arts and culture by murdering innocents.

That he would say it had legitimacy to murder artists is inexcusable. His philosophy justifies endless violent reaction from almost everyone on Earth. Islamic nations execute artists and gay people, so apparently it would be a legitimate rationale to seek violent retribution and an end to such vile practices.

Cartoonists and concerts are not legitimate targets.

[karynnj]

8. The Secretary of State who negotiated the Iran deal and may soon get a Syria civil war ceasefire?

It is amazing that this is the second thread on this comment -- taken out of context -- from his comments to employees at the US embassy.

Here is the full paragraph:

In the last days, obviously, that has been particularly put to the test. There’s something different about what happened from Charlie Hebdo, and I think everybody would feel that. There was a sort of particularized focus and perhaps even a legitimacy in terms of – not a legitimacy, but a rationale that you could attach yourself to somehow and say, okay, they’re really angry because of this and that. This Friday was absolutely indiscriminate. It wasn’t to aggrieve one particular sense of wrong. It was to terrorize people. It was to attack everything that we do stand for. That’s not an exaggeration. It was to assault all sense of nationhood and nation-state and rule of law and decency, dignity, and just put fear into the community and say, “Here we are.” And for what? What’s the platform? What’s the grievance? That we’re not who they are? They kill people because of who they are and they kill people because of what they believe. And it’s indiscriminate. They kill Shia. They kill Yezidis. They kill Christians. They kill Druze. They kill Ismaili. They kill anybody who isn’t them and doesn’t pledge to be that. And they carry with them the greatest public display of misogyny that I’ve ever seen, not to mention a false claim regarding Islam. It has nothing to do with Islam; it has everything to do with criminality, with terror, with abuse, with psychopathism – I mean, you name it.

http://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2015/11/249565.htm

The location of the comments explains the unusual informality. What he is saying is that in one - SOME peoples were targeted. In the Friday attack -- the attack was indiscriminate.

Kerry came to Paris after being with Obama at the G20 and after the intense negotiations in Vienna that reached a plan that may result in a political transition and a ceasefire in Syria. It already is a game changer that Iran, Saudi Arabia and Russia - along with many other countries a UN representative held productive talks -- and the result of a lot of work from Kerry and Lavrov. Kerry gave many press conferences today. All with serious reporters asking serious questions and getting very complicated, serious answers. Apparently, some here --- falling in line with many rightwing sites -- are instead making an issue where none really exists. Kerry went to France after the January attacks - and his speech - in French - was covered life by French media -- and it was well appreciated. (US media - ha ha ha, he brought James Taylor.)

For any serious people reading this thread -- maybe you would like to check out the interviews given - links to all are here - http://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2015/index.htm You might also want to read his speech given when he arrived in France, given at the US embassy - http://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2015/11/249556.htm

[stevenleser]

10. I'm a Kerry fan but this statement was ill conceived even in context.

It's not that big of a deal, he should apologize and move on.

[karynnj]

16. Do you think Hillary should apologize for every thing she says that someone takes completely

out of the context she said it? ie - the 9/11 comment at the debate ---- or "What difference does it make?" to sickeningly refer to her not caring about the deaths? In both cases here, her comments were pretty ill conceived -- and unlike Kerry, who really is not dependent on what the US media says of him -- she has to care -- because she is running for President.

Kerry gave a beautiful, well received in France speech -- ignored in America; and was part of making what can be a major REAL impact towards a more peaceful Syria -- which helps in fighting ISIS. What exactly should Kerry apologize for here -- then tell me why HRC shouldn't have apologized any time she used less than perfect language.

[flamingdem]

28. d'accord

[Major Hogwash]

20. Hahahaha!!!!!!!!!!

" . . . he should apologize and move on."

[Bluenorthwest]

11. So if there is legitimacy to religious people murdering artists why is it not then legitimate for

artists and gay people to go seek revenge for the actions against us in Islamic countries? They flog and kill us. If they get to be 'provoked' by some cartoon, then why are we not allowed to respond to their murder of LGBT? Is it a one way street? Is this a workable world view, retribution for insult is a rationale? This is what he is suggesting. I strongly reject that concept.
This reckless man with layers of personal security is endangering the lives of innocent artists and audiences who don't get the kevlar suits and armored cars and security details.

[melman]

23. "It was to terrorize people. It was to attack everything that we do stand for."

And so was Hebdo. They were saying, DO THINGS OUR WAY OR DIE.

To differentiate between them suggests a legitimacy even if he hadn't use that word.

It's like saying 'They didn't like the cartoons so they were really mad and that makes a kind of sense'

No it doesn't. FUCK THEM!

[Jim Beard]

34. I understand completely

his reasoning and I agree.

[Fumesucker]

9. Kerry's a Catholic and Charlie Hebdo lampooned Catholics among others

[karynnj]

12. Kerry spoke against those attacks - the day they happened and later when he went to Paris

In Paris he said,

On the day of the living nightmare that began at Charlie Hebdo, I had a chance to share a few thoughts with you from back home in Washington. And today I just – I really wanted to come here and share a hug with all of Paris and all of France. I wanted to express to you personally the sheer horror and revulsion that all Americans felt for the cowardly and despicable act, the assault on innocent lives and on fundamental values.

<snip>
We will never forget these ordinary heroes and all the victims of this tragedy, even as we confront – as the world confronts – cowardly assassins who hide behind balaclavas and assault rifles. Here is the difference between ignorance and knowledge, between falsehood and truth, between cruelty and kindness, between death and life.

I know that even as we speak, there are passionate debates over the complex issues that this tragedy has raised. But what should be beyond debate, beyond the scope of politics or religion, satire or culture, is the common aspiration to create a world rich in love and short on hate. So today at the Hotel de Ville, I join with you in honoring those no longer with us and share with their loved ones the sadness of their loss but the pride in their lives.

We simply will not descend into despair. We will turn this moment of profound loss into a lasting commitment. We accept with humility the responsibility that falls to each of us to defend the values our societies cherish and extremists fear the most: tolerance, freedom, truth. In the end, our engagement – all of us in this struggle – is not a choice; it is a mandate. It is our obligation.
http://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2015/01/236059.htm

[Fumesucker]

13. Has he spoken out about the Kunduz MSF hospital attack yet?

[karynnj]

22. The Secretary of Defense has and they are investigating it

As Secretary of State, it is likely not appropriate for Kerry to speak about it while it is under investigation.

His daughter, a doctor, has volunteered and is co-founder and Ceo of a nonprofit that has allied with the Peace Corps to have American volunteers train medical professionals in Africa, where there is a shortage of trained people. ( http://www.pri.org/stories/2015-10-29/her-father-vanessa-kerry-reporting-duty-her-mission-preventing-next-outbreak ) Many of the people killed were people very much like his daughter. Not to mention, killing those people and destroying the hospital hurts what he succeeded in doing in getting the two people involved in a disputed election to agree to a recount - with BOTH having roles in the government.

[Fumesucker]

24. We know it was an American AC130 that did the attacks

Some hapless E3 somewhere will end up taking the fall for it, just a regrettable error.

"How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?" -John Kerry

[karynnj]

32. I know that - and the investigation is about why it happened

I hope that either Secretary Carter or President Obama identify what happened and identify, not just an E3, but anyone who knowingly approved this. Kerry does not head the Defense department.

[Hortensis]

50. Thanks for sensible posts and useful information, Karynnj.

[Bluenorthwest]

14. RCC sued Hebdo over and over again.

Francis said some creepy stuff after that killing.'You can not insult religion, if you insult my mother expect a punch in the nose' Francis said. About a mass murder.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

15. it wasn't well phrased but he was mostly talking about a singular focus vs a haphazard attack

i wouldnt have said it myself, but the guy is under a lot of pressure and he worded something poorly. doesn't make him evil.

[Hortensis]

49. +1.

[darkangel218]

17. What the hell?

Is this from the onion? If not..

Wow

[mythology]

18. Charlie Hebdo deliberately antagonized groups

Kerry isn't saying that they deserved to be attacked, but if you know that somebody gets upset over something, continuing to do it may prompt a response. The people at a concert or eating dinner didn't have that history.

The Charlie Hebdo attack was targeted at a group that you could point to a reason for the attack. The attack from Friday was indiscriminate in who was attacked other than them being in public. It's more designed to cause chaos and fear than an attack at a group they felt insulted them.

I'm not saying either attack is justified or correct, and neither was Kerry.

[Major Hogwash]

19. ^^^This^^^

This is exactly what Kerry was talking about, some type of warped logic they had that led to the attack on Hebdo.

[Starry Messenger]

30. Exactly. People are going out of their way to be offended by this.

[Warren DeMontague]

46. Yeah, sort of ironic, given the way that some people went out of their way to lose their shit over

Those "Blasphemous" cartoons.

And of course we had the sadly predictable anti-free speech brigade here, suggesting that the answer was to blame the cartoonists, and outlaw the "blasphemy".

[geek tragedy]

21. John Kerry is gaffe prone. Remember "I voted for it before

I voted against it?"

[ucrdem]

25. He didn't say the Hebdo/Hyper attacks were reasonable,

just that they weren't random. He might have expressed it better but it's a pretty widely repeated point.

[former9thward]

33. He said it was "legitimate".

And that is not a "widely repeated point". I remember when Kerry threw his Vietnam metals over the White House fence and it turned out it was fake.

[ucrdem]

41. So the suspicion is that Kerry's turned turk so to speak?

Because otherwise you're making a big deal out of a gaffe which is basically Breitbart territory.

[Nye Bevan]

26. Well that's about his worst gaffe ever.

I know he took it back, but using the word "legitimacy" is simply sickening. And "rationale" is not much better.

[Scootaloo]

27. Kerry's never been real good at putting his brain and mouth together.

Back in 2004, he was derided as "flannel-mouthed," and the sad thing is, that's an apt criticism. he's a smart dude.. .but he's just not real good at putting his thoughts into good words.

[SoCalDem]

29. Just being the doofus he's always been

[flamingdem]

31. WTF DU Kerry just got an agreement together on Syria

How about some kudos other than picking apart his informal talk?

[herding cats]

36. Don't hold your breath.

I predict that the ceasefire will be attributed to Putin, and Kerry's hard work and many achievements are to be forgotten because he used the wrong word here.

Sometimes it helps keep you sane when reading this site if you view it as a sociology experiment.

[CBGLuthier]

38. I do not call the US SoS speaking at an embassy informal talk.

[Kalidurga]

35. He is a politician

so occasionally he is going to f up big time. Like he did here. I think the gist of what he is saying is correct, but it is so badly and insensitively worded that it is a major f up. I am on board for an apology/clarification. I won't lose sleep over this though.

[MrMickeysMom]

37. He sold out long ago, CBG...

Never put up a fight to the second stolen Bush election... didn't waste time conceding. Forgot everything he ever knew about foreign wars of aggression. Willing, I suppose to take SOS position, do what the neocons and MIC money wants, cashes his check and no matter what it is, it won't buy back his soul.

[karynnj]

40. You mean like the Iran deal and working hard for the political solution they don't want on Syria?

He couldn't fight -- because he did not have enough uncounted votes in Ohio to win. Even the RFKjr analysis depended on an estimate of the number of votes lost to various types of voter suppression - including having so few machines in Democratic areas that there were up to 10 hour lines! But - those are votes that were never cast -- thus could not be counted.

The same team that told Gore to unconcede - told Kerry that he should concede.

As to integrity, there are few in government that have stronger reputations as honest, honorable and decent as Kerry does -- one of the few others who do, Jimmy Carter praised him a few months ago.

[MrMickeysMom]

47. I can see you have respect for him...

I seem to recall that the computer expert that was going to testify about those votes being stolen in Ohio got dead before he could testify about it.

Maybe "pawn" would have been a more respectable word for Kerry. I did have wildly high hopes and wept after that election was stolen.

Why do people like that stay inside TPTB? Does he really think he's still serving his country?

[Tipperary]

42. I have never liked him.

I have always thought that he's not the sharpest knife in the drawer either.

[treestar]

43. Seriously?

It's clear what he meant.

[joshcryer]

44. He's not wrong.

[Enrique]

45. you want leaders to just spout slogans?

If one attack is different than another, you don't want them to say it, you want them to just scream "THEY"RE ALL EVIL!!!!!!"?

[cali]

48. People seem to be forgetting the attack wasn't just on the office of Charlie Hebdo

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/January_2015_%C3%8Ele-de-France_attacks

[still_one]

51. He is playing games with context, which is the problems he had when he was running for President.

What I suspect he was trying to say was the Charlie Hebdo attack was based on a "perceived insult on Islam by Charlie Hebdo", and the latest attacks had different motivations.

It was an idiotic thing for him to say, and should come out and apologize for mischaracterizing it

[underpants]

52. I understand what he is saying but I would have said it differently

Or, better yet, not said it at all.

[Democat]

53. He should resign in shame

And apologize many times.