A must-read speech

[ProSense]

Kerry’s speech to the U.S.-Islamic World Forum

[MBS]

1. just read it -- wonderful.

I wish we could clone him. . we need about 1,000,000 more people just like him.

Just when I find myself despairing about politics, our country, the world, JK comes through with something like this.

[wisteria]

2. This is one of the best gutsy speeches I have read from Senator Kerry.

Thank you for posting it.

[Luftmensch067]

3. Spencer Ackerman agrees with you!

And how. In fact, I'm still kind of staring in disbelief!

John Kerry, Statesman
By: Spencer Ackerman Saturday February 13, 2010 4:55 pm

This isn’t just a great speech. This is the speech that should have been given to the Muslim world by President John Kerry in 2005. In the time between then and now, Kerry, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has evidently had a lot of time to think about what a mature, balanced relationship between America and Islam looks like. It’s the rare speech — Cairo was one of them — that actually offers a synthesis of many of the seemingly intractable problems within that relationship and cleverly adjudicates a positive-sum path forward.

I could excerpt Kerry’s speech to the U.S.-Islamic World Forum all day and not do it justice...

The rest here:
http://attackerman.firedoglake.com/2010/02/13/john-kerry-statesman/

[Luftmensch067]

5. Too late to edit, but...

...OOPS! I hadn't followed your link 'til now and thought it was a link to the text of the speech only, didn't realize it was a link to this very article, containing the speech text! Oh, well, now it's linked twice here. :-)

[Luftmensch067]

4. Photo of JK in Qatar

"Doha/QNA/13 February 2010/ H.E Prime Minister And Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabor Al Thani conferred on Saturday evening at the Sheraton Doha Hotel with head of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee John F.Kerry now visiting Qatar."

I love this picture, but is it actually possible that NO ONE recorded JK's speech on video?!? What century are we living in!???! Argh.

[wisteria]

6. I hear you. But, there must of been media at the event, maybe there is a video somewhere. n/t

[karynnj]

7. While looking for a video, I found our friend, Dr Ron's comments

He quoted the same article - http://liberalvaluesblog.com/?p=12224

Here is what I think is the official web site, with some really great pictures.



(Frankly, anyone who doesn't think this is MA's best looking Senator is crazy.)

http://www.dohanetwork.org/content/opening-plenary-dinner-session-erdogan-kerry-obama-sheikh-hamad-bin-jassim-al-thani-belkhade

Still looking - I'm wondering if the Brookings Institute that had a lot to do with it might have video. Apparently, Obama addressed them remotely by video. Clinton spoke today and there is a link to video from her speech on a Hillary Clinton site - so the entire thing may have been taped. (Here is a NYT link on Hillary's speech - http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/15/world/middleeast/15diplo.html )

[wisteria]

8. Thanks for the links and I agree with your comments. n/t

[MBS]

9. fabulous photo and I agree with you on MA senators : )

Surely there must be a video somewhere.. ??????
Would love to see how the audience reacted

[fedupinBushcountry]

10. This is a great photo

I would love to see this on video. Plus, I noticed in all the pics how much the diplomats of other countries like him, it shows on their faces, and I'm sure they trust him too. That is a good thing.

[MBS]

11. this is a man in his element n/t

[fedupinBushcountry]

12. Yup

He's doing what he loves to do, although I still think he would of been the best President that the world has ever seen. ;-)

[MBS]

13. oh, no doubt about that in my mind either . . .sigh n/t

[YvonneCa]

20. Same here...

... ;)

[karynnj]

14. Israeli coverage of the speech - they covered a lot of what was said

(Haaretz is a leading Israeli newspaper, that has a good reputation for fair coverage.)

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1149512.html

[karynnj]

15. Coverage in the Hill

he chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Kerry said he's working on plans to create a "long-term exchange program" between countries.

"This will involve public-private partnerships—funded jointly by governments and companies so that Americans and citizens from Muslim-majority countries can work together in fields like science, journalism, business, arts, and culture," he told the U.S.-Islamic Forum, hosted by the Brookings Institute.

Kerry acknowledged, however, that difficulty in achieving peace between Israel and the Palestinians remains a roadblock to improved relations.

Calling a two-state solution "the only workable solution," Kerry faulted Israel for continuing to build settlements, but also called on Gulf states to support Palestinian state building and take their own steps to improve relations with Israel.

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/81009-kerry-lays-out-plans-for-improved-us-muslim-relations?page=2#comments

(As usual, the comments are negative - I added a few.)

[fedupinBushcountry]

16. Good responses

and a few others have good ones too.Makes the dimwits that posted look really stupid and just there to trash have no idea of the subject matter.

[wisteria]

17. My oh my, those Brown supporters are so sure of themselves.

It is funny they do not recoginze the circumstances which allowed Brown to win this seat. Four years is an enternity in politics and this fluke election that brought us Brown will not be repeated. Their bravados is amusing. If they think they will be able to unseat Senator Kerry as they have with Brown, they are going to be in for a rude, and much deserved awakening.

[karynnj]

18. The funny thing is that they don't realize that

the only way Brown stays in that seat is if he finds a way to be perceived as a moderate Republican. Then incumbency, his looks and personality might be enough to keep him there. If he acts otherwise, I would assume that he is going for VP 2012 (or President).

[wisteria]

21. Yes, IMO he is no where ready to the understakin of VP or President.

But, this hasn't stopped others in the past.

[blm]

22. They act as if Brown unseated Kennedy. As if Kennedy or Kerry would lose the debates to

that guy or anyone like him.

[wisteria]

23. Yeah, they are a bit delusional. n/t

[Luftmensch067]

24. Teddy would've

pulverized him with one eyebrow.

[MBS]

25. perfectly said! : )

As many commentators have noted, there were special extenuating circumstances: Brown had the election handed to him.
If the MA Dems can get their act together soon, we can get rid of him in 2012.

[Mass]

19. Finally found the time to read this. This is a great speech.

Sadly under reported but this is not surprising.