Kerry leaves for 12-day trip to Mideast, Asia and Europe

[sabra]

http://www.ecnnews.com/cgi-bin/05/snstory.pl?-sec-News+1k589gO+fn-mass.kerry.0110-20060110-

Kerry leaves for 12-day trip to Mideast, Asia and Europe


WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. John Kerry left yesterday for a 12-day overseas trip to the Middle East, Asia and Europe where he will focus on issues ranging from the war in Iraq to global health problems.

His stops will include Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Jordan, Kuwait, Israel, England and India.

Kerry will meet in Iraq next week with Gen. George Casey, commander of coalition forces. He will also visit with Iraqi government officials and Massachusetts troops who are stationed near Ramadi.

[marmar]

1. Why is he leaving during the Alito hearings?

:shrug:

[zann725]

4. Maybe because he's the REAL 'shadow' Prez,&/or knows he can do more abroad

...as the Alito nom will ultimately be confirmed. The Dems will roll-over...eventually.

[karynnj]

11. and he's not on the Judiciary committee - Kennedy is

I'm sure that if Kerry thought of a brilliant question he could pass it on, but Kennedy was absolutely on fire and looked and sounded great.

[yurbud]

20. I'm torn between this, that he's pull strings behind the scenes and

playing a long term chess game against these assholes or whether he is more or less complicit like Biden/Lieberman or just a dilletante.

When I read his recent speech at the Council on Foreign Relations, I got the strong impression it is the first.

With the right wing media and vacuous mainstream media, it would be difficult to make direct appeals to the public without getting the treatment Howard Dean did (or worse) if he got to close to being successful.

Instead, I think he's trying to convince those with the real power, those who back and protect or at least tolerate what the Bush administration is doing because they think they will profit.

In that speech, Kerry made it clear though slightly indirectly, that we are really in Iraq about oil, but that is not a viable long term policy.

The frustrating thing is, that may be the only way to get rid of these assholes.

A rich guy goes somewhere we can't go and talks to people we don't know exists about decisions that can literally kill us and or even start a world war.

[karynnj]

21. Of the three options:

dilletante can be ruled out - Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan (where Kerry's BCCI work likely makes him none too popular) are not the French Riviera. He and Teresa are wealthy and I'm sure if just having a good time and seeing interesting things, he would not be going alone on a dangerous trip to troublespots. so, no

Complicit: Kerry throughout the general election spoke of his world view. He is neither a neo-con or in agreement with Bush. One line in late 2003/early 2004 speech referred to America's greatness being partly because we don't seek an empire. Also, look at Kerry's questioning of Rice or Bolton - he clearly pulls no punches in calling them on what they are doing. The people behind this administration were with Nixon and Reagan/Bush when they supported the Contras. Kerry has fought these people for 3 decades! So, no he's not complicit.

I do think that he is doing what he thinks is right - which given the power balance has been a very long game of chess.

[yurbud]

22. at the moment, it's a few pieces of evidence and hope--but worth

holding onto while we work on things that we can.

[Demeter]

12. Because Women are from Venus, and Kerry is From Pluto

In other words, out of this world (and not in a good sense).

[blm]

15. and some people don't understand that senators on the JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

are the senators involved at this point in the confirmation hearings.

It is bad form for a senator NOT on the appropriate committee to speak out over the committee's Dem senators who are participating in the hearings.

No doubt that Kerry handed Kennedy a list of questions to help prepare for the hearings - that's what he usually does when he consults with Kennedy before a hearing.

[karynnj]

16. If Kerry's from Pluto, we need more people from Pluto!

He is undertaking a difficult trip, that will help him do what he should on the SFRC, but you would prefer he hang around Washington so he can watch the Alito hearings on CSPAN. He's not on the committee. I assume his Senate staff can create DVDs or tapes from CSPAN that he can view on the trip back - or he can read the transcripts.

If you don't like him, fine. If you don't want him to be the candidate again, you may have a chance to vote against him. At least from what he is doing here, there's no reason to question whether he is doing his job or his competence.

Instead hope he has a successful trip and comes home safely.

[mntleo2]

2. My First Thought Too, Sheesh

At one of the most important times that could seriously affect our children and grandchildren? GAWD!

Cat In Seattle

[blm]

3. Kerry's not on the Judiciary Committee. The Senate vote won't be till he

returns.

He has made statements against Alito before, but it's bad protocol for a Senator to comment DURING the Committee hearings when he is NOT a member of that Committee. That is the job of the Democrats on the committee.

[marmar]

6. That's good. Thanks for the info...

Unless he's put on the no-fly list while he's overseas...

[blm]

10. No problem - the media rarely discusses the proper process for the

American people, so it's no wonder that few are familiar with the senate workings.

Media acts like senate process is just an insult to the dictatortot, instead of a constitutional duty.

[MADem]

18. He doesn't have MOORE in his name

Like James Moore, Michael Moore, or Edward Moore Kennedy....ememies of the BushCo state!

[mntleo2]

19. Thanks For the Info!

I forgot it was just the judiciary committee doing the work right now. Thanks so much!

Cat In Seattle

[wisteria]

14. I think what he is attempting to learn about and see first hand is

as important as the Alito hearings. These world issues will affect our children and grandchildren too.

[roguevalley]

5. Go. Do good. Make amends. Eat curry. For me. :)

[blm]

9. Looks like India is happy he's coming - refer to his BCCI work

Something the US media pretends doesn't exist.


Saturday, January 07, 2006

Kerry’s coming, Delhi hopes he will soften on n-deal

Visit Will meet PM on Jan 11; he was among first to warn of A Q Khan

PRANAB DHAL SAMANTA

NEW DELHI, JANUARY 6 Amid debate in the US over the July 18 nuclear deal with India, former Presidential candidate and high-profile US Democrat Senator John Kerry will make a brief visit to India next week as the Bush Administration prepares to approach Congress for an exemption to take the deal forward.

Kerry, edged out by Bush in a closely fought election last year, is slated to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on January 11. He is currently also a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Considered an ardent advocate of tightening non-proliferation controls, a supportive view by Kerry will count in building a positive climate for passing the India-specific legislation that the Bush Administration plans to table soon. The proposed legislation, which will grant full exemption to India from US non-proliferation laws, needs to be passed by both chambers of the Congress.

While Kerry has always emphasised on strengthening the international non-proliferation regime, he has not openly opposed the Indo-US nuclear deal. To that extent, New Delhi will look to impress upon him the logic that the deal will actually strengthen multilateral efforts to realise long-term non-proliferation objectives.

Kerry is far from a learner on these issues. Back in December 1992, Kerry was among the first few to raise the finger of suspicion on the clandestine dealings linked with the Pakistani nuclear programme. He named A Q Khan in his report on the BCCI (Bank of Credit and Commerce International) affair and identified the matter as one that must be fully investigated in the future.

“BCCI provided $10 million in grants in the late 1980s to finance an officially ‘private’ science and technology institute named for Pakistani President Ishaq Khan, whose director, A. Qadir Khan, has been closely associated with Pakistan’s efforts to build a nuclear bomb. The institute is believed by some experts to be the headquarters for Pakistan’s efforts to build an Islamic bomb,’’ he had said then. South Block officials feel that Kerry’s understanding of the issue runs deep and that he has indicated in the past a greater role for India in curbing the clandestine spread of nuclear weapons.

India has already argued in the IAEA for a more detailed investigation into unraveling the A Q Khan network that, it feels, lies at the heart of addressing the Iran nuclear issue. This was also partly reflected in the last IAEA resolution in the matter.

>>>>>>>>

[wordpix]

7. exploratory trip for new presidential run? I don't know if Kerry's the

right candidate for '08.

[blm]

8. Kerry's been making these trips since before he was even a Senator.

And the last time he made a trip to Iraq in Sept. he came back with a withdrawal plan after consulting with commanders on the ground AND Iraqi members of Parliament not affiliated with BushInc.

You want him to stop doing what he's spent his entire adult life doing?

[karynnj]

13. That would be fair if he flew to NH or Iowa

Kerry is doing his JOB. He is a member of the Senate Foreign Relations committee. He went this time last year and last August. The information he got first hand was used in his brillaint questioning of Dr Rice. He also used the information as input to coming up with an exit strategy. Isn't it good to have Democrats who know first hand the situation in these trouble spots.

This is not a junket - he is going to Iraq, Pakistan and India (2 countries that have nucleur weapons and who hate each other), Jordan and Israel (ME turmoil) and he is going to London - where he is publicly saying he is meeting with Brown and Intelligence officers.

I guess it does strenthen a claim that he has excellent foreign policy credentials - unlike the governors some people prefer for 2008.

[wisteria]

17. Unfair comments, Kerry would , and has taken these trips in the past.

He strives to find out first hand about new developments and gains knowledge from all of these trips.
In regards to the Presidency, I would personally like to see him run again, although he has said he has not decided to do so. I can think of no one more qualified than Kerry to lead this country.
Who is it that you think is the right person?

[politicasista]

23. So you want Bush to keep destroying our image abroad?

Doesn't slamming dems that are trying to clean up our image get tiring? Guess not.