Kerry on CSpan now

[sandnsea]

heads up

[RSchewe]

1. Speaking of Murtha n/t

[LSK]

2. CSPAN2

[Stand and Fight]

3. Remember the cube-rats, please!! n/t

[LeftNYC]

4. Yes we are hungry!!! nt

[Arkansas Granny]

9. Quoting Bobby Kennedy and Chuck Hagel now.

[Arkansas Granny]

17. He brought up the swiftboating of Max Cleland & John McCain.

[Reciprocity]

22. Also

He said the when Cheney had his chance to serve he said he had more important things to do.

[TayTay]

6. Kerry is slapping the chickenhawks around.

And is pissed. He is strongly, strongly defending Murtha. Wow!

[sandnsea]

8. I'm terrible at this

He's just lamblasting them. Jack Murtha doesn't know how to surrender. He doesn't cut and run from anything. He deserves to be treated with respect. It's very very good stuff!

[sandnsea]

11. It's not pessimism, it's patriotism

Lowest form of fear and smear politics. They are afraid of debating how to best defend our country.

[donco6]

20. Talking about how so many things went wrong.

Who they didn't listen to - budget managers, Bush 1, State Dept., they chose not to - they could have prevented American forces from being blown up by securing the ammo dump, securing places we were aware of. They chose not to - common theme.

[in_cog_ni_to]

5. So far. so good! "None of us should stand by and let Murtha be

Swiftboated and I find it disgusting." His defense of Murtha is HONORABLE. Thanks, JFK.

I wish he supported what Murtha said though. :(

[FreedomAngel82]

76. Go Kerry!

I'm so glad he's standing up for Murtha!

[blm]

79. I don't. Redeploying troops NEAR Iraq after 6 mo isn't as effective as

the draw down plan Kerry detailed 3 weeks ago.

Kerry Introduces Strategy for Success in Iraq Act in United States Senate

Plan Would Bring Home 20,000 Troops After Iraq Elections, Demands Benchmarks for Success

Washington, D.C. -- This afternoon, Senator John Kerry introduced in the Senate his plan to succeed in Iraq and bring the vast majority of our combat troops home in a reasonable timeframe tied to specific, responsible benchmarks to transfer responsibility to Iraqis – beginning with the draw down of 20,000 U.S. troops after successful Iraqi elections in December. These additional troops are in Iraq only for the purpose of providing security for the upcoming elections. If they remain in Iraq after that benchmark is achieved, it only exacerbates the sense of American occupation.

"We are entering a make-or-break six month period in Iraq. We need to be taking action now if we are ever going to bring our troops home within a reasonable timeframe from an Iraq that's not permanently torn by irrepressible conflict," Kerry said. “We cannot pull out precipitously or merely promise to stay ‘as long as it takes. There is a way forward that gives us the best chance both to salvage a difficult situation in Iraq, and to save American and Iraqi lives.”

Kerry's legislation, the Strategy for Success in Iraq Act, lays out a comprehensive new strategy to complete the mission in Iraq and bring our troops home. Its goal is to undermine the insurgency by simultaneously pursing both a political settlement and the draw down of American forces linked to specific, responsible benchmarks. If followed, the process will be completed in 12-15 months.

Kerry’s plan calls for:

• The U.S. to begin a phased draw down of American troops as a series of military and political benchmarks is met, starting with a reduction of 20,000 troops over the holidays as the first benchmark –the successful completion of the December elections – is met.

• The U.S. to immediately make clear that we do not want permanent military bases in Iraq, or a large combat force on Iraqi soil indefinitely.

• The Administration to immediately give Congress and the American people a detailed plan for the transfer of military and police responsibilities on a sector by sector basis to Iraqis so the majority of our combat forces can be withdrawn -- ideally by the end of next year.

• The Bush administration to prod the new Iraqi government to ask for a multinational force to help protect Iraq’s borders until a capable national army is formed. Such a force, if sanctioned by the United Nations, could attract participation by Iraq's neighbors and countries like India and would be a critical step in stemming the tide of insurgents and money into Iraq, especially from Syria.

• The Pentagon to alter the deployment of American troops, keeping Special Operations forces pursuing specific intelligence leads and putting the vast majority of U.S. troops in rear guard, garrisoned status for security backup. We do not need to send young Americans on search and destroy missions that invite alienation and deepen the risks they face.

• The President to put the training of Iraqi security forces on a six month wartime footing and ensure that the Iraqi government has the budget to deploy them.

• The Bush administration to accept long standing offers by Egypt, Jordan, France and Germany to do more training.

• The administration to immediately call a conference of Iraq’s neighbors, Britain, Turkey and other key NATO allies, and Russia to implement a strategy to bring the parties in Iraq to a sustainable political compromise that includes mutual security guarantees among Iraqis.

• Iraq’s Sunni neighbors to set up a reconstruction fund specifically for the majority Sunni areas to show them the benefits of participating in the political process. • The President to appoint a special envoy to bolster America’s diplomatic efforts.

• The U.S. to commit to a new regional security structure that includes improved security assistance programs and joint exercises.

• The U.S. to jumpstart our lagging reconstruction efforts by providing the necessary civilian personnel to do the job, standing up civil-military reconstruction teams throughout the country, streamlining the disbursement of funds to the provinces, expanding job creation programs for Iraqis, and strengthening the capacity of government ministries.

“We must send this critical signal to the Iraqi people - that we do not desire permanent occupation - and that Iraqis themselves must fight for Iraq. History shows that guns alone do not end an insurgency,” Kerry added.

Senior American commanders and officials have said the large U.S. military presence in Iraq feeds the insurgency. General George Casey, the top American military commander in Iraq, recently told Congress that our large military presence “feeds the notion of occupation” and “extends the amount of time that it will take for Iraqi security forces to become self-reliant.” Richard Nixon’s Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird, breaking a thirty year silence, recently wrote, ''Our presence is what feeds the insurgency, and our gradual withdrawal would feed the confidence and the ability of average Iraqis to stand up to the insurgency."

# # #

[LSK]

7. defending Murtha

Dennis Hastert who never put on a uniform and served called him a coward.

Murtha never cut and run. He won 2 purple hearts. He was a patriot then and is a patriot now. His views do not deserve to be vilified.

[LeftNYC]

10. he called out Hastert...NOICE!!!! nt

[LSK]

12. talking about swiftboating of Cleland and McCain

Some in the administration are afraid of debating a senior congressman.

They are afraid to debate!!!

GO GET THEM JOHN KERRY!!!

[LSK]

18. white house engages in character assassination

[stop the bleeding]

13. to dissent and question is democracy!

this is great

[sandnsea]

14. better course for Iraq

He is going to keep fighting for a better course in Iraq. Prevent forces from being trapped in an endless quagmire.

[Pirate Smile]

15. They did show part of what he said live on MSNBC.

[rodeodance]

31. good for msnbc

[Reciprocity]

16. Great speech! Fear and smear tactics

[Catchawave]

19. "stop character assassination"

Glad he's bitchslappin' those bullies !

[donco6]

21. "They chose not to"

Theme throughout.

Getting on Cheney for saying insurgency was in "last throes".

All the mistakes scream out for review, investigation, to find out why all these things went wrong. How do we evaluate intelligent. Bush "cut and run" from responsibility to evaluate intelligence.

[RSchewe]

23. Kerry is killing the "cut and run" line. Wow... n/t

[bluedog]

29. this administration"cut and run"

[Norquist Nemesis]

24. Doing a nice job of turning their words on them!

(Doing to them exactly what Bushetal said they were going to do to critics...turning their words on them!)

[annabanana]

25. "Cut and Run" from common sense"

good.. Turn THAT stupid phrase back..

[Sydnie]

26. That was a speech worth listening too ... I want to hear it again! n/t

[stop the bleeding]

27. I yield the floor n/t

[Norquist Nemesis]

28. Now, we'll see how Kyl slimes

:puke:

[rodeodance]

33. Kyl said--no one was really trying to squash debate!!--what a fool.

[Arkansas Granny]

30. I love it that he's calling on Bush to come out against swiftboating.

Doubt that it will happen, but it's good to hear someone call him on it.

[donco6]

32. Jon Kyl R AZ on now.

Rebutting Kerry. He actually said the L word. Complaining about people criticizing Bush. No one should be questioning anyone's patriotism (wow, really?). Complimenting Murtha.

Two facts: Our intel and other nations' believed Saddam was threat and had WMD. Doesn't mean people were lying (but Kerry just said we didn't prod the intelligence at all, just accepted it - who is responsible for that?) Can't we agree people make mistakes? GASP! I'd say at least 2000 BIG mistakes, not counting Iraqis.

Other fact: wrong to leave Iraq now. Disagrees with Murtha. Leaving would devestate Iraq, set us back in war against evildoers. Blah blah.

[Norquist Nemesis]

34. Oh....Kerry back to respond!

Good for him!!!

[Norquist Nemesis]

36. MAYBE he can push him into Congress doing and investigation!!!

MAYBE MAYBE MAYBE...

[Sydnie]

38. I don't know how it is happening but I am glad that it is!

He speaks over most of their heads, I fear. He makes so much sense and can string together a timeline on the fly ... it leaves them dumbfounded.

I'm lovin' it!

"Whether it was intentional or not is the question" ...

That IS my President.

[Norquist Nemesis]

41. Kyl's trying to say it was 'the Intelligence' that was misleading

and not the President.

Hope Kerry "corrects" him that is not what he (Kerry) said.

[donco6]

63. Yes, laying the blame on the intel.

And yet, also saying that we shouldn't question Wolfowitz, et al. I don't get it.

[in_cog_ni_to]

35. UGH. John Kyl on the floor lying his ass off. "people who accuse the

President of deliberately bending the facts for war, need to be addressed, because it's not true," LIAR. He's trying to blame the people who gave the Idiot the intel. PUHLEEEEEEZE. Stop. You people are liars and WE know it. OWN IT.

[_dynamicdems]

64. Kyl is a lying bag of hot air.

Now he is talking about the Patriot Act and the War on Terror. :puke:

[donco6]

37. Kerry back now.

Thanks for comments on Murtha. Thanks for not using "surrender." Yes, he's right about how we approached intel. We believed in the existence of WMD. But, I believe he is wrong that there are not avenues of inquiry.

One, speech by Pres about Niger - which CIA refuted, but was used anyway. Intentional? Mistake? Likewise, saying that Iraq could deliver bio weapons in 45 minutes. Mistake? Intentional? Iraq supporting Al Quaeda? Meeting with Al Quaeda? Those are on their face misleading representations, which Congress operated on.

When you ignore CIA warnings "don't use this intel," but winds up in State of the Union, does he not agree that there is something we need to change?

[rodeodance]

40. one thing for sure--this issue of WH lies is NOT going away!

[sabra]

39. Kerry is laying it all out very well

[rodeodance]

42. Kyl et all should read some Left/alternative web sites!!--

[rodeodance]

43. now he is laying it on the Bush speechwriters!

[rodeodance]

44. I do not think bush et all used the term wmd "program" till later--when he

got called on it. Right?

[Norquist Nemesis]

46. Yep! IIRC, that was Reasons for War v.02 n/t

[TayTay]

45. What a douchebag

Laying it on the speechwriters. What a cowardly doubchebaggy thing to do. Is this going to be a new talking point, 'The speechwriters did it.'

Oh and we can't talk about it because I was on the Senate Intelligence Comm. Come on.

[rodeodance]

48. now kyl says there is a double standard here.

[rodeodance]

49. saying there was some small enity in the intell that did not quick jive

with most of the intell--and that is good. te he.

[_dynamicdems]

68. Amen! I called him a "Windbag" but I like your term better! n/t

[FreedomAngel82]

77. The speechwriters

don't write a speech unless they're told, so who tells the speech writers what to write about?

[donco6]

47. Kyl back.

Wants to debate.

Says when there were differences with intel agencies, they were noted. Aluminum tubes, majority of intel said they were for one thing, but other agencies saying they didn't think so. Majority opinion was wrong. Freq in intel there are caveats. Usually there is a concensus reached and that's what we relied on.

4 points - yellow cake. Intel US had was not nearly as conclusive as Britain's intel. Speechwriters were advised not to use this, but to refer to a diff intel service that confirmed it. The british stand by their intel.

Bio weapons, good evidence that Saddam had a bio program, and had mobilized program. Cannot say how we have evaluated intel on that. Senator shouldn't discuss it at length. It may turn out there were mobile units.

Iraq agents instructed terrorists - very clear from George Tenet, public info, I'm aware of nothing to question that evidence. Don't know if they were Al Quaeda. Tenet said it.

Meeting in Czech is a matter of dispute, not been resolved one way or another.

_________

So, is he arguing against an inquiry or not? Sounds like he has a lot of questions himself?

[Norquist Nemesis]

50. One thing with open debate about the Intelligence

This is really where the President has tied the hands of the Democrats. They can only speak of declassified intelligence, or intelligence that the President brings out. It is against the law otherwise for the Congress to speak publicly about confidential matters...specifically, intelligence.

Nothing would make this Administration and the Republicans happier than for a Democrat to slip up so they can take us to the mat on endangering national security by making public statements on classified intelligence.

[rodeodance]

56. yes, you are right.

[rodeodance]

51. saying Cheney had right to go to CIA and ask about the intell. Geech-

what a blowhard!!!! Note that he does not say that Cheney wanted to see only one kind of intell--the intell that he agreed with!!

[rodeodance]

52. he is dumping on those who were critical of Cheney (for going to CIA

and seeking out information)!!

[rodeodance]

54. Kyl does not like the word 'lie'

[Norquist Nemesis]

55. Republicans can't handle the truth! n/t

[donco6]

67. He made it sound like Cheney was vetting the intel.

Instead of influencing the intel. Gag.

[Norquist Nemesis]

69. He was!

He took what he wanted and 86'd the rest of it.

[donco6]

71. Ha!

But we don't need an investigation. Nah. We should just trust the "patriots."

:puke:

[Norquist Nemesis]

53. Oh, good lord!! Now we have Sessions up!

He always sounds like he just finished a three martini lunch! :puke:

[Norquist Nemesis]

58. Reid needs to get down on the floor along with Kerry, Durbin,

and Boxer.

[FreedomAngel82]

78. Yes

Reid kicks ass and takes names! I hope someone gets a video of this. Yay Kerry!

[rodeodance]

59. they sure are protecting their turf!

[SammyWinstonJack]

60. What pisses me off to no end, is that the repubs would be absolutely

livid if it had been a Democratic President using *misleading* info to take the nation to war! And we all know it! Hypocrites! :grr:

[donco6]

57. Sessions R Alabama

Hope everyone is listening to Kyl. He has summarized matters. Things were not black and white when we heard them. We were not mislead, but were told that there were many ways to interpret the information.

[Justpat]

61. The republicans are totally on message.

How dare you claim that Bush lied? How dare you imply that the
president of the United States would lie?

We all had the same intelligence... blah,blah,blah

It is too much to watch.

[donco6]

62. But they are not making their case.

Kerry's point was that, because we are involved in a clear and undeniable debacle in Iraq, how can *anyone* deny that a formal inquiry needs to be held to find out how we got into this mess?

[blm]

73. You're right. Their words are totally ineffective.

.

[_dynamicdems]

66. The are circling their wagons. The word "Impeachment" has been

hanging in the air since the Dems shut down the Senate. It is coming and all their rhetoric can't stop it.

[donco6]

65. Kyl still blathering.

Complaining about the threat to hold up the reauthorization of the Patriot Act.

Saying the PA is not so bad. Just allows for subpeonas.

[_dynamicdems]

70. And on and on and on and on....

don't you wish he'd just shut the bleep up?

[donco6]

72. Yes.

Just going on and on about three sections of the Patriot Act.

Now on Sneak and Peek section 213. Don't have to give notice of an impending search. Says ACLU should focus on another section, because this has been common law. But ACLU has ALWAYS hated this. They didn't want the govt to do it in the first place, and now it's being codified.

Already spent 20 mins on why looking at library records is no big deal.

[bluedog]

74. hes just stonewalling

doesn't really want to get back to the lies........and thinks the floor will tire soon......

[hopein08]

75. Does anybody have the exact quote of RFK's that Kerry mentioned?

I love collecting quotes and that one sounded great.

Kerry was awesome. He deserves another chance. Maybe as VP, he might be better there.

Anyway, thanks for the help you can give.

[sandnsea]

80. here

‘The sharpest criticism often goes hand in hand with the deepest idealism and love of country.’

The speech is up.
http://kerry.senate.gov/v3/cfm/record.cfm?id=249090