Kerry: U.S. A "Pariah" Nation Under Bush

Senator Blasts Administration For Failing To Properly Address Foreign Policy Issues

(CBS/AP)  Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry slammed the foreign policy of the Bush administration on Saturday, saying it has caused the United States to become "a sort of international pariah."

The statement came as the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee responded to a question today at the World Economic Forum's annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, where the tumult in Iraq and the Middle East took center stage.

Kerry was asked about whether the U.S. government had failed to adequately engage Iran's government before the election of hard-liner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in 2005.

Kerry said the Bush administration has failed in addressing a number of foreign policy issues.

"When we walk away from global warming, Kyoto, when we are irresponsibly slow in moving toward AIDS in Africa, when we don't advance and live up to our own rhetoric and standards, we set a terrible message of duplicity and hypocrisy," Kerry said.

"So we have a crisis of confidence in the Middle East — in the world, really. I've never seen our country as isolated, as much as a sort of international pariah for a number of reasons as it is today."

Kerry said the government needs to use diplomacy to improve national security.

"We need to do a better job of protecting our interests, because after all, that's what diplomacy is about," he said. "But you have to do it in a context of the reality, not your lens but the reality of those other cultures and histories."

Kerry criticized what he called the "unfortunate habit" of Americans to see the world "exclusively through an American lens."

He also criticized President Bush's plan to send an additional 21,000 U.S. troops to Baghdad to help secure Baghdad from rampaging sectarian violence.

"I don't care how many troops are put in — Iraq is not going to be pacified," Kerry said. "Now, we are partly responsible. The absence of legitimate significant diplomacy is a disgrace. Quick flights in by a secretary of state are not diplomacy."

"There should be a special envoy, maybe a joint bipartisan special envoy. Why not a President Clinton together with a Republican of high ability, and bring them together and really work the process?"

[patdaddy7]

John Kerry is an unabashed liar. His entire career is based on lies beginning with his version of his service in Viet Nam. He and Jane Fonda would make a great team.

[bobozr]

Is John Kerry a US Senator or a Dixie Chick? Appears that he will do or say anything for publicity. Just like his so-called "action" in Viet Nam, he still doesn't get his facts straight.

[long_rider]

"Well here is what results from the war on freedom enacted by Mr Bush and his minions. Looks like we can expect visits from the gastapo now for practicing our constitutional right of free speech":

"An elderly man who wrote in a letter to the editor about Saddam Hussein%u2019s execution that %u201Cthey hanged the wrong man%u201D got a visit from Secret Service agents concerned he was threatening President Bush.

The letter by Dan Tilli, 81, was published in Monday%u2019s edition of The Express-Times of Easton, Pa. It ended with the line, %u201CI still believe they hanged the wrong man.%u201D

Tilli said the statement was not a threat. %u201CI didn%u2019t say who %u2014 I could%u2019ve meant (Osama) bin Laden,%u201D he said Friday.

Two Secret Service agents questioned Tilli at his Bethlehem apartment Thursday, briefly searching the place and taking pictures of him, he said."

A free country? Not lately.

[long_rider]

"THE DEFINITION OF INSANITY is repeating the same behavior and expecting different results.

%u201CStaying the course%u201D is a fine example. %u201CSurging%u201D more troops is another.

How much longer is the Congress going to allow these madmen to continue this charade of %u201Cleadership%u201D.

Impeach, indict and imprison."

[long_rider]

There is no end in sight. A few choice words from the vise king himself:

"But while *** Cheney may be down, he is by no means going without a fight. In an interview, he called McCain%u2019s comments %u201Chogwash.%u201D He said the Bush administration will do whatever it *** well wants even if Congress and the American people don%u2019t support the actions.

This is the man who told Sen. Patrick Leahy to %u201Cfuck off%u201D on the floor of the Senate, the one who advocates tossing journalists in jail if they dare question the illegal actions of the Bush administration and - as testimony in the perjury trial of his ex-chief of staff Lewis %u201CScooter%u201D Libby reveals - the man obsessed with destroying anyone who disagrees with the White House."

But he is still in office.

[j-whitman]

I'm suprised, I expected to find more Bushie's here slaming veterans who actually served.

[dallison7]

Well, john kerry is at it . . . again!! Contrary to public belief, he is not courageous, he is not honest, he is not American!!. His actions have consequences. He, once again, is selling America short. Once again he puts on the shirt of TREASON.
Posted by kkesoj at 04:47 PM : Jan 28, 2007

IF YOU INTEND TO SLANDER SOMEONE, GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT FIRST!!


United States Senator. Born John Forbes Kerry on December 11, 1943 in Denver, Colorado. The son of a career foreign service officer, Kerry was raised in the Catholic faith and spent much of his childhood abroad. After graduating from Yale University, he served in Vietnam and was a recipient of the Silver Star, Bronze Star with Combat V (for valor) and three Purple Hearts.

[j0hnwi11iams]

Kerry speaks the TRUTH. You fools only think it is treason. You better come up with a better argument than that. In your delusional state I can imagine you can imagine little else.

Iraq is a disaster.
The US is going bankrupt thanks to the defense industry.
Our diplomacy is arrogant.

Our country can not continue in this direction.

[kkesoj]

Well, john kerry is at it . . . again!! Contrary to public belief, he is not courageous, he is not honest, he is not American!!. His actions have consequences. He, once again, is selling America short. Once again he puts on the shirt of TREASON.

[j-whitman]

All the Bushies must still be in church getting thier talking points.

[j-whitman]

Thgdriver,,, You see the news today ??
Fierce battle in Najaf & the loss of another chopper --- That's the region Bush/Cheney says is safe & under our control.

[j-whitman]

Hello,, Ah, the sweet smell of liberation in the morning -- Why does it still smell like burning flesh 4 years later ??

[randalds]

John Kerry has declared war on us because we did not elect him president. He hates us more then he hates our military and the president. It's time the good people of Massachusetts put him out of the Senate and get him off the world stage.

Posted by thgdriver at 02:27 PM : Jan 28, 2007


Now THAT'S an assine statement! Kerry has declared war on us? That goes beyond stupid and right into the realm of Bush-speak.

[thgdriver]

John Kerry has declared war on us because we did not elect him president. He hates us more then he hates our military and the president. It's time the good people of Massachusetts put him out of the Senate and get him off the world stage.

[feelfree1]

Hi NativeWoman,

Re: "I was just trying to point out that they couldn't have it both ways."

I suspected that this might have been your main point. Thanks for the clarification.

[dallison7]

If only the extreme-right republicans would apply this thinking to the all gay Americans and not just Cheney's daughter.

Posted by oleander8 at 11:18 AM : Jan 28, 2007


Jon Stewart did an outrageously funny skit about this. In the character of Prick Cheney, talking about how his family is exempt.

[thirdparty4]

Those sour grapes are poisoning this guy's mind. Just wait until Hillary is elected and the "Neocons" viciously and insultingly hamstring and guarantee the defeat of her foreign policy. *** like this GUARANTEES that it will happen. Dem's won't have the sneering grin on their faces then.... Oh, THEN it will be "Un-American" and "destructive" rhetoric. NEWS FLASH.... it is now, too.

What goes around comes around, Democrats. Bush is certainly no Einstein, but there is no use at all to do this, especially overseas at an International conference. He is guaranteeing American humiliation, even providing the sound-bites for it.

Both parties stink, we need a 3rd party. But this Kerry clown is feeding Anti-American hatred out of sheer pettiness. I hate what the Swift-Boaters did, but now I am starting to see why they did it.

- True Independent Voter

P.S. Look up what the U.S. has given to Africa for AIDS, and compare to other countries. Someone look that up and report back....

[oleander8]

"Now, what business is it of ours? What point, if any was being made. She is an adult and leads her own life. At least that is what the left is always preaching." [Janem4]

If only the extreme-right republicans would apply this thinking to the all gay Americans and not just Cheney's daughter.

[condumism]

GREAT POST TO ALL SERVING IN US MILITARY!

To all the military service men and women reading or posting on this board. We admire and respect your service to our country. Our president has used our military in a reckless and cynical fashion. They asked for the service of men like Pat Tillman, and then lied about and covered up the circumstances of his death because it did not fit into the propaganda web they were spinning. They continue to paint this war as a struggle against terrorism; Iraq has nothing to do with terrorism. The one trillion plus dollars, thousands of American lives, and hundreds of thousands of Iraqi lives are being wasted in the name of corrupt corporate greed. Please, join those already on the streets in demanding this farce of a war be ended as soon as possible.
Posted by clemenhagen1 at 10:50 AM : Jan 28, 2007

[clemenhagen1]

To all the military service men and women reading or posting on this board. We admire and respect your service to our country. Our president has used our military in a reckless and cynical fashion. They asked for the service of men like Pat Tillman, and then lied about and covered up the circumstances of his death because it did not fit into the propaganda web they were spinning. They continue to paint this war as a struggle against terrorism; Iraq has nothing to do with terrorism. The one trillion plus dollars, thousands of American lives, and hundreds of thousands of Iraqi lives are being wasted in the name of corrupt corporate greed. Please, join those already on the streets in demanding this farce of a war be ended as soon as possible.