Kerry Throws Witless Support Behind Obama’s Gutless Stance
Kerry smugly attributes Iranian provocative behavior over the past eight years to the “tough talk” that George W. Bush utilized. Once again, the control factor is suggesting that “if only” Bush had talked nicely the regime would have mirrored it back. This is Kerry’s example of how our words hurt us. Now that Obama will talk kindly and apologetically, Kerry suggests Iran will certainly respond with wide pupils and unclenched fists. What Kerry misses is that unless the regime is uprooted, it will act in every way consistent with its desire to obtain nuclear weapons and to see its goals of dominance and the destruction of Israel and America fulfilled — irrespective of how “nice” Obama is to it.
Despite his distortions, Kerry’s principle is ironically correct — our words do matter. The one time that Iran did respond cooperatively to America, following 9/11, was after Bush marched through Saddam Hussein’s army in three weeks. Bush had clearly identified the regime for what it was and acted congruently with those words. Afraid that Bush would turn right and march through Tehran, the Iranian Republican Guards (Ahmadinejad’s base) moved much of their money out of the country while taking certain actions supposedly helpful to Bush in dealing with al-Qaeda. This is when, according to the nefarious CIA National Intelligence Estimate, Iran took a temporary cessation of nuclear development. It was precisely because of Bush’s “tough talk” that they showed some signs of cooperation. They had begun to lose comfort that they would be around much longer.
It was only after Kerry and the American Left began to lambast Bush and the U.S. military day and night that the regime began to see that America had no stomach for aggressive action to interfere with Iranian nuclear ambitions, much less regime rule. As mistakes in Iraq floated to the surface of public exposure, vitriol at home cracked every impression of strength Bush had tried to assemble in preparation for negotiations with Iran. The clear lesson was that Kerry’s principle was correct — our words do matter. The problem was that it was Kerry who had the wrong words, and those words destroyed the sense of self-respect and internal conviction that is necessary to successfully resolve conflicts with a regime such as Iran’s.
In Cairo, Obama both apologized for Moussadeq and offered negotiations, and suggested we all had common interests which could draw us together. Kerry attributes the Iranian people’s courage to challenge the election results and the entire basis of the regime to Obama’s words. Yet quite the opposite can be inferred. The Moussadeq comment actually signaled to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei that Obama had no plans to interfere with his rule. Obama’s speech, citing the notion that no nation has the right to stop another from peaceful nuclear power, gave further comfort that Obama would not interfere with Ahmadinejad’s Iranian nuclear ambitions. In essence, Obama’s words confirmed for Khamenei that Ahmadinejad’s aggressive anti-American posturing worked. Is it a wonder that Khamenei would bet on the same horse again and do so with blatant confidence that no challenge would likely mount?
This is precisely the time that America needs to recognize that its words do have an effect and its lack of words an even greater effect. The Iranian people who so love America want to know unmistakably it is not unrequited. Obama’s inept response will be taken as betrayal. Kerry’s attempt to be “smart” and “nuanced” will likely prove to be regrettable stupidity.
My theory says you shouldn’t waste your time parsing Kerry’s remarks; he doesn’t believe a word he says. Kerry has been running for Secretary of State for years and his only idea is to get on record either supporting the Democrat leader or bashing the Republican. Think Hillary will last four years? He may get that job yet.
The modern delusion of wisdom is nothing new really. John F’in Kerry’s just another in a long iteration of fools.
“Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,”
We’re doomed unless the chaff is soon separated from the wheat in congress. He, (Kerry) is long long overdue for a reckoning. He was denied the presidency based on his past exploits as a turncoat, joining up with the anti war crowd for political expediency’s sake and has yet to be brought fully to account for his actions. The intent was clear. Get on the public teat, and stay there.
Time to cut the damn cord.
I’d comment on John Kerry, who by the way served in Vietnam, I am however pre-disposed and “stuck in Iraq”. Another fine example of our governments leaders in oxygen theft.
Didn’t he serve in Vietnam?
In Kerry’s statements, we see the three basic delusions of “progressive foreign policy” philosophy;
1. The Great Game Delusion; No, not the same Great Game Kipling wrote of in “Kim”. This “Great Game” is diplomacy, viewed by progressives not as a means to an end but as an end in itself. Often referred to as “an endless game of chess”, it is pursued for the sheer rush of playing, like a video game which you can never win- only play until the game beats you. The objective is not to accomplish an actual end (the end here should be a more rational and less dangerous regime’ in Tehran), but simply to Keep Playing Forever- in the belief that if the game ever ends, the people here in the U.S. might just conclude they don’t need the progressives.
2. The It’s All About Us Delusion; The belief that everything that goes wrong ultimately is our fault. I find it amazing that Kerry somehow manages to hold us to blame for radical Islamist philosophy, which predates the existence of our nation by about a millennium. But, like most progressives, he probably believes that studying history, as opposed to making it up to suit himself, is a waste of time.
3. The If We Speak Up For The Innocent, They’ll Get Hurt Delusion; News flash, Senator- the Iranian regime’ will do, or say, whatever it has to to stay in power, kill anyone it wants to to stay in power, and bask in the rosy glow of its own fanaticism while doing so, no matter what we do or do not do. Since they began claiming that anyone who opposed their Chicago-style “election results” was a “tool of the Great Satan” almost before they announced said “results”, your “argument” makes about as much sense as saying that since influenza viruses rarely survive cancer chemotherapy drugs, cancer is a great cure for the flu.
Kerry’s statements also prove the existence of yet another delusion- the MSM delusion that any liberal, Democratic Senator who runs for President is automatically The Smartest Man In The Senate. The American people should carefully ponder the fact that the Democratic Party, and the news media, both thought that this individual, who apparently is incapable of coping with linear logic, would make a suitable occupant for the Oval Office.
Then consider how closely his fallacious reasoning matches that of the present occupant of same.
clear ether
eon
He’s still a useless, dimwitted buffoon and a dangerous one at that. He has an unquenchable need to have someone, anyone, pay attention to him. The people in MA don’t even like him – they just keep electing him like they do the rest of the MA hacks.
“More importantly, for years, the Left has correctly pointed out that the people of Iran generally favor America and aspire to have good relations with America.”
Umm, I think that this is a highly questionable line of argument even without resorting to polling data, the latest of which does not at all support it. The very fact that Iran as a ‘whole’ thought and perhaps still thinks that Mullahs have a superior place in political life would tend to lead the the very opposite conclusion. Iran is NOT really a ‘like-us’ country with a veneer of Islamic Cluelessness imposed from the top. It is rather more likely to be a very ‘backward-looking’ society with a veneer of modernity imposed from the top. Is that not one of the reasons that the Shah fell ? Because he was ‘Westernizing’ TOO FAST ?
Obama’s Iran pronouncements and inaction are distasteful to be sure in that they appear and may in fact be, Spineless and Un-Principled, but I think he is right in one thing .
Iran is NOT now and is not going to be ‘friendly’ to the US in the foreseeable future. No matter which cabal runs the place.
Senator Kerry has the consistent ability to bring the non-sequitur to its logical conclusion.
Kerry is another fine example of why we need term limits.Stupidity compounded by idiocy.
Bill Siegel and eon #5:
Good attempts at describing ‘progressive’ foreign policy delusions (which are mirrored by domestic policies on terrorism, crime, etc.)
I’m trying to decide whether its the pathological narcissism eon describes in ‘It’s all about us’, or whether there’s something more pathetic on display here. Kerry sounds like a serially abused spouse, blaming himself for the physical violence, infidelity and psychological torment inflicted on him.
Come to think of it, the whole ‘we bring it on ourselves’ breast beating thing and ‘blaming victims’ for being provocative have become a bit of a fetish on the Left.
Kerry got it right, which means that you right-wingers got it wrong. Also you have to remember that the average Iranian, especially if she or he is up on politics and history, has absolutely no reason to trust the United States in any way given our sorry history of screwing around with their country, from the CIA’s installation of the Shah of Iran to backing Saddam Hussein (and winking at his use of chemical weapons) during the Iran/Iraq war.
11. BC:
No; You got it wrong!
Well, its nice that Siegel, Eon, and Vinny try to intellectually probe the meaning of the disease that is John Kerry. I simply prefer to believe that he is a disgusting piece of self-serving sh*t intended to remind us that a majority of Massachusetts voters, just like BC, haven’t got the brains God gave a turnip.
Kerry received three purple hearts, around one for each month he served in Vietnam, yet no visible scars. That’s because they were all for superficial “wounds”. He took a page from LBJ’s WWII experience and stayed in theater just long enough to manufacture a hero’s dossier.
He’s a fake.
Who really cares what this pompous a?? has to say. The only reason he got votes in 2004 was from those that opposed the War and who disliked George Bush. I would have preferred that he just disappeared after that election but oh no not so lucky.
His wife is a buffoon also, so glad that he lost or we would be having to see her all the time with her insane statements.
In ’71, Kerry gave support to the wrong side. Hasn’t changed.
#11, wierd that German supplying of the chemical weapons to Iraq for use on Iranians and Russia arms sales to deliver those chemicals weapons hasn’t hurt their relationship with Iran but apparently handing over a few satellite photos and protecting Iraqi oil tankers is an unforgiveable crime….
The only thing the haughty John Kerry(who served in VietNam)did was marry two heiresses,the second the widow of a Republican senator.
The liberal mind sees things one way only.
They don’t think, well Israel is heavily armed
because they were attacked from the get go.
They see it as the Arabs are underdogs who
are victimized by a heavily armed Israel.
We cause our adversaries to be hostile
instead of the other way around.
Secondly I wouldn’t put too much faith
into the goodwill of the Iranian people
towards the US. They may be against a
bunch of whack jobs but that doesn’t
make them our friends. Allies perhaps
but not friends.
Moussadeq isn’t really very important to
the Mullahs as he isn’t their cup of tea
and that is part of the reason he fell.
Also don’t give the CIA too much credit
for anything past or present. Leftists
and Muslims give this agency almost magical
powers, if only.
Kerry is just a snake oil salesman, he tells
his target audience what they want to hear.
His BS almost made him President and if the
Acorn vote machine was more developed he
probably would have been.
I enjoyed this article and how it documents Kerry’s many flaws.
“Despite Kerry’s unquenchable need to appear erudite, this perspective is nonsensical.” Kerry does need to appear erudite and he is nonsensical. After all he first threw his metals over the fence at an antiwar rally and then had to go around the fence to retrieve them when no one was looking. Really, is his a smart guy?
“Kerry’s details are dangerously distorted.” Yes like his recollection of the three Purple Hearts and his valor in the war. He was there four months and claims to be a hero. I saw guys there who did three voluntary tours in the field of combat.
The only thing Kerry is good at is “marrying up.” Why do we care what he has to say on any subject? Veneer is an accurate description of this Senator form MA.
While circular and irrational are apt descriptions of both skerry’s argument and his normal mental process, that issue is between him and the citizens of Taxachusetts.
The Usurpers ‘hands off’ policy remains the best policy for America. Here is why;
A change in the regime WILL NOT mean a change in policy. The new boss will be the same as the old boss, if the new boss wins. Like you, the Iranian protesters are dupes, useful fools according to Marx. People to be used to gain power, then discarded.
Don’t feel bad about that, America has a huge supply of useful fools, the Usurper barely scratched the surface in his seizure of the Oval office. The ‘Big Lie’ being sold here is that the ‘reformers’ represent a ‘true’ democracy. They don’t. If they win, which is unlikely, it will be just a change in Mullahs at the top of the religious kleptocracy that is modern Iran.
No point and nothing to gain from the USA getting involved.
john samford,
That’s debatable. I assume you’ve read Krauthammer’s view:
>>this incipient revolution is no longer about the election. The election allowed the political space and provided the spark for the eruption of anti-regime fervor that has been simmering for years and awaiting its moment. But people aren’t dying in the street because they want a recount of hanging chads in suburban Isfahan. They want to bring down the tyrannical, misogynist, corrupt theocracy that has imposed itself with the very baton-wielding goons that today attack the demonstrators. This started out about election fraud. But like all revolutions, it has far outgrown its origins. <<
John Kerry has always been an enemy of democracy in Iran, and he has always been a supporter of kissing up to the Mullahs.
In 2004, Kerry and his friends were waging a courtroom battle against Iran’s “Student Movement Coordination Committee for Democracy in Iran (SMCCDI)”:
Before the Council on Foreign Relations in December 2003, Kerry announced that he would be willing as President to pursue rapprochement with Iran: “As president, I will be prepared early on to explore areas of mutual interest with Iran, just as I was prepared to normalize relations with Vietnam a decade ago.” And most notoriously, his staff sent out an email that somehow made its way to the government-controlled Mehr News Agency in Tehran, where it was trumpeted as evidence of his resolve to patch things up with the mullahs. “It is in the urgent interests of the people of the United States,” the message read, “to restore our country’s credibility in the eyes of the world. America needs the kind of leadership that will repair alliances with countries on every continent that have been so damaged in the past few years, as well as build new friendships and overcome tensions with others.”
Kerry’s camp professed puzzlement over how this email made it to Tehran. Initially, a Kerry aide dismissed the story as “just a hoax.” But this pose proved impossible to maintain. Kerry’s senior foreign affairs advisor, Rand Beers, later admitted that the message was genuine, saying: “I have no idea how they got hold of that letter, which was prepared for Democrats Abroad. I scratched my head when I saw that. The only way they could have gotten it was if someone in Iran was with Democrats Abroad.” In light of the ties between the AIC and the Democratic Party, that possibility is at least open to question.
But Kerry’s olive branches to the regime that carries on the legacy of the Ayatollah Khomeini now embarrass him: his Council on Foreign Relations remarks seem to have been removed from the Kerry-Edwards website. Hence also the Nemazee lawsuit: to silence the SMCCDI and its inconvenient protests.
Kerry concludes, of course, that by staying “tepid,” Obama is appropriately balancing U.S. interests in maintaining Iranian leadership goodwill so that proper negotiations over their nuclear weapons program can eventually proceed.
Cough. You hit the nail on the head in identifying John (“Genghis Khan”) Kerry as wishing to appear erudite at all costs.
…infantile attempt to make that which is uncontrollable appear controllable …The realization that certain enemies do not want peace and do desire your death is simply too difficult for many modern American minds to consistently hold in focus. Accordingly, the mind does all it can to change its perception of the world so as to eliminate the realization of the threat.
The mind (such as it is) engages in an elaborate process of rationalization. Also, the arrogance & egotism of a Kerry (or an Obama) is such that they appear to assume they can talk anyone out of anything.
The notion that A’jad & Khamenei are going to abandon “the nuke thing” (even on a cold day in hell) is for idiots.
(I like the headline, witless & gutless, indeed)
It’s ironic that Republicans choose the elephant as the GOP symbol, because they have such short memories.
It was George H. W. Bush (#42), as American forces were driving Saddam’s troops out of Kuwait in February 1991, who called for the people of Iraq to rise up and overthrow the dictator. That message was repeatedly broadcast across Iraq. It was also contained in millions of leaflets dropped by the U.S. Air Force. Eager to end decades of repression, the Shiites arose. Their revolt spread like wildfire; in the north, the Kurds also rose up. Key Iraqi army units joined in. It looked as if Saddam’s days were over.
Bush, in the end, did nothing to stop Saddam’s repression.
As an object lesson to his people, Saddam Hussein himself ordered Iraqi television to record and broadcast scenes of the repression: appalling scenes of captured Shiites, some with ropes around their necks, being kicked and beaten and insulted, threatened with pistols and machine guns, a few pleading for mercy. Most of them, eyes downcast, are eventually dragged away to execution.
#11 bc-right now, Id settle for the shah anyday over the idiot Im a Dumb Jihaddi or his dimwitted SUCK A TOE LLAHS.
Question for the crowd arguing that American support would be the kiss of death: if the protesters don’t want the involvement of the outside world in general, and America in particular, why are so many signs in English?
president john fitzgerald kerry, senator, parallel president – last 8 years, active military ops in cambodia and pakistan – still earning battlestars.
just agree to whatever he says – he’s a political rock star.
I’ve always thought John-Who-Served-In-Vietnam-Kerry should have been a shoo-in for veep for the Chicago thug. Then the two of them could stand side by side, looking down their long noses at all of us peasants.
Of course, the narcissitic, me-first/me-only, self-centered arrogance of both of them would make the whole thing too competitive, I suppose, and we all know that King Fraud has never faced serious competition on any level in his entire life and it might make him wet his pants.
So the Naked Emperor blithers on. He’s really getting scary to those mullahs. Not.
Honestly. You remind me every day of the fallacy that education will resolve all our problems.
Most people learned by kindergarten that the quickest way to unite two enemies is to turn them against a third. You try to avoid being that target.
Why do Republicans always rant about not being the world’s policeman – until a Democrat becomes President.
11. BC:
Kerry got it right, which means that you right-wingers got it wrong. Also you have to remember that the average Iranian, especially if she or he is up on politics and history, has absolutely no reason to trust the United States in any way given our sorry history of screwing around with their country, from the CIA’s installation of the Shah of Iran to backing Saddam Hussein (and winking at his use of chemical weapons) during the Iran/Iraq war.
____________________________________________
It is obvious a History of Why those things took place in Iran and Iraq is beyond you mentally .
l would tell you but it would be far above your mental ability to “”Get it “” ! America sided with Russia and China during WW 2 .. The Telibane and Al Quada said with America against Russia .
That has happened 471 different times in World conflicts….. Duh !
You just another Far left anti American .
Dumbo it is Carter a far leftist Nut who got The Nut Cleric in ….. The worse leader since Persian wars .
#22 arhooley – Yeah, but was does Dr. Charles Krauthammer know? Seriously. He’s really not all that bright. His Pulitzer means nothing. Nor does this year’s award for outstanding opinion journalism.
sarc off/
“john samford,
That’s debatable. I assume you’ve read Krauthammer’s view:”
Yes, which is just as debatable as my own.
The only evidence iare the words spoken by both sides. As far as America goes, BOTH sides see us as the ‘great satan’. Both sides want nuclear weapons, although they both call it a nuclear program so the terminally ignorant can pretend it’s not about nuclear weapons. Ahamadamnutjob actually has a lot of support among the older, rural portion of the population. Opinion polls arent worth much in a nation where having the wrong opinion can get you murdered, but what polls are out there have been predicting an outcome not unlike what actually happened. Urban voters want a change, rural voters want to keep things as they are. The rural population of Iran is about 2/3, the urban about 1/3.
The vote was about 2 to 1, which is pretty much how the population breaks down. We have seen the Urban/Rural split that has dominated human politics since the first city was built. Nothing new here.
I respect Mr. Krauthammer, but he would be the first to tell you that he isn’t perfect. Let me be the second.
Historically, The USA has always created more problems then It’s solved when it intervens in civil wars. If you want examples; Cuba, Philippines, South America & Central America (many countries, manytimes), Vietnam, China, Soviet Union, the list gos on, that is just a sample.
I assume you mean this Krauthammer article;
http://townhall.com/columnists/CharlesKrauthammer/2009/06/19/hope_and_change_-_but_not_for_iran
Let me fisk it a moment
“This revolution will end either as a Tiananmen (a hot Tiananmen with massive and bloody repression or a cold Tiananmen with a finer mix of brutality and co-optation) or as a true revolution that brings down the Islamic Republic.”
Maybe. He present no Evidence, just a hope. Charles is seeing what isn’t htere, IMHO. This is not atrue revolution, by a struggle over which set of Mad Dog Mullahs rule the kennel.
My evidence, of their own words is slim, since all these guys are natural born liars, but it is better then no evidence.
“Even from the narrow perspective of the nuclear issue, the administration’s geopolitical calculus is absurd. There is zero chance that any such talks will denuclearize Iran.”
I agree totally, but I’m not sure what the point is. The ONLY thing that will denuclearize (not sure that is a word, but since Charles used it, I will too in the sincerest form of flattery) Iran is a few US Army Divisions…. whoops, a dozen Brigades. Krauthammer gives the impression here that Some sort of action on the Usurpers part will change that. He knows better so that is one nasty bit of ambiguity.
Senator John Kerry proves being a self-proclaimed “Internationalist” translates into being a Spineless One; he would rather play politics with innocent peoples’ lives to gain more political power than actually take a stand. His “present” vote is taking a stand on the wrong side of history.
LOL! I’m looking forward to the Obama Ahmadinejad photo op after their “negotiation”. The campaign commercials are already writing themselves.
“From the Office of Mr. Mir Hossein Mousavi
To the President of the USA, Mr. Barack Hussein Obama:
Dear Mr. President,
In the name of the Iranian people, we want you to know that when you recently made the statement “Achmadinejad or Mousavi? Two of a kind,” we consider this as a grave and deep insult, not just to Mr. Mousavi but especially against the judgment of the Iranian people, against our moral conviction and intelligence, especially those of the young generation that comprises a population of 31 million.
It is a specially grave insult for those who are now fighting for democracy and freedom, and an unwarranted gift and even praise for Mr. Khamenei, whose security forces are now killing peaceful Iranians in the streets of every major city in the country.
Your statement misled the people of the world. It was no doubt inspired by your hope for dialogue with this regime, but you cannot possibly believe in promises from a regime that lies to its own people and then kills them when they demand the promises be kept.
By such statements, your administration and you discourage the Iranian people, who believe and trust in the values of democracy and freedom. We are pleased to see that you have condemned the regime’s murderous violence, and we look forward to stronger support for the rightful struggle of the Iranian people against the actions of a regime that is your enemy as well as ours.”
So glad to see youall are making something political out of Obama’s lack of a decisive “jump in with both feet” stance. The last President who did that cost the US billions of dollars, thousands of American lives and did nothing to help our standing in world opinion. Obama, by standing by, is actually letting the Iranian dictatorial government hang themselves by their own noose of theocracy.
In defense of Kerry defending Soetoro:
You guys, you completely ignore that the Iran problem is inherited from Carl Rove and W. Bush.
Barry Soetoro can and does it when he’s given the chance – remember his firm poisition when the Russians invaded Georgia, remember Soetoro’s forceful handling of the Somali pirates problem.
Yes, Opossum -
It has been said many times that those who forget history are doomed to repeat it. Yet Americans, predominantly on the left, refuse to remember how we felt after 9/11 or how Saddam acted and what the world thought at the time, ad nauseum.
As we debate the best response by the U.S. administration, we neglect to notice that Obeyme and his comrades without arms continue to view the world, particularly troublemakers, by imagining they can discern what is being thought instead of what these regimes and their people actually do.
Obeyme assumes that Iranians despise the U.S. because of a CIA sponsored coup 54 years ago while protesters take to the streets armed with English language signs, obviously written with Americans in mind. All the while this administration dismisses the obvious: Bush’s stand in Iraq showed the middle east how their own democracy could begin. Beware not only threats to the mullahs control of Iran, watch for a simmering of pro-democracy sentiment in Saudi Arabia. That will be a real change. Hey, maybe that’s what he meant after all.
TO: Bill Seigel, et al.
RE: Interesting!
Kerry has found a new meaning to the infamous Army slang of a “circle jerk”.
And it’s oh so apropos as a double entendre too, if you’ll pardon my french.
Regards,
Chuck(le)
[A pun is the lowest form of humor -- when you don't think of it first. -- Oscar Wilde]
John Kerry is an embarrassment to the U.S. Military, Congress, and the United States as a whole; How could such a limp minded homo sapiens get to this level of government? Oh, yea, right; Obama too!
I’m hard-pressed to see how Kerry could throw any other kind.
Kerry counsels us to realize that our words can be manipulated against us by the ruling regime.
Well, now, that’s something on which Kerry can actually claim a bit of expertize. Of course, he fully intended to have his words manipulated against us, but that does suggest at least some insight into how the “ruling regimes” play the game.
I don’t care what Kerry says..he’s useless. A humiliation to the U.S., oh wait, that makes him and Obama bookends…ObKe
#32. Where’s your Pulitzer?