If Only We Had Listened To Ted Kennedy About Iraq…
On September 27, 2002, Senator Ted Kennedy gave a speech at Johns Hopkins in DC and warned about the pending Iraq war. Jason Linkins at Hoffpo is correct when he calls Kennedy’s words “prescient.”
In the months that followed September 11, the Bush Administration marshaled an international coalition. Today, 90 countries are enlisted in the effort, from providing troops to providing law enforcement, intelligence, and other critical support.
But I am concerned that using force against Iraq before other means are tried will sorely test both the integrity and effectiveness of the coalition. Just one year into the campaign against Al Qaeda, the Administration is shifting focus, resources, and energy to Iraq. The change in priority is coming before we have fully eliminated the threat from Al Qaeda, before we know whether Osama Bin Laden is dead or alive, and before we can be assured that the fragile post-Taliban government in Afghanistan will consolidate its authority.
With all the talk of war, the Administration has not explicitly acknowledged, let alone explained to the American people, the immense post-war commitment that will be required to create a stable Iraq.
The Bush Administration says America can fight a war in Iraq without undermining our most pressing national security priority — the war against Al Qaeda. But I believe it is inevitable that a war in Iraq without serious international support will weaken our effort to ensure that Al Qaeda terrorists can never, never, never threaten American lives again.
Even with the Taliban out of power, Afghanistan remains fragile. Security remains tenuous. Warlords still dominate many regions. Our reconstruction effort, which is vital to long-term stability and security, is halting and inadequate. Some Al Qaeda operatives – no one knows how many – have faded into the general population. Terrorist attacks are on the rise. President Karzai, who has already survived one assassination attempt, is still struggling to solidify his hold on power. And although neighboring Pakistan has been our ally, its stability is far from certain.
We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is seeking and developing weapons of mass destruction. Our intelligence community is also deeply concerned about the acquisition of such weapons by Iran, North Korea, Libya, Syria and other nations. But information from the intelligence community over the past six months does not point to Iraq as an imminent threat to the United States or a major proliferator of weapons of mass destruction.
War with Iraq before a genuine attempt at inspection and disarmament, or without genuine international support — could swell the ranks of Al Qaeda sympathizers and trigger an escalation in terrorist acts.
Damn, he was right on point with this.
August 27th, 2009 at 2:05 pm
When the war profiteers own the government Iraq is what happens.
August 27th, 2009 at 3:46 pm
Wise words,Ed. Pity you werent listened to on this.
August 27th, 2009 at 3:55 pm
We should have listened to Ted Kennedy on MOST things. We would have universal single-payer healthcare right now, like most civilized countries.
August 27th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
Reason is no longer the integral part of the american discourse. It’s who can yell loudest and more often, Sound bites dominate over logic, self concerns rule over the good of the whole.
Ted Kennedy was a great American for all of the people. His concern was to make equality, liberty, and harmony Americas core struggle to be reckened with. For this he’s been mocked ridiculed and berated.
Yet it’s what I was told sets us apart from the rest, What made us “exceptional”
We have a chance to realign ourselves with these noble values with president Obama. Where’s his ax to grind? Like Ted Kennedy, I don’t see it.
God help America!
OldLefty Reply:
August 27th, 2009 at 5:59 pm
New study shows, “Lies of Mass Destruction”
The same skewed thinking that supports a Saddam-9/11 link explains the power of health-care myths.
By Sharon Begley | Newsweek Web Exclusive
Some people form and cling to false beliefs about health-care reform (or Obama’s citizenship) despite overwhelming evidence thanks to a mental phenomenon called motivated reasoning.
“Rather than search rationally for information that either confirms or disconfirms a particular belief,” he says, “people actually seek out information that confirms what they already believe.
They argue that some Americans believe the Saddam-9/11 link because it “made sense of the administration’s decision to go to war against Iraq . . . [T]he fact of the war led to a search for a justification for it, which led them to infer the existence of ties between Iraq and 9/11,” they write.
Drk H Reply:
August 27th, 2009 at 11:25 pm
Old Lefty – if these Health-care reform problems are false beliefs then please explain them here with something substantial beyond just saying people want to hear what they believe already.
1. What reason should be believe UHC is going to cut costs
2. What program has the gov’t ever run that remained within the original budget projected?
3. Why has the bill not been re-written to exclude the “Death Panel” advisory board, paid abortions.
4. How will making a goverment monopoly in the health care insurance create competition with the insurers currently providing insurance?
5. How is it in any way constitutional to force people to purchase something.
6. With the known problem of huge bills having underhanded people stuffing items & amendments that have nothing to do with this bill included. How can the administration guarantee us that this is not happening?
7. Why will they still not read the bill. We have, most of all the people that care by now have, but the rep’s still have not?
karthiks030977 Reply:
August 28th, 2009 at 9:13 am
Dr k H:
The answers are out there; They’re perhaps debatable, but very few opponents of UHC entered the debate here(Kregg and JohnGalt among them).
1.What reason should be believe UHC is going to cut costs?
The sheer presence of competition, even if forced through a consumer’s cartel called Gov Health Ins.
2.What program has the gov’t ever run that remained within the original budget projected?
A question that is irrelevant: the question of budget comes in IF UHC is expected to be a dole, like Cash For Clunkers. It isnt a dole.Get that into your debate. THis kind of irrelevant questioning only dilutes your own argument.
3.Why has the bill not been re-written to exclude the “Death Panel” advisory board, paid abortions.
Why should it be rewritten? Just because you oppose the presence of an advisory board? Can you come up with reasons against it?Reasons rather than paranoia such as suggested by the name you give it(Death Panels)?
Re: Paid Abortions. You have a fair point. But I will not concede your demand until you concede my right to decline to pay for a war I do not support. We’ve been there before.
This right to decline to pay for what I dont support cannot be granted selectively.
4. How will making a goverment monopoly in the health care insurance create competition with the insurers currently providing insurance?
Absurd argument: To make the above argument, you have to definitively prove that there WILL be a Gov Monopoly. Even Kregg, who made the best case for the significant possibility of a Gov Monopoly, couldnt conclusively PROVE it. Raise the correct point(as Kregg did), you’re having a debate. Do you even understand your question here?
5.How is it in any way constitutional to force people to purchase something.
Apparently it has always been constitutional to force people to buy “safety” in someone’s estimate other than myself(we’re now “safer” by some wise person’s estimate, thanks to Iraq 2003, and that wise person says I must pay for it). What’s your point?
6. With the known problem of huge bills having underhanded people stuffing items & amendments that have nothing to do with this bill included. How can the administration guarantee us that this is not happening?
Do you have specifics here? Or are you just throwing arbitrary accusations driven by predictable paranoia?
7. Why will they still not read the bill. We have, most of all the people that care by now have, but the rep’s still have not?
Really: You have read the bill, and you make the statement that the UHC program is not an option to the consumer, repeatedly. By “We have read the bill”, do you mean the cover page where they specify the name of the bill?
August 27th, 2009 at 5:52 pm
If we would only listen to the teachings of Jesus we would most certainly be in a much better position today. Jesus was and is much more important Than Kennedy or any other human on the face of the earth today.
deeznuts Reply:
August 27th, 2009 at 6:59 pm
Jesus would support universal health-care.
deeznuts Reply:
August 27th, 2009 at 7:00 pm
Being a socialist himself, Jesus would support universal health-care.
deeznuts Reply:
August 27th, 2009 at 7:00 pm
Oops…
jasperjava Reply:
August 27th, 2009 at 10:37 pm
That comment was WORTH posting twice.
John Galt Reply:
August 27th, 2009 at 10:44 pm
Being a socialist himself, Jesus would support universal health-care.
Actually, he wouldn’t. He wouldn’t trust the government to handle what he as an innovative entrepreneur could handle much easier and better and cheaper himself ;-)
Drk H Reply:
August 27th, 2009 at 11:10 pm
1st – Jesus never called on gov’t to help out. He knew compassion came from people willinglly. He beseeched people on a personal level. He preached people should never desire social justice against their neighbor.
2nd. If all you people hold up Jesus as the great socialist, then why do you complain that Ky had a law that thanked god for his protection?
placefield Reply:
August 27th, 2009 at 7:01 pm
I doubt Jesus would have supported the invasion of Iraq either.
Um Cara Reply:
August 27th, 2009 at 7:03 pm
Or waterboarding
Drk H Reply:
August 27th, 2009 at 11:13 pm
Actually, I don’t believe Jesus would have done anything but laugh at the idea that waterboarding & 2nd hand cigarette smoke was torture when you consider the punishments that they used at the times – like cruxificiaton? throwing christians to the lions?
Um Cara Reply:
August 28th, 2009 at 9:25 am
I don’t think Jesus would have crucified people or thrown people to lions either.
And I certainly don’t think he would have ‘laughed’ at people suffering in any way.
But, maybe you are right – maybe he did laugh at people suffering, once Willy gives me His email address, I’ll ask & let you know what He says.
Daddio Reply:
August 28th, 2009 at 9:32 am
Sorry Cara. I don’t make light of Jesus with such remarks as yours.
Um Cara Reply:
August 28th, 2009 at 9:44 am
Sorry Cara. I don’t make light of Jesus with such remarks as yours.
I was defending the Dude, Drk is the one who said he laughs at people’s suffering.
And you said He is alive – I’m not sure whether he reads/posts on Alan.com under a pseudonym or something, but in case not – don’t you think He deserves to know that Drk is slandering Him?
I’m sure He would like to respond. Does He Twitter?
EricG Reply:
August 27th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
“Jesus was and is much more important Than Kennedy or any other human on the face of the earth today.”
You and yours don’t listen to Jesus when he speaks to you and then you tell us he is more important than anyone else.
Why don’t you follow his lead if he is so important?
Why won’t you denounce the hatred and bigotry and intolerance foaming throughout your party and throughout the nation’s right wingers?
sisi Reply:
August 27th, 2009 at 8:58 pm
I would hope that jesus would of said NO man is more or less important than another, that we were all created equally and no man is above another. Even Him. I’m wondering if some of these holier than thou christians, realize what Jesus’s symbolizes as being The Savior. Originally they clinged to the hope and faith of a savior because their lives were full of strife and upheaval. Jesus IS the masses. I think you and like minded people convolutes what jesus’s role in the bible is and use him to rationize your unholy views. Jesus was a uniter not a divider. And Love was the way to get there, not hate
Daddio Reply:
August 28th, 2009 at 8:24 am
Jesus lived and lives today. He preached love for one another. He was cruficied on a cross. He died and was buried. He rose on the third day and was seen by over 300 witnesses. He ascended into heaven and now sits on the right hand of God.
He is more important than man. He is the son of God. Through Him is the doorway to Heaven. Through the blood of Jesus we can all be saved and someday enter into His kingdom.
All praise and glory be to Him. Prais His name!!
OldLefty Reply:
August 28th, 2009 at 8:34 am
That’s great, but how is it different than a Hindu chant or “Allah Akbar!”?
Remember that the Muslims believe the story about Jesus, but that God then sent the angel Gabriel to Mohammed for an update.
August 27th, 2009 at 6:47 pm
He was a smart man. There is no doubting that as long as you pull away your political blinders and just look at his record.
August 27th, 2009 at 7:46 pm
Jesus lived and lives today.
Do you have his email address? I’d like to resolve this argument Flap and I have been having over the past few months.
Thanks.
karthiks030977 Reply:
August 28th, 2009 at 8:55 am
Did you try jesuschrist@gmail.com ?
Daddio Reply:
August 28th, 2009 at 9:04 am
I am wiping the dust off my sandals and moving on.
Um Cara Reply:
August 28th, 2009 at 9:38 am
So you don’t have his email? Do you know if he has a facebook account? Cell phone? I’d really like to settle this argument Flap and I have been going on about.
Plus I want to check and see if Drk is right about Him laughing at people’s suffering or not.
TDro319 Reply:
August 28th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
You may also want to try this paster Steve Anderson. He seems to know exactly what Jesus hates (gays, Obama, etc.). Perhaps he discusses the day’s event with Him and will put in your request for an answer.
August 28th, 2009 at 8:52 am
“…if these Health-care reform problems are false beliefs then please explain them here…”
I’ll explain it the way republikkkans explain their own policies: IF YOU DON’T BELIEVE IN COMPREHENSIVE UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE YOU’RE A DAMN COMMIE SACK OF CRAP AND GET THE HELL OUT OF MY COUNTRY!!!
August 28th, 2009 at 12:27 pm