Kerry Promises Americans He Will Make Them More Safe
By Thomas Ferraro
GREEN BAY, Wis. (Reuters) - Democratic challenger John Kerry (news - web sites) charged on Friday that President Bush (news - web sites) undermined America's safety by having "rushed off to war" in Iraq (news - web sites) without adequate help or "a plan to win the peace."
"I believe that the Bush administration -- and I say this carefully and thoughtfully ... made America less safe, not more safe, with their blustery arrogant foreign policy," Kerry said at town hall meeting with military veterans and family members.
"I believe our troops are in greater danger today, exposed to more gun fire and more mortar attacks and more ambushes than they had to be if we had done what common sense dictates ... which is to build alliances and share the responsibilities," Kerry said.
Kerry made the comments as he touted his proposed new national security strategy, unveiled the day before in Seattle, to forge a coordinated global alliance against terror and end what he has described as Bush's divisive bullying tactics.
He plans two more speeches in the next week to further outline his foreign policy, which up to now has shown little major deviation from Bush's. On Iraq, they share plenty of common ground although Kerry vows to set a different tone than Bush.
"We rushed off to war without an adequate plan, without adequate supplies ... without a plan to win the peace," Kerry said. Yet Kerry, who backed the congressional resolution authorizing Bush to use force in Iraq, had no snap answer when a woman asked: "What do you plan to do to bring our troops home?"
Kerry said he could not predict what the situation would be in Iraq on Jan. 20, 2005, when he would be inaugurated as president if he beats Bush in the November election.
But he said, "I'm going to get our troops home as fast as possible with honor and the job accomplished in the way it needs to be."
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But Bush campaign spokesman Steve Schmidt said, "John Kerry's political attacks ignore the fact that Kerry voted against the $87 billion supplemental that included pay raises for our troops, gave them better health care and sent them essential equipment including body armor."
Kerry stressed the United States must prevail in Iraq and needs to rally more international help to establish a stable government there and deal a defeat to terrorism.
"If it is worth for the United States of America to be there to fight the war on terror, it is worth other countries being there as well," Kerry said to sustained applause.
Polls show Bush having slipped to below 50 percent, the lowest approval rating of his presidency. Surveys also show Kerry running slightly ahead or even with Bush in the race for the White House.
Military personnel have traditionally voted more heavily Republican in presidential contests. But Kerry, a decorated Vietnam War veteran and four-term U.S. senator from Massachusetts, hopes to break the trend by reaching out to those who wore the uniform with him.
The gathering of several hundred people at the town hall meeting in Green Bay repeatedly interrupted his remarks with applause and cheers and chants of "Kerry, Kerry."
"I will destroy the terrorists. But I'll tell you this, I'm going to build every bit of bridge to every country possible so that war is a last resort," he said, drawing more applause.
Kerry also accused Bush of shortchanging military veterans and active duty personnel on matters from health care to supplies in Iraq.
With the nation prepared to salute its fallen warriors this Memorial Day weekend, Kerry renewed his vow to provide needed aid to all those who have served.
"It is not enough" to honor only "past generations," Kerry said. "We must pay tribute to their service by keeping our commitment to the men and women who wear the uniform today." |
