Sen. John Kerry, speaking Wednesday in Cincinnati, aimed his strongest slams yet at President Bush's "wrong choices" on Iraq. At Union Terminal, where Bush in October 2002 asked for Congress' OK to strike Saddam Hussein if necessary, Kerry said he would have done almost everything differently than the president. The senator's speech sharpens the differences between the candidates on foreign policy and domestic programs.
It was a relief to move past mudslinging over Vietnam-era military service and hear some substantive argument.
Kerry faulted the president for a "go-it-alone" policy in Iraq that has cost U.S. taxpayers $200 billion. Secretary of State Colin Powell, meeting last month with the Enquirer editorial board, denied the go-it-alone charge, downplaying the refusal of France, Germany and Russia to join a U.S.-led coalition. Kerry said nothing about Britain, Australia and other allies who are in Iraq with us, but he repeatedly hit on the $200 billion cost, as if to imply a major test of any coalition lies in cost-sharing.
Bush has admitted he "miscalculated" in Iraq. "His miscalculation," says Kerry, "was going to war without planning carefully and without the allies we should have had. As a result, America has paid nearly 90 percent of the bill in Iraq. Contrast that with the Gulf War, where our allies paid 95 percent of the costs."
Kerry claims he could rebuild America's frayed international alliances even now. He says he would have allowed more time for inspectors, secured better equipment for troops, listened to senior military advisers and leaders in Congress, and never would have gone to war without a plan to win the peace. That peace clearly has not yet been won. The Pentagon acknowledged this week that insurgents still control large regions of Iraq.
Kerry noted this week's "tragic milestone" of 1,000 American soldiers killed in Iraq, but made clear he does not advocate an abrupt pullout. "We owe it to their memory and all our troops to do what's right in Iraq," he said. We would like to hear some more details from him on just what he means by that.
Kerry made no direct reference to 9/11. Within days after Bush spoke at Union Terminal in October 2002, Congress, including Kerry, voted to authorize Bush to disarm Saddam without U.N. help if need be. Although that was the right vote, it failed to move Saddam. A majority in Congress made clear they approved a pre-emptive attack only as a last resort, after diplomatic efforts failed.
Bush later decided they had failed. Kerry charges that was one of many wrong decisions. We now know some Iraq intelligence that Bush used in his Cincinnati speech was unfounded. Bush argued at the time that waiting was the riskiest of all options. His re-election may ride on how voters judge that call.
What do you think?
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