Israel has lost 170, including 20 children.
I will launch an aggressive public diplomacy campaign in Arab and Muslim countries to tackle head-on the anti-Semitic and anti-Israel propaganda that fuels ignorance and hatred. This will be a part of an expansive American-led, international effort to promote democratic reforms throughout the Middle East by supporting secular education, business development and educational initiatives. By carefully targeting aid and development programs we can most effectively bolster civil society groups to take action to advance reform.
[...]
We will magnify our power and restore American influence to enhance our own security and that of our allies. We will restore our alliances and we will lead. But we will never compromise America's special relationship with our ally Israel. As president, I will never pressure Israel to make concessions that will compromise its security.
My commitment to a safe and secure Jewish state is unwavering. For 19 years, this is a pledge I have kept in the United States Senate � whether through my votes on economic aid, military security or the location of the U.S. Embassy. And it is one I will continue to keep as I lead a bold new effort to enhance regional security throughout the Middle East.
John Kerry
Forward 27.Aug.04
How it's supposed to work is Bush gets the dirty work done, then Kerry comes in as Mr. Nice President and just has to hold the course. So that the sense of excluding the bad guy is there, big catharsis, kicking out the villains, fiesta!
It's a scam. I think Kerry really is a nicer person than Bush, but I think Collies are nicer dogs than Dobermans. So what? They both serve the same master. If you don't like what Bush has done it doesn't make much sense to vote for someone who's being presented to you by the same people that put Bush in office to begin with, someone who promises to continue virtually everything Bush has begun.
See how it all gets vague and murky when you start asking why we went in to Iraq.
The oil? Sort of.
Democracy? My ass.
Israel? Shhh.
The absurd hypocrisy gets clear when you contrast his public position on the defense of Israel, our special ally, with the absolute taboo against discussing the invasion of Iraq as part of that defense.
The families of the kids who gave and are giving their lives in Iraq are not going to be as comfortable with that sacrifice being made for Israel's benefit. So on the one hand we'll do anything, anything, to preserve and protect our special ally; but on the other hand, we wouldn't invade Iraq to preserve and protect Israel, not at all, never. Even though it has that benefit. even though that is the only single thing that has been accomplished - everyone else has suffered and lost, especially the Iraqi people.
The government tells us it was to remove Saddam, and then the politicians they install are from Saddam's inner circle. There's no democracy in Iraq, and the oil is not available.
On the surface it may seem that the huge amounts of money grafted and bribed and double-booked into the greasy hands of Halliburton and Bechtel and other super-predators were the reason a thousand American soldiers have died this past year, but that's more like a pay-off, a salary, wages under the table.
John Kerry says it's anti-Israel propaganda that's the problem in the Middle East, and by that one statement loses my vote. Because it's a lie. It's a lie and he knows it's a lie.
Muslims in the Middle East hate Israel because the Israelis are killing Muslim women and children.
Or having it done by proxy.
