John 2 informed us last night that a John John administration would "destroy al Qaeda." "You can not run and you can not hide," he told them. But just like J/J's economic promises, they're short on details here too.
The latest incarnation of the "National Security" policy on John 1's website has replaced the original "Seven point comprehensive plan to fight the war against terror" (thanks Alex) with these "four imperatives" that will guide his national security policy:
- Replace the 'coalition of the willing' with a 'coalition of the able.' (Undoubtedly at the service of a 'coalition of need.')
- "Modernize the world's most powerful military..."
- Appeal to potential future terrorists with our "values and ideas" through diplomacy, economic power and our intelligence system, thereby preventing them from choosing terror as a career path.
- Increase reliance upon alternatives to fossil fuels before they are developed.
This doesn't quite sound like the furious vengeance that John 2 promised for al Qaeda, does it.
In an FNC interview this morning with Bob Sellers, former Clinton UN Ambassador Richard Holbrooke tried to answer "very clearly" a question about postwar Iraq under a Kerry administration, namely "How would it be different?"
Holbrooke: "What's the real difference between John Kerry and George W. Bush. John Kerry will come to the presidency, one of the most qualified presidents in international relations, national security, in history. He was educated partly in Europe, he's comfortable in international climates, he even speaks a few foreign languages which some of the Republicans try to make into a negative but I think it's a positive. He has his Vietnam history which means he understands war, and he has 20 years on the Foreign Relations Committee. He will bring all that to bear and I predict, based on my own extensive involvement in international affairs over forty years, including three years I served in Vietnam, I predict that John Kerry will get things out of our allies which can not be done by this administration.
Bob, that doesn't mean that Jacques Chirac of France is gonna pick up the phone on January 21st and say to President Kerry, "How many divisions do I send to Iraq." That's not gonna to happen. Because it's gonna take time to repair the damage that's been done to America's role in the world over the last 3 years. But John Kerry will do it, and I'm afraid that George Bush has failed in this regard, and what's amazing about it is if I were, if you were to ask me who the other most qualified person going into the presidency in the last 30 years has been I would say George Bush Sr. CIA director, ambassador to China, ambassador to the UN, a friend of mine, a man I greatly admire and respect. And he also went into the presidency prepared, but it's not true here and John Kerry will be prepared."
Well, this still doesn't answer the question but it does give some insight. Since John 1 went to school in Europe he knows how to buddy up to European leaders. I suppose that would be good news in Paris, but I don't see how it helps Americans. Would we get in on some of those illegal oil contracts next time?
Posted by JohnGalt at July 29, 2004 11:24 AMGosh how could getting Europeans to help in the war on terrorism possibly help the US? Hmm, where were several of the those hijackers based, Germany wasn't it? Hey let's just go it alone, I am sure we have enough intelligence and military forces to track all the terrorist of the world in all the countries of the world. Heck we have Donald Rumsfeld, I am sure he can figure out how to do it with just a platoon and a troup of girls scouts.
Posted by: Silence Dogood at August 3, 2004 08:36 AMWhat we have is the will. Many of our soi-disant allies have corrupt dealings with the terrorist states -- or are so afraid of their Muslim base at home, that they will not participate.
Intelligence would be good (although ALL agreed that Saddam had WMD) but militarily, their ability to contribute is overrated. They don't have a lot od spare capacity.
Posted by: jk at August 4, 2004 08:23 AMIt's interesting that you believe European countries aren't investigating, tracking, and arresting known and suspected terrorists in their own countries. Actually, that's the only place they ARE helping.
Posted by: johngalt at August 5, 2004 07:38 AM