How can Kerry criticize the President's handling of Iraq after he voted for the authorization to use force?

The fact that Senator Kerry voted to grant President Bush authority to handle the situation does not mean that he is required to approve of the way the President actually did handle it.

"The idea was simple:  We would get the weapons inspectors back in to verify whether or not Iraq had weapons of mass destruction.  And we would convince the world to speak with one voice to Saddam: disarm or be disarmed.

A month before the war, President Bush told the nation:  'If we have to act, we will take every precaution that is possible.  We will plan carefully.  We will act with the full power of the United States military.  We will act with allies at our side and we will prevail.' He said that military action wasn’t 'unavoidable.' 

Instead, the President rushed to war without letting the weapons inspectors finish their work.  He went without a broad and deep coalition of allies.   He acted without making sure our troops had enough body armor.  And he plunged ahead without understanding or preparing for the consequences of the post-war. None of which I would have done." — John Kerry, address at New York University, September 20, 2004

Here's an analogy: A doctor says there's a problem which may require surgery, but before he can run all the necessary tests, he needs consent in advance for the surgery if it should turn out to be needed. The doctor assures everyone that surgery will be a last resort. Then he doesn't run the tests, but just goes ahead and performs the surgery, and does such a quick and shoddy job that he leaves the patient hanging between life and death. Worse, it becomes clear that there were many other treatments available. No one would be surprised if the doctor was sued for malpractice. And no one would take the doctor seriously if he defended himself by saying, "Well, then, why did you authorize me to perform the surgery?!"

John Kerry didn't tell George Bush to take us to war, and he didn't tell him how to take us to war. John Kerry voted to give George Bush the leverage and authority he needed to handle the situation effectively. George Bush chose not to do that.

When George Bush tries to hide behind Kerry's vote by suggesting that Kerry would have handled Iraq in the same way he did, he is being blatantly dishonest.

Links

• The president broke his word on Iraq, USA Today interview, July 22, 2004
• Kerry Blasts Bush for Iraq Policies, AP, September 1, 2004

www.kerryoniraqwar.com
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