Kerry Builds Up the Alliances

[Guest MikeSC]

US 'endangers Australians'

Roy Eccleston, Washington correspondent

September 18, 2004

 

JOHN Kerry's campaign has warned Australians that the Howard Government's support for the US in Iraq has made them a bigger target for international terrorists.

 

Diana Kerry, younger sister of the Democrat presidential candidate, told The Weekend Australian that the Bali bombing and the recent attack on the Australian embassy in Jakarta clearly showed the danger to Australians had increased.

 

"Australia has kept faith with the US and we are endangering the Australians now by this wanton disregard for international law and multilateral channels," she said, referring to the invasion of Iraq.

 

Asked if she believed the terrorist threat to Australians was now greater because of the support for Republican George W. Bush, Ms Kerry said: "The most recent attack was on the Australian embassy in Jakarta -- I would have to say that."

 

Ms Kerry, who taught school in Indonesia for 15 years until 2000, is heading a campaign called Americans Overseas for Kerry which aims to secure the votes of Americans abroad -- including the more than 100,000 living in Australia.

 

In the 2000 election, analysts say absentee votes cast overseas tipped the balance to Mr Bush in the decisive state of Florida. Domestic votes put Mr Gore ahead by a few hundred votes, but Mr Bush won by 537 after overseas ballots were included.

 

In this election, which is decided according to the states won, the Kerry campaign says overseas votes could also determine the result given there are a dozen states where victory might be measured by a few hundred to a few thousand votes. About 5million American voters live overseas and interest in this election was high, Ms Kerry said. About 350,000 absentee ballots were distributed in 2000, but more than a million had been sought this time.

 

"My belief is US citizens living overseas are very concerned about the current direction of the US, particularly in regard to international affairs," she claimed. "They are on the front lines of the decline of US respect and reputation; they hear it and feel it on a daily basis."

 

A poll by the Washington-based Pew Centre for People and the Press found that in March this year only 58 per cent of Britons, 37 per cent of French and 38 per cent of Germans had favourable opinions of America, down by more than 20 percentage points in each country from before the Iraq war.

 

Quizzed on US opinion polls that showed Senator Kerry's campaign flagged through August and that he was now running behind Mr Bush, Ms Kerry said her brother would win the November 2 election.

 

"He responds well to challenges and has the reputation of fighting well from behind," she said.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/commo...55E2703,00.html

 

Wow, interfering in Australian politics to take down an ally for reasons, well, lost on me.

 

Yeah, that's pretty damned Presidential.

 

I'm sure Australia loves being told by Kerry that siding with us made them less safe. Because, lord knows, that Bali bombing occurred after the Iraq invasion, right? Wait, it DIDN'T?

 

Do we really want a President who will openly ATTACK our present allies in order to gain some absurd positives here.

-=Mike

[SuperJerk 0]

Wow, interfering in Australian politics to take down an ally for reasons, well, lost on me.

Of course it is lost on you, because that's not what he's doing.

 

Kerry's actually trying to appeal to Americans living in Australia who might vote absentee.

[Styles 0]

Who cares about them, Mike? As long as France is happy, THAT'S the goal we're looking for.

[Guest MikeSC]

Wow, interfering in Australian politics to take down an ally for reasons, well, lost on me.

Of course it is lost on you, because that's not what he's doing.

 

Kerry's actually trying to appeal to Americans living in Australia who might vote absentee.

By blaming Howard's gov't for SIDING with us?

 

Yeah, THAT will inspire somebody to side with us on anything.

 

And, re-read her comments --- at what point is she, you know, actually talking to anybody BUT Australians?

 

Kerry is interfering in other elections --- an act that, if reversed, would generate massive outrage here.

Who cares about them, Mike? As long as France is happy, THAT'S the goal we're looking for.

Are the French happy? They seem like an unpleasant, unhappy people.

-=Mike

[snuffbox 0]

This is bad...

 

But Bush's foreign policy is good...

 

That right Mike?

[Guest MikeSC]

This is bad...

 

But Bush's foreign policy is good...

 

That right Mike?

Yup.

 

He does what needs to be done.

-=Mike

...Bush doesn't insult our real allies...

[SuperJerk 0]

And, re-read her comments --- at what point is she, you know, actually talking to anybody BUT Australians?

Okay.

 

"My belief is US citizens living overseas are very concerned about the current direction of the US, particularly in regard to international affairs," she claimed. "They are on the front lines of the decline of US respect and reputation; they hear it and feel it on a daily basis."

She's obviously kissing the asses of the absentee voters in Australia.

[Guest MikeSC]

Then why say

"Australia has kept faith with the US and we are endangering the Australians now by this wanton disregard for international law and multilateral channels,

?

-=Mike

[Vyce 0]

Wow, interfering in Australian politics to take down an ally for reasons, well, lost on me.

Of course it is lost on you, because that's not what he's doing.

 

Kerry's actually trying to appeal to Americans living in Australia who might vote absentee.

Alright, let's assume that's true.

 

Can't you possibly see how very IRRESPONSIBLE it is for someone from the Kerry campaign to be making remarks like this? At the very least, it's an insult to our current allies in the Australian government. At worst, like Mike proposes, it will discourage other nations, should Kerry wins, from allying with us in the future.

 

You have to step back and look at the big picture and realize that, pandering to expatriate American votes or not, these remarks may do more harm than good.

[SuperJerk 0]

Did ever occur to you that MAYBE she could've been making comments for MORE THAN ONE group of people.

 

It'd be like if I walked and room and started talking to two people in the room, and then you'd claim there's no way I could be addressing everyone.

[2GOLD 0]

You know what, I have figured out the most dangerous thing to the Kerry campaign.

 

His stupid ass family.

 

You can't blame John for this Mike, it's his family is so god damn gone mentally that he has lost control of them.

 

I won't blame George for the actions of his stupid family so I won't blame John for the actions of his stupid family.

[Styles 0]

There's no excuse for his wife, though.

[Guest MikeSC]

You know what, I have figured out the most dangerous thing to the Kerry campaign.

 

His stupid ass family.

 

You can't blame John for this Mike, it's his family is so god damn gone mentally that he has lost control of them.

 

I won't blame George for the actions of his stupid family so I won't blame John for the actions of his stupid family.

She was there on behalf of his campaign.

 

I don't blame him for Terry McAuliffe being the dumbest SOB on the planet --- but I do blame him for the actions of his campaign people.

-=Mike

[2GOLD 0]

You know what, I have figured out the most dangerous thing to the Kerry campaign.

 

His stupid ass family.

 

You can't blame John for this Mike, it's his family is so god damn gone mentally that he has lost control of them.

 

I won't blame George for the actions of his stupid family so I won't blame John for the actions of his stupid family.

She was there on behalf of his campaign.

 

I don't blame him for Terry McAuliffe being the dumbest SOB on the planet --- but I do blame him for the actions of his campaign people.

-=Mike

 

Yeah, but he's lost control of his family. I doubt he knew she WAS in the campaign. His batty wife probably hired her.

 

I'd be afraid if that was my family.

[tommytomlin 0]

Yeah, I hate when U.S politicians interfere in Australian politics.

 

 

Bush warns Latham on Iraq pullout

By Louise Dodson in Washington and Cynthia Banham

June 4, 2004 - 1:19AM

 

US President George Bush has delivered an unprecedented blow to the Labor Party, describing Mark Latham's policy of withdrawing Australian troops from Iraq as "disastrous".

 

Speaking after a one and a half hour meeting with the Prime Minister, John Howard, at the White House, Mr Bush said withdrawing the troops would "dispirit those who love freedom in Iraq" and "embolden our enemy which believes it can shake our will".

 

"It would be a disastrous decision for the leader of a great country like Australia to say that we're pulling out," Mr Bush said as the two leaders met reporters in Washington early today, Australian time.

 

"It would say that the Australian Government doesn't see the hope of a free, democratic society [in Iraq]. It would embolden the enemy to believe that they could shake our will."

 

Mr Bush's comments are the strongest yet to emerge from the White House against Labor's position and are a highly unusual intervention in Australian domestic politics. The remarks will provide a stark contrast in the coming election between Labor and the Coalition's policy on Iraq and relations with the US.

 

Mr Howard reaffirmed that Australian troops would remain in Iraq and complete the tasks assigned to them.

 

The Prime Minister's White House visit suggested relations between him and Mr Bush are as warm as ever. The President invited Mr Howard to join him in the Old Family Dining Room for an intimate breakfast. Their later meeting was attended by senior Bush advisers, including the Secretary of State, Colin Powell, the National Security Adviser, Condoleezza Rice, and the White House chief of staff, Andy Card.

 

After the talks, Mr Bush described Mr Howard as "a close friend of mine" and said he valued his advice. He said he appreciated the support of Mr Howard in keeping troops in Iraq. Mr Howard said Australia and the US had never been closer.

 

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/06/04/1086203575760.html

 

 

 

There is no doubt in my mind, nor that of the government agencies which advised Howard before the start of the Iraq war, that Australian involvement in Iraq increased the risk of terrorism against our country. Right now, groups like Jemaah Islamiyah are living it up places like the Southern Phillipines and Indonesia, and countries like the Solomon Islands are descending into chaos, while Australian troops, intelligence agencies and resources are focused on Iraq. Yeah, great that Saddam is gone, but Iraq was the U.S' war. He was going to go anyway, the U.S didn't need the SAS, or the RAAF to take down Saddam.

 

Australia's national and strategic interest is in our region. Intervening in Iraq has made Australian less safe because it has diverted our attention away from South-East Asia. You know, the place where the terrorists are?

 

I don't approve of Kerry's daughter intervening in Australian politics just like I didn't approve of Bush doing the same, but the daughter of a Presidential candidate speaking her mind is less offensive to me than the President of an allied country campaigning for our Prime Minister.

[Guest MikeSC]

World of difference in making comments on behalf of an ally and making comments attacking it.

-=Mike

[tommytomlin 0]

World of difference in making comments on behalf of an ally and making comments attacking it.

          -=Mike

So, you can't attack the Prime Minister, but you can attack the leader of the Opposition? Howard isn't the U.S' ally - Australia is. Intervening in our political discourse, no matter which side you pick, is irresponsible.

 

Would you have been as outraged at Kerry's daughter's attack if she targeted Latham instead of Howard?

[Guest MikeSC]

World of difference in making comments on behalf of an ally and making comments attacking it.

          -=Mike

So, you can attack the Prime Minister, but not the leader of the Opposition? Howard isn't the U.S' ally - Australia is. Intervening in our political discourse, no matter which side you pick, is irresponsible.

 

Would you have been as outraged at Kerry's daughter's attack if she targeted Latham instead of Howard?

If his sister --- not daughter --- stated that engaging in the War of Terror made them less safe, no matter who was PM, yes, I'd be outraged.

 

But, hey, Kerry really can't bitch that Kerry claims his policies will make us less safe anymore.

-=Mike

[SuperJerk 0]

But, hey, Kerry really can't bitch that Kerry claims his policies will make us less safe anymore.

Why would Kerry claim his own policies would make us less safe?

You meant Cheney.

 

Do you even READ your own posts before you hit the "add reply" button?

[Guest MikeSC]

But, hey, Kerry really can't bitch that Kerry claims his policies will make us less safe anymore.

Why would Kerry claim his own policies would make us less safe?

You meant Cheney.

 

Do you even READ your own posts before you hit the "add reply" button?

Yup. Obvious typo. Oooh, you got me! Congrats, bucko!

-=Mike

[SuperJerk 0]

But, hey, Kerry really can't bitch that Kerry claims his policies will make us less safe anymore.

Why would Kerry claim his own policies would make us less safe?

You meant Cheney.

 

Do you even READ your own posts before you hit the "add reply" button?

Yup. Obvious typo. Oooh, you got me! Congrats, bucko!

-=Mike

When said typo completely changes the meaning of the sentence, its worth correcting.

[Guest MikeSC]

But, hey, Kerry really can't bitch that Kerry claims his policies will make us less safe anymore.

Why would Kerry claim his own policies would make us less safe?

You meant Cheney.

 

Do you even READ your own posts before you hit the "add reply" button?

Yup. Obvious typo. Oooh, you got me! Congrats, bucko!

-=Mike

When said typo completely changes the meaning of the sentence, its worth correcting.

Silly me, assuming you could figure it out.

-=Mike

[BX 0]

Y2Jerk: +2

TheMikeSC: - (507)287-5825,5308519-75-bashbashbashow

[Guest MikeSC]

The usual shit

Thanks for your contribution.

-=Mike

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

At least Kerry has stopped his rapist brigade

[BX 0]

At least Kerry has stopped his rapist brigade

Whu?

[Dr. Tyler; Captain America 0]

No, he hasn't.

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

Look here BX: http://forums.thesmartmarks.com/index.php?showtopic=57222

[SuperJerk 0]

But, hey, Kerry really can't bitch that Kerry claims his policies will make us less safe anymore.

Why would Kerry claim his own policies would make us less safe?

You meant Cheney.

 

Do you even READ your own posts before you hit the "add reply" button?

Yup. Obvious typo. Oooh, you got me! Congrats, bucko!

-=Mike

When said typo completely changes the meaning of the sentence, its worth correcting.

Silly me, assuming you could figure it out.

-=Mike

I did figure it out, Brainiac.

 

See where it says "You meant Cheney"?

 

That was me figuring it out and correcting you.

[Guest Salacious Crumb]

You know what, I have figured out the most dangerous thing to the Kerry campaign.

 

His stupid ass family.

 

You can't blame John for this Mike, it's his family is so god damn gone mentally that he has lost control of them.

 

I won't blame George for the actions of his stupid family so I won't blame John for the actions of his stupid family.

She was there on behalf of his campaign.

 

I don't blame him for Terry McAuliffe being the dumbest SOB on the planet --- but I do blame him for the actions of his campaign people.

-=Mike

 

Yeah, but he's lost control of his family. I doubt he knew she WAS in the campaign. His batty wife probably hired her.

 

I'd be afraid if that was my family.

So why should he expect us to vote for him to lead the country if he can't even keep his own family from saying stupid shit during an election?