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Originally posted by Mike F+Jul 31 2004, 12:00 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Mike F @ Jul 31 2004, 12:00 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>
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Originally posted by Cowperson@Jul 30 2004, 01:33 PM
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@Jul 30 2004, 08:24 PM
Kerry would never have even made the mistake in the first place of trying to invade Iraq which is what p*ssed of all the allies, inlcuding us.
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If I'm not mistaken, he voted in favour of action in Iraq.
Cowperson
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Kerry and Edwards voted to give Bush authorization to take military action (i.e. he voted for
a war), but he could probably make an argument that he didn't vote for
this war -- a war with an extremely limited coalition against the wishes of the United Nations.
The Joint Resolution authorizing force passed on Oct 11, 2002 providing
"Expresses support for the President's efforts to: (1) strictly enforce through the United Nations Security Council all relevant Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq; and (2) obtain prompt and decisive action by the Security Council to ensure that Iraq abandons its strategy of delay, evasion, and noncompliance and promptly and strictly complies with all relevant Security Council resolutions" Link
Using that support Bush then went to the UN and got
Resolution 1441 passed on Nov 8, 2002, which lead to inspectors being allowed back into the country who were given greater cooperation than at any previous time. However this wasn't enough for the Bush admin. They went back to the UN on Feb 5, 2003 to try to get a second resolution which they failed to get, and never went back to Congress, starting the war on March 20.
So if I were Kerry I'd argue that I'd given Bush the authority so he could go to the international community and build a consensus, which was achieved with 1441. When Bush went to war without international support or an express resolution he should have gone back to Congress for authorization to launch unilateral action. He didn't and Kerry never had a chance to approve or disapprove of this war. [/b][/quote]
The average American voter would just view that as tap dancing. The GOP, in particular, would view that argument as an opportunity and not a calamity. They'd beat him over the head with it like he was a baby seal.
Politically, he's just better off saying "I voted for the war but I used another vote to protest."
Just my opinion. And I'm hoping Kerry wins.
Cowperson