The Hill's Blog Briefing Room » Kerry: On Sept. 11 We Were at Peace

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May 30, 2008

Kerry: On Sept. 11 We Were at Peace

@ 11:21 am by Andy Barr

Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) believes that on September 11 "we were basically at peace."

Asked to clarify his remarks, specifically asking about the attacks on the U.S.S. Cole during Barack Obama campaign conference call, Kerry said, "well, we hadn't declared war," The Hill's Sam Youngman reports.

Asked if al Qaeda was a threat at the time, the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee said, "well yes, obviously they were a threat. But, fundamentally we were not at war at that point in time."

Kerry also called John McCain "out of step with history and facts."

UPDATE: Responding to Kerry's claim, RNC spokesman Danny Diaz said: "It’s absolutely critical that the next Commander in Chief understands the challenges America faces. Yet it’s clear that Barack Obama has a thin understanding of history and fails to grasp the threat of terrorism."

"After a week’s worth of examples demonstrating Obama’s lack of preparedness to serve as president, his campaign is understandably desperate to shift the focus. Considering it’s now been 873 days since Obama visited Iraq, any suggestion that he even understands what’s happening on the ground is laughable."

Archived under: Campaigns, News, Presidential Campaigns
Tags: Barack Obama, John Kerry, John McCain

339 Comments »

The Hill welcomes comment from anyone and will almost always post it whether it is favorable or critical, as long as it is substantive and advances debate.

The Great Uniferer is a joke. The man is in way over his head.

Comment by robert trajan — May 30, 2008 @ 1:33 pm
First - Kerry is an idiot. We were not at war because we had not declared war? Ask the people at Pearl Harbor way back when on a Sunday about that one.

How completely out of touch are these left wing nutbags?

Comment by Robert NYC — May 30, 2008 @ 1:33 pm
Why do these people do this to themselves? We were 'at peace' on Sept 11? That is clearly the type of thinking that enabled the events of Sept 11 to occur as they did.

Comment by Dan — May 30, 2008 @ 1:34 pm
…..and, "I voted for the war before I voted against", or was it the other way around? Anyway, I am for the direction the political wind is blowing, I am certain of that,…I think.

John Kerry

Comment by John Gersper — May 30, 2008 @ 1:35 pm
Wow, this guy is think-headed. He says dumb things over and over again.

Intellectual? Did you know that 'W' got a better final grade point average at Yale than Kerry? Bet you didn't.

Comment by Anti-Kerry — May 30, 2008 @ 1:37 pm
It's ashame our politicians are so partisan now they can't even say al Qaeda is, and was, a threat prior to 2001 and prior to the 2004 election. That tap dance Kerry just did is the prime example of the problem plaguing Washington.

Comment by Hugh — May 30, 2008 @ 1:37 pm
??WHAT!?? IS THIS GUY SERIOUS? WE WERE AT PEACE WHEN 3,000 PEOPLE WERE MURDERED? WELL MAYBE MR KERRY WAS AT PEACE BUT I KNOW THAT THE FAMILIES OF THOSE VICTIMS WERE NOT AT PEACE NOT KNOWING WHETHER THEIR LOVED ONES WERE LIVING OR DEAD. GET A GRIP ON REALITY!

Comment by Scott — May 30, 2008 @ 1:38 pm
I'm guessing that John Kerry would also say that on December 7, 1941 "well, we hadn't declared war," either…

Why are all politicians brain dead twits?

Comment by Jeff — May 30, 2008 @ 1:38 pm
This is why I'm glad Kerry didn't becom president. Or for that matter any Democrat should. Their understading of peace is when WE have not declared war, not when your enemies declared war against you, whether your like or not, whether you accepted it or not. Bin Laden and al-Qaeda declared war on the US SINCE THE EARLY 90s! I guess, according to Kerry that means we were at peace.

Comment by J. Amoros — May 30, 2008 @ 1:39 pm
You Drudge right wingers are just as out of touch as the left wingers. All of you thinking within the confines of such a limited framework are being played for the sheep they think you are. They're all the same ON THE ISSUES THEY DO ANYTHING ABOUT. We're sitting in the seats of the theatre watching a play… and most of us don't even know it.

Comment by mindctrl — May 30, 2008 @ 1:39 pm
Are libs really this out of touch? No doubt Al Qaeda–what's left of them–are praying that Obamalamadingdong is elected in the fall.

Comment by Jack Sprat — May 30, 2008 @ 1:39 pm
yes, we were at war….how many people had even heard of Al Queda before 9/11? Obvisoulsy not he Bush administration. Dick Cheney was negoatiating with them three weeks before 9/11 to try and get an oil pipeline through Afghanistan. would he do that if we were at war with them?

Comment by mark in nyc — May 30, 2008 @ 1:41 pm
The day after 9-11 Barrach would have wanted to sit down for tea with Saddam and "discuss" what to do next…The Chicago Towers would be gone before he got back!

Comment by Tio Don — May 30, 2008 @ 1:41 pm
yes, we were at peace….how many people had even heard of Al Queda before 9/11? Obvisoulsy not he Bush administration. Dick Cheney was negoatiating with them three weeks before 9/11 to try and get an oil pipeline through Afghanistan. would he do that if we were at war with them?

Comment by mark in nyc — May 30, 2008 @ 1:41 pm
The Great Uniferer is a joke. The man is in way over his head.

I agree with Robert.

Did you hear that Susan Sarandon will leave the USA if McCain is elected?

McCain in 2008!

Comment by John Gersper — May 30, 2008 @ 1:42 pm
What good is it to be a peace when the other guy isn't?

Comment by Pat — May 30, 2008 @ 1:42 pm
This is the ultimate proof. If this man managed to become a US senator and run for the presidency, this country is in deep trouble.
The average IQ must be some where around room temperature, shame on us. It is we who vote for those people.

Comment by Jay — May 30, 2008 @ 1:45 pm
This shows you the depth and breadth of focus and concern for American lives and national security, yet Kerry and his party get a huge pass for the Americn Blood spilled almost unceasingly during the 1990s alone. No Jawn Karryesque revulsion; no Mall marches by leftist rich kids, no intellectually condescending programs like Maher, no war, no marches, no outrage.

His party successfully removed from the media and American mindset. That Bush inherited malfeasance is bad enough, but to here this Kerry pie hole yet again, is intollerable.

President Bush's speech at the Knesset upset the right people who made an unsolicited and vehement defense of their own appeasing cowardice-yet were never accused of anything. Voters need to very closely remember the 1990s and the fact of two world trade centers, and a President who was the Governor of Texas during this period and inherited everything.

Comment by vincenzo4 — May 30, 2008 @ 1:46 pm
What can you say by the esteemed Senator from Mass. He obviously lives in a world where reality and facts have no bearing. Senator it's YOU who are out of step with history and facts not Sen McCain.

Comment by RT — May 30, 2008 @ 1:48 pm
It's unfortunate but it's actually going to take an event far worse than 9/11 to motivate the people and the politicians of our great nation to actually do something about this threat. Until then you and I are just sitting ducks.

Comment by JW — May 30, 2008 @ 1:51 pm
Mr Kerry. OUR planes and those belonging to the British military were being shot at weekly in the NO-FLY zones of Iraq.

Of course YOU may have been at peace but WE were NOT.

Poor fool. Sometimes people act JUST LIKE THEY LOOK.

Comment by josef — May 30, 2008 @ 2:23 pm
What an dipsh*t! Go spend your wife's money or marry another that has more. Life must be great in lala-land…….

Comment by chester — May 30, 2008 @ 2:23 pm
Kerry is a real horse's **s!

Comment by Al — May 30, 2008 @ 2:24 pm
Libs = Idiots

Comment by Doofy — May 30, 2008 @ 2:26 pm
Kerry says we were at peace?

You have to remember that Kerry said that terrorism should be treated as "an inconvenience, like gambling and prostitution".

That is how they still want to treat terrorism. The only problem is, how do you arrest suicide bombers? Do you read them their Miranda Rights after they have blown themselves up?

Comment by NRR — May 30, 2008 @ 2:27 pm
Well, at least he's half right; At 8:44 a.m. we were at peace. At 8:45 a.m. we were at war.

Comment by John — May 30, 2008 @ 2:27 pm
This is why liberals like Kerry and Obama cannot be trusted with national security. Islamic terrorists have been at war with the USA since at least the mid-1970's. We just blindly refused to recognize it until after 9/11. The liberals STILL refuse to recognize that these people want to force us all to convert to Islam or kill every one of us. It has nothing to do with our behavior, including our support for Israel. It has everything to do with their own twisted, 7th century religion. You cannot negotiate with people who at the end of the day want you dead. Kill them or be killed, folks!

Comment by Swamp Dog in FL — May 30, 2008 @ 2:30 pm
Diaz is a baboon speaking for the monkey.

Comment by Pierre — May 30, 2008 @ 2:30 pm
Unfortunately, the next time we are attacked by those all too happy to die for the chance to destroy our way of life it will not be in Washington DC and Kerry and company will still be at peace and the rest of us will be left to fight the war on their behalf.

Comment by Spoker — May 30, 2008 @ 2:34 pm
Well, well, well!

The junior douch nozzle from the socialist/neo-pinko state of Taxachusettes again makes sure that everyone but everyone remembers what a complete fool he is…

Apparently the '93 bombing of the WTC meant nothing to hime…

Comment by juandos — May 30, 2008 @ 2:35 pm
We were at peace on sept 11?This guy is a leftwing nutbag!!!!.America is never at peace aslong as theres nuts in Iran,north korea al aqueda chavez or some loony who has black death in a vile.Always keep on your toes and be vigillant thats the lesson learned on 9-11.Relaxing and thinking theres peace in the world is whats going to get you killed by a suicide bomber when you least expected.Thats why now terrorist cant hijack airplanes they know the passengers would jump them and beat the crap out of them.Either that or die killing hundreds more.

Comment by tyrone — May 30, 2008 @ 2:37 pm
WE WERE AT PEACE BEFORE WE WERE AT WAR - I THINK

Comment by WW5 — May 30, 2008 @ 2:38 pm
7 years removed from that fateful September day…. and this country is seriously considering electing as President a man with the middle name Hussein. I really believe about 30% of this country wants to see it fall.

Comment by Tab — May 30, 2008 @ 2:40 pm
The man in the idiot seat on 9-11-01 was George W Bush not that he did not have lots of help from the likes of Dick Cheney and Don Rumsfield. but on 9-11 it did not matter if Kerry was or was not an idiot, idiot.

Comment by cwm — May 30, 2008 @ 2:41 pm
This country is never at peace when the global class war rages on. The economic policies of this country are in essence an act of war on all fronts, hence the hatred of millions before those planes hit those towers. The subversion of foriegn governments, proxy wars, covert action are all acts of war, albeit surreptiously. At peace Kerry says, what a joke from a clueless man who could screw up a church bake sale. This coming from the man who failed to find anything wrong in his BCCI investigation when laundered money and drugs were pouring into this country from every open orafice. He is either patently ignorant or a paid operative of the left wing of the CIA, either way a shameful part of this country's history and government.

Comment by Geezer Batflabe — May 30, 2008 @ 2:41 pm
Even if you think the war in Iraq is a mistake, you should be up to date on terrorism. Do these guys have any intellectual curiousity at all? How has someone running for president managed not to go to Iraq in that long? Do you have any respect for the American people? If you did, you would be informed on the biggest issue of the day. Obama is a stage show. From the big crowds to the exciting speeches. It is a show. There is no depth, no ability to be thoughtful without a script, nothing.

Comment by Jason — May 30, 2008 @ 2:41 pm
AI

You have insulted my horse by your unfair comparison with Lurch and my horses South end as he heads North.

Cowboy

Comment by Mark Blacker — May 30, 2008 @ 2:41 pm
Is this the same idiot that actually ran for President. Say what you want about Mr. Bush he at least has balls to do what needs to be done. Your old news Kerry. Who cares what he has to say,or the Dems for that matter.

Comment by James — May 30, 2008 @ 2:41 pm
I'll help Susan Sarandon keep her promise by voting for McCain

Comment by David — May 30, 2008 @ 2:46 pm
So now the CIA says the enemy is nearly defeated. Either republican spin hoping to keep some semblance of power after a string of failed years of governing…… or they have fallen into a complacency that will end up costing yet another attack on our soil. We need to get more serious minds in DC. Time for change !!!

Comment by SDindependent — May 30, 2008 @ 2:46 pm
You are all fools to vote for McBush.

Comment by Kurt — May 30, 2008 @ 2:46 pm
Oh dear John Kerry. No wonder you were not fit to be Commander in Chief. I wonder if he was at war when he threw his medals at the North Vietnamese.

Comment by Protest Warrior — May 30, 2008 @ 2:48 pm
One December 7, 1941, we were at peace. Until about dawn, local time, in Honolulu.

John Kerry is retarded.

Comment by Bob Williams. — May 30, 2008 @ 2:48 pm
To say Kerry is an idiot is an insult to idiots. Yes, John Gersper, I just read that Susan Sarandon said she would move out of the country if McCain was elected. That comment alone is motive enough to elect McCain. No one cares what she thinks.

Comment by Sandra — May 30, 2008 @ 2:50 pm
Kerry, why are you guys arguing…. wrong campaign the questionable hero of the day is McCain.

Comment by SDindependent — May 30, 2008 @ 2:52 pm
Horray for John Kerry. Still proudly carrying the flag of defeat for the Liberal elite. I'm sure he and other Liberals would have advised against attacking Japan after Pearl Harbor too for fear of "another attack on our soil."

Comment by Protest Warrior — May 30, 2008 @ 2:53 pm
Excuse me, Jean Francois … but were we "at war" when Clinton took time out from his weekly hummer to blow up that aspirin factory?

Oh … that was a Democrat President, wasn't it …. never mind.

Comment by bruce — May 30, 2008 @ 2:54 pm
I didnt..wouldnt, vote for Kerry even after I would never would vote for Bush again,BUT LET ME BRING THIS UPCHUCK UP TO SPEED…

The Cole
Embassy Bombing
WTC Part 1
Millennium Plot

This is why we were attacked,these f'kers have no clue unless a bomb was planted up their a**,but even thats debatable!

Comment by Kelly — May 30, 2008 @ 2:55 pm
And you, Kurt, are a fool to vote for a
man the "mainstream" media is electing for you.
Try some new DNC taglines because McBush is getting
a little worn out…

Comment by Lisa — May 30, 2008 @ 2:55 pm
I guess it depends on what the meaning of "we" is! Sound familiar?

Comment by JAG — May 30, 2008 @ 2:56 pm
John Kerry, the gift that keeps on giving!!! Keep doing, Gigolo John!!!! We are laughing at your stupidity in terms of historical facts. The minute that those planes were hijacked, we were at war. What an embarrassment to MA. I am ashamed!!! Soooo ashamed!!!!!

Comment by Bert in MA — May 30, 2008 @ 3:00 pm
I didnt..wouldnt vote for Kerry even after I would never vote for Bush again,but lets be f'king clear…

The Cole
Embassy Bombing
WTC Part 1
Millennium Plot

We were at peace,but the ass-packers in Washington were asleep!

Comment by Kelly — May 30, 2008 @ 3:00 pm
On 20 Aug 2002 CNN reported they found: "A never-before-seen al Qaeda video obtained by CNN shows Osama bin Laden declaring war against the United States and the West.". Here is the link: http://archives.cnn.com/2002/US/08/19/terror.tape.main/index.html

Kerry again demonstrates why this party of mental midgets must not be allowed in positions of trust and authority. The Republicans are not perfect but I will take a party that does not provide aid and comfort to our enemies in a time of war anyday.

So, I guess as long as WE have not declared war then there is only peace. Someone wake John Lennon and tell him his dream has come true…

Comment by Tim — May 30, 2008 @ 3:01 pm
"how many people had even heard of Al Queda before 9/11?"

I did…I first heard of them and Bin Laden in 1998. And I was just a dumb college student at the time…

Comment by Mike Achertz — May 30, 2008 @ 3:01 pm
Technically, I don't think congress declared war on Iraq, so we are technically not at war now. So what is Kerry complaining about, we weren't at war on 9-11 and we aren't at war now. We are all just living in one peaceful world.

John Kerry, reporting for doody!

Comment by Tim — May 30, 2008 @ 3:04 pm
Hey 53???

How did you know I had "Mind Games" in the CD Player??? freaking eerie dude!

Comment by Kelly — May 30, 2008 @ 3:05 pm
Technically, congress hasn't declared war on Iraq. So we weren't at war on 9-11 and we aren't at war today. We are all just living in one peaceful world.

John Kerry, reporting for doody! What a joke this man is, and what a disgrace he is to the uniform.

Comment by Tim — May 30, 2008 @ 3:06 pm
Of course the good senator was hiding under a desk in Washington D.C. at the time.

Comment by nick — May 30, 2008 @ 3:08 pm
Kerry makes the fuggen case for the Bush second term,and thats fuggen scary man!!!

Comment by Kelly — May 30, 2008 @ 3:09 pm
We are still at peace, and have been since 1941, according to the Kerry / Obama philosophy.
There has been NO official war declared by the US government since 1941.
Korea was not a declared war - thus we were at peace.
Vietnam was not a declared war - thus we were at peace.
Gulf I & II are not declared wars by the US government. Neither is Afghanistan. Does Kerry or Obama care to wiggle further out of their stupid comments?
So far, sounds like Omama won't be ready for his internship on day one.

Comment by kerry's mother — May 30, 2008 @ 3:10 pm
And Now, we are about to elect another idiot that doesn'tknow the difference between Veterans day and Memorial day. Yeah we were at pease Kerry, Your a disgrace.

Comment by JD Houston — May 30, 2008 @ 3:11 pm
No. 40 - "So now the CIA says the enemy is nearly defeated. Either republican spin hoping to keep some semblance of power after a string of failed years of governing…… or they have fallen into a complacency that will end up costing yet another attack on our soil."

or it is entirely correct but you prefer to continue giving the benefit of the doubt to our enemies. liberals have been criticizing the war effort from the beginning and essentially trying to make failure a self-fulfilling prophesy - all in order to hurt their political opponents.

democrats are ON RECORD saying that success in iraq is bad for them. (by the way - "success in iraq" means when usa is winning the war - its a shame that needs to be clarified)

Comment by Michael — May 30, 2008 @ 3:11 pm
What's so hard to understand. The day before Sept. 11th and Dec. 7th, we had declared war on NO ONE. Until you declare war on someone, you are at peace. That doesn't mean you are not aware of trouble in the world….but until you declare war and engage, you are technically at peace.

Comment by micneil — May 30, 2008 @ 3:12 pm
Mark in NYC needs to get his facts straight. The Oil Pipeline was negotiated and abandoned during the Clinton presidency.

Comment by Darin Cox — May 30, 2008 @ 3:13 pm
Asked if al Qaeda was a threat at the time, the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee said, "well yes, obviously they were a threat. But, fundamentally we were not at war at that point in time."
We were not at war in 2004? Ok wtf is he smoking I want sum.lmao. tell that to the 200,000 anti war marchers JOHN!!.Remember them? they had posters of saddam as a hero victim and Bush as Hitler.

Comment by tyrone — May 30, 2008 @ 3:20 pm
micneil

I disagree with your logic. If someone declares war against your country and vowed to destroy you, you are at war. If poloiticians have yet to recognize it, you are already there.

If someone hits you in the face, you are in a fight, even if you do not wish it.

Comment by Darin Cox — May 30, 2008 @ 3:20 pm
So in one news cycle we've gotten to see Hillary Clinton quaffing straight whiskey, Barack O'bama admitting he doesn't know the difference bewteen Auschwitz and Ohrdruf/Buchenwald, British newspapers identifying a screenshot from a video game as an Al Queda computer simulation, and now John F. Kerry stating that come September 11 (a odd date to pick) we are magically no longer at war just because he says so.

Isn't there ANYTHING that the liberals get right? No wonder Hillary needed a drink and Ted Kennedy would rather go sailing.

Comment by Squonkamatic — May 30, 2008 @ 3:21 pm
"yes, we were at peace….how many people had even heard of Al Queda before 9/11? Obvisoulsy not he Bush administration. Dick Cheney was negoatiating with them three weeks before 9/11 to try and get an oil pipeline through Afghanistan. would he do that if we were at war with them?

Comment by mark in nyc — May 30, 2008 @ 1:41 pm"

Mark you a fool it was the Clinto administration that expored the possibility of a pipeline years earlier. It was dismissed and never raised again, stop getting your "facts" from Micahel Moore you make even intelligent liberals look bad. To the poster who said "we're all watching a play" soo true because both sides are just "playing" an incredibly dumbed down population…

Comment by Pablo — May 30, 2008 @ 3:37 pm
Bush had taken more vacation time than any other president in US history during his first 9 months in office. Sounds like he was really acknowledging that we were at war. But hey, the right wing propoganda machine is impressive.
You oligarch extremists can keep voting and paying taxes to sustain this corporate coup of the last 8 years. Hopefully with Obama we'll get some balance back.

Comment by brian — May 30, 2008 @ 3:38 pm
Umm…OK, we all can agree that John Kerry has the charisma of a used tea bag. But let me ask two questions to all of the right wingers that have scrolled down far enough in the comments to get to my two cents:

1) Who attacked the United States on September 11?

2) Who did the United states invade a little over 5 years ago after conflated intelligence reports, massaging data, and flat out lying about their connections to 9/11 and their possession of WMD's?

Until you righties honestly assess the answers to these questions, you all have less than no credibility with regards to anything you say about the mess the United States currently finds themselves in. Sorry, but credibility must be earned and once lost, it actually takes some work to be regained.

Comment by Mike — May 30, 2008 @ 3:41 pm
1984: Muslims bombed US embassy in Beirut, Lebanon
1985: Muslims bombed restaurant in Madrid, Spain; Muslims hijacked TWA flight 847 en route from Athens to Rome; Muslims hijacked cruise ship Achille Lauro; Muslims bombed airports in Rome and Vienna
1986: Muslims bombed TWA flight 840 en route from Rome to Athens; Muslims bombed a disco in Berlin
1988: Muslims bombed passenger jet above Lockerbie, Scotland
1993: Muslims bombed the World Trade Center
1995: Muslims bombed Paris subway
1996: Muslims bombed barracks in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
1998: Muslims bombed embassies in Kenya and Tanzania
2000: Muslims bombed the USS Cole in Yemen
2001: September 11

I wonder what definition Kerry is using for the word "peace"? Perhaps the same parsing of the word as when Bill Clinton said, "it depends on what the meaning of the word 'is' is."

*** apologies if this appears more than once. Kept getting "timed out" message when hitting the Submit Comment button. ***

Comment by david drake — May 30, 2008 @ 3:52 pm
Further proof that senators should not be elected president of the United States. All three candidates are unqualified. I'm voting Obama, just so he can take all the blame for a change. Outcome will be the same regardless, as long as we don't become a socialist country under him.

Comment by steve in k.c. — May 30, 2008 @ 3:55 pm
John Kerry is a jack@$$.

Comment by Brent Woodard — May 30, 2008 @ 3:55 pm
I was a young soldier in 1988, When it came across the radio that Iran had declared war on the U.S. Wake up America! Iraq is the launching pad into Iran.Duh??We are at war every day ask Red China.

Comment by Mike — May 30, 2008 @ 3:56 pm
Is this guy for real!!!??? We have been at war w/ Islam ever since the Muslim Hordes since they were pushed back from the gates of Vienna. WAKE UP!

Comment by Mark Nine — May 30, 2008 @ 4:00 pm
What an ass…Kerry,Obama, Clinton, Gore and McClellan should room together next semester at Catatonic State University.

Comment by MDWhite — May 30, 2008 @ 4:03 pm
Anybody notice that any liberal sympathizers who comment go straight to conspiracy theories and blame America for the terrorists' actions? They need to put the bong and Noam Chomsky books down. How could Cheney negotiate with Al Qeada to lay an oil pipeline?!? Al Qeada isn't exactly in the oil business, look it up retards - from a credible source not some Daily Koz piece written on an acid trip. Once again, put the bongs down and quit chasing purple dragons.

Comment by Ron — May 30, 2008 @ 4:03 pm
Too Funny ! Bozo Kerry… The dude who fragged his own butt, with his own hand grenade, and then gave himself another Purple Heart! Then there's 'Mikey' with the looney left lie of NO WMD's in Iraq. He doesn't remember that Sadam used WMD's on Iran and his own people… Therefore he had them! The fact that they were gone by the time coalition forces took over doesn't mean they never existed. He also forgets that Iraq was firing on US and coalition aircraft daily. 'Mikey' and Kerry… same room temperature IQ. LMAO !

Comment by Oracle Magnus — May 30, 2008 @ 4:04 pm
Why do all of you McCainiacs think he is so wonderful and will not give John Kerry credit for his service during the time of war? Who are you to judge who is the greater hero? Are you so brave or do you hide behind a computer? If an opinion doesn't agree with yours,that doesn't make you judge and jury. You people are just not very kind for all of your so called Christian ethics.

Comment by LaDonna in WV — May 30, 2008 @ 4:04 pm
Kerry is as much a dim bulb as always. God help us if Obama & the liberals make it into the White House. Surely Kerry and his crowd have not forgotten all the terror attacks on the US since the bombing of the Marine barracks in Lebanon in 1984? Oh sorry, maybe we should have talked more with the bad guys. Lock and load is the only way…………

Comment by Bill Johnston — May 30, 2008 @ 4:05 pm
Don't be so hard on the guy… he was voted in along with Kennedy because the people of the state of Mass. are IDIOTS and cannot think for themselves… the DNC make up their minds for them.
put this on the NATIONAL ballot in Nov:
TERM LIMITS!!!!!!

Comment by Mary — May 30, 2008 @ 4:06 pm
Obama is laughing and lying all the way to the nomination. It's an embarrassment to the DEMOCRATIC Party that someone so naive and inexperienced be nominated.

As for KERRY, he has always been a lightweight buffoon and his inaccurate comments are no surprise. He is fortunate that there are no alternatives to run against him in Mass. His popularity is on a par with our failed governor, Deval Patrick.

Comment by Steve from Boston — May 30, 2008 @ 4:06 pm
The scariest part is how close Kerry came to being elected…he is a complete clown and a major league grifter…Heinz's body wasn't even cold before he was moving in on Teresa.

Keep talking Kerry…you and the gaffe machine Obama will talk yourselves right out of winning in November with comments like this and

Comment by nhm — May 30, 2008 @ 4:06 pm
Spoken like a true liberal.The amazing thing is his arrogance won't let his inner voice allert him to the insanity of the comment. Liberalism is indeed a mental illness. Just think what we haven't heard from Barack Hussein Obama. He wants to slow all weapons developement,abandon mutual destruction strategy,shrink defense budget,so social programs can have more money. In other words stop inforceing basic duty of the government according to the constitution.

Comment by NOSTROMO — May 30, 2008 @ 4:08 pm
Suggest all our politicians read "Why We Want to Kill You" by Walid Shoebat.His website is http://www.shoebat.com As a former terrorist he knows they are at war with us now AND before 9/11. Kerry, Obama, etc. can put their heads in the sand but that does not mean the war by the terrorist did not and does not exist. As Americans we need to open our eyes before it is too late.

Comment by Rich Handy — May 30, 2008 @ 4:08 pm
The question becomes who is the best man to lead our future? McCain is an ex POW during the Viet Nam war. How does one become a POW. Well, it's by making mistakes and being stupid. He is not a hero. I'm sorry but my hero's are not losers. He is no better than Saddam who was also a POW. Only losers are POW's. He was in a war we lost. He lost twice against that retard(BUSH). He is a natural born loser. Anyone who votes for this loser must not know what a hero really is.

Comment by Main Man — May 30, 2008 @ 4:08 pm
So let me get this we were at war before we were at peace or we were at peace before we were at war- I think I heard him say something like that before- let me try to remember

Comment by joeysusa — May 30, 2008 @ 4:09 pm
it's really to bad that 'we the people' can't do SOMETHING to rid ourselves of this STUPIDITY that we call government representation. i know there is election day BUT you have to have someone on the ballot who's brain is actually alive and functioning. whatever happened to government BY the people FOR the people? if term limits are exercised at the ballot box then WHY HE** do the SAME MORONS KEEP GETTING ELECTED? talk about conspiracy theory, all the elections are rigged to keep these STUPID IDIOTS in office!and there ALL MILLIONARS ON TOP OF THAT, DAMN ! W T F ?

Comment by JETHRO — May 30, 2008 @ 4:09 pm
To Mike #70 UN Resolution 1441 covers all your answers but not to your liking I am sure.

"Adopted unanimously by the Security Council at its 4644th meeting, on 8 November 2002″

Not just WMD but Long Range Missiles and on and on… however you have but one drum with one stick and can play but one tune and when confronted with TRUTH will no doubt call names ie: neo-con and the likes so I will sit back and listen and wait while you reread the Resolutions as there were 14 of them that Iraq was violating on purpose while shooting at our planes and our allies planes in the no fly zones established after he GASSED his people with WMD and whipped out almost an entire area of his country but you know what, stick with BUSH lied and they did not attack our Towers because we can't do two things at one time.
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/United_Nations_Security_Council_Resolution_1441

Comment by Gandalff — May 30, 2008 @ 4:10 pm
This guy is clueless. Obviously the sun at Aspen or wherever has taken a toll on him. He's a 20th century dinosaur.

Comment by chico — May 30, 2008 @ 4:10 pm
Wow. What does it take to get a liberal to see that we are in danger and arent at peace?
Just because it wasn't "declared a war" doesnt mean we are "at peace."
Im pretty sure that as I watched this unfold in my history class, I thought we were at war with who ever did this. It didnt need to be declared. It was just a given. When so many innocent American civilans die by the hands of terrorists, we are not at peace.

Comment by Goldwater — May 30, 2008 @ 4:11 pm
Mans eating to much Ketchup

Comment by joeysusa — May 30, 2008 @ 4:11 pm
We were at peace on 9/11/2001 until about 8am EST. RIP John Kerry's frontal lobes.

Comment by Proteus — May 30, 2008 @ 4:11 pm
We were at peace. Unfortunately for us, Al-Qaeda was not.

Comment by Michael — May 30, 2008 @ 4:12 pm
Kerry is a lost ball in Tall weeds. Why does anyone bother.

Comment by Daniel — May 30, 2008 @ 4:12 pm
This is actually a good point given that for nine months the Bush Administration was not addressing terrorism at all. Many factual accounts have revealed that it was ignoring information and stalling on intellegence. So, as Kerry's words–often unfortunate as they tend to be–are abridged in this article; he is saying that Bush was sitting blind to a gathering threat and the 9/11 attack is being used for politcal gain.

Comment by Kelly — May 30, 2008 @ 4:12 pm
Bush had a better grade point at Yale? Considering Bush rarely studied or went to his classes, Kerry is looking dumber everyday.

Comment by Charles in Texas — May 30, 2008 @ 4:12 pm
Looks like the uneducated drudge readers are here again. I guess they can't accept that 9/11 happened on Bush's watch or that Bush has spent more than any democrat in history. Prepare for an Obama presidency RW'ers. You've had 8 years to be conservative but instead your President has proved more destructive than any in US history. Time for change.

Comment by Rich Johnson — May 30, 2008 @ 4:13 pm
Talk about having your head in the sand. He probably believes the U.S, deserved the 9/11 attackes. "The chicken has come home to roost" Thank god this blame America first, left wing liberial was not elected president. I can't imagin counting on him to ptotect us and our way of life.

Comment by Fred — May 30, 2008 @ 4:14 pm
Kerry is the most pathetic excuse for a man. He even steals the fortunes from a dead Republican. He should resign and catch butterflies in Europe.

This loser brought his own camera to Vietnam to capture his courageous efforts to use as propaganda as he plotted his own "JFK" presidency. What he did capture was a butt full of lead and a yellow belly. This calculating idiot does not deserve any attention when it comes to opinions regarding the fate of America.

You're soooo over, dude!

Comment by Greg Hodson — May 30, 2008 @ 4:14 pm
Atually, I think we should get out of Iraq–by moving troops about 1500 miles south to Saudi Arabia ( where Osama grew up) and appropriating the oil fields from the the very same people that continue to not be our friends. New oil prices are as follows: America: $10 per barrel; France and Germany and pretty much of the rest of Europe with the exception any nation who actually sent troops to Iraq to help us: $250 per barrel. China: no oil at any price, we'll have to fight them soon enough. Of course, we will entirely deplete the oil fields before moving the troops to another spot, say, Venuzuela.

Comment by Miguel — May 30, 2008 @ 4:15 pm
I never knew that the Hill was a place of spew hate. I think what Kerry said is ridiculous, but you people sound like Rev. Wright! No wonder no one can get anything done in the gov!! They've to appease two sides hurling vitriol at each other. There's no time to make any real progress anywhere! When will we wake up and realize that almost everyone in the debate has a reason for their stance and only we the people can pull this country together. What you're spouting here will only make us weaker, republicans, democrats, and all the rest. Please take a vacation from the blogosphere and refresh your outlook.

Comment by mike — May 30, 2008 @ 4:15 pm
I think he should check himself in with Kennedy must have a BRAIN TUMOR

Comment by joeysusa — May 30, 2008 @ 4:16 pm
John Kerry is apparently a proud member of the September 10th Club… "remember when" and all will be better… it's sad that the horrific 9/11 events are already fading from some people's minds… but that kind of thinking has an unfortunate way of rectifying itself…

http://www.FRedStates.com
Your Anti Obama Superstore

Comment by FRedStates.com — May 30, 2008 @ 4:16 pm
Kerry is right: The "War on Terror" is a creation of the right wing. One attack does not a war make. Comparisons to Pearl Harbor are ridiculous: Pearl Harbor was an attack on our military by a foreign military and 9/11 was a criminal act committed by a small group of terrorists without official state connections.

People in this country need to wake up to the fact that consumer safety, health care, and the environment are much bigger issues that terrorism. Far more people are killed by inadaquate health care, car accidents, and polution than have ever been killed by terrorism.

I'm not saying that stopping terrorists isn't an important issue: it is. However, devoting such a huge portion of our countries resources to this problem is missing the point. It's great rhetoric but terrible policy.

I live in NYC (and was in Lodnon for the subway attacks there) and if one more person from a red state tells me that more of my tax dollars need to be spent on counterterrorism, my head is going to explode. This is a threat that I face everyday without fear, because I know the chances of me being killed by a terrorist are much slimmer then me being killed by cancer from inadaquately inspected Chinese products or a car driven by a drunken idiot from New Jersey.

Comment by Matt — May 30, 2008 @ 4:17 pm
I guess the reason that Danny Diaz made the statement that, "It’s absolutely critical that the next Commander in Chief understands the challenges America faces. " is because our present Commander in Chief didn't. dC

Comment by d Charriere — May 30, 2008 @ 4:18 pm
Uh… LaDonna. You might want to read your post again and substitute LaDonnaites in for McCainiacs.

Comment by Amazed — May 30, 2008 @ 4:18 pm
Will someone please entertain Term-Limits so we can flush the Kerry's of the world! We simply deserve better but the current system allows for career ploiticians serving their self interest vs. the people. Kerry is absolutely lost. it is embarrasing. I really dont understand why MA voters keep voting in these brain-donors.

Comment by Wendy — May 30, 2008 @ 4:18 pm
christians bombed korea
christians bombed cambodia
christians bombed vietnam
christians bombed grenada
christians bombed the falklands
christians bombed panama
chriatians bombed Iraq
christians bombed kosovo

Comment by dave — May 30, 2008 @ 4:19 pm
A real patriot who fought in a war and wasnt shot down and tortured to give up secrets like McSame. John Kerry has the right to say what he feels he's an authentic war hero.

Obama 08

Comment by Mike — May 30, 2008 @ 4:21 pm
Dear mindctrl: If there is any party of "one mindset" it's the Democrats/Leftists/Liberals. I have never seen one group of people fall so in line with their party tells them, deny facts, look the other way at indecisiveness or hate speech and simply just be 100% wrong on practically every issue. Wanna see "mind numb robots"? attend any Anti-War/Pro-Socialist rally or global warming conference. Talk about "Sheep-le".

John Kerry represents the kind of thinking that will get us all killed and stands as a perfect example of why today's Democrats can't be trusted with ensuring the peace and security of the United States.

Comment by VoiceofReason — May 30, 2008 @ 4:21 pm
Matt I only HOPE that you mother father wife and kids are at the city that gets hit by terrorist who are only a small problem- check yourself in with Kennedy and Kerry you to must have a BRAIN TUMOR-if you have any brain in your head-

Comment by joeysusa — May 30, 2008 @ 4:22 pm
Maybe Kerry understands the events of 9/11 were not the acts of Islamic extremist terrorists.

Comment by Jim — May 30, 2008 @ 4:24 pm
Voiceofreason is right!! Nevermind the fact that 9/11 occurred on Bush's watch or that he has spent more money than any democrat in history. Nevermind that he has mismanaged every regulatory agency in the government. The democrats 'peace and prosperity' of the 90's was a lie!!

Lets vote for McBush, 4 more years of GREAT economic prosperity!!

Comment by Hero — May 30, 2008 @ 4:24 pm
Who is Kerry again?

Comment by ducster — May 30, 2008 @ 4:25 pm
John Kerry makes me wonder why God created so many more horse's asses than He did horses!!

Comment by Gene Lalor — May 30, 2008 @ 4:26 pm
"Matt I only HOPE that you mother father wife and kids are at the city that gets hit by terrorist who are only a small problem- check yourself in with Kennedy and Kerry you to must have a BRAIN TUMOR-if you have any brain in your head-"

You must be one of those nice RW'ers O'reilly talks about in contrast to those nasty liberals who attacked Tony Snow!!

Comment by Hero — May 30, 2008 @ 4:26 pm
It all makes sense to me now, finally. This is the same John Kerry that walks into convenience stores around Boston, steps right to the front of the line of customers, and when called on it responds with; Don't you know who I am? He's so out of it that he's abandoned reality. All he is is an opportunist - at best. After Viet Nam he capitalized on the anti-war sentiment by telling of his first hand knowledge of war attrocities commited by American soldiers, which helped him garner favor with the ultra left. His last opportunist move was to marry a rich woman, who once convinced she could be queen of America if she would simply help him become president.

Last note on his testimony before the Congress during Viet Nam; he should've been tried since he was an officer that supposedly had seen attrocities, and neglected to act upon it - that's how its' supposed to work, but alas it never does for the rich/wanna be rich/upwardly aspiring trash.

Oh, by the way, Obama - not even worthy of being called a joke - how pitiful we've become.

DieselBoatMan

Comment by DieselBoatMan — May 30, 2008 @ 4:27 pm
The repubtards here don't seem to realize we STILL are not at war. Congress has not declared war, duh. The shrub has engaged in an illegal attack and occupation of Iraq. Meanwhile, bin Laden is laughing his ass off in Afghanistan.

Get a clue FoxNewsTards!

Comment by Dan — May 30, 2008 @ 4:28 pm
I hope most of you would really focus on the true enemies that have as the Harvard study said, "emboldened". What really has happened is the mainstream media has politicized Iraq right after Saddam's collapse. With WMDs (as narrowly defined by the MSM, "an intact nuclear or biological weapon ready to fire"not found and per Saddam he was bluffing, fooling the ENTIRE WORLD, the MSM through their "emboldenment" words,(not my choice but Harvard study that showed the thug/barbarians(my words you call them "insurgents" increased their barbaric attacks 10 to 20% after statements like these that encourage the thug/barbarians to kill more people…
Ted Turner (Founder of CNN news) did the other day "freedom fighters"
Senate Majority Leader!!- Harry Reid(D) "War is lost",
U.S. Rep. John Murtha(D) of Pennsylvania. "Our troops killed innocent civilians in cold blood,” he said.
Senator Kerry (D) "American soldiers going into the homes of Iraqis in the dead of night, terrorizing kids and children. ”http://newsok.com/article/3106232]

The real enemy has been the MSM/Democrat/
that encouraged thug/barbarian to kill more women,children and US troops. All for political gain! Isn't that craven?
If more people realized the quisling puppets the MSM became under the democrat agenda, much of the public would be outraged. Especially with the $29 billion man, Soros funding anti-American orgs, like Moveon.org which has perpetuated the deaths of US troops all so he could short the dollar buy oil with less valued dollars! $2.9 billion in 2007 and do we have any outrage?

Comment by Jim — May 30, 2008 @ 4:29 pm
Hi joeysusa,
How about hoping for no more terror attacks at all? If you are hoping for the deaths of people's families based on their beliefs or opinions–well, you sound like a terrorist. Yikes.

Comment by Kelly — May 30, 2008 @ 4:29 pm
Ok, so technically Palestinians and Israelis are at peace too, as no war has been officially declared.

Comment by carlos e — May 30, 2008 @ 4:29 pm
John Kerry is a total idiot. I am sorry to all of the idiots that I just insulted. He is an embarrasment to this country.

Comment by Rick Blankenship — May 30, 2008 @ 4:29 pm
Uhhh…. we haven't officially declared war on any country. If we did they would be sent into oblivion.

Comment by Jolat — May 30, 2008 @ 4:29 pm
And, according to John Kerrry we were "basically at peace" on December 7, 1941. Hey, John. We were invaded by Muslim fanatics on September 11. Thank God you were swift boated.

Comment by RJ — May 30, 2008 @ 4:29 pm
the Democrats ignore that the fact that it PresJohnFKennedy who escalated the American military intervention in Vietnam, and that there was wholesale slaughter of Vietnamese and Laotians and Cambodians when the Americans pulled out — the same will happen in Iraq when/if we withdraw precipitously, and they know it — Democrats with actual knowledge and understanding of the situation in the MiddleEast know that we cannot just 'pull out' of Iraq, and people should note that the Democrat Congress has not called for such, even though they have the numbers — Democrats are content with the knowledge that PresBush will do the right thing and take the hit politically — responsible Democrats are scared to death that Obama will move into the WhiteHouse and then the Democrats are going to have to face up to the realities of the Islamic extremists, cut or run — Democrats on the campaign trail are sort of like NATO and all those countries who like to beat up on the U.S. but keep their own military budgets low because they know that we have a world-wide presence and will pony up the bucks to keep the good old UN going and make sure that Russia and China don't arm the terrorists and blow up the world … what in the world do you think would happen if the US kicked the UN out of America [let 'em go set up shop with their 'diplomatic immunity' and fine expense accounts in Moscow or Beijing or Havana or Paris], pulled out of NATO and SoKorea, and pulled its military completely back to just our own territory and truly secured/sealed our borders

Comment by Jack Wilson — May 30, 2008 @ 4:30 pm
Rightwingers galore here, showing off their blindspots… As for liberals not being trusted with national security, you may want to remember who exactly was in charge on 9/11. Bush and his GOP congress. Are you really dense enough to believe that "national security" is significantly different from one administration to the next? Kerry was talking about how we didn't have a good excuse to go to war until 9/11. Bush got his wish and declared war on an abstract concept: Terrorism. And then used that impossibility as a rationale to invade Iraq. That was the agenda. Afghanistan was a legitimate invasion, as Bin Laden was there. Iraq was so W could avenge his father's one-term of economic stupidity. Wake up and realize we need a foreign policy that encourages global community and doesn't present the Muslim world as inevitably fanatical and warlike. Al Qaeda's mentality is not the majority opinion in the Muslim world, but the Bush administration doesn't want you to know that…

Comment by JS — May 30, 2008 @ 4:30 pm
Thank you Darren Cox,
as I read the obviously leftist posts,
I thought, the pipeline? GW? Al Qieda?

I was sure that was BillC negotiating with the Taliban to get a pipline from CARs to Pakistan….

the original poster needs to re-read 'The Taliban' by Rashid….

Hanks

Comment by Hankster — May 30, 2008 @ 4:30 pm
Too bad John Kerry wasn't on 82nd floor of WTC 1 around 08:46 on Sept. 11, 2001.

Would he say a plane or two "basically" had an accident?

Comment by Good Ole Boy — May 30, 2008 @ 4:31 pm
whackos,

You gotta remember that bin was so awed by the prowess of the little Phillips Academy cheerleader that he pulled the 9/11 stunt on his watch!

And whackos, bin is still giving the little Cheerleader the finger!

He bad, ( the little Cheerleader) right?

Comment by Wolf Vorkian — May 30, 2008 @ 4:33 pm
Technically we're still not at war and haven't been since Korea. Since then its been nothing but "police actions" because our miserable Congress won't grow a set and just keeps letting the executive branch do whatever the hell they want.

What a joke.

That being said does anyone even care what John Kerry has to say?

Comment by Bob — May 30, 2008 @ 4:33 pm
John Kerry has to be the biggest idiot serving in the US Senate. The man is a loser. Let me make a prediction. B. Hussein Obama will get no more than 100 electoral votes in November. Why? He is an empty suit.

gkp1212, NY

Comment by gkp — May 30, 2008 @ 4:35 pm
IF GOD LOVES AMERICA THEN WHY DID HE CREATE LIBERALS LIKE KERRY?

Comment by CLB — May 30, 2008 @ 4:36 pm
If Bush had been President at the time of Perl Harbor, he would probably have reponded by attacking India.

Comment by BushBasher —

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May 30, 2008

Kerry: On Sept. 11 We Were at Peace

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