[Peace-discuss] Kerry Faults Bush on Iraq, Draws Heckler

[C. G. Estabrook]

[Am I right in thinking that most of us would be on the "heckler's" side?}

	Kerry Faults Bush on Iraq, Draws Heckler
	By MIKE GLOVER, Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK - Democrat John Kerry faulted President Bush for a unilateral
approach toward Iraq that has created greater dangers for the U.S.
military, but the presidential candidate was heckled Wednesday for failing
to back the immediate withdrawal of American forces.

"We shouldn't only be tough, we have to be smart. And there's a smarter
way to accomplish this mission than this president is pursuing," the
four-term Massachusetts senator told reporters at City College of New York
following an education event.

Kerry backed the 2002 congressional resolution authorizing the president
to use force in Iraq, but since then has been harshly critical of Bush's
foreign policy. Maintaining his support for the military operation while
challenging the Republican incumbent -- and appealing to the Democratic
base -- has proven to be a tough dilemma for Kerry, evident by Wednesday's
events.

During a question-and-answer session with the audience, retired college
professor Walter Daum angrily accused Kerry of backing an imperialist
policy in Iraq and called on the candidate to demand the immediate
withdrawal of U.S. troops.

"You voted for this," Daum shouted. As he spoke, a group stood silently
and unfurled a large sign that read, "Kerry take a stand: Troops out now."

"You're not listening," an exasperated Kerry said at one point.

Later, speaking with reporters, Kerry dismissed the notion of withdrawing
American forces and indicated that if U.S. generals and other senior
officials say they need more troops, he would back such a move. Bush at
his news conference Tuesday night said he would support an increase in the
military presence in Iraq.

"I think the vast majority of the American people understand that it's
important to not just cut and run," Kerry said. "I don't believe in a
cut-and-run philosophy"...

[This is the man who made much of his 1971 mot, "How do you ask a man to
be the last man to die for a mistake?"  That of course assumes that the US
assault on S. Vietnam (and by extension, the assault on Iraq) was a
mistake -- it wasn't -- but Kerry is certainly singing a different tune
today. --CGE]