By Eric Boehm | Watchdog.org
In 1971, John Kerry was at the center of one of the great anti-war demonstrations in American history. His testimony before Congress was a crucial element in turning public opinion against the war in Vietnam.
On Friday afternoon, Kerry was again giving a much-watched public speech in Washington, D.C. But the one-time “winter soldier” who was willing to straight-talk Congress about the bloody quagmire in Southeast Asia has changed his tune about America’s role in international conflicts.
Here’s three side-by-side comparisons of Kerry in 1971 vs. Kerry in 2013:
In 1971, Kerry said America’s involvement in Vietnam was never about national security:
“In our opinion, and from our experience, there is nothing in South Vietnam, nothing which could happen that realistically threatens the United States of America. And to attempt to justify the loss of one American life in Vietnam, Cambodia, or Laos by linking such loss to the preservation of freedom, which those misfits supposedly abuse is to us the height of criminal hypocrisy, and it is that kind of hypocrisy which we feel has torn this country apart.”
In 2013, Kerry said America’s involvement in Syria was about national security:
“It matters deeply to the credibility and the future interests of the United States of America and our allies…. And make no mistake, in an increasingly complicated world of sectarian and religious extremist violence, what we choose to do or not do matters in real ways to our own security.”
In 1971, Kerry said America lost its sense of morality by bombing villages in Vietnam:
“We rationalized destroying villages in order to save them. We saw America lose her sense of morality as she accepted very coolly a My Lai and refused to give up the image of American soldiers who hand out chocolate bars and chewing gum.”
In 2013, Kerry said America must bomb villages in Syria, because of our sense of morality:
“It is also profoundly about who we are. We are the United States of America. We are the country that has tried, not always successfully, but always tried to honor a set of universal values around which we have organized our lives and our aspirations.
MORE WAR: As Secretary of State, John Kerry laid out the case for America to go to war with Syria.
“This crime against conscience, this crime against humanity, this crime against the most fundamental principles of international community, against the norm of the international community, this matters to us.
“And it matters to who we are. And it matters to leadership and to our credibility in the world.”
In 1971, Kerry said America should stay out of internal civil wars in other nations – no matter how bad they might be – because history shows that is the right thing to do.
“The war will continue. So what I am saying is that yes, there will be some recrimination but far, far less than the 200,000 a year who are murdered by the United States of America, and we can’t go around — President Kennedy said this, many times. He said that the United States simply can’t right every wrong, that we can’t solve the problems of the other 94 percent of mankind. We didn’t go into East Pakistan; we didn’t go into Czechoslovakia. Why then should we feel that we now have the power to solve the internal political struggles of this country?
We have to let them solve their problems while we solve ours and help other people in an altruistic fashion commensurate with our capability. But we have extended that capacity; we have exhausted that capacity, Senator. So I think the question is really moot.”
In 2013, Kerry said America must intervene in what he admits is an internal civil war in another nation, because history shows that is the right thing to do:
“But fatigue does not absolve us of our responsibility. Just longing for peace does not necessarily bring it about. And history would judge us all extraordinarily harshly if we turned a blind eye to a dictator’s wanton use of weapons of mass destruction against all warnings, against all common understanding of decency, these things we do know.
“We also know that we have a president that does what he says that he will do. And he has said, very clearly, that whatever decision he makes in Syria it will bear no resemblance to Afghanistan, Iraq or even Libya. It will not involve any boots on the ground. It will not be open ended. And it will not assume responsibility for a civil war that is already well underway.”
h/t to greg
“When Johnson began bombing North Vietnam and sent the Marines to South Vietnam in early 1965, he had every intention of fighting a limited war.”
http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Vietnam_War.aspx
Gosh, I’m trying to remember, was LBJ a Republican? No matter, I’m sure it was Republicans that got us into WWI & WWII.
@gator69
(1) Viet-nam: LBJ – Democrat
(2) WWII – US joined the the WWII under President F.D.Roosevelt – Democrat (in office since 1933)
(3) WWI – US joined the WWI under President W.Wilson, Democrat again, in office since 1913)
So, gator69, please stop your BS that it was all Republican’s fault.
If you don’t understand that both Republican and Democrat politicians are scum, then you deserve to be sent to Syria as cannon fodder, you brainwashed sheep.
Igor,
Does one of your legs feel strange??? Maybe both of them??
LOL, Igor, what Kuhnkat is saying is that Gator was being sarcastic.
Was he? I didn’t get it.
Yes, he was noting the Dems propensity to blame all things on Repubs and their recent efforts to paint Repubs as warmongers. If you continue to comment here and other other similar places, you’ll become familiar with Gator’s thoughts. I’m 100% certain he knew who was president and their political affiliation when those wars started. No worries.
We could probably add Clinton and Kosovo to the list, as well.
Mmmm….
What about Repubs propensity to blame all things on Dems/Liberals?
Well, Gator wasn’t referencing that, but, I don’t know that Repubs ever taken to the extreme the left has recently. ie …. it’s all Bush’s fault etc …..
@suyts
… I don’t know that Repubs ever taken [their hate of dems/libs] to the extreme [like] the left…
From my experience republicans’ hatred of dems/libs is … limitless.
They just don’t express their hate well, simply because they are not as eloquent as liberals.
It’s probably due to republicans being generally lower-IQ people: The Cause of Republican Party is to promote interests of the very rich, (unlike Democratic Party who just sell themselves to the rich in the back rooms).
So, if you are not very rich and you still vote republican – you are a person in the lower intelligence quotient group and lacking in good judgment – which is the dictionary definition of “moron”.
Igor, so I take it you are cheering on WWIII?
@stevengoddard
Igor, so I take it you are cheering on WWIII?
Eh? Eh?! I cannot even…. for the last of me…
can you please enlighten me as about the amazing logical thread that got you to the above conclusion?!
This is a discussion of Kerry’s switch to warmongering, and you have turned it into a Republican bash.
Heh! Igor, you really did that? You’re going to babble about IQ, and yet, you couldn’t pick up on Gator’s sarcasm? Then you’re going to compain about this thread when I was simply trying to clarify what Gator was doing and you use this as some Repub bashing board? Beclown yourself often?
Are you a troll in training or have the leftards finally reached the bottom of the barrel?
What?!!! LBJ was a democrat?!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiHdlxhSv-s
er.., no, LBJ wasn’t a democrat, he was a Democrat.
Dimocrat, dumbocrat, demoncat, demoscat, DemocRAT… a rose by any other name still stinks. 😉
So… you are against democracy, right?
Boy somebody just is itching for a fight! 😆
Actually, yes, I am against mob rule. And you?
Take your time answering, I have alot of grass to cut, I’ll check your progress later. 😉
Well, I don’t like mob rule either.
Is “mob” your attitude towards humans in general? Like, when you look at, say, a community, a society, you only see a “mob”?
When I see people, no matter the number, I see unique individuals who have a right to liberty. Without that perspective, mobs are born.
When I see people, no matter the number, I see unique individuals who have a right to liberty. Without that perspective, mobs are born.
Nice slogan. And what would be the meaning of that? Are you saying that the democracy (ie when the people together decide how they should live) is what creates mob rule?
@stevengoddard
Earlier comment (at face value) was blaming Republicans “that got us into WWI & WWII.
My reply was that you cannot blame only Republicans, both Republican and Democrat politicians are scum.
Where do you see the “Republican bash”? Also, what the heck is “Republican bash”?
Are you saying that i am bashing republicans – ie striking them with blows,
or,
Are you saying that i am setting a bash to promote republican policies?
Yes, it is clear that many Republicans are scum of the Earth.
Excellent post. Thank you.
My legs are fine.
What about your head?
My head?? Well, it does have a dent in it. Could be from my motorcycle and bicycle accidents or who knows what…
I happen to think globalization of free markets is preferable to colonialism of the past. What we’re seeing isn’t perfect but it’s much better than using political and military force 24/7, 365 days a year in countries subjugated to a crown, as before.
American led globalization puts the private sector at the service of the customers everywhere — common folks voting with their wallets, changing brands on a whim, and keeping politics in check.
That’s funny. Globalization is Colonialism…IMF/World Bank/WTO are merely continuation of the British Empire under the guise of Anglo- American financial Empirialism.
What we experience now is military conquest of the last few nations to maintain their sovereignty against this corporate/financial elite.
Debt and war are the twin pillars of World Socialism
The liar in chief selects his USA demolition team with care. Kerry is a first class heck and a clear fence hopper. With people like that you can only loose.
This great post confirms that. Thanks.
In the mean time: Obama’s proposal seeks broad war power (WWIII?) despite vow of limits
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/09/01/201002/obamas-proposal-seeks-broad-war.html#.UiPeeuDRDlI
Finger of the trigger but the USS Nimitz rerouted into the Red Sea: http://ca.reuters.com/article/idCABRE9800IT20130901
The Uk delivered the chemicals to Syria: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/government-let-british-company-export-nerve-gas-chemicals-to-syria-8793642.html
It’s not the chemicals that kill, it’s the people who use it.
UK’s Department for International Development help fund the push of people off their land and into hunger.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/biofuel-project-funded-by-uk-leaves-africans-without-food-8793617.html
British politico green baggers accomplish much more in Sierra Leone than Cameron has been in Syria. Climate change fraud and the consequent biofuel scandal is as effective as any other WMD.
Second that. Uk also exported the chemicals to Syria. Anything for the Empire.
I wil like them again when they blow up the EU. Fat chance.
He was against bombing Syria before he was for it.
Thank you, Steven and Eric Boehm, for reminding us that our own country is now on the wrong side of history.
Why? All religions agree on this teaching: “Truth is victorious; Never untruth.”
FEAR of death from nuclear annihilation drove world leaders to join forces with leaders of the scientific community to deceive the public in 1945.
Here is a one-page synopsis of sixty-eight years (2013 – 1945 = 68 yrs) of deceit that brought us to the current turning point in history:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/10640850/Synopsis.pdf
The synopsis is a condensed version of messages sent to the Congressional Space Science and Technology Committee, beginning on the 237th birthday of this nation, 4 July 2013:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/10640850/Creator_Destroyer_Sustainer_of_Life.pdf
World leaders will admit their powerlessness over Nature and get honest with the public, or the combined forces of nations represented by the United Nations, the United Kingdom, the United States, the European Union, etc. will go the way of the Roman Empire.
With kind regards,
– Oliver K. Manuel
Former NASA Principal
Investigator for Apollo
gator69,
You are one cool dude no matter what Igor thinks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNQyuMlJaLI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1GOatePiDg
Rebels bombed the UN area before http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byeH9mUM1zU
Without a doubt, Kerry and his boss have other intentions on their minds and saving face doesn’t seem to be the most important.
A limited strike could be really bad news for us, and that may be a great advantage for the twisted and deceitful scumbags running or is it ruining our Nation.
“Igor says:
September 2, 2013 at 2:51 pm
Nice slogan. And what would be the meaning of that? Are you saying that the democracy (ie when the people together decide how they should live) is what creates mob rule?”
I see a unique individual with an all too common mental disorder, most likely brought about by our public school system. 😆
You were the only party on this thread not to get my tongue in cheek. Low intelligence much?
Majority rule means that the liberties of the minorities are trampled. In your warped head protecting individual liberties from a mob is a “slogan”. Wow.
I told you to take your time in answering. Please stop embarrassing yourself. 😆
it was nice to talk to you.
bye-bye.
Some of us may have started drinking a little early on this fine Labor Day.
I’m looking forward to beer-thirty, which comes about 20 past lawniscut o’clock.
The image John Kerry WON’T want you to see: U.S. Secretary of State pictured dining with Assad and his wife at Damascus restaurant before war broke out in Syria
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2408805/Kerrys-cosy-dinner-Syrias-Hitler-Secretary-State-man-likened-German-dictator-pictured-dining-wives-Damascus-restaurant-civil-war-broke-out.html
Did Assad not pick up the bill?