An excerpt from an interesting e-mail, sent to Iran, from the campaign of one John Kerry:
We are convinced that John Kerry is the candidate best qualified to meet this challenge. Senator Kerry has the diplomatic skill and temperament as well as a lifetime of accomplishments in field of international affairs. He believes that collaboration with other countries is crucial to efforts to win the war on terror and make America safer.
And yet, today, in Iran, we see that:
Polling is under way in Iran for disputed parliamentary elections predicted to give more control of the Islamic nation to conservative religious hardliners.
Friday's election, overshadowed by a ban on most reform candidates and a crackdown on pro-reform media, is poised to bring about one of the biggest upsets in Iranian politics since reformists promising radical change were swept into office seven years ago.
So, to recap, John Kerry wishes to collaborate with the ultra-conservative Iranian ruling class when it comes to the war on terror rather than continue to put pressure on Middle Eastern nations to gravitate toward reform.
I know, I know, it was just an e-mail from the Kerry campaign that probably went out worldwide and just happened to land in the inbox of every despotic regime as well. So, how can I possibly think it has any relevance to anything? Well. . .
If you were a Middle Eastern country that happens to harbor and support terrorism, would you be more spooked by a "cowboy" in the White House who has shown he's dead-assed serious when he says if you harbor terrorists, you're the enemy, or of a Democratic candidate offering an e-mail olive branch extolling collaboration with even the most oppressive regimes? Even when those oppressive regimes may not speak for their civilian populations.
If Kerry or Edwards can come forth and state, without hesitation, that they will continue the current administration's foreign policy initiative, they would practically ensure my vote. But, no, they talk about pursuing terrorists more like a drug raid than a war, and we all know how punishing drug raids have been in the wider world of drug trafficking.
Countries such as Iran, and Syria, and North Korea must be quaking in their boots at the thought of another four years of Bush and Co. But, when they log onto AOL and see a friendly letter from Kerry, they must be ecstatic at the possibility of having that man in control of the White House. With Kerry in power, they could rest a little easier, and be a little bolder about their under the table payments to al Queda and the like, and they can tighten their ultra-conservative religious control over their oppressed populations at their leisure because, hey, it's back to business as usual.
I don't trust Democrats when it comes to foreign policy, and right now foreign policy and the war on terror are the only issues that really, REALLY matter to me right now. Healthcare reform? Fine. Whatever. Environmental issues? Eh. Ensuring that airplanes aren't going to go slashing into buildings and that hostile nations are feeling enough heat to allow concessions?
Now we're talking.
Posted by Ryan at February 20, 2004 10:42 AM
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