Why has Kerry been silent about the torture scandal in Iraq?

[Cascadian]

Can somebody please explain to me why it is that John Kerry has not spoken up about the situation with the reports of torture in Iraq? He needs to say something and just come out with some condemnation on this. At least John McCain spoke up on this. Where in the devil is Kerry??? Speak up, John!

It just riles me that he has gone light on this. It's all about his past. What about the future? That is more important. We are going to reap the whirlwind as a result of what has been going on in those prisons among other things.


John

[teach1st]

1. He has

For example:

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-kerry6may06,1,3969364.story?coll=la-headlines-nation

Sen. John F. Kerry criticized the Bush administration Wednesday for responding to U.S. military abuse of Iraqi prisoners in a "slow and inappropriate" manner, and called on the president to "guarantee that the world is going to have an explanation."

In his first direct comments about the misconduct, Kerry called the treatment of Iraqi prisoners by American soldiers "absolutely unacceptable and inexcusable."

[TreasonousBastard]

2. Too bad that Kerry's speeches...

don't just reach out and grab everyone by the throat. You have to actually look for them.

Surprise, surprise, he's not so silent after all.

Anyway, I think he should say something, but be a little low-key before being blamed for politicizing it. Kinda like he's doing now.

The White House is doing an excellent job of hanging itself.

[Cascadian]

9. The response he made was docile.

No passion and somewhat feeble. He actually should be saying something "let's bring our troops home." "The Iraq invasion is a fiasco." He is going to have to conceide that this occupation must end and for U.S. forces cut their loses and come home.


John

[Stephanie]

10. He is calling for Rumsfeld to resign

.

[blm]

12. He RENEWED his call for Rumsfeld to resign.

He actually called for his resignation months ago when it was discovered that they lied to Congress and that there was no solid plan for post-Saddam Iraq.

[NewHampshireDem]

3. Not silent ...

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040506/ap_on_el_pr/kerry_22

Kerry Slams Response to Iraq Prison Abuse


LOS ANGELES - Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry (news - web sites) said Wednesday that the Bush administration's response to abuse of Iraqi prisoners by some U.S. soldiers has been "slow and inappropriate."

I think the world needs to hear from the president that the United States of America regrets any kind of abuse of this kind or any kind of effort like this," Kerry said at his first news conference in three weeks. "Because we have to show the world that we're willing to correct our own mistakes."

<snip>

"The president of the United States needs to offer the world an explanation and needs to take appropriate responsibility," he said. "And if that includes apologizing for the behavior of those soldiers and what happened, then we ought to do that."

<snip>

"The horrifying abuse of Iraqi prisoners which the world has now seen is absolutely unacceptable and inexcusable," he said. "And the response of the administration, certainly the Pentagon (news - web sites), has been slow and inappropriate. I believe the president needs to guarantee that the world is going to have an explanation."


Kerry singled out Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Richard Myers, for failing to act earlier on the abuse allegations.


"I want to know, as I think Americans do, is this isolated? Does it go up the chain of command? Who knew what when?" Kerry said. "All of those questions have to be answered, so I don't want to shoot from the hip on that."

<more>

[jobycom]

4. Yeah, I saw a lot of criticism of Gore along those same lies

Gore would say or do something, Democrats would start complaining that he wasn't saying or doing the very things he was.

Kerry can't come to each individual door and explain his response to the latest scandals. He'd be very busy. We have to pay attention. And when he speaks, WE have to spread the message, because the media sure won't. Unless, of course, Kerry makes a mistake, then the media will spread it far and wide, so we don't have to.

Believe me, if Kerry fails to speak out on an issue like this, you can be sure the media will be all over him for not doing it. So assume he has.

[glarius]

5. Saw him on CNN yesterday, but as usual they cut away before he finished

his statement....They have a camera on Bush every time he moves though and carry every "ummmmm" he utters.

[Aunt Anti-bush]

6. Maybe because the situation just speaks for itself.

He has made mention of it, though, but he wouldn't need to say another word about it because the situation seems to be unraveling the Bush administration a little bit at a time without any commentary from Kerry.

[CWebster]

7. "inappropriate"

Wow, convince me of your outrage, Senator...Or, like the war atrocities in Viet Nam that you helped bring to light then, and now downplay, maybe such sentiment would be "too over the top" Next, you'll be saying "quit crying in your teacups and let's just get past this and move on."

[JCMach1]

8. Not enough from John....

HE got the nomination because he looked 'electable'. It's time he started acting like it...!

[blm]

11. Here's a question: Why don't you know that he has already done so TWICE?

Or is this more of your "throw some shit at Kerry and see if it sticks" ritual?

[Blue_Roses]

13. He has and even though you may think it's

a "docile" response, remember, this is an election year and I don't think he wants to "capitalize" on it--it's a a fine line to walk.

People will bitch if he says too much saying he is only speaking out 'cause it's an election year and people will bitch if he says too little. I think Kerry is doing the right thing and letting this play out in the press.