WP: KERRY Campaign Remarks on IRAQ Made in ERROR (!!!)

[liberalpragmatist]

Comments on Iraq War In Error, Says Kerry Aide

By Jim VandeHei
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, August 25, 2004; Page A08

A top national security adviser to John F. Kerry said yesterday that he made a mistake when he said the Democratic nominee probably would have launched a military invasion to oust Saddam Hussein if he had been president during the past four years.

On Aug. 7, Jamie Rubin told The Washington Post that "in all probability" a Kerry administration would have waged war against Iraq by now if the Massachusetts Democrat were president.

<snip>

"To the extent that my own comments have contributed to misunderstanding on this issue. . . . I never should have said the phrase 'in all probability' because that's not Kerry's position and he's never said it," Rubin said in a statement. "That was my mistake."

<snip>

Some Kerry advisers said Rubin's comments played right into Bush's hands and wanted the record set straight before it exploded into a bigger political issue. Rubin, a State Department official in the Clinton administration who often travels with the candidate, agreed, aides said.

In an interview yesterday, Rubin said it is unknowable whether Kerry would have waged the war. "Bush went to war the wrong way," Rubin said. "What we don't know is what would have happened if a president had gone about it the right way."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A29593-2004Aug24.html

MY FEEDBACK: Good! This opens the door to Kerry Coming Out at the Debates to Say "If I were President, we would not be at war in Iraq today." At least that's what I'm hoping. But even without that, this is VERY good news.

[Cha]

1. jamie rubin did a big boo boo.

Remember all the controversy over this on this board?


This is really freakin' good to know.

[Stephanie]

2. When they try to accuse Kerry on this, let's equate it with

Boykin's remarks. Okay?

[Feanorcurufinwe]

3. Not in the same league

A spokesman misstating a position and a general declaring that he believes the US is engaged in a crusade against Islam are hardly equivalent.


I can't believe it took Rubin this long...

[featherman]

4. Thank goodness

I thought that a HORRIBLE position for Kerry to take and in defiance of common sense. Glad to hear that is not the campaign's position. My long standing respect for Rubin has fallen a few notches. What was he thinking?

[liberalpragmatist]

7. I agree

That really had tied Kerry's hands - he couldnt' argue that we wouldn't be at war if he were president or even that we probably wouldn't have been at war if he were president. And the statement contradicted Kerry's OWN statement to the WP a day earlier that he only *might* have gone to war.

I'm so glad this has been taken back.

[bagnana]

5. thank goodness. What an idiot.

I was so pissed off when I read that, I thought this man is a goddamn idiot warmonger. So, knowing about WMDS and no link w/AQ, he would still have voted to go to war AND would have attacked by now? So that makes him different from Bush how??? What an incredibly stupid stupid stupid mistake!

[girl gone mad]

6. Yes!!!

Maybe the Kerry campaign is listening to us...

[Proud2BAmurkin]

8. Glad he noted "in all probability" so people KNEW he was guessing

Good thing Kerry DIDN'T take that position