Sen. Kerry speaking at the Saban Center at Brookings Inst. March 4th

[TayTay]

Restoring Leadership in the Middle East: A Regional Approach to Peace

Middle East, Nuclear Weapons, Foreign Policy, International Relations


Event Summary
** This event has reached capacity so we are no longer taking RSVPs. For more information, members of the media should contact Shawn Dhar at 202.797.6284. **

On March 4, the Saban Center at Brookings will host Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.), chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, for a discussion of the challenges and opportunities facing the Obama administration in the Middle East.

http://www.brookings.edu/events/2009/0304_leadership.aspx

No idea if this will be webcasted or on C-Span. Check back later to see.

[MBS]

1. he's also giving a talk tomorrow (March 5) on global warming

.. to a science meeting in DC . (Invitation only, and conference is already "sold out").
The man is busy these days!

If I find out about any video or article on this, I'll pass it on (I'm a Fellow of the sponsoring organization, so there's a fighting change I might hear something. . )

[ObamaKerryDem]

2. Anyone here going to this? Hope C-Span or somewhere online covers it! Would love to see it. n/t

[TayTay]

3. audio available here

http://www.brookings.edu/events/2009/0304_leadership.aspx

[YvonneCa]

4. Thank you. I just skimmed the transcript...

...and I'm one my way out, so I'll listen later tonight. JK's speech gives me hope about the Middle East. It's great to reaffirm that the people in charge now know what they are doing. The teamwork is evident.

I had that same sense this morning watching PM Brown in the Joint Session of Congress. The Dems were beaming...and the Republicans looked as if they had been hit by a truck. :7

[Luftmensch067]

5. Looks like it's on CSPAN 2 TONIGHT around 8:21 Yay!!! n/t

[TayTay]

7. And it's on again at 3:10 am

THK was there as well, looking lovely as usual.

[ObamaKerryDem]

13. Thanks for the head's up! I caught this last night. It was wonderful.

I think he articulated his positions and those of the Obama administration really well. I also liked the part near the beginning where he said he's "the longest running Junior-Senior act in the US Senate" or something like that..LOL! I like his sense of humor.

What a wonderful advocate he is! And it was also so nice to hear talk of diplomacy and yes, peace...I'm like "what's THAT?" I mean, it's been so long since we've had an adminisration and those working alongside it, as the Senator essentially is, who actually advocate those ideals. It'll take some more getting used to, LOL..but I like it. :)

[ginnyinWI]

6. it is on cspan radio right now. n/t

[ProSense]

8. Just watched on C-Span.

Great stuff. Kerry really laid out exactly where things stand and what needs to be done to advance the process.

[karynnj]

9. This is not in the CSPAN library yet (if it ever will be)

From yesterday's schedule there is a link, but it goes to a "product not found page". (HRC's event before it in the schedule is the same, so it may be that they simply have not archived it yet (after all, it was on just last night).

Anyway, I intend to watch this page, http://www.c-spanarchives.org/library/index.php?main_page=schedule&tID=&date=2009-03-04 (clicking on the 8:30 Kerry speech) , to see if it becomes available. It really should be seen by more people.

[karynnj]

10. Here it is - archived on cspan.org

http://www.c-spanarchives.org/library/index.php?main_page=product_video_info&products_id=284420-1

[beachmom]

11. This is a good article on the speech:

http://jta.org/news/article/2009/03/04/1003464/kerry-stalks-new-ground-on-settlements-syria-and-peace

Kerry stalks new ground on settlements, Syria and peace

By Ron Kampeas · March 4, 2009

WASHINGTON (JTA) -- Call it a three-legged stalking horse: rapid progress toward a two-state solution, penalties for settlement expansion and engagement with Syria even as it remains in Iran's sphere.

They were the key suggestions for advancing Middle East peace outlined by U.S. Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) in a speech Wednesday following his visit to the region.

Kerry, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, emphasized alacrity throughout the speech.

"There is a window of opportunity that we must seize by showing, with actions more than words, that it will not just be business as usual in the Middle East," he said.

Kerry said he would detail his recommendations in a private meeting with President Obama.

Asked for comment, a White House spokesman told JTA: "The President values Chairman Kerry's opinions about the many critical international issues we face."

The whole article is worth checking out.

[karynnj]

12. That is a very good interesting article

To me the interesting thing was that my impression of Kerry's speech was that he was far more an honest broker than other prominent American leaders have been, while still assuring Israel that he understood their situation. It was interesting that this Jewish source was positive - even as he spoke of really not expanding the settlements.

They also explained the one question I didn't really get - as I didn't know that was Netenyahu's position.

[ProSense]

14. Post at TPM Cafe

It's Changing: John Kerry, At Brookings, Says US Mideast Policy Needs Overhaul

[beachmom]

15. And a non-snarky article in the Globe:

http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2009/03/05/kerry_calls_for_easing_us_sanctions_against_syria/

Kerry calls for easing US sanctions against Syria

WASHINGTON - Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts, who recently returned from a Middle East trip that included stops in Damascus and Gaza, called yesterday for loosening sanctions on Syria, which he praised for opening a stock market and sending an ambassador to Iraq.

"Loosening certain sanctions in exchange for verifiable changes in behavior can actually benefit US businesses," Kerry, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told a packed auditorium at the Brookings Institution. "The sanctions can always be tightened again if Syria backtracks."

...

... Syria's ambassador to the United States, Imad Moustapha, who attended Kerry's speech, met last week with officials at the State Department for two hours after years of relative diplomatic silence. US laws still discourage trade with Syria. Medicine and food can be sent, but other goods must apply for special permission.

...

Yesterday, Kerry also described his visit to the town of Izbet Abed Rabo in the Gaza Strip, a rare trip for US officials who have avoided the territory for years because of the danger of attacks by militants, and because it is controlled by Hamas, which the United States considers a terrorist organization.

"I saw little Palestinian girls playing in the rubble where, just months ago, buildings stood," Kerry said. Upon seeing the ruins of the American school there, he said, "I was moved by the enormity of the humanitarian challenge."

[YvonneCa]

16. Finally got to see this. This was a great policy...

...speech. It reminds me of his Georgetown speech on Iraq that set out a policy forward that has since become reality. ;) In that speech, Kerry also answered audience questions, except they were posed by students and media coverage was hard to come by. The Q and A was very informative. I finally bought the DVD from C-Span in order to see the speech.

This speech was similar in that it set out policy for the region and the Q and A was also excellent. What I found interesting is the change in the makeup of the audience. These people were not just students...a lot of punditry and media types were very visible. I can't help but wonder if that is due to increased respect for the role that Senator Kerry has played since that Georgetown speech. After all, as many here have said, he's been right. :) Maybe we aren't the only ones noticing that.

This may be another DVD I'll purchase...this time for the 'historic significance.' :7

[karynnj]

17. I would guess that it is not a change in the media's view of how good the Senator is,

rather a view that his opinions could well be taken seriously by the man who sets foreign policy. At the same time you speak of, I remember an appearance that Kerry did on Hardball filmed from his Senate office. Matthews looked more respectful and just impressed with the Senator than I have seen him with anyone. Part of it was that I think he really got the Senator's point that the US soldiers, not knowing the culture or the language, were not well ysed on Search & destroy or policing roles. Whether it was that Matthews' own Peace Corps background made this something that resonated with him or if I could see this was Kerry applying what he experienced in Vietnam or if he just thought the Senator was both wicked smart and speaking with a morality that Matthews admired - it was clear there was respect.

I think it was the media not wanting to give him air that led to poor coverage. I think the vast majority of Democrats in the media were giddy over the idea of HRC at that time - and Kerry was thought to be the most serious threat. (HRC could easily outclass Edwards and they likely thought Obama too new to win in such troubled times.) The Republicans clearly knew he was a threat.

[Mass]

18. I may be cynical, but I do not think they changed their mind. I just think

they noticed that it was difficult to mock the head of the SFRC, a friend of the vice-president and somebody respected by the president. They cannot afford to continue this, as they need access to the SFRC, to the subcommittee he chairs in the Commerce Committee. He is an important person and they will show up and be polite.

This is indeed a sad view of DC, where your value is largely due to your perceived position in the food chain, not what you have to promote. Last year, it was fashionable to mock him (and you could hear this even from Democrats). This year, it is fashionable to respect him and listen to him.

It is still the same Kerry, but the perception has finally changed for good and bad reasons.

This is good though, because people who listen to these news shows will hear about Kerry, and they will respect him more.

I am also happy that he has stepped up his presence (and his staff's) in MA. Between Kennedy's disease and Deval Patrick's total collapse in public opinion polls as a victim of the sagging economy (among other things), MA needs somebody that people can trust and to whom to turn to speak for them in DC (with our 10 Congresspeople)

[YvonneCa]

19. I don't think it's cynical and I pretty much...

...agree with you. I just noticed the fact that he now draws an audience with the power to get his message out to the public, whereas before there was a void. I am glad to see that...even if it's just being polite...it's evidence of the power shift that has taken place.