Kerry Calls Terrorism 'Mortal Challenge' He Can Meet

[NNN0LHI]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20040227/pl_nm/campaign_kerry_dc&cid=615&ncid=2043

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Democratic White House hopeful John Kerry (news - web sites) called terrorism a "mortal challenge" to the United States on Friday and said he could make Americans safer and more secure than President Bush (news - web sites).

Kerry offered a battle plan for the war on terror, including the use of military force when necessary, a "name and shame" campaign against countries that finance terror and elevation of the CIA (news - web sites) director to intelligence czar with control over all national intelligence resources.


"We cannot win the war on terror through military power alone," Kerry, a decorated Vietnam War veteran, told the UCLA International Institute. "As president, if necessary, I will use military force to protect our security, our people and our vital interests."


The Democratic front-runner, a four-term senator from Massachusetts, voted for the war in Iraq (news - web sites) but has since been highly critical of the way Bush conducted it and its aftermath. He said the United States must work with other countries "instead of walking alone."

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[David Dunham]

1. Common Sense Plan

[KoKo]

2. "Name & Shame" and appoint head of CIA as Intelligence Czar???

OMG...this sounds quite awful.

[mobuto]

4. Better Name & Shame than Divide & Conquer

which is our current plan.

The CIA Head already is "Intelligence Czar" - as DCI, Director of Central Intelligence, he is automatically chair of the United States Intelligence Community (website: www.intelligence.gov) of 14 independent and interdependent intelligence-gathering agencies:

Air Force Intelligence, Army Intelligence, Central Intelligence Agency, Coast Guard Intelligence, Defense Intelligence Agency, Department of Energy, Department of Homeland Security, Department of State, Department of Treasury, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Marine Corps Intelligence, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, National Reconnaissance Office, National Security Agency, and Navy Intelligence.

I don't understand how Kerry's plan changes that.

[blm]

6. Actually this stems from his work on BCCI, KoKo.

Kerry discovered terror networks that were being funded by international governments. This is DEAD serious stuff, and if Kerry does this, many of those countries will be ones who have been playing footsie with the BFEE.

This could be the move designed to crack the BFEE's back.

[Stephanie]

9. God I hope so!

Do you really think he will do battle with the BFEE?

If so, he can have all my money and time.

[KoKo]

3. Well, after I read whole article there are parts that sound better, but I

still think "name & shame" and CIA Czar are problems. The first because it will be ridiculed (sounds like a program to discipline young children) and to replace that idiot Tom Ridge with a George Tenent/Robert Muller type as a "CZAR" is still too scary to think about.

Do we really want the CIA to have the power that J. Edgar Hoover had with the FBI back in those other dark days?? :scared:

[phrenzy]

5. "Name And Shame"???

Ugh, I'm ABB - and actually like Kerry in a lot of ways but...

"Name And Shame"??? I cringed when I read that - that just gives me that 'Dukakis in a Tank' feeling.

What idiot came up with this as the name of a 'campaign' against countries that finance terrorists?

It's going to play right in to the rethugs argument that Dems are 'soft on terror and defense'

I can see it now:

Shrub: "My opponent would like to 'name and shame' those who help international terrorists achieve their deadly, evil aims. I believe that wagging your finger and saying 'shame on you' is not enough..."

He's gonna get fucked on this idiocy.

And WTF - Tenet's CIA is a laughing stock and he's talking about 'elevating' them to some higher position of responsibility? He should talk about overhauling the CIA and getting rid of that bitch Tenet first off.

[Just Me]

7. Well,...I guess the man has to play the game,...

,...that has now been created by those in charge of this country and parts of the world.

Personally, I think the CIA ought to be entirely re-organized and diluted. I wouldn't go firing people,...but I would definitely dilute those "powers that be". That outfit has been the tie that binds every f*cked up element of the current geo-economic-political environment.

I wish the freakin' Congress would, once and for all, put a short leash on that organization.

[Stephanie]

10. Watch what you wish for.

This is exactly the wrong moment to be wishing for that.

[Sugarbleus]

8. Military force to protect : OUR VITAL INTERESTS??? hmmm n/t