Rove: Kerry tarnished Vietnam veterans (Compares Terror War To N. Ireland)

[Khephra]

NEW YORK (AP) — President Bush's chief strategist said Wednesday that Democratic Sen. John Kerry tarnished "the records and service" of fellow Vietnam veterans with his anti-war protests, and compared the U.S. war on terrorism to the decades-old conflict in Northern Ireland.

"This is going to be more like the conflict in Northern Ireland, where the Brits fought terrorism, and there's no sort of peace accord with al-Qaida saying, 'We surrender,'" Rove said in an interview with The Associated Press.

Bush created a campaign stir this week by saying the war on terror cannot be won. Under pressure from Democrats, the president backed off the statement Tuesday by drawing a distinction between a conventional war and the shadowy terror fight.

The conflict over Northern Ireland claimed more than 3,000 lives from 1969 to 1994, with the IRA causing about 1,800 deaths, anti-Catholic outlaws about 900, and British troops and police about 350. About 185 people have died in politically motivated violence since, chiefly committed by anti-Catholic extremists and IRA dissidents.

http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/politics/index.ssf?/base/politics-5/1094055242114360.xml&storylist=electionmi

As a Irish American, I have to say that this shows a TOTAL misunderstanding of the N. Ireland situation...and I can't imagine that his comments will sit well with many other Irish Americans (or Irish).

[annxburns]

1. Total and complete proof

... that ROve is behind the smear. ANd very suspicious timing too. Right when Kerry is speaking to the American Legion.

Note how they repeat his smears without any correction in the article.

[Green Lantern]

56. Why

do I think of Rasputin every time I hear Rove's name?

[Jack The Tab]

2. JOHN KERRY ...You need to start smashing these guys...

I want to see Kerry hitting and hitting an hitting....

I swear, our party needs to get ROUGH

[Rose Siding]

15. Yep. Just saying "bring it on" doesn't cut it n/t

[many a good man]

18. Bring it on

Hey, Johnny, they ARE bringing it on. Time to respond.

[SKKY]

52. I've been SCREAMING this for weeks...

...We need to see John Kerry give W a verbal "bitch slap". I'm fully behind him 110%, but the adviser who's giving him this "sunshine" approach advice to the campaign needs to get fired, or this may not make it to the debates.

[nickgutierrez]

3. No, Karl...

YOU disrespect the troops. You smeared the awarding process, casting doubt on every veteran who ever won a bronze star, a silver star, a purple heart. You helped send 1,000 of our very own troops to die in a war they now can't win. 10,000 more now have purple hearts of their own for wounds suffered in your war. You have betrayed the troops.

[Pirate Smile]

4. Irish American here - so the Irish are the equivalent of Al Queda?

Smart move you dumbass!

[Khephra]

7. And the English (& various Irish groups) DID sit down for talks

Isn't that one point that BushCo. keeps making? That we can't sit down with "terrorists" and talk things out?

I guess he's as informed about foreign affairs as Bush.

[leesa]

57. Of course not! They've got guns and arms to sell.

Can't make a buck if there is peace.

[demoman123]

23. There are similarities with the IRA.

Bombings of innocent people.

[Khephra]

25. But that's not what he's comparing...he's talking about peace accords

We bomb innocent people, so does that make us like Al-Qaeda?

(I know some here would say yes. I'm not. But stretching his statement to say that's what he's talking about ignores what he's quoted as saying.)

[demoman123]

37. LOL- He's saying the peace accords in Ireland are a DIFFERENCE

between the situation in Ireland and the one with Al Qaeda.

>>"This is going to be more like the conflict in Northern Ireland, where the Brits fought terrorism, and there's no sort of peace accord with al-Qaida saying, 'We surrender,'" Rove said in an interview with The Associated Press.<<<

[Khephra]

42. Ahhh, you're right on that part....sorry

He's still showing a misunderstanding of the Irish situation and I stand by that.

See post 34.

[Pirate Smile]

43. The Palestinians are similar to the IRA but I find AQ a stretch.

[demoman123]

45. Well, they all run around throwing bombs. But then, so do we! :) n/t

[Pirate Smile]

55. The Irish wanted their country back. One person's terrorist is

another person's freedom fighter, right?

and I'm not talking about friggin AQ!

[Charlie Brown]

50. Comparison with the IRA is a bad idea

because, as far as the Republic or Ireland is concerned, the IRA WON.

http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/michael_collins.htm

Whether they were bad guys or not, they succeeded.

I'm sure Rove is speaking of the more recent conflict in Northern Ireland, but even that has resulted in concessions by the British Government. Rove doesn't know what he's talking about. There's no one at the helm of this ship.

[sniffa]

5. john had NOTHING to do with those bandaids

that was this guy:

[Cocoa]

6. Is Rove talking about Bill Clinton?

is he saying the war on terror will end when Clinton mediates a peace settlement like he did in Northern Ireland?

[Old and In the Way]

8. Not enough Americans died in Nam for Rove's tastes.

I assume Karl was on the frontlines there fighting for the values he holds so deeply....just like the rest of the Chickenhawk flock.

[katusha]

9. whoa, whoa, whoa!!!

"This is going to be more like the conflict in Northern Ireland, where the Brits fought terrorism, and there's no sort of peace accord with al-Qaida saying, 'We surrender,'" Rove said in an interview with The Associated Press."

first of all it is probably a bad idea politically, for rove to shine a light on the conflict in northern ireland as a comparison. seeing as how CLINTON had a hand in bringing about a resolution(so far) to the conflict.

second there was a peace accord in N. ireland, the good friday peace accord:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/northern_ireland/understanding/events/good_friday.stm
in the peace accord it gives political power to some in the terrorist movement as long as they have renounced violence. is rove suggesting that we are going to reach a similar agreement w/ al qaeda???

[dave29]

11. Not very bright

c'mon Rove, we've seen you do much better.

[katusha]

10. whoa, whoa, whoa!!!!

"This is going to be more like the conflict in Northern Ireland, where the Brits fought terrorism, and there's no sort of peace accord with al-Qaida saying, 'We surrender,'" Rove said in an interview with The Associated Press."

first of all it is probably a bad idea politically, for rove to shine a light on the conflict in northern ireland as a comparison. seeing as how CLINTON had a hand in bringing about a resolution(so far) to the conflict.

second there was a peace accord in N. ireland, the good friday peace accord:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/northern_ireland/understanding/events/good_friday.stm
in the peace accord it gives political power to some in the terrorist movement as long as they have renounced violence. is rove suggesting that we are going to reach a similar agreement w/ al qaeda???

[MidwestTransplant]

12. Was pig boy old enough to serve in Nam?

[MidwestTransplant]

13. Was Pig Boy old enough to serve in Nam?

[soothsayer]

14. how much more hot air until rove's fat head explodes ala Scanners?

Big fat liar liar pants on fire a-hole.

[CBHagman]

16. What a feckin' idjit.

It's best to keep one's mouth shut and be thought a fool than to open it and leave no doubt. It's abundantly clear that the only thing Rove really understands is how to smear opponents.

[The_Casual_Observer]

17. Rove desperately tries to move all discussion

away from the bush social agenda until they get the full propaganda machine up and running on talk radio. The next big push is going to be to destroy the little guys faith in the SS and Medicare system, so that he will gladly submit to the "era of ownership"

[glitch]

19. Well I hope this FINALLY puts the "Rove is a genius" meme to rest

"This is going to be more like the conflict in Northern Ireland, where the Brits fought terrorism, and there's no sort of peace accord with al-Qaida saying, 'We surrender,'" Rove said in an interview with The Associated Press.

This statement doesn't even make sense, let alone it's inaccuracy.

[West Coast Democrat]

22. Thank You! I have always contended that Rove is no genius

Look at this, he's suddenly in the public eye during the convention and making the same kind of stupid comments Bush always makes.

Rove is evil, but he's definitely no genius. Does he really think that this sort of accusation sounds good coming from him?

[glitch]

58. BTW - It's a meme he started himself nt

[Occulus]

46. Actually, Mr. Rove,

al-Qaeda has laid out its demands quite clearly, and Bush* actually caved in to one of them already.

Or have I been imagining things?

[JI7]

20. so i assume Karl Rove also risked his life in this war as Kerry did

he seems to believe in it so much that he hates Kerry for wanting to end the war. so i can assume Karl Rove also joined this war as Kerry did and risked his life as Kerry did ?

[Catfight]

21. Show us YOUR medals ROVE!

[Bridget Burke]

24. Is he comparing Bushie to Ian Paisley?

The Reverend is still against the ACCORD that has improved things in Northern Ireland.

[Keirsey]

30. Karl Rove - old enough for Vietnam

Birthdate: December 25, 1950

Karl Rove - avoided the draft, did not serve.

http://www.awolbush.com/whoserved.html

"Back in 1972, the 22-year-old Rove was a candidate for chairman of the College Republicans. The rambunctious Atwater was his Southern regional coordinator. For a week, they drove the blue highways of the South in a mustard-brown Ford Pinto, scouring the region for support, running out of gas and courting coeds."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/campaigns/wh2000/stories/rove072399.htm

[saigon68]

38. Rove is/was a DRAFT DODGER

He's alittle chicken shit hate monger like his now dead buddy Lee Atwater

[trogdor]

39. or was that...

...courting coeds and running out of gas - in that order?

[MaineDem]

26. The feckin' Brits were illegal occupiers as well

He's got that part right!

But the rest of this is pure shite! How dare he compare people trying to get their country back to Al Queda terrorists.

Fuck you, K-K-Karl!!!

[Spazito]

27. Geez, the bush admin MUST be desperate!

When this slug slithers into the daylight you KNOW they are in big trouble! All his sleazy stunts have backfired, all of them! The "Mission Accomplished", the plastic turkey the Swift Boat Liars, etc.

When an incumbent can, at best, tie with a challenger in the polls, I would say the political strategist is doing a piss-poor job!

[yellowcanine]

28. Wasn't Rove's "mentor" the guy behind the purple bandaid smear?

The delegate from Virginia who handed out the purple heart bandaids -I read somewhere that he was Rove's mentor.

[saigon68]

29. ROVE IS A PIG

Scum of the earth

[apnu]

36. Oink! Oink! Oink!

[MaineDem]

31. Also, not a really smart move to piss off Irish-Americans

We vote, you know, Karl!!!

[Khephra]

32. Anyone have a list of all the Irish/American Democratic Politicians?

Hell, that's got to be a long frigging list. They need to see this article.

[CBHagman]

54. Unbearably long, I'd imagine.

Martin O'Malley, mayor of Baltimore

Representative Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY)

Representative Patrick Kennedy (D-RI)

Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA)


And I'll assume that Marty Meehan (MA), Jim McDermott (WA), James McGovern (MA) and Carolyn Maloney (NY), all from the House of Representatives, are all Irish-Americans, but I guess it doesn't do to assume.

And there are a lot of people without Irish surnames who are Irish-Americans.

[tom_paine]

33. Gutless Chickenhawk Rove has ZERO fucking shame!

Of course, neither did the original Goebbels.

So I guess it's not that surprising.

That gutless (w)ussy.

I don't even have to ask where the fuck HE was during 'Nam!

[chelsea0011]

34. Brits fought terrorism in No. Ireland?????????

That is a very simple assessment of the conflict in No. Ireland. No. Ireland and Israel are closer to Iraq right now. Iraqis view the U.S. as occupiers, the same way Palestinians and Catholic No. Ireland view the Brits and Israelis. To say that Catholics in N. Ireland are terrorists would be like calling our fore fathers terrorists. Now I'm not going to say that Gerry Adams hasn't inflicted death on innocents and I have no problem calling Adams a terrorist but the issues here are very different than Al Queda committing terrorist acts against us and others. Their issues have very little to do with occupation(Bin Laden did have an issue with U.S. troops in Iraq) and much more to do with other reasons they want to inflict death on us.

[Rose Siding]

35. The dogs are out. Are they taking on water we don't know about?

There is some risk that the public will tune out if they get too nasty, but show me the race where their brand of attack didn't work. Wonder why they are going all out now.

[apnu]

40. easy: JK isn't sitting quiet and still for the RNC

and the GOP's fragile sensableities have been offended by that idea. Bush was in "self imposed exisle" for the DNC and the GOP is outraged that JK isn't returning the favor.

I say good, get KKKarl to show off his pigish colors and keep the negative bullshit going in the media. Its only been hurting the Chimp not helping. The more negative KKKarl, The Chimp and Skeletor get, the bigger boost JK gets in the polls.

Keep on oinkin KKKarl!

"Come on now! Squeel! Squeeeeeeee! Squeeeeeeee!"
--RevCo

[qwertyMike]

41. Bur the terrorists "won"

in N. Ireland, in the sense that their demands were met.
Thie last steop is the political unification of Ireland.

[lebkuchen]

44. Rove is on the defensive...RNC got lots of negative phone calls last night

on the Purple Heart debacle. Did you catch Rove practically claiming to be a Vietnam Vet today, off his uncle's coattails? Christ, if we venture back to the 1860s and 640,000 US dead, we can ALL claim vet status, if you want to play that game! Rove is a joke. I'd love to see anybody on this site up against him in a debate for five minutes, including myself. He is a fucking light-weight. The fact that he finally went before the cameras shows you what a mess he's made of the Purple Heart issue.

[PA Democrat]

47. Yes, Karl Rove thinks that the 58,000 names on that wall in D.C.

are not too many. As long as HIS name was not one of them. Go rot in hell Karl.

[dand]

48. I am Irish American and a Marine Corps veteran,

I resent a slimy reptilian little bastard like Rove even mentioning Irish or American patriots, that little chicken-shit is neither, he is a fucking chicken hawk.

[democrat_patriot]

49. Rove is now 'out' - they're toast!

If Rove has to come out and repeatedly make statements, he has to be scared. Too scared to let others handle it.

Keep speaking KKKRove - and show the undecided's how negative you and your pretzeldent really are.

[stray cat]

51. Does Rove openly condemn those who exposed prisoner abuse in Iraq

Are Rove and the republicans and Bush willing to openly condemn anyone who exposes anything bad done by the US during any war? Of course we all know what they say in private.

[Ms. Clio]

53. So is Karl "Mr. History" Rove officially saying we have colonized Iraq?

Because the terrorism in Northern Ireland resulted from the historical reality of British colonization of Ireland, dating all the way back to the sixteenth century.