When Resolve Turns Reckless
The Washington Post invited JK to do a special 1200 word essay this Sunday. It’s about the question of how this Administration which has attacked others for “shifting” positions has reached a point where their steadfastness is now “stubborness”—costing lives. It’s available now at washingtonpost.com.
Here are some of my favorite quotes from it:Refusing to change course for fear of the political fallout is not only dangerous—it is immoral.
I’d rather explain a change of position any day than look a parent in the eye and tell them that their son or daughter had to die so that a broken policy could live.
We cannot afford to waste time being told that admitting mistakes, not the mistakes themselves, will provide our enemies with an intolerable propaganda victory. We’ve already lost years being told that we have no choice but to stay the course of a failed policy.
Conversation is not capitulation. Until recently, it was widely accepted that good foreign policy demands a willingness to seize opportunities and change policy as the facts change. That’s neither flip-flopping nor rudderless diplomacy—it’s strength.
How else could we end up with the famous mantra that “only Nixon could go to China”?
When Churchill urged, “Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never—in nothing, great or small, large or petty, never give in,” he added: “except to convictions of honour and good sense.”
This is a time for such convictions.
Go read the entire essay and then come back and tell us which are your favorite quotes and why.
27 Comments
New comments for this entry are closed.
OK, here’s my favorite line:
“Conversation is not capitulation.”
Aside from the alliteration (I’m making a bumper sticker), it’s truth and it’s incredibly important.
Maybe I should send a bumper sticker to W and Condi, I don’t think they get it.
Ths is an excellent op-ed by the Senator about priorities (pay attention, MSM) and the importance of diplomacy.
Thanks and welcome home, Sen. Kerry!
He’s so damned smart.
Not my favorite quote (the whole piece is “my favorite quote” because everything in it makes so much sense and is written so well) but something that really strikes me as… let me call it “the essence of John Kerry”:
“No one should be looking for vindication in what is happening in Iraq today. The lesson here is not that some of us were right about Iraq or that some of us were wrong.”
John Kerry is not one of those smug, self-centered politicians going around and saying: “I was right and if you had listened to me…” He doesn’t feel good because he rightfully predicted many of these things happening now in Iraq and elsewhere in the world. Not at all! Instead he feels profoundly sad about all the lives lost and is willing to do everything he can to stop this carnage as soon as possible.
“The lesson is simply that we need to change course rapidly rather than perversely use mistakes already made and lives already given as an excuse to make more mistakes and lose even more lives.”
This is the real John Kerry for me. A man who cares deeply, not one who calculates for political gains.
Thank you, Mr. Kerry!
Merry Christmas to you and your family!
What an incredible op ed! There is nothing more to be said, because the Senator said it all in this timely piece. Likely the majority of readers will nod their heads in agreement, but those who should heed his words will stick their heads back in the sand, cover their ears and scream; ‘I can’t hear you!!!’
“I say this to President Bush as someone who learned the hard way how embracing the world’s complexity can be twisted into a crude political shorthand.”
That totally nails it - and it pretty much sums up the history of the last six years of our foreign policy.
Bravo, Senator Kerry! EXCELLENT article.
My favorite line is more than a line…it’s the first paragraph or so:
“There’s something much worse than being accused of “flip-flopping”: refusing to flip when it’s obvious that your course of action is a flop.
I say this to President Bush as someone who learned the hard way how embracing the world’s complexity can be twisted into a crude political shorthand. Barbed words can make for great politics. But with U.S. troops in Iraq in the middle of an escalating civil war, this is no time for politics. Refusing to change course for fear of the political fallout is not only dangerous—it is immoral.”
Senator Kerry began this article using words/language that could easily be understood by ANYONE…even President Bush, and clearly directed his comments at him. He also called Bush out for being ‘political’ about a policy as serious as a war…something Bush and Rove have been doing for six long years now. It is immoral…TOTALLY immoral. Thank you, Senator Kerry for fighting this fight. Please don’t stop. You have a lot of support out here in the ‘reality-based’ world. :)
Awesome op-ed! It’s really hard to pick the best quote from an all-around excellent piece, but I’m in the “talk isn’t dangerous” camp, so I must agree with GV:
“Conversation is not capitulation.”
OK, the Churchill quote…perfect!
Posted the op-ed here:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/12/23/11034/299
My favorite part?
Where Senator Kerry acknowledges that he needs to speak to the Americans who have given the lives of their children in this conflict and he needs to speak to them of what that sacrifice means going forward.
Americans are desperate for someone to tell them the truth about what is really going on in Iraq and what it all means. It is deeply honorable to have Sen. Kerry address those who have given the most in this war and tell them what he, as a US Senator will do in the next Congress about Iraq.
It takes a lot of courage to be this forthright about a policy. It takes a lot of courage to talk about this war in terms of what we really owe the dead and what we need to do to make their sacrifice real and meaningful. That is my favorite part of this. That he said it at all, said it so plainly and didn’t duck out of a conversation with those who have felt war’s bite so deeply.
I wish everyone who talked about Iraq and what to do going forward would talk about it in these terms and address themselves to this audience. This war isn’t an academic exercise, it’s a real event where real people are dying every day. We need to talk about it like that and not like it’s some kind of gambling game at a casino.
To pick a favorite line from the Op-Ed would require me to copy and paste the entire piece. What I can say without hesitation is that anybody that accuses Senator Kerry of being too obtuse has not read that piece and is willing to repeat a “convention wisdom” not based in reality (The next time Jon Stewart flings one of his barbs, this op-ed with a personal comment should be sent to him). I suppose many of Bushco’s supporters can’t understand the piece as it makes too much sense for them. Yet, that piece succinctly and clearly puts into words what the majority of Americans are feeling.
Senator Kerry, not Senators Obama, Clinton, Biden, nor Edwards has captured how Americans feel about this disaster. Not only that, he offers realistic solutions in order to prevent further catastrophe. He is truly a leader.
I just posted on this at Liberal Values, noting, “Two of the things that John Kerry must do if he is going to have a chance should he run for the 2008 nomination are to both show that he is not the flip flopper as portrayed by the right wing noise machine and that he has the expertise and knowledge to respond to the mess which George Bush will leave behind. He does both” in this op-ed.
Besides discussing the current op-ed, I did review many of Kerry’s early statements on the war, showing that Kerry was right in his early objections to the war and that he is no flip-flopper.
http://liberalvaluesblog.com/?p=798
Also at Liberal Values today is the annual Festivus Airing of Grievances:
http://liberalvaluesblog.com/?p=787
The generals in Iraq, who only weeks ago were unanimously opposed to any dramatic increase in troop levels in Iraq, have been given their Rumsfeldian orders from Gates to knuckle under and get behind the madman. This morning they obliged him by mouthing White House talking points that a “surge” would be the greatest thing since sliced bread.
Like Bush, Hitler in 1944 was living in his own dream world intent on razing Paris and destroying all the bridges to cities in Germany, stubbornly refusing to accept imminent defeat. The generals ultimately ended up disobeying his crackpot orders.
Don’t be surprised if a sudden air attack on Tehran commences unexpectedly. The run-up to war in Iraq is eerily reminiscent of what seems to be developing now. Many of us will say “he won’t do that”, but we have to accept that Bush is mentally compromised - an unpredictable madman - who will do whatever suits him regardless of the consequences.
Posted by Ron Chusid | December 23, 2006 3:22 PM
Good post at Liberal Values.
Senator Kerry has been a consistent voice on Iraq, pointing out the Bush administration’s rush to war and stubborn stay the course policy. As far as his past statements and this brilliant op-ed, it’s obvious Senator Kerry is a leader by example!
Just a side note—JK’s op-ed is profiled in a diary that’s #1 on the Recommended list right now at dailykos
Check it out and add your own comments.
ProSense, thanks for the compliment regarding my post.
My post on Kerry’s op-ed is currently listed as a Featured Post at Memeorandum:
http://www.memeorandum.com/
If any of you have blogs, linking my post (as well as Kerry’s op-ed) might help the coverage of this remain prominent at Memeorandum today.
http://liberalvaluesblog.com/?p=798
With this Op-Ed, I’m hoping that JK will collaborate with senators from both parties and oppose the"surge” idea.
It may come down to senators such as JK to force the disengagement plan on shrub through the power of the purse.
Wow. Just wow. From start to finish Senator Kerry nails it with this op-ed. While it is almost impossible for me to choose a favorite quote, these two paragraphs spoke volumes to me.
“I say this to President Bush as someone who learned the hard way how embracing the world’s complexity can be twisted into a crude political shorthand. Barbed words can make for great politics. But with U.S. troops in Iraq in the middle of an escalating civil war, this is no time for politics. Refusing to change course for fear of the political fallout is not only dangerous—it is immoral.
I’d rather explain a change of position any day than look a parent in the eye and tell them that their son or daughter had to die so that a broken policy could live.”
To me, these two paragraphs cut straight to the core of Senator Kerry’s honor and integrity. This war and its consequences are not about childish name calling and political maneuvering to gain the upper hand, it’s about life and death. Senator Kerry understands this.
He seems to be speaking directly to President Bush in this piece. One can only hope that miracles do indeed happen, and that President Bush is listening.
Thank you Senator Kerry for this gift of reason.
Dear Senator Kerry,
Thank you for the impressive OpEd. I am totally grateful for the gift of your wisdom and consistent forthrightness regarding the IWR and Bushco’s present troop surge *insane* plan.
Churchill’s quote: “Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never” et cetera, is the perfect MO of John Kerry; most definitely the man I saw working vigorously for America and the Dem Party since 2003 to this present moment in time. Keep going, please. We need you now more than ever.
Merry Christmas, Senator Kerry, and Teresa, and to all your family members, as well. God Bless. Very happy you returned home safely from the ME.
Ron-
Cross posted here from your blog also:
http://www.dembloggers.com/story/2006/12/23/122941/31
Well, this op-ed is certainly a chart-topper. Top of the reco list at dailykos and homepage at DU. It’s getting a lot of attention, as it should. It really is an awesome piece.
Bravo, Senator.
Well, JK certainly does nail it on a why the “surge” won’t work, with this OP/ED. It’s another fine example of Kerry is right, from a long list of Kerry is right moments. Bush is the flip-flopper in chief, we all know that. T
The big issue here is getting our troops out of Iraq, and not the political fodder or election ‘08. JK’s full focus is front and center, where it belongs on our troops. Nothing more, nothing less. As well it should be.
You know, I think I’m really starting to like this Kerry guy.
I might even have to vote for him next time he runs for something.
“Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer” is featuring the best interviews of 2006 on this morning’s show. Of course, an interview with Sen Kerry is included (How could it be ‘best of’ without one?).
I wonder which they’ll use. The Sept interview was really good, but I think the one from earlier this month was even better.
What a dilemma for CNN, to have to choose between two great Kerry interviews!
What an amazing op-ed! Senator Kerry makes a brilliant case for changing the course in the immoral Iraq war. The parallels to his incredibly honest and brave testimony in 1971 are obvious. There is no stronger voice pushing opinion in the US than Senator Kerry, which explains the vicious attacks from appologists of the war.
I am so glad that the Senator is safely back in the US from his middle-eastern trip. This op-ed must reflect the turmoil he saw there. The world would have been so much better off if voters would have been wiser. As President, Senator Kerry could have done all the things that two years later most people are agreeing were right. (Not to mention the fact that we would have an incredible first lady.)
I hope they and their family have a very joyous Christmas and the very very happiest and best new years (for 2007 and 2008).
This is a great op-ed!! What amazed me as I checked on some other blogs was how this op-ed was diaried on dailykos and reached the top of the Rec List and stayed there forever with well over 600 comments. It was front paged on Democratic Underground. This piece has resonated with people big time, because it speaks the truth, and says it eloquently. This quote really said it all:
I’d rather explain a change of position any day than look a parent in the eye and tell them that their son or daughter had to die so that a broken policy could live.
I also wanted to wish a very Merry Christmas to Senator Kerry and Teresa Heinz Kerry and your family. And to all the bloggers, too! May the new year bring big change for the better.
I agree with Pamela that Senator Kerry’s primary motivation in all of this should be remembered by all of us: Get the troops home ASAP.
However (and there always is a “however” isn’t there?), this a politically deft piece as well. By using some of the language that was hurled at him during the 2004 campaign, Senator Kerry has effectively slammed the door shut on those who would resort to those unfounded criticisms. He also does not overwhelm with an “I told you so” (even though he could), but instead gently reminds people that we did have a choice in the last election to change course and end this disaster. Whatever Senator Kerry’s decison regarding the 2008 campaign, he can be assured that whoever tries to rehash tired out and weak political slogans will be ridiculed by the rest of the nation as living in the past.
Basically, if Senator Kerry should decide to run, the opposition (and that includes Demcorats as well) will have to come up with new lies and distortions, as he has effectively erased the old ones.
However, I still don’t trust the other Democrats to let go on the “conceding too soon” meme as that will be their only card left to play.
Very nice and strong op-ed by Senator Kerry. Glad he and Senator Dodd have made it home safe for the holidays. Hope other Democrats will take notice.
I also would like to wish all the bloggers, the Senator, Teresa aka Momma T, and his family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
I hope this op-ed gets wide circulation, and picked up by many outlets. The words take serious issue with holding our troops hostage, fighting in harm’s way, for politics and 2008 positioning.
As oncall says, addressing the GOP talking points from 2004, as well.
He also mentions the concession, as he has before. We agree there is too much the people do not know, the prosecutorial level of what we needed and didn’t have in the proof to go forward.
This is an emotional issue. I work daily in election reform, so I know the unwillingness of activists to listen. We have a small window of opportunity to improve the legislation in the pipeline.
Glad you’re home safely, Senators Kerry and Dodd.
Happy Holidays and best wishes to all.
Kudos to John Kerry! John Kerry is a voice of conviction and courage and always has been. His speeches are full of the eloquence of mature masculine leadership so desperately needed in America, nay, in the world. This transcendent leadership is the key to solving all of our world’s problems. We need transcendent leaders in America—in politics and in business. Transcendent leadership honors the whole, the All, and seeks ways to minimize and reject, if possible, war and conflict, while engendering mutual beneficence. War is anachronistic. We live in a time when we have all the intellectual knowledge, creative talent and scientific technology to solve our problems and only now need the mature, transcendent leadership which will utilize collaboration, compassion, goodwill and wisdom to ensure a successful outcome. Thank you John Kerry for speaking the Truth.