New Hampshire Democrats Cast First Votes:
"Foreign policy experience depends on patience and judgment," Dean said on Monday. "I question Senator Kerry's judgment," he said in a continuation of his challenge to Kerry's support of last year's invasion of Iraq and his earlier opposition to the Persian Gulf War in 1991.
Kerry left it to an aide, Stephanie Cutter, to respond.
"Howard Dean wouldn't know good judgment on foreign policy if he fell over it. Remember, this is the same man who has said that the nation was not safer with the capture of Saddam Hussein, said we shouldn't take sides in the Middle East, and that Osama bin Laden should get a jury trial," she said.
Given the above statement, it appears that Kerry takes the following positions:
- The U.S. is safer now that Saddam Hussein has been captured (81% of Americans disagree).
- We should take sides in the Middle East.
- Sometimes it's acceptable to punish a captured criminal without a trial.
From his vote on authorizing force in Iraq:
- Pre-emptive war is acceptable, or George W. Bush, when clearly eager to begin a pre-emptive war, should be given Congressional approval to do just that; we should trust his discretion.
Dean appears to be correct in his assertion that Kerry's foreign policy experience does not translate into wise foreign policy decisions (disclosure, in case you needed one: I'm a Dean supporter). It's one thing if Kerry regrets his Iraq vote (and for me, forgiving that is too much by itself). But when he hammers Dean on the other three points above (esp. 1 and 3) it makes me think that either
(a) His Iraq vote is just the first of many foreign policy errors to come, or
(b) "Saying whatever it takes to get elected"? Done and done.
One could argue that, if it were true that most thought us no safer with Hussein captured, saying the opposite would hinder rather than help one's chances in the primaries. But it looks to me that the idea he's trying to get across is: "Howard Dean doesn't think it's good that Hussein has been captured."
Forgive me if this is considered more Kerry-bashing; I hope it's viewed as reasonable criticism instead.