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Send your questions to John Kerry
John Kerry, one of America's most respected and foremost political figures, joins Connect the World Thursday to discuss Afghanistan and the threat posed by climate change.
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/POLITICS/09/17/us.afghanistan/art.kerry.lugar.panel.gi.jpg
caption="John Kerry, left, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, pictured earlier this month."]
The Democrat Senator from Massachusetts is best known for his bid for the White House in 2004, when he was defeated by incumbent president George W. Bush. In January 2008 Kerry endorsed fellow Democrat Barack Obama in his successful campaign to assume the Oval Office. What would you ask John Kerry?
Kerry, the chair of the Foreign Relations Committee, has brought his long-standing experience – a decorated war veteran, he saw active service in Vietnam – to the national debate about the Afghan conflict.
In this week's Wall Street Journal he urged caution on calls to deploy more troops, saying that the United States has to also consider the possibility of a "well-honed counter-terrorism strategy" as well as defining how it plans to exit the conflict.
"Before we send more of our young men and women to this war, we need a fuller debate about what constitutes success in Afghanistan," Kerry wrote
Kerry is also campaigning, along with fellow Democrat senator Barbara Boxer, for the adoption of a climate bill, known as the "Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act."
The legislation seeks to cut greenhouse gas emissions during the next decade, encourage sustainable farming and provide incentives for natural gas and nuclear power production.
John Kerry will be joining CNN's Becky Anderson on Thursday: post your comments below and we will use some of them in the show.
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The USA and its coallition of the damned should get out of Afghanistan immediately. The British lost in 1842, and then they lost the three Aghan Wars after that.
The Soviets thought that they could conquer that Afghan nation and soon found that Afghanistan was no cake-walk. They tried every trick in the book and lost. Finally common sense ruled the day and the Soviets left in dispair.
The U.S. thought that the Afghans were just another bunch of Yahoos, and boy did they learn that they were fighting seasoned Guerillas, not amateurs. Just get the Hell out of Afghanistan if you want to stay alive. Because history has made Afghanistan the GRAVE of Invaders So just make sure that they don't bury you there too. There still time to quit this useless WAR, so it get to it.
If the ultimate goal for Afghanistan is to help establish a stable government for the good of the Afghan people, something which up to now has been impossible due to the Taliban, and as this seems like it would also be in the interest of other countries in the region, why can't we enlist the help of those Muslim countries with which the US already enjoys good diplomatic and trade relations (surely there are some?) to help come up with a solution? There are numerous and complex reasons why the US and NATO haven't been able to achieve stability in Afghanistan yet but one reason could be the vast cultural differences between the two "sides". Asking help from those closer to the situation might provide the solution we've previously been unable to see.
If instead the ultimate goal is to rid Afghanistan of the Taliban, it's still possible that asking help from other Muslim countries might work as, again, it would be in their interest to eliminate such a menace in their shared region.
Sheila
Italy
Wow it is surprising to read so many comments from so many people that really do not understand what is going on in Afghanistan. In America I am sure it is hard for folks to imagine how life is with out running water or electricity. In Afghanistan there is a deep appreciation and value in having a family. When an Afghan takes care of his family that is called corruption from the America view but the way of life in Afghanistan. There are more murders in America in a day then in Afghanistan and that is with the war going on. It is so easy for America to point at everyone but there is much more to take care of there.
John Kerry has become the very thing he said he was against when he protested the war in Viet Nam….He is no better than what he was against then
I think that the U.S should try to build good relations with the Taliban . It is impossible to defeat them unless the U.S wants to eliminate a very high percentage of the Afghan population . The Taliban are not foreign fighters that you can just kick out of Afghanistan , they are made up of deeply rooted Afghan tribes and the only way is to peacefully befriend them and seek a common goal.
Military force or a puppy government will not be acceptable by the majority of Afghan people and they will surely resist it in every way , which consequently results in more deaths on both sides .
But the fact is that the more the US and allies are involved in the military activities , the more resistance they will get from local populations.
Regarding Alqaeda , I do not think that any bombings or attacks in the U.S. and Europe are plotted from within the caves of the Afghan mountains or villages.
I think that the U.S. should overcome its "undermining Bush cowboy policies" and start to make effective strategies towards other populations based on respect and common sense.
Here is my question and I think it is one seldom answered clearly in all of these discussions. What is our goal in Afghanistan and how will we know when we have reached it? Is it to establish a secular government, a democratic government, a stabile government, any government that doesn't accomodate Al Qaeda? Is it even possible to set up a government there that can more or less guarantee or prevent the re-entry of terrorists into the country the moment the USA and other foreign forces leave?
I had the same question about Iraq, but it seems that it has been answered. The present government there seems good enough for our leaders. However it seems to me that this will be a much harder if not impossible position to reach in Afghanistan.
Why didn't Kerry use the video of Rumsfeld meeting Saddam, back in the days when Saddam was the "good guy," during his presidential campaign to show what a bunch of hypocrites W. and his cronies were?
Senator Kerry,
Are you nervous that the negative press about the war in Afghanistan is strengthening the Taliban?
If we had to send troops to Iran, could we do this while fighting an expanded war in Afghanistan? They are quite a distance apart and it would be hard to transfer men and epuipment from Afghanistan to Iran. Iran has a very strong military and we could end up loosing both if we overextend ourselves.
An article by Jay Newton-Small in Time Magazine on August 20 2009 quotes John Kerry as saying, "The breadth of challenges that we face there, with police, with governance, corruption, narcotics, tribalism, other kinds of things ... may be well beyond the narrower definition the President gave the mission."
It’s interesting and revealing that Kerry equates “tribalism” with “corruption and narcotics”.
Tribal societies predate democracy by millennia.
The USA, as the World knows, fixed its own tribal problems via a ruthless pogrom on the native North American Indians.
Kerry is not alone amongst American legislators in equating “Tribalism” with “Terrorism”: this makes as much sense as equating “Islam” with “Jihad”.
These dangerous misconceptions perhaps explain, at least in part, why the Americans have so far failed even to consider ways constructively to incorporate tribal societies into some form of “democratic framework”.
Black versus White, Tribalism versus Democracy – is confrontational – it is counterproductive – and it will never work.
General McChrystal’s recent report on Afghanistan suggests he has begun to recognise some of these issues. But I suspect that his report will be viewed as “the wrong answer” in Washington and therefore his days are numbered.
Remember the last kid who asked John Kerry some tough questions at a college campus – I don't remember where – got tazed and seriously roughed up by the cops. Keep that in mind as this man can only really answer easy questions such as whats your favorite color.
Dear Sir,
As an Indian, I keep wondering what the hell you people are trying to achieive in Afghanistan sacrificing so many young lives. Ok – AQ attacked first and you have bombed the hell out of this barren country enough. Do you still like bombing some more – go ahead – but for your own sake – get out after that. Believe me – there is nothing out there. No matter how much you try, those people are not going to change – get worse and worse all the time. Remember, they blasted Budha statues.
I think biggest mistake in understanding of Americans is to think that Afghan people are not one and the same as Taliban. You think that once "Taliban" is gone, those who remain will be normal human beings. No – they are not. They are all the same and no matter how many elections Karzai may hold, once you turn your back, they will go back to the routine of killing each other and others without shedding a tear.
The real problem is – this place is biggest drug supplier and biggest terrorist supplier and only way to deal with it – is to bomb the place now and then from skies and drones. But do you really need to have your young ones to stay there and shed there blood?
Best thing democrats can do for Americans is to get out of Iraq and get out of Afghanistan. Don't carry this blasted part of the world on your shoulder.
Senator Kerry,
Perhaps because you served in war yourself, you are always thinking of the welfare of the young men and women who go to war for the country. How terrible did it feel years ago when mean opponents twisted your words and then worse, the unintelligent ended up not understanding what you had said/meant? (getting stuck in war comment). Sir, speak up for yourself next time!
John,
Why don't you listen to the real experts, the commanders on the ground?
Dear Senator,
Do you ever regret your comment about students ending up in the army and then in Iraq if they didn't study well?
Dear Senator Kerry,
Do you think Osama Bin Laden's ultimate strategy was not to defeat the West militarily but to let it undermine itself ideologically and financially?
Didn't Bin Laden understand the (republican) American mindset so well he knew how to take advantage of it...?
Sir David King once criticized the Bush administration by stating that "...climate change is the most severe problem we are facing today – more serious even than the threat of terrorism."
Do you share his view on the matter? And is the US government, with its new President, ready to change its stand this time around?
Why are we not investigating the billions of dollars in "no-bid" war contracts awarded to Halliburton" I know that we have more pressing issues but we have found the time to investigate Blackwater and Wackenhut contracts. Is it becasue the law does not apply to the Vice President?
Senator Kerry,
How do you comment the report of the Congressional Research Service which concludes that the ex-president of Honduras was deposed in accordance with the Constitution, and that the transfer of power was not a coup? How do you comment the fact that the State Department itself refused to officially designate the transfer of power in Honduras a coup, although it de facto did so by cutting all non-humanitarian aid to this country? Have your aides ever looked into the legal aspects of Zelaya's replacement? Why do you currently support Zelaya when the ex-US ambassador in Tegucigalpa warned last year that Honduras was about to become a narco-state and how do you relate this with President Obama's assertions that the current ("de facto") regime made remarkable progress with respect to the fight against drug trafficking?
Senator Kerry,
First, how will we judge a success in Afghanistan? I believe that a democratic government in control over a drug-free country is the answer.
Sir, I think that you should listen to our generals. They usually have the best view of the situation. If Gen. McChrystal sounds pessimistic, then he probably knows that the situation requires more man power. Just bombing the Taliban or leaving the place will do nothing. More troops are needed to interact with the locals, to get them to trust their government and us.
I don't think that sending troops is the only thing needed to be done. I think that a strong stable government starting from the grassroot movements, involving local tribes, local people, and local candidates is first needed. This will involve troops who have to make the streets and towns safe enough for the locals to venture from their homes without fear of attacks, kidnappings, what have you. Once people are able to talk and to socialize can society bloom. If the majority of the country has small elections for local representatives, then a stronger central government can be created. While more troops are needed for keeping peace, other civilian officials will be required to fix infrastructure, to help the local populations rebuild their own communities, and to create programs where people can get jobs and make money. Half the time, people join insurgent groups because they have no other way of feeding their family. The idea is to "win the hearts and minds" of the people. As corny and generic as it sounds, this is, as the way I see it, the only way to succeed in driving out the Taliban. It worked in Iraq, it worked against and for us in Vietnam, it will work again if people see American soldiers not as the occupier or the oppressor but as the people keeping Afghan streets safe and bringing progress to the local populations. The more presence we have on the ground, and the more we encourage the Afghanis to rebuild their country, the more local people will fall away from the Taliban and work for creating better lives for themselves and their families.
I hope everyday that our troops are safe and it would pain me to see my brother or my friends go off to war. But soldiers must know that the officials in Washington and the people in America are committed to succeeding in Afghanistan. Otherwise, why fight anymore?
It seems that political pressure and the increasing number of casualties of this war (and the war in Iraq) is overpowering the reasons of why these wars were initiated in the first place. Admittedly the reasons for going to Iraq were always dubious at best and reasonable people knew that the reasons weren't valid and merely an excuse.
My question though is to know if the USA and its allies still has any real hope or aspirations to capture Osama bin Ladin as was repeatedly mentioned during Obama's campaign? Has this just disappeared into the past as an unrealistic aim and does this give credence to an idea it is possible to hide from the most advanced and powerful nation in the world ???
Sen. Kerry, You really misread the situation in Honduras. How much do you really understand foreign policy in Latin America?
I wouldnt waste my time asking John Kerry anything!
The US is to sign an agreement where they colaborate extensively in 7 Colombian military bases. Given this high level of cooperation isn't it time for the US to approve the FTA with Colombia? US Union organizations have been campaigning against this FTA, yet the US is willing to work closely with the Colombian government on every other issue. Doesn't this send the wrong signal to others in the region? Shouldn't the US approve the FTA now and stop delaying it? It sounds hypocritical that both countries are partners in the military area but not in the free trade area. What does this say about the US to everyday Colombians where they agree to share bases with the US, live in a hostile world with dangerous neighbors such as Chavez, and yet the US punishes them with no access to their markets.
WE want to clean the air, while all the other countries are having a blast poluting it. I dont see how that is helping too much. Especially with all the tax talk and jobs talking about leaving our country. OH , is that how we are to clean things. No jobs. And of course we want our troops home, of course we all want freedom, but we all have to live in reality too. Listen to the ones doing the work, not you over here talking about it- because even our families and men abroad do not want to come home for they know it will stop all the good they have done. Put it this way, do you tell your football team to pack it up at half time cause it looks close or we look like we're ahead. No, we finish the game no matter the outcome because we know we are there to do our best.
Success in Afghanistan is very easy to measure:
1. At least .5 million afghans plan to visit as tourists USA next year .
2. AfghganMart has opened some stores in USA
3. Criminality in Afghanistan is lower than USA
4. Afghan median income is 1000$ a month.
5. Afghans have opened the 5th university center.
6. The country is cris-crossed by 2 lane highways.
7. The have built airports and AirAfghan has service to major regional destinations.
...
.
.
If NATO and USA can not help with all this they should try harder. There are plenty other countries in need including USA and NATO countries. Capitalism is supposed to grow and expand and not implode. China is watching...
How do we rid ourselves of the lobbiests. They have Congressmen and Congresswomen in their pocket and as a result these congress people don't vote for the people. They vote for the Lobby like the "Health Care Industry".
Dear Mr. Kerry,
In reflection, what was it that made you miss out against Mr. Bush in 2004? Please, do not blame the voter!
PS
Why did he do nothing while the cops repeatedly tasered a students in front of him. I believe it shows an essential lack of basic human ethics.
Dear Mr.Kerry.
How did Reps. steal the election when you were running?
i.o.w how could you lose to a man like G.W.Bush?
i.o.w Are the American Population really that stupid?
Senator Kerry,
Regarding health care, I believe that there is an obvious alternative to break any impasse on the public option that is not being discussed. It would seem that other than completely dropping the proposal or endorsing somewhat obscure or ill-defined alternatives, such as co-ops or a public option trigger, that a much more straightforward approach would be to design a public option and then allow states to decide whether or not to offer it in their states. This is not perfect, but it could satisfy both moderate and liberal democrats, maybe even some republicans, and might be able to defuse some of the overheated rhetoric over health care. Many states would probably opt out initially, but it is possible that over time all would participate as was the case with Medicaid. I believe this is a compelling idea and would like to now what you think. Thank You.
Daer Mr.Kerry,
Do you think, President Obama will be able this December 2009 during the Copenhangen summit, annouce, a clear US targets for CO2 emission reduction like propose in your “Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act” even if the bill didn't pass yet, to push a little the Senate?
Regards,
Senator Kerry,
As a Massachusetts resident I would LOVE to hear why you, whose 2007 net worth ranks MOST among all members of the senate (averging $336,224,883), thought it was perfectly okay to ask MA taxpayers (Me and everyone else who lives in this state) to put $20 million towards preserving Ted Kennedy's legacy? You ALONE could pledge that 20 million if he means so much to you and it would barely put a dent in your pocket?
Thanks!
Michelle Reilly
If it took 6 six years for WWII to complete, why is the war in Afghanistan that's taken eight years worth continuing with?
what do you think are the prospects for peace, a genuine effort to halt the ecological destruction being wreaked on the planet and the Obama administration ushering in a new era of global cooperation based on mutual respect, social and economic justice, ecological principals etc.. Is it all just talk? What about Israel's violations of international law and refusal to stop the construction of colonies in the Palestinian territories?
Dear Change I had once could believe in,
During the 2004 campaign an interviewer asked you if you thought Bush was corrupt. Most of your supporters would've agreed with that assessment. Why did you choose civility against a sociopathic foe?
Expat since 2006
My view is that American government should find a way to sit down with the factions in Afghanistan, it is no more about wining or loosing, it is about the innocent civilians i Afghanistan and the innocent Western soliders out there in the Afghanistan desert.
Have you ever read "Atlas Shrugged"?
HI? MY QUESTION IS HOW DID YOU EVER MANAGE TO LET THE CHICKENHAWKS USE YOUR SERVICE IN VIET NAM AGAINST YOU WHEN BOTH OF YOUR ADVERSARIES IN THE 2004 ELECTION DODGED THE DRAFT.? WHY DOESNT ANYONE HOLD POLITICAL (PSUEDO)LEADERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIER STANCE ON GLOBAL WARMING OR THE AUTO AND OIL INDUSTRIES FOR THAT MATTER? THANKS FOR THE GREAT LEADERSHIP OUT, T
Victory cannot mean diferrent things for the US and its allies. It can only mean totoal victory against the Taliban and Al Qaeda. Anything less is to leave a breeding ground for terrorists and a stage post for attacks against the US and its allies.
Senator Kerry,
I am a Canadian and I strongly agree with your President that a new strategy is needed in Afghanistan.
What puzzles me is why the participating Nato members (those who are also losing their sons and daughters in this conflict) are not sitting right there with you and your committee helping to arrive at a NATO strategy.
I expect that you would reply that this of course is happening in the background at every NATO meeting.
I believe that public opinion in all of those nations, and the world for that matter, would be positively impacted if NATO was seen to be the leader in formulating the new strategy and not just tagging along on the heels of our American friends simply because the signatories are bound by their oaths to the NATO alliance.
Forgive me for stealing words from Winston Churchill. He once said of America but can just as easily can be said of NATO:
"We can always count on NATO to do the right thing. After they have tried everything else!"
When are we going to start doing the right thing?
Sincerely,
One of a multitude of Canadian friends to the north...
Why doesn't the government believe I am fully capable of taking care of myself, feeling it is necessary to take care of (what it perceives to be) my needs?
If this is the place to ask something of John Kerry, my question
echos many, but I'll find a way to make it complicated, to wit:
Many who supported you were frustrated in the impression that
you may have been unduly influenced by your professional
campaign advisers, and what came out of it was a kind of Kerry-lite.
What I wanted was the matured edition of you that was still connected
to the intelligent passion and concentrated rhetorical grace
that came with your ad hoc address to Congress when you were
camped out in Washington as a leader of Vietnam Veterans Against
the War.
That was to me your finest hour, and it defined you as a man of
conscience and brilliance.
You are now needed in that capacity. The Obama administration is
now delivering its own Reform Lite, caving in to Republicans right
and left. I am not wishing for a radical takeover that is doomed
to fail and would be as horrible as any other extremism.
I am wishing for the sanity to do what is necessary.
Please stand and deliver, now, as you once did. That part of
you abides with you, and like Helgo the Dane in the dungeon
of Elsinore needs to rise to a desperate occasion.
With best hopes
John Putnam Dinwiddie
Descendant of Israel Putnam
Thank you,
In response to your question Jared – those who put Obama in office aren't generally capable of taking care of themselves and making their own decisions. They are looking for a handout and someone to tell them what to do. That is what Obama promised and THAT is why he is President. Not any qualifications or proof of actually being able to even lead a boy scout troop – because he promised to give those who don't want to work the money that you and I earn for our own families. Great huh!? I guess it's not bad if you are one that is just looking for a handout. Why do you think his ratings are falling – he can't get the houndouts pushed through quick enough to make the followers happy. I would probably be upset if I voted for him expecting that too – unfortunately I had some idea of what we were in for considering the promises were a complete joke. I figured more would have picked up on that.
CAN DEM. PARTY CAL A HEALTHCARE REFORM WHITOUT A PUBLIC OPTION A VICTORY, OR CAN IT EVEN BE CALLED A "REFORM"?
SIR, HOW DO U SEE AMERICAS STANDING IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW...ECONOMY IN RECESSION,AFGHAN WAR IE IS LOSING AND THEN A WORLD THAT IS NOW LOOKING AT OTHER COUNTRIES
What does John Kerry think would have happened in Iraq if the U.S. had followed his policy of an immediate pullout in 2004/2005?
It used to mean something to belong to a political party. Now everyone seems to consider themselves independents and end up being all over the place when it comes to important issues. How can you build a real party again? Or, is the party system virtually dead?
What do you hope our relations with the Middle East will be in 50 years from now? I am a recent college graduate (22 years old) and I am primarily concerned with the long term future – not just the next 5 years. I agree, it is good to take things one step at a time, but I am also fearful that certain policies we have will only be useful for a short period of time. My generation needs to become active enough to stand up for ourselves, but, unless our government has planned an ending date for America, it needs to ensure our continued prosperity.
I'd like to know the following: the Democrats have a "super majority" in the Senate (and also have a majority in the house), so why are they not taking advantage of it to pass legislation regarding healthcare, climate change, etc? The Republicans did it for 8 years, why are the Democrats standing still?
If the health care reform bill goes through without a " public option " what incentive will insurance companies have for making rates affordable and not excluding people with chronic health issues?
Sen Kerry is Kosova the bigest achivment of Democrats in last 50 years and how proud are you of that achivments,in the end Kosova Albaniens love and cherrish USA .In other hand Afganistan hate USA
Dear Senator Kerry,
How long do you think USA will need Osama Bin Laden?
Regards,
Mary
From Luxembourg
Senator Kerry,
Why do you oppose allowing those who put you in office and pay your salary to view on the internet for 72 hours the healthcare bill that could dramatically affect their lives?
Furthermore, why do you oppose allowing us to see the Congressional Budget Office score of that bill since cost estimates from the President and others have been repeatedly discredited by the CBO?
Why can we not mind our own business and stop being the worlds policeman.
There is more to life then human rights, Chine is out stripping us, have you noticed?
Iran nuclear is dangerous for all the Mideast. And the US must do all it can to stop Iran for having nuclear weapon. But why the US is so silent about Israels nuclear? Iran violent UN resolution but Israel did and still does. Israel has record of violation of UN resolutions. The issue has to regional.
This kind of double standing must stop and US has to be an honest in the Mideast.
Can Obama shows Arabs countries that his neutral between Israel and Arab conflict?
If he can, he will get more support of Muslims all over the world against Iran.
Dear Senator kerry, what will you do if you were the president
by Rabina
Why is the U.S. government not supporing the miltiary disabled Vets. the President in his budget for the defense added that those who retired under chap 61 and receive retired military pay and VA disability pay would receive both. It’s called concurrent receipt of retired military pay. right now the military reduce our retired pay dollar for dollar on what we receive in VA disbility pay. those who are retired with more than 20 years receive both. It was in the H.R. bill and the senate version, but were taken out. That is discrimination and not supporting us Vets. I have 19 years, 3 month and 20 days on active duty and was retired with a disability under chap 61 and should receive both. Please get the word out and start asking why the government is not supporting all the retired Vets. Thanks David
Dear Senator kerry,
you should support the Pakistan in a different issues, so why you or your country solve the basis problems or issues of Pakistan for example the issues of Kashmir , economey , ect.
i think that if you solve the issue of Kashmir then you and your country get the most popularity in this country and every person respect your country.because you are a super power country of the world and every person think that this is your responability that you and government solve all the old issues of the world specialy the Musliam issues,
Kashmir, Philistine, Bosnia,
Sir, this time is a great Opportunity of you and your government that you solve the all old issues then your important is increase and the image of your country most well and better in Muslim World.
thanks,