I think Batman was too quick to concede Poland. If the leader of Poland can say that Bush mislead them with regards to WMD, and took them for a ride on that one, I hardly think saying that Kerry's omission was a mistake will hurt the aliance too badly. Again what Kerry said was actually correct. Poland did not join in on the intial invasion of Iraq, but added its troops later. Bottom line, is if being mislead about Iraq doesn't lose Poland for Bush, then certainly being factually correct, even if dismissive about Poland's contribution to the war effort won't lose Poland for Kerry.
if that's true, how would Kerry get france and germany on board then? the unbearable lightness of being john kerry is not enough. specifics please. call a summit? fine, what's he going to tell them?
He would start by showing that it is in their intrest to have a stable and free Iraq running. Now that the mess is made it doesn't help anyone to have the kind of chaos that exists there now. He could show how troop rotations might ease existing tensions, and improve stability. He could also offer to listen to any suggestions that they had on solving the problem, and let them share in the decision making regarding the rebuilding of the country. Show them that by partaking in the risks, they can help shape the future Iraq is well. That would certainly be better for them in establish future business contacts, and a climate friendly to their business interests developing future trade etc. It would be a whole new appraoch.
how, please? do you truly think the bush admin didn't use exactly this approach before the war, and they were double crossed by mons. de villepin?
The Bush administration did not use that approach before the war. The Bush administration told them what the U.S. was going to do, and either the other countries could come along, or they could stay out. The approach I'm talking about is one of shared decision making. The Bush folks never opened themselves up to suggestions from those that would be going along. If they are putting their forces and finances at risk, then they deserve a say in how the whole operation is run.
What FranchiseBlade said. I love this new idea that countries that went to Iraq with us before and that went with us to Afghanistan can't possibly be convinced of joining us again. Never mind that these same countries were bullied and then steadily insulted by this president.
