On Thu, 7 Oct 2004 21:36:48 +0000 (UTC), Andrew Barss
wrote:

bob peterson wrote:

: Kerry came close to telling the truth about what he really believes
: when he said US action has to pass a "global test". He has always
: believed that the US should not use force in its national intersts
: without permission from the UN

If you look at Kerry's quote in context, it's very clear that

a) he used "global" in the sense of "comprehensive", not "worldwide".
(You can look it up in a dictionary if you need to).


b) He said quite explicitly, and I quote:


"I will never cede America's security to any institution or any other
country".

which makes your statement above about the UN either a befuddled mistake
or a partisan lie.


-- Andy Barss


... or makes Kerry's subsequent statement about a global test a
contradiction of his first statement. i.e., taking both sides on the issue
-- not that a politician has ever done that before.

Andy, as an apologist for Kerry, the idea that he was using the term
"global" as a synonym for "comprehensive" in the particular debate answer
in question is really stretching things beyond credibility.

Kerry's own words refute that interpretation:
http://washingtontimes.com/national/20041005-013030-2689r.htm
"The test I was talking about is a test of legitimacy — not just in the
globe, but elsewhere," he said. "If you do things that are illegitimate in
the eyes of other people, it's very hard to get them to share the burden
and risk with you. " Which pretty much seems like judging what you are
going to do by what others are going to think of you.

But Kerry then went on and said
"I will never cede America's security to any institution or any other
country. No one gets a veto over our security. No one." Again, this is in
direct contradiction to his first sentence. There are going to be times
when protection of US interests is *not* going to make others think highly
of us, but is absolutely essential. This kind of situation is going to
cause some significant problems with the above two contradictory
statements.