John Kerry Meets with Ba'athist Dictator

[Solid Fro]

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (L) and U.S. Senator John Kerry meet in Damascus, January 8, 2005, to discuss the latest developments in the Middle East and Iraq. REUTERS/SANA

Can anyone explain what the heck Kerry is doing? Is he just on a delusional quest around the world or what? I guess he can add Mr. al-Assad along with the North Vietnamese and Sandinistas to his "Dictators that I have met" list.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/050108/ids_photos_wl/r3814359828.jpg

 

[KieranMurphy]

I guess he can add Mr. al-Assad along with the North Vietnamese and Sandinistas to his "Dictators that I have met" list.

He should maybe meet with Donald Rumsfeld and compare notes.

KM.

 

[Joey D]

I guess he can add Mr. al-Assad along with the North Vietnamese and Sandinistas to his "Dictators that I have met" list.

That's a pretty good one. But I guess he figures since he couldn't be president he might as well try to turn in to Jimmy Carter and be a diplomate. I don't think he would do very well because personally I think he is rather a dull speaker.

 

[Carl.]

and do not forget to include these fellows in the Axis of Evil:

 

[Solid Fro]

There seems to be a big problem with heads of state meeting with known supporters of terrorism.

And speaking of Mr. Carter...

 

[KieranMurphy]

Can anyone explain what the heck Kerry is doing?

I don't what he's doing but he should take a leaf out of George W. Bush's book and be photographed with people like the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, a regime where human rights and women's rights are second to none...

KM.

 

[KieranMurphy]

There seems to be a big problem with heads of state meeting with known supporters of terrorism.

There does certainly seem to be a big problem. Here's George W. Bush with Gerry Adams, who is notorious in Northern Ireland for having nothing to do with the IRA or any sort of terrorism:

KM.

 

[Solid Fro]

I think that is what Bush is supposed to do.

What the hell is Kerry (or Carter, or the Pope) doing?

 

[Carl.]

I think that is what Bush is supposed to do.

So it's okay for Bush to have a "Dictators that I have met" list? ...But not them?

I was beginning to actually believe that double standards were only to be found in leftist media or in democrat offices...

 

[KieranMurphy]

I think that is what Bush is supposed to do.What the hell is Kerry (or Carter, or the Pope) doing?

Huh? Since when did retired presidents or failed presidential candidates meeting with nasty dictators or horrible terrorists and their sympathisers become more important than the actual President of the United States meeting with actual terrorists like Gerry Adams or with leaders of countries with horrific human rights abuses like Saudi Arabia?

I suppose my photo of Donald Rumsfeld meeting with Saddam in the 1980s doesn't count because Saddam was America's friend then, eh? Well, I suppose it doesn't count for some reason...


KM.

 

[Solid Fro]

I suppose my photo of Donald Rumsfeld meeting with Saddam in the 1980s doesn't count because Saddam was America's friend then, eh? Well, I suppose it doesn't count for some reason...

That photo was taken duing the Iran/Iraq conflict. Either meet with Saddam or have the whole region turn into a glass parking lot, you decide. America cannot choose it's allies.

For the record: I do not agree with Saudi Arabia's policies nor do I believe that they are "friends" to the United States.

 

[Solid Fro]

So it's okay for Bush to have a "Dictators that I have met" list? ...But not them?

I was beginning to actually believe that double standards were only to be found in leftist media or in democrat offices...

At least Bush doesn't deny he ever met with them, unlike Mr. Former Presidential Candidate.

Bush cannot be choosy. Just like the Rumsfeld/Saddam picture, either meet with him or let the whole region turn to war. On the other hand, Kerry chose to visit with this dictator, just like he chose to visit the communists in North Vietnam.

 

[KieranMurphy]

For the record: I do not agree with Saudi Arabia's policies nor do I believe that they are "friends" to the United States.

So what? If you can throw around pictures of a failed Democratic presidential candidate with some bastard of a third world dictator, why can't someone else throw around pictures of the actual current President with the leader of an equally obnoxious regime.

So what if you don't agree with Saudi Arabia's polices? It's a matter of fact that the current US regime are in bed with the current Saudi regime, which is notorious for it's pro-Wahhabism royal family. It's disturbing to note that Wahhabism is the official flavour of Islam in the Saudi Kingdom.

How do you feel about Dubya being photographed with the leader of this Kingdom and it's nasty fundamental religion? Who gives a **** about a failed political wannabe like Kerry, when the Chief himself is actively supporting regimes that officially endorse Islamic fundamentalism like Wahhabism?

It was Saudi Arabia after all that gave birth to 15 of the 19 nutters who caused 9/11!


KM.

 

[KieranMurphy]

At least Bush doesn't deny he ever met with them, unlike Mr. Former Presidential Candidate.

Oh, now I get it. It's not the evil bastards in the third world you meet and handshake that's important, it's the evil bastards you admit to meeting and handshaking that's important...

It's not the dictators I do business with that's important, it's the dictators I admit to doing business with that's important...


KM.

 

[KieranMurphy]

Either meet with Saddam or have the whole region turn into a glass parking lot, you decide. America cannot choose it's allies.

I don't understand. If that meeting never took place, how would it have made a difference to America's future or to peace in the region? Wouldn't Iran and Iraq have just fought until one of them gave up or threw in the towel?

Just how did Saddam and Donald's meeting prevent a "glass parking lot"? What's a glass parking lot anyway?


KM.

 

[Solid Fro]

I disagree with our policy toward Saudi Arabia. One of the extreme few things I disagree with Bush on nor do I agree with anyone meeting with these dictators. You can quote me on that.

Just how did Saddam and Donald's meeting prevent a "glass parking lot"? What's a glass parking lot anyway?

When you apply extreme heat to sand, it turns into glass. Middle Eastern countries have no modesty about their nuclear weapon programs...

 

[KieranMurphy]

When you apply extreme heat to sand, it turns into glass. Middle Eastern countries have no modesty about their nuclear weapon programs...

And how did Donald Rumsfeld's meeting with Saddam prevent a nuclear war in the Middle East? What exactly did the USA at the time do to prevent Iraq and Iran throwing nuclear weapons at each other?


KM.

 

[Solid Fro]

And how did Donald Rumsfeld's meeting with Saddam prevent a nuclear war in the Middle East? What exactly did the USA at the time do to prevent Iraq and Iran throwing nuclear weapons at each other?


KM.

The US (along with the UK, Italy, and France) supported Iraq with weapons.

I assume (there isn't much info on the meeting) that Rumsfeld met with Saddam to persuade him from going to war with Iran.

 

[Carl.]

I disagree with our policy toward Saudi Arabia. One of the extreme few things I disagree with Bush

* writes a bold X on the on the calendar *

I agree. Though the issue is more within the policies towards them than the actual meetings with their leaders.

What was, in your opinion, the goal of the Kerry/al-Assad meeting? (bonus point granted if done without using one of Moore's methods, but given the beginning of this thread, I think it's already done)


And, speaking of Carter...

Given the efforts he put into finding a solution to the israeli/palestinian conflict during his presidency, what's so surprising to see him at their leader's funeral?? (do I also have to repost the lists of officials who attended these funerals?)

On the same subject, what's so surprising, (or bad) for him to be in Palestine at this moment, acting as an observator for the ongoing elections? Oh well, beg me pardon, I forgot that those people are, after all, terrorists and the only course of action to follow, is obviously to kill em all.

They may not be perfect yet, but my diplomacy skills are definitely improving over time!

 

[Carl.]

I assume (there isn't much info on the meeting) that Rumsfeld met with Saddam to persuade him from going to war with Iran.

Erm... wait a minute, who wanted to prevent Iraq from fighting our friends in Iran?

Do you think the same about the Talibans and the Russians?

 

[Solid Fro]

What was, in your opinion, the goal of the Kerry/al-Assad meeting? (bonus point granted if done without using one of Moore's methods, but given the beginning of this thread, I think it's already done)

To keep his face in the media, IMO.

Reuters said that he was there to talk about how to prevent terrorists from moving between the Iraq and Syrian border.

Does Kerry really have any authority in that matter?

 

[High-Test]

THe Iranians hated carter so much back then for his peace efforts that they wouldn't let the embassy hostages go until Reagan was elected.

 

[Solid Fro]

Erm... wait a minute, who wanted to prevent Iraq from fighting our friends in Iran?

Do you think the same about the Talibans and the Russians?

It's hard to say after the fact. We don't have crystal balls.

Terrorism or Communism, your choice.

 

[Carl.]

THe Iranians hated carter so much back then for his peace efforts that they wouldn't let the embassy hostages go until Reagan was elected.

The Islamic governement of Khomeini that overthrowned Muhammad Reza Shah Pahlevi also wouldn't let the embassy hostages go until Shah was dead (their demands was to get him in exchange for the hostages) and Iraq invaded them, to place everything in context...

They hated Carter because he admitted Shah in the US for medical treatment, halted oil imports from Iran and froze a few billions of Iranian assets after they seized the US embassy. Perhaps for the aborted attempt at rescuing the hostages, too...

Do you say this has anything to do with Carter's involvement in the the Israeli/Palestinian conflict?

 

[ledhed]

So to get back on topic..whats the big deal about Kerry going to Damascus ? Syria has been cooperating somewhat and in case you have forgot sent soldiers to fight in the first gulf war. Aside from that Syrias support for terrorist ranges towards the anti Isreal - pro palestine secular flavor the OTHER types of terrorist , the anti American/ Isreali . Islamic fundamentalist are enemys to his regime on a fundemental level. Diplomacy in the REAL world requires that you have a dialog with leaders that you may not like. We talk to the French leaders dont we ?

 

[Carl.]

Syria is viewed by many - Robert Baer amongst others - as a good example in the Middle East of how to control religious fundamentalism and fanatism with an Iron fist: they may be far from exemplary in regards of human rights (name me one country that is, around there...), but at least they managed that. In this regard it's quite impressive that Al Assad is still alive today. This kind of dictatorship dealing with fundamentalism the hard way is also viewed as what could be the first step towards democracy for countries such as Saoudi Arabia. Giving the freedom of democracy right off the bat to coutries where religious fanatism is rampant within their population, wishing that it will magically solve the issue by itself is quite naive.