Ben Shapiro on Sen. Kerry

Phoenix32890 wrote:
What I would like to know from Kerry, are detailed (as possible) plans for the war on terror. How does he propose to make the country safe? If I can be satisfied that he will be proactive in protecting the US, and has credible, workable plans, then Sozobe will owe me a cheesecake!


The following might be able to answer your question.

http://www.johnkerry.com/issues/national_security/compare.html

Kerry-Edwards vs. Bush-Cheney



Restoring America's Alliances
Bush
Shattered alliances, alienated close allies, and made us less safe. America and American troops paying most costs of Iraq war.

Kerry
Launch a New Era of Alliances for a post 9-11 world, to restore America's place in the world and make us safer.

Preventing the Spread of Dangerous Weapons

Bush
Stood by as North Korea and Iran further developed nuclear programs. Bush administration will take up to 13 years to finish the job of securing former Soviet weapons and materials at current pace.

Kerry
Comprehensive plan to secure nuclear weapons and nuclear materials worldwide. Will secure all nuclear weapons and materials in the former Soviet Union and complete Global Cleanout of bomb material within four years.

Strengthening America's Military to Meet New Threats

Bush
Failed to adequately plan for wars of the 21st century. Sent troops into Iraq without proper equipment and supplies.

Kerry
Strengthen our military, including doubling our Special Forces capability to fight the war on terror; improve our technology; and task our National Guard with Homeland Security. Add 40,000 new soldiers to the active-duty Army -- not to increase the number of soldiers in Iraq -- but to prevent and prepare for other possible conflicts.

Achieving Energy Independence From Mideast Oil

Bush
Ignored our increasing and dangerous reliance on Mideast oil. Refuses to get serious with Saudi Arabia about its role in funding terrorism.

Kerry
Detailed plan to end America's dangerous dependence on Mideast oil to secure our full independence and freedom. Will stop using kid-gloves with countries that launder money for terrorism.


Winning the Peace in Iraq


Taking the Burden off the American Military & Taxpayer

Bush
Go it alone strategy means United States has contributed nearly 90% of forces on the ground and paid the vast majority of costs. No strategy to relieve the burden on the American military and taxpayer.

Kerry
Plan to internationalize the security and reconstruction effort by making Iraq part of NATO's global mission and by involving allies in rebuilding the country, providing troops and financial commitments.

Planning for Iraq's Future

Bush
Has failed to present a plan to secure Iraq's future. Ignored post-war planning recommendations of its own State Department. Of the $18.4 billion allocated for reconstruction by Congress, less than $350 million had been spent as of June, and more than half of that was for security and law enforcement.

Kerry
Strategy to implement an international effort to coordinate reconstruction efforts, draft the national constitution, and organize elections. Work with allies to forgive Iraq's multi-billion dollar debts. Convene a regional conference with Iraq's neighbors in order to secure a pledge of respect for Iraq's borders and non-interference in Iraq's internal affairs.

Building Security In Iraq

Bush
Current training programs are lagging far behind schedule. As of late June, the Iraqi army was one-third the size U.S. officials promised it would be, and seventy percent of police officers had not received training.

Kerry
Launch a massive training effort to build a professional Iraqi security force, including a major role for NATO.


Winning the War on Terror

Bush
Fighting the War on Terrorism Failed to go after bin Laden at Tora Bora. Pursued ad hoc strategy. Own Secretary of Defense says we lack metrics to measure success. Ignored the advice of military experts. Single focus on Iraq - let Afghanistan become the forgotten front of the war on terror.

Kerry
Launch a bold, comprehensive strategy to disrupt and destroy terrorist networks, double our Special Forces capability to fight the war on terror, reform our intelligence, crack down on terrorist financing, secure our homeland and prevent the emergence of new terrorists.

Building Bridges to Arab and Muslim Countries

Bush
Alienated large portions of the Arab and Muslim world against America. Administration's actions have squandered American credibility.

Kerry
A plan to win the war of ideas in Arab and Muslim countries.

Making Bold Intelligence Reforms

Bush
Has taken no real action on critical reforms. Basic coordination of agencies, databases still not finished with no central system in place.

Kerry
A Plan that demands accountability, separates analysis and operations, and creates a Director of National Intelligence with real control of all national intelligence personnel and budgets.


Defending the Homeland

Bush
Protecting the Homeland Failed to fund critical homeland security programs. Cut security training at nuclear facilities, killed chemical plant security plan.

Kerry
Plan to keep America safe. Will give our first responders all the tools they need. Detailed port security & bio-terrorism strategies.


I know that it is from a kerry site, but where else are you going to get kerry future plans? So I thought if you didn't want to go the site, I would bring the site to you. (did the best I could on copying it; had to do some editing since it wouldn't copy some of the titles and things)

(Will that be plain or chocolate, Phoenix? )

Seriously, I'm very happy you're in this research mode.

One thing that I mentioned already in terms of specifics is that Kerry was all over the 9/11 Commission recommendations, and said he would implement them immediately. So you can look at those for specifics.

http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/releases/pr_2004_0727d.html

Quote:
"I'd like to say a few words about the 9-11 Commission Report that was just released. The commission has done an extraordinary job. It has issued a clear set of recommendations to protect us from terrorism and make America safer.

"Now that the 9-11 Commission has done its job, we need to do ours. We understand the threat. We have a blueprint for action. We have the strength as a nation to do what must be done. The only thing we don't have is time.

-snip-

"We must act on the commission's recommendations now, and keep working, without pause, until we have done everything possible to prevent another terrorist attack.

"That is why I support the 9-11 Commission's commitment to continue pushing for progress and make sure its recommendations are implemented without further delay.

"The commission should stay on the job for at least another 18 months and, beginning this December, the commission should issue a status report every six months to address the following questions with absolute candor: First, are we doing enough, fast enough, to strengthen our homeland security? Second, are we reorganizing our intelligence agencies to meet the terrorist threat? Third, are we building a true global alliance to fight the terrorists and their extremist ideology? Fourth, are we leading and uniting the world, so that we isolate our enemies, not ourselves? Fifth and finally, are we doing everything we can do to make America as safe as it can be?


Here's the commission site -- I haven't isolated the recommendations yet (but I note that it closed August 21st, so Kerry's idea to extend its service another 18 months and do follow-ups ain't happening under Bush):

http://www.9-11commission.gov/

That burden seems to be getting met.

That burden seems to be getting met.