Kerry to visit Iraq, Middle East

[her209]

Story

Kerry to visit Iraq, Middle East
By Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press, 12/9/2004 12:01

WASHINGTON (AP) Former Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry will travel to Iraq next month as the war-torn country prepares for elections.

The Massachusetts senator, who lost his bid for the presidency in November, is expected to visit several Middle East countries, with the focus on the situation in Iraq and the war on terror.

A decorated Vietnam War veteran, Kerry also plans to meet with U.S. troops, including some from Massachusetts, to thank them for their services, spokeswoman April Boyd said Thursday.

During the campaign, Kerry criticized President Bush's handling of the Iraq war. Although Kerry voted in October 2002 to give Bush the authority to wage war, he later voted against additional funds for Iraq and Afghanistan reconstruction, arguing that the commander in chief didn't have a solid plan to restore peace.

Kerry is a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

In addition to his Iraq trip, Kerry will take time during the holidays to host events in Massachusetts and Iowa in which he will thank his campaign supporters. He travels to Iowa on Friday.

Kerry's solo overseas trip comes after several senators endured a harrowing flight out of Baghdad, and amid increased security concerns as violence there continues to escalate.

Last week, a group of senators, including Sen. Lincoln Chafee, R-R.I., traveled to Iraq and found conditions far more dangerous than during a similar trip a year ago. Chafee described a frightening helicopter flight out of Baghdad as the aircraft weaved to avoid enemy fire.

The Iraqi elections are scheduled for Jan. 30 and will be the first popular vote since Saddam Hussein's ouster.

 

[Grunt03]

Wow, I didn't know he was running for the Presidency of Iraq?

This time he has my vote for sure...........

 

[GoPackGo]

Perhaps he should have done this a couple of months ago.

 

[Darkhawk28]

Originally posted by: GoPackGo
Perhaps he should have done this a couple of months ago.

Then the argument would've been that he's trying to undermine the morale of the troops towards their Commander-in-Chief or something lame like that.

 

[randym431]

A great man!!! Hopefully getting things together for a run in 2008. He came sooo sooo close. A so called "Ted Kennedy liberal", from the north, that just missed it by a very few percentage points, shows REAL change in the country, and REAL hope. The Republicans see that as a positive for them, in winning this one by such a narrow margin. Just wait folks! 2008 will be upon us before we can say "bye bye Bush".

 

[Stunt]

You actually think he will get the chance to run again?