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July 13, 2006

Laura Ingraham - Kerry vs. the Iraq Ambassador

by Ferdinand T Cat

From today's Laura Ingraham show, an exchange between John Kerry and the Iraqi Ambassador to the United States. Zalmay Khalilzad.

Khalilzad: We would like the troops to come out, but if you ask Iraqis do you want them out now, or in six months, I think you will get the overwhelming answer will be no--

Kerry (interrupting): But our plan doesn't do that. I just want it clear, our plan didn't do that.

Khalilzad: No, I'm not saying that I'm--

Kerry (interrupting): So we should take the word "abandonment" off the table. We should leave the word "success" on the table.

Kerry's original end-of-2006 withdrawal plan was proposed in June, so in fact it would have been a withdrawal after seven months, rather than six. Later he amended the plan to call for withdrawal in July of 2007. Kerry's plan was soundly defeated, but had it been adopted, the biggest question is whether or not the Iraqi government would be allowed to put the word "abandonment" back on the table should there be a sudden increase in terrorist activity next Spring.

Language is humanity's greatest gift, but a good thing can be taken too far. Lately, it seems to me all anybody can talk about is what words should be used for which. We have a general confusion about "amnesty", a repackaging of "illegal aliens", and a secret fear of calling certain people "terrorists". We are in serious danger of spending more time choosing our words than framing our ideas.

In the meantime, a note of encouragement to the Hon. Mr. Khalilzad: the next time the Senator comes to visit, we suggest you put the word "irrelevant" on the table. Look at it while he's talking. It will brighten the experience wonderfully.

Respectfully submitted,

Ferdinand T. Cat

Trackposted to Pursuing Success, AmbassadorServant.com, and Basil's Table Full of Important Words.

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Exactly ... we're back to the what "is" Is?


Posted by: Jo [TypeKey Profile Page] at July 14, 2006 5:42 AM

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