This is called an attempt at a setup.

Is it really asking so much to want a clear vision of the future of the war articulated by a candidate? Has he given this no thought before now? Why does he want the job in the first place then? He will gather millions of votes from people who want the war exercises ended NOW, and they won't let him forget who elected him. Look, this guy's voting record couldn't be clearer. He is a pacifist with no executive experience, certainly no friend of the US Military. This guy gets elected and we lose the war in Iraq, sorry, no second chances. The danger that will pose to the region, to US diplomatic credibility and to our men and women in the combat theater? TS. He will give them the same regard he gave his band of brothers in Vietnam when he protested against the war and they were still in harm's way. Look up this guy's voting record, it couldn't be clearer.

Kerry really couched his vote strategically when it came to Iraq. His vote came with conditions, namely that war would be an absolute last resort only when the UN weapons inspectors would have finished their investigations and once we have solid consensus on the need for war. It wasn't that he was suckered into supporting the war like what many of his supporters claim, rather it an immediate political calculation. More precisely, he didn't want the Republicans to label him a wimpy liberal, a charge that has stuck on Democrats the past, especially in times of global unrest. Fast forward to today, Kerry in his acceptance speech said that we would need 40,000 more troops in Iraq; he claimed that he would increase recruitment figures while ending the National Guard's tours of duty in the region. Kerry added that he would move troops from other areas of the world into Iraq. I agree that we do need a larger standing army, there's too much of an emphasis on hardward and that can really only get you so far, but I think Kerry should be outfront with the people. There is a good chance that the draft is going to be re-instated. No matter who is going to be elected President next year, as long as we continue in our trajectory concerning our national security strategy, a much larger army is going to be needed. Note that neither Bush or Kerry are going to say it because that would devastating politically. The Selective Service asked this year for millions in funds to get their organization up and running to 90%, something that hasn't happened since 1971. I would go if asked to serve, but one should really question the prudence of our current foreign policy. Does it really serve America's interest in the long term to become an empire? Bottom line, Kerry isn't really anti-war, he's hedging his bets essentially. No leader will pull out of Iraq unless massive pressure is brought to bear much like during the 1960's. Had Kerry been President, the Iraq War wouldn't have happened the way it did, if at all. The whole operation was filled with hubris and hysteria, cooler heads definitely didn't prevail in the Bush White House, much to the detriment of the American people. However Kerry wants the best of both political world's when it comes down to Iraq; something that he is going to have to account for eventually.

Enkidu raises good points, but I thought the war was unamerican and illegal even with the WMD argument. It's hard for me to imagine a situation in which I would support an unprovoked, unilateral attack on a sovereign country - I don't care who the attacker is - Iraq, Israel, terrorists, Pakistan, or the United States. I don't support it. Getting back to Kerry, I would prefer that he felt that same way I did. But then again, it doesn't really matter in terms of my vote. For me, the upcoming election is more about what I see as an urgent need for a change of administration, as opposed to any other particular candidate.

A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of small minds. Kerry supported the war based on the false information that Iraq had WMD. It turned out that Bush et al. had been misrepresenting the facts--at best--and baldly lying, at worst. With full justification, based on this appalling web of lies and deceptions, Kerry no longer supports the war. No flip-flop here, since the conditions which applied at the time of the vote changed.