Cheney decries Kerry devaluing of war allies

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Vice President Dick Cheney yesterday accused John Kerry of espousing an anti-American internationalism, charging that the Democratic presidential candidate holds U.S. allies in the Iraq war in "open contempt."

"He speaks as if only those who openly oppose America's objectives have a chance of earning his respect. Senator Kerry's characterization of our good allies is ungrateful to nations that have withstood danger, hardship and insult for standing with America in the cause of freedom," the vice president said in a speech at the Ronald Reagan Library in California.

Listing allies including Britain, Australia, Italy, Spain and Poland, Mr. Cheney said Mr. Kerry calls the nations "window dressing."

"They are, in his words, 'a coalition of the coerced and the bribed.' Many questions come to mind, but the first is this: How would Senator Kerry describe Great Britain coerced, or bribed? Or Italy which recently lost 19 citizens, killed by terrorists in Najaf was Italy's contribution just window dressing?"

In Washington, Mr. Kerry initiated his general election campaign by reiterating his call for internationalism and accusing President Bush of weakening the military. He spoke at George Washington University.

"We're still bogged down in Iraq, and the administration stubbornly holds to failed, unilateral policies that drive potential, significant, important, long-standing allies away from us," said the Massachusetts senator who secured the Democratic nomination with Tuesday's Illinois primary win.

Still he promised, to keep U.S. troops in Iraq if he becomes president, but he said his solution will be to try and rally support from more countries. He called on Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, Spain's prime minister-elect, to reverse his decision and keep his troops engaged in Iraq in order "to send a message that terrorists cannot win by their acts of terror."

"We have to return more effectively to the international community and share authority, share the burdens with other nations," he said, adding that he also will try to find "a way to share the cost for the American taxpayer."

But Mr. Cheney, speaking an hour after the presumptive Democratic nominee, said Mr. Kerry who voted against the first Persian Gulf war, when a U.S.-led coalition drove Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein out of Kuwait would delegate too much authority to foreign leaders and world bodies.

"Had the decision belonged to Senator Kerry, Saddam Hussein would still be in power, today, in Iraq. In fact, Saddam Hussein would almost certainly still be in control of Kuwait," the vice president said to laughter and applause.