Posted on: Thursday, September 23, 2004

EDITORIAL
Fog begins lifting on Kerry's Iraq stance

This newspaper has been among many critics who argue that Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry has lapsed in his efforts to set himself apart from President Bush on the war in Iraq.

Kerry has made it abundantly clear he believes Bush is "wrong" in Iraq, but has been less successful in outlining what he would do differently.

Part of this results from smart political strategy on the part of the Bush campaign. The Bush people have made a major issue out of Kerry's "flip-flopping" on Iraq, leaving the Kerry campaign to spend its time defending itself rather than staking out its own position.

That may be changing, now, and it is about time.

In recent days, Kerry has outlined a position that has elements of clarity heretofore lacking. They include:

• His original vote authorizing Bush to go to war in Iraq was not a vote for war as much as it was to authorize the use of force if Saddam Hussein would not agree to thorough and complete weapons inspections.

• His vote against subsequent funding for the war was a protest vote against a plan that Kerry found fiscally irresponsible.

• Unlike Bush, who continues to insist the invasion of Iraq was warranted, Kerry now says he never would have authorized an invasion once it became clear that Saddam did not have weapons of mass destruction at his disposal and had no significant ties to al-Qaida.

• The "opportunity costs" of our invasion of Iraq include a diminished capability to pursue our war against al-Qaida and a lack of ability to deal with more serious WMD threats in Iran and North Korea.

Kerry's newfound clarity on these issues offers the American public a chance to hear serious and informed debate on what has become the central issue of this presidential campaign.

The voters cannot be expected to choose on the basis of vague promises or unfocused criticism. This election must be decided on facts and hard choices. It is good that Kerry is moving in that direction.