Politician · country

John Kerry on Iraq

Complex Iraq vote stance (strong) Position evolved

TL;DR

John Kerry authorized the use of force in Iraq in 2002 but later strongly criticized the President's execution of the war.

Key Points

He voted on October 11, 2002, to grant the president authority to use force in Iraq, as part of 77 senators who supported the resolution.
In a September 8, 2004, campaign speech, he stated he would have done almost everything differently regarding the war, including building a genuine coalition.
During his 2004 presidential bid, he stated that he "actually did vote for the $87 billion before I voted against it," referring to funding for the war.

Summary

John Kerry's position regarding the Iraq War, particularly surrounding the 2002 Congressional vote, has been complex and subject to scrutiny. As a Senator in the fall of 2002, Kerry expressed skepticism regarding the push for war, warning about the risks of acting without a strong international coalition and making sure diplomacy was exhausted. Despite these reservations, he ultimately voted in favor of the resolution granting the president authority to use military force. He later defended this vote by asserting he authorized the authority to use force to back diplomacy, not a declaration of war itself, and maintained that the president misused that authority.

Following the invasion and the failure to locate weapons of mass destruction, he became a vocal critic of the administration's handling of the war, specifically faulting the rush to war, the faulty intelligence, and the lack of a plan to win the peace. In 2004, he asserted he would have voted for the authority even knowing WMDs would not be found, while simultaneously charging the president misled the country and criticizing the execution of the conflict. This position led to accusations of being a 'flip-flopper' during his presidential campaign.

Key Quotes

It's the wrong war in the wrong place at the wrong time

Campaign Speech in Cincinnati September 13, 2004

Frequently Asked Questions

What was John Kerry's vote on the 2002 Iraq War resolution?

Senator John Kerry voted in favor of the resolution in October 2002 that gave the president the authority to use military force in Iraq, according to his voting record. He explained at the time that his vote was contingent on the President using force only as a last resort and securing allied support.

Did John Kerry change his stance on the Iraq War?

John Kerry's position evolved after the invasion when weapons of mass destruction were not found, leading him to strongly criticize the president's execution of the war. Critics, particularly during the 2004 election, viewed his shifting explanations regarding his initial authorization vote as a change in stance.

What did John Kerry say about how he would handle the Iraq War differently?

As a presidential candidate in 2004, John Kerry stated he would have done almost everything differently than the incumbent president, emphasizing giving diplomacy more time and building a strong coalition of allies. He also said he would never have gone to war without a plan to win the peace.