The coming ads

I thought the Inquirer would conveniently decide not to run this column this week, but I was wrong: Krauthammer, indispensible as always:

Americans Overseas for Kerry is the Kerry operation seeking the crucial votes of Americans living abroad (remember the Florida recount?), including more than 100,000 who live in Australia. Its leader was interviewed Sept. 16 by the Australian's Washington correspondent, Roy Eccleston. Asked whether she believed the terrorist threat to Australians was greater because of support for President Bush, she replied: "I would have to say that," noting that "the most recent attack was on the Australian embassy in Jakarta."

She said this of her country (and of the war that Australia is helping us with in Iraq): "We are endangering the Australians now by this wanton disregard for international law and multilateral channels." Mark Latham could not have said it better. Nor could Jemaah Islamiah, the al-Qaeda affiliate that killed 11 people in the Jakarta bombing.

This Kerry spokeswoman, undermining a key ally on the eve of a critical election, is no rogue political operative. The head of Americans Overseas for Kerry is Diana Kerry, sister of John. She is, of course, merely echoing her brother, who, at a time when American allies have shown great political courage in facing down both terrorists and domestic opposition for their assistance to the United States, calls these allies the "coalition of the coerced and the bribed."

This snide and reckless putdown not only undermines our best friends abroad, it also demonstrates the cynicism of Kerry's promise to broaden our coalition in Iraq. If this is how Kerry repays America's closest allies - ridiculing the likes of Tony Blair and John Howard - who does he think is going to step up tomorrow to be America's friend?

This is the kind of thing that - should it become widely known - will put Kerry away for good.

That is exactly why I believe it will become a Bush campaign ad in the next month. Perhaps they are waiting to see if Howard will lose the election or not before they make an issue of it (the election there is so close that it could turn on anything).

But imagine: Howard loses to Latham, Latham triumphiantly, as promised, withdraws from the coalition, just like Spain did.

It will be clear that Kerry doesn't even intend to hold onto the friends we already have, and that he has no desire to do anything in Iraq except get out.

Such silliness will embolden our enemies and completely demoralize our soldiers.

The quotes of Kerry and his sister will be pure poison in the heartland.

My prediction? Bush campign ads detailing this issue will start airing - particularly during football games in key blue collar Kerry states like Michigan - around mid to late October.

And if it happens, particularly if Howard loses, Kerry is toast.

He will never recover.

- posted by total @ 9/27/2004 05:15:00 AM .