SwiftVets.com

[h3digital]

An Interview with Rand Beers

One week ago, John Kerry kicked off eleven days of speeches and campaign events outlining his national security policy. As head of the Internet Team, I had the opportunity to sit down with Rand Beers to discuss how John Kerry will build a stronger America, that is respected in the world, and secure at home.

After serving at the National Security Council at the White House during Republican and Democratic administrations, Rand Beers resigned as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Combating Terrorism in March 2003 to protest the Bush administration's loss of focus on the war on terrorism. Eight weeks later, he joined the Kerry Campaign as National Security/Homeland Security Issues Coordinator. He began his career as a Marine rifle company commander in Vietnam.

Josh Ross: Was it a difficult decision to leave the Bush administration?

Rand Beers: It was an extraordinarily difficult decision for me to make. When you've worked with people for a number of years, you develop a sense of loyalty and camaraderie. But I feel strongly that if you're going to play a part in any government, you have to be one hundred percent committed. When I could not give that kind of commitment because of differences in philosophy and the administration's rush to war, I decided to leave.

After I left, I thought a lot about what I wanted to do, and came to the conclusion that rather than being part of the problem, which I was within the administration, I wanted to be part of the solution.

Josh Ross: There were nine Democrats in the field when you joined the Kerry campaign. Why pick John Kerry over all the rest?

Rand Beers: I joined John Kerry's campaign because I knew about his record in the Senate, on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and on the Senate Intelligence Committee. I knew that he cared about the changing security environment that the world was facing. And one of his former staffers, Jonathan Winer, worked for me as Deputy Assistant Secretary at the State Department, so I had a good appreciation of the kinds of issues and concerns that John Kerry was passionate about.

I also admire Senator Kerry because of his Vietnam experience. Like him, I served in Vietnam. Like him, I went back for a second tour after having spent a full year there. Like him, I came back to the United States deeply concerned that our efforts in Vietnam had gone off track. I was drawn to John Kerry because of our similar experiences, plus the knowledge that individuals who have served in combat have an important perspective when they make decisions about war and peace.

Josh Ross: What steps do we need to take to restore U.S. authority and leadership in the world?

Rand Beers: It's absolutely essential that the next president, from his first day in office, makes a major effort to reach out to countries around the world. We need to return to the kind of dialogue that is necessary to knit together relationships and alliances into meaningful coalitions, to deal with the problems around the globe. If you're not prepared to listen, as well as talk, then it's much harder to bring other countries together for common purposes and common solutions.

Josh Ross: What lessons from history can we apply to fighting the war on terror?

Rand Beers: I think that the major lesson from history is that if we do not work together with allies around the world, we are going to be unable to prevent terrorists from attacking us and hurting us. We will never have a perfect defense; but we will be stronger and more secure with strong allies.

Second, we need to adapt our capabilities to the new threats we face. Terrorism was previously a secondary concern not only for the United States but for most countries. The face of terrorism is ever-changing and evolving. We're going to have to look at our military forces, our intelligence forces, and our law enforcement community, both within the United States and globally, to make sure that we have the right kind of people, the right kind of capabilities, and the right kind of skills in order to deal with these new threats.

We also have to dry up support and sympathy for al-Qaeda in the Islamic world. We have to reinforce the perception in the Islamic world that the kind of activity and behavior that al-Qaeda engages in is unrepresentative of the religion as a whole. This will take time and considerable effort, but it's a mission that we must participate in with the Islamic world and other members of the international community.

Josh Ross: How will a John Kerry presidency differ from a George Bush Presidency, in terms of foreign policy, the war on terrorism, and Iraq?

Rand Beers: John Kerry presented a very clear set of differences in his speech in Seattle last Thursday. First, he would return to the alliance structure that has stood so well since the second World War. Those alliances need to be updated, strengthened and refocused for a post 9/11 world, so that organizations such as NATO are no longer confined in their vision.

Second, John Kerry will ensure that we have the kind of military that's necessary for security missions. We must have more than just a force that is capable of fighting conventional wars. We also must have the skills and capabilities that will allow us to deal with failed states, terrorism, and threats from nuclear, biological and chemical weapons, especially keeping them away from terrorists.

Third, John Kerry will use all the tools in our foreign policy arsenal. We will emphasize the use of diplomacy, which the Bush administration has put in cold storage. We need better intelligence capabilities and better use of economic power, our ideas, and our values.

Finally, we need to become energy independent, so our foreign policy isn't distorted by our dependence on Middle East oil.

Rand Beers, not bad for just telling it the way it is. Another fact for the truth, not like siding with traitors to Iran, and giving up CIA agents names and cutting Veterans Benefits like our current administration. Hey guys in Texas. The border problem was actually outsourced, instead of keeping it inhouse, meaning in the govt. I wonder why? Kind of like how Haliburton got the Iraq rebuilding contract. Oh that's right, Cheyne, father of a Lesbian, was the ex CEO and has a lot of stock in the company. Jeez my mistake. Let the Truth be heard to all vets! vetsforkerry.com and check out the other side. Not all Vets support a Dry up ex cocaine, alcoholic AWOL President. [/img]
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Let the Truth be let out.

[95 bxl]

We don't care what you post, wannabe... but you need to post it on the non-veteran board.

[h3digital]

ALL YOU CAN DO IS DENY. That's it. The Truth hurts that I'm a Vet and I don't agree with your bashing. Don't be in denial, you can come out of the closet? Like Cheyne's Lesbian daughter.
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Let the Truth be let out.

[DELTREE]

h3digital, I am glad that Rand Beers is gone! So now he is working for J.Fonda Kerry, Birds of a feather flock together. Two BUMS!!
Your Friend and Truth Teller DELTREE

[95 bxl]

[DELTREE]

95 bxl, You are calling h3digital a queer now? You know I think you are right! Lets get these Commie fags out of here, it's starting to stink the place up!!
Take Care and GOD BLESS the VN VET

[xsquid]

[ASPB]

[h3digital]

ASPB I suggest you check with the admin before you make your acusations. I don't need to show proof to anyone else. He also told me to keep a level head here. Bill told me that a lot of Vets here wern't mad at Kerry until he went public about his service in Veitnam reguarding his presidency. He gave a wonderful explanation, but that still doesn't excuse what our current administration is doing. Not only is the current admin destroyering our Beutiful Country and smearing its name, but creating a social class WAR between the Rich and the middle class and poor. Some of you need to pay attention to that and not just Kerry's service record and a photo from over 25 years ago. "There are new fights to fight and new Wars to wage" by h3digital aka Harry3 of MD; A Proud Veteran and Lifetime member of the US Army Ft. Myer MP company. "Guardian of the Nation's Capital"
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Let the Truth be let out.

[DELTREE]

h3digital, You should get the ******** of the year award. What a load!, BUT the same old COMMIE crap again. If anything you were a ARVN.
Your Friend and Truth Teller DELTREE

" My Friend h3digital the BULL SHITTER"

[ASPB]

[h3digital]

aspb, you put your words in good sense. but there's something wrong with our own coutry as well. I'm Patriotic for questioning our leaders. It's our duty to do so. Like you said no other country is perfect, neither are we. I do know no Rich kids serve right now overseas and that's how it ususally was in your day. How many soldiers from money did you know when you served? That's a problem. the rich get richer off of wars, like nam and today in iraq. War should be always, and I mean always the last option. You nam vets should know that more than anyone. all the pain, all the suffering all the BS. Not only do you have to deal with the orders given to you , you have to hear all the politics as well. it's a crying shame. Take care brother, meant no harm to no Vietnam Vet.
Harry US Army 93-96. I almost had to go to war in 94 in Korea, but we had President with a level head and I did not have to. Does that make me a (edited by moderator)? No , I thank my stars and God that my country did not have to put me through that. I've been to the DMZ. I've had AK 47's pointed 15 ft away from me. eye to eye, tanks the whole nine. but it never happened or i might not be typing today. That's why I say what I say. I've a squad leader go sec. 8 on me in front of our squad durring an alert there he's saying "not another somalia, not another somalia" the hell with that ****. I thank God everyday that the cease fire never broke. because that's all there is in korea, just a cease fire. not many people know that. take care all h3
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Let the Truth be let out.

[War Dog]

Quotes from the interview with Rand Beers:

[h3digital]

For someone who calls himself wardog, tells me he only 1 thing he only understands war. Maybe your're the one that will never understand. How do you actually know everything that goes against the administration is a lie? how do you know. do you have a crystal ball? I'm not a patriot because I speak out against my leadership? I thought this was America, home of Democracy, you must be on some communist planet or something. Next the USA certainly has a BIG coalition. Man we have all kinds of support in Iraq. Mercenaries, govt. contractors, we certainly do. you are very mislead and I pity you. Hopefully you'll see the light, but to you everything is a lie with what people disagree with you about. Take your talk to the street and see if it flies. I am and doing so as I go to VAMC'S getting support from other Vets and explaining to them about this year's election and why its so important to vets. Just ask the soldiers coming home missing limbs and oh the Prostectics dept's funding was cut. oh sorry Pvt., you'll have to wait or drive 200 miles. Those are the facts. Not lies. when you see the truth come to light in the future takes hold, you don't have to admit your wrong, just thank God. Just like you did when you got the hell out of that War and don't say your a tough guy and didn't. I'm sure you lost some good friends there. What did they die for by the way? A leaders mistake. A leader trying to make money off of blood. The Iraq war has created more Terrorists then there originally was. THAT IS A FACT. one other FACT, WAR IS FOUGHT FOR PEACE, NOT TO CONQUER AND CLAIM DOMINANCE. These huge fields of oil in Al. are Wild Wilderness Refugees Parks, but not anymore. Havn't you heard of the new hybrid cars and trucks coming out. I wonder why they are? So we can serperate ourselves from the mideast and stop destroying are beutiful lands. Who holds the majority in Congress? oh the Republicans. they also hold the Senate and unfortantely the white house. that's why America's ship is sinking. No bi-partisanship what so ever, like it use to be. THAT IS A FACT. YOUR IDEA OF PATRIOSM IS YOURS ALONE. I don't share that view and not many Americans would either. there have only been 2 wars in US history that we actually fought because US soil was attacked. the rest to me is propaganda and to make money. Afganastan was a good reason to go to war too.Terrorism, where we should have been concentrating most of our forces to begin with, instead Alquida has got stronger. My experience SURE IS HELL GIVEs ME INSIGHT AND ACTUAL VIEW. I've looked your so called commies in the eye just like you did and I don't feel the way you do. I know I didn't go throught the terrible nam experience on how the civies treated you all, but i've got more insight to what's happening now than you. Times have changed. China and N.Korea and even Haiti are more problems than Iraq, but for money the admin chose Iraq. China has 20 nukes confirmed at least, and N.Korea has confirmed Nukes too. That's preety important too.More important than oil and money and those can strike us soil. No findings that are confirmed can prove can hurt US soil. except for the terrorists the Iraq war created. Many more Americans are dying and being maimed for oil and money as we speak, and try to make another country do what we tell them to do. there will NEVER be a democracy in Iraq. but THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A NATIONAL DEBT TO MY CHILDREN AND OTHERS CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN. THAT'S A FACT. Hopefully before you pass away you'll see that everyone even your so called commie is entitled to be a human being, because after all that's what we all are. Human. One last qoute from someone Patriotic " You Know being a Veteran of War... Being a creation of war... it occurred to me... That, really, it's men of influence and power that decide what these wars will be about. THEY decide WHO we are going to fight and HOW we will fight them... and THEN they go about PLANNING the fight. In a sense, really these people of power WILL the war into existence." Captain America, an American Icon.[/quote]
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Let the Truth be let out.

[War Dog]