In rebuttal to Cheney speech, Kerry links Bush to Iraq setbacks

FULTON, Mo. -- Senator John F. Kerry warned yesterday that the US mission in Iraq was at a ''moment of truth," saying only a rapid turnover of the reconstruction effort to a global coalition run by a United Nations official could begin to resurrect the nation's civil society.

In a sweeping address meant as his definitive statement on the war and reconstruction effort, Kerry linked President Bush personally to the loss of American lives in Iraq, saying Bush's refusal to seek international assistance had brought about the recent setbacks there. The number of US military deaths in Iraq now totals at least 732, including combat- and noncombat-related deaths.

''This may be our last chance to get it right," he said. ''We need to put pride aside to build a stable Iraq."

Kerry also lamented the losses suffered by families of US soldiers killed there: ''The truth is there's an empty seat in the church pew on Sunday, an extra car in the driveway, and one less friend to phone for a movie on Friday night."

Although Kerry did not offer any new critiques of the war, the speech took place in a charged political context, with the presumptive Democratic nominee standing on the same stage where four days earlier Vice President Dick Cheney pointedly questioned his national security competence. In his rebuttal, Kerry struck a statesmanlike tone.

Iraq presents Kerry with a precarious political challenge: He must critique the Bush administration's effort, while also supporting the troops in the field and assuring voters he would unflinchingly pursue America's enemies abroad. And he must walk this line after a Democratic primary season in which a majority of voters identified themselves as antiwar in exit polls.

Yesterday, speaking on the eve of the one-year anniversary of Bush's speech declaring an end to major combat operations in Iraq, Kerry offered a maxim explaining his foreign policy outlook: ''We must lead, but we must listen."

''I believe that failure is not an option in Iraq. But it is also true that staying the course cannot simply be an excuse for more of the same," said Kerry. ''To do this right, we have to truly internationalize both politically and militarily. We cannot depend on a US-only presence."

Kerry offered a three-step plan to internationalize the war:

First, as president, he would engage in intensive diplomacy in England, France, Russia, and China, seeking to boost their contribution to the war effort. Simultaneously, he would implore NATO to join in. To date, NATO has refused, claiming it is focused on stabilizing Afghanistan.

Next, Kerry would seek the appointment of a special UN high commissioner to coordinate the coalition, serving as a link between Western governments and Iraqi officials.

Finally, he would ask for a UN resolution approving of the arrangement, which he said would give the effort legitimacy.

He did not comment on the scheduled June 30 turnover in Iraq, when Iraqi officials will take the reins of government. Nor did he mention the newly expanded powers of UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi, who will guide the transition.

Senator George Allen, Republican of Virginia, offered a response on behalf of Bush: ''John Kerry's speech on Iraq today neglected to offer any new ideas or credible alternative to the American people," Allen said. ''His rhetoric simply echoes the policies the administration is already implementing, while offering nothing but criticism."

The address at Westminster College in Fulton, unfolded in a historic setting: In 1946, in the same gymnasium, Winston Churchill implored Americans to fight the ''Iron Curtain" of communism. But Cheney was more on Kerry's mind yesterday.

Speaking last Tuesday in Fulton, the vice president said, ''Senator Kerry's record raises serious doubts about his understanding of the broader struggle against terror, of which Iraq is only one front."

Hours later, Westminster's president, Fletcher M. Lampkin, said he was ''surprised and disappointed" at Cheney's speech, offering Kerry the same platform for rebuttal.

Kerry began yesterday with an unexpected meeting.

As he exited his campaign jet in Columbia, he spied a woman holding a sign at the edge of the tarmac. He walked over to her, Secret Service agents and reporters scrambling alongside. Wilma Droz Miller's sign read: ''Don Droz is my cousin." Droz was a close friend of Kerry's in Vietnam, killed in combat just two weeks after Kerry left the country.

''I'm so glad to see you," said Miller, embracing the candidate. ''You too," replied Kerry.

Raja Mishra can be reached at rmishra@globe.com.