And [New Republic editor Peter] Beinart chides Kerry for making anti-war noises after voting to support action against Saddam Hussein, saying Kerry's presidential candidacy "is doomed to fail if Kerry keeps speaking so dishonestly about Iraq."
Kerry spokesman Chris Lehane sees the New Republic's criticism as a "backhanded compliment" to the senator's political stature. "The country is clearly ambivalent about Iraq," Lehane says. "Kerry has been exactly where the country is. He thinks Saddam is bad but has grave questions about how the administration has handled the diplomacy." (Kurtz, Washington Post, February 24, 2003, from nexis searches sparked by kaus)

"I'm really disturbed that the administration is not being truthful in a sense with the American people about what's really at stake here," Kerry said. He added, "Winning the peace in Iraq is critical to us because it's going to have a profound impact on the war on terrorism. We literally cannot allow ourselves to fail." Asked how Bush had been untruthful, he replied, "I don't think when you go to an aircraft carrier in a highly staged appearance and announce that the hostilities are over when they're not over, you're telling the truth."

And despite his criticisms, Kerry defended his vote last fall for the congressional resolution authorizing the president to go to war. "I am absolutely convinced my vote was the right vote," he said, adding that Bush's failure was in not using the resolution to build a broader international coalition before going to war.