[jbartone]

http://cnn.netscape.cnn.com/news/sto...0040806NYET186

Franks Says Kerry Qualified for President
By WILLIAM C. MANN

WASHINGTON (AP) - Retired Gen. Tommy Franks, producer of the early military successes in Afghanistan and Iraq, said Sunday that criticism of John Kerry's war record is political hyperbole and Kerry is ``absolutely'' qualified to be commander in chief.

A year into retirement, Franks also said he has not decided whether to endorse President Bush for re-election. ``I don't know yet. I'm leaning in that direction,'' he said on ABC's ``This Week.''

Franks, whose hometown is Midland, Texas - where the president and first lady Laura Bush grew up - has been making television appearances in recent days to publicize his just-published memoirs, ``American Soldier.''


``Do you think Senator Kerry is qualified to be commander in chief?'' Franks was asked.

``Absolutely!'' he said.

...

``I think a presidential election year is a marvelous thing. I think Senator Kerry is a patriot. And I think what ... what we're doing is, we're seeing an attempt to sort of draw the lines between the two parties in this country. And I wouldn't have it any other way,'' Franks said.

[Zimphire]

And this means.. .


Nothing.

[CreepingDeth]

Former Iraq War commander Gen. Tommy Franks said Sunday that Sen. John Kerry is qualified to be commander in chief, rejecting criticism from more than 200 Vietnam veterans who served with Kerry and say he's unfit for command.

"I'm not a fan of hyperbole whether it is for or against Senator Kerry," Gen. Franks told ABC's "This Week."

Asked specifically about allegations that Kerry fabricated some of his combat record, Franks said, "Yeah, I think it is hyperbole."

"For some reason we've fallen prey to a notion that says there has to be vitriol in order to simply say, I support Senator Kerry, I support George W. Bush to remain president for the next four years."

Asked point-blank if Kerry was qualified to be commander in chief, Franks said, "Absolutely."

The Iraq War chief was adressing allegations by Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, a group of Vietnam veterans who served with Kerry who have chronicled evidence of his misconduct as a Swift Boat commander in the new best-selling book "Unfit for Command."

Gen. Franks said he was proud of being "fiercely independent" in his politics, but he told "This Week" that he's leaning toward supporting President Bush and acknowledged he's in talks with GOP planners for a possible address to the Republican National Convention on Aug. 29.

Doesn't choose him though.

[daimoni]

.

[MacNStein]

Franks. *snicker* That's just a great endorsement there.

[PacHead]

I support Senator Kerry, I support George W. Bush to remain president for the next four years.


he told "This Week" that he's leaning toward supporting President Bush


Yep, one hell of an endorsement there.

[zachs]

Originally posted by PacHead:
I support Senator Kerry, I support George W. Bush to remain president for the next four years.


he told "This Week" that he's leaning toward supporting President Bush


Yep, one hell of an endorsement there.

Are you talking about his endorsement of Bush?
Because he didn't endorse Kerry; he only said that he was qualified.

[zigzag]

Franks made an astute observation during the interview: That supporting one candidate doesn't require us to disparage the other. It seems like human nature to do so, but it's not mandatory.

Or you can do what I do: disparage all of them.

[vmpaul]

Originally posted by zigzag:
Or you can do what I do: disparage all of them.

Anarchist