Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart Praises Allawi, Calls Kerry the 'Defeatist Candidate'

Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart Praises Allawi, Calls Kerry the 'Defeatist Candidate'

WASHINGTON-Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.) today praised Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi's impressive address to a joint session of Congress but expressed his disgust at John Kerry's "defeatist" response to Allawi's speech.

"Prime Minister Allawi displayed the inner core of the Iraqi people today," Diaz-Balart said. "Here is a man under constant and enormous pressure everyday, yet he embodies the undying optimism of the Iraqi people. Despite all they are enduring, the vast majority of Iraqis are thankful to be free from tyranny and want to establish a viable democracy for a bright future."

However, shortly after Allawi's speech, John Kerry said that Allawi was "here obviously to put their best face on the policy" and denigrated the hope and optimism Allawi expressed.

"After flip-flopping from one position to another, it seems that John Kerry has decided that he's not just the Anti-War Candidate but now he's also the Defeatist Candidate," Diaz-Balart said. "I am disgusted by the sheer defeatism in his recent speeches. Nobody said that helping the Iraqis establish a democracy would be easy, but to send shades of surrender is to invite increased terrorist attacks against our troops and sells the Iraqi people short.

"Thank God President Bush believes in the goodness of America and potential of a free Iraq."