Another mysterious alcohol-related quote?

José M. Guardia quotes from a piece by Javier Rupérez -- Spain's ambassador to the US between 2000 and 2004 and currently Consul General in Chicago remembering Ted Kennedy:

Shortly after the Iraq war started I saw Senator Kennedy in a public session of the U.S. Supreme Court. As we were taking our seats he briefly took my arm and told me he greatly appreciated the attitude of the Spanish government regarding the decision taken by the White House because, he said, "although you know my position " -- he was one of the few senators to oppose the authorization for the war -- "I appreciate the solidarity with my country in times like this." "I would appreciate if you relay this to President Aznar," he added.
This caused José to ask some good questions:
Interesting. Let me see if I get this straight: if it's good to show solidarity with the US "in times like this", why did this only apply to foreigners? Why didn't he start with himself? I understand the "politics ends at the water edge" principle, but it's one thing not to criticize, and another to send a clear, precise message like this. Of course it may be he was acting as a politician, telling his interlocutor what he wanted to hear. But still, the opposition to the war in Iraq was a topic in which Ted Kennedy was very vocal, and it's certainly odd he said this, if he did.
It certainly is odd. It's hard to know who or what to believe. But expecting Ted Kennedy to show solidarity with his own country in time of war sounds a little fantastic. But who knows? Maybe he was engaged in some sort of confabulation.

Reminds me of this morning's exercise in which I was trying to deciper "quotes" from famous drunks.

This probably fit's in with the theme.

posted by Eric on 08.30.09 at 03:46 PM





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