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John Kerry is giving a "major" address on the war in Iraq at Georgetown today, no doubt to capitalize on the milestone of our dying servicemen. This is part of his permanent campaign of giving speeches no one cares about.

But one man cares deeply about them. And that man is John Kerry. The real story about his speech is the subject of the majority of the sentences:

A few weeks ago I departed Iraq from Mosul. Three Senators and staff were gathered in the forward part of a C-130. In the middle of the cavernous cargo hold was a simple, aluminum coffin with a small American flag draped over it. We were bringing another American soldier, just killed, home to his family and final resting place.

The starkness of his coffin in the center of the hold, the silence except for the din of the engines, was a real time cold reminder of the consequences of decisions for which we Senators share responsibility.

As we arrived in Kuwait, a larger flag was transferred to fully cover his coffin and we joined graves registration personnel in giving him an honor guard as he was ceremoniously carried from plane to a waiting truck. When the doors clunked shut, I wondered why all of America would not be allowed to see him arrive at Dover Air Force Base instead of hiding him from a nation that deserves to mourn together in truth and in the light of day. His lonely journey compels all of us to come to grips with our choices in Iraq.

That's right -- foremost on John Kerry's mind during a John Kerry speech is John Kerry. Undaunted by the presence of slain servicemen and their families, he's numero uno in six out of eight sentences.

UPDATE (3:31 p.m.): TAS contributer James Poulos took a closer look at Kerry's substance and found it just as wanting.

topics:
Iraq, NATO