We’ve already learned today that President Obama’s off-the-cuff remark about a red line in Syria didn’t paint him into a corner after all. He didn’t draw that; it was humanity itself that drew that red line. You can’t blame people for wanting additional clarification, then, on the administration’s promise that American troops would not be deployed to Syria. No, there absolutely will not be American boots on the ground — with respect to the civil war.
Sec Kerry clarifies: "There will not be boots on the ground with respect to the civil war" #Syria
— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) September 3, 2013
Kerry tries to shut door on "boots on the ground" comment, saying "All I did was raise a hypothetical question about some possibility"
— Seung Min Kim (@seungminkim) September 3, 2013
So, that’s a definite no to boots on the ground, right?
Kerry says the only justification for boots on the ground would be "if Syria imploded" and chemical weapons might fall into terrorist hands.
— Kasie Hunt (@kasie) September 3, 2013
Q:While Kerry & POTUS say "No boots on the ground"-What if US missiles DO make the regime crumble-Who protects chem weapons from terrorists?
— Bret Baier (@BretBaier) September 3, 2013
Kerry: we don't want to put boots on the ground, but we need the option in case something bad happens.
— Tom Bevan (@TomBevanRCP) September 3, 2013
Kerry, re boots on ground: "I don't want to take off the table an option that might or might not be on the table."
— Kasie Hunt (@kasie) September 3, 2013
https://twitter.com/DavidKenner/status/374980846111178753
Kerry corrects: "Let's shut that door." Was a "hypothetical," was "thinking out loud."
— Domenico Montanaro (@DomenicoNPR) September 3, 2013
PHOTO: Secretary Kerry, thinking out loud. #Syria pic.twitter.com/mNGAyTEtxQ
— Anup Kaphle (@AnupKaphle) September 3, 2013
pro-tip for John Kerry: don't "think out loud" while testifying before Congress.
— Tom Bevan (@TomBevanRCP) September 3, 2013
Reality: you can never 100% close the door on "boots on the ground," there are contingencies 4 these things like rescue operations. #Syria
— Nick Kalman (@NickKalmanFN) September 3, 2013
Sen. Bob Menendez, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, needs to get some of this in writing.
The whole "boots on the ground" exchange underscores the trouble in drafting the #Syria AUMF that everyone can agree to.
— Niels Lesniewski (@nielslesniewski) September 3, 2013
menendez asking about boots on the ground. he's helping rewrite authorization language and says he plans to make clear that wont happen
— Dana Bash (@DanaBashCNN) September 3, 2013
kerry made clear the language re boots on the ground will have to be creatively written to make everyone happy
— Dana Bash (@DanaBashCNN) September 3, 2013
Will Kerry’s line from the 2004 campaign ever get old?
https://twitter.com/jbarro/status/374984522183770112
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Update: Here’s video of Kerry thinking out loud.