<html><body><div style="color:#000; background-color:#fff; font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10pt"><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 13.3333px; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal;"><br></div><div id="yiv1416412770"><div><div class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_79 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_80" style="color:#000;background-color:#fff;font-family:verdana, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12pt;"><div><span>The
nomination of John Kerry is good news for U.S. veterans, for Vietnam,
and for our efforts here to reduce and ultimately eliminate the
continuing problems of bombs and mines, and Agent Orange, the last two
remaining legacies of the war.</span></div><div class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_80 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_81" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:16px;font-family:verdana, helvetica, sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;"><br><span></span></div><div class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_81 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_82" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:16px;font-family:verdana, helvetica, sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;"><span>If Chuck Hagel becomes Secretary of Defense that will also a plus for Vietnam and for our efforts.<br></span></div><div class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_82 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_83" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:16px;font-family:verdana, helvetica, sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;"><br><span></span></div><div class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_83 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_84"
style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:16px;font-family:verdana, helvetica, sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;"><span>CHUCK<br></span></div><div><font size="1"><br><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_84 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_85" style="font-style:italic;color:rgb(128, 0, 0);font-weight:bold;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_85 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_86" style="font-style:italic;color:rgb(128, 0, 0);font-weight:bold;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><font class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_86 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_87" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-style:italic;font-weight:bold;color:rgb(128, 0, 0);" size="1">==================================<br>CHUCK SEARCY<br>Project RENEW <br></font></font><font size="1"><font class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_87
yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_88" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-style:italic;font-weight:bold;color:rgb(128, 0, 0);" size="1"><font size="1"><font class="yiv1416412770yui_3_2_0_19_134810707705786 yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_88 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_89" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-style:italic;font-weight:bold;color:rgb(128,
0, 0);" size="1">Vietnam Enterprise Group</font></font><br>Humpty Dumpty Institute<br>Veterans for Peace<br>25 Truong Han Sieu, #302, Hanoi, Vietnam<br>Mobile: +84 (0) 903 420 769<br>Email: chucksearcy@yahoo.com<br>Web: landmines.org.vn<br>Web: vietnamenterprisegroup.com<br>Web: thehdi.org<br>Web: veteransforpeace.org<br>Skype: chucksearcy<br>==================================</font></font><span><br></span><br><span style="font-size:13px;"><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_90 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_91" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank"
href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hG9bX7MlcLouTZdGjZ7IJLcYSKCg?docId=CNG.1c9383c4d32989d1cf9d60748477a5f2.651">http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hG9bX7MlcLouTZdGjZ7IJLcYSKCg?docId=CNG.1c9383c4d32989d1cf9d60748477a5f2.651</a></span></span><br><div id="yiv1416412770articleheadline">
<h2>Obama picks John Kerry as secretary of state<span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_91 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_92" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="yiv1416412770byline"></span><span class="yiv1416412770author2"></span></span><br></h2><div class="yiv1416412770title-meta2"><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_92 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_93" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="yiv1416412770author2">By Stephen Collinson (AFP Agence France-Presse</span>)<br>
<span class="yiv1416412770date2">Posted on 12/22/2012 8:20 AM | Updated 12/22/2012 8:46 AM
</span>
</span></div><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_93 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_94" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_100 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_95" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_101 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_96" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div class="yiv1416412770jwDisqusArticleCounter" style="visibility:hidden;height:0px;margin:0;padding:0;">
<span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_103 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_98" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>
</div><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_104 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_99" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_105 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_100" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="yiv1416412770easy_img_caption" style="display:inline-block;line-height:0.5;vertical-align:top;background-color:#F2F2F2;text-align:center;min-width:!important;max-width:640px;min-height:!important;margin:10px 10px;"><img class="yiv1416412770thinglinkFetching" src="http://static.rappler.com/images/US-DIPLOMACY-OBAMA-KERRY.jpg" alt="NOMINATED. US Senator John Kerry (R) watches as US President Barack Obama announces Kerry as his choice for the next secretary of state on December 21, 2012 in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, DC. AFP PHOTO/Mandel NGAN" title="NOMINATED. US Senator John Kerry (R) watches as US President Barack Obama announces Kerry as his choice for the next secretary of state on December 21, 2012 in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, DC. AFP
PHOTO/Mandel NGAN" style="margin:0;" border="0" height="360" width="640"><span class="yiv1416412770easy_img_caption_inner" style="display:inline-block;line-height:normal;color:#000000;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;padding:10px 10px;margin:0px;">NOMINATED.
US Senator John Kerry (R) watches as US President Barack Obama
announces Kerry as his choice for the next secretary of state on
December 21, 2012 in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in
Washington, DC. AFP PHOTO/Mandel NGAN</span></span></span></div><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_109 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_104" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_110 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_105" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">WASHINGTON, United States - US President Barack Obama Friday
nominated Senator John Kerry as his new secretary of state, as he began
to reshape his national security team for a second term clouded by
overseas crises.</span></div><div class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_111 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_106" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:16px;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;"><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_112 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_107" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_113 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_108" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_114 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_109" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Kerry, 69, a decorated Vietnam War veteran, defeated former
presidential candidate and foreign policy sage, will succeed Hillary
Clinton, who is stepping down after four years as the top US diplomat.</span></div><div class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_115 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_110" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:16px;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;"><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_116 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_111" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_117 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_112" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_118 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_113" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">"John's earned the respect and confidence of leaders around the
world," Obama said at the White House as he announced Kerry's
nomination, his first second-term cabinet pick.</span></div><div class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_119 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_114" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:16px;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;"><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_120 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_115" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_121 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_116" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_122 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_117" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">"I think it's fair to say that few individuals know as many
presidents and prime ministers or grasp our foreign policies as firmly
as John Kerry."</span></div><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_123 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_118" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_124 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_119" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">"He is not going to need a lot of on-the-job training."</span></div><div class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_125 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_120" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:16px;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;"><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_126 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_121" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_127 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_122" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_128 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_123" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Kerry stepped up following the withdrawal of UN ambassador Susan
Rice, the early favorite for the post, who was caught in the political
aftermath of the attack of the US mission in Benghazi, Libya in
September.</span></div><div class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_129 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_124" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:16px;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;"><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_130 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_125" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_131 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_126" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_132 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_127" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Obama said that Kerry, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee, had played a central role in every US foreign policy debate
for 30 years and that his "entire life" had prepared him for his new
role.</span></div><div class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_133 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_128" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:16px;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;"><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_134 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_129" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_135 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_130" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_136 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_131" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>'Well-prepared for the job'</b></span></div><div class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_137 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_132" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:16px;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;"><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_138 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_133" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br></b></span></div><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_139 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_134" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_140 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_135" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Kerry saw life overseas as the son of a Cold War foreign service
officer, served as a navy officer in Vietnam, and spent years wrestling
with foreign policy issues in the Senate.</span></div><div class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_141 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_136" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:16px;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;"><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_142 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_137" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_143 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_138" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_144 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_139" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Obama said that Clinton had hoped to be at the announcement, but was still recovering from a serious virus and a concussion.</span></div><div class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_145 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_140" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:16px;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;"><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_146 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_141" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_147 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_142" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_148 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_143" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">The outgoing secretary of state said that Kerry had been tested "in
government, and in diplomacy. Time and again, he has proven his mettle."</span></div><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_149 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_144" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_150 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_145" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Noting their shared heritage on the campaign trail, she said it was
an "enormous asset" to be able to talk candidly to leaders of fragile
and emerging democracies "as someone who has won elections and also lost
them.</span></div><div class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_151 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_146" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:16px;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;"><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_152 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_147" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_153 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_148" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_154 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_149" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">The White House had hoped to make a clean sweep by announcing all
nominations to the national security team, including new chiefs of the
CIA and Pentagon at once.</span></div><div class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_155 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_150" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:16px;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;"><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_156 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_151" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_157 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_152" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_158 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_153" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">But a crush of political events, including the "fiscal cliff"
economic crisis, has pushed them back. A battle is already raging as
opponents seek to tar former senator Chuck Hagel, a possible pick for
defense secretary.</span></div><div class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_159 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_154" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:16px;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;"><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_160 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_155" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_161 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_156" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_162 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_157" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Kerry, who is well known abroad after acting as an unofficial envoy
for Obama, is expected to win easy confirmation from his Senate
colleagues.</span></div><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_163 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_158" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_164 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_159" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">He has recently traveled to the Middle East and South Asia, and met
Syria's President Bashar al-Assad several times as Washington mulled a
diplomatic opening.</span></div><div class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_165 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_160" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:16px;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;"><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_166 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_161" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_167 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_162" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_168 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_163" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">He also sought a renewal of Arab-Israeli peace talks before the outbreak of the Syrian revolt.</span></div><div class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_169 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_164" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:16px;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;"><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_170 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_165" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_171 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_166" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_172 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_167" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">In May 2011, Kerry went to Pakistan to try to ease tensions after the
killing of Osama bin Laden, and in February 2009 he made a rare visit
to the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, without meeting anyone from the Islamist
group.</span></div><div class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_173 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_168" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:16px;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;"><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_174 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_169" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_175 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_170" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_176 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_171" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Challenges</b></span></div><div class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_177 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_172" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:16px;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;"><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_178 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_173" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br></b></span></div><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_179 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_174" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_180 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_175" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">As soon as he is confirmed in his new job, Kerry will face a huge
array of foreign policy challenges, including a critical moment in the
Iranian nuclear showdown and what could be the last throes of the Assad
regime in Syria.</span></div><div class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_181 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_176" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:16px;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;"><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_182 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_177" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_183 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_178" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_184 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_179" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Kerry's Senate colleagues welcomed his appointment, including fellow
Vietnam war veteran John McCain, who said: "We have known John Kerry for
many years. We have confidence in John Kerry's ability to carry out the
job."</span></div><div class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_185 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_180" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:16px;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;"><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_186 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_181" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_187 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_182" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_188 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_183" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Kerry played an important role in Obama's political career, notably
by picking him to give the keynote speech in the 2004 Democratic
convention, at which the then unknown Illinois lawmaker burst onto the
political scene.</span></div><div class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_189 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_184" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:16px;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;"><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_190 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_185" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_191 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_186" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_192 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_187" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">He also played Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney in mock
debates staged by the president's team ahead of Obama's successful
re-election effort in November.</span></div><div class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_193 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_188" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:16px;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;"><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_194 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_189" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_195 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_190" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_196 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_191" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Kerry narrowly lost the 2004 presidential race to president George W.
Bush, after a campaign that included savage attacks on his war service.</span></div><div class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_197 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_192" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:16px;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;"><br><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_198 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_193" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_199 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_194" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_200 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_195" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">He was lambasted by Republicans who accused him of "flip flops" on
the Iraq war, and the Bush campaign ran an ad showing him windsurfing,
with the kicker "John Kerry, whichever way the wind blows."</span></div><div class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_201 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_196" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:16px;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;"><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_202 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_197" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_203 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_198" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_204 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_199" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Kerry will be the first white, male secretary of state for years,
following three women -- Clinton, Condoleezza Rice and Madeleine
Albright -- and Colin Powell.</span></div><div class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_205 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_200" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:16px;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;"><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_206 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_201" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_207 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_202" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_208 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_203" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Kerry first shot to prominence in April 1971 when he testified to the
Senate committee he would later lead, and famously asked: "How do you
ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?"</span></div><div class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_209 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_204" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:16px;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;"><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_210 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_205" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><span class="yiv1416412770yui_3_7_2_41_1356139686900_211 yui_3_7_2_42_1356139686900_206" style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">
Earlier, during his second 48-day tour in Vietnam, Kerry was awarded
three Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star and a Silver Star for valor for his
work as a lieutenant in charge of dangerous "Swift" gunboat missions in
the Mekong Delta.<br><br></span></div><div><span></span></div></div></div></div><br></div></body></html>