John Kerry: “No one has suggested putting a different level of values on the lives. No one has suggested that. Obviously, the…”

“No one has suggested putting a different level of values on the lives. No one has suggested that. Obviously, the airman's life is at risk. For Heaven's sake, there are troops of France, and troops of a host of other countries, that are there now, and we ought to care as much about them, frankly, because they are part of our effort. They are doing our bidding, in essence, almost our mercenaries, because we are willing to pay for it, but we are not willing to put the troops on the ground. These troops need this air support in order to be protected. That is what Lieutenant General Rose decided, and we have given him the command. I know my friend respects the notion of letting command make a decision. I say also that those who put on the uniform are prepared to accept certain kinds of risks, and there are different gradations of what a nation is willing to do in certain kinds of situations. Our friend in the chair, who was a Navy Seal, knows full well that there are different kinds of missions that you can get sent on. And sometimes they will say to you when you go out on a mission: You are on your own; you are not going to have cover on this one, or we are not going to be able to come in and pick you up. You guys have to go get off there yourselves. This is the risk you take. Usually, American soldiers have had the courage and gumption to raise their hands and say, ``We will take that risk.'' It does not mean we do not value them.”