(2004-10-06) — John Forbes Kerry today accused Japanese and Mongolian archeologists of trying to “plunder the tomb of Ghengis Khan in a fashion reminiscent of…well…Genghis Khan.”

“Genghis Khan was a role model to me during my service in Vietnam,” said Mr. Kerry, who is also a U.S. Senator. “I implore the archeologists in Mongolia to leave the tomb, and thus the soul of its guardian, undisturbed.”

During his 1971 testimony before the Senate foreign relations committee, John Kerry referred to the late Mr. Khan as a kind of mentor.

“As a young man, I defended America in a fashion reminiscent of Genghis Khan,” he said today. “And when I’m president of the United States, I will defend America against Usama bin Laden with the wrath of Khan.”

Asked to respond to Mr. Kerry’s remarks, President George Bush said, “Genghis Khan? Isn’t that a gum disease? Next question.”