LEHRER: Are Americans now dying in Iraq for a mistake?
KERRY: No, and they don't have to, providing we have the leadership that we put -- that I'm offering.
(1) No, and they don't have to = Americans are now not dying in Iraq for a mistake?
(2) And they don't have to = they don't have to be dying in Iraq for a mistake?
(3) Leadership = American leadership?
It's a bit of a contradictory answer- it would make more sense to me if he said, 'Yes, but they don't have to'.