Romney, Kerry spar over fight on terror - Governor raps senator for criticizing Iraq war

Boston Glob ^ | August 12, 2006 | Rick Klein

[bitt]

WASHINGTON -- The terrorist attack foiled by British authorities prompted a battle of words yesterday between a pair of presidential contenders from Massachusetts, with Governor Mitt Romney lashing out at Senator John F. Kerry for suggesting that the war in Iraq has harmed the nation's security.

Kerry, the Democrats' 2004 presidential nominee, seized on news of the disrupted plot as a ``stark reminder" that Osama bin Laden remains at large and said it shows that Al Qaeda has ``grown in strength" since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

``Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda have succeeded in isolating the United States," Kerry, a Democrat, said during a conference call organized on behalf of Patrick Murphy, a Democratic candidate in a Pennsylvania House race. ``Afghanistan and Pakistan are where the fight against Al Qaeda is, not in Iraq."

Asked about Kerry's comments during an appearance on the MSNBC cable network, Romney blasted Kerry. The governor said the senator failed to recognize that the United States is locked in a long-term war against terrorists and that Iraq is a central front.

``I think it shows a complete lack of understanding of the kind of enemy that we're facing," said Romney, a Republican. ``This is not a small group of wackos in the hills that all we have to do is go find one person and it suddenly goes away."

[bitt]

Now is not the time for ``the politics of attacking America or attacking our policies," Romney said. ``Surely there's going to be a debate on what's the right policy to defeat the jihadists. But this isn't the time to be attacking the president. It's not the time to be engaging in partisan sniping."

In turn, Kerry's communications director, David Wade, questioned the governor's knowledge of issues related to Iraq and terrorism.

``Mitt Romney's command of national security is about as real as the weapons of mass destruction in Iraq," Wade said.

[bitt]

LT ping

[Wings-n-Wind]

Kerry... & his crew still can't spell
t-r-a-c-t-i-o-n....
...on the major issues.

[bitt]

http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/news_theswamp/2006/08/gop_ready_to_be.html

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20060812/1011225.asp

http://www.sitnews.us/0806news/081206/081206_shns_terror_blogs.html

[avacado]

---
In turn, Kerry's communications director, David Wade, questioned the governor's knowledge of issues related to Iraq and terrorism.

``Mitt Romney's command of national security is about as real as the weapons of mass destruction in Iraq," Wade said.
---

"Those who doubted whether Iraq or the world would be better off without Saddam Hussein, and those who believe today that we are not safer with his capture, don't have the judgment to be President, or the credibility to be elected President.

No one can doubt or should doubt that we are safer -- and Iraq is better -- because Saddam Hussein is now behind bars."

Senator John Kerry (Democrat, Massachusetts)
Speech at Drake University in Iowa
December 16, 2003
http://www.jsonline.com/news/gen/dec03/193182.asp?format=print

[freeperfromnj]

US forces arrest 60 in Baghdad

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=2304984

The rats just don't get it. We have a battleground in Iraq where we can fight and kill them. Keep them engaged over there.

[Lee'sGhost]

``Mitt Romney's command of national security is about as real as the weapons of mass destruction in Iraq," Wade said.

What an incredible putz. I couldn't imagine a better comment to demonstrate the complete disconnect the dims and Kerry have from main stream reality and American than this. His attempt to zing Romney achieves the total opposite, show the people who live in reality that they don't even know that WMDs did and do exist.

Freakin morons.

[MNJohnnie]

Iraq is a brilliant victory and an utter defeat for the terrorists as anyone who bothers to actually KNOW what is going in Iraq can tell you.


Iraq was a purely sound strategic military move. There simply was NO other feasible strategic option available after Afghanistan for the USA. "Containment of Iraq" was breaking down. We simply could NOT take the risk of committing significant US forces anywhere as long as Saddam was hanging on our flanks. Add to that Iraq's central position as the "High Ground" of the Middle East and as a geographical wedge wedging Syria and Iran apart and the choice after Afghanistan should be absurdly plain to even the most limited Intellects.

I am not a big Romny fan but he wins major points with me for speaking truth to whiners about Iraq.

[johnny7]

“Mitt Romney's command of national security is about as real as the weapons of mass destruction in Iraq,” (David)Wade said.

“Like... duh... he's so nowhere!”

Nothing like having a guy who talks like a valley-girl... as your spokesman. What'a queer-a$$ operation.

[pabianice]

The Portrait of Dorian Kerry

[Enterprise]

For the Jimmuhcrats, every day is the time for attacking America and her policies. Nothing will change until they get power again. And then, criticizing their policies will be unharmonious and sour grapes.

"In turn, Kerry's communications director man servant, David Wade, questioned the governor's knowledge of issues related to Iraq and terrorism."

"``Mitt Romney's command of national security is about as real as the weapons of mass destruction in Iraq," Wade said."

In that case, the voter better say a prayer of thanks for having a Governor like Romney. And they should laugh their asses off at horseface on a daily basis if this is the type of knowledge he has about Iraq.

[FreeRep]

The democrats are inescapably hostage to their militant base and are ill-equipped to lead against the global islamofascist jihad. Kerry blame America first and has contempt for those who don't; what a leftist kook.

[surrey]

I'd pit Romney's brain and knowledge against the insufferable bore any day.

[libbylu]

I wonder if Romney is against ilegal amnesty. If so, I could support him for president. Guiliani is out with me...he is for total amnesty.
What a jerk kerry is. It'll be fun now to see the leftists in their rush to out left each other, lol, thinking they'll get support...

[libbylu]

lol

[Jodi]

`Mitt Romney's command of national security is about as real as the weapons of mass destruction in Iraq," Wade said.

Just another lying democrat who knows this is false. It is so effing aggravating to see these quotes. These people are pathetic.

[mewzilla]

A pox on both their houses.