Posted on 12/15/2003 6:01:42 PM PST by Radix
WASHINGTON - Saddam Hussein's capture threatens to blunt Democratic front-runner Howard Dean's signature issue as the first primary contests near: his fervent opposition to the war in Iraq.
Saddam may have surrendered without firing a shot, but that was hardly the case with Dean's top rivals, who fired at the front-runner with abandon yesterday, sensing his political vulnerability for the first time in the 2004 race.
The harshest anti-Dean volleys came from Sens. Joseph Lieberman (D- Conn.) and John F. Kerry (D-Mass.), who mocked the former Vermont governor as a bumbling foreign policy rookie.
``If Howard Dean has his way, Saddam Hussein would still be in power today, not in prison, and the world would be a more dangerous place,'' Lieberman said. ``The American people would have a lot more to fear.'' Lieberman has emerged as the most hawkish Democrat running for president.
Dean shrugged off the criticism, insisting it was a day for celebration, not biting partisanship.
Dean was the most gracious of the Democratic pack - a departure from his usual prickliness and barbed anti-Bush rhetoric.
``President Bush deserves a day of celebration,'' said Dean, campaigning in Florida. ``We have our policy differences, but we won't be discussing those today. I think he deserves a day to celebrate. This is a great day of pride in the American military.''
Just two weeks ago, Dean had taunted Bush on national security issues, saying, ``Mr. President, if you'll pardon me, I'll teach you a little about defense.''
Kerry, who has been ridiculed for straddling on the Iraq war, took sharp aim at Dean, who enjoys a commanding lead in New Hampshire, a must-win state for the Bay State senator.
``I don't think Howard Dean has the experience or knowledge . . . I don't think (he has) ever shown the kind of thoughtfulness about Saddam Hussein and how we deal with Iraq (that is) necessary to be president of the United States,'' said Kerry on ``Fox News Sunday.''
Kerry, who voted to authorize the use of force against Saddam's regime, has harshly criticized President Bush's handling of the war and reconstruction efforts.
The Bay State Democrat lashed Dean's anti-war views as dangerously simplistic in a complex post-Sept. 11 world. Kerry also charged that Dean would be a weak challenger to Bush on national security, expected to be a pivotal issue in the 2004 race.
``If we're gonna beat George Bush, we need someone who knows how to do it,'' said Kerry.
Dean has also assailed Kerry, Lieberman, Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) and U.S. Rep. Richard Gephardt (D-Mo.) for voting on a congressional resolution in October 2002 to authorize the use of force against Iraq.
The charge has rankled his rivals, who note that Dean, who expressed support for a similar congressional resolution, was never forced to cast a vote on the war issue.
``Howard Dean has only basically been saying, `No,' and being angry about the war,'' Kerry charged.
Kerry blamed Bush for failing to act sooner to rally international support for the war - suggesting Saddam could have been caught a long time ago had Bush done so.
``If we had done this in a globalized way, we might have caught Saddam Hussein sooner,'' said Kerry.
Most of Kerry's rivals, who echoed his call for Bush to reach out to the world community for help reconstructing Iraq, did not take their criticism that far.
``We've been due some good news - and this is good news,'' said retired Gen. Wesley Clark, who opposes the war.
Well at least we can hope that a Rat wins finally.
And this makes sense because . . . ?
What in the hell does that little banty rooster know about defense?
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