Kerry Pledges Return to Clinton Terrorism Policies

NewsMax.com ^ | January 31, 2004 | Carl Limbacher

[Carl/NewsMax]

Democratic presidential front-runner John F. Kerry pledged on Saturday that if he becomes president he'll treat terrorist acts against the U.S. as a law enforcement problem rather than as acts of war - the approach favored by President Clinton throughout the 1990's as Osama bin Laden repeatedly struck U.S. targets with impunity.

Speaking before a group of Oklahoma City firefighters, Kerry complained that the Bush adminsitration "doesn't understand the war on terror."

Under a Kerry administration, he said, the fight against terrorism "will involve the military now and then," but it will be "primarily an intelligence gathering, law enforcement operation."

"It's a great big manhunt," Kerry explained. "[The Bush] administration has translated that legitimate threat into a completely wrongheaded kind of full-fledged military response."

Since 9/11, U.S. terrorism experts have said that the Clinton administration's legalistic approach to fighting al Qaeda not only proved ineffective - it actually emboldened bin Laden to the point where he thought he could launch an attack on U.S. soil without prompting a serious military response.

Indeed, in a 2002 speech to New York business leaders, Mr. Clinton himself cited legal concerns as an excuse for his decision not to have bin Laden arrested five years before the 9/11 attacks.

"At the time, 1996, he had committed no crime against America," said Clinton. "So I did not bring him here because we had no basis on which to hold him, though we knew he wanted to commit crimes against America."

To listen to ex-president Clinton explain why he didn't have Osama bin Laden arrested, Click Here.

[Cap Huff]

Well, I'm awake.

Bump and bookmark for later.

[dennisw]

John Kerry to CIA and Spec Forces:

Uh ...guys... can you please go out and find Osoma Bin Ladin. And serve him with this warrant?

[dirtboy]

Kerry Pledges Return to Clinton Terrorism Policies

We should ship Horse Face a tube of KY to ease the transition to Clinton's approach to terrorism - namely, shoving his head up his ...

[dirtboy]

Isn't this kind of statement which started Dean to unravel?

The same core philosophy underlies Clinton, Dean, and Kerry - that it is not a legitimate to use American military power in pursuit of American interests. They all cut their teeth during Vietnam and view the world through that opaque filter.

[hershey]

Is Kerry saying this stuff so he can woo Hitlery onto the ticket as vp? Maybe Lovie should sit him down in front of their DVD player, hand him a bag of popcorn, and shove in a copy of The Manchurian Candidate.

[The Wizard]

GWB will still be President next year...

[veronica]

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

[mewzilla]

Click here for info on a book that Kerry obviously hasn't read. You mean more of this, Ketchup Boy?

BTW, the 9-11 Commission has never talked to Miniter. Gee, wonder why not?

[bushfamfan]

Kerry just keeps proving criticism that he's a Massachussetts liberal correct. This is future campaign material. His record on military/national security matters is absolutely laughable and will come back at him too.

[Levante]

"nder a Kerry administration, he said, the fight against terrorism "will involve the military now and then," but it will be "primarily an intelligence gathering, law enforcement operation."

What a colossal dumbass.

[petercooper]

Combating terrorism with subpoenas and arrests, smart

[mathluv]

religious fanatics in Texas....

I have often wondered if the key word here is 'religious'.

[mathluv]

***I just hope there are more of us than there are of them.***

Keep in mind all of those who say they will not vote for Bush because __________ (fill in the blank).

[mathluv]

***Why did Clinton make two terms as president?***

1. good economy

2. Any threats downplayed, blamed on Rush, ignored, treated as law enforcement problems

3. Perot splitting conservative voters (GOP fielding weak opposition). ... and the list goes on.

[mathluv]

from 70 percent destroyed as they are now to bigger and stronger than ever by the end of his first term.

There is the possibility the country would not exist in any recognizable form before that term was over.

[mathluv]

if we thought the last election was tough

Has anyone read a book by Thomas Card? I think it was 'Blood Money'. it came out in Oct 2000, and predicted the Nov election. (but did not predict who would be the winner)

[XBob]

bttt

30-"Rice is Hillary's worst nightmare. "

[XBob]

bttt again:

30-"Rice is Hillary's worst nightmare. "

[the invisib1e hand]

Speaking before a group of Oklahoma City firefighters, Kerry complained that the Bush adminsitration "doesn't understand the war on terror."

I would hope he wore tomato-proof shirts.

[Brad’s Gramma]

LOL!!!!!!