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GOP Senator Rips Bush On Iraq, Terrorism (Lugar)
The Guardian (UK) ^ | 5-23-2004 | Mark Pratt

Posted on 05/22/2004 7:15:08 PM PDT by blam

GOP Senator Rips Bush on Iraq, Terrorism

Sunday May 23, 2004 1:46 AM

By MARK PRATT

Associated Press Writer

MEDFORD, Mass. (AP) - Republican Sen. Richard G. Lugar on Saturday said the United States isn't doing enough to stave off terrorism and criticized President Bush for failing to offer solid plans for Iraq's future.

Lugar, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the nation must prevent terrorism from taking root around the world by ``repairing and building alliances,'' increasing trade, supporting democracy, addressing regional conflicts and controlling weapons of mass destruction.

Unless the country commits itself to such measures, ``we are likely to experience acts of catastrophic terrorism that would undermine our economy, damage our society and kill hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people,'' the Indiana senator said during an appearance at the Fletcher School at Tufts University.

Lugar said military might alone isn't enough to eradicate terrorism.

``To win the war against terrorism, the United States must assign U.S. economic and diplomatic capabilities the same strategic priority that we assign to military capabilities,'' he said.

He later added, ``Military action is necessary to defeat serious and immediate threats to our national security. But the war on terrorism will not be won through attrition - particularly since military action will often breed more terrorists and more resentment of the United States.''

Lugar, who was awarded the Dean's Medal for distinguished service in international affairs, said it's still unclear how much control the Iraqi people will have over their nation's security when power is transferred to them June 30.

``I am very hopeful that the president and his administration will articulate precisely what is going to happen as much as they can, day by day, as opposed to a generalization,'' he said.

It's not the first time that Lugar has criticized Bush, a fellow Republican. In 2003, Lugar and Sen. Joseph Biden, the committee's top Democrat, warned that the Bush administration had not given enough consideration to what would happen in Iraq after the fighting ended.

Also Saturday, Lugar blamed the Bush and Clinton administrations for not adequately funding the foreign affairs budget, noting that the military's budget is more than 13 times what the nation spends for diplomacy.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bush; gop; iraq; lugar; rips; senator; terrorism
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To: Miss Marple

Ping


21 posted on 05/22/2004 7:51:42 PM PDT by Torie
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To: blam

I think that Lugar is a good man, and we should listen to what he says.


22 posted on 05/22/2004 7:53:51 PM PDT by krb (the statement on the other side of this tagline is false)
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To: blam

Gee, you'd think there would be at least one actual quote showing that the "GOP Senator Rips Bush on Iraq, Terrorism" LOL!


23 posted on 05/22/2004 7:59:58 PM PDT by mrsmith ("Oyez, oyez! All rise for the Honorable Chief Justice... Hillary Rodham Clinton ")
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To: Torie

Lugar has sour-grapes syndrome.


24 posted on 05/22/2004 8:03:12 PM PDT by Miss Marple
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To: Miss Marple

What's the boy sour about?


25 posted on 05/22/2004 8:05:10 PM PDT by Torie
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To: TheOldRepublic
Highly unusual behavior in an election year. Has Bush pissed these people off somehow?

I think some in the GOP congress are hoping to see Bush lose in hopes that they will keep their seats by going against him. God help them if they don't succeed because Bush will remember them.

26 posted on 05/22/2004 8:13:36 PM PDT by Texasforever (The French love John Kerry. He is their new Jerry Lewis)
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To: Texasforever

I hope Indiana remembers and ditches Lugar.


27 posted on 05/22/2004 8:16:36 PM PDT by CWOJackson
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To: CWOJackson

There's something I just never liked about the guy. Even for a RINO, he sucks.


28 posted on 05/22/2004 8:27:37 PM PDT by zencat (See my home page for MAGNETIC Bush/Cheney '04 bumper stickers!)
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To: blam
I wonder if he is going to attend the demonstration at Sec. Rumsfeld's house also. What a pathetic putz.
29 posted on 05/22/2004 8:45:41 PM PDT by paul51
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To: blam

this clown should go satisfy himself some where and not worry about what GWB should do...


30 posted on 05/22/2004 8:47:12 PM PDT by The Wizard (Democrats: enemies of America)
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To: linn37

A liberal's definition of a defense policy is defending everything we do to France. I'm sorry to see Lugar feels the same way.
Europe has the same enemy we do. They depend on our cooperation as much as we depend on theirs.
And I don't buy this idea that exerting our military might only breeds more terrorists against the US. Normal, rational people don't suddenly decide to become terrorists.


31 posted on 05/22/2004 8:58:02 PM PDT by mwfsu84
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To: Miss Marple

You are right, he had delusions of grandeur. He ran against Bush in 2000 and was the smelliest candidate I have ever seen. He looks like someones crazy bachelor uncle. He gives me the creeps mentally and physically with that demented clown look. I will call his office Monday to remind him what his job is, and that there are soldiers in harms way.


32 posted on 05/22/2004 9:08:50 PM PDT by samantha (Don't panic, the adults are in charge)
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To: blam
To win the war against terrorism, the United States must assign U.S. economic and diplomatic capabilities the same strategic priority that we assign to military capabilities

What does this mean? Lugar personifies the adage, better to be silent and thought the fool than to speak and remove all doubt.

33 posted on 05/23/2004 12:03:32 AM PDT by Mr.Atos
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Send the GOP and Lugar a letter about this. This has ticked me off more than anything else that has been said about the war. Here are my letters:



Dear Chairman Gillespie-

I’m not a big contributor to the party, but I send in what I can. I am 100% behind the President, his policy in Iraq, and his re-election in November. I currently have friends in Iraq and my National Guard unit will eventually send me to Afghanistan or Iraq within the next year. However, the recent comments by Sen. Lugar concerning Iraq (http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-4121610,00.html) have depressed me more than any other in the litany of attacks on President Bush. I see the Democrats hoping for a failure in Iraq and now we have a Republican Senator playing into their hands.

Why do I bother to support the party and vote Republican when its leaders snipe at each other? This is a critical time. Our men and women in Iraq will do everything they can to stay strong and give us victory. However, I’m convinced that there are forces in Washington and in the media who will do everything they can to ensure a defeat. Defeat, if it comes, will happen in America, not in Iraq as our national will crumbles. Senator Lugar seems to be seeking political cover for himself, rather than providing the necessary support that we so critically need. He seems to be positioning himself to survive a loss of national will by making statements that will “wash” his hands of the Iraqi situation. The whole thing saddens me.

So I ask: Why should I send money to the GOP when its leadership is beginning to fracture and run for cover?

SIGNED





Dear Senator Lugar-

I saw the following article:

GOP Senator Rips Bush on Iraq, Terrorism
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-4121610,00.html

Now I know that President Bush’s plan for Iraq is doomed. While our boys are winning on the battlefields in Iraq, the war is being lost on the home front. It’s bad enough that the Democrats have politicized the war effort and are doing everything to rip the President over the war so as to win in November. Now we can’t even get Senate Republicans to support the President. I now have ZERO confidence in our victory since your comments will be used to tear down the Administration on the home front and to cast doom-and-gloom on the efforts of our young men and women in Iraq.

I’ve never felt this sad as an American. I am demoralized. We have inflicted far more damage to ourselves with our defeatist talk than we have received from our enemies. I used to think that my leaders in Washington would LEAD us to victory, no matter what the cost. But now I think they would rather seek political cover, wash their hands, and lead themselves in another political campaign.

SIGNED


34 posted on 05/23/2004 2:05:52 AM PDT by willgetsome
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