Posted on 06/17/2004 4:02:26 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
DETROIT - Democratic presidential challenger John Kerry (news - web sites) said Thursday that the Sept. 11 commission's report clearly shows President Bush (news - web sites) "rushed to war for a purpose that it now turns out is not supported by the facts."
Bush continued to insist Thursday that there was a link between Iraq (news - web sites) and al-Qaida, despite the independent commission's finding that there is no evidence to support a collaborative relationship. Bush said no one in his administration has said the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, were orchestrated between Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) and al-Qaida.
Kerry seized upon the commission's findings as further evidence that the White House misled the public about its reasons for invading Iraq. He said Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney (news - web sites) "on a number of occasions have asserted very directly to the American people that the war against al-Qaida is the war in Iraq. And on any number of occasions the president has made it clear that the front of the war against al-Qaida is in Iraq."
"This administration took its eye off of al-Qaida, took its eye off of the real war on terror in Afghanistan (news - web sites) and northwest Pakistan and transferred it for reasons of its own to Iraq," Kerry said. "And the American people are paying billions of dollars now because of that decision. And most importantly, American families and American soldiers are paying the highest price of all."
Asked what Bush's true motivation was for attacking Saddam's government, Kerry said that is a question for the administration.
"It is clear that the president owes the American people a fundamental explanation about why he rushed to war for a purpose that it now turns out is not supported by the facts," Kerry said. "And that is the finding of this commission."
Bush campaign spokesman Steve Schmidt called the comments "another example of John Kerry trying to exploit the war on terror for political gain and to contradict his previous statements."
The Bush campaign said the Massachusetts senator's comments contradict the position he took in October 2002 as he prepared to vote for the Iraq war resolution in the Senate. Kerry said on the Senate floor that Saddam had supported and harbored terrorists, and specifically mentioned Palestinian terrorist Abu Nidal and suicide murderers in Israel.
Kerry did not mention any ties to al-Qaida during that speech, in which he also said the United States should be prepared for war because of Saddam's dangerous potential.
In Detroit, Kerry stopped by Fishbone's restaurant in the city's Greektown neighborhood, where Mark Ivezaj told him the commission's findings could take him to victory on Nov. 2.
"Kerry, you got him," Ivezaj said as the candidate greeted diners. "He lied about Iraq."
Kerry also said Thursday that, as an American citizen and a senator, he felt misled by the Bush administration on the justification for war in Iraq.
"I'm a citizen of the nation and a senator and in both respects, I believe that we were misled about this administration's intentions about how it would go about this, building an international coalition, respecting the United Nations (news - web sites) process and now it seems the fundamentals of the rationale," he said.
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On the Net:
Kerry campaign: http://www.johnkerry.com
Bush-Cheney: htpp://www.georgewbush.com
Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry said the report's findings were evidence the "administration misled America and the administration reached too far."
"They did not tell the truth to Americans about what was happening or their own intentions." he said on Detroit radio station WDET.
As usual, he opens his mouth before he checks the facts.
No, it's very effective. Kerry can make various vague statements crafted to fit his record of voting for the war, voting for the ILA, etc. He criticizes the "rush" to war, when there was no rush. And he's not called to the carpet to explain what purpose a delay would make. He knows to speak vaguely about the "reasons" for war, implying WMD, because he's already admitted recently he thinks they exist. And he can play on the UN stuff again and not say the word "France" because Bush just imbued the UN with authority, trading, perhaps, a coverup of Food for Oil, and what did he get in return? No extra nation's troops, Kofi said today the UN wasn't going into Iraq.
Bush got nothing for his UN trade and only is wrapped up in this AQ/Iraq sideshow.
Within a context where Kerry's ideas and assumptions aren't challenged, Kerry scores points.
Who is paying for that plane? Think it is a 757. Pretty big digs. Guessing $5-$8K per hour just to fly it? Few hundred thousand a month for the lease?
All covered by CFR I am sure.
And because your average reporter doesn't ask what was the lie, Kerry scores points.
Well, the genesis of the Bush/Canadian bus story was the idiot Kerry campaign seeking revenge because their guy was caught claiming his car was "made in the U.S.A." when it turned out not to be. So when they started getting heat they turned the media on to the Bush bus thing. However, this gambit backfired when it turned out the Kerry campaign has also leased a bus from the same company and it, too, was made in Canada--just like Kerry's car.
Besides, Bush hadn't claimed his bus was made in the USA in the first place. Kerry had re his personal vehicle and tried to go for the petty "everybody does it", when they don't.
Where was the commission on 9-11??? Were they in full control? Weren't they confused like everyone else? Oh yeah, they are perfect I forgot. They had all the answers prior to and after the attacks. Now they dare to sit in judgement of the people who worked unfailingly,to do their jobs to save lives.
The commission did not die in the attempt to save others. They did not experience the pure hell the victims and firefighters, rescuers, police and everyone else was going through trying to save lives.
What in thee hell(sorry Mr. Moderator) is the matter with these sick people? Do they hate Bush that much they try to pin the attacks on him? My, my, my...that kind of hatred will have to be addressed one day when they meet their maker. They are darned lucky they are still here cause if it hadn't been for the heroics (under extreme conditions) of all those on the airplanes themselves and those trying to save people they might have been hit too by one of the other planes headed in their direction.
They are a PURE disgrace. They are the ones who should be investigated for this senseless waste of time and the American people's money. I cannot think of another group besides the terrorists that I despise so much as this worthless group of people who showed their true selves on television (needy bunch) who are just trying to smear our good President and his Administration. Now as they come to the close of this sham...maybe there needs to be a REAL investigation into the commission itself and Jamie Goreleck.
President Bush, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Colin Powell, Condoleeza Rice, George Tenet, John Ashcroft, Tom Ridge, CIA and FBI and all the other heroes of 9-11...we are proud of the job you did. You all did the right things and stepped up to the plate. I am proud to be an American knowing we have real men and women at the helm and not a bunch of pompous, whining windbags like the members of the 9-11 Commission. I'm even ashamed they are referred to as the 9-11. They should be called "The Commission to get President Bush." Cause that's what is really at the bottom of all of this.
Each and every commission member should get down on their hands and knees and thank GOD for the caliber of talent and responsible we people we have leading our country. The commission is a disgrace and once again...they are irrelevant. They played to the dem/libs and to the cameras. Shame on them. Shame on every last one of them.
God Bless President Bush.
I can't wait until this low life is defeated.
John Kerry and the 911 commission: "Why is Bush trying to prevent 911?"
As usual, he opens his mouth before he checks the facts.
I'm sure he does know the facts. Someone fed the media the angle on how to spin the commission report.
If they had gone by the report we would have had the plain facts in today's articles.
No, this is spin devised at the DNC, reported in many media outlets, then the dem candidate gets to cite these reports as his source. See?
It's all intentional. And I see above that Kerry came thisclose to flat out calling GWB a liar during a radio interview. It's that old dem tactic of projection. Lie, then project. Project, then lie.
I actually said there was a connection between Irag
and Al-Qaida, before I said there wasn't.
He's reading how the media reports the report to the public and that's what really matters.
What the heck does the "9/11 Commission" have to do with the war in Iraq?????!!!
It will be interesting to see how it all plays out this Sunday.
He doesn't need anyones help to look like a fool, IMHO.
Here is John Kerry with the Rev. Al Sharpton. Ladies and Gentleman, you know Al Sharpton don`t you? He`s the guy who high fived people and cheered when OJ Simpson got away with butchering two people. Al Sharpton, the man who accused Steven Pagones of raping Tawana Brawley and kept insisting he did it even after he found out it was all a lie. This is the type of man Democrats felt worthy to be President of the United States. Out of the millions and millions of blacks who have a billion times more integrity, let`s ignore all of them and pick Al Sharpton as a candidate for the first black President of the United States. Oh excuse me, that would be the second black president. Bill Clinton has already said he was the first black President. But let`s not call that racial mockery now shall we?
Just keep on talking Sen. Kerry.
No it doesn't because that won't stand.
"He plays guitar, snowboards, and rides a motorcycle. This guy is so cool. I must vote for him."
(Gee, do you think this photo was staged?)
He then said: "Looks like the 9/11 Commission burned Bush." I asked him what he meant and he said "Bush lied. Their report said there is no connection between Saddam & AlQueda." I corrected him saying: "No, that's not what they said. They said there was no proof of a connection between Iraq & AlQueda in 9/11. The President never mentioned 9/11 when it came to a link between Saddam & AlQueda. There was a link, but it wasn't on 9/11."
He shook his head and said: "Now Bush is turning Saddam back over to the Iraqis. What's he doing that for?"
I said: "Why shouldn't he be turned over to the people he comitted atrocities against? They're the ones he abused. They should be the ones to try him."
My mailman then said: "War never solved anything. All those boys dead for what?"
"Ah yes," I said. "I guess all those American boys who died fighting Japan and Germany didn't solve anything either." He began to stutter, but never was able to make a response. I walked away, got in my car.
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