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
Wow...I just never cease to be amazed at how the lame-stream media and leftists get the story all wrong...
#1 - When did GW claim that Iraq was responsible for 9/11?
#2 - When was this same Iraq connection to 9/11 used for justification of war?
#3 - What part of the report says that there is NO connection between Al Quaeda and Iraq/Saddam?
You see, the story gets it wrong in all ways. Although there has been some doubt (not total elimination of the possibility) that Iraq had any DIRECT hand in 9/11, links to Al-Quaeda are continually being unearthed in Iraq, both via the records, and by active terrorist activity.
Our primary reason for war - Saddam's refusal to abide by not only the agreement that ended GulfWar I, but also every single UN resolution after that. Although no huge stashes of WMD have been revealed, evidence of such a program have been unearthed, as well as small quantities of said prohibited items.
But will the sheeople of the US believe the media or the truth? I think we know the unfortunate answer.
'and fuuuurrrthmoooorrrrrrrrrrreeeee........what was I saying?"
I want W to be sharp and tough, and smirk just a little every time JF'nK says "furthermore" or any of his other time wasters. Too bad they will be sitting at a atble for the first go round.
Be principled.
Clearly, Kerry is either
A) too lazy to actually read the report, and is relying on whatever he reads in a headline or hears in a twenty second sound bite, (like all the other foolish and misinformed Americans who we seek to educate), or
B)he actually HAS read it, and failed to comprehend it, in which case he isn't smart enough to run a country.
Hmmmmmm, lazy and ignorant, or dumb....which is it?
Well Golly! He is a waffler who needs to be shown on a map where Washington is! Gee, no GPS on that jet? (sarcasm) -
he thinks he is sly and wily. He thinks we are too stupid to remember the 1971 Kerry. He thinks he can remake his face and his record and no one will notice.
It's Character, Stupid.
The only problem is will the mainstream media report the 9/11 commission's rebuke to the media for misrepresenting their conclusion about the AQ/SH link?
Possibly, but kerry doesn't need anybody's help to look like a fool. He's doing a bang-up job of it on his own.
BTTT
Exactly, character, that trait which jf'nk is completely devoid of. What perplexes me is how so many people fail to see through his opportunism? It turns my stomach, and to some extent, scares me. After all, on Nov. 2, we will all be at the mercy of these dupes, provided the DNC buses enough of them to the polls, and rewards them with enough cigarettes and happy meal coupons. Ugh.
The Grim Reaper needs to get new reading glasses to go along with his new front teeth. Or maybe a hearing aide .
Or to have his Prozac dosage upped, as he is apparently hearing voices now.
The voters of Mass should really question whether Senator Grim Reaper is non compus mentis.
Lee Hamilton, Gov Keane and Joe Lieberman completely disagreed with Kerry's claim that their report showed no link ever between Saddam and Osama.
The White House should trumpet that the preliminary report underscores the White House claims of Saddam / Osama links.
BTW- If Kerry paints any more crap on the outside of that aircraft, it'll be too heavy to get lift.
He's like a graffiti tagger that can't stop.
I'm waiting for the " I served in Vietnam " scrawl along the fuselage and some Purple Hearts on the nose.
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