Posted on 08/31/2004 10:55:04 AM PDT by arkady_renko
Mark Oliver
Tuesday August 31, 2004
The US president, George Bush, does believe America will win the war on terror after all despite his damaging remarks yesterday to the contrary.
White House spokesman Scott McClellan said today that Mr Bush "will make it crystal clear ... that we will win the war on terrorism by continuing to take the fight to the enemy".
This standpoint was in marked contrast to Mr Bush's comments on NBC television yesterday. He was asked whether America could win its "war on terror", and replied: "I don't think you can win it. But I think you can create conditions so that those who use terror as a tool are less acceptable in parts of the world."
Bush opponents had pounced on the remarks, which were a volte-face from the president's usually more bullish rhetoric about terrorism.
Mr Bush, who has described himself as a "war time president", will further try to repair the damage with a speech tonight in Nashville, Tennessee, to the American Legion, the country's largest veterans organisation.
Asked today by reporters whether the war on terror could be won, the Democratic presidential candidate senator John Kerry replied, "Absolutely".
Senator John Edwards, the Democratic vice-presidential candidate, said yesterday: "After months of listening to the Republicans base their campaign on their singular ability to win the war on terror, the president now says we can't win the war on terrorism."
Some commentators have predicted that homeland security and the threat of terrorism will be the biggest issue at the ballot box in November's presidential elections.
As the four-day Republican national convention headed into its second day at Madison Square Garden in New York under extremely heavy security, Bush supporters scrambled to explain the president's comments.
First lady Laura Bush, who is scheduled to speak at the convention tonight, defended her husband, saying on ABC's Good Morning America that "this isn't a war with a country where you're going to have a surrender at some point, but the fact is, as we look around the world, we are already winning the war on terror".
The governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, is also speaking at the convention tonight and was expected to salute Mr Bush's record as commander in chief.
In yesterday's opening session, Republicans invoked the memory of the September 11 2001 attacks as a test of Mr Bush's mettle as a strong and decisive leader.
Rudolph Giuliani, the former mayor of New York, likened the president to Winston Churchill and Ronald Reagan. He said: "Since September 11th President Bush has remained rock solid ... we need George Bush more than ever."
I saw the interview on the Today Show and I saw how Matt keep asking the question over and over. After the Presidennt said what he said, I knew that he would get hammer by the Democrats. I knew right away what the President meant when he said the war can not be won but I knew it wouldn't be cleared to regular people.
Did he flip flop....."No".
I pondered that as I fell asleep. It seems odd for a person that "in the know" to sign up, lurk for a month and then shoot his wad like that. Really bizarre. I wonder which of his higher ups that was that seems to be losing it.
Another gaffe like that and they'll bust me down to cleaning over stuned beebers.
Winning the war on terror is like winning the war on crime, drugs, violence. I believe that is what Bush meant. But does that mean that we will lay down and give up? Never. By the way, just joined FreeRepublic today...love this place!
"So Kerry isn't the only one who flip-flops?"
No flip-flop at all. As one poster noted, terrorism will always be with us.
We can keep it on the defensive, but as long as there is Islam, there will be terrorists.
sadly this is different from the cold war. atheists without real property rights don't fight with nearly the same conviction as a religious extremist, with or without property rights.
"Moderate Muslims"
Now there is an oxymoron!
"Moderates" as like those condemning the savage killing done in the name of 'Allah'
Name one Muslim leader that has condemned any of these terrorist attacks.
A Muslim is 'moderate'when he knows he cannot win
As Churchill said about the Germans
'They are either at your feet or your throat'
Yes I do agree that Islam can be MADE to be peaceful when it sees that it cannot win the world through force or intimdation.
As for the Saudi's I do hope that their reign is soon going to be dealt with.
Your example of Turkey is a good one.
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