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Giuliani: Kerry's criticism defames American troops
Times Leader ^ | 10/29/2004 | JON FOX

Posted on 10/29/2004 8:44:13 PM PDT by Born Conservative

WILKES-BARRE - Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani called Sen. John Kerry's criticism of the Bush administration regarding 380 tons of missing explosives in Iraq "shameful." Speaking before about a crowd of about 150 packed into the Republican campaign headquarters Thursday afternoon, Giuliani said that by attacking President Bush, Kerry is impugning the performance of American troops.

"What's he's saying by inference is that our troops didn't do their jobs. He's blaming it on the president, but the people that were there, the people on the ground, were our military.

"He's talking about at most 380 tons of explosives that may or may not be missing, that may have been missing, according to some people, even before our troops got there."

News of the unaccounted for explosives stored at the al-Qaqaa weapons depot in Iraq was first reported Monday and has since been seized upon by Democrats as a campaign issue.

Giuliani said the American military has found and destroyed 400,000 tons of explosives, a figure he said in part justifies the military operations in Iraq.

"Frankly it makes the point of why we're there and at war."

Describing a "personal commitment" to Bush forged in the days after the attacks of Sept. 11, Giuliani lauded the president's leadership in attacking terrorism. In contrast, he painted Kerry as "anti-war" and "anti-military."

"President Bush has been a resolute leader in going on offense against terrorism. And John Kerry, I don't know what he stands for.

"I believe from everything that I know about him that he is anti-war and that he is anti-military. I have to conclude that he is not going to carry on the war against terror in the resolute, strong and determined way President Bush has."

Before the enthusiastic crowd that included the parents of his wife, a Hazleton native, Giuliani stressed the importance of the election for the security of the nation.

"This election is more important than any that we've had in the past because it's going to determine the future direction of how we protect ourselves against terrorism. It's critical that we re-elect President Bush."

Kerry's criticisms of the Bush administration's management of the military in Iraq serves only to undermine the nation's efforts, Giuliani said.

"This constant blaming of the military is something that really annoys me, and John Kerry's been doing that throughout. The reality is war is difficult. Things go wrong in war. ... We can't turn on our troops, and we can't turn on our objective, and that's what John Kerry's been doing."

After the 15 minute address, Giuliani made his way onto Public Square, where more than 100 supporters had gathered, many clutching copies of his book, "Leadership." As the crowd chanted "Rudy," a group of about 50 protesters across the street pumped Kerry signs and responded with cries of "J.F.K. all the way" and "Outsource Bush."

Two policemen on horses milled about in the roadway separating the difference of opinions until Giuliani's motorcade departed.


TOPICS: Extended News; Politics/Elections; US: Pennsylvania
KEYWORDS: 123whodoweappreciate; ammogate; bushbushbush; bushistheman; commiekerry; iloveusmilitary; kerry; kerryhatesusa; kerryisatraitor; kerrylied; kerrysucks; liberalliars; oblsupportskerry; presidentbush; ratbrownshirts; ratpartyhistory; rudy; usmilitarythebest; votebush2004; votegwb2004; welovebush

1 posted on 10/29/2004 8:44:13 PM PDT by Born Conservative
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To: Born Conservative

Well, ol' Horseface did the same thing to Vietnam vets. It was only a matter of time until he did it to our current military.


2 posted on 10/29/2004 8:48:52 PM PDT by Paul Atreides
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To: Born Conservative

John Kerry has a history of defaming our troops for political points.

He should be tarred and feathered.


3 posted on 10/29/2004 8:49:17 PM PDT by Fenris6 (3 Purple Hearts in 4 months w/o missing a day of work? He's either John Rambo or a Fraud)
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To: Born Conservative

They should have another surrogate address this issue. It's an undisputable criticism, but Guiliani sounds like a hypocrite after his comments to Matt Lauer about the Iraqi weapons.


4 posted on 10/29/2004 8:50:20 PM PDT by nj26
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To: Born Conservative

The Democrats are sleazy this time. They are worse than they have ever been.


5 posted on 10/29/2004 8:50:42 PM PDT by Joseph22
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To: Born Conservative
It utterly cracks me up how childish John Kerry's view of this whole thing is. Like the President has some sort of big map on a table in the basement of the White House and he's moving little miniature troops around. If there are problems in the field, they're the responsibility of people in the field. And so, yes, he is criticizing our brave coalition forces. What a serious, pandering, dork this guy is.
6 posted on 10/29/2004 8:51:19 PM PDT by JennysCool (Terrorism: Not a global test, John, but a pop quiz.)
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To: JennysCool

If Kerry had his way, these weapons as well as all the others we destroyed would still be in the hands of Saddam Hussein, who would not only still be firmly in charge of Iraq, but would also be occupying Kuwait.

That is the reality of the situation.


7 posted on 10/29/2004 8:54:38 PM PDT by CrosscutSaw (God is sovereign -- Jesus is Lord.)
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To: nj26

What did Guliani say about the Iraqi weapons that makes him sound like a hypocrite to you?


8 posted on 10/29/2004 8:56:57 PM PDT by Peach (The Clintons pardoned more terrorists than they ever captured or killed)
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To: Born Conservative
"What's he's saying by inference is that our troops didn't do their jobs. He's blaming it on the president, but the people that were there, the people on the ground, were our military.

He has a track record for sticking it to our soldiers. If Kerry wins, he will gut the military. Everyone of them will leave the service as soon as their time is up. Kerry will have to reinstate the draft to have any military, and even then, it will be hard to keep our guys out of Canada to keep from serving under that traitor.

9 posted on 10/29/2004 9:02:16 PM PDT by NRA2BFree (THE FATE OF OUR CONSTITUTION DEPENDS ON THE JUDGES 'W' APPOINTS. VOTE FOR 'W' !!!)
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To: Born Conservative

.

JOHN KERRY = Enemy of Vietnam Vets

http://www.TheAlamoFILM.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1320


...and of Freedom loving people everywhere.


.


10 posted on 10/29/2004 9:05:06 PM PDT by ALOHA RONNIE ("ALOHA RONNIE" Guyer/Veteran-"WE WERE SOLDIERS" Battle of IA DRANG-1965 http://www.lzxray.com)
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To: Peach

On NBC's "Today," former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani was asked by Matt Lauer about the missing explosives in Iraq and said: "The President was cautious. The President was prudent … the actual responsibility was on the troops there. Did they search carefully?" Giuliani then moved back to saying: "The President was not willing to put blame on the troops."

This may have been a slip of the tongue on his part. I would certainly have never said that, though.


11 posted on 10/29/2004 10:06:10 PM PDT by nj26
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