Bush, Kerry Spar Over Bin Laden Video (Kerry calls 9/11 a "raid")

AP ^ | Oct 29 | MARY DALRYMPLE and TERENCE HUNT

[cgk]

It's a very old style of warfare.. it harks back to more barbaric times.

Which is exactly where these terrorists want to take us.

[ellery]

Disagree, for two reasons. First, "raid" commonly connotes something other than a catastrophic mass murder (e.g., gambling den raid).

Second, and more important, his use of the term illustrates his law-enforcement focus -- i.e., according to Kerry, we're not in an ongoing WAR for our survival...we're just looking to punish the people behind a single "raid."

[Terabitten]

Hear, hear!

I couldn't believe Kerry used the word "barbaric" in his response to the UBL tape. If I was Rove, I'd have an ad out tomorrow with the clip Kerry using the term "barbaric" in reference to UBL, followed immediately by his 1971 testimony when he said Americans were barbaric, acting in a fashion reminiscent of Genghis Khan. Then voiceover, "When you call them barbaric, Senator, which side do you mean?"

[AM2000]

I live in NJ, very close to where the towers stood. I understand the 'emotional impact' of the attacks very well. Calling it a raid, to me at least, in no way takes away from the emotional impact of the actual events of that day.

[AM2000]

The Navy called the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor a 'raid'.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1262875/posts?page=31#31

[Terabitten]

Second, and more important, his use of the term illustrates his law-enforcement focus -- i.e., according to Kerry, we're not in an ongoing WAR for our survival...we're just looking to punish the people behind a single "raid."

Have to respectfully disagree, Ellery. As a former infantryman, a raid is a very typical tactical mission given to small (company and below) units. Also, I think the famous "Thunder Runs" through Baghdad were tasked as raids. As I posted earlier, Army doctrine calls a raid an attack with a planned withdrawal, ie, no intent of holding captured territory. The general public may think of "raids" in law enforcement terms, but I can assure you the military doesn't.

Now, having said all this, Kerry's still a dirtball and President Bush is STILL going to win. FOUR MORE!

[AM2000]

Yeap. Which would change our society completely but I bet we'd still kick our asses.

[crazyhorse691]

You are so right. My apologies for running amuck down the wrong alley. Bin Laden and his ilk are the enemies and must be destroyed. President Bush will destroy them. Kerry will accommodate them.

[AM2000]

I mean their asses :-D

[cgk]

My assessment of the facts of the tape are quite different... if you'd like to read them, they're here:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1262100/posts?page=35#35

I'll tell you, I know reasonable people can agree to disagree and all that... but it's a strange thing to think this way. And even stranger to hear Mansoor Ijaz say exactly what I thought on Greta last night.

I'll add that my own analysis (I'm no expert) comes from Bin Laden's own statement here, made in his Dec 2001 video: http://www.fas.org/irp/world/para/ubl-video.html

Excerpt: UBL: "Some of them said that in Holland, at one of the centers, the number of people who accepted Islam during the days that followed the operations were more than the people who accepted Islam in the last eleven years. I heard someone on Islamic radio who owns a school in America say: 'We don’t have time to keep up with the demands of those who are asking about Islamic books to learn about Islam.'This event made people think (about true Islam) which benefited Islam greatly."

[alexandria]

"As Americans, we are absolutely united in our determination to hunt down and destroy Osama bin Laden and the terrorists," Kerry said in Florida, standing next to his campaign plane. "They are barbarians, and I will stop at absolutely nothing to hunt down, capture or kill the terrorists wherever they are, whatever it takes, period.

Here are my immediate impressions of Kerry's statement. I was immediately struck by the way he seemed to differentiate between Bin Laden and the "terrorists."
Did anyone else catch this? When you read the statement it is not as clear. However, when he is saying it there is a definite distinction in his tone of voice.

[cgk]

:) I knew what you meant... unless you were talking about kicking our own a$$es should Kerry win.

(cough)

[ellery]

I see what you mean about the technical definition of "raid." However, when discussing WWII, did FDR speak in terms of tracking down the perps of a single raid? Or did he speak in terms of winning the larger war? Shouldn't the CIC be talking about the war, rather than an individual "raid?" In my mind, he should -- unless he doesn't believe we're at war at all.

[delacoert]

Pearl Harbor attack: 2395 killed, 1178 wounded

911 "raid": 3338+ killed, 3000+ wounded

Kerry's rhetoric on this doesn't pass the smell test. Americans know it. It doesn't help his campaign... one can only hope he keeps it up and that his potential supports are paying attention.

[Terabitten]

I bet we'd still kick our asses

That's the real reason I'm against cloning. I'd be the first guy in jail for whuppin' my own ass.

[GOPologist]

What burns me up and strengthens my desire to vote for G.W. Bush is this: sKerry who has no definitive positive solution for American problems is ALWAYS criticizing the President

I'd be a fool if I voted for sKerry.

[holden]

Bush involved our allies who knew every inch of the land in the hunt for Bin Laden. When Kerry talks about allies' noble efforts, he's quick to use the derrogatory term "outsource" and seems to find every occasion to denigrate the countries that've put forth men and matériel to help us.

Kerry even sent his sister to Australia to try to oust their leader who helped us in Afghanistan and Iraq, bad-mouthing the current government, saying our their help made Australians less, not more safe.

Qerri is an abomination.

HF

[Terabitten]

I agree entirely. Kerry still sees terrorism as a September 10th law enforcement operation.

[unspun]

Bump cgk's post #7!

[BlessedBeGod]

"I believe I can run a more effective war on terror than George Bush," Kerry asserted.

I wouldn't trust you to run water.