Posted on 10/16/2002 7:21:25 AM PDT by PhiKapMom
Vice president speaks in Midwest City
10/15/02
By Sean Murphy
MIDWEST CITY — A bomb attack that killed more than 180 people in Bali, Indonesia, Saturday is likely the work of al-Qaida, which is operating in as many as 60 countries, Vice President Dick Cheney said Tuesday.
“(Al-Qaida) will do absolutely anything they can to impose additional casualties on the United States, both here and overseas,” Cheney said in Midwest City. “And that means we’re probably closer to the front end of this conflict than we are to the back end of it.”
Cheney visited Oklahoma Tuesday to help raise money for Republican Congressional candidate Tom Cole, who is seeking to replace J.C. Watts in Oklahoma’s 4th Congressional District. Cheney first stopped in Tulsa for a fund-raiser for U.S. Rep. John Sullivan before flying in Air Force 2 to Tinker Air Force Base, where he addressed a crowd of about 100 service members and civilians.
“These are important days from the standpoint of the U.S. military,” Cheney said at the base, “and all of you who serve, both in uniform as well as civilians, have a very important task ahead of us.”
Following Cheney’s brief remarks at Tinker, he was transported by motorcade to the Rose State College Performing Arts Theater, where Cole’s fund-raiser was held. Before Cheney arrived, Gov. Frank Keating told the group of about 1,000 that during Cole’s time as a state senator and secretary of state, he was instrumental in helping Keating pass criminal justice reform, tort reform and charter school legislation.
“Tom Cole will not just be a member of Congress, he’ll be an outstanding member of Congress,” Keating said. “I’m going to make a prediction: Eight years from now, Tom Cole will be Speaker of the House.”
During Cheney’s address to the group, he said the recent killing of a Marine in Kuwait, the bombing of a French tanker off the coast of Yemen and Saturday’s bomb blast at a nightclub in Bali are all likely the work of the al-Qaida network.
“My guess is that when the dust settles and we’ve had an opportunity to analyze that evidence, we’ll find (the Bali bombing) too was an act committed by a group tied to the al-Qaida organization,” Cheney said.
He said the possibility also exists that al-Qaida might attempt to join forces with a rogue state or nation that already has or is seeking to acquire weapons of mass destruction. Such a possibility, Cheney said, further justifies the need for a pre-emptive strike against Iraq, a nation he said has shown its willingness to harbor terrorists.
“That’s why confronting the threat posed by Iraq is absolutely crucial to winning the war on terror,” Cheney said. “We understand that wars are not won on the defensive. In the fight against global terror, we must take the battle to the enemy and, where necessary, pre-empt serious threats to our country before they materialize.”
Cheney also touched on domestic issues, saying improving the U.S. economy was one of the administration’s top priorities.
“When it comes to our economy, our administration will not rest until every person in America who wants work can find a job,” he said. “Americans realize that when President Bush and I took office, America was in an economic recession.”
Cheney said private-sector jobs are created when customers have money to spend, and that any pro-growth policy must be one that allows the American taxpayers to keep more of the money they earn. He also stressed the need for a comprehensive energy bill that will reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil.
Cheney also took aim at the Democrat-controlled Senate, which he said has thwarted President Bush’s attempts to appoint judges to the federal bench.
“Under the Democratic leadership in the Senate, the judicial confirmation process has become partisan, unreasonable and unfair,” Cheney said. “Dozens of judgeships sit empty while many of the president’s judicial nominees have waited over a year for the Senate Judiciary Committee to even grant them a hearing.”
The vice president even mentioned the University of Oklahoma football team’s victory Saturday over the University of Texas.
“There are some hard feelings in the Oval Office, I must admit,” joked Cheney, who said Bush is a Longhorn fan. “But he’ll get over it.”
Reporter Sean Murphy covers higher education and politics, and can be reached at 366-3539 or via e-mail at smurphy@normantranscript.com.
Thanks for posting this! Glad to hear more info on what Cheney said!
You surely didn't hear this on the nets, eh?
Yea-yea, the Lamestream's mo for dealing with & silencing good leaders is rather elegant in its *simplicity*.
..."Fantasy Island" reruns.
“Tom Cole will not just be a member of Congress, he’ll be an outstanding member of Congress,” Keating said. “I’m going to make a prediction: Eight years from now, Tom Cole will be Speaker of the House.”
The RATS are in disarray...eradicate the rodents !!
Fire Democrats, Hire Republicans !!
GWB Is The Man !!
Snuff Saddam, NOW !!
Death To all Tyrant's !!
The Second Amendment...
America's Original Homeland Security !!
Freedom Is Worth Fighting For !!
Molon Labe !!
Don't you just love it when that happens?
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