Posted on 02/28/2002 12:01:58 PM PST by B-bone
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle, in remarks immediately assailed by Republicans, said on Thursday there seems to be "expansion without at least a clear direction" in the administration's war on terrorism.
"Before we make commitments in resources I think we need to have a clear understanding of what the direction would be," the South Dakota Democrat told reporters, reflecting a growing Democratic concern.
Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott, a Mississippi Republican, promptly replied: "How dare Senator Daschle criticize President (George W.) Bush while we are fighting our war on terrorism, especially when we have troops in the field?
"He should not be trying to divide our country while we are united," Lott said.
Daschle said the war to date has been successful and that he does not want to "second guess" the president. But he also said the administration needed to better explain where it was headed.
"I don't think the success has been overstated, but the continued success, I think, is still somewhat in doubt," Daschle said.
His comments came a day after a number of congressional Democrats opened fire on the Defense Department's $379 billion budget request and what they described as its opened-ended war on terrorism.
'BLANK CHECKS'
At a congressional hearing, Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Robert Byrd, a West Virginia Democrat, told Defense Department officials they should not expect "blank checks to be written" for the war effort without a clearer understanding of the administration's objectives and goals beyond Afghanistan.
"We seem to be good at developing entrance strategies, not so good at developing exit strategies," Byrd told Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz.
Byrd and other Democrats questioned and challenged an expanding anti-terrorism agenda in other nations certain to run up the U.S. defense bill and the federal deficit.
Daschle said on Thursday, "I have said all along, we need to ask the tough questions. There may be support in general for the president's request for defense, but somebody's got to ask tough questions. And no one does a better job of that than Senator Byrd."
"I think there is expansion without at least a clear direction to date," Daschle said. "But we will continue to ask the questions required to better understand that direction."
Daschle, like other Democrats, has backed Bush's response to the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States, and again praised these efforts.
But he added, "Whether we continue to succeed depends on whether we get the right answers to the questions Senator Byrd was proposing yesterday."
The Senate majority leader added, "We've got to find Osama bin Laden, and we've got to find other key leaders of the al Qaeda network, or we will have failed."
"I think that it's critical that we keep the pressure on. We do the job that this country is committed to doing," Daschle said. "We're not safe until we have broken the back of al Qaeda. And we haven't done that yet."
a. This was going to be a very, very long war
b. The terrorists were located in some 60 countries
They must have missed that part (repeatedly) or they wouldn't be saying such dangerous things, things that could result in death for Americans both at home and overseas.
Either that or they find the death of Americans an acceptable price for political gain.
What does a democRAT know about "direction" in military matters? What about Haiti? Bosnia? Macedonia? and a bunch of other places the democRATs have sent our troops WITHOUT an exit strategy?
I suppose D'Aschole would like for W to tell all the strategy so the enemy knows what to expect. We saw how the democRATs run wars, Somalia and Vietnam, for example. More interested in "making a statement" than winning. (rant off)
Speaking for Democrats? Sen.Byrd? JFK,Johnson,Carter,Clinton come to mind.All seem to have been bailed out by Republicans.
The people of SD don't have the guts or the common sense to admit that they have screwed their fellow countrymen by electing this piece of $hit.
They, as we all know, care more about party than country. They have done some stupid focus group research and seem to feel that they have a way to attack Bush.
But think about it. Less than two months before the elecion is gonna be the 1 year annaversay of 9/11. All of those emotions that (naturally) have subsided a little in the general puplic are gonna come roaring back. Memorial, specials on tv, movies, books, all this stuff is gonna fill the media.
And people are gonna look at the democrats and puke their guts out.
"Oh please let us lose this war. Please, please, please. Give us a socialist take over. This is the chance of a life time! This was suppose to happen BEFORE Clinton left office! Please please, please, let us lose," Daschle said.
(Pardon ma freakin' french)
Statement by Senator Bill Frist, M.D., Chairman, NRSC
February 28, 2002
Press Release: From the NRSC
The following statement was issued today by Senator Bill Frist (TN), Chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC):
“I join what I know are countless other Americans disappointed by today’s statements by Senator Tom Daschle, Majority Leader of the United States Senate. I mention his position as Majority Leader because it is that leadership position which grants his words authority.
“We are in the midst of a war that will define the world our children and theirs will inherit. I ask Senator Daschle to stay vigilant in his public comments – understanding they will be pounced on with glee by our enemies as evidence of cracks in our national will to defeat them.
“I don’t believe that is Senator Daschle’s intent. He, along with every other Member of Congress, is first and foremost an American. Which is why it is so disappointing to me that he used such thoughtless and ill-timed words today. (my emphasis)
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