The Bush campaign has relentlessly criticized Kerry for saying and doing anything to get elected, for making political self-interest his supreme and guiding principle. (Flip flops? Those weren’t flip flops. Kerry has been perfectly consistent; he has remained true to the principle of doing or saying whatever seems good for Kerry at the time.)
Now Clintonian Kerry advisor Joe Lockhart seems to agree. He is quoted in the Los Angeles Times today trying to put a positive spin on Kerry’s evolving response to the new bin Laden tape.
“My opponent continues to say things he knows are not true,” Bush told the crowd in Columbus. “It’s especially shameful in light of the new tape from America’s enemy.”
The Bush campaign followed up with a lengthy e-mail mocking Kerry and his criticism of the president. “Tora Bora,” the statement began, ”
John,
The very existence of a Bin Laden tape right now is the motivation for Kerry’s criticism.
>>>Bush Failure to Focus On Capturing Bin Laden The “Gravest Error” In The War on Terror. The Bush administration itself concluded that Osama bin Laden was present during the battle for Tora Bora late last year and that failure to commit U.S. ground troops to hunt him was its gravest error in the war against al Qaeda, according to civilian and military officials with first- hand knowledge. (Washington Post, 4/17/02)
Special Forces, Intelligence Personnel Pulled Out of Afghanistan to Support the Iraq War. In 2002, troops from the 5th Special Forces Group who specialize in the Middle East were pulled out of the hunt for Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan to prepare for their next assignment: Iraq. The CIA, meanwhile, was stretched badly in its capacity to collect, translate and analyze information coming from Afghanistan. US Intelligence officials said that as much as half of the intelligence and special forces assets in Afghanistan and Pakistan were diverted to support the war in Iraq. (USA Today, 3/29/04; KnightRidder, 9/5/03)
New Report Shows War in Iraq is a Distraction from the War on Terror. A new report by the Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies, Israel’s leading strategic think tank, concluded that the war in Iraq has become a distraction from the international war on terror. Jaffee Center director Shai Feldman “said that the vast amount of money and effort the United States has poured into Iraq has deflected assets from other centers of terrorism, such as Afghanistan.” (Associated Press, 10/11/04)http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=38990
And Bush on Bin Laden?
>>>Bush Said Bin Laden Had Been Marginalized, Yet He Continues To Plan Attacks. In the weeks following the September 11 attacks, Bush said he wanted Bin Laden “Dead or Alive.” Yet in March of 2002, Bush said “(Osama Bin Laden is) just – he’s a person who has now been marginalized. His network is — his host government has been destroyed. you know, I just don’t spend that much time on him really, to be honest with you. I…I truly am not that concerned about him.” Yet his own administration admits that “…bin Laden not only remains at large but also may already have ordered up another major attack.” (Bush Remarks, 9/17/01; 3/13/02; TIME, 8/16/04; New York Times, 9/15/04)
http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=38990
John to add insult to injury, what does Osama Bin Laden say about Bush himself on this latest tape?
>>>”We did not find it difficult to deal with Bush and his administration because it is similar to regimes in our countries, half of which are governed by the military and the other half of which are governed by the sons of kings and presidents,” he said.
“In both categories, you find many who are characterised by hubris, arrogance, greed, and unlawful acquisition of money
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3967565.stm
I can’t wait to read the posts in response to this.
–Cobra
Kerry criticizes “outsourcing” in Afhanistan (now, that is; he supported it at the time); favors it in Iraq. Tip: what’s the quickest way to figure out Kerry’s (current) position on any question? Check Bush’s, then you’ll know 1) Kerry could, and would, have done that very thing better if he’d been president, but 2) now advocates the opposite.
Well gosh. America’s enemy, who has been on the run for years, has come out of hiding to personally campaign against Bush, even using Democratic talking points as a guide. Now, who should I vote for? Hmmmmmm?
“I can’t wait to read the posts in response to this.” Well, I can’t figure out if Osama is getting his talking points from Kedwards or from Michael Moore. Maybe both?
Unfortunately for Kerry and for you, I gather, the rest of the country is also noticing the astonishing similarity between Osama’s viewpoint and that of the Democratic National Committee. Though the Democratic Party may not be on America’s side, the American people are.
Have a nice week. :-)
I don’t know what you folks are reading, but if you read what Osama Bin Laden actually SAYS, and not the spin, you’ll see that the Bush Administration has done more to further his recruitment goals than he could ever have accomplished on his own. I guess if you take a viewpoint that only the people who live in America count for anything, or even think, then I’d have no problem coming to a conclusion similiar to yours.
Does it take the DNC to tell Muslims around the world that George Bush sent thousands of mostly Christian soldiers to invade and occupy Iraq? Does it take the DNC to tell the Arab street of the attrocities, casualties, tortures and mayhem going on in Iraq? Does it take the DNC to tell the Arab street that the US is in bed with the House of Saud, while designing an Iraqi Constitution designed to spirit profits from Iraq out of the country to American corporations?
It’s RACIST to assume that everybody who doesn’t look like you is stupid.
Osama Bin Laden would love nothing better than a Bush victory Tuesday, because the world HATES BUSH–
>>>Only 12 percent of Muslims believe the United States respects Islamic values. Only 7 percent believe the West understands Muslim culture; and 11 percent approve of President Bush.
The following should come as no surprise and will matter little to those who wish not to be confused by facts, but the invasion of Iraq has only deepened Islamic animosity toward the United States.
Are we any safer in the world when only 13 percent of Egyptians, 6 percent of Jordanians and 3 percent of the Saudis hold favorable opinions of the United States?
Majorities in seven out of eight Muslim countries worry about a military threat from the United States — 74 percent in Indonesia, 72 percent in Nigeria, 72 percent in Pakistan and 71 percent in Turkey.
Moreover, 56 percent of Muslims believe that Iraq will be worse off after the toppling of Saddam Hussein.
http://www.workingforchange.com/article.cfm?ItemID=17792
Anything Osama predicts Bush will do, Bush eagerly fulfills the prophecy.
Why would Osama want to give up the best campaign promotion for his cause?
–Cobra
“…the invasion of Iraq has only deepened Islamic animosity toward the United States.”
I have no doubt that this is true, but I’m not losing a lot of sleep over whether or not America is pissing off Islamic dictatorships by ridding the world of Saddam and the Taliban. The Islamic culture that you are cowed by is anti-woman, anti-Jewish, anti-democracy and frankly as backward in the politically correct sciences as a culture can be. For one whose intellectual development seems to have absorbed every leftist talking point you heard, you sure seem to have done a sudden 180 in support of religious fundamentalism. Who cares if we anger people who whip women for showing their ankles or watch children burn to death because a male relative is not available to escort them out of a burning school? I get the impression, Cobra, that you would support anything and anybody, regardless of how humanity would suffer, if it would just fit your view of America as evil.
Cobra LOVES this place, doesn’t he?
1) Cobra, way to stick on topic. John never argued anything about the good or bad of Iraq, or any of the other garbage you’re spewing. Stick on topic, which is: does John Kerry change his position for political expediency?
2) Why not just sign up with Al Qaida right now, since you seem to agree with all of their points.
3) Wow, can’t believe you played the race card in that post. No one anywhere ever said or implied that those with different skin pigmentations are stupid. You’re the only one making this conclusion. Me personally: I have two muslims friends I highly respect, one pretty conservative, and one pretty liberal. As for Osama, I think he IS stupid! Does that make me a RACIST?
Wow. If I were in John’s shoes, I would’ve banned you from posting your flames a long time ago. At least have the courtesy to stay on topic, as John has asked on a few occasions.
‘Well gosh. America’s enemy, who has been on the run for years, has come out of hiding to personally campaign against Bush, even using Democratic talking points as a guide.’
He used the bush talking point of spreading liberty as well.
From the NT Post:
“Officials said that in the 18-minute long tape
John,
You sound like you have seen the Saturday Night Live debate sketch:
“Bush” accuses Kerry of being a flip-flopper and inconsistent. “Kerry” replies haughtily, “I have been completely consistent. When I am speaking to a group that opposes the war, I oppose the war. When I speak to a group that favors the war, I favor the war. When I speak … I am not a flip-flopper; I am a panderer, and the American people deserve to have a president who understands the difference!”