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| Clinton Praises Response to Crisis |
| 2001-09-30 |
| LA Times Former President Clinton, who has maintained a low-key public role since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Saturday praised the Bush administration's "measured" response to the crisis. Appearing with former Republican presidential candidate Bob Dole to announce a campaign to raise $100 million for a scholarship fund for children and spouses of the victims, Clinton said he is "very impressed" with President Bush's candor in preparing the American public for a long struggle. Dole, the former Senate majority leader who ran against Clinton in 1996 and lost, also commended the administration's "prudence and patience." He said Bush did the right thing in ignoring recommendations--most notably from prominent conservatives--for an immediate, "feel-good" counterattack. "We should not intentionally bring violence to innocent civilians living in Afghanistan, but it's obvious that the president and the national security team are trying to avoid that," Clinton said. "I think I can speak for all Americans in saying that I have been very impressed by the fact that [the Bush administration] told us the truth--that these are difficult decisions; the tactical decisions are difficult," Clinton said. Clinton also said he "particularly appreciates" Bush's denouncing hate crimes and discrimination against Muslims and Arab Americans in the aftermath of the attacks. |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |