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| Democrats Blame Bush for Saudi Attack |
| 2003-05-14 |
| Democratic lawmakers say President Bush is somewhat responsible for the homicide bombings in Saudi Arabia, saying had the United States not been distracted by war in Iraq, it could have further debilitated Al Qaeda, the terror network blamed for the attack. The attacks led to charges of complacency by Bush and his administration, led by Florida Sen. Bob Graham, a 2004 Democratic presidential candidate. "The war on Iraq was a distraction. So, does that mean he was against it? Was there no rational purpose for it? It took us off the war on terror, which we were on path to win, but we've now let it slip away from us," Graham said on the Senate floor Tuesday. Graham claimed that the administration "backed away" from fighting terrorists and failed to act on communication intercepts between terrorists just as it did before Sept. 11, 2001. In short, he suggested the Bush administration has failed to create a safer environment. "If the question is are we more or less secure from terrorists today than we were a year ago, the answer is we are less secure," he said. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, agreed. I'm a shocked ... shocked to see Lee criticize the President. [sarcasm intended] "I believe we were distracted by the war in Iraq," she told Fox News. What was this in the Democratic Talking Points memo for the day? Graham offered his suggestions on what he would have done to prevent another terror attack, including taking the fight to places where Al Qaeda remains, such as Yemen. White House officials rejected the charges and privately suggested that Graham's comments are part of his campaign for the presidency. Prior to that, Bush celebrated the defeat of Saddam Hussein aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, where he said the world is now a safer place. "The war on terror is not over, yet it is not endless," he said. "We do not know the day of final victory, but we have seen the turning of the tide. It doesn't take much money to put a car bomb together. It takes hatred." He said that he wouldn't be surprised if the attacks were proven to be Al Qaeda. Still, some Republicans called out of bounds any suggestions that the attacks were a failure of the Bush administration. "I wholeheartedly disagree with the implication that the attack [resulted from] any weakness on the part of the U.S.," said Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn. "If this latest attack is the work of Al Qaeda, it should serve as notice that the United States needs to clear the decks and focus the war on terrorism against Al Qaeda. It is absolutely imperative that the United States jettison obsolete or unnecessary commitments, such as 100,000 troops stationed in Western Europe to defend NATO against a non-existent threat, and missions, such as nation-building in the Balkans," Peña said. |
| Posted by:ColoradoConservative |
| #23 Yea,that crap in Texas is disgusting.Dems can't have thier way so they hold the whole state hostage. I can see the Dems going the way of the Wigs. |
| Posted by: w_r_manues@yahoo.com 2003-05-15 08:45:32 |
| #22 As Steve highlighted: Graham offered his suggestions on what he would have done to prevent another terror attack, including taking the fight to places where Al Qaeda remains, such as Yemen. So OK, Bob and Sheila, do you want a war with Yemen? With Saudi Arabia? Are you willing to say that and mean it? Show some spine, come out and rouse the public with your war-mongering ideas. Or are you just backbiters with no ideas, just complaints? Dems in Deathroes... |
| Posted by: R. McLeod 2003-05-15 02:27:35 |
| #21 "Distracted by the war........". Of course! Looks like we have a number of candidates for the Iraqi Minister of Information position. |
| Posted by: NamVet 2003-05-14 21:57:02 |
| #20 I believe we were distracted by the war in Iraq," she told Fox News. What was this in the Democratic Talking Points memo for the day? Got it in one! The Dems and the media - and their talking points (it's obvious most of the media use the Dems' talking points in tandem with the pols) - are pathetic. Do they really think no one notices? |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2003-05-14 19:22:51 |
| #19 CC: Recent severe head trauma? |
| Posted by: Tadderly 2003-05-14 16:49:16 |
| #18 RC: Yes, this is true. However, how to explain all the non-candidates spouting irrational statements? |
| Posted by: ColoradoConservative 2003-05-14 16:19:30 |
| #17 Senator graham is suffering from the very debilitating disease of Preidential Fever. The major affects being turning all common sense and decency into lefover jello. |
| Posted by: RC 2003-05-14 16:16:20 |
| #16 And Senators named Daniel Webster have always been good for the country. |
| Posted by: Chuck 2003-05-14 14:03:44 |
| #15 This just posted on the Miami Herald's site: Bob Graham may have a fight on his hands to hang onto his Senate seat. "State Sen. Daniel Webster, a former House speaker and 23-year veteran of Florida politics, has been asked to consider the U.S. Senate race for the seat of Democratic presidential candidate Bob Graham, associates said Tuesday. Webster, R-Winter Garden, has heard from supporters in the business, religious and political communities in recent weeks encouraging him to join the field of Republicans, said Brecht Heuchan, a Tallahassee lobbyist and former Webster aide." ''There were a lot of people who were supportive of him when he was speaker. I'm sure if that was the direction he decided to go, he just has a lot of people in a lot of different places who are going to be willing to help him,'' Heuchan said. |
| Posted by: ColoradoConservative 2003-05-14 13:49:18 |
| #14 I printed out a list of the States of the United States and their capitals just last night for #2 son to refresh his memory for finals. Last time I looked, we still only had 50, and Saudi Arabia hadn't replaced California... This could only be Bush's fault if it was our problem. And it was our problem because....? *sighs* Of course, we tried to say the same thing about Yugoslavia. The Euros, like the Saudis, said "We can handle this! We can handle this!" Like the Euros, the Saudis knew about the problem and couldn't handle it. And, like in Yugoslavia, the general incompetence/venality/inability of the party that said they could handle it, but couldn't, is it predictable that it will eventually translate to becoming our problem? Occasionally. OCCASIONALLY, I sometimes am tempted, when it's two in the morning, and I'm staring up at the cieling worrying about the war on terror, to agree with the proposition voiced here occasionally, that threatening to Nuke Mecca and Medina MAY solve our problem. May not solve anybody else's problems, but I'm also getting to the point of saying "to hell with other people's problems." |
| Posted by: Ptah 2003-05-14 13:00:17 |
| #13 Graham offered his suggestions on what he would have done to prevent another terror attack, including taking the fight to places where Al Qaeda remains, such as Yemen. Is Bob advocating the invasion of Yemen? Isn't that a little ... unilateral of us? But well, ok, Bob, why don't you make a speech advocating this on the Senate floor. Yemeni dolenda est or something like that. I'm sure all the Democrats will line up behind you. Bob? Bob, you there? |
| Posted by: Steve White 2003-05-14 12:57:46 |
| #12 I would expect this from the Lees and the Conyers but NOT Bob Graham. On the other hand, Graham did vote against the Senate vote on action in Iraq so maybe it shouldn't be so surprising. He just seems to be a sober and rational sort and I expected better. Although, this is not to say that he can - and should - provide constructive criticisms. |
| Posted by: ColoradoConservative 2003-05-14 12:52:01 |
| #11 G-man - if the Dems continue to self-destruct and the economy improves a bit a 4-5 seat gain by the GOP in the Senate would actually be a poor showing by the GOP. |
| Posted by: AWW 2003-05-14 12:36:19 |
| #10 The Dems will have as much success pinning this cowardly attack on our Commander-in-Chief as they did 9-11. The more they talk, the deeper they dig. Can you visualize 4-5 more Republicans in the Senate in 2004? |
| Posted by: G-Man in Chicago 2003-05-14 12:29:54 |
| #9 This is pure BS. The Dems will do anything to belittle the victory in Iraq. It never ceases to amaze the depths the Demoncrats will sink to all in the pursuit of the acquisition and maintenance of power. Just look at the sorry episode in Texas yesterday. Nice to hear they're arresting some of those traitors. And Sheila Jackson? Sheesh...what a moonbat! |
| Posted by: Rex Mundi 2003-05-14 11:45:01 |
| #8 Iraq was a "distraction" that "took us off" the war on terror? I don't buy the notion that Bob Graham actually believes that nonsense. IT IS ALL ONE WAR. Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia, the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, and North Korea are all parts of it. When we deal with each part, and how, are up to debate and speculation; but they are all related. Is that such an exotic concept that Bob Graham doesn't get it? |
| Posted by: Dave D. 2003-05-14 10:49:37 |
| #7 "I believe we were distracted by the war in Iraq," Oh, yes of course. I too was distracted by failure of nearly every doomsayer's prediction about the quagmire our troops were supposed to get into. I was also distracted by the efficiency and proficiency of our armed forces, the discovery of at least 1 mobile chemical weapons lab, the discovery of mass graves, torture chambers, links to France and Russia's collusion, and north korea's sudden reconsideration on its' position regarding negotiations and talks with the U.N. Lastly, I have to admit that I was distracted by the sight of parents being reuinted with their children who were jailed because they refused to join the Saddam youth brigades. How easily I was distracted by all that fluff... |
| Posted by: Dripping sarcasm 2003-05-14 10:31:56 |
| #6 So in order for us to properly defend against this attack, what should the President have done? Invade Saudi Arabia? Bomb Riyadh (I'm all for that, but because I don't like the soddies)? Put 10,000 US troops on the ground around those compounds? What kind of idiots do we have in the US Senate? This is not a good sign for US security, and not a good reflection on the direct election of US Senators, when two such fruitcakes can get elected and serve at the same time. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2003-05-14 10:24:36 |
| #5 The Dems are so desperate to pin *anything* on the Bush administration. An attack by Muslims in a Muslim country that killed mostly Muslims, and who do they blame? Sounds to me like a failure of the Saudi administration! I agree, George. Clearly this is an act of desperation when they start targetting their own kind, their own source of funds, and their own best source of new recruits. |
| Posted by: Dar 2003-05-14 10:24:24 |
| #4 Actually this hit shows the deparation of Al Qaeda. It is only limited to hits within the middle east. And this last target included many muslim casulties. This type of hit is really indicative of the turning point on the war against terror. |
| Posted by: George 2003-05-14 10:13:23 |
| #3 Saudi Arabia has consistantly frustrated all attempts to investigate prior al Qaeda actions in the country, and has denied the existance of al Qaeda cells in its nation. The only way we could have tried any harder would have been an outright invasion. I presume that is the course of action that Boring Bob and Satanic Shiela were advocating. |
| Posted by: Chuck 2003-05-14 10:13:19 |
| #2 For Bob to be quoted in any context with Sheila (Who thought we'd already had a manned Mars landing) Jackson Lee is the kiss of death. She's an idiot, and he's obviously losing it as well. I'd thought a lot more of him last fall, but running for President has obviously been too much for him, and its just started.... |
| Posted by: Frank G 2003-05-14 10:03:19 |
| #1 For Bob to be quoted in any context with Sheila (Who thought we'd already had a manned Mars landing) Jackson Lee is the kiss of death. She's an idiot, and he's obviously losing it as well. I'd thought a lot more of him last fall, but running for President has obviously been too much for him, and its just started.... |
| Posted by: Frank G 5/14/2003 10:03:19 AM |