STORM2K

Sunday, Jan. 31, 2004 11:45 PM EST
Kerry Pledges Return to Clinton Terrorism Policies

Democratic presidential front-runner John F. Kerry pledged on Saturday that if he becomes president he'll treat terrorist acts against the U.S. as a law enforcement problem rather than as acts of war - the approach favored by President Clinton throughout the 1990's as Osama bin Laden repeatedly struck U.S. targets with impunity.

Speaking before a group of Oklahoma City firefighters, Kerry complained that the Bush adminsitration "doesn't understand the war on terror."

Under a Kerry administration, he said, the fight against terrorism "will involve the military now and then," but it will be "primarily an intelligence gathering, law enforcement operation."

"It's a great big manhunt," Kerry explained. "[The Bush] administration has translated that legitimate threat into a completely wrongheaded kind of full-fledged military response."

Since 9/11, U.S. terrorism experts have said that the Clinton administration's legalistic approach to fighting al Qaeda not only proved ineffective - it actually emboldened bin Laden to the point where he thought he could launch an attack on U.S. soil without prompting a serious military response.

Indeed, in a 2002 speech to New York business leaders, Mr. Clinton himself cited legal concerns as an excuse for his decision not to have bin Laden arrested five years before the 9/11 attacks.

"At the time, 1996, he had committed no crime against America," said Clinton. "So I did not bring him here because we had no basis on which to hold him, though we knew he wanted to commit crimes against America."


THIS MAN IS DANGEROUS!! basically he is saying he will abandon the war on terror. i will always ask this one question. "if you were a terror leader, who would you want as president of the united states, kerry or bush?

John Kerry,

I am ashamed to share a country with you. I will consider leaving and not returning if you are elected, as you are a direct threat to my safety and the safety of every American

what he said makes john dean seem brilliant. kerry would put every americans life in danger with this return to clintons(couldnt care less) policy on terror.

If Bush wind against Kerry, Dean, or Edwards, it won't matter because the status is the same. Its status quo under Bush.

God knows who wins. But I hope national security is one of the top agenda's to talk about. We got this terrorism issue and we can't have terrorists destroy our famous landmarks. National security must be top priority and we must fight against those cowards. Otherwise it's best to head to Aruba and stay there!!!

Jim

Bush, regardless of his past errata, has proven himself worthy of the title "COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF"...I don't see that kind of spine in any of the Democratic contenders.

As to the "deficit" and "free-handed spending"...think carefully.

GW had to preside over the Silicon Valley bubble-burst, the collapse of Enron, 9-11...which lost the US lives, revenue, trade and jobs aplenty. ALL of these were still steaming under Clinton's watch, and went ignored.

Rebuilding an economy AND fighting a war are COSTLY...thank God Bush didn't take a page or two from FDR's playbook by Federalizing businesses, ordering private industries to switch from mass production of consumer goods to munitions, etc.

What DNC hopeful could have done as better job under those circumstances? NONE, I say ye.

"Law enforcement"? My @$$.

I think Kerry has been smoking some of the same stuff Clinton did, only I think Kerry inhaled. What a dumbass! Law enforcement is trained and equipped to enforce laws...hence the term law enforcement. Fighting a war is the militarys job and folks thats exactly what we have going here is damn war. I would vote for Daffy Duck before this dimwit would get my vote

Kerry is nothing more than a Kennedy clone. At least JFK knew how to deal with a threat when he saw it. I hope Kerry's position gets air play from the media.

right now, the media is in love with kerry. if howard dean had said the same thing, they would have jumped him. if the american people elect kerry, then we need to put up a sign saying WE GIVE UP!!