Bush calls out Reagan, Carter and Clinton on Terrorism

[whottt]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationwo...track=morenews

Pattern of Errors Emboldened Terrorists, Bush Says
By Warren Vieth, Times Staff Writer


WASHINGTON -- President Bush said today that mistakes made by three of his predecessors, including the Reagan administration's response to the Marine barracks bombing in Lebanon, had emboldened global terrorists and helped set the stage for the 9/11 attacks.

Bush said he was determined not to repeat the pattern by pulling U.S. troops out of Iraq before terrorists are contained and Iraqi forces are able to provide their own security.


"To leave Iraq now would be to repeat the costly mistakes of the past that led to the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001," Bush said in remarks at the Pentagon after a two-hour briefing by Defense Department officials on the status of the U.S. offensive in Iraq and the war on terrorism.

He cited as examples the U.S. response to the hostage crisis in Iran during the Carter administration, the Lebanon bombing under Reagan, and four crises that occurred during the Clinton administration: the first World Trade Center attack, the killing of American soldiers in Somalia, the bombings of two U.S. embassies in Africa, and the attack on the Cole.

"The terrorists concluded that we lacked the courage and character to defend ourselves, and so they attacked us," said the president, as Vice President Cheney, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and top military officials stood at his side.

Bush did not mention any events during the first Bush administration, such as his father's decision to end the first Gulf War without sending coalition troops on to Baghdad to topple Saddam Hussein's regime.

The president's assessment came two days before tens of thousands of antiwar activists were expected to gather in the nation's capital to demand a rapid U.S. disengagement from Iraq. One person set to participant in Saturday's events is Cindy Sheehan, whose son was killed in Iraq last year and who disrupted Bush's August vacation by setting up a tent camp outside his Texas ranch.

Bush will not be in town when the antiwar demonstrators are scheduled to converge on the White House, where they hope to deliver a letter to the president. Bush was scheduled to fly to Texas and Colorado late Friday to review Hurricane Rita preparations and Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts, the White House said, and would remain overnight in Colorado.

Bush, whose job approval ratings have fallen to new lows amid growing concern about the continuing violence in Iraq, said he understood there were "differences of opinion" about the U.S. military engagement there.

"Some Americans want us to withdraw our troops so that we can escape the violence," he said. "I recognize their good intentions, but their position is wrong."

Just as, in Bush's view, global terrorists interpreted the decisions of his predecessors as a signal of American ambivalence, they would view an immediate pullout from Iraq as a sign of weakness, he said.

"The terrorists are testing our will and resolve in Iraq," he said. "If we fail that test, the consequences for the safety and security of the American people would be enormous. Our withdrawal from Iraq would allow the terrorists to claim a historic victory over the Untied States.

"That's not going to happen on my watch," Bush said.

[whottt]

Bush did not mention any events during the first Bush administration, such as his father's decision to end the first Gulf War without sending coalition troops on to Baghdad to topple Saddam Hussein's regime.

I think Bush ed up by not calling out his Dad as well...if you are going to call out ex Prez' Clinton and Reagan the two best..you need to call out both of the 2 worst...so that means Daddy Bush as well as Carter.

To be fair...for the 1 billionth time...there was no UN mandate to go into Iraq in the Persian Gulf War...and the the mutual agreement of the coalition would not allow for it...But Daddy Bush did play a role in the rise of Al-Qaeda as well...he didn't do to fight terrorism.

[whottt]

"The terrorists are testing our will and resolve in Iraq," he said. "If we fail that test, the consequences for the safety and security of the American people would be enormous. Our withdrawal from Iraq would allow the terrorists to claim a historic victory over the Untied States.

"That's not going to happen on my watch," Bush said.

That is the reason I voted for W. I don't think he's the smartest Pres ever. I don't think he's the best Pres ever...but I do think he is the most hardheaded and determined to stick to his guns, possibly ever. And IMO that is exactly what we need right now. I fully expect him to back that comment up...In supporting him I am supporting a lot of things I don't agree with in regards to domestic policy....but he better keep that promise.

[Duff McCartney]

In supporting him I am supporting a lot of things I don't agree with in regards to domestic policy....but he better keep that promise.

So you're basically saying you don't give a crap if he s up this country, just every other country.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

I think Bush ed up by not calling out his Dad as well...if you are going to call out ex Prez' Clinton and Reagan the two best..you need to call out both of the 2 worst...so that means Daddy Bush as well as Carter.

To be fair...for the 1 billionth time...there was no UN mandate to go into Iraq in the Persian Gulf War...and the the mutual agreement of the coalition would not allow for it...But Daddy Bush did play a role in the rise of Al-Qaeda as well...he didn't do to fight terrorism.

I'm super impressed that you said that whottt, and totally agree.

[whottt]

So you're basically saying you don't give a crap if he s up this country, just every other country.

You! Are Stuck On Stupid!

[boutons]

"THERE HE GOES AGAIN!"

dubya and his presidency are drowning in unpopularity, so now the Macho Man, FlyBoy, War President, and VIET NAM WAR EVADER who is ing up his responsibility as US president, is now blaming his ed up presidency and extreme unpopularity on the former presidents. GMAFB

dubya never saw a ing passing buck that he'd stop. All the bucks stop elsewhere.

[Duff McCartney]

I mean am I not right whottt? By you saying you don't agree with his domestic policy, yet still support him for his foreign policy is basically saying you don't care what he does with this country, but just what he does against other countries.

[Spurminator]

He's basically repeating the argument made by a good chunk of the antiwar crowd that we created a lot of our own problems in the Middle East, is he not?

[Vashner]

Nuke em till they glow

[whottt]

I mean am I not right whottt? By you saying you don't agree with his domestic policy,

I didn't say I totally disagree with his domestic policy...

yet still support him for his foreign policy is basically saying you don't care what he does with this country, but just what he does against other countries.

In this world climate..that part is accurate..but that's not what you said the first time,...I for one think Afghanistan is less " ed" up than it used to be...and I think the Afghanis feel that way too. And over 60% of the Iraqis say the war was worth it to get rid of Saddam.

[whottt]

I'm super impressed that you said that whottt, and totally agree.

Hey, in my voting life I voted for Regan once, Bush Sr once, Clinton twice, Gore once, and W once...I've always said I am a moderate.

I just have a vastly different view on what created the problems in the Middle East, what causes terrorism, and how to fix it, than most moderates eveidentally...Perhaps that is because I have spent most of my adult life studying those things, what causes the rise of fanatism, corruption, and what cures them as well, and what leads to the demise of great nations. Indifference is not the cure...that's what the West has been doing there for 100 years.

And it's true Poppa Bush did aid what became known as Al-Qaeda against the Soviets in Afghanistan...

While that usually leads to a flat political condemnation...the intent was to keep the Afghans from getting rolled by the Soviets... they only rolled over about 150 countries after they became communist.

What I can't figure out though is why aiding them in their quest for freedom earned us their emnity.....well part of the reason is that before we financed the Jihadists the Soviet Union got the ball rolling with the PLO and in Iran...

But I have no delusions about the justification of the Cold War and the nobility of our actions in that era...

I mean...take a look sometime...the countries where America is the most popular are the ones that were actually communist countries and some that still are...including Vietnam.

While the ones where are the most hated...are the ones we protected from the Soviet Union, that became very wealthy and have among the highest standard of living in the world...this means Western Europe. And the Middle East...where incompetent despots have been masters of turning anger over poverty, human rights violations, and unemployment...at America...they even call us colonialists which instantly brings up the memories of Europeans colonial attempts to the long memory of the Mid-Easterners...even though we are not guilty of anything of the sort.

Well the Soviet Union has admitted that there strategy in the Vietnam was was to fun anti-war groups here in the US...

Then take a look at who the most rapid anti-Americans are...Rich Hollywood liberals and European Aristocrats...

It's amazing how the filthy rich always want to be socialist with everyone elses money...I call it a guilt complex.

[Allan Rowe vs Wade]

The thing about Bush Jr. is that he's presenting himself as a platinum rock, when in fact he's a silvery chain.

[Marcus Bryant]

He's basically repeating the argument made by a good chunk of the antiwar crowd that we created a lot of our own problems in the Middle East, is he not?

'cept that position would be that the US should have done nothing while the Bush position would be that the US should have been more aggressive in its response back then.

It is interesting that Bush is calling out The Gipper.

[whottt]

It is interesting that Bush is calling out The Gipper.

Not really...Daddy Bush and Reagan didn't get along that well.

But I am kind of surprised that he didn't make a comment on his Dad...for two reasons...

#1. It comes off as a very transparent and biased critique without his Dad being included...it's more of a personal attack without the Dad lumped in there with them...and I expect the media to shred his ass for that very reason.

#2. All the gossip type stuff I have read says that Bush and his Dad had a falling out after 9/11...Reason being is that Bush 1 is incredibly Pro-Saudi and didn't want them offended, while W wanted to nuke the Saudis off the planet...W's connections to Big Oil are vastly over-stated...he's a failed Oil man and was long before he ran for President. But maybe it just gossip...but I have heard about that rift between them over the Saudis on more than one occassion. And there is some evidence to support that...We damn sure aren't on very good terms with the Saudis under W's administration...way worse relations than under Clinton in fact.

[Marcus Bryant]

Well, it's interesting in relation to the subject of the other thread I started. Bush apparently has reached the point where he can be critical of the patron saint of the modern GOP.

[whottt]

I don't see it...I see W getting ripped by his own party over the huge amounts of Aid we are going to pour into the Gulf coast. I think even Hannity and Limbaugh have been ripping him over it. All of them are ripping him over his border stance.

[Marcus Bryant]

Those are minor issues. When you look at the big picture issues (ie Cold War, War on Islamofascist Terrorism) then you have people who will walk barefoot through broken glass and take a bullet for the man.

[Money316]

Nuke em till they glow

Yeah and then shoot at the bright spots!

[boutons]

"you have people .... take a bullet for the man"

Why aren't all/most/some of these people down at the empty military recruiting offices signing up to go fight in Iraq?

[Marcus Bryant]

Perhaps some have.

You wouldn't take a bullet for your country?

[RandomGuy]

Notice the decided lack of criticism for his father, who didn't do anything different...

[Yonivore]

I believe he was criticizing the lack of response by the administrations during which specific events occurred.

You may recall, his dad responded to aggression -- remember the first Gulf War?

[Dos]

wasn't there was some out cry from some neolibs about 41 not finishing the job in the first gulf war. Yet most understand whatever coalition we had in the first gulf war would have fallen apart if he had. 41 did the job of getting saddam out of kuwait... wasn't that what the first gulf war was about.. Mission Acomplished..

[xrayzebra]

Perhaps some have.

You wouldn't take a bullet for your country?

No they wouldn't. They want our country to lose. Because they are losers themselves. They are like the rest of the anti-american war people. They support the homicide bombers and their leaders.