Kerry, Kennedy & Reid Statements on Bush Speech

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct 6, 2005

Kerry on Bush Speech, President’s Attacks on Critics

Below is a statement by Senator John Kerry on President Bush’s Speech today:

"Today, the White House promised a "major address" and "unprecedented detail" on Iraq. Yet once again President Bush chose old truisms over the new answers that are needed. Every American agrees we must win the war on terror, but after today's speech every American is still waiting to hear the President offer any specifics about how we will win or how he will clean up a terrorist mess in Iraq that didn't exist before the invasion.

Tragically, in all of President Bush's references to Osama Bin Laden, he gave absolutely no indication that we were any closer to destroying this mass murderer than we were on September 12, 2001.

Instead, the President continues to invent a false link between the war in Iraq and the tragedy of September 11th. While this fiction may be effective politics, it's no substitute for a real strategy for success in Iraq. Americans want a strategy for success that will bring our troops home, not rhetoric to distract us from the reality on the ground.

The President today accused Americans who ask tough questions about his Iraq policy of a 'self defeating pessimism'. He's wrong. There's nothing pessimistic about demanding that our government do better by our troops, and there's nothing more pessimistic than an Administration refusing to provide candor and leadership equal to our troops' sacrifice."

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 6, 2005

Washington, DC – Democratic Leader Harry Reid released the following statement today on Bush’s continued failure to talk straight to the American people about the war in Iraq:

“Once again the president had an opportunity to lay out for the American people the facts on the ground in Iraq and his strategy to achieve the military, political and economic success needed in order to bring our troops home. Once again, he failed to do so. Instead, the president continued to falsely assert there is a link between the war in Iraq and the tragedy of September 11th, a link that did not and does not exist.

“The truth is the Administration’s mishandling of the war in Iraq has made us less safe and Iraq risks becoming what it was not before the war: a training ground for terrorists.

“It is clear our window of opportunity is closing in Iraq and the president continues to fail to provide a strategy for success in order to prevent this outcome. My Democratic colleagues and I submitted four specific questions to the president about his strategy for Iraq that the American people demand be answered. Instead of answering those questions, the president offered the same failed approach, stay the course. We cannot continue to stay the course, we must change the course. The American people and our brave men and women in Iraq deserve better.”

THE AMERICAN PEOPLE’S KEY QUESTIONS ON IRAQ

How many capable Iraqi forces do we need before we can bring our troops home?

What is the administration doing to forge a political consensus?

What is the administration doing to make Iraq’s neighbors a part of our strategy?

What progress is being made on the reconstruction in Iraq and how do we know taxpayers dollars are being spent wisely?

KENNEDY STATEMENT ON BUSH IRAQ SPEECH

The President seems to be saying "full speed ahead" for our current failed policy in Iraq, when it is abundantly clear that staying the course is the wrong course for America. It's time for the President to admit mistakes, talk with candor and honesty, and outline a winning strategy for Iraq.

The Administration's policy has made Iraq a breeding ground for terrorism, which it was not before the war and the American people know it. His policy has isolated America in the world, created more recruits for Al Qaeda, and made it harder -- not easier -- to win the war on terror.

It also seems foolish for the president to brag openly about disrupting Al Qaeda plots to attack us. His "bring it on" attitude hasn't worked, and such statements can only goad Al Qaeda into trying harder.
http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/?view=plink&id=1403

Each senator has his style and I am partial to my two senators, but all three are very good.