Kerry was right - Part So-Many-That-I've-Lost-Track

Thank goodness for 'intelligence-gathering and law enforcement operations'
Posted 11:09 am | Printer Friendly

I had hoped to avoid discussing today's announcement about the thwarted terrorist plot in any kind of political context, but after seeing one too many far-right voices connect the plot with Ned Lamont's campaign, I'm afraid I can't help myself.

Will Bunch had the exact same reaction I did in response to today's news.

Makes you wonder, doesn't it? Most of the big victories in "the war on terror" have been racked up by cops, not by soldiers. Why, it's almost as if terrorism is a law-enforcement problem — and less of a threat when it's handled well in that fashion.

Bingo. After reading more this morning about how British officials used an effective, "months-long investigation" that relied on meticulous intelligence-gathering and an efficient law enforcement operation, I kept thinking back to the 2004 presidential campaign and one of the president's favorite stump-speech moments.

To be sure, Bush bashed John Kerry relentlessly in his standard speech, but the president had an inordinate fondness for the derisive use of the phrase "law enforcement operation." Bush, for example, told a Florida audience on March 20:

"Kerry said, and I quote, 'The war on terror is far less of a military operation and far more of an intelligence-gathering law enforcement operation.' (Audience boos.) I disagree. I disagree….. After the chaos and carnage of September the 11th, it is not enough to serve our enemies with legal papers. With those attacks, the terrorists and supporters declared war on the United States of America — and war is what they got. (Audience applauds.)

Bush, pleased with himself and the reaction, used almost the identical words again and again and again. Cheney used it a few times himself.

It was pretty easy to see the image Bush wanted the public to imagine. Bush believes in sending the most powerful military in the world to battle terrorists, Kerry was satisfied fighting al Queda with cops and lawyers.

Today, however, helps highlight exactly what Kerry was talking about, and what Bush derided as nonsense to considerable Republican applause.