Clinton Urges Support for Bush
By RON FOURNIER, AP White House Correspondent
WASHINGTON (AP) - Former President Clinton (news - web sites), who led the nation through the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, urged Americans to rally behind President Bush (news - web sites) in the aftermath of Tuesday's terrorist attacks.
``We should not be second-guessing. We should be supporting him,'' Clinton said in a telephone interview while traveling in Australia.
Clinton, who left office in January after serving two terms, said he was stunned and angered by the attacks in New York and Washington.
``The most important thing is, we all have to be strong, calm good Americans now and rally behind the president and support the actions he will doubtlessly take ... in the days ahead - in both rescue and reconstruction of the area and especially in investigating and taking whatever action is necessary'' against those responsible, Clinton said.
``The main thing is, we must send a clear and unambiguous message to the world that the people of America are completely 100 percent united and we're going to follow our leaders and support whatever action (Bush) takes,'' he said.
Clinton was president in April 1995 when the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building was bombed, killing 168 people. Timothy McVeigh (news - web sites) was executed this year for the crime and conspirator Terry Nichols faces the death penalty.
On Bush and his team, the former president said: ``We're going to have to give them some time. They're going to have to work on this. During my time, (authorities) forwarded any number of these potential attacks. I know they're going to work overtime. I know they're going to do a good job.''
Clinton praised Bush for taking the advice of the Secret Service and flying from Florida to military bases in Louisiana and Nebraska since the tragedy.
``He needs to take every conceivable precaution in the event there are more attacks planned,'' Clinton said. ``I'm sure he wants to return to Washington as soon as possible. He is doing what makes sense from a security point of view based on what he has been advised. I'm almost positive of that.''
``Nobody should be questioning any decisions he makes,'' Clinton said. ``We ought to be hanging in there, giving his national security team the time it takes.''
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