Kerry Outlines Anti-Terrorism Plan
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By NEDRA PICKLER, Associated Press Writer
LOS ANGELES - Democrat John Kerry (news - web sites) outlined his plan to combat terrorism Friday that relies on stronger intelligence-gathering, law enforcement and international alliances, rebutting increasing criticism of his national security credentials from President Bush (
"I am convinced that we can prove to the American people that we know how to make them safer and more secure with a stronger, more comprehensive and more effective strategy for winning the war on terror than the Bush administration has ever envisioned," Kerry said in remarks prepared for delivery at the University of California at Los Angeles.
Kerry said Bush has "no comprehensive strategy for victory in the war on terror." "We cannot win the war on terror through military power alone," said the four-term Massachusetts lawmaker, a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Kerry also accused the president and "his armchair hawks" of weakening the U.S. military by failing to provide proper equipment. He lambasted Bush for "stonewalling" the commission investigating the Sept. 11 attacks.
The Bush campaign has criticized Kerry in recent days for voting against some increases in defense spending and military weapons programs during his 19-year congressional career. Bush campaign chairman Marc Racicot said Kerry's policies would weaken the country's ability to win the war on terror. (* Kerry was 100% right about Iraq and 9-11 though, wasn't he Racicot?)
Kerry said he would protect chemical and nuclear facilities, increase security at ports and airports, restore federal funding for 100,000 police officers and add 100,000 firefighters across the country
Kerry referred to reports that Pakistani forces may be moving in to capture al-Qaida leaders, including Osama bin Laden (news - web sites), in remote areas along the Afghanistan (news - web sites) border, but criticized Bush for failing to capture him earlier.
"We've heard this news before," Kerry said. "We had him in our grasp more than two years ago at Tora Bora, but George Bush held U.S. forces back and instead called on Afghan warlords with no loyalty to our cause to finish the job. We all hope the outcome will be different this time." |
