Bush's incompetence has made the world a far more dangerous place...

[kentuck]

and has increased the threat of terrorism against the US. Do you agree with that statement? Then you agree with Al Gore... And what can John Kerry do to get his message across? (Alterman mentions the meeting that he and Will Pitt and other reporters were at with John Kerry several months ago)

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http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml?i=20040621&s=alterman

<snip>
...As Al Gore told an audience at NYU recently, "The unpleasant truth is that President Bush's utter incompetence has made the world a far more dangerous place and dramatically increased the threat of terrorism against the United States." The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), Gore noted, has reported that the Iraq conflict "has arguably focused the energies and resources of Al Qaeda and its followers while diluting those of the global counterterrorism coalition." Al Qaeda now boasts an army of more than 18,000 potential terrorists, with the Iraqi war "swelling its ranks."

The horror is slowly dawning on everyday Americans. In a recent ABC News/Washington Post poll, almost three-fifths of the people questioned disapproved of Bush's handling of the war--the highest level the survey has ever recorded. Meanwhile, a CBS survey revealed that just about two-thirds of those asked responded that the country was on "the wrong track," also the top level CBS has ever reached in the twenty years its pollsters have been asking the question.

<snip>
How can this be avoided? Quite easily, if Kerry could only admit to the entire country what he told me and a bunch of other reporters back in December in Al Franken's living room: Like so much of the country--and its elite media--he made a terrible mistake in trusting George W. Bush. He underestimated both the fanaticism and incompetence of the President and his advisers and their willingness to mislead the country into war. He thought George Tenet's CIA reports were on the level. He imagined Colin Powell was more than just window-dressing.

Today Kerry can stake his claim--together with considerable political cover--alongside the truth-tellers of the Bush era: people like John DiIulio, Paul O'Neill, Richard Clarke, Joseph Wilson and generals Anthony Zinni and Eric Shinseki, who have seen their characters and reputations attacked for the sin of patriotism and professional responsibility. Without delving into too much hand-tying detail, he could promise America to extricate the nation from its hubristic Mesopotamian misadventure at the earliest possible moment. He could assure Americans that he will reunite our allies and the world community in an intelligent fight against Islamic terrorists whose enemy is civilization everywhere. He could reassure the nation that he will get America "back on track."

[Don_G]

1. I Agree

I wonder how much of that $43 Million Dimbo gave the Taliban found their way back to the US in RPG's?

[cliss]

2. Agreed, kentuck.

Thanks for your article in the lobby, by the way. Yes, I agree that Americans are waking up to the horrible realization that the people at the steering wheel are absolutely out of their minds.

I remember before the march to war; it hit me that something was dreadfully wrong with how everything was progressing (weapons inspectors, worldwide demonstrations etc). My eyes saw a passionate, irate Bush night after night, waving his fist in the air to convince America that this was the right course of action. My brain was registering something completely different; "red alert".

Of course, now that the facts have surfaced, we have a clearer understanding about 9/11, the buildup to war, and the mismanagement of post-war Iraq, Abu Ghraib prison and so on. The facts have also come out about the looting of the treasury, and many other bad, ill-conceived decisions by the people in charge.

I have no doubt we will get more "presents" as time goes on. I believe it said in the bible; "by his actions you will know him".

If we are to know a person by their actions, then we are in big trouble indeed.

This country's survival depends on us ousting these people who would sink this country in a heartbeat. They are so short-sighted and mercenary that they would drain every last dollar from our treasury to give to their friends, even though we would not survive it.

They mistakenly believe they can walk away with their billion-dollar profits and maybe relocate to South America or Madagascar, and leave this country a smoking hole.

They'd do it. You know they would.

[kentuck]

3. Deception....

They are like PT Barnum...Step right up folks ! See the WMDs in the unexploded shell!

[HEyHEY]

4. Oh I totally agree

I don't understand what Bush neo-cons are thinking, "We'll stop terrorism by pissing off the people of the Middle East even more by invading them."

Yeah, that'll put a stop to it.

I tried that with a bee's nest once. They were really pissed because I threw a rock at the nest. So to calm them down I sprayed it with the hose.