Kerry: Bush Actually Did What He Falsely Accuses Kerry of Doing

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Kerry-Edwards Campaign: Bush Actually Did What He Falsely Accuses Kerry of Doing

8/11/2004 6:26:00 PM

To: National Desk and Political Reporter

Contact: Chad Clanton or Phil Singer, 202-464-2800, both of Kerry-Edwards 2004, Web: http://www.johnkerry.com

WASHINGTON, Aug. 11 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The following was released today by the Kerry-Edwards Campaign:

Today George Bush continued to distort John Kerry's words and mischaracterized remarks Kerry made about what needs to be done to fix Bush's failed policies.

Kerry spokesman Phil Singer said: "George Bush will say or do anything to avoid a discussion about his failed policy in Iraq. One thing we know for sure is that the troops are going to be in Iraq for a lot longer under George Bush than they will be with John Kerry as President. Eighteen months into this war, George Bush has yet to produce a plan to win the peace, the military is overextended, and America is less respected in the world. It will take a commander-in-chief whose name is John Kerry to restore the leadership and responsibility in Iraq that is needed to bring US troops home.

ONCE AGAIN, GEORGE W. BUSH TWISTS AND DISTORTS JOHN KERRY'S WORDS: "The Democratic presidential nominee said he hoped to begin reducing the number of U.S. forces in Iraq within six months of taking office if he is elected. 'It is an appropriate goal to have,' he said, but added that achieving it would depend on broader international assistance, better stability within Iraq and other related factors." (AP, 8/9/04)

BUSH ANNOUNCED PLANS TO REDUCE TROOP LEVELS IN IRAQ: "Their emobilisation looked increasingly distant yesterday, as did the prospect for President George Bush's plans to scale down the number of US forces in Iraq by 25,000 before November's US presidential election. It also represents a u-turn for Donald Rumsfeld, the defense secretary who clashed last year with the former army chief, Eric Shinseki, over the planning for the invasion. Gen Shinseki had angered Mr Rumsfeld by predicting that the Pentagon would need a force of 150,000 over several years in Iraq. Mr Rumsfeld's civilian aides insisted that the US would be able to reduce its forces to 30,000 within a few months of the war.". (The Guardian (London) 4/10/04)

BUSH CLAIMS TO LISTEN TO GENERALS IN THE FIELD BUT DOESN'T: 1) Zinni Blasts Rumsfeld's Decisions on Iraq War. Retired Marine General Anthony Zinni, who directed rescue operations in Somalia and directed strikes against Iraq and al Qaeda, wondered how Rumsfeld could be caught off guard by the violence in Iraq. "I'm surprised that he is surprised because there was a lot of us who were telling him that it was going to be thus," said Zinni, a Marine for 39 years and the former commander of the U.S. Central Command. "Anyone could know the problems they were going to see. How could they not? I think that some heads should roll over Iraq," Zinni said. "I think the president got some bad advice." (San Diego Union-Tribune, 4/16/04)

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=147-08112004