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Sun 23 May, 2004 10:56 am
GOP Senator Rips Bush on Iraq, Terrorism
Sun May 23, 2004
By MARK PRATT, Associated Press Writer
MEDFORD, Mass. - Republican Sen. Richard G. Lugar on Saturday said the United States isn't doing enough to stave off terrorism and criticized President Bush for failing to offer solid plans for Iraq's future.
Lugar, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the nation must prevent terrorism from taking root around the world by "repairing and building alliances," increasing trade, supporting democracy, addressing regional conflicts and controlling weapons of mass destruction.
Unless the country commits itself to such measures, "we are likely to experience acts of catastrophic terrorism that would undermine our economy, damage our society and kill hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people," the Indiana senator said during an appearance at the Fletcher School at Tufts University.
Lugar said military might alone isn't enough to eradicate terrorism.
"To win the war against terrorism, the United States must assign U.S. economic and diplomatic capabilities the same strategic priority that we assign to military capabilities," he said.
He later added, "Military action is necessary to defeat serious and immediate threats to our national security. But the war on terrorism will not be won through attrition ?- particularly since military action will often breed more terrorists and more resentment of the United States."
Lugar, who was awarded the Dean's Medal for distinguished service in international affairs, said it's still unclear how much control the Iraqi people will have over their nation's security when power is transferred to them June 30.
"I am very hopeful that the president and his administration will articulate precisely what is going to happen as much as they can, day by day, as opposed to a generalization," he said.
It's not the first time that Lugar has criticized Bush, a fellow Republican. In 2003, Lugar and Sen. Joseph Biden, the committee's top Democrat, warned that the Bush administration had not given enough consideration to what would happen in Iraq after the fighting ended.
Also Saturday, Lugar blamed the Bush and Clinton administrations for not adequately funding the foreign affairs budget, noting that the military's budget is more than 13 times what the nation spends for diplomacy.
Hmmm...butter not guns.Suprised Lugar broke ranks so forcefully.
It is about time a member of congress chose the nations welfare over partisan politics.
It was hardly a rip. Its how a decent elected official shows differences with a sitting President.
I wonder how the Bushies will take it. They are not known to taking kindly to criticism. Remember they do not make mistakes
or at least admit to them.
I don't know, but the title is obvious evidence of a leftie journalist bias. That was no rip.
I'm surprised they didn'tput a bunch of exclamation points behind all Lugar's sentences...
<eye rolling>
One thing the histories of Bush currently (and yet to be) written have agreed on: Bush is not a leader who surrounds himself with 'yes men'. His administration is open and encourages people to speak their minds and he collects many different points of view before making critical decisions. The liberal press sees it as indictment that people disagree with him. Conservatives see it as strength. (IMO)
Foxfyre
You are correct Bush is not as leader.
according to Paul O'Neil the reason that bush had a few known people that are not strictly GOP was just for cover.
Revel, it's the GOP people who disagree with him. And from what I've been able to glean from insiders who write about it, he listens, compares everybody's viewpoints, and then comes to his decision. I would trust somebody much further knowing people can disagree with him without unpleasant consequences. According to what insiders have written of the previous administration, that wasn't the case.
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