BUSH TURNS UP CAMPAIGN RHETORIC

By RICHARD W. STEVENSON
and DAVID E. SANGER

Published: October 7, 2004

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich., Oct. 6 - President Bush delivered a scathing, point-by-point critique on Wednesday of Senator John Kerry's stands on national security and the economy, giving no ground on either his decision to go to war or growing questions about mistakes in the occupation of Iraq.

In a retooled and highly combative stump speech delivered on the day when a new report raised questions about his rationale for going to war, Mr. Bush seemed to be trying to make up ground that polls show he lost during last week's debate. He accused Mr. Kerry of "proposing policies and doctrines that would weaken America and make the world more dangerous" and of pursuing a "strategy of retreat" in Iraq.

"Last week in our debate, he once again came down firmly on every side of the Iraq war," Mr. Bush said of Mr. Kerry, to ripples of laughter from a partisan audience in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. "He stated that Saddam Hussein was a threat and that America had no business removing that threat. Senator Kerry said our soldiers and marines are not fighting for a mistake - but also called the liberation of Iraq a 'colossal error.' He said we need to do more to train Iraqis, but he also said we shouldn't be spending so much money over there. He said he wants to hold a summit meeting, so he can invite other countries to join what he calls 'the wrong war in the wrong place at the wrong time.' ''

More at: http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/07/politics/campaign/07bush.html?oref=login&th