A man with nothing to lose...
Under fire from Republicans on Friday, Sen. Edward Kennedy defended his harsh criticism of President Bush's policy on Iraq, in which he charged that the threat from Saddam Hussein was exaggerated by the administration for political purposes. "This is a failed, flawed, bankrupt policy," the Massachusetts Democrat said on CNN's "Judy Woodruff's Inside Politics." "The American people want answers."
http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/09/19/kennedy.iraq/
Kennedy stands by criticism of Bush on Iraq
DeLay says Democratic senator 'went too far'
By Sean Loughlin
CNN Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON (CNN) --Under fire from Republicans on
Friday, Sen. Edward Kennedy defended his harsh
criticism of President Bush's policy on Iraq, in which
he charged that the threat from Saddam Hussein was
exaggerated by the administration for political
purposes. "This is a failed, flawed, bankrupt policy,"
the Massachusetts Democrat said on CNN's "Judy
Woodruff's Inside Politics." "The American people want
answers."
Kennedy spoke in the wake of an interview with The
Associated Press in which he said the threat from Iraq
was concocted to suit the administration's political
agenda.
"There was no imminent threat," Kennedy told the AP.
"This was made up in Texas, announced in January to
the Republican leadership that war was going to take
place and was going to be good politically. This whole
thing was a fraud."
Kennedy also said Bush is "bribing" world leaders to
send troops to Iraq. Republicans have challenged the
lawmaker to offer proof of that charge.
Kennedy's comments were denounced by leading
congressional Republicans, including House Majority
Leader Tom DeLay of Texas.
DeLay said Kennedy "went too far" and he called on
Democrats to repudiate Kennedy's comments.
"It's disturbing that Democrats have spewed more
hateful rhetoric at President Bush than they ever did
at Saddam Hussein," DeLay said in a written statement.
But Kennedy would not back down and said Republicans
attack the patriotism of those who question White
House policies.
"The fact is the American people are asking the
questions," Kennedy told CNN.
The Senate's leading liberal said the administration
needs to better explain how it aims to restore the
peace in Iraq and how much the reconstruction effort
will cost.
Kennedy has been a consistent and persistent critic of
the administration's policy toward Iraq. He repeatedly
raised questions about the need to go to war before
the U.S.-led invasion of that country in March, and he
was one of 23 senators who opposed the resolution last
year that authorized Bush to go to war. He has since
called on Bush to work more closely with other nations
in reconstructing Iraq.
On Monday, the White House sent Congress its $87
billion budget request for military operations and
reconstruction in Iraq and Afghanistan next year.
At the State Department, a senior official took issue
with Kennedy's comments.
"To say they were acting in bad faith is quite a
serious charge," the official said. "You can take
issue with the policy, but to attack character and
integrity is serious and uncalled for."
CNN White House correspondent Dana Bash and State
Department producer Elise Labott contributed to this
report.
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