Facts about the debate

[Ranger12 46]

The Facts for Debate 1

Thursday, September 30th, 2004

Question One: Safety & Security

Kerry's Claim: The Bush Administration Has Shown Disdain For Allies, Treaties And International Organizations.

The Facts:

Kerry Dismissed Coalition Partners As "Window Dressing" And Claimed They're Not Sharing Burden Of War And Reconstruction. (CNN's "American Morning," 3/2/04)

Kerry Mocked Coalition As "Coerced" And "Bribed." (Herbert A. Sample, "Kerry Blasts Bush On Iraq Effort," Sacramento Bee, 3/14/03)

A Multinational Force Of Some 30 Nations Continues To Help Secure A Free Iraq. PRESIDENT BUSH: "The multinational force of some 30 nations continues to help secure a free Iraq, and we are grateful for the service and sacrifice of all." (President's Radio Address, 9/25/04)

In Addition to the United States, Other Coalition Members Are Providing Approximately 25,000 Troops To Assist Our Efforts In Iraq. (Robert Burns, "U.S. Offensive Hinges on Iraq Elections," The Associated Press, 9/29/04)

37 Nations Are Contributing Troops To The NATO-Led Force In Afghanistan. (NATO in Afghanistan Factsheet, NATO, http://www.nato.int/issues/afghanistan/040628-factsheet.htm)

NATO Is Training Iraqi Security Forces And The United Nations Is Helping Iraq Prepare For Elections. (President's Radio Address, 9/25/04)

Kerry's Claim: The President Is Fueling Anger At America.

The Facts:

In First Dem Debate, Kerry Strongly Supported President's Action In Iraq. SEN. JOHN KERRY: "I said at the time I would have preferred if we had given diplomacy a greater opportunity, but I think it was the right decision to disarm Saddam Hussein, and when the President made the decision, I supported him, and I support the fact that we did disarm him." (ABC News, Democrat Presidential Candidate Debate, Columbia, SC, 5/3/03)

British Prime Minister Tony Blair Called The War On Terror An "Effective Multilateral Action Against WMD." "Britain, America and our partners are determined to stop the threat of weapons of mass destruction. We have played a leading role in the International Atomic Energy Agency, with our closest allies, on the issue of Iran and nuclear weapons. We strongly support the six party talks on North Korea. We have enforced Security Council resolutions relating to Iraq. We have played a leading role in the Proliferation Security Initiative designed to interdict the passage of cargoes which could be used in WMD programs. These actions show that we are serious about effective multilateral action against WMD." ("Text Of Blair's Address Concerning Libya," The Associated Press, 12/19/03)

The 9/11 Commission Judged That International Cooperation In The War On Terror Is Now "On A Vastly Enlarged Scale." (9/11 Commission Report, p. 365)

Kerry's Claim: Too Few Iraqi Security Personnel Have Been Trained.

The Facts:

The U.S. Army General In Charge Of Training Effort In Iraq Says There Are "164,000 Iraqi Police And Soldiers (Of Which About 100,000 Are Trained And Equipped) And An Additional 74,000 Facility Protection Forces." "Today approximately 164,000 Iraqi police and soldiers (of which about 100,000 are trained and equipped) and an additional 74,000 facility protection forces are performing a wide variety of security missions. Equipment is being delivered. Training is on track and increasing in capacity. Infrastructure is being repaired. Command and control structures and institutions are being reestablished." (Lt. Gen. David H. Petraeus, US Army, "Battling for Iraq," Washington Post, 9/26/04)

The 5,000 Number Kerry Cites Is Just The Number Of The Iraqi Army That Have Been Trained And Excludes, The Iraqi National Guard, Intervention Force, Special Ops, Air Force And Coastal Defense Forces.

The State Department's Iraq Weekly Status Report That Kerry Was Relying On Clearly States That Nearly 42,000 Members Of The Iraqi Armed Forces Have Been Trained. More than 14,000 Iraqi armed forces members are currently in training. Kerry's math also doesn't account for the fact that more than 56,000 members of the Iraqi military are already "on hand" or "n duty." (http://www.defendamerica.gov/downloads/Iraq-WeeklyUpdate-20040915.pdf)

That Report Also Showed That Over 100,000 Iraqi Police Forces On Duty, Over 50,000 In The Process Of Being Trained, And Another 50,000 That Have Completed Their Training. Again, Kerry hand-picked a single cell of a larger chart to play into his message of pessimism and defeat.

Kerry Advisor Richard Holbrooke Says French Troop Contribution in Iraq is "Not Realistic." HOLBROOKE: "Well, I don't think that anyone expects Chirac to call up the White House next January and say, 'How many divisions in Iraq?' That's not realistic, and John Kerry knows it." (Fox News', "Fox News Sunday," 9/12/04)

Question Two: Safety & Security

Kerry's Claim: Instead Of Using U.S. Forces To Capture Osama Bin Laden, The President Outsourced The Job To Afghan Warlords, Who Let Bin Laden Slip Away.

The Facts:

Former Centcom Commander General Tommy Franks, US Army (Ret.), Said There Was No Hesitation At Tora Bora. QUESTION: "This is second-guessing Afghanistan: Do you believe Osama bin Laden may have been killed or captured had we not hesitated in Tora Bora?" GEN. FRANKS: "t's difficult for me to look back and talk about any, sort of, hesitation. I guess I would say that those people who were on the ground and involved in that operation didn't themselves sense any hesitation and neither did I." (Remarks by General Tommy R. Franks, West Palm Beach, FL, 11/12/02)

Tommy Franks Says It's "Absolutely Incorrect" That Resources Were Diverted From Afghanistan. GEN. FRANKS: "I caught just a part of a news conference that [Kerry] gave wherein he talked about how bad it was that the Commander-in-Chief had taken troops away from me and put those out of Afghanistan and put those troops to work in Iraq. Sean, that's absolutely incorrect. You know, hey, my name's Tommy Franks, and I don't lie. Reading my book the way you have, I would refer you to page 386 of my book where we go ahead and we talk about the fact that the President used to stress to me every day his concern that we should not distract from Afghanistan and the fight there while we were conducting Iraq. We entered Iraq with 9,500 troopers in Afghanistan. And by the time we finished major combat in Afghanistan-or in Iraq-we had 10,000 troops in Afghanistan." (ABC Radio's "The Sean Hannity Show," 9/21/04)

Question Three: Safety & Security

Kerry's Claim: The Iraq War Lacked The Sanction Of The United Nations.

The Facts:

The UN Security Council Unanimously Passed Resolution 1441, Which Mandated "Serious Consequences" Against Saddam Hussein's Regime. DR. RICE: "Remember the clear logic of Resolution 1441 -- which passed unanimously. 1441 posed a test -- a final test -- of Saddam Hussein's willingness to disarm and comply with his obligations. Saddam Hussein refused to meet that test. 1441 mandated serious consequences if Iraq refused to comply. A coalition of nations ensured that these would not be empty words." (Remarks by Dr. Condoleezza Rice, 10/8/03)

"Iraq…Violated More Than Seventeen United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs)" Was In "Material Breach Of Disarmament Obligations." ("Saddam Hussein's Defiance Of UNSCRs," U.S. Department Of State, http://www.state.gov/p/io/rls/fs/2003/18850.htm, 3/20/03)

A Multinational Force Of Some 30 Nations Continues To Help Secure A Free Iraq. PRESIDENT BUSH: "The multinational force of some 30 nations continues to help secure a free Iraq, and we are grateful for the service and sacrifice of all." (President's Radio Address, 9/25/04)

In Addition to the United States, Other Coalition Members Are Providing Approximately 25,000 Troops To Assist Our Efforts In Iraq. (Robert Burns, "U.S. Offensive Hinges on Iraq Elections," The Associated Press, 9/29/04)

Kerry Opposes Pre-Emptive Doctrine, Which Is Vital For National Security. SEN. JOHN KERRY: "[A]s long as this administration leaves a preemptive doctrine on the table, as long as our administration is proceeding down the road to develop nuclear bunker-busting weapons, and as long as we remain a country that will conduct a preemptive war, we're inviting people to do the very thing that we don't want them to do." (Sen. John Kerry, CNN's Democrat Candidate Debate, 10/9/03)

Kerry Would Leave U.S. Foreign Policy In Hands Of United Nations. "[Kerry] said that if the administration cannot gain sufficient votes within the Security Council for a second resolution authorizing military action, it should 'take the time, for a period of time, to continue to build [support] at this particular moment.' He said war should be a last resort, arrived at only after taking the time to build legitimacy and consent within the country and around the world." (Glen Johnson, "Facing Antiwar Push In Calif., Kerry Is Sparing In Remarks In Key Electorate," The Boston Globe, 3/16/03)

And Kerry Would Give French And Russians Veto Power Over Use Of Force. SEN. JOHN KERRY: "I would have done what was necessary to know that you had exhausted the available remedies with the French and the Russians." (MSNBC's "Hardball," 10/20/03)

NATO Is Training Iraqi Security Forces and the United Nations is Helping Iraq Prepare for Elections. PRESIDENT BUSH: "We're helping to transform the NATO Alliance, which is…providing training assistance for Iraqi security forces… In Iraq, the U.N. is helping that newly sovereign nation to prepare for free and fair elections, and will help to draft a new constitution." (Remarks By The President In Swearing-In Of John C. Danforth, 7/1/04)

Kerry's Claim: Iraqi Reconstruction Is Too Expensive, The $200 Billion Should Be Spent In America.

The Facts:

Kerry Previously Said We Should Increase Funding To Iraq "By Whatever Number Of Billions Of Dollars It Takes To Win." MR. RUSSERT: "Do you believe that we should reduce funding that we are now providing for the operation in Iraq?" SEN. KERRY: "No. I think we should increase it." MR. RUSSERT: "Increase funding?" SEN. KERRY: "Yes." MR. RUSSERT: "By how much?" SEN. KERRY: "By whatever number of billions of dollars it takes to win. It is critical that the United States of America be successful in Iraq, Tim...." (NBC's "Meet The Press," 8/31/03)

Kerry's Claim: Former Military Officers Are Supporting Kerry.

The Facts:

The President Has Been Endorsed By Over 250 Retired Flag Officers.

Question Four: Safety & Security

Kerry's Claim: President Bush Went Into Iraq Without A Plan To Win The Peace.

The Facts:

Kerry Voted Against The $87 Billion Supplemental, Which Contains Funds For Iraq's Reconstruction, Including The Training And Equipping Of Iraqi Security Forces. PRESIDENT BUSH: "This legislation also includes nearly $20 billion to help build stable democratic societies in Iraq and Afghanistan. We will help train and equip the growing number of Iraqis and Afghans who are fighting and dying to defend and secure their rights. We'll help to upgrade hospitals and schools and repair infrastructure and improve basic services, including water, electricity and sanitation." (Remarks By The President At Signing Of HR 3289 - The Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act For Defense And For The Reconstruction Of Iraq And Afghanistan, 11/6/03, Available At http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/20...0031106-4.html)

Former Centcom Commander General Tommy Franks, US Army (Ret.), Says "There Was Actually Excellent Planning" For The Post-War Reconstruction. BLITZER: "Why was there such poor planning for the post-war reconstruction of Iraq?" "GENERAL FRANKS: "I don't think there was poor planning. I think there was actually excellent planning. I think if you take a look at the book, what you see is the use of the term 'catastrophic success' or 'catastrophic victory.' I think what we saw, Wolf, was that the combat forces moved up to Baghdad, isolated and removed the regime very, very quickly." (CNN's "Late Edition With Wolf Blitzer," 8/15/04)

Kerry's Claim: President Bush Went To War Without Fully Equipping Our Troops With Body Armor.

The Facts:

"All Front Line Troops In Iraq Had Interceptor Body Armor During Offensive Operations In Iraq In Early 2003." "All soldiers and Defense Department civilians and contractors in Iraq have had interceptor body armor since January 2004." (House Armed Services Committee, "Talking Points: Protecting Our Troops," 3/24/04)

Every Solider And Marine In Iraq Had Body Armor, But Only Some Had Brand New Interceptor Body Armor, While Others Had Older Model. JOINT CHIEFS VICE CHAIRMAN PETER PACE: "Every soldier and Marine on the ground over had body armor. The difference is, is that our industry has produced an even better body armor than what we have, so what the folks went over to the war with is what we've been wearing for several years, which is body armor that's very, very good against a certain caliber of munition. The new body armor is better against large caliber munition, industry produced it and Congress funded it and industries producing as fast as they can and as fast as they're making it we're getting it to Iraq. The projection is that by December of this year [2003] everybody in Iraq will have the new armor, so everybody has armor it's the difference between whether they have the most recent capacity armor or the armor that we've been wearing – body armor that we've been wearing for a couple years." (U.S. Department Of Defense Website, "Secretary Rumsfeld And Gen. Pace Stakeout At The House Of Representatives," http://www.defenselink.mil/transcripts/200...secdef0805.html, 10/21/03)

At Beginning Of War, Troops Had At Minimum Same Body Armor Troops Have Worn For "Past 10, 15, 20 Years," And All U.S. Troops And Civilians In Iraq Now Have New Interceptor Body Armor. NPR'S JUAN WILLIAMS: "Senator Kerry, who, as you know, is running for president, has made the charge that American servicemen and women have had to reach into their own pockets to pay for some body armor. Is that true?" JOINT CHIEFS VICE CHAIRMAN PETER PACE: "Those of us in uniform do not talk about politics nor should we. The fact of the matter is that there have been some units that in the early stages of the war had the kind of body armor that we have had for the past 10, 15, 20 years and that as the war was beginning we had a new prototype that the Army was trying out called SAPI Armor, that in fact was, when field-tested, much better than the body armor that everyone else had. Now in the Gulf region every single American, civilian military who's over there serving our country, has available to them a set of this SAPI Armor." (NPR's "Morning Edition," 3/18/04)

The $87 Billion Supplemental Funding Bill Kerry And Edwards Voted Against Provided "Extra Money For Body Armor For Soldiers …" ("Highlights Of Iraq, Afghanistan Measures," The Associated Press, 10/17/03; S. Rept. 108-160, Conference Report On S. 1689, 10/2/03)

Kerry Had Characterized A Vote Against The Funding As "Irresponsible." (CBS' "Face the Nation," 9/14/03)

Kerry Later Offered A Tortured Explanation Of His Vote Against The $87 Billion To Support Troops In Iraq. "I actually did vote for the $87 billion before I voted against it." (Richard W. Stevenson And Adam Nagourney, "Bush's Campaign Emphasizes Role Of Leader In War," The New York Times, 3/17/04)

Kerry Said He Was "Proud" That He And Edwards Voted Against $87 Billion In Funding For U.S. Soldiers, Then Said His Vote Against Body Armor And Supplies For Troops Was "Complicated." (John Kerry, Remarks At "Women's Voices: A Luncheon With John Kerry," Boston, MA, 7/12/04; MSNBC's "Imus In The Morning," 7/15/04)

Kerry Even Said His Vote For The War And Against Funding For Our Troops Was "Not A Flip-Flop."(CBS' "Evening News," 7/21/04)

Kerry Then Defended His Vote Against The $87 Billion By Saying President Bush "Didn't Have A Plan To Win The Peace, It Was Irresponsible To Give [President Bush] A Blank Check That Gave $20 Billion That Was Going To Go…To Halliburton And All These Other Companies." (Mike Allen And Lois Romano, "Closing Laps In Race To November," The Washington Post, 9/4/04)

Kerry Said He's "Glad" He Voted Against The Iraq Supplemental. (CBS' "The Late Show With David Letterman," 9/20/04)

Question Five: Safety & Security

Kerry's Claim: The Bush Administration Has Cut Funding For Fire Fighters.

The Facts:

President Bush Has Increased Funding For Firefighters By 400 Percent. President Bush's FY 2005 budget request allocates $500 million for Assistance to Firefighter Grants – a 400 percent increase over funding levels when he came into office. Indeed, President Bush has already awarded over $1.1 billion in firefighter grants in the last three years, providing 900 percent more firefighter grant funds than Clinton budgets did. (President's FY 2005 Budget Appendix, pg. 471; United States Fire Administration, Assistance to Firefighters Grant Awards FY 2001, at http://www.usfa.fema.gov/fire-service/gran.../01awards.shtm)

President Bush Has Increased First Responder Funding By 680 Percent. President Clinton's last budget (FY 2001) provided $456 million for state and local funding. President Bush's FY 2005 budget request allocates $3.561 billion for states and local first responders. That is a $3.1 billion increase (680 percent) in funding levels for President Clinton's last budget. (President's FY 2005 Budget, Pg. 163)

Kerry's Claim: The Bush Administration Has Cut Funding For First Responders.

The Facts:

Kerry Voted Six Times Against President Bush's Department Of Homeland Security, Stalling Its Creation By 112 Days. Kerry repeatedly sided with labor unions against President Bush in the creation of a Department of Homeland Security.

In 2003, Kerry Skipped Vote On $29.3 Billion Homeland Security Appropriations.

President Bush Has Increased First Responder Funding By 680 Percent. President Clinton's last budget (FY 2001) provided $456 million for state and local funding. President Bush's FY 2005 budget request allocates $3.561 billion for states and local first responders. That is a $3.1 billion increase (680 percent) in funding levels for President Clinton's last budget. (President's FY 2005 Budget, Pg. 163)

President Bush Has Nearly Tripled Homeland Security Funding. We have tripled overall homeland security funding – from about $10 billion in 2001 to more than $30 billion proposed for 2005 – and have trained 500,000 first responders. (http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/fy2005/fiscal.html)

Kerry's Claim: President Bush Has Not Done Enough To Secure Chemical Plants.

The Facts:

Kerry Has Raised More Money From Paid Lobbyists Than Any Other Senator Over the past 15 Years. (Jim VandeHei, "Kerry Leads In Lobby Money," The Washington Post, 1/31/04)

The President Backs Legislation That Would Increase Security Standards. President Bush supports passage of legislation that would provide strong authority for DHS to require chemical facilities to have security plans and strong enforcement measures to ensure compliance.

The Bush Administration Has Already Made Critical Infrastructure Protection Its #1 Homeland Security Priority. In February of 2004, Tom Ridge announced that critical infrastructure protection would be the Department of Homeland Security's #1 priority during its second year of existence. (Fact Sheet: The U.S. Department Of Homeland Security, February 2004, http://www.alec.org/meswfiles/pdf/hsmemo.pdf)

DHS Has Already Enhanced Security At The Nation's Top 17 Chemical Sites. The Department of Homeland Security is already in the process of identifying all at-risk critical infrastructure throughout the country, and has announced that it will complete this process by December of 2004. It has already identified the nation's highest-risk chemical sites and partnered with industry to enhance protections at those sites, improving safety for over 13 million Americans. (Testimony Of Frank Libutti, 3/04, http://appropriations.senate.gov/hearmarku....cfm?id=218572)

Kerry's Claim: Security Is Poor Along The Canadian Border.

The Facts:

President Bush Has Added More Than 1,000 Border Patrol Officers. The Border Patrol has increased its strength from 9,788 on September 11, 2001 to 10,835 on December 1, 2003. (Statement Of Robert C. Bonner Before Committee On Government Reform, July 22, 2004; White House, "Principles Of Immigration Reform," At http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/immigrat...migration.html)

Tripled Border Patrol Agents On The Northern Border. The United States shares a 4,000-mile border with Canada, much of it sparsely populated. Prior to September 11th, this vast expanse was policed by only 1,500 customs and immigration inspectors and 350 Border Patrol Agents. President Bush has nearly tripled the number of Border Patrol Agents assigned to the northern border to 1,000 and more than doubled the number of customs and immigration inspectors to 3,400. (Statement Of Robert C. Bonner Before Committee On Government Reform, 7/22/04; White House, "Principles Of Immigration Reform," At http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/immigrat...migration.html)

President Bush Has Entered Into "Smart Border" Accords With Canada To Jointly Improve Security Along The Northern Border. Tom Ridge: "Smart border accords have significantly improved our coordination and our cooperation with Mexico and Canada." (http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/09/20030902-7.html)

Enhanced Security Measures At Cross-Border Bridges And Tunnels. The Free and Secure Trade (FAST) and NEXUS programs screen out low-risk shipments, allowing law enforcement to concentrate its efforts on cargo that poses the greatest threat. FAST and NEXUS have been implemented at the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel and at various cross-border bridges. (http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/09/text/20020909-3.html; http://ambassadeducanada.org/border/status-en.asp)

Kerry's Claim: Only Five Percent Of Seaborne Containers Entering The Country Are Inspected.

The Facts:

All Containers Are Screened, 100 Percent Of High-Risk Containers Are Physically Inspected. (Testimony By Robert C. Bonner Before The House Ways And Means Committee, Trade Subcommittee, On The FY 2005 Customs Service Reauthorization, 6/17/2004)

The President's 2005 Budget Increases Port Security 628 Percent Over 2001. The President has called for $1.9 billion in funding in 2005 to increase the security of our ports. That is a $224 million (13 percent) increase over 2004, and a $1.6 billion increase (628 percent) over funding levels from President Clinton's last budget. (http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/02/20040205-5.html)

The President Initiated The Container Security Initiative (CSI) To Screen High-Risk Containers At Foreign Ports, Before They Ever Get To The United States. CSI ensures that cargo destined for the United States is pre-screened while it still at foreign ports, well before it ever reaches our shores. CSI is being implemented today at the top 20 foreign ports, which account for more than 2/3 of the cargo entering the United States. The program is in the process of expanding to other ports as part of Phase II of its operations. The President has called for a 25 percent ($25 million) increase in funding for CSI in FY 2005, bringing funding for CSI to a total of $126 million. (http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/interapp/press_release/press_release_0178.xml; http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/20...0040205-5.html)

Kerry's Claim: The President Has Not Done Enough To Secure Our Railroads And Subways.

The Facts:

Since 2003, The President Has Distributed More Than $115 Million In Grants Specifically Earmarked For Upgrading Mass Transit Security. More than $1.2 billion in Urban Area Security Initiative funds are also available to enhance rail and subway security. (http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/odp/docs/fy03uasigrant.pdf; http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/odp/docs/UASIIIFY...ntAppFinal.pdf; http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/docs/fy04uasi.pdf; http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/docs/uasitransit.pdf; http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/odp/docs/UASIIIFY...ntAppFinal.pdf)

The President Is Developing New Screening Technology For Trains And Subways. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is allocated $5.6 billion in the President's FY 2005 Budget to develop new terrorism prevention programs, including an advanced multi-sensor chemical detection system. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is allocated $36 million in the FY 2005 Budget to develop technological improvements to tank car security, real-time passenger car manifest, and EDSs. (Testimony of Allan Rutter, House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Railroads, 5/5/04, available at http://www.house.gov/transportation/rail/0...-04/rutter.pdf; http://www.dot.gov/bib2005/fra.pdf; http://www.dot.gov/bib2005/fta.pdf; http://www.fta.dot.gov/11227_11229_ENG_HTML.htm)

Kerry's Claim: Air Cargo Is Not Being Screened For Explosives.

The Facts:

One Hundred Percent Of Passengers And Passenger Bags Are Now Screened. TSA has implemented 100 percent screening of checked baggage. (http://www.tsa.gov/public/display?content=090005198002d52d; DHS Budget in Brief - Fiscal Year 2005, http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/interapp/edit...orial_0391.xml)

TSA Is Taking Measures To Identify All High-Risk Air Cargo. TSA has established a database of vetted shippers, which is then used in a risk-weighted freight screening system that will identify pieces of cargo requiring closer scrutiny before being loaded on passenger aircraft. TSA prohibits "unknown shipper" cargo from flying aboard passenger carriers. (DHS Press Release: "TSA Implements Random Inspections of Cargo," 11/17/2003, At http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?theme...014&print=true; http://www.dhs.gov/interweb/assetlibrary/O...lenges0304.pdf)

President Bush Has Vastly Increased Funding To Improve Screening Technology. The President's FY 2005 Budget includes $85 million for air cargo security systems – a huge increase from the FY 2003 budget of $5 million. Funding includes $30 million for the "known shipper" program, $55 million to improve cargo screening and inspections, and funds to hire an additional 100 staff to audit shipper compliance. (DHS Budget In Brief - Fiscal Year 2005, http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/interapp/edit...orial_0391.xml; http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?theme...817&print=true)

Question Six: Safety & Security

Kerry's Claim: There Is No End In Sight To The Iraq War.

The Facts:

On June 28, Full Sovereignty Was Transferred To The Iraqi People Through The Iraqi Interim Government.

A New United States Embassy Is Up And Running In Iraq, Headed By John Negroponte.

There Is An Ongoing And Active Partnership Between The Iraqi Government And The Coalition Forces To Build The Iraqi Security Forces. Today these forces number 96,000 fully trained Iraqi police and soldiers.

By January 2005, There Will Be 159,000 Fully Trained And Equipped Iraqi Police And Soldiers Available For Duty On The Streets Of Iraq. By December 2005, there will be 238,000 fully trained and equipped Iraqi police and soldiers available for duty.

The Goal Of Holding Elections By January 2005 Is Strongly Supported By Prime Minister Allawi And The Iraqi Interim Government.

The UN Has Already Started Deploying A Team Of International Elections Experts To Iraq To Assist The Work Of The Iraqi Elections Commission.

Allawi: "Across The Country There Is A Daily Progress." "But improving the everyday lives of Iraqis, tackling our economic problems is also essential to our plan. Across the country there is a daily progress, too. Oil pipelines are being repaired. Basic services are being improved. The homes are being rebuilt." (Prime Minister Allawi, Remarks To A Joint Session Of Congress, Washington, D.C., 9/23/04)

Kerry's Claim: Kerry Claims He Will Bring In More Allies.

The Facts:

A Multinational Force Of Some 30 Nations Continues To Help Secure A Free Iraq. PRESIDENT BUSH: "The multinational force of some 30 nations continues to help secure a free Iraq, and we are grateful for the service and sacrifice of all." (President's Radio Address, 9/25/04)

In First Dem Debate, Kerry Strongly Supported President's Action In Iraq. KERRY: "I said at the time I would have preferred if we had given diplomacy a greater opportunity, but I think it was the right decision to disarm Saddam Hussein, and when the President made the decision, I supported him, and I support the fact that we did disarm him." (John Kerry, Remarks At Democrat Presidential Candidate Debate, Columbia, SC, 5/3/03)

Kerry Previously Questioned Where Russia And France's Backbone To Stand Up To Saddam Was. SEN. JOHN KERRY: "So clearly the allies may not like it, and I think that's our great concern – where's the backbone of Russia, where's the backbone of France, where are they in expressing their condemnation of such clearly illegal activity, but in a sense, they're now climbing into a box and they will have enormous difficulty not following up on this if there is not compliance by Iraq." (CNN's "Crossfire," 11/12/97)

Kerry's Claim: The Department Of Defense's Contracting Process In Iraq Is Corrupt.

The Facts:

FactCheck.org: Kerry's Attacks Against The Vice President's Ties To Halliburton "False." "A Kerry ad released Sept 17 once again attacks Cheney's ties to Halliburton, implying that Cheney is profiting from the company's contracts in Iraq. That's false. The ad isn't subtle. It says, 'As vice president, Dick Cheney received $2 million from Halliburton. Halliburton got billions in no bid contracts in Iraq. Dick Cheney got $2 million. What did we get?' And it implies that Cheney lied to the public when he said in a TV interview that 'I have no financial interest in Halliburton of any kind.' But as we document here, Cheney has insulated himself financially from whatever might happen to Halliburton. The Kerry ad misstates the facts." ("Kerry Ad Falsely Accuses Cheney On Halliburton," FactCheck.Org, 9/30/04, http://www.factcheck.org/article.aspx?docid=261, Accessed 9/30/04)

GAO Investigators Found Iraq/Halliburton Contracts Legal. "n fact, investigators from the General Accounting Office (GAO) found Halliburton's no-bid contracts to be legal and probably justified by the Pentagon's wartime needs." ("Anti-Bush Ad Overstates Case Against Halliburton, Factcheck.org Website, www.factcheck.org/article.aspx?docid=201, Accessed 6/21/04)

At A June 2004 Government Reform Committee Hearing, "Six Defense Department Witnesses At The Hearing All Said They Knew Of No Cheney Influence." (Larry Margasak, "Official: Cheney Not Briefed On Iraq Work," The Associated Press, 6/16/04)

At A March 2004 Government Reform Committee, Defense Department Witnesses Each Answer That Vice President Cheney Had "No" Influence Over Contracts. (T. Christian Miller, "Halliburton Contracts Focus Of Hearing," Los Angeles Times, 3/12/04)

Clinton Procurement Official Steven Kelman Called Allegations Against Halliburton "Somewhere Between Highly Improbable And Utterly Absurd." (Steven Kelman, Op-Ed, "No 'Cronyism' In Iraq," The Washington Post, 11/6/03)

Clinton's Undersecretary Of Commerce William Reinsch Said Halliburton Controversy Is Overblown. "'Halliburton has a distinguished track record,' he said. 'They do business in some 120 countries. This is a group of people who know what they're doing in a difficult business. It's a particularly difficult business when people are shooting at you.'" (James Rosen, "Is Iraq's Reconstruction Rigged?" The [Raleigh] News & Observer, 10/5/03)

Halliburton Received No-Bid Contracts During Clinton Administration For Work In Bosnia And Kosovo. (Max Boot, Op-Ed, "Don't Blame Halliburton," Los Angeles Times, 4/22/04)

Kerry's Claim: The President Rejected UN Help After The Successful Entry Into Baghdad.

The Facts:

The UN Has Reestablished Its Iraq Mission. The UN Secretary General has appointed a new special representative to Iraq.

On June 8, 2004, The UN Security Council Passed Unanimously Resolution 1546, Which Endorsed The Formation Of An Iraqi Interim Government And Democratic Elections By January 2005, And Defined The Status Of The Multinational Force And Its Relationship With The New Iraqi Government.

The United Nations Has Been Helping Iraq Prepare For Elections. (President's Radio Address, 9/25/04)

The UN Has Already Started Deploying A Team Of International Elections Experts To Iraq To Assist The Work Of The Iraqi Elections Commission.

The UN Selected An Independent 7-Member Iraqi Elections Commission, From A Pool Of Over A Thousand Self-Nominated Candidates, This Past Spring. The Iraqi Elections Commission operates independently, with its own offices and budget, and will supervise the preparations for the national direct elections for the Transitional National Assembly, no later than January 31, 2005.

In June, Leaders At The G-8 Sea Island Summit, The US-EU Summit, And The NATO Istanbul Summit All Voiced Strong, Unified Support For UNSCR 1546, The New Iraqi Government, And International Efforts To Assist The Iraqi People With The Reconstruction Of Their Country And Their Path Toward Free, National Elections.

Today About 30 Countries Make Up The Multinational Force In Iraq; Recently The Overwhelming Majority Of Them Issued Statements Condemning Terrorism, Kidnappings, And Executions That Have Occurred In Iraq.

At The June Summit, NATO Agreed To Prime Minister Allawi's Request For Assistance In Training Iraqi Security Forces. The NATO security team is already working in Iraq.

Question Seven: Safety & Security

Kerry's Claim: The Bush Administration Must Make The United Nations A Full Partner In Iraq.

The Facts:

Kerry Dismissed Coalition Partners As "Window Dressing" And Claimed They're Not Sharing Burden Of War And Reconstruction. (CNN's "American Morning," 3/2/04)

Kerry Called Coalition "Fraudulent" And Claimed President Did Not Properly "Honor" U.N. "Process." (Sen. John Kerry, Fox News/Congressional Black Caucus Democrat Candidate Debate, Detroit, MI, 10/26/03)

Kerry Mocked Coalition As "Coerced" And "Bribed." (Herbert A. Sample, "Kerry Blasts Bush On Iraq Effort," Sacramento Bee, 3/14/03)

On June 8, 2004, The UN Security Council Passed Unanimously Resolution 1546, Which Endorsed The Formation Of An Iraqi Interim Government And Democratic Elections By January 2005, And Defined The Status Of The Multinational Force And Its Relationship With The New Iraqi Government.

The UN Has Reestablished Its Iraq Mission. The UN Secretary General has appointed a new special representative to Iraq.

Question Eight: Safety & Security

Kerry's Claim: Compared To Our Coalition Partners, America Is Bearing A Disproportionate Amount Of The Burden In Iraq. 90 Percent Of The Casualties Are American.

The Facts:

NATO Is Training Iraqi Security Forces And The United Nations Is Helping Iraq Prepare For Elections. (President's Radio Address, 9/25/04)

Kerry's Claim: President Bush Misled The Nation About Weapons Of Mass Destruction.

The Facts:

Kerry Voted For Use Of Force Resolution Against Iraq. Kerry and Edwards voted for the Congressional resolution authorizing the use of force against Iraq.

In Explaining His Vote, Kerry Called Those Who Would Leave Saddam Alone "Naïve To The Point Of Grave Danger." (Sen. John Kerry, Congressional Record, 10/9/02, p. S10171)

In Explaining His Vote, Kerry Cited Saddam Hussein's Links To Terrorists As Justification For Military Action. "[saddam Hussein] has supported and harbored terrorist groups, particularly radical Palestinian groups such as Abu Nidal, and he has given money to families of suicide murderers in Israel. … We should not go to war because these things are in his past, but we should be prepared to go to war because of what they tell us about the future." (Sen. John Kerry, Congressional Record, 10/9/02, p. S10171)

Kerry Had Access To The Same Intelligence As The Bush Administration Before Voting For The Use Of Force Resolution. NBC'S TIM RUSSERT: "[Y]ou had access to the intelligence. You had access to the national intelligence estimate …" SEN. JOHN KERRY: "Absolutely." (NBC's "Meet The Press," 8/31/03)

When War Began, Kerry Said "addam Hussein Has Chosen To Make Military Force The Ultimate Weapons Inspections Enforcement Mechanism." (Glen Johnson, "Critics Of Bush Voice Support For The Troops," The Boston Globe, 3/20/03)

Former Chief Weapons Inspector David Kay Said Iraq "Was Even More Dangerous Than We Thought." (David Kay, Senate Armed Services Committee, 1/28/04)

Saddam Hussein Used WMD Against His Neighbors And His Own People. (David Kay, Senate Armed Services Committee, 1/28/04)

Saddam Hussein Was In Material Breach Of International Obligations And Continued Activities Related to WMD. (Colin L. Powell, "What Kay Found," Washington Post, 10/7/03)

Kerry's Claim: The War In Iraq Is Exacerbating Terrorism.

The Facts:

August 1996: Kerry Cited Iraq As Terrorist-Supporting Country. "t strikes me that none of these terrorist organizations could survive fundamentally – there will always be a terrorist entity of some kind or another with an interest – but that largest most dangerous of these entities survive with country support, the support of the country of Syria or country of Libya or country of Iran, Iraq and so forth." (Sen. John Kerry, Select Committee On Intelligence, U.S. Senate, Hearing, 8/1/96)

February 1998: Kerry Warned Of Saddam's Ties To Terrorism. SEN. JOHN KERRY: "Saddam Hussein has already used these weapons and has made it clear that he has the intent to continue to try, by virtue of his duplicity and secrecy, to continue to do so. That is a threat to the stability of the Middle East. It is a threat with respect to the potential of terrorist activities on a global basis. It is a threat even to regions near but not exactly in the Middle East." (Sen. John Kerry, Press Conference, 2/23/98)

December 2001: Kerry Called Saddam Hussein A Terrorist. SEN. JOHN KERRY: "The important thing is that Saddam Hussein and the world knows that we think Saddam Hussein is essentially out of synch with the times. He is and has acted like a terrorist, and he has engaged in activities … that are unacceptable." (Fox News' "The O'Reilly Factor," 12/11/01)

December 2001: Kerry Ready To Include Saddam Hussein In War On Terror To "Keep The Pressure On Terrorism Globally." (CNN's "Larry King Live," 12/14/01)

September 2002: Kerry Warned "Master Of Miscalculation" Saddam May Give WMDs To Terrorists. (CBS' "Face The Nation," 9/15/02)

December 2003: Kerry Said Iraq "Is Critical" To Success Of War On Terror. SEN. JOHN KERRY: "Iraq may not be the war on terror itself, but it is critical to the outcome of the war on terror. And therefore, any advance in Iraq is an advance forward in that. And I disagree with the Governor [Howard Dean]." (Fox News' "Special Report," 12/15/03)

September 2004: Kerry Said Those In Iraq Are Fighting "On Behalf Of Freedom In The War On Terror." (CNN's "Wolf Blitzer Reports," 9/7/04)

Question Nine: Safety & Security

Kerry's Claim: Kerry Claims He Has Only One Position On Iraq.

The Facts:

Kerry Has Taken At Least 11 Positions On The Iraq War:

October 2002: Kerry Voted For Use Of Force Resolution Against Iraq. Kerry and Edwards voted for the Congressional resolution authorizing the use of force against Iraq. (H. J. Res. 114, CQ Vote #237: Passed 77-23: R 48-1; D 29-21; I 0-1, 10/11/02, Kerry Voted Yea)

April 2003: Kerry Promised Not To Attack President When War Began, But Weeks Later, With Troops Just Miles From Baghdad, Kerry Broke His Pledge And Called For "Regime Change In The United States." (Glen Johnson, "Democrats On The Stump Plot Their War Rhetoric," The Boston Globe, 3/11/03; Glen Johnson, "Kerry Says Us Needs Its Own 'Regime Change,'" The Boston Globe, 4/3/03)

May 2003: In First Dem Debate, Kerry Strongly Supported President's Action In Iraq. SEN. JOHN KERRY: "I said at the time I would have preferred if we had given diplomacy a greater opportunity, but I think it was the right decision to disarm Saddam Hussein, and when the President made the decision, I supported him, and I support the fact that we did disarm him." (ABC News, Democrat Presidential Candidate Debate, Columbia, SC, 5/3/03)

September 2003: Kerry Said Voting Against The $87 Billion Supplemental Would Be "Irresponsible." Doyle McManus (LA Times): "If that amendment does not pass, will you then vote against the $87 billion?" Kerry: "I don't think any United States senator is going to abandon our troops and recklessly leave Iraq to – to whatever follows as a result of simply cutting and running. That's irresponsible." (CBS's "Face the Nation," 9/14/03)

October 2003: Kerry Voted Against The $87 Billion Supplemental Supporting Our Troops. (S. 1689, CQ Vote #400: Passed 87-12: R 50-0; D 37-11; I 0-1, 10/17/03, Kerry Voted Nay)

January 2004: After Voting For War And Trailing Candidate Howard Dean In The Democrat Primaries, Kerry Says He Is Anti-War Candidate. CHRIS MATTHEWS: "Do you think you belong to that category of candidates who more or less are unhappy with this war, the way it's been fought, along with General Clark, along with Howard Dean and not necessarily in companionship politically on the issue of the war with people like Lieberman, Edwards and Gephardt? Are you one of the anti-war candidates?" KERRY: "I am -- Yes, in the sense that I don't believe the president took us to war as he should have, yes, absolutely." (MSNBC's "Hardball," 1/6/04)

August 2004: In Response To President's Question About How He Would Have Voted If He Knew Then What He Knows Now, Kerry Confirmed That He Would Still Have Voted For Use Of Force Resolution. SEN. JOHN KERRY: "Yes, I would have voted for the authority. I believe it's the right authority for a president to have. But I would have used that authority as I have said throughout this campaign, effectively. I would have done this very differently from the way President Bush has." (CNN's "Inside Politics," 8/9/04)

September 2004: Kerry: Iraq Is "The Wrong War In The Wrong Place At The Wrong Time." "Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry on Monday called the invasion of Iraq 'the wrong war in the wrong place at the wrong time' and said his goal was to withdraw U.S. troops in his first White House term." (Patricia Wilson, " Kerry on Iraq: Wrong War, Wrong Place, Wrong Time", Reuters, 9/6/04)

September 2004: Kerry Says There Were No Circumstances Under Which We Should Have Gone To War, But He Was Still Right To Vote For It. IMUS: "Do you think there are any circumstances we should have gone to war in Iraq, any?" KERRY: "Not under the current circumstances, no. There are none that I see. I voted based on weapons of mass destruction. The President distorted that, and I've said that. I mean, look, I can't be clearer. But I think it was the right vote based on what Saddam Hussein had done, and I think it was the right thing to do to hold him accountable. I've said a hundred times, there was a right way to do it and a wrong way to do it. The president chose the wrong way. Can't be more direct than that." (MSNBC's "Imus In The Morning," 9/15/04)

Kerry Said That The Removal Of Saddam Hussein Has Left America "Less Secure." KERRY: "Saddam Hussein was a brutal dictator who deserves his own special place in hell. But that was not, that was not in and of itself, a reason to go to war. The satisfaction – The satisfaction that we take in his downfall does not hide this fact: we have traded a dictator for a chaos that has left America less secure." (Sen. John Kerry, Remarks At New York University, New York, NY, 9/20/04)

Kerry On Whether The Iraq War Was Worth It: "It Depends On The Outcome." DIANE SAWYER: "Was the war in Iraq worth it?" KERRY: "We should not have gone to war knowing the information that we know today." SAWYER: "So it was not worth it?" KERRY: "We should not - it depends on the outcome ultimately, and that depends on the leadership." (ABC's "Good Morning America," 9/29/04)

Question Ten: Safety & Security

Kerry's Claim: Kerry Claims He Has A Plan To Win The Peace.

The Facts:

Kerry’s Plan For Iraq Is “No Different In Large Measure From Bush Administration Policies.” “[Kerry’s] prescriptions are…no different in large measure from Bush administration policies…. Kerry's four big points for the future are more or less Bush's points, too. [1] Get Iraqi troops and police trained and equipped, he says. He's apparently been reading the speeches of Secretary of State Colin Powell and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. They've been saying this is a priority and pointing to some numbers that show progress, although not as much as might be hoped. [2] Do a better job of reconstruction, Kerry instructs the administration, as if it hasn't been trying… [3] Proceed with elections, Kerry demands. Has he not noticed this is the repeatedly stressed goal of the administration?... [4] Get the United Nations, NATO and every other possible ally in the world to provide more money and manpower to lessen the U.S. load in Iraq, to help those elections take place and to ensure a reasonably prompt U.S. exit. The Bush administration has been working overtime on this project….” (Jay Ambrose, “Kerry speech: Worthy of respect?,” Scripps Howard News Service, 9/21/04)

Question Eleven: Safety & Security

Kerry's Claim: The Bush Administration Should Deploy More Troops To Iraq.

The Facts:

President Bush Is Listening To Our Commanders To Make Sure They Have The Troop Levels They Need. QUESTION: "And what's your answer to General John Abizaid's statement that, 'I think we will need more troops than we currently have?'" PRESIDENT BUSH: "If that's what he says -- he was in my office this morning; he didn't say that to me, but if he were to say that, I'd listen to him, just like I've said all along, that when our commanders say that they need support, they'll get support, because we're going to succeed in this mission." (President Bush and Prime Minister Allawi Press Conference, 9/23/04)

Kerry's Claim: Just 5,000 Iraqi Soldiers Have Been Fully Trained, And Of The 35,000 Police Now In Uniform, Not One Has Completed A 24-Week Field-Training Program.

The Facts:

The U.S. Army General In Charge Of Training Effort In Iraq Says There Are "164,000 Iraqi Police And Soldiers (Of Which About 100,000 Are Trained And Equipped) And An Additional 74,000 Facility Protection Forces." "Today approximately 164,000 Iraqi police and soldiers (of which about 100,000 are trained and equipped) and an additional 74,000 facility protection forces are performing a wide variety of security missions. Equipment is being delivered. Training is on track and increasing in capacity. Infrastructure is being repaired. Command and control structures and institutions are being reestablished." (Lt. Gen. David H. Petraeus, US Army, "Battling for Iraq," Washington Post, 9/26/04)

The 5,000 Number Kerry Cites Is Just The Number Of The Iraqi Army That Have Been Trained And Excludes, The Iraqi National Guard, Intervention Force, Special Ops, Air Force And Coastal Defense Forces.

The State Department's Iraq Weekly Status Report That Kerry Was Relying On Clearly States That Nearly 42,000 Members Of The Iraqi Armed Forces Have Been Trained. More than 14,000 Iraqi armed forces members are currently in training. Kerry's math also doesn't account for the fact that more than 56,000 members of the Iraqi military are already "on hand" or "on duty." (http://www.defendamerica.gov/downloads/Iraq-WeeklyUpdate-20040915.pdf)

That Report Also Showed That Over 100,000 Iraqi Police Forces On Duty, Over 50,000 In The Process Of Being Trained, And Another 50,000 That Have Completed Their Training. Again, Kerry hand-picked a single cell of a larger chart to play into his message of pessimism and defeat.

Kerry Advisor Richard Holbrooke Says French Troop Contribution in Iraq is "Not Realistic." HOLBROOKE: "Well, I don't think that anyone expects Chirac to call up the White House next January and say, 'How many divisions in Iraq?' That's not realistic, and John Kerry knows it." (Fox News', "Fox News Sunday," 9/12/04)

Kerry's Claim: The Administration Has Spent Less Than $1 Billion Of The $18 Billion It Received From Congress For Iraq Reconstruction.

The Facts:

Billions Of Dollars For Iraq Reconstruction Have Already Been Dedicated To Projects. Of the $18.4 billion appropriated by Congress, $7.4 billion has been "obligated," or bound under a binding legal agreement for specific purposes. (Iraq Project Contracting Office website, http://www.rebuilding-iraq.net/portal/page..._schema=PORTAL)

Admiral David Nash, Head Of The Iraq Project And Contracting Office, Says Contractors Aren't Paid Until Work Is Done. "[Retired Admiral David Nash, head of the US Project and Contracting Office,] said that while little of the US reconstruction money has been spent, nearly $6 billion has been 'obligated' through signed contracts. Over half of the 2,300 projects are 'tasked out and obligated,' he added. 'We don't pay until the work is done.'" (Bryan Bender, "US Hiring Goals Fall Far Short in Reconstruction," The Boston Globe, 7/11/04)

Kerry Voted Against Senate Passage Of Iraq/Afghanistan Reconstruction Package. "Passage of the bill that would appropriate $86.5 billion in fiscal 2004 supplemental spending for military operations and reconstruction in Iraq and Afghanistan. The bill would provide $10.3 billion as a grant to rebuild Iraq, including $5.1 billion for security and $5.2 billion for reconstruction costs. It also would provide $10 billion as a loan that would be converted to a grant if 90 percent of all bilateral debt incurred by the former Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein has been forgiven by other countries. Separate provisions limit reconstruction aid to $18.4 billion. It also would provide approximately $65.6 billion for military operations and maintenance and $1.3 billion for veterans medical care." (S. 1689, CQ Vote #400: Passed 87-12: R 50-0; D 37-11; I 0-1, 10/17/03, Kerry Voted Nay)

Kerry's Claim: Prime Minister Allawi Is Not Credible And His Optimism About Iraq During His Visit To America Is Contradicted By His Statements Days Before.

The Facts:

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman, Sen. Dick Lugar, Criticized Kerry's "Political Attack On Prime Minister Allawi" As "Clearly Inaccurate And Untimely." SEN. LUGAR: "I am surprised that Senator Kerry would rush to wage a political attack on Prime Minister Allawi that was clearly inaccurate and untimely. Fortunately, Democratic Party Senators at the lunch with Allawi indicated their strong support for staying the course and their appreciation for his courage and his candor." (Statement of Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Dick Lugar, 9/23/04)

Question Twelve: Safety & Security

Kerry's Claim: President Bush Misleadingly Links Iraq And al Qaeda.

The Facts:

Kerry Warned Of Saddam's Ties To Terrorism. SEN. JOHN KERRY: "[T]here are set of principles here that are very large, larger in some measure than I think has been adequately conveyed, both internationally and certainly to the American people. Saddam Hussein has already used these weapons and has made it clear that he has the intent to continue to try, by virtue of his duplicity and secrecy, to continue to do so. That is a threat to the stability of the Middle East. It is a threat with respect to the potential of terrorist activities on a global basis. It is a threat even to regions near but not exactly in the Middle East." (Sen. John Kerry, Press Conference, 2/23/98)

Kerry Said Iraq "Is Critical" To Success Of War On Terror. SEN. JOHN KERRY: "Iraq may not be the war on terror itself, but it is critical to the outcome of the war on terror. And therefore any advance in Iraq is an advance forward in that. And I disagree with the Governor [Howard Dean]." (Fox News' "Special Report," 12/15/03)

Kerry Said Those In Iraq Are Fighting "On Behalf Of Freedom In The War On Terror." "Today marks a tragic milestone in the war in Iraq. More than 1,000 of America's sons and daughters have now given their lives on behalf of their country, on behalf of freedom in the war on terror. I think that the first thing that every American wants to say today is how deeply we each feel the loss." (CNN's "Wolf Blitzer Reports," 9/7/04)

February 2002: John Edwards Called Iraq "Most Serious And Imminent Threat To Our Country." (CNN's "Late Edition," 2/24/02)

The Bush Administration Never Claimed A Direct Link Between Saddam Hussein and 9/11; Did Correctly Point To Iraq's Contacts With Al Qaeda. DR. CONDOLEEZZA RICE: "I think that the administration has made it clear that we have no evidence and have never claimed a direct link of Saddam Hussein and his regime to the events of September 11th, saying that he planned them or controlled them or something. It is very clear that he had links to terrorism that were broad and deep, including numerous contacts with al Qaeda, including an al Qaeda associate, a man named al Zarqawi, who was operating his network out of Baghdad. The network that ended up ordering the killing of an American citizen, an American diplomat in Jordan, Mr. Foley." (Interview Of Dr. Condoleezza Rice By WTVT-TV, Tampa, Florida, 11/14/03, http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/20...031114-14.html)

Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) Said It's "Undisputed" That Saddam "Has Also Given Aid, Comfort, And Sanctuary To Terrorists, Including Al-Qaida Members." (Sen. Hillary Clinton, Congressional Record, 10/10/02, p. S10288)

Vice Chair Of The 9/11 Commission Lee Hamilton (D-IN): "[T]here Were Contacts Between Al Qaeda And Iraq Going Back Clear To The Early 1990s When Osama Bin Laden Was In Sudan, Then When He Was In Afghanistan. I Don't Think There's Any Dispute About That." (ABC's "This Week," 6/20/04)

Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN) Acknowledged Iraq-Al Qaeda Relationship: "The Relationship Seemed To Have Its Roots In Mutual Exploitation. Saddam Hussein Used Terrorism For His Own Ends, And Osama Bin Laden Used A Nation-State For The Things That Only A Nation-State Can Provide." (Stephen F. Hayes, "An Intelligent Democrat …," The Weekly Standard, 12/15/03)

Kerry's Claim: The President Has Allowed The Nuclear Danger Posed By North Korea To Mount Under His Watch.

The Facts:

Under President Bush's Leadership, the International Community Is Insisting That North Korea Dismantle Its Nuclear Program. PRESIDENT BUSH: "In the Pacific, North Korea has defied the world, has tested long-range ballistic missiles, admitted its possession of nuclear weapons, and now threatens to build more. Together with our partners in Asia, America is insisting that North Korea completely, verifiably, and irreversibly dismantle its nuclear programs." (Remarks by the President on Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation, 2/11/04)

Kerry Said He "Will Renew Bilateral Negotiations Immediately." KERRY: And as president…I will renew bilateral negotiations immediately with North Korea. (Sen. John Kerry, Remarks To Council On Foreign Relations, New York, NY, 12/3/03)

Kerry Wants To Return To the Failed Clinton Administration Policy of Direct Talks. MR. McCLELLAN: "Senator Kerry would have us return to the failed Clinton administration policy. That failed policy allowed North Korea to dupe the United States. It would be the wrong approach to go down that road again. ... North Korea did not abide by [the 1994 Agreed] Framework. They said that they would agree to a freeze on their nuclear weapons programs. And we found that they, in fact, did not freeze their nuclear weapons programs. …That failed bilateral approach is the wrong way to go." (Press Gaggle, 9/13/04)

The Washington Post Suggested The Use Of Force In Iraq "May Have Encouraged North Korea To Compromise." "The success of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq also may have encouraged North Korea to compromise, according to South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun. He said Thursday that he thought the U.S. advance had terrified North Korea, which fears it will be attacked next by the United States." (Doug Struck, "North Korea Drops Its Demand For One-On-One Talks With U.S.," The Washington Post, 4/1/03)

Despite Speculation Before The War In Iraq, North Korea Has Not Tried "To Take Advantage" Of US Focus On Iraq To "Take Provocative Actions." NPR'S JOHN YDSTIE: "ome analysts had feared North Korea might try to take advantage of the fact that the US was preoccupied with the war in Iraq and take provocative actions, but I guess that hasn't reall

[AURaptor 1,125]

Facts? FACTS? C'mon...We don't need no stinkin facts...as long as Kerry is tanned, speaks well, has his manicure, and generally looks good on T.V., ..... that's all that REALLY matters, right ?

[TrueBlue72 0]

Never try and confuse a liberal with facts..... they much prefer their nuances.

[CCTAU 3,336]

I'll be honest! I got tired just scrolling through all that. Whew!