For Immediate Release
Washington, DC - The Kerry-Edwards campaign Monday released a new ad titled
“Bush’s Mess.” Noting the president’s failures in the war on terror, Iraq and
his comments insisting that he is “not that concerned about” Osama bin Laden,
the ad says it is time for a new direction to protect America.
AD SCRIPT
Narrator: “In Iraq, American troops are attacked 87 times a day. At home, the
Bush administration has acquired just 530 doses of licensed anthrax vaccine for
America’s civilian population. In Afghanistan, the Bush Administration relied
on Afghan warlords to go after Osama bin Laden. He got away. Bush said.... ‘I
don’t spend that much time on him...I truly am not that concerned about him.’
It’s time for a new direction.”
John Kerry: I’m John Kerry and I approve this message.
JUST THE FACTS
Narrator: “In Iraq, American troops are attacked 87 times a day.”
87 Attacks Per Day. “On average, nearly three U.S. soldiers have been killed
each day this month - the highest rate since April. Insurgent attacks are
averaging 56 per day this month. In August, they averaged 87 a day - their
highest level since major combat ended in May 2003.” [Associated Press,
10/17/04]
Narrator: “At home, the Bush administration has acquired just 530 doses of
licensed anthrax vaccine for America’s civilian population.”
Bush Administration Set Aside Anthrax Vaccine for Only 530 People. The New York
Times reported that “[d]espite pledges two years ago to maintain a stockpile of
drugs to protect Americans in the event of a bioterrorism attack, the federal
government has so far set aside only 159 vials of anthrax vaccine for the
civilian population for only 530 people, according to congressional and
administration officials.” Bush also let his plan for vaccinating first
responders for smallpox die after failing to garner the expected number of
volunteers. [New York Times, 8/20/04; www.TFAH.org<, 2004]
Narrator: “In Afghanistan, the Bush Administration relied on Afghan warlords to
go after Osama bin Laden. He got away.”
Osama bin Laden Allowed to Escape in the Mountains of Tora Bora. Just after the
collapse of the Taliban in December 2001, numerous senior U.S. military and
administration officials expressed confidence that Osama bin Laden was cornered
in the mountainous Afghan region of Tora Bora. Vice President ***** Cheney said
that “‘the preponderance of the reporting at this point’ indicates that bin
Laden is still in the Tora Bora region.” But “…somewhere between Nov. 28 to
Nov. 30 - according to detailed interviews with Arabs and Afghans in eastern
Afghanistan afterward - the world's most-wanted man escaped the world's
most-powerful military machine, walking - with four of his loyalists - in the
direction of Pakistan.” An Afghan intelligence official said that “[t]he border
with Pakistan was the key, but no one paid any attention to it.” [Washington
Post, 12/10/01 and 12/14/01; New York Times, 12/12/01; Christian Science
Monitor, 3/4/02]
Rather than Send American Troops After bin Laden, the U.S. Enlisted Bickering
Local Warlords Who Argued Over Tactics. “As the US intensified its airstrikes
on Tora Bora, US and Afghan helicopters started to arrive with supplies for the
Afghans. Also - as was its pattern elsewhere in Afghanistan - the US began
enlisting local warlords. Two - Hazret Ali and Haji Zaman Ghamsharik - would
become notorious in the battle for Tora Bora. … The rift between the two
[commanders] would seriously hinder US efforts to capture Al Qaeda's
leadership. Although backed by the United States, the Jalalabad warlords would
have to determine by themselves - while sometimes arguing fiercely - how best
to go after Tora Bora's defenders. Moreover, in the early stages of the
Eastern Shura discussions about Tora Bora, these leaders talked about ‘asking
the Arabs to leave,’ not about attacking them outright.” [Christian Science
Monitor, 3/4/02]
Bush Failure to Focus On Capturing Bin Laden The “Gravest Error” In The War on
Terror. The Bush administration itself concluded that Osama bin Laden was
present during the battle for Tora Bora late last year and that failure to
commit U.S. ground troops to hunt him was its gravest error in the war against
al Qaeda, according to civilian and military officials with first-hand
knowledge. [Washington Post, 4/17/02]
Narrator: “Bush said.... ‘I don’t spend that much time on him...I truly am not
that concerned about him.’”
Bush, September 17, 2001: Osama bin Laden “Wanted, Dead or Alive.” QUESTION: Do
you want bin Laden dead? BUSH: I want justice. And there’s an old poster out
west, that I recall, that said, “Wanted, Dead or Alive.” [Bush Remarks,
9/17/01, emphasis added]
Bush, March 13, 2002: “I Truly Am Not That Concerned” About bin Laden. BUSH:
“And [Osama Bin Laden is] just – he’s a person who has now been marginalized.
His network is -- his host government has been destroyed. He’s the ultimate
parasite who found weakness, exploited it, and met his match…So I don’t know
where he is. Nor -- you know, I just don’t spend that much time on him really,
to be honest with you. I…I truly am not that concerned about him.” [Bush
Remarks, 3/13/02]
Bush, October 13, 2004: “One of Those Exaggerations.” BUSH: “Gosh, I just don't
think I ever said I'm not worried about Osama bin Laden. It's kind of one of
those exaggerations. Of course we're worried about Osama bin Laden. We're on
the hunt after Osama bin Laden. We're using every asset at our disposal to get
Osama bin Laden.” [Third Presidential Debate (Tempe, Arizona), 10/13/04]
Narrator: “It’s time for a new direction.”
John Kerry: “I’m John Kerry and I approve this message.”
John Kerry Will Focus The War On Terror On The Most Urgent National Security
Challenges. “The most urgent national security challenge we face is the war
against those who attacked our country on September 11th, the war against Osama
bin Laden and al Qaeda,” Kerry said. “As president, I will fight a tougher,
smarter, more effective war on terror. My priority will be to find and capture
or kill the terrorists before they get us – and I will never take my eye off
the ball…George Bush made Saddam Hussein the priority. I would have made Osama
bin Laden the priority. As president, I will finish the job in Iraq and refocus
our energies on the real war on terror.” John Kerry has a comprehensive
strategy to win the war on terror and keep America safe. [John Kerry, 9/24/04;
www.johnkerry.com]
John Kerry Has the Strength, Conviction and Steady Leadership to Win the Peace
in Iraq. John Kerry and John Edwards believe the following principles should
guide American policy in Iraq right now: internationalize, because others must
share the burden; train Iraqis, because they must be responsible for their own
security; move forward with reconstruction because that's an important way to
stop the spread of terror; and help Iraqis achieve a viable government, because
it is up to them to run their own country. [www.johnkerry.com]
--
"There's an old saying in Tennessee -- I know it's in Texas -- that says, fool
me once, shame on you. Fool me -- you can't get fooled again."
http://www.diymedia.net/audio/mp3/tdntb-bushwack2.mp3
.
|
