War will benefit Israel, Cheney tells Jews in Boca
by Miami Herald • Saturday May 15, 2004 at 10:50 AM
Yes, we knew that already. Now, how will it benefit America?
War will benefit Israel, Cheney tells Jews in Boca
Vice President ***** Cheney steered clear of criticizing Democrats
during a speech before a Palm Beach County Jewish group.
BY LESLEY CLARK
lclark@herald.com
BOCA RATON -- Vice President ***** Cheney defended the Bush
administration's war in Iraq to a Jewish group on Friday, declaring
that Israel would benefit from a new democratic government in the
region.
Cheney's speech comes as polls show that the war is taking a toll on
President Bush's popularity. For the first time since the invasion of
Iraq more than a year ago, a majority of voters believe efforts in
Iraq are faltering, according to a poll released Wednesday by the
nonpartisan Pew Research Center.
But Cheney pronounced the president unswayed as he sought to link the
war on terrorism with the war in Iraq, underscoring a key campaign
strategy: presenting Bush as a confident, determined
commander-in-chief, despite the risks.
''There can be no compromise in this mission,'' Cheney said in a
25-minute address to the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County.
``Our enemy cannot be deterred, contained, appeased or negotiated
with. It can only be destroyed.''
The vice president, who has staunchly defended embattled Defense
Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, made only passing reference to the prison
abuse scandal in Iraq, which some strategists fear could overshadow
Bush's message.
''The recent misconduct of a few does not diminish the honor and the
decency that our servicemen and women have shown in Iraq,'' Cheney
said. ``They have seen hard duty, long deployments and fierce
fighting. They have endured the loss of friends and comrades, but they
are unwavering in their mission.''
STANDARD MATERIAL
Though Cheney had been instructed to steer clear of politicking, the
speech was standard Bush-Cheney stump material and included a nod to
the president's healthcare and education policies.
''He has a hopeful, optimistic vision for the future of the nation,''
Cheney said.
In keeping with federation ground rules, however, there were no
campaign banners or signs and no mention of presumed Democratic
presidential nominee John Kerry.
Democrats mocked the event, which federation officials had billed as
an ``important policy address.''
NOTHING NEW
''We listened to 25 minutes of a campaign speech,'' said state Sen.
Ron Klein, a Delray Beach Democrat who was among a few Democrats at
the largely Republican event. ``I sure didn't hear anything that
changes the course of U.S. policy as it relates to Israel.''
The federation, which had advised the often-controversial Cheney that
it wanted him to avoid ''bashing'' Kerry, said it was satisfied with
the nonconfrontational tone of the address.
''It was a fabulous moment for the Jewish people to hear a sitting
vice president be as strongly supportive of the defense of Israel,''
said William Bernstein, the federation's executive vice president.
WORDS BY SAUDI
Klein said political feelings remain strong in Palm Beach County --
home to the infamous butterfly ballot that some Democrats believe
contributed to Bush's thin margin of victory in 2000. He noted that
Cheney vowed to go after nations that support terrorism but said the
Bush administration has failed to denounce anti-Semitic remarks
attributed to the Saudi crown prince, who blamed ''Zionist elements''
for terrorism in his country.
Kerry has criticized the remarks.
To quell some of the hard feelings, the federation is likely to extend
an invitation to Kerry to deliver a similar address, Bernstein said.
PARTISANS
The day was not without politics. Outside, Kerry supporters held signs
protesting Cheney's appearance.
Inside the hall, one woman began yelling ''Four More Years'' as Cheney
took the stage.
Cheney chuckled and said, ``No comment.''
His visit comes as Republicans boost efforts to court Jewish voters,
who traditionally vote Democratic.
Cheney was introduced as ''our friend, Israel's friend,'' by state
Rep. Adam Hasner, a Palm Beach Republican.
Cheney was to cap his visit to Florida -- his second in as many weeks
-- with an address to a Republican National Committee fundraiser in
Orlando.
RNC officials said the event to benefit Republican
''get-out-the-vote'' efforts would raise $300,000.
www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/8670737.htm?1c
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