Speaking of Al "I Invented the Internet" Gore...

[sassa]

Gore Challenges Bush on Iraq Policy

By Dan Balz

Washington Post Staff Writer

Monday, September 23, 2002; 4:50 PM

Former vice president Al Gore sharply challenged President Bush on Iraq this afternoon, warning that the administration's apparent determination to launch military action to dislodge President Saddam Hussein will "seriously damage" efforts to win the war on terrorism and "weaken our ability to lead the world."

In the most forceful critique of the administration by any leading Democrat, Gore challenged the administration's new doctrine of preemption, gave voice to critics who question the political timing of the administration's push for action in Congress and the United Nations and argued that Bush has shifted focus toward Iraq because the hunt for Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda terrorists has bogged down.

Gore's critique, delivered before the Commonwealth Club of San Francisco, put him at odds with most of the other possible 2004 Democratic presidential candidates, who have been generally to strongly supportive of Bush on Iraq. A text of the speech was made available in Washington.

Gore, who last winter said the war on terrorism would require "a final reckoning" with Saddam Hussein, restated his belief that the Iraqi leader is a potential menace to the world. But he argued that even if the United States has the theoretical right to move unilaterally against Iraq, such a course could have disastrous consequences for America's standing in the world.

"I am deeply concerned that the policy we are presently following with respect to Iraq has the potential to seriously damage our ability to win the war against terrorism and to weaken our ability to lead the world in this new century," he said.

Gore said the war on terrorism requires a multilateral coalition that likely would be shattered by anything approaching unilateral action against Iraq. He also chided the administration for trying to start a new war without finishing the job of hunting down those responsible for the attacks of last Sept. 11 or of stabilizing a post-Taliban Afghanistan.

"I do not believe we should allow ourselves to be distracted from this urgent task simply because it is proving to be more difficult and lengthy than predicted," he said. "Great nations persevere and then prevail. They do not jump from one unfinished task to another."

Gore said Hussein "does pose a serious threat" to stability in the Persian Gulf and urged the administration to take the time to assemble an international coalition, much as Bush's father did before launching a war against Iraq in 1991. Whatever good will the United States created in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks has been put in jeopardy by the administration's concentration on Iraq, he added.

Noting that in 1991 he voted for the resolution authorizing Bush's father to wage war {ndash} one of a handful of Democrats in the Senate to do so, Gore argued that current UN resolutions are enough to justify action against Hussein for being in violation of those resolution. But he said the administration's saber rattling and talk of preemption and acting without broad international support is the wrong course.

Gore urged Congress to narrow the scope of the draft resolution Bush submitted last week and said lawmakers should also ask Bush to explain why unilateral action is justified, to seek more support from the United Nations and to outline in more detail what its post-Hussein plans are for reconstruction and stability in Iraq.

On the doctrine of preemption, Gore said the danger is that other nations will assume the same right as that asserted by the administration, and that the "rule of law will quickly be replaced by the reign of fear."

© 2002 The Washington Post Company

[siceone]

just like a democrat

[sassa]

Originally posted by siceone

just like a democrat

just like a democrat to want to ask the President why unilateral, unwanted invasion probably from most of the world is necessary....?

why can't the president just be candid and stop his elusive bullshit and tell it how it is for once? why can't government just do that for one time...just be straight with people...yes, we are thinking of our national interests...and one that has always been prevelant is oil in the Middle East...if we take down Iraq, we'll add it to the list Afghanistan is on now...why not assert our authority in the Middle East and show these fuckers what Americans can do to them if they don't kiss our asses...

Then, let us start with China and Russia, which are both currently investing in building many massive pipelines throughout their territories, especially in the Caspian Sea region and western China, where there is much oil reserves...

Then, why don't we continue to allow human rights to be abused in this country and degrade a person to the point of inhumane, by allowing ghettos to exist and men to be raped (140.000 men versus 90.000 women a year in the US), continue to not introduce multicultural grounded education in public and private schools, not letting children learn from the very beginning what it is to tolerate, understand, and respect others regardless of race, color, sex, or religion...thus allowing for less war, less problems, less bullshit in the world.

but i guess the rex deus would not want that to happen.

[dnice35]

We do not live in a perfect world Sass. If Gore was president right now, Id feel sorry for us. He is using this as a political tool to start his next presidential campaign. He should go back to inventing another version of the Internet or something instead of stirring up controversy. By the way what is Gores resolution to the Iraqi crisis? Does he even have one or is he just challenging the president just to take sides against him? Dont let Mr. Gore deceive with this little ploy. This is just another vote getting tactic, which I find despicable.

[siceone]

Originally posted by sassa

just like a democrat to want to ask the President why unilateral, unwanted invasion probably from most of the world is necessary....?

why can't the president just be candid and stop his elusive bullshit and tell it how it is for once? why can't government just do that for one time...just be straight with people...yes, we are thinking of our national interests...and one that has always been prevelant is oil in the Middle East...if we take down Iraq, we'll add it to the list Afghanistan is on now...why not assert our authority in the Middle East and show these fuckers what Americans can do to them if they don't kiss our asses...

Then, let us start with China and Russia, which are both currently investing in building many massive pipelines throughout their territories, especially in the Caspian Sea region and western China, where there is much oil reserves...

Then, why don't we continue to allow human rights to be abused in this country and degrade a person to the point of inhumane, by allowing ghettos to exist and men to be raped (140.000 men versus 90.000 women a year in the US), continue to not introduce multicultural grounded education in public and private schools, not letting children learn from the very beginning what it is to tolerate, understand, and respect others regardless of race, color, sex, or religion...thus allowing for less war, less problems, less bullshit in the world.

but i guess the rex deus would not want that to happen.

It's just like a democrat to attack a the president when he doens't even belive his own position that article said it him self that Gore said Saddam must be removed and now that he is saying to be calm? and we will lose the war on terror its obivously a politcal game..

IM sorry but thier are laws against infringment upon the right's of others... but People are fucked up and do horrible things to other people... weather is be man or woman rape is rape and you can't just Electronically tag every indivudual and take away everyone's privacy.. no one is ALLOWING this to happen.. It just happens... you can't force private schools what to teach.. I firmly belive that Culture should be taught in the home and learning about african italian or irish culture isn't going to help tensions.... Black history shouldn't be called black history it should be called american history it deserves no less and to make a distinction has and always will be an insult to the people who died fighting to be equal americans ... If you want people to stop drawing distinctions Stop calling attention to it Cause that's all Liberals Do call attention tot he difference call attention to the injustice Call attention to this to that and whatnot..

and about God LETING things happen... he Let us do what we want because he gave us free will so that will would Choose our own path and use the time we have on this planet wisely at our own discretion.. if you think you're an animal and you should be controled buy some great unseen unknown force than so be it.. Be a fucking animal..

I think People forget how small they are in the grand shceme of things..

[georgym]

I never really was a fan of Mr. Al Gore, but i kinda agree with Dnice. Considering the timing and opportunity for Gore to heckle, this is prime time for him to criticize Bush.

I am either way opposed to a unilateral strike against Saddam (bearing news from the UN inspector's). It's just not the right thing for Bush to do right now.

Plus, Israel saying they will respond militarily if provoked by Iraq could not help matters in that war-torn region.

[dnice35]

Plus, Israel saying they will respond militarily if provoked by Iraq could not help matters in that war-torn region.

Why would this hurt? they are just saying they will defend themselfs is Iraq attacks them. I am sure Saddam knows we are coming after him regardless, He is just stalling for time so he can prepare himself for his downfall.