September 9, 2004

BY RICHARD KEIL

WASHINGTON -- Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry said President Bush's ''catastrophic choice'' on Iraq cost U.S. taxpayers $200 billion that could have been spent on security, education, health care and job creation at home.

The deaths of more than 1,000 U.S. soldiers and civilians in Iraq since the war began in March 2003 -- announced Tuesday by the Defense Department -- were a ''tragic milestone,'' Kerry said at the Cincinnati railroad museum where Bush made a case for the war Oct. 7, 2002.

''I would not have made the wrong choices that are now forcing us to pay nearly the entire cost of this war -- $200 billion that we're not investing in education, health care and job creation at home,'' Kerry said. ''I call this course a catastrophic course.''

Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney have portrayed the war in Iraq as an integral part of the broader war on terror and described Kerry as an indecisive leader. Kerry coupled his attacks on Bush's domestic and foreign policy by linking the lack of funds for domestic programs to the cost of the war in Iraq.

Coalition building

"While we're spending $200 billion in Iraq, 8 million Americans are looking for work -- 2 million more than when George W. Bush took office -- and we're told that we can't afford to invest in job training and job creation here at home," Kerry said.

"He doesn't believe that America can be strong in the world while we also make progress here at home. He believes we have to choose one or the other. That's a false choice, and I reject it.''

The Bush campaign has highlighted what it describes as a pattern of inconsistency by Kerry in his position on the war on terror and Iraq. Republican National Committee spokesman Jim Dyke said Kerry had sought ''to clarify his position on Iraq today by adding dirt to muddy water.''

Cheney attack

In Des Moines, Iowa, on Tuesday, Cheney questioned Kerry's ability to defend the country, saying the election of the Democrat would make the United States vulnerable to more attacks.

''If we make the wrong choice'' in the Nov. 2 election, ''then the danger is that we'll get hit again,'' Cheney said.

Democratic vice presidential nominee John Edwards called on Bush to condemn Cheney's comments.

Edwards called Cheney's remarks ''un-American.''

Before a White House meeting with lawmakers today, Bush was asked by reporters if he agreed with Cheney. The president stared straight ahead and ignored the questions as reporters were escorted out of the room.

'Desperation'

Kerry strategist Joel Johnson said Kerry's speech was intended to draw distinctions between the president and his challenger in the final 60 days of the campaign -- particularly among undecided voters who aren't strongly allied with either Republicans or Democrats.

Bush leads Kerry by 52 percent to 45 percent among likely voters nationally surveyed by the Washington-based Gallup Organization Sept. 3-5. Two other polls, for Newsweek and Time magazines, gave Bush a margin of as much as 11 points since the Republican National Convention last week.

Alan Chartock, professor emeritus of political communication at the State University of New York at Albany, said Cheney's comments reflected the Bush campaign's sense of ''desperation'' about the closeness of the race.

''It's obvious that these polls showing Bush with a bump don't mean that much and in no time we'll back to 50-50,'' Chartock said.

Bloomberg News, with AP contributing

JOHN EDWARDS' STATEMENT

HE SAID, HE SAID

A day after Vice President Dick Cheney implied that voting for John Kerry in the November election could lead to a "devastating" attack on the United States, vice presidential nominee John Edwards countered that the administration was using "dishonorable" scare tactics.
http://www.suntimes.com/output/elect/cst-nws-kerry091.html

Thanks a bunch Mr. Future Former President ,for the resolve. By not even acknowledging the question you show true strength and leadership. I think its reasonable to say that Bush frightens me more than another terrorist attack.