Kerry on Bush’s “Urban Myth” On Failure to Capture Osama bin Laden

[kerrygoddess]

Kerry on Bush’s “Urban Myth” On Failure to Capture Osama bin Laden
September 15th, 2006 @ 2:58 pm

At his Rose Garden press conference today, Bush spoke of the “urban myth here in Washington about how this administration hasn’t stayed focused on Osama bin Laden,” in response to a question from a reporter:

Q: Well, recently you’ve also described bin Laden as a sort of modern day Hitler or Mussolini. And I’m wondering why, if you can explain why you think it’s a bad idea to send more resources to hunt down bin Laden, wherever he is?

THE PRESIDENT: We are, Richard. Thank you. Thanks for asking the question. They were asking me about somebody’s report, well, special forces here — Pakistan — if he is in Pakistan, as this person thought he might be, who is asking the question — Pakistan is a sovereign nation. In order for us to send thousands of troops into a sovereign nation, we’ve got to be invited by the government of Pakistan.

Secondly, the best way to find somebody who is hiding is to enhance your intelligence and to spend the resources necessary to do that; then when you find him, you bring him to justice. And there is a kind of an urban myth here in Washington about how this administration hasn’t stayed focused on Osama bin Laden. Forget it. It’s convenient throw-away lines when people say that. We have been on the hunt, and we’ll stay on the hunt until we bring him to justice, and we’re doing it in a smart fashion, Richard. We are.

John Kerry released the following statement in response to Bush’s “urban myth” claim made during his press conference today:

“President Bush says it’s an urban myth that his Administration has lost focus on Osama bin Laden. The real myth is that Iraq, not Afghanistan, is the center of the War on Terror.

President Bush lost focus on Osama bin Laden at Tora Bora when he held back our military and outsourced the job of killing this barbarian to Afghan warlords...

MORE & LINKS - http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=4191

[Lithos]

1. What was that comment he made

Something like, I just don't spend that much time looking for him... It was back in 2003/04 time frame.

L-

[blm]

2. And when Kerry hit him with that during the debates, Bush lied and said

he never said that and Kerry was just using pne of them there "exaggerations" and the corpmedia pretty much let Bush get away with another lie, even though they all knew damn well that Kerry described Bush's words accurately.

[Lithos]

3. I remember the debate

But I distinctly remember seeing Bush say that on a video someone posted years ago. This is just another case of the media giving Bush a pass. Hope we can stick it to him. Would make a good Flash campaign.

L-

[globalvillage]

4. delete

sorry, wrong article.

[TayTay]

8. The 'I don't spend much time thinking about him' comment

was made in March or April of 2002, when Bush was knee deep in planning for the Iraq War.

This cynical bastard drags the image of bin Laden out to scare people, especially because this is the week of the 5th anniversary of 9/11. He is, as Keith Olbermann charged this week, trying to spin 9/11 and the horrible tragedy that befell all those people and their families to score political points for an upcoming election.

There truly is no place in hell hot enough to put these people.

[unblock]

5. here are some quotes from a press conference in march 2002

"You know, I just don't spend that much time on him...."
"I truly am not that concerned about him."

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/03/20020313-8.html

[Lithos]

7. Thanks

That's the one.

L-

[creeksneakers2]

6. After Tora Bora

Bush cut the effort to find Bin Laden six months after 9/11. Bush sent most of the personnel involved in the hunt to training for Iraq.

In 2003, the Bin Laden hunters knew Osama was about to go down one of three trails. The hunters only had one predator drone though. The rest of the drones were probably in Iraq. The hunters guessed which trail Bin Laden would come down but they guessed wrong.

[leesa]

9. Why do our candidates respond this way?? Why not use Bush's own words?

When Bush says "I don't know where is. I just don't spend that much time on it."

His OWN WORDS are the most incriminating...why not use them?

[TayTay]

11. Ahm, they did.

And they have repeatedly.

[Synnical]

10. DId Kerry include the audio for this comment?

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/03/20020313-8.html

Q Mr. President, in your speeches now you rarely talk or mention Asama bin Laden. Why is that? Also, can you tell the American people if you have any more information, if you know if he is dead or alive? Final part -- deep in your heart, don't you truly believe that until you find out if he is dead or alive, you won't really eliminate the threat of --

THE PRESIDENT: Deep in my heart I know the man is on the run, if he's alive at all. Who knows if he's hiding in some cave or not; we haven't heard from him in a long time. And the idea of focusing on one person is -- really indicates to me people don't understand the scope of the mission.

Terror is bigger than one person. And he's just -- he's a person who's now been marginalized. His network, his host government has been destroyed. He's the ultimate parasite who found weakness, exploited it, and met his match. He is -- as I mentioned in my speech, I do mention the fact that this is a fellow who is willing to commit youngsters to their death and he, himself, tries to hide -- if, in fact, he's hiding at all.

So I don't know where he is. You know, I just don't spend that much time on him, Kelly, to be honest with you.

[wisteria]

12. I am tired of Bush lying and the media letting him get away with it.

I would like to thank Senator Kerry for speaking up.

[Unbowed]

13. I am so sick of the media ignoring this.

The newscasters and pundits are either paid off or they are the largest total collection of idiots outside of the Republican Administration.

Last night or the night before, Chris Matthews was referring to Bush and torture. The fuck brought Kerry into it by mentioning the election and saying it was a choice between the waterboarder and the snowboarder. Like they are equally bad! One is illegal and inhuman treatment of fellow human beings and the other is a sport. Was Matthews trying to say that waterboarding is good sport?

No wonder they don't keep Bush's feet to the fire. They don't care about right and wrong. They will only care about Osama if he kills more people and the more the better from their perspective.