The Hindu : Democrats step up pressure over Bush's Iraq policy

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Oct 28, 2003

International

International

Democrats step up pressure over Bush's Iraq policy

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

Washington Oct. 27. With the daily dose of bad news from Iraq, the Democrats are stepping up the pressure on the U.S. President, George W Bush, questioning his policy and also taking on this administration on the broader war against terrorism.

The nine Democratic hopefuls in the fray for November 2004 gathered for a debate in Detriot, Michigan; and questioned Mr. Bush's credentials on Iraq; and they also used the time to snipe at one another.

But at least one top former campaign manager has posed the question if the Democrats' focus on foreign policy is going to deliver the White House next year.

"There's a huge credibility gap our party has on national security — not because we don't have enough military medals, but because we have no plan of action", remarked Donna Brazille, the former campaign manager for Al Gore in 2000.

The point being made by top Democratic strategists is that Mr. Bush may be weak on Iraq especially in the context of the daily casualties on the ground and with Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein remaining at large.

However what is being reminded that when it comes to national security and defence issues, American public opinion prefers Republicans to Democrats.

Further, the Democratic Pack of Nine is reminded that at the end of the day it would be better to start zeroing in domestic issues along with the flawed national security policies of this Republican administration.

"We cannot afford to play Bush roulette...with the lives of American troops", the Reverend Al Sharpton remarked in Detroit with the former House Minority Leader, Richard Gephardt, making the point that this President is going the same way as his father did in 1992. "Like father like son, four years and this President is done", the Missouri Democrat said.

But the fifth debate in some seven weeks saw the leading Democrats vying for the Party nomination taking pointed barbs at one another with the recent entrant, the retired General Wesley Clark being told by Senator Joseph Lieberman that he had taken "six different positions" if going to war in Iraq was a good idea and four days to decide his position on Mr. Bush's recent $ 87 billions aid package to Iraq and Afghanistan.

One of the current front runners, the former Governor of Vermont, Howard Dean, took on the Massachussetts Senator, John Kerry, on domestic and foreign policy telling the top law maker, "If you're going to defend the President's tax cuts and you're going to defend the war, I frankly don't think we can beat Bush by being Bush-Lite".

In about three months time the Democrats gather in Iowa for the first caucuses.

The January 19,2004 exercise will not see the participation of Senator Lieberman and Gen. Clark both of whom have said that they were going to use much of their energy and resources to the New Hampshire primary a week later.

And rank and file Democrats are wondering if this indeed is the correct strategy given that much of the national attention will be on the first Iowa event.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

International

News Update

Stories in this Section

South Korea to despatch 3,000 combat troops

Democrats step up pressure over Bush's Iraq policy

Senator wants White House under probe

A sign of desperation: Bush

Oil tycoon's arrest splits Kremlin

Butler's book goes on sale

Musharraf to visit China from Nov. 3

It is war-mongering: Pak.