Monday, September 25, 2006
Democrats 'Defeatists' on Terror War
U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney Monday accused Democrats of being soft in the war on terrorism with a strategy of "resignation and defeatism in the face of determined enemies."
Cheney, in a speech to Wisconsin Republicans, singled out in particular Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, West Virginia Democratic Sen. Jay Rockefeller and Democratic Party chairman Howard Dean for criticism.
Democrats would like the November elections to be seen as a referendum on President Bush's handling of the Iraq war. The party got a boost this past weekend with media reports of an intelligence report indicating that the Iraq war had led to a mushrooming of jihadist ideology.
Republicans, on the other hand, want to portray Democrats as soft on terrorism in hopes of hanging on to both houses of the U.S. Congress in November elections.
Cheney cited Reid for suggesting the United States should not have invaded Iraq in 2003 even if it meant leaving Saddam Hussein in power and for opposing the Patriot Act, controversial laws passed with the goal of fighting terrorism. He criticized Dean for saying the capture of Saddam had not made America safer.
"As we make our case to the voters in this election season, it's vital to keep issues of national security at the top of the agenda," Cheney said.
Cheney in particular attacked Democrats for turning their backs on Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, now running as an independent after losing his state's Democratic primary in August to anti-war candidate Ned Lamont.
Lieberman has firmly backed the Iraq war while criticizing the president's handling of it.
"For the sake of our security, this nation must reject any strategy of resignation and defeatism in the face of determined enemies," Cheney said.
At Milwaukee's Pfister Hotel, Cheney helped the state's Republican Party raise $150,000. In the race to become the state's governor, polls show Republican Mark Green down about five percentage points to Democrat Jim Doyle.
The Cheney visit was strong on a "war on terrorism" theme. Upon exiting Air Force Two at Milwaukee's airport, he was greeted by 10 members of Wisconsin's Air Force Reserve unit, some of whom had served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Later he was to address members of the Michigan National Guard in Grand Rapids, Michigan, before attending a closed Republican fund-raiser expected to raise $300,000.
Without much fanfare, Cheney has been an active money-raiser for his party in this campaign cycle, having raised $33 million in 100 events.
U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney Monday accused Democrats of being soft in the war on terrorism with a strategy of "resignation and defeatism in the face of determined enemies."
Cheney, in a speech to Wisconsin Republicans, singled out in particular Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, West Virginia Democratic Sen. Jay Rockefeller and Democratic Party chairman Howard Dean for criticism.
Democrats would like the November elections to be seen as a referendum on President Bush's handling of the Iraq war. The party got a boost this past weekend with media reports of an intelligence report indicating that the Iraq war had led to a mushrooming of jihadist ideology.
Republicans, on the other hand, want to portray Democrats as soft on terrorism in hopes of hanging on to both houses of the U.S. Congress in November elections.
Cheney cited Reid for suggesting the United States should not have invaded Iraq in 2003 even if it meant leaving Saddam Hussein in power and for opposing the Patriot Act, controversial laws passed with the goal of fighting terrorism. He criticized Dean for saying the capture of Saddam had not made America safer.
"As we make our case to the voters in this election season, it's vital to keep issues of national security at the top of the agenda," Cheney said.
Cheney in particular attacked Democrats for turning their backs on Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, now running as an independent after losing his state's Democratic primary in August to anti-war candidate Ned Lamont.
Lieberman has firmly backed the Iraq war while criticizing the president's handling of it.
"For the sake of our security, this nation must reject any strategy of resignation and defeatism in the face of determined enemies," Cheney said.
At Milwaukee's Pfister Hotel, Cheney helped the state's Republican Party raise $150,000. In the race to become the state's governor, polls show Republican Mark Green down about five percentage points to Democrat Jim Doyle.
The Cheney visit was strong on a "war on terrorism" theme. Upon exiting Air Force Two at Milwaukee's airport, he was greeted by 10 members of Wisconsin's Air Force Reserve unit, some of whom had served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Later he was to address members of the Michigan National Guard in Grand Rapids, Michigan, before attending a closed Republican fund-raiser expected to raise $300,000.
Without much fanfare, Cheney has been an active money-raiser for his party in this campaign cycle, having raised $33 million in 100 events.
