Edwards calls Bush terror policy a 'failure'
Watch part of John Edwards' speech on Friday.
WASHINGTON (CNN) - In a speech delivered only steps away from New York City’s "Ground Zero," Democratic White House hopeful John Edwards declared President Bush's terror policy a "failure" Friday and proposed a new multilateral organization to combat future threats.
"Today, terrorism is worse in Iraq, and it’s worse around the world," Edwards said in a speech at Pace University, four days before the six-year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. "So what does all this mean? It means the results are in on George Bush’s so-called 'global war on terror,' and it’s not just a failure. It’s a double-edged failure."
The former North Carolina senator also charged the Bush administration has "rigidly stuck to outdated approaches that are ineffective against the modern terrorist threat," and proposed a new multilateral organization that will seek to "create connections between a wide range of nations on terrorism and intelligence."
Edwards said countries from every continent would be part of the organization and would be "required to commit to tough criteria about the steps they will take to root out extremists, particularly those who cross our borders."
In April, Edwards indicated during a presidential debate that he did not believe there was a “global war on terror” and later declared the term "a bumper sticker, not a plan."
Several GOP presidential candidates slammed the comments and President Bush called Edwards "naïve."
Related video: CNN's Bill Schneider takes a look at the politics of the war on terror
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John is entitled to his opinion, but the Dept of Defense 's policy is not to reveal the number of enemy casualties, so we can't know that number versus the number of ours. Therefore, how can John Edwards ascertain the degree of success?
Well said, Mr. Edwards. The only way to fight a de-centralized terrorist network is with a carefully constructed multi-lateral law enforcement network, maintained through rigorous diplomacy, not pre-emptive invasions and large-scale military set-piece battles.
I think it all stems from his flawed foreign policy. This unfortunately has become a very dangerous precedence for future administrations. One can only ask if it's him or some esle ... -–> Has Cheney reshaped our foreign policy for good -–> http://www.youpolls.com/details.asp?pid=434
Keep going after W, John. I have a hunch feeling Bush won't get re-elected.
"I'm the best candidate because Bush is a bad president."
This guy just doesn't get it. Perhaps we should go back to the Clinton model of dealing with terrorism...the "Do Nothing" model, as we get attacked again and again.
As for the multi-national approach? Isn't that what's happening now? Our allies around the world continue to root out and arrest terrorists on their soil before they have a chance to attack.
John Edwards is in full-panic mode as he continues to slide in the polls. He considers Bush's terrorism plans a "double-edge failure" yet we have not been attacked in six years.
God help us if this loon gets elected, although with the overall intelligence of the electorate, I don't see that happening. We are too smart to fall for this idiot's spin.
By the way John, foreclose on any Katrina victims recently?
Future President Edwards is right! We are lees safe now than before 9/11!
It's a stretch to think that any other Adm. could have handled the threat of Islamic Extremism more incompetently than the current Cheney/Bush Adm.
We need the bold leadership that Senator Edwards is suggesting!
So ?
I believe Bush is an incapable doofus who has help to bankrupt the economy and embroil the nation in an unwinnable, ill-conceived war that will be every bit as bad and worse for the region as Vietnam was. Bush should and will go down in history as one of America's worst Presidents.
However, Edwards doesn't present any alternative plan to combat terrorism and I'm positive that he won't adopt even MORE harsher tactics than Bush – the tactics necessary, to stamp out terrorism. It's easy to criticize someone's plan, it's a lot tougher to actually create your own. This is the mark of a "leader", and Edwards doesn't have it.
How can Edwards say that Bush's global war on terror is a double-edged failure when we have not been attacked one time on US soil since 9/11?! i'm not saying that we wont get attacked, could be tomorrow, but geez cant the guy get some credit for handling this nearly impossible war to win??
Of course Romney and the rest of the Republican candidates will criticize Edwards. They're running their presidential campaigns on the status quo. Edwards thinks we need to change our approach. I can't imagine why this is considered "news."
The fact is that our Iraq policy has failed and continues to fail and, given historical precedent, will continue to fail. Republican cronies are reaping huge dollars from this nonsense and it won't stop until they are forced to stop it. Not so surprising that billions of American tax-payer dollars have been "lost" and cannot be accounted for. And this from a president who keeps telling us he wants Americans to be able to keep more of their hard-earned money!
Imagine the "good" the mislaid and misspent billions could have done.
I think Senator Edwards' is probably pretty close to right in his assessments and I applaud him for displaying the leadership and courage.
as "mission accomplished", "stay the coIt's true that statements such urse", "bring it on", "imminent threat", "weapons of mass destruction", "global war on terror","duct tape and plastic", "National Security alerts", have panned out to be nothing more than bumper sticker-like phrases. Just like the Bush presidency, his words spill to hollow.
Americans are sick and tired of the cute phrases while tax money is squandered by the billions for a needless war, hundreds of thousands of Iraqi's, (innocent by the way), are dead, and millions of Iraqi's displaced.
Our sons and daughters die to protect Bush's foolish policy which has caused terror to take root and bloom in a country that in the first place had no part of 9/11. We can thank bush for a new breeding ground for AlQuaida, even as Bin Laden is free and AlQaida re-groups in Afghanistan. Bush will paint a rosie picture of his cowardly war in Iraq. Without a conscience, denial is his best friend.
I like Edawrds....until he starts talking. That was a stupid move on his part as many moves have been. He is trying to get in front of every microphone in the hopes that name recognition will help his bid. Stop commenting on things you nothing about mr. edwards.
The left will NEVER give Bush credit for our improvements in Iraq because it's not in their best political interest to do so.
Could they be more pathetic and weak?
A double-edged failure... would that be the same as losing the 2004 Presidential election AND not even winning your home state, Mr Edwards?
The media is a sorry excuse as the replacement of a few well connected individuals in the local electorate legislature.
So its 1811 and a presidential campaign has begun to catch up with the masses. Only legislative members hold the right to vote for a president. Literacy is expected for membership but not required. Outside of the papers read aloud in pubs, barbershops, and the town hall meetings the only connection the regular electorate has to a presidential candidates are a few legislative members who may have had chance meetings or even true regular contact; many abstain from voting due to the lack of an understanding of the true character of any candidate.
It was expected that the local congressman of forty thousand people or the senator chosen from the legislative mass would hold knowledge of who these characters were and so could direct the vote of the main body, but as some would be against their representative they might vote the opposite way.
In truth the local legislature will know who their direct representatives are, but the president is a person hired to fulfill a duty. The best president would answer the requirements of duty based on proof of experience and intellect, but the State election is where ideals are more important. “Listen to the elected officials you trust”, but note that those representative in modern times are out of range for character assessment due to the lack of proper apportionment.
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The president holds the ability to call to power a military force and bring it to battle front. This is done when a threat to direct trade is apparent, or other interests in foreign nations are threatened. However, The United Nations already exists to extend lawful acceptance of when such violent responses are required. The Navy is always maintained due to the nature of creating of a fleet, but its responsibility was against piracy and now immigration control, the only pirates left are those who threatened whales, violate fishery license, or smuggle contraband goods.
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These national parties need to be busted up and scattered, like drunken teenagers in the bush.
Edwards is right. The US has no more allies in Iraq after the Brits pulled out and are not engaging any other countries to develop an intelligence plan to create a catalog of information to defeat terror plots. For goodness sake, the administration would not even allow the FBI and CIA to communicate. No wonder the "a terrorist learns to fly" report was not read; no one was allowed to act on it!
P.S. without releasing records of past military actions (those terrorists allegedly killed) we have no idea what is happening in this purported "war on terror." Don't you find it odd that when an alleged terror head is killed, the military DOES inform the news media?
Xtina,
When will you learn that the number of dead enemy bodies isn't the measure of success in a war against a concept/ideology?
It's not like a war against a nation that has a limited number of individuals to fight the war. Because it's an ideology, they can gather new bodies so long as the requirements for their support (American occupation, aggression, poverty, etc.) remain intact.
John Edwards comments are right on the money. W's big adventure has been an absolute failure and we are absolutely not any safer now, we are less so. We also have managed to alienate many of our allies and sow the seeds of distrust of our policies throughout the world. It is very unfortunate, but many people around the world view us similarly now as they use to view the old Soviet Union. We will not be able to solve the terrorism problem without a broad coalition and we won't be able to get that kind of support without a change of leadership and direction.
Sometimes the populace would prefer not to hear the truth because it doesn't fit with what they would like to believe. Some of Edward's comments have not been popular, but I believe he represents the kind of change this country needs. You Go, John.
Posted By Jon, Sacramento ~ Ca: "A double-edged failure… would that be the same as losing the 2004 Presidential election AND not even winning your home state, Mr Edwards?"
According to the Rasmussen report if voters had to choose between Giuliani and Clinton then Giuliani would be President. If the choice were between Giuliani and Edwards then Edwards would be the President. The part that cracks me up the most is that the democrats have, for whatever reason, overwhelmingly backed Hillary as their candidate. Clinton barely polls higher than McCain in head to head matchups where Edwards is a clear winner.
Please, please, please, pick Hillary as your candidate democrats.
Missed the point again. Iraq was never about terror. "They" still claim it is, but most of us know better.
I think Edwards has spent too much time having his hair done.
How can anyone call the Pres. war on terror a total failure? If you agree with the handeling of the war or not no thinking person can make that judgement. First of all there has not been an attack. Second several atempts have been stopped. Get over the hate lets discuss reality. If you have a better plan lets hear it. Ignoring the fact that there are people that want us dead does not mean they will go away. The most important duty of a Pres is to protect Americans. There has been no more attacks here!!! Baffel us with brilliance not BS!!!!
John Edwards makes sense. He is thoughtful in his approach to terrorism, rather than perpetuating fear and misinformation. We need to reach out to others, first within our country, then throughout the world to stop terrorism. Senator Edward's collaborative approach is the best plan not only to fight terrorism to also to tackle our domestic issues.
Well said John Edwards. Osama Bin Laden is is Aghanistan or pakistan and we are in Iraq? Only a moron would take his eye of the ball... Edwards could do much better
Has John Edwards, Esq., ever uttered anything that wasn't a cliche? John, my young lad, what we want to hear frorm you is not pie in the sky "safe" statements. We want to know the specifics of the vision, the strategy, the tactics of what you propose to turn the country around. Give us the 1., 2., 3., 4. etc specific steps you plan to take if elected. This campaign isn't a dress rehearsal. This is IT, dude.
I encourage everyone to read the entire speech and see the many points left out of in this short paragraph:
http://www.johnedwards.com/news/press-releases/20070907-counterterrorism/
I wonder why CNN did not link today's speech, but instead linked criticisms to an old debate statement?