Bin Laden tape stirs reaction from candidates
McCain said his presidency would be Al Qaeda's 'worst nightmare'
(CNN) – Republican presidential contenders had different takes Friday on the significance of Osama bin Laden, as his first videotape in nearly 3 years was released.
Aboard his campaign bus in Iowa, former Senator Fred Thompson of Tennessee told CNN’s John King , “I think bin Laden is more of a symbolism than he is anything else.”
En route to an appearance in Mason City, Thompson said, “I think he shows and demonstrates to people, once again, that we're in a global war. Bin Laden being in the mountains of Afghanistan or Pakistan is not as important as the fact that there's probably al Qaeda operatives inside the United States of America.”
Asked if the United States should have waited to go to war in Iraq until bin Laden was caught or al Qaeda was further weakened, Thompson said, “It's not an either/or situation; sometimes you don't have a choice. Saddam Hussein was on the cusp as having defeated the United Nations and the free world and the United States. He had certainly had weapons of mass destruction and had the capability of reviving his nuclear program. In light of what Iran is doing today with their nuclear program, he certainly would have gotten back on the stick and gotten there again...you're not served up these issues one at a time. They come when they come and you have to deal with them. Some might say, ‘Stop efforts in other parts of the world and concentrate on Iraq.’ We don't have that luxury.”
In Florida, Rudy Giuliani said capturing or killing bin Laden should not be a “secondary” goal. He told reporters outside a police station in Largo, “The way Islamic terrorism works, individual figures are enormously important. There is a charismatic impact that they have. A perverse one, but a charismatic impact they have. So that if you could take them out, prosecute them, remove them, or take them out of circulation I think you'd have an impact on their ability to function particularly if you could take him out and take some of his lieutenants with him.”
Giuliani, New York City's mayor when the 9/11 attackers struck, said of bin Laden messages, “I have to separate myself from my own personal feelings about it, which are very strong.” He said he had not yet seen the videotape but “the good part that emerges from it is he is obviously in hiding. It obviously restricts what he can do. That's a good thing. The bad thing is we haven't caught him yet. We haven't brought him to justice....that is a very important thing to do.”
Senator John McCain, R-Arizona, campaigned Friday in the Los Angeles area. In a statement, McCain said, “Osama bin Laden and his henchmen must be hunted down - and as president, I will. Al Qaeda terrorists and the violent, aggressive ideology they propagandize must be defeated across the globe, in Afghanistan and in Iraq, which bin Laden's top lieutenant calls al Qaeda's central battlefront against the United States. My presidency will be al Qaeda's worst nightmare.”
In northern New Hampshire, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney told an audience in Berlin: “We’re under attack by people who want to cause the collapse of civilization and draw us back to the eighth or ninth century.” He called the terrorist plots “a threat unlike what we’ve faced before” that will take a “different nature of effort on our part” to defeat.
- CNN Political Desk Managing Editor Steve Brusk
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McCain "used to be" a highly respected person, notice I didn't say Republican, that many Americans of both parties would have voted for. But, that is past history. He has changed into this arrogant, beligerant, meglomaniacal, self-centered person that only his wife and immediate family will vote for.
He has his time and chance years ago but he blew it.
Now it is time for him to way away before he looks more of a fool than he already does.
Thank you CNN for reminding me that the media will do everything it can to uphold the myth that only the republicans can spew hyperbole about terrorists. It is nice to see that Thompson is only slightly more coherent than Bush, he's gotta be a front-runner now. I'm sure he'll lead us to victory and take out bin Laden "a symbolism" and insights about how Saddam "was on the cusp as having" completely defeated every good person on the planet really makes me thrilled that he's probably going to be the Republican nominee.
Republicans have a tendency to grossly over-exaggerate the terrorist threat in some ways and just completely misconstrue it in others. First they say that al-Qaeda is a threat to our entire way of life and existence, but then they still say that it's not as important to take out bin Laden as it is to "win" the war in Iraq.
They seem paranoid and foolish. We beat George III, survived the Civil War, defeated Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan, and we outlasted the Soviet Empire. I think we can handle Osama bin Laden. The real threat to our nation is the corruption arising from within.
Osama is endorsing the democrats too...
All these kick ass Republicans spouting off scare me worse than Ozzie Osborne biting off a bat's head. I'm sure Bin Laden's shaking in his cave too after hearing those threats. He's probably ready to convert to Christianity compared to barbaric Islam after such measured responses.
J McCain – all wind – no substance! Blowing in the breeze john – go home and relax, your done!
Off of McCain’s remark:
I thought that Al Qaeda’s greatest nightmare was being placed under the tyranny of those who wield the ultimate power: The Supermodel.
I notice that your story somehow omits the criticism of Democrats by Mr. Bin Laden.
His rant sounded very much like the many speeches heard from the likes of Pelosi, Reed, Durbin, Clinton etc.
And you call yourself a news organization?
Haa...
What is worse; being governed by those who would want to force a return to an eighth century civilization; or as we are now, controlled by playmates that don’t care about the state of civilization at all?
What would a Chuck Norris character do? First attempt to Capture Bin Laden and grant him a trial; killing him only if he produces a gun in hand with intent.
Bin Laden is a symbol, but how that symbol will be treated reflects back upon us.
Well, Romney and Thompson just showed their complete ignorance of world affairs.
In related news, when pressed for comment on the Bin Laden video, Democratic presidential contender John Edwards said, "Oh, are people trying to kill us?"
UBL is looking rough! Here's a funny question I saw today at http://www.pollicious.com for "Why did Osama bin Laden change his look?" a)Fashion Week b)To get the ladies c)Appear more American
Thompson says there are WMDs in Iraq?Iraq defeated the UN and the US in what? Thompson sounds like a real looney.Are there still enough loonies like that to get elected?
So OBL really believes that Allah's law is "an eye for an eye, tooth for tooth, the killer be killed?" That certainly fits the Old Testament all right. And I, for one, have no objection to Allah's applying that law to one who is not above the law, which would be, of course, OBL. He is also correct in stating that the events of 9/11 altered American history, but then so did Adolph Hitler, Tojo's attack at Pearl Harbor, the ovens of Europe's Jew haters, etc. We took care of business there; we'll take care of business again. I'm hardly impressed by Gary Cooper's hiding out in a closet at High Noon. All the bullies and braggarts and rapists and killers say the same thing don't they? Give me what I want or I'll kill you! I have a better idea, OBL, you accept Jesus Christ as your personal savior and the whole world will profit for all time to come.
Holy crap, Thompson and Romney can't be that ignorant. Bin Laden is responsible for murdering 3,000 people in the U.S. and now he's just a symbol!
I am a Republican and I firmly believe that Bush is criminally stupid for relegating Bin Laden to secondary status. So far only Obama, Giuliani and McCain seem to have a clue of the right way to proceed.
To restore any kind of credibility and respect for the U.S. in the world, we MUST capture Bin Laden alive and put him on trial. Killing him would just make him a martyr.
We need to show the world that we are focused and relentless if we are to repair the damage the Iraq sideshow has done to what is left of our country's honor. Look at the Russians, it only took them a little over a year to get the leader of the plot that killed all those school children.
It has been almost six years since 9/11. Bush and his supporters have got zip to show for it. It is time we got some people in charge who can do the job he can't.
Any one of these guys would be a nightmare for OUR country!
What is so pathetic about Bush and the GOP is that they think Americans are stupid about 9/11."We are here in Iraq because 9/11" says Bush and all his kings men(the GOP Presidential Candidates). The Neo-Cons keep saying people who don't support the Iraq War forgot about 9/11.
No, you stupid people! You forgot about 9/11, and this video by Bin Laden proves to the world that G W Bush and the Conservatives have no clue how to fight the war on terror. Bin Laden,from Saudi Arabia, got 19 Hijackers to slam three Airplanes out of four in buildings in New York City, and Virginia. Out of the 19 hijackers, not one of them were Iraqi, in fact most were from Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia? You mean the country that Bush is going to arm and fund?You mean the country that most of the foreign insurgents in Iraq that are fight us come from? Yes, that is the one.
Mr. President 90% of America was behind you after 9/11. We trusted that you had the wisdom to guide America to safety. We listened to your words, we trusted you. But in the end you tried to con us, made America look stupid in front of our allies, and the world.
All you Neo-Cons blame Clinton For not getting Bin Laden, well how is that War on Terror going now for you? I see that Bin Laden is still alive after 6 years of pursuit . Maybe if Bush would have concentrated on getting Bin Laden, instead of invading a country that DID NOTHING TO AMERICA ON 9/11, this video that came out would have never had happen.
The sad thing is, Bush knows where Bin Laden is right now, but he is afraid to go get him. Bush is afraid of Pakistan? Thats right, Pakistan(who is hosting most of the Taliban who are attacking US forces in Afghanistan) has WMD's Bush does not want to go after countries that actually have WMD
Most Americans don't need a history lesson on 9/11. It is the Republicans who need a history lesson about 9/11. The fact is that Iraq War has nothing to do with Bin Laden, Bush made it a excuse for him to go after Saddam Hussein for trying to kill his Daddy(which Clinton stopped) Most of Americans are against the War in Iraq because it was a wrong serious move made by G W Bush that cost innocent lives. Those brave American troops who s lives were cut down because they were commanded by a lunatic. Americans deserve better than what we got from Bush. America gave him our trust, Iraq was his reward to America, and Bin Laden is still Alive . Nice Job Mr. President
"Saddam Hussein was on the cusp as having defeated the United Nations and the free world and the United States. He had certainly had weapons of mass destruction and had the capability of reviving his nuclear program"
Fred sounds just like Bush and Cheney when they got us into the mess that is now Iraq. Get off the personal hatred of on man be it Saddam or Bin Ladin and lets get back to worrying about the real problems in America before there is nothing left to defend.
I am not American. I cannot vote. I am not Muslim.
It is a facet of the western world that runs deep. The West just does not understand Islamic principles that are at the foundation of Muslim choices and organized social structures. The path that should be followed is peace through consensus building. Compromise.
Among all the candidates–from the left or from the right makes no difference to me–the one that is by far the better equipped one is Ms Rodham Clinton.
Fred Thompson is retarded. He is a waste of our time...Kick him out now.
Islamic terrorists are, by our standards, worthless human beings. They only make the world worse for non-Muslims, for decent Muslims, for their own children, and for future generations. Our politicians compete with each other to appear "tough on terrorism" just as they tried to look "tough on Communism" 25 years ago. Their rhetoric makes us feel that terrorism is our primary problem in the world. I admit that terrorists have killed between 5000 and 10000 Americans during this century (approximately 3000 on 9-11, 4000 in Iraq, 350 in Afghanistan, and numerous civilian casualties). This is obviously undesirable and something must be done to prevent future deaths at the hand of Muslim terrorists.
However, during a year in America:
40,000 die in auto accidents;
550,000 die from legal drugs (alcohol, tobacco, prescription drugs, nonprescription medication);
110,000 die in traffic or in gun acciidents;
50,000 die from homicide or suicide; and 17,000 die from illegal drug use.
Terrorism is a great way to whip up the emotions of the voting public and to ring up contributions. However, the gutless leadership in both parties will not raise these more serious issues because the voters will not stand for it.
Who will propose outlawing the most dangerous drugs in our society (alcohol and tobacco)? Who will propose lower speed limits and safer cars? Who will dare propose stronger gun laws? Who will defy the food and restaurant lobbies by proposing an aggressive anti-overeating campaign that targets the many blubber-laden Americans who will die from diseases that could be prevented by good diet and vigorous exercise?
Our politicians are pandering to us and humoring us, fellow suckers. They only want those cool jobs with the big pay, big benefits, immense social status, endless applause, and no minimum standards of performance.
The issue of terrorism is an important one, but it is not even close to the top of the list.
PL from UN,
Americans are too informed and educated to buy into you consistently bizarre claims.
Bill,
Romney didn't claim Bin Laden is just a symbol. Nice try. Of all the candidates, Romney campaigns the most about radical Islamic threats.
thompson must have gotten confused and thought he was playing george bush on a made for tv movie. mccain well he sounds insane now im not sure what happened to him i think george bush must have driven him to the brink of insanity through the 2000 race until now.
Is Thompson even paying attention to what he says? "Saddam Hussein was on the cusp as having defeated the United Nations and the free world and the United States" – none of that is remotely true. Hussein's Iraq was so weakened by his successive failures against Iran and Kuwait, followed by a decade of crippling sanctions, that he was no threat to anyone outside of Iraq.
Grandpa Thompson really doesn't seem to engage his brain before opening his mouth, does he?