http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/News/International/2006/09/12/1829441-sun.html
Bush touts anti-terror strategy The U.S. president casts the fighting as protection for civilization. By BETH GORHAM, CP WASHINGTON -- U.S. President George W. Bush warned Americans yesterday they're vulnerable in a sweeping "struggle for civilization" during a pre-election speech where he tried to convince skeptics Iraq hasn't been a dangerous detour from the anti-terror war. "Today we are safer, but we are not yet safe . . . we face an enemy determined to bring death and suffering into our homes," he said in prime-time television address marking the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. "If we do not defeat these enemies now, we will leave our children to face a Middle East overrun by terrorist states and radical dictators armed with nuclear weapons." Bush has been blitzing the airwaves in the run-up to the Sept. 11 milestone, hoping to retain the upper hand on terror as the congressional mid-term elections approach this November. He's been casting anti- terrorism as a broad ideological struggle like the Cold War or the fight against Nazism in the Second World War, while insisting that a democratic Iraq is a vital step. He went further yesterday as he spoke from the Oval Office in a speech the White House insisted wasn't political. "This struggle has been called a clash of civilizations. In truth, it is a struggle for civilization. We are fighting to maintain the way of life enjoyed by free nations," he said. "We are in a war that will set the course for this new century and determine the destiny of millions across the world." Americans still give the president, who is riding low in opinion polls, fairly good marks for his response to 9/11. But most are fed up with the Iraq war and question whether the invasion was necessary. Some are so frustrated with the Bush administration they think it was either behind the Sept. 11 attacks or knew about them and did nothing to stop them. And a growing number say reducing the U.S. military presence overseas would decrease the terrorist threat. More people are telling pollsters these days that depending less on Middle East oil and avoiding involvement in the problems of other countries would work better. With such widespread discontent, Republicans are facing a major challenge this fall in retaining control of Congress. Gaining political advantage from the war on terror is key. "America did not ask for this war and every American wishes it were over. So do I," said Bush, who appealed for the "determined efforts of a unified country." "But the war is not over and it will not be over until either we or the extremists emerge victorious," he said, appealing for unity in the fight. As for former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, said Bush, he posed a risk that the world could not afford to take. The administration, he said, now has a clear plan to ensure that a democratic Iraq succeeds. "Winning this war will require the determined efforts of a unified country. So we must put aside our differences and work together to meet the test that history has given us. We will defeat our enemies, we will protect our people and we will lead the 21st century into a shining age of human liberty." [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? Head on over to our discussion list, [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------------------- Brooks Isoldi, editor [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.intellnet.org Post message: osint@yahoogroups.com Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** FAIR USE NOTICE. This message contains copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. OSINT, as a part of The Intelligence Network, is making it available without profit to OSINT YahooGroups members who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information in their efforts to advance the understanding of intelligence and law enforcement organizations, their activities, methods, techniques, human rights, civil liberties, social justice and other intelligence related issues, for non-profit research and educational purposes only. We believe that this constitutes a 'fair use' of the copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use,' you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
