Bush seeks political gains from foiled plot .:. grubbykid.com

Bush seeks political gains from foiled plot

Bush seeks political gains from foiled plot :

US President George W. Bush seized on a foiled London airline bomb plot to hammer unnamed critics he accused of having all but forgotten the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

Weighed down by the unpopular war in Iraq, Bush and his aides have tried to shift the national political debate from that conflict to the broader and more popular global war on terrorism ahead of November 7 congressional elections....

His remarks came a day after the White House orchestrated an exceptionally aggressive campaign to tar opposition Democrats as weak on terrorism, knowing what Democrats didn't: News of the plot could soon break....

Bush aides on Thursday fought the notion that they had exploited their knowledge of the coming British raid to hit Democrats, saying the trigger had been the defeat of Democratic Senator Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut by an anti-war political novice....

Snow said Bush first learned in detail about the plot on Friday, and received two detailed briefings on it on Saturday and Sunday, as well as had two conversations about it with British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

But a senior White House official said that the British government had not launched its raid until well after Cheney held a highly unusual conference call with reporters to attack the Democrats as weak against terrorism....

On Wednesday, Cheney had suggested that Democrats believe "that somehow we can retreat behind our oceans and not be actively engaged in this conflict and be safe here at home, which clearly we know we won't, we can't, be," he said.

While some Democrats have opposed some steps in the war on terrorism, and more and more are calling for a withdrawal from Iraq, no major figures in the party have called for a wholesale retreat in the broader conflict.

But Bush's Republicans hoped the raid would yield political gains....

"Weeks before September 11th, this is going to play big," said another White House official, who also spoke on condition of not being named, adding that some Democratic candidates won't "look as appealing" under the circumstances.

Just remember that: the Bush Administration and the GOP are thrilled about this.

Also remember that this shows, clearly, that the Bush Administration's disregard of law enforcement as an anti-terror weapon.

The President, Vice President, and the Republican Congress, have failed you America.

Comments

Mike says:

Listen, the fact is that we are still vulnerable. I highly suggest you all take proactive action and make sure you are prepared for any dangerous situation. By the way have you all seen the new Breath of Life emergency escape mask? The guys in my building got it and its awsome! It is pocket-size and weighs like an ounce and a half, and gives you time to escape to safety. Check it out at www.technonllc.com

Posted by: Mike at August 10, 2006 11:00 PM #

niklas says:

I would argue that we are made to feel vulnerable. Until you knew people were contemplating a cocktail of calamaty (copyright me), did you give the guy next to you with the 20oz. coke a second look? No. But now we need to. Because, as you claim, we are still vulnerable. Someone wake me up when there is an air and bomb-tight seal around middle America.

Posted by: niklas at August 14, 2006 10:22 AM #

Arno says:

Wow, taking quotes out of context, running them through a spin filter and then adding commentary? I feel like I just read a transcript from Fox News!
You know the administration is going to be as opportunistic as possible about the uncovering of the terror plot and of course they are thrilled about it, no one died!! Why would they not be thrilled? I'm thirlled and now I know where to an escape mask too!!
The "spin" goes both ways...dual action spin!(copyright me)

Posted by: Arno at August 14, 2006 1:16 PM #

niklas says:

If there was anything more than a plot, I too would be excited. However, as far as anyone is reporting, the guys had nothing more than big ideas. No materials, no tickets, and most comically, no passports. To me, that's no more dangerous than the idiots down in Miami about a month ago.

Arno, it's OK to concede that plemel may have a point now and again. Most of the time, though, I agree with you, he is just a grumpy hippie.