World

Bush loses war of words

Kerry's back in race as rivals clash over Iraq in fiery debate

October 01, 2004 Edition 4

Coral Gables and Washington - The testosterone all but fizzed off the screen as US President George Bush and Senator John Kerry refused to cede any ground in a beefy presidential debate.

The Democratic challenger put himself back in the presidential race as early polls by American television networks declared him the winner of the first of three televised debates.

#CNN gave Kerry a 46%-to-37% win while CBS made it 44% to 26%.

Despite rigid rules supposed to stifle spontaneity, genuine debate did its best to break out, as Bush and Kerry fired rhetorical darts over Iraq and the post-September 11 global anti-terror campaign.

Kerry said Bush had made "a colossal error in judgement" by

invading Iraq, as they clashed in a high-stakes debate that may decide their battle for the White House.

As tens of millions of people around the world watched the televised confrontation, Bush countered that Kerry was undermining US credibility in the war on terrorism with "mixed messages" about whether toppling Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein was worth the cost.

"What message does that send our troops? What message does that send to our allies? What message does that send to the Iraqis?" Bush said. "The world is better off without Saddam Hussein."

Kerry threw the first punch in the political prizefight by confidently declaring, "I can do a better job," when asked about Iraq and averting another terrorist attack like the September 11 2001 strikes.

He also charged that Bush unnecessarily diverted resources from the hunt for al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden to the war in Iraq, saying: "This president has made, I regret to say, a colossal error of judgement. And judgement is what we look for in the president."

The president painted his rival as fickle on crucial national security issues, noting he voted to authorise the Iraq war in 2002 but went against war-funding in 2003.

"We're not going to achieve our objective if we send mixed signals to our troops, our friends, the Iraqi citizens," said Bush. "You cannot lead if you send mixed messages."

"I've had one position, one consistent position, that Saddam Hussein was a threat.

"There was a right way to disarm him and a wrong way. And the president chose the wrong way," countered the Massachusetts senator.

Kerry has accused Bush of fracturing alliances and damaging US credibility and global standing in the rush to war; Bush has charged that Kerry is more worried about worldwide popularity than protecting the US.

The debate took place after the latest Iraqi tragedy. At least 49 people were killed there, dozens of them children, in three nearly simultaneous car bomb attacks yesterday.

"This president, I don't know if he sees what's really happened out there. But it's getting worse by the day," said Kerry.

"If we lose our will, we lose. But if we remain strong and resolute, we will defeat this enemy," said Bush.

Amid signs of slipping US public support for his policy towards Iraq, Bush sounded defensive, and

frequently shot annoyed glances at Kerry during the debate.

The two clashed on approaches to the North Korean nuclear crisis - Bush warning against Kerry's call for bilateral talks - and to Iran's moves to develop a nuclear programme.

But both agreed that the most serious threat to US national security was the possibility that terrorists like Bin Laden's al-Qaeda network might get their hands on nuclear materials.

And Kerry and Bush called the violence sweeping through Sudan's troubled Darfur region "genocide" while saying they opposed sending US troops there.

There was no mention of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, though both men agreed stabilising Iraq was in Israel's interest, and the president later expressed his surprise that there had been no question about Cuba.

"I've got a plan to spread freedom, not only in the greater Middle East, but in our own hemisphere, in places like Cuba," said Bush, who told a cheering crowd that his policy was "Cuba libre" (free Cuba).

Kerry and Bush will have a second debate, on October 8 in Missouri, and finish with a session on October 13 in Arizona.

Vice President Dick Cheney and Kerry's Democratic running mate, John Edwards, will hold a single

debate on October 5 in Ohio. - Sapa-AFP, Reuters and Sapa-AP