DUers, remember Gore's Sept. 2002 speech on Iraq and the War on Terror?

[TruthIsAll]

Hate to say it, but the best man, the one who already defeated Bush, is NOT running...

http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/iraq/2002/iraq-020923-gore01.htm

Transcript of Al Gore's Speech "Iraq and the War On Terrorism"

Monday, September 23rd, 2002

2:12 PM PST

(Remarks as prepared)

INTRODUCTION

Like all Americans I have been wrestling with the question of what our country needs to do to defend itself from the kind of intense, focused and enabled hatred that brought about September 11th, and which at this moment must be presumed to be gathering force for yet another attack. I'm speaking today in an effort to recommend a specific course of action for our country which I believe would be preferable to the course recommended by President Bush. Specifically, I am deeply concerned that the policy we are presently following with respect to Iraq has the potential to seriously damage our ability to win the war against terrorism and to weaken our ability to lead the world in this new century.

FIRST THING FIRST: WAR ON TERRORISM

To begin with, I believe we should focus our efforts first and foremost against those who attacked us on September 11th and have thus far gotten away with it. The vast majority of those who sponsored, planned and implemented the cold blooded murder of more than 3,000 Americans are still at large, still neither located nor apprehended, much less punished and neutralized. I do not believe that we should allow ourselves to be distracted from this urgent task simply because it is proving to be more difficult and lengthy than predicted. Great nations persevere and then prevail. They do not jump from one unfinished task to another.

SNIP

Nevertheless, President Bush is telling us that the most urgent requirement of the moment - - right now - - is not to redouble our efforts against Al Qaeda, not to stabilize the nation of Afghanistan after driving his host government from power, but instead to shift our focus and concentrate on immediately launching a new war against Saddam Hussein. And he is proclaiming a new, uniquely American right to pre-emptively attack whomsoever he may deem represents a potential future threat.

Moreover, he is demanding in this high political season that Congress speedily affirm that he has the necessary authority to proceed immediately against Iraq and for that matter any other nation in the region, regardless of subsequent developments or circumstances. The timing of this sudden burst of urgency to take up this cause as America's new top priority, displacing the war against Osama Bin Laden, was explained by the White House Chief of Staff in his now well known statement that "from an advertising point of view, you don't launch a new product line until after labor day."

EDITED BY ADMIN: COPYRIGHT

[David Zephyr]

1. I Remember It Well.

It was courageous of him to have said so at the time. I was proud of him then and am still now.

His speech was patriotism at its best.

Thanks for reminding everyone, TruthIsAll!

[MrPrax]

2. Great Speech...by a Winner

too bad there are too many Gore bashers in DU...he might have stepped up to the plate again

Donning flame retard-ant underwear...flame away unity crowd!!!

[Gloria]

3. He was seething at the Voter Rally in CA today....the man's got this

crap still churning in him. He should have run. My own anger can only be fully dissipated if he ran and won.

He reminds me of the Verizon wireless commercial, with the guy popping up all over the place and asking "Can you hear me now?"
Every time he pops up, he says something worthwhile..ahead of the pack...gutsy...and he gets me all charged up again abouit 2000.

[Cheswick2.0]

4. I will never forget

I wish he would make another one soon, perhaps on single payer healthcare.

[newsguyatl]

5. a great man and a great leader

and a real democrat...


thanks for this.

[AnnabelLee]

6. TruthIsAll

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AnnabelLee
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