Kennedy's 'Texas' Remark Stirs GOP Reaction

Thursday, September 18, 2003

(10:27 PM ET) (02:27 GMT)

CNN's Dana Bash contributed to this story

“The senator's comments reflect the tired old soft-on-defense attitude of the Democratic Party, and the American people are thankful for a strong and decisive leader in President Bush who isn't afraid to make tough decisions."

[ ... ]

"The point is the administration has to be more accountable with the American public about the cost of the war. The fact is there are real questions about the administration's intent with this war, what their plan is for our troops and how the money is being spent."

WASHINGTON -- CNN
Sen. Ted Kennedy's comment Thursday to The Associated Press that the Iraq war was "made up in Texas" provoked no White House response but did stir a Republican official.

In the AP interview, Kennedy questioned how much of a threat Saddam Hussein had posed in the U.S. fight against terrorism.

"There was no imminent threat. This was made up in Texas, announced in January to the Republican leadership that war was going to take place and was going to be good politically. This whole thing was a fraud," the Massachusetts Democrat told the AP.

He said Bush officials employed "distortion, misrepresentation, a selection of intelligence" to justify the war.

As for the administration's current policy in Iraq, Kennedy called it "adrift."

He said Bush officials had failed to account for $1.5 billion of the $4 billion the war costs each month, citing a recent report by the Congressional Budget Office.
(More: CNN.com Inside Politics)
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Dan