Bush ducks question about taking issue with Kerry's views on fighting terrorism as a "crime"

[ProSense]

<...>

PRESIDENT BUSH: Yes, Jim.

Q Mr. President, the Prime Minister has referred to terrorism as "a crime," and he's referred to it in part as a law enforcement issue. So for you, I'm wondering, does that underscore any sort of philosophical difference when your 2004 campaign took issue with somewhat similar descriptions from John Kerry?

And Mr. Prime Minister, I've heard a lot about how your approach to the United States will be the same as that of your predecessor, but how will it differ?

PRESIDENT BUSH: Look, people who kill innocent men, women and children to achieve political objectives are evil, that's what I think. I don't think there's any need to negotiate with them. I don't think there's any need to hope that they'll change. They are cold-blooded killers, and we better be clear-eyed when we're dealing with them.

And this Prime Minister, right in the beginning of his office, got a taste of what it means to be in a world with these people that would come and attempt to kill innocent civilians of his country, and he handled it well.

But we're dealing with a variety of methodologies to deal with them: one is intelligence, one is law enforcement, and one is military. We got to use all assets at disposal to find them and bring them to justice before they hurt our people again.

In the long run, the way to defeat these people is through a competing ideology, see. And what's interesting about this struggle -- and this is what I was paying very careful attention to when Gordon was speaking -- is, does he understand it's an ideological struggle? And he does.

As he said to me, it's akin to the Cold War, and it is, except the difference this time is we have an enemy using asymmetrical warfare to try to affect our vision, to try to shake our will. They'll kill innocent women and children so it gets on the TV screens, so that we say it's not worth it -- let's just back off. The death they cause makes it -- maybe we just ought to let them have their way. And that's the great danger facing the world in which we live, and he gets it.

He can answer his own -- your question. What's the second half? I talked too long for --

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(emphasis added)

[Mythsaje]

1. And how are those military ventures working out?

Not so well.

Maybe another strategy might be in order?

Nah.

[Jim__]

2. "...people who kill innocent men, women and children to achieve political objectives are evil..."

Did he show any sign of self-consciousness after saying that?

[ProgressiveFool]

3. "does he understand it's an ideological struggle?"

That's it? That's the bar? What does that even mean, other than has he bought into the idea that this is a fight of East against West for the soul of civilization, and all that other melodramatic bullshit?

[WinkyDink]

10. So Bush meant it when he used the word "crusade".

[jaxx]

4. I'd like to slap the shit out of the guy who taught gw the word ideology.

He uses it like it's fact based. His ideology is an agenda to do unto others till they want to do it unto us.

[blogslut]

5. I see old Dubya is describing himself again

PRESIDENT BUSH: Look, people who kill innocent men, women and children to achieve political objectives are evil, that's what I think. I don't think there's any need to negotiate with them. I don't think there's any need to hope that they'll change. They are cold-blooded killers, and we better be clear-eyed when we're dealing with them.

I agree, George. You are a cold-blooded killer. You will never change and my eyes are wide open.

[beachmom]

6. Akin to the Cold War? Where are all the ICBMs that al Qaeda owns?

This is my biggest problem with the GOP. A complete lack of understanding of who the enemy is and how to fight them.

[Johonny]

7. correct me if I'm wrong

but isn't one of the reason's our troops are STILL in Iraq "basic law enforcement issues".

[politicasista]

8. K&R

:kick:

[BlueIris]

9. Proud to be the 5th rec!

Also...re: this quote from Bush about terrorists, irony much?

"Look, people who kill innocent men, women and children to achieve political objectives are evil, that's what I think. I don't think there's any need to negotiate with them. I don't think there's any need to hope that they'll change. They are cold-blooded killers, and we better be clear-eyed when we're dealing with them."

[wisteria]

11. I other words, Senator Kerry had it right in 04 and Bush was wrong. n/t

[Olney Blue]

12. "I was paying very careful attention to when Gordon was speaking"

Could he try JUST ONCE, for God's sake, to refrain from mangling English?