aggreen1

Rumsfeld: Criticism of Bush Strengthens U.S. Foes

Reuters
Monday, September 8, 2003; 11:16 AM

By Tabassum Zakaria

SHANNON, Ireland (Reuters) - Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said on
Monday opposition to the U.S. President was encouraging Washington's
enemies and hindering his 'war against terrorism'.

He said if Washington's enemies believed Bush might waver or his
opponents prevail, that could increase support for their activities.

"They take heart in that and that leads to more money going into these
activities or that leads to more recruits or that leads to more
encouragement or that leads to more staying power," he told reporters
traveling with him on his plane.

"Obviously that does make our task more difficult."

"Terrorists studied...instances when the United States was dealt a
blow and tucked in, and persuaded themselves that they could in fact
cause us to acquiesce in whatever it is they wanted to do," he said.
"The United States is not going to do that, President (George W.) Bush
is not going to do that."

Rumsfeld's comments came after Bush said he would seek $87 billion for
fighting terrorism and rebuilding efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. He
spoke also just three days before the second anniversary of the
attacks on New York and Washington which the United States blames on
al Qaeda islamist militants.

CHEMICAL WEAPONS

U.S. soldiers are attacked almost daily in occupied Iraq and are
fighting efforts by Taliban fighters to regroup in Afghanistan. They
are also hunting ousted Iraqi president Saddam Hussein and al Qaeda
leader Osama bin Laden.

Democratic criticism of the Republican administration's invasion of
Iraq and post-war rebuilding efforts complicated efforts to try and
get the message out that progress was being made, Rumsfeld said. "It
does complicate it, it makes it more difficult, but I guess that's
life," he said.

Critics note the United States has so far failed to produce any
evidence of the production of weapons of mass destruction though this
had been cited as the main reason for the March invasion of Iraq and
overthrow of Saddam.

Rumsfeld met briefly in Baghdad with former U.N. weapons inspector
David Kay, who is coordinating the hunt for the banned weapons. But he
said the half-hour discussion centered on what assistance the Defense
Department could provide rather than a review of the information being
collected.

"We did not have much of a discussion on the substance of what he is
turning up," Rumsfeld said. "I did not go into the half hour meeting
and say 'OK lay out what you've found'. I went in assuming he'll (Kay)
tell me if he's got something that he thinks I need to know."

aggreen1

Rumsfeld: Criticism of Bush Strengthens U.S. Foes

Reuters
Monday, September 8, 2003; 11:16 AM

By Tabassum Zakaria

SHANNON, Ireland (Reuters) - Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said on
Monday opposition to the U.S. President was encouraging Washington's
enemies and hindering his 'war against terrorism'.

He said if Washington's enemies believed Bush might waver or his
opponents prevail, that could increase support for their activities.

"They take heart in that and that leads to more money going into these
activities or that leads to more recruits or that leads to more
encouragement or that leads to more staying power," he told reporters
traveling with him on his plane.

"Obviously that does make our task more difficult."

"Terrorists studied...instances when the United States was dealt a
blow and tucked in, and persuaded themselves that they could in fact
cause us to acquiesce in whatever it is they wanted to do," he said.
"The United States is not going to do that, President (George W.) Bush
is not going to do that."

Rumsfeld's comments came after Bush said he would seek $87 billion for
fighting terrorism and rebuilding efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. He
spoke also just three days before the second anniversary of the
attacks on New York and Washington which the United States blames on
al Qaeda islamist militants.

CHEMICAL WEAPONS

U.S. soldiers are attacked almost daily in occupied Iraq and are
fighting efforts by Taliban fighters to regroup in Afghanistan. They
are also hunting ousted Iraqi president Saddam Hussein and al Qaeda
leader Osama bin Laden.

Democratic criticism of the Republican administration's invasion of
Iraq and post-war rebuilding efforts complicated efforts to try and
get the message out that progress was being made, Rumsfeld said. "It
does complicate it, it makes it more difficult, but I guess that's
life," he said.

Critics note the United States has so far failed to produce any
evidence of the production of weapons of mass destruction though this
had been cited as the main reason for the March invasion of Iraq and
overthrow of Saddam.

Rumsfeld met briefly in Baghdad with former U.N. weapons inspector
David Kay, who is coordinating the hunt for the banned weapons. But he
said the half-hour discussion centered on what assistance the Defense
Department could provide rather than a review of the information being
collected.

"We did not have much of a discussion on the substance of what he is
turning up," Rumsfeld said. "I did not go into the half hour meeting
and say 'OK lay out what you've found'. I went in assuming he'll (Kay)
tell me if he's got something that he thinks I need to know."