Lieberman: U.S. May Be Attacked In 2009

McCain Supporter Says Terrorists Have Tested New Presidents By Launching Attacks In First Year Of Term

(CBS)  In describing the reasons he believes the Republicans' presumptive nominee for president would be better prepared than the Democrats' to lead the nation next January, Sen. Joe Lieberman said that history shows the United States would likely face a terrorist attack in 2009.

"Our enemies will test the new president early," Lieberman, I-Conn., told Face The Nation host Bob Schieffer. "Remember that the truck bombing of the World Trade Center happened in the first year of the Clinton administration. 9/11 happened in the first year of the Bush administration."

Lieberman nonetheless distanced himself from remarks by McCain chief strategist Charlie Black, who came under criticism for suggesting in an interview that McCain's election chances would be improved if a terrorist attack occurred before November.

"Sometimes even the best of them say things that are not what they intended to say," Lieberman said. "Certainly the implications there I know were not what Charlie intended. And he apologized for it. Senator McCain said he didn't agree. And, of course, I feel the same way.

"But here's the point. We're in a war against Islamist extremists who attacked us on 9/11. They've been trying to attack us in many, many ways since then."

A former Democratic nominee for vice president, Lieberman endorsed McCain for president because, he says, the Democratic Party he joined in the early 1960s is not reflected by the party's current leadership.

He also said that he feels McCain is better prepared to be commander in chief than Barack Obama. "[McCain] knows the world," Lieberman said. "He's been tested. He's ready to protect the security of the American people."

Lieberman also assailed Obama and fellow Senators who called for a timetable of withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq and opposed the "surge" of additional U.S. forces pushed forth by President Bush.

"It's now working," Lieberman told Schieffer. "If we had done what Senator Obama asked us to do for the last couple of years, today Iran and al Qaeda would be in control of Iraq. It would be a terrible defeat for us and our allies in the Middle East and throughout the world. Instead, we've got a country that's defending itself, that's growing economically, where there's been genuine political reconciliation, and where Iran and al Qaeda are on the run. And that's the way it ought to be."

However, McCain's readiness was disputed by retired General Wesley Clark, who is backing Obama for president, despite McCain's storied military experience in Vietnam. "Well, I don't think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president," he said.

"I think Joe has it exactly backwards here," Clark told Schieffer. "I think being president is about having good judgment. It's about the ability to communicate. And what Barack Obama brings is incredible communication skills, proven judgment. You look at his meteoric rise in politics and you see a guy who deals with people well, who understands issues, who brings people together, and who has good judgment in moving forward.

"And I think what we need to do, Bob, is we need to stop talking about the old politics of left and right, and we need to pull together and move the country forward. And I think that's what Barack Obama will do.

“Because in the matters of national security policymaking, it's a matter of understanding risk. It's a matter of gauging your opponents and it's a matter of being held accountable. John McCain's never done any of that in his official positions. I certainly honor his service … But he hasn't held executive responsibility."

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Read the full "Face the Nation" transcript here.

[fake-id-2009]

I would want someone with courage to protect the US of A and act accordingly. Can you imagine what would have been our response with Gore in office?
Posted by USMCVET3 at 07:00 PM : Jul 01, 2008


Well, I could only assume that Gore would not have gone after Saddam for something that bin Ladin did.

Simply put, Bush had a score to settle with Saddam and he used 9/11 to settle it.

Speaking of courage, Bush lacked the courage to fight in Vietnam (as did Cheney) and chose to protect the skies of Texas instead.

And, speaking of response, what did Reagan do when over 200 of your Marine brothers were killed in Beirut?

And finally, speaking of a "perfume general:" Look up "Operation Ajax" and you will have a better understanding of why we are hated in the middle east.


Maybe not skipping your history classes would have helped you.

[confused25]

What a goofy old man, all he wants to do is be a VP or in some important position other than Senator. He had to change to Independent just to get elected that says something. The GOP should keep him away from McCain, somewhere out other than the little dog following his master. McCain is his own man and Lieberman will bring him down. He is like Droopy the cartoon dog, oh woo is me type.

[bienhoa1968]

Lieberman, Bush, Chaney, Wolfowitz, Mitchell all have one thing in common---they are a bunch of draft dodger cowards. They think that it is OK for your kids to die in a war zone but when it was their turn to go to war in Viet Nam, they hid under rocks like a bunch of slithering snakes!!!!!!!!! Check it out, how many rich kids are being killed in Iraq. These people constantly tell working class people that it is OK for their kids to die, while their rich sons and daughters go to Ivey league schools and party.

[bienhoa1968]

Is it not a fact that the worst attack on American soil happened while we had a REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT, a REPUBLICAN SENATE, a REPUBLICAN HOUSE and a bunch of people chosen by BUSH to protect the country (Condolessa Rice was too busy to have a meeting until one week before 911 to discuss the fact that we had a bunch of Saudis running around the country saying I only want to fly the plane I don''t want to to know how to land or take off!!

[bienhoa1968]

When draft dodger Bush and draft dodger Chaney were given the election in 2000, one of the members of the supreme court had a son working for the Bush campaign and he ruled in his sons favor, even though during the recount in Florida, Gore was ahead. Democrasy is a joke, he who has the money rules. Is it any wonder why the rest of the world looks at us and laughs.

[vincan-2009]

There is no great success in Iraq. It is not a stable place and it will require us to BEGIN leaving for the people to start taking responsibility. Of course, Bush and Cheney are getting just what they wanted. They have just made big deals between Iraq and all the major US oil companies ready now to get into Iraq. Just wonderful to know it was and always has been the OIL.

[vincan-2009]

Lieberman is a fear monger and a dirty no good Bush lover. This man doesn''t deserve to be in office. The democrats in Connecticut threw him out so he had to run as an independent and get elected by the republicans in the state. Whatever McCain and Lieberman were is now long gone. They are neocon war mongers who should be run out of office.

[usmcvet3]

RE: red164 comments on his list of things Bush did. The dollar was on par with the Euro in January 2007. Unemployment was at 4.5% and Gas was at $ 2.20 per gallon in January 2007.

Now the dollar is worth about half of the Euro. Gas is at $ 5.00 per gallon and unemployment is over 5%. What happened in January 2007 to make those changes. The democrap party assumed control of the Congress. They did all of this damage in 18 months. What can the future hold?

I have read your four submissions and can tell you are a poor suffering liberal. You can not voice your opinion without insulting someone. You call them traitors or insult their physical features. Basically you do not have the ability to hold a conversation with someone that you disagree with over any subject without insulting them. Maybe staying in school after the 3rd grade would have helped you.

I will pray for you.

[usmcvet3]

First I agree with the Senator that 2009 will be a perfect time for a test of the new president. As in 2001 I would want someone with courage to protect the US of A and act accordingly. Can you imagine what would have been our response with Gore in office? In 1993 and after Clinton repeatedly did little or nothing to protect us in the future. McCain would be a better choice than Barrack Hussein Obama to respond to an attack, any attack. I want someone strong in office not a "hidden or secret" Muslim. Nor a person who does not respect the flag or the anthem and is married to the same type of an anti-American. Not a person who follows the teachings of a racist minister and who refused to denounce his racist comments. Obama has not shown me that he has any respect for our great country and what we stand for.

As for any comment by Wesley Clark. I can only quote a great soldier, now deceased, who referred to Clark as a "Perfume General". For those who do not understand that statement a perfumed General is similar to a street prostitute. Both try to hide what they really are so the smell does not turn you away.
After watching how the general screwed up the war in the old Yugoslavia I would not want him to organize a camp out. I sure as heck would never take his advice and if Obama picked him as a running mate this country is doomed.

[red164]

Now that our new ally Iraq is begining to stand on it''S own.

Opps I meant fall on it''s own

Posted by mr2258 at 10:17 AM : Jul 01, 2008

[red164]

Plus a big thanks to our commander and chief George W Bush for staying the course.


Gas Prices Record Highs
''
US auto makers sales slumping

Stock Market sinking

US dollar sinking

US economy sinking

US unemployment rate rising

US murder rate rising

Sales of US flags priceless

Posted by mr2258 at 12:09 PM : Jul 01, 2008


Yes Thanks George

[red164]

It is great to see the new free Iraqi government taking control of it''''s future.I for one would like to say THANK YOU to all of the brave men and women that made this posible.Plus a big thanks to our commander and chief George W Bush for staying the course.

Now can you please mail me a check Karl Traitor Rove



Posted by mr2258 at 12:09 PM : Jul 01, 2008

[red164]

Lieberman: U.S. May Be Attacked In 2009
McCain Supporter Says

Yellow, Red or Green Alert JOE HOOKNOSE?

[mr2258]

It is great to see the new free Iraqi government taking control of it''s future.I for one would like to say THANK YOU to all of the brave men and women that made this posible.Plus a big thanks to our commander and chief George W Bush for staying the course.

[mr2258]

The new alliance with Iraq will make America & Iraq stronger.

[mr2258]

Now that our new ally Iraq is begining to stand on it''S own.We will be able to deal with Al Qaeda. QUICKLY.

[taotxzen]

Bushs plans falter, al Qaeda establishes new base of operations

By: Steve Benen @ 5:30 AM - PDT

In late 2007, Bush administration officials drafted a secret plan, giving the Defense Department%u2019s Special Operations forces greater ease to go into the mountains between Pakistan and Afghanistan, with the goal of targeting al-Qaida%u2019s top leaders.

The plan sounded very encouraging on paper %u2014 it would sidestep turf wars between Washington and Islamabad, and target high-value targets where we know they are. So what happened? More than six months later, the plan has not yet been executed, and the Special Operations forces are still standing by, waiting for orders. Bureaucratic disputes within the administration have slowed the whole initiative down to a stop.

The New York Times reports that it%u2019s all part of a broader problem with Bush%u2019s counterterrorism strategy.

After the Sept. 11 attacks, President Bush committed the nation to a %u201Cwar on terrorism%u201D and made the destruction of Mr. bin Laden%u2019s network the top priority of his presidency. But it is increasingly clear that the Bush administration will leave office with Al Qaeda having successfully relocated its base from Afghanistan to Pakistan%u2019s tribal areas, where it has rebuilt much of its ability to attack from the region and broadcast its messages to militants across the world %u2026

(cont)

[taotxzen]

(cont)

Just as it had on the day before 9/11, Al Qaeda now has a band of terrorist camps from which to plan and train for attacks against Western targets, including the United States. Officials say the new camps are smaller than the ones the group used prior to 2001. However, despite dozens of American missile strikes in Pakistan since 2002, one retired C.I.A. officer estimated that the makeshift training compounds now have as many as 2,000 local and foreign militants, up from several hundred three years ago.

Publicly, senior American and Pakistani officials have said that the creation of a Qaeda haven in the tribal areas was in many ways inevitable %u2014 that the lawless badlands where ethnic Pashtun tribes have resisted government control for centuries were a natural place for a dispirited terrorism network to find refuge. The American and Pakistani officials also blame a disastrous cease-fire brokered between the Pakistani government and militants in 2006.

But more than four dozen interviews in Washington and Pakistan tell another story. American intelligence officials say that the Qaeda hunt in Pakistan, code-named Operation Cannonball by the C.I.A. in 2006, was often undermined by bitter disagreements within the Bush administration and within the C.I.A., including about whether American commandos should launch ground raids inside the tribal areas.

(cont)

[taotxzen]

(cont)

Inside the C.I.A., the fights included clashes between the agency%u2019s outposts in Kabul, Afghanistan, and Islamabad. There were also battles between field officers and the Counterterrorist Center at C.I.A. headquarters, whose preference for carrying out raids remotely, via Predator missile strikes, was derided by officers in the Islamabad station as the work of %u201Cboys with toys.%u201D

The article went on to explain that many of the top, experienced intelligence officers who would have been assigned to the al Qaeda hunt weren%u2019t available. As one official put it, %u201CThose people all went to Iraq. We were all hurting because of Iraq.%u201D

So the war in Iraq created an opportunity for al Qaeda to recruit more terrorists and, at the same time, made it harder to go after al Qaeda terrorists.

[taotxzen]

The Iraqi government will open six oil fields for bid.This should raise production 1.5 million barrels a day.This is real news.Thank You President Bush.This would not be posible with a democrat president.Just say NO to OBAMA.

Posted by mr2258

What color is the sky...in your world?