[Solson]

Make no mistake about it, this election is a choice between dealing with the war on terror like a war or like a drug raid.

Despite all of Bush's faults, this election is too important to sit idle and let someone like John Kerry assume the office.

[So Cal Rocket]

This guy is going to literally get us killed if gets elected.

[Argus]

There is a non-military, strictly speaking, component to the War on Terror - going after their money, prosecuting captured terrorists in foreign countries, the kind of work that the CIA and FBI are supposed to do, homeland security, etc. The Bush administration has been pursuing this tack all along, and very successfully (though usually with no fanfare). This is obviously not what Kerry means, however. He is sending a signal to his liberal base that he will return our priorities to where they were under Clinton. Treat each terrorist attack as a discrete criminal act, and mothball the military except for "symbolic" retaliation a la "firing a million dollar missile to hit a camel in the butt", to paraphrase our President. And win the love of France, Germany, and the UN Secretariat, which is all liberals care about.

[stands2reason]

Bump---thanks for the post.

[Remole]

I take your point, but what Kerry has done (just has other opponents of Bush) is to declare that Bush has not done XYZ, when in fact Bush has actually done XYZ. Of course Bush Administration knows that the War on Terror will have multiple fronts and multiple methods!! Are the American people so stupid that we think that this war is being waged only with bullets? The problem is that, so far in the 04 campaign, declarations by Kerry et al are not being met with the plain facts from the WH.

[Glenn]

this election is a choice between dealing with the war on terror like a war or like a drug raid

Don't be fooled. This is just the undercard and it's being fought like it. He's not running for President yet. He's running for the nomination.

Once he has the nomination, it's going to be about the deficit 24x7. And Bush is vulnerable there.

[demlosers]

What a loser you are Kerry.

[votelife]

"law enforcement operation"
this reinforces my belief that the Dems have no workable policy to defeat terrorism. the strategy is appeasement.

By definition, terrorists operate OUTSIDE of the law. But it's not just criminal. It's designed to terrify a nation, by attacking innocents to send a political message. This is not something that we simply need more cops for. This calls for intelligence, technology yes, but it is a military matter.

[Common Tator]

Namely, Kerry believes the way to combat terror is primarily through a "law enforcement action" as opposed to military action.

Law enforcement cab only go after the bad guys after they do something bad.

You can't arrest a gang for robbing a bank until they try to rob a bank. The cops can't arrest someone for stealing a car until they try to steal a car. Someone can't be arrested for Murder until they try to murder someone.

You can't arrest a terrorist for flying a plane into your kids school until they try to do it.

Law Enforcement only happens after someone breaks the law.

The Kerry plan. Suicide terrorists blow up your work place and kill you... Then the cops say.. we got 'em..

What part of the bad guys get to kill us first appeals to Kerry most?

[votelife]

Bush's SOTU speech attacked this very belief. Look for it to be a big part of the campaign, whoever the Dem's nominate.

I'd imagine we'll hear a lot about the "permission slip" from Bush too.

[Ben Ficklin]

Bush's efforts in fighting terror by the use of law enforcement and intelligence are substantial. The media does not report on it because of two reasons. First, it is not as sexy as the military effort and, second, much of it is secretive.

[cyncooper]

He also vowed to "Renew the Community of Nations".

He grows more grotesque by leaps and bounds with each passing day.

[Wild Irish Rogue]

President Bush, State of the Union:

"I know that some people( 99.99% of Democrats ) question if America is really in a war at all. They view terrorism more as a crime, a problem to be solved mainly with law enforcement and indictments. ..."
" After the chaos and carnage of September the 11th, it is not enough to serve our enemies with legal papers. "