Democrats takes off Gloves on Iraq Debate

[papau]

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-assess17sep17,1,5806422.story?coll=la-home-politics

Democrat Takes Off the Gloves on Iraq Debate
With public support for the war rising despite increased bloodshed, Kerry changes tack, saying Bush's strategy is headed for failure.
By Ronald Brownstein
Times Staff Writer

September 17, 2004

WASHINGTON — Sen. John F. Kerry's tougher tone in a speech Thursday highlighted his new effort to sharpen his differences with President Bush on the conflict in Iraq.

Kerry's changed approach may reflect both opportunity and necessity: It coincides with an upsurge in insurgent attacks across Iraq but also follows a tilt toward Bush in recent surveys on public attitudes about the war.

Continued turmoil in Iraq could reverse Bush's gains on the issue before election day, most experts agree. But the recent trend in opinion suggests the president is succeeding in his efforts to define the Iraq war as a critical step in the long-term struggle against terrorism. And that is increasing pressure on Kerry to more fundamentally challenge Bush on the Iraq situation.

"The president is winning the debate over Iraq, despite the conditions on the ground," said Ivo Daalder, a former National Security Council aide in the Clinton administration. "You have to go at the heart of the argument Bush is making: that Iraq is part of the war on terror. You have to make clear it has undermined our ability to fight the war on terror." <snip>

[papau]

1. Unease Shadows Bush's Optimism

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/iraq/la-fg-usiraq17sep17,1,4062441.story?coll=la-home-headlines

Unease Shadows Bush's Optimism
The president doesn't waver, but others do as casualties mount and security withers.
By Tyler Marshall
Times Staff Writer

September 17, 2004

WASHINGTON — A combination of escalating bloodshed, gloomy assessments and deteriorating security conditions in Iraq are challenging the Bush administration's upbeat view of the struggle to establish democracy in the beleaguered Middle East nation.

A growing sense of unease is visible among Republicans as well as Democrats in Congress as bombings and kidnappings continue to rise along with the death toll.

The new challenge to the administration's view of events comes at a crucial time for President Bush, as the interim Iraqi government struggles to prepare for elections in January and as the Iraq issue dominates his bid for reelection.

Campaigning Thursday in Minnesota and upstate New York, Bush acknowledged "ongoing acts of violence," but quickly returned to a central — and positive — message on Iraq: that U.S. policies are succeeding and Iraq is on the verge of democracy and free elections.

"It wasn't all that long ago that Saddam Hussein was in power with his torture chambers and mass graves, and today this country is headed toward elections," he said in St. Cloud.

To shore up that message, Iraq's interim prime minister, Iyad Allawi, will visit Washington next week and will address a joint session of Congress. <snip>

[papau]

2. U.S. Death Toll in Iraq at Least 52 This Month

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/iraq/la-fg-iraq17sep17,1,2150332.story?coll=la-home-headlines

U.S. Death Toll in Iraq at Least 52 This Month
Insurgents kill three Marines. In Baghdad, three civilians -- two Americans and one Briton -- are kidnapped from their home.
By Ashraf Khalil and Patrick J. McDonnell
Times Staff Writers

September 17, 2004

BAGHDAD — Iraqi insurgents pressed their assault on U.S. and allied forces Thursday as two Americans and a Briton were kidnapped from their Baghdad house and three Marines were killed, bringing the number of U.S. military deaths in the country this month to at least 52.

The brazen abduction of the employees of a Middle East-based construction firm continued a violent week that has left more than 200 Iraqis dead, and it followed a similar kidnapping of two Italian women from their office 10 days ago.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the abduction, but almost all of the more than 120 kidnappings of foreigners in Iraq have been carried out by militant groups seeking to drive out U.S. forces, aid workers and foreign companies involved in supporting military and reconstruction efforts.

Most kidnappings of foreigners in Iraq have occurred on the nation's lawless roads, but the spread of abductions to homes and offices has sparked new fear among an international community already feeling besieged. Some companies have pulled out of the country, despite the money to be made on reconstruction projects.<snip>

[papau]

3. U.S. Weapons Inspector: Iraq Had No WMD

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/ats-ap_top12sep17,0,6318281.story?coll=sns-ap-topnews
U.S. Weapons Inspector: Iraq Had No WMD
By KATHERINE PFLEGER SHRADER
Associated Press Writer

4:30 AM PDT, September 17, 2004

WASHINGTON — Fallen Iraqi President Saddam Hussein did not have stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction, but left signs that he had idle programs he someday hoped to revive, the top U.S. weapons inspector in Iraq concludes in a draft report due out soon.

According to people familiar with the 1,500-page report, the head of the Iraq Survey Group, Charles Duelfer, will find that Saddam was importing banned materials, working on unmanned aerial vehicles in violation of U.N. agreements and maintaining a dual-use industrial sector that could produce weapons.

Duelfer also says Iraq only had small research and development programs for chemical and biological weapons.

As Duelfer puts the finishing touches on his report, he concludes Saddam had intentions of restarting weapons programs at some point, after suspicion and inspections from the international community waned.

After a year and a half in Iraq, however, the United States has found no weapons of mass destruction -- its chief argument for going to war and overthrowing the regime.

An intelligence official said Duelfer could wrap up the report as soon as this month, but noted it may take time to declassify it. Those who discussed the report inside and outside the government did so Thursday on the condition of anonymity because it contains classified material and is not yet completed. <snip>