Posted: 3/27/2003 3:49:34 PM EDT
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Daschle regrets timing of comments [url=http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=1300&dept_id=156931&newsid=7518006&PAG=461&rfi=9]Dashole repents[/url] BY DONNA SMITH, Black Hills Pioneer March 27, 2003 SPEARFISH -- Stepping back from comments he made last week that President Bush failed "miserably" in diplomatic efforts to avoid war with Iraq, Sen. Tom Daschle, D-S.D. said Thursday, "My timing wasn't the best." On March 17, just two days before the U.S.-led coalition's first bombing strike in Baghdad, Daschle said, "I'm saddened, saddened that this president failed so miserably at diplomacy that we're now forced to war." The remarks drew fire as many charged it was wrong for Daschle to publicly challenge the president on the eve of armed conflict. Daschle's comments were labeled "divisive and brazen political posturing" by Republican National Chairman Marc Racicot. "It is disheartening and shameful for Senator Daschle, who has previously advocated and authorized the use of force in Iraq, to now blame America first," he said. Daschle supported a congressional resolution last year authorizing Bush to use force in Iraq, but he has criticized the president for failing to win the support of the U.N. Security Council. In an interview from his Washington office this morning, Daschle indicated that he did not know the timing of the start of military action when he made the critical remarks. He added, "It's time to move past this." Daschle's junior colleague, Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., has acknowledged that though many may share some of Daschle's sentiments, he believes now is not the time for Americans to criticize the nation's Commander-in-Chief. Johnson's oldest son, Brooks, is the only child of a U.S. Congress member serving in the Iraq war. |
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Daschle supported a congressional resolution last year authorizing Bush to use force in Iraq, but he has criticized the president for failing to win the support of the U.N. Security Council. Bush did not fail to win support fromt the UN, France just has too much to hide. |