Bush is extreme - Kerry

2004-09-24 16:19

Philadelphia - John Kerry, intensifying his assault on President George W Bush's record fighting terrorism, is outlining a detailed strategy to contain terrorists and bolster national security.

In a speech for delivery at Philadelphia's Temple University, Democratic presidential candidate Kerry sought to describe a path that would improve America's prestige in the world and reduce the country's vulnerability to terrorists.

"Our goal is that at the end of that, people will say, 'This guy will seek and defeat the terrorist'," said spokesperson Mike McCurry.

Kerry planned to outline his strategy against terrorism on Friday, a day after telling The Columbus Dispatch newspaper that the president's actions in Iraq and elsewhere show Bush masquerading as a mainstream conservative while pursuing extremist policies.

"I don't view these people as conservatives," Kerry said. "I actually view them as extreme, and I think their policies have been extreme, and that extends all the way to Iraq, where this president, in my judgment, diverted the real war on terror - which was Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda - and almost obsessively moved to deal with Iraq in a way that weakened our nation, overextended our armed forces, cost us $200bn and created a breach in our oldest alliances."

Kerry mentioned a blurring line between the separation of church and state and the growth of federal budget deficits.

To douse the spread of terrorism, Kerry proposes policies aimed at denying individuals and groups the ability to organise and attack.

Kerry would also build a better military and intelligence apparatus to go after enemies, deny terrorists weapons and financing, move against worldwide terrorist havens and recruitment centres, and promote freedom and democracy in Muslim nations, he said.

Kerry has repeatedly argued that the war in Iraq has distracted attention and resources from the pursuit of terrorists, including Osama bin Laden.

The Bush election campaign said Kerry has held conflicting positions on that point. They point to instances where Kerry said the former Iraqi leader acted like a terrorist and said that the war on terrorism should be seen as an operation bigger than the conflict in Afghanistan.

Kerry visits the state of Pennsylvania, a key battleground in November's election, before a quick trip home to Boston and then several days spent preparing for next week's presidential debates.

- AP