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06 October 2004

Vice Presidential Candidates Debate Iraq, War on Terror, Economy

Cheney, Edwards also discuss Middle East, Iran, North Korea

By Warner Rose
Washington File Staff Writer

Iraq and the war on terror played a prominent role in the October 5 debate between Vice President Cheney and Democratic vice presidential candidate Senator John Edwards of North Carolina. The debate was held at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.

Vice President Cheney said the toppling of the regime of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein was intended to eliminate the nexus between terrorists and weapons of mass destruction. "The biggest threat we face today is the possibility of terrorists smuggling a nuclear weapon or a biological agent into one of our cities and threatening the lives of hundreds of thousands of Americans," he said.

Senator Edwards said the Bush administration is "not being straight with the American people" about what he described as a worsening situation in Iraq, with increasing U.S. casualties and rising costs. Reiterating a point made by Senator John Kerry, Edwards said the Bush administration launched the military campaign that toppled Hussein "without a plan to win the peace."

"We need a fresh start," Edwards said.

Cheney defended the progress in Iraq, citing the new government of Prime Minister Ayad Allawi and the upcoming elections in January 2005. He also praised the Iraqi security forces, adding that they have suffered many casualties.

Edwards said the U.S. focus on Iraq had allowed Iran and North Korea to move ahead with their nuclear programs. Cheney said the administration was working in the United Nations and with neighboring countries to deal with these two regimes. Sanctions are already on Iran, the vice president said, adding that the administration would go to the U.N. Security Council for tougher measures if Iran failed to meet its obligations under the non-proliferation treaty.

If elected, Edwards said, Kerry has a "plan for success" in Iraq that includes accelerated training of Iraqi security forces -- outside Iraq if necessary -- and greater support from the United Nations and other countries.

When asked about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Edwards called Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's unilateral withdrawal from Gaza a historic decision that the United States should support. If Gaza, however, becomes a platform for attacking Israel, then the withdrawal has to be stopped, he said. Cheney said that Yasser Arafat was not a suitable "interlocutor" for negotiations, and added that there must be reform in the Palestinian system.

Cheney and Edwards also offered their views on domestic issues in the 90-minute debate that included some sharp exchanges. Cheney praised the No Child Left Behind Act that established higher standards for education and praised Bush's tax cut policies. Edwards cited the slow economic growth during Bush's term, which he said had brought job loss and increased poverty. This debate is the only one scheduled between the vice presidential candidates.

The transcript for the debate is available at: http://www.debates.org/pages/trans2004b.html

(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)