Bush: Never Think Danger Of Terror Gone
Bush: Never think danger of terror gone
Democratic senator: 'Our country is not as safe as it needs to be'
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/08/...dems.radio.ap/
8/12/2006
CRAWFORD, Texas (AP) -- President Bush said Saturday that a scheme to blow up several flights between Britain and the United States was carefully planned and well-advanced, with the potential to cause "death on a massive scale."
In his most extensive comments on the disrupted plot, Bush said it was a stark reminder that terrorists still aim to kill Americans five years after the September 11 attacks.
"This plot is further evidence that the terrorists we face are sophisticated and constantly changing their tactics," Bush said in his weekly radio address, taped Friday at his Texas ranch and broadcast Saturday.
"We must never make the mistake of thinking the danger of terrorism has passed," Bush said. "This week's experience reminds us of a hard fact -- the terrorists have to succeed only once to achieve their goal of mass murder, while we have to succeed every time to stop them."
Senator: 'More needs to be done'
Democrats also said the plot again demonstrated that the United States is at war against dangerous extremists.
But in a pointed critique that shows terrorism still at the top of the debate in this election year, Democrats said the Bush administration is not doing a good enough job protecting Americans.
"My fellow Democrats and I believe our government must do more to protect Americans at home and around the world," Arkansas Sen. Mark Pryor said in Saturday's Democratic radio address.
"We also understand there is no time to waste. Five years after 9/11, our country is not as safe as it needs to be or should be. More needs to be done."
British and Pakistani authorities have arrested as many as 41 people in their two countries in connection with the alleged plan, broken up by British police this week, to detonate disguised liquid explosives aboard as many as 10 planes bound from Britain to the United States.
Bush authorized an increase in the terror threat warning for flights on that route to code red, indicating a severe risk of terror attacks. All other domestic and international flights in the United States were set to code orange, the second highest level on the scale.
Within hours of the news, Democrats and Republicans were engaged in election-year squabbling over which party can best protect Americans.
Bin Laden, global nuclear threat\
The dispute continued Saturday in the dueling party addresses.
Pryor said the Bush administration should spend more money on emergency responders and commit to screen all cargo on aircraft and at shipping ports. He said National Guard units do not have adequate equipment; borders and chemical plants remain unsecured; North Korea and Iran continue to pursue nuclear ambitions; and September 11 mastermind Osama bin Laden is still on the loose.
In Iraq, Pryor said, the administration's "poor management of the war has diverted our focus, our military and more than $300 billion from the war on terrorism."
"We need a new direction," Pryor said. "It's time for Washington to be tough and smart about the threats we face. Americans deserve real security, not just leaders who talk tough but fail to deliver."
Bush did not criticize Democrats in his address but alluded to political disagreements about the war on terror.
'Death on a massive scale'
"Unfortunately, some have suggested recently that the terrorist threat is being used for partisan political advantage," Bush said in his radio message. "We can have legitimate disagreements about the best way to fight the terrorists, yet there should be no disagreement about the dangers we face.
"If these terrorists had succeeded, they could have caused death on a massive scale," Bush said. "The plot appears to have been carefully planned and well-advanced."
Bush linked the plot to conflicts around the world.
"The terrorists attempt to bring down airplanes full of innocent men, women and children," Bush said. "They kill civilians and American servicemen in Iraq and Afghanistan, and they deliberately hide behind civilians in Lebanon.
"These killers need to know that America, Great Britain and our allies are determined to defend ourselves and advance the cause of liberty," Bush said. "With patience, courage and untiring resolve, we will defend our freedom, and we will win the war on terror."
Vigilance urged
Bush urged travelers to be patient and vigilant as they encounter inconveniences during heightened airport screening procedures. All liquid and gel products were banned from carry-on luggage.
"We believe that this week's arrests have significantly disrupted the threat," Bush said. "Yet we cannot be sure that the threat has been eliminated."
Bush also thanked investigators in the U.S. and Britain for working together to stop the plot. White House aides said they hoped the successful investigation would dampen criticism of the administration's controversial anti-terror methods, such as secret monitoring of phone calls, e-mail and financial transactions.
"This week's events demonstrate the vital importance of ensuring that our intelligence and law enforcement personnel have all the tools they need to track down the terrorists and prevent attacks on our country," Bush said.
